₦airaland Forum

ACT 15 SCENE 1

(Police station: D.P.O’s office. The D.P.O is seated while Tombra stands opposite his Table; two Bank Officials are seated opposite the table facing the D.P.O)

D.P.O: so Madam! Who is your guarantor? Who was your surety while collecting this loan?

Tombra: My Father Sir!

D.P.O: Your Father? Can he help you to repay the loan now?

Tombra: (Shakes her head) no sir!

D.P.O: why? Did he not sign an under taking to help you out in case of your inability to service the loan?

Tombra: (Crying) he can’t pay o! He can’t. He is a retired Soldier! He lives on his meagre pension with my Mother in the Village! They are just managing o!

D.P.O: we may need to bring your Father here! As long as he had signed to surety you, then he is liable! Do you People know the implications of signing a document at all? What Properties does your Father own?

Tombra: he has Lands! The Lands are to be bequeathed to my brothers!

D.P.O: where are the Lands?

Tombra: He has two plots at Port Harcourt town and a plot at Rumuodumanya! He has some plots in the Village too!

D.P.O: the lands in the Village don’t have economic value! (To the bankers) did you copy that? We shall confiscate the document of those lands except those ones in the Village. We shall call an estate- valuer to ascertain their worth! You already have the documents of her house in Okirirka abi?

Bankers: yes sir!

D.P.O: what of the particulars of the house she is living in presently?

Banker 1: it is her husband’s property and was not tied to the loan from inception.

D.P.O: Can’t it be tied to the loan now? After all he is her husband! We will get him here! Madam, where is your husband?

Tombra: (Crying) I don’t know o! He lost his job and he ran away from the house since last year! I don’t know where he went to! He ran away with my two Children! I have not seen my Children since he took them away o!

D.P.O: what kind of talk is that? Your husband lost his job and he ran away! Is he a mad man! What sort of man would do that when he has a well to do woman like you as wife? And how can a jobless man run away with your Children? Well, that’s your personal palaver! (To Bankers) I hope you have taken possession of the Shop and her Cars?

Bankers: yes sir! We have the keys and documents sir!

D.P.O: good! She will remain in custody until someone comes to bail her! I would like you People to be here tomorrow or next so we can summarize all the recoverable money from her properties and her father’s properties so that we can settle this issue quickly and out of court as she pleaded!

Banker 1: next tomorrow will be appropriate sir!

D.P.O: but from what I see the money won’t be fully recovered! Nine million naira is not nine thousand naira!
Banker: you are right sir, but let see what we can gather first! Em, the documents to the father’s property, how soon can we get it sir?

D.P.O: I am drafting a team to Okirika now to go and bundle her father back here! And he is to come with the land document. She will go with them but she will be in cuffs so as to show the father that we mean business, I know old Soldiers! They are more stubborn than serving soldiers!

(Banker stands up to leave; they shake hands with the D.P.O)

Banker 1: we appreciate your assistance so far D.P.O! Thank you so much!

D.P.O: you are welcome! It’s our job! (Bankers exit) madam! Your case is different o! I have heard of women leaving their husbands and running off with the Kids but not the other way round! I am sure you are not telling us the truth but like I said, it’s your personal palaver! (He dials the intercom on his table and picks the receiver) Corporal Amachree! Come and remand this suspect back to custody! (Drops the receiver)

(Corporal Amachree comes in and whisks Tombra away)


ACT 16 SCENE 1

Dandy’s bar: morning. Workers are cleaning up the mess of last night activities: Tombra saunters into the environment looking very unkempt, she looks around and beckons at one of the workers in Dandy’s Bar. Worker approach her and they talk then worker points at Dandy’s office.

Tombra walks briskly towards the Office as Dandy emerges and sees her, he gives a long hiss and turns to go back into the Office but Tombra runs and pulls him back, she falls on her knees

Tombra: Oga Dandy please don’t walk out on me! Please I beg you in the name of God!

Dandy: (Barking) see me see trouble o! Am I your husband? Why did you not say that to Lanky when he walked out on you? So you can kneel down before me now! Me! Another woman’s husband! But you could not kneel before your own husband! What do you want here please, I am a busy man!

Tombra: My husband sir! My husband and my Children! Please help me to locate them!

Dandy: shuo! I should locate them? Am I a compass or am I goggle map? Am I your family’s keeper? Why come to me? I am not even related to Lanky! Don’t you know his relatives?

Tombra: I know Ogiri is your friend and he comes here! Oga help me please! (Crying)

Dandy: woman why are you just coming for them now? Lanky left home about eight months now! You have not seen your children for about six months now! Are you just waking up from a drugged sleep? Something must be wrong! What happened to you madam? Even the way you look shows that all is not well! What happened to you?

Tombra: em, em, yes! Yes o! Something terrible happened to me! I was duped, I lost everything to fraudsters! I lost everything! My shop, my Cars and my building in Okirirka! Even my father’s lands were all confiscated by the Bank in order to recover the loan I collected to finance a business deal that turned out to be a farce! I am kobo less as you see me here! I can’t even go back to my family! My father has sworn to beat me to death if he sees me! My brothers are also calling for my head as they were hoping to inherit my father’s lands!

Dandy: (feels sober) hmm, what a life! Pride goes before a fall! So what do you need Lanky for now? Have you forgotten he does not have a job?

Tombra: I just need to see him and apologize for all I did to him; I know it is nemesis that has caught up with me! My father and my friends misled me!

Dandy: I don know their where about please!

Tombra: Oga Dandy, please nah! I am begging you in the name of God! To ere is human and to forgive is divine!

Dandy: oh! So you know that now? When we were all begging you to assist you husband, did you agree? You turned your back against the Father of your Children; you prefer your family to the family formed by you and your husband! You sex starved your husband! You denied him food in his house! You denied him the use of his matrimonial bed! You disrespect and embarrass him constantly in the presence of his Kids! Lanky was confined to sleeping with the Children or in the sitting room! You became a colossus in the house! Giving orders and instructions! Lanky became less than nothing before you! Do you know who Lanky was before you married him? (Shakes his head) go and research very well then you would understand why we respect him so much! Lanky was deceived by your churchy attitude! That was why he picked you for a wife because there were so many girls in his life and when it was time to settle down, he became confused. If not, who know you? And like a thief in the night, you talked him into establishing you, we thought it was a good idea, some of us warned him not to give you total free hand in the business, but Lanky has always been a big boy with a good heart and a lover of his women so he let you be. But you had your ulterior motive! Building a duplex for your family without carrying Lanky along! Is that what your learnt from all the fellowships and church services you attend?

Tombra: what God has joined together, let no man put ASUNDER!

Dandy: ehen? Are you blind? Or you simply refused to see! So all the so called church activities you partake in are for nothing? Can’t you see you allowed your selfishness and your money to put asunder in your marriage? For your information, you got what you deserve! You are not a good woman let alone a good wife! I think you are better off the way you are now! You cannot come and reap where you did not sow! For your information madam Thatcher! Lanky has bounced back better and bigger than you ever knew him to be! Your Children are in one of the best schools in Ghana and they are doing great! And for lanky, we shall invite you very soon for his traditional marriage!

(Dandy walks out o her: she collapse on the floor)

END OF DISCUSSION.

SPDAZZY:
I love this

Thanks. I posted yesterday o but sonething was wrong with mr account. I will post later today.

Brozo1:
Nice one Domawoleye... its good to be back reading ur write up.

Brozo! I missed u Guys!

ACT 14 SCENE 1


Ogiri and a beautiful young Lady are sitting together under a tree in a local setting, they sit side by side, the lady has a tray containing melon seeds on her laps, and they both scoop from the tray to peel.

Ogiri: Kate, are you always this quiet? I don’t know of any school Teacher that is this quiet o!

Kate: (Laughs) I am not quiet o! Go and ask from my Parents. You can even ask your Uncle’s wife! I am not quiet!

Ogiri: (pushes her softly on the shoulder) na lie joor! Mama J said you are a quiet and humble girl! But I don’t like quiet girls’ o! They will be hurting inside without voicing out their minds! Are you like that?

Kate: no I am not o! Ha! Me I speak my mind o!

Ogiri: Okay! If na so, speak your mind now!

Kate: ahn ahn! (Laughs) just like that? What is there to speak?

Ogiri: I can see that you have a lot of questions to ask me

Kate: (Laughs out loud) ahn ahn! Are you a prophet? Who says I have a lot to ask you?

Ogiri: of course I know! I can see it in your eyes!

Kate: (Laughs) oh Uncle Ogiri! You are too funny!

Ogiri: (feigns surprise) what was that? What did you just call me?

Kate: (Surprised) ahn ahn! I called your name nah! Or have you changed your name? I know your mates call you Lanky, but to us younger ones we call you Uncle Ogiri!

Ogiri: I beg you in the name of every thing you hold dear; I am not your uncle o! I know all my Nephews and nieces and you don’t fall into that category at all. Call me Lanky! Call me Ogiri! But I beg, I beg no call me Uncle! I no be your uncle! In fact I have a better name for you to call me!

Kate: a better name?

Ogiri: yes nah!

Kate: and what would that be?

Ogiri: (whispers into her ears)

Kate: (Laughing uncontrollably) oh my God! Oh God! So you are this funny?

Ogiri: no be joke o! But please don’t call me Uncle again!

Kate: okay! Okay! I won’t call you Uncle again!

Ogiri: Oya call me my new name let me hear!

Kate: (Laughs out loud and shakes her head) no! No! Not now nah!

Ogiri: Okay you are shy abi?

Kate: No o!

Ogiri: Oya call me nah!

Kate: (More laughs and she whispers into his ears) are you okay now?

Ogiri: (Smiles) Okay that will do for now, but later I want you to say it loud! So back to the matter, ask me what is on your mind!

Kate: (smiling) Okay, what do you want from me?

Ogiri: (Taken aback) shuo! Wow! Well, em, em, I was not expecting that line of question! As in, it came too direct!

Kate: You said I should speak my mind nah!

Ogiri: My dear you get mind true- true and you no dey beat around the bush! Okay listen make I tell you my own mind also. Kate, I want a serious relationship with you! One that would lead to marriage!
Kate: ha!

Ogiri: na wetin?

Kate: that’s too direct nah!

Ogiri: na so!

Kate: But you are a married man with Kids nah! What sort of joke are you playing on me? For the records, I want you to know that I cannot be a second Wife to any Man no matter your worth!

Ogiri: cool down, calm down please and don’t be offended. Perhaps I was too direct. It is a long story but I will cut it short, details will follow as we get to know each other better. I am no longer a married man and talking about my worth, for your information, I am not worth anything again o! I have been out of Job for close to a year now! I am in the labour market as I speak with you. In fact if there is a vacancy for a teaching job in your school kindly contact me! I can teach Agric science, Biology, Physics and even Mathematics! (Kate looks shocked) see! Help me talk to your school Principal! I am ready to do anything!

Kate: What about your Wife? We know she is well to do!

Ogiri: My dear, she abandoned me several months ago when I lost my Job! She said her money is not to be shared with me but with her nuclear family! Her marriage to me was “for better, for better” She was not ready to suffer with me! Can you imagine that I have not touched a woman in almost a year now?
Kate: (Surprise) shuo! For real?

Ogiri: yes nah! Please I do not want to rush you; I just need a shoulder to lean on at this time of my life! I am not a lazy man, I will rise again, and when I rise again, I will need a friend and a companion, not a lone ranger like Tombra my so called wife!

Kate: hmm, na wa o! So the rich also cry for real!

Ogiri: My Sister! I am wailing! Not just crying. I thank God for friends that I have helped in the past, I thank God for my Uncle and his wife! They have been sustaining me since I exhausted my savings!

Kate: what about your Children?

Ogiri: They are now schooling in Ghana! They are both in Secondary School there.

Kate: But you came here with a brand new car? I know your Car but this is different!

Ogiri: I told you I have Friends that are good. It belongs to a Friend!
Kate: Do you still drink?

Ogiri: By the grace of God, yes! I still drink once in a while. But for now, I don’t have the money for beer.

Kate: well, I am sorry for all you have passed through. By the grace of God, everything you lost will be restored in Jesus name!
Ogiri: Amen o! Amen!

Kate: Everyone here in the Village know you as a kind hearted and generous man! Even my elder brother Fubara use to speak of your magnanimity.

Ogiri: Which Fubara? Do I know him?

Kate: Yes! You were classmates throughout your secondary School!

Ogiri: (Exclaims) wait a minute! Jesus Christ! Godspower Fubara! Is Godspower Fubara your brother! The honourable member of the House of assembly!?

Kate: (Nods her head smiling) Yes! He is our first born! I am the last! I am Kate Fubara!

Ogiri: Kate Fubara! Oh my Gawd! Your bros na my G nah! Na my main man! Do you know we were very close?

Kate: of course I know! Why do you think I gave you audience in the first place? Besides, Mama Joe has told me everything that befell you.

Ogiri: Mama Joe? Are you serious? Wow! Well, they have been wonderful People. Uncle and Mama Joe, they spoke well about you too. I will call Fubara and introduce my self as his in-law!

Kate: which in-law? Don’t bet on it o! (Pushes him softly on the shoulder)

Ogiri: This one no be bet matter! This one na confirm! Wow! It’s like I have Butterflies in my stomach! I have not felt like this in a long while. I never knew that meeting with you could turn out this way! I feel like I have known you forever!

Kate: me too, I feel so free with you. I will talk to my principal tomorrow as per the vacancy. I think we need a physics Teacher in S.S.2, Mr. Johnson has entered politics so the School needs a replacement.

Ogiri: (Hugs her) wow! Thank you! Thank you so much!

Kate: (pushes him off) not yet nah! It’s too early to celebrate when I have not even told him yet, what of if he has other plans for the position?

Ogiri: (relaxes) Okay, okay! But it is comforting enough to even hear that there is a vacancy somewhere! That statement has been scarce to my ear! Every where I went it was ‘no vacancy’

Kate: (Looks at her wrist watch) Uncle Ogiri! Its time for me to go and meet my mother in the shop!
Ogiri: wetin you call me now?

Kate: (covers her mouth to supress a laugh) Oh I am so sorry!

Ogiri: oya call me again make I hear!

Kate: uhun! Not now (She stands up and begins to tidy up the work environment)

Ogiri: don’t worry! By the time my twins will be kicking inside your stomach, I will see if you will still be calling me Uncle!

Kate: (Laughs) don’t bet on it o!

Ogiri: (Mimics her) don’t bet on it o!

Kate: Please wait for me let me go inside and drop this tray in the house and change my Clothes too. Hope you don’t mind?

Ogiri: Shuo! I dey craze? If you say I should stand here till you go to Sokoto and return, I will stay! (Kate laughs and runs off)
(Ogiri walks around the tree; he hails someone greeting him from afar. He brings out his Phone and begins to fiddle with it as Kate re- enters, she goes straight to him and plants an envelope in his hand)

Kate: Don’t open it until you are alone please. Please manage whatever you see inside; you know I am just a School teacher!
(Ogiri stops and looks at the envelope in his hands, then he looks down into her eyes, pulls her close and plants a kiss on her lips)

Fade

rofemiguwa:
Hello from da odrside eeeee

Dom please come n updateeeee

Am sorry for not commenting sincee but pls come n update, we miss ur story.

Hello from da odrsideeeeee

* singing in my adele voice*

Okay I will update and complete it. No encouragement's. I thought it was boring.

ACT 13 SCENE 1

Interior: provision Shop- products are scantily displayed on shelves, two sales Girls standing by as Tombra moves to and fro looking agitated while dialling her Phone ceaselessly.

Tombra: (Soliloquizing aloud) Chai! One chance! I don enter one chance! Ye! Ye ye! (Hands on her head) my own don kpafuka for Port Harcourt! Ha! My own don finish! (To the girls) Did you girls say you have not seen Akpors!

Girls: No Madam!

Tombra: (Tries the phone call again) Chai! I don die! I don die! (Stamps feet on the ground) her Phone has been off for over a week now! I went to her Office, it was locked up! Peple around said she has relocated, relocated to where nah?! No one knows! Ye! My own don finish! I do enter correct one chance! (Walling) where do I start from? I collected a load of six million naira from the bank, plus my own three million naira! (To the girls) No be nine million naira be that?

Girls: Na so Madam!

Tombra: All my savings are gone! Look at my Shop! (Gesticulates) look! Look! Na wetin remain here? Every thing don finish! I used my building as collateral; I also used my family land at Rukpokwu as Collateral for this loan! Ha! Family land! What do I tell my Father and my brothers? My Bank will confiscate all these properties! Ha! Which kain wahala be dis o! Where or whom do I run to now? So this is how I have become a victim of 419? A whole me! Kai! Water don pass Garri o! (wailing continues as two plain clothes detectives and two bank Officials enter the Shop) hey! Dem don come o! (She collapse on a chair crying.)

Man 1: Officers, this is the woman! Mrs. Tombra Ogiri!

Police Officer: Madam! Madam! Are you Tombra Ogiri? (Tombra looks up and nods her head)

Police Officer: Please you are wanted at the Office in respect of the loan you collected from your bank over six months ago! Please close the Shop and come with us!

(Tombra keeps nodding her head in affirmation, she stands up and looks the Shop all over, the Police ushers her and her girls outside and close the Shop.

Fade

peeled

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Reyginus:
Nice. But don't expect front page. Don't write for front page or for people to praise you. Write because you love to write.

Guy i dont write for praises! It is a passion. The message of the poem has weight and political undertone that can change tle life style of those of us that live in Aba.
I see topics that make front page daily and when i requested for fp,it is because it is worth it. I have written articles here severally and i never gave a damn for fp save for this piece. Simply because it is worth it!

Lalastica i think the people of Abia needs to read this! Front page things!

Aba! My Aba!!
My beloved homeland and heritage
The ancient city of my forefathers
The land of the great Elephants
The land of merchants and business moguls
The land of victorious sportsmen and women
The land rich in food and waters
Ariaria, Foulks Road, Ogbor Hill, Azikiwe
The streets that make Aba what it is
History will never forget your riot of 1929

But what happened to you?
Your beauty, your pride, where are they?
Where are the gallant Elephants?
Where are those industries that made you thick?
Where are your once agile youths?
All like sheep have gone astray
Everyone to his tent like the Israelites!
Your youths are scattered about
Like scoundrels they fight for survival
All man for himself: survival of the fittest

Your streets are littered with dirt
Your air is filled with stench of pollution
Your roads are now dumping ground for refuse
Mosquitoes sing lullaby in our ears all night
We sleep with one eye open and ears drawn

Your youths have become lazy
They all seek the easiest way out
They resort to crime and vices as means of survival
because they lost their self confidence
The number of youth lunacy increase by the day.
Your maidens pervade the streets at Night
I fear my shadow at nights...No one is safe!
Fear of hoodlums, the police, army, Bakassi Boys!
I do not want to be a Victim of circumstance.

You used to be known for your versatility
now you are tagged king of fake products
you used to be a delight to investors and tourist
now you are desolate, left to die in the pool of your blood
the great Elephant!! Now you trod with head bowed in shame
How art the mighty fallen? Your eyes are beclouded with tears
Your skin patched with bruises and scars from your struggles
Aba my Aba, who will bring back your glory?

You have been lied to for too long
Those you so trusted have always betrayed you
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing
Vampires! They have sucked your children dry
Like the breast of the old, the water has run dry
They tax your children with numerous levies
They do not care for your children
They eat alone, they and their Children yet unborn
They use your sweat and build castles in foreign lands
They loot you to enrich other lands
Unrepentant fools they are! They do not hear the wailing of the people.

But I have a dream!
That one day, the Elephant will bounce back
That we shall be free from ‘our own’ that has held us captive
That the length of Port Harcourt Road and Aba-Owerri Road
Shall be liken to the streets of Paris
That investors, tourist, foreigners shall be struggling to come to our land
That our youths shall make sports and entertainment lucrative
That our children shall become professionals of various endeavors

I foresee a wind of change!
A hurricane! A cyclone! That will sweep the land of all ills
and usher in a haven of peace and tranquility!
I see the rebirth of my homeland for good
then shall we all gather at the Great Eyimba Stadium
and sing with one voice:
"Nzogbu! Nzogbu!! Enyiimba Enyii!!!
The dawn of a new era.

ACT 8 SCENE 1

Ogiri’s apartment, he enters the house to se Tombra discussing on the phone, she is seated on the Couch and facing her on the centre table are bundles of naira notes. Immediately she sees Ogiri she cuts the call and begins th garther the money into her hand bag.

Tombra: (Surprised) ahan! Can’t you knock before you enter the house? (She packs her money hurriedly)

Ogiri: I should knock before I enter the house? Why didn’t you lock the door when you know you don’t want to be interrupted! And by the way why are you packing up your money because I came in? Do I look like a thief? Or have I stolen from you before?

Tombra: that is your business! I can do what I want, when I want and how I want!

Ogiri:: In fact madam! You don’t know how you disgust me! My hate for you grows by the day! You are hiding money from me! The money that is the proceeds of my labour and sweat! So I have fallen so low that you will see me and start hiding your money? You have changed the keys to the Kitchen so that i will not eat! You changed the key to all the Lockers and Cupboards! Even the key to the bed room door you changed it! You turned me to an out cast in my own house! You have sex starved me for almost eight months now! (Raises his voice) well, I know you have a man some where that is servicing you! All your actions since I lost my job show that you have been unfaithful to me all along!

Tombra: yes shout! Shout let the neighbours know that you are a frustrated man!

Ogiri: why wont I shout? What else do I have to hide? I am down and he that is down fears no fall! All the neighbours know of my condition already! They all know about how you are treating me too! Is it not the neighbours that take me in when you lock me out some nights? Is it not the neighbours that feed me some times and give me stipends on which I have survived thus long?

Tombra: I hope you are sleeping with their Wives too?

Ogiri: oh! You think they are like you? No! They are human beings with clean conscience! Haven’t you asked your self how I fuel my Car and still try to look as if all is well? Have you seen me come home drunk at night since I lost my job? No! Yet I still hang out with my friends and they take care of me! The same friends I had before I met you! The same friends that attended our wedding ceremony! They did not abandon me! No! Not for a moment! They have been helpful and surportive.

Tombra: Please go and sit down! You are only jealous of my success! You can not face the fact that I am now richer than you, that’s all!
Ogiri: Jealous of you? How myopic you think! Is it a competition? And how do you measure success? Is it in monetary terms alone? (Laughs sarcastically) woman let me tell you what you do not know!

Tombra: (sits tight clutching her bag to her Chest) what do you have to say? I am listening!

Ogiri: good! I like that! You are listening! Today you go hear word from me! I can choose to chase you out of this house this minute! But I will not do that yet, not now!

Tombra: (Flares up) for where? You can’t! Try it and see!

Ogiri: even your so called business, I can set that Shop on fire without you or any one suspecting me! I can arrange with Boys to burgle the Shop and wreck you! I can pour salt into the engine of your Car and knock the engine! My dear I can wreck you! There are many ways to kill a rat!

Tombra: (Jumps up clapping her hands and shouting) thank God you are confessing! I will report you to my Father! I will report you to the Police in case anything happens to me or my Business!

Ogiri: see mumu! See mumu! If I want to do any of those things do you think I will tell you? I wont tell you nah! You will just be sleeping at home and you will receive phone calls that your Shop is burning, and as you rush out to drive to the Shop, you Car will not start and never will, have you forgotten I am a typical Port Harcourt boy? I grew up on the streets and i dey bam!

Tombra: if you dey bam, I go show you say me I dey well!

Ogiri: oh Tombra, Tombra! You don’t have foresight at all, you no get sense and I think it is because you did not finish your School! So you think I can not rise again or what? Have you forgotten I am still young? I am just forty years old! I have my first and second degree! I am a hustler which means I can do anything to survive! Tombra I am every woman’s dream man! I adored you! I pampered you! I spoilt you! I loved you Tombra! But you stabbed me in the back; you insulted me in the most unforgiveable way! You made me a subject of ridicule in the whole estate, amongst my friends and my family! Even before my Children! You want me t loose my respect before my Children! And by the way, (Calls out) Joshua! Ella! (He goes into the room and comes out) where are my Children? I understand they closed for the term yesterday?

Tombra: Tyhey are not around! They went to spend the holiday with my Cousin at Abuloma!

Ogiri: when are they coming back?

Tombra: until School resumes!

Ogiri: (laughs sarcastically clapping his hands) Tombra! You sent my Children to spend their holiday with your Cousin without telling me let alone get my approval? Even if I am jobless and broke, you do not have to disrespect me that much! Where and how did I even wrong you Tombra? I do not have a say in this house again because I don’t have a job abi?
But how could you have pretended so well for fourteen years? You are indeed a good actor! Nolly wood must be missing a star! Well I thank God that it happened this way! I thank God that I still have my health intact! What would I have done if I was incapacitated? That means you would have poisoned me for good so that I don’t have to be a burden to you! But I thank God that I am complete and my senses are okay! You should have waited for a better time to show me your colour! Not now that I am still hale and hearty! Yet every other evening you dress up and go to Church! How am I sure you are not even sleeping with your so called Pastor? I have not been going to Church for over six months now because I do not have money for offering or tithe yet none of the Pastors or Ministers has called me! How daft I have been all this while! Even Pastor Kelvin that I used to give financial assistance never called me on phone for once to say how far? At least they know I am out of Job! Yet you go to this Church every other day! Which kain Church be that I beg?

Tombra: I can see that your condition is beginning to affect your senses! You don dey Kolo Ogiri!

Ogiri: yes! I don dey Kolo! The truth they say is bitter (he walks into the room still nagging, Tombra dials her Phone and begins to discuss on the phone, Ogiri returns with his travelling bag fully loaded) madam heavy weight! Look this Man well, well! Look me! You dey see me? Good bye!
(He walks out while Tombra stood looking wide eyed and dumb founded)

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peeled

ACT 4 SCENE 1
Ogiri’s sitting room, the two Kids are busy at the dinning table with their home works. Ogiri enters
Joshua: Daddy welcome! Good evening!
Ogiri: Goode evening Josh! How are you?
Daniella; (Comes to hug Daddy) welcome Daddy!
Ogiri: How are you my pretty Angel? Where is your Mother?
Joshua: She has gone to Church for fellowship! Daddy, they say we should not come to School tomorrow!
Ogiri: why? Because of your School fees abi?
Daniella: Yes Daddy! We were called out today at the assembly ground for non payment of School fees! It was so embarrassing!
Ogiri: did you tell your Mother?
Joshua: mummy came to pick us from School and our Bursar saw her and told her personally.
Ogiri: and what did she say?
Daniella: she said we should tell you! She said you have the money to pay our fees but you do not want to pay it.
Ogiri: My God! Is that what she said?
Joshua: yes Daddy! We reminded her that you are jobless but she threatened to slap any one of us that says so again!
Ogiri: how much is the total fees?
Joshua: mine is seventy two thousand naira and Danny’s own is sixty four thousand naira. The total is em em one hundred and thirty six thousand naira!
Ogiri: Okay! I will give you the money tomorrow, but don’t tell your mother about it yet!
Daniella: Daddy but you said you do not have money! So mummy was right after all?
Ogiri: I can raise the money for your fees my dear, but after paying the fees, things will get worse for us, especially me!
Daniella: how daddy?
Ogiri: I will become penniless! I will have no dime left to feed on! I am sure your mother will not allow you Guys to go hungry, but for me, the Lord is my Shepherd!
Joshua: but Daddy, why is mummy behaving like this to you? Was it not you that opened the Shop for her when I was ten years old? I remember nah!
Daniella: mummy must be wicked!
Ogiri: no! No! Danny do not say that about your mother, she is only going through a process called metamorphosis! When jungle mature, who no know go know!
Joshua: Mummy has a lot of money Daddy! Every day at the Shop she counts a lot of money! Why cant she help you out?
Ogiri: my Son, women are like Children, give a Child a piece of Cake and try to collect part or all of it, you will see drama!
Daniella: ahan! How will you give a Kid cake and you want to collect it back! Is it fair?
Ogiri: good! Joshua, you heard your Sister abi?
Joshua: yes sir!
Ogiri: that is a woman for you! Don’t you know that the Person that gave you Cake and wants to collect part or all of it has a good reason for doing so? Well, no wahala! (Walks towards the room and looks at the lights) this light! Is it NEPA or Generator?
Joshua: it is generator sir!
Ogiri: ha! Why not wait until seven o’clock before putting it on?
Joshua: we need it to do our assignments and home works!
Ogiri: you can still do your home work at night nah! It is just past four o’clock and you have already put on the generator! Do we still have fuel in the fifty litre jerry can?
Daniella: Joshua poured the last one into the Gen!
Ogiri: hmm, you Children don’t know what you are up against! Look! I don’t have money, I am broke! After paying this School fees of your, I will be left on nothing! I will become a beggar until I get a job. You Children are used to a life of surplus but my dear, levels don change o! This your new mother that I know would rather buy fuel for her Generator at the Shop instead of the one at home. Go and put off that Gen until night!
(Joshua reluctantly leaves the room grumbling)
Daniella: daddy, did you buy anything for me?
Ogiri: how? Anything from where nah? Did I go to work? Don’t you understand all that I have been going through in this house? I am a jobless man! I am getting desperate now! (Storms out of the house, Daniella feels embarrassed and begins to sob as she enters the room)

Fade

ACT 5 SCENE 1
Dandy’s Bar Arena, Customers are seated and getting entertained. Soft jazz music plays on the back ground. Ogiri is ruminating over a bottle of Legend extra Stout at one end of the Bar in solitude. He did not notice Dandy’s presence until Dandy tapped him on the back.
Lanky: oh Dandy! How nah?
Dandy: old Boy, na so the thing don bad reach? You just dey deep in thought sotey you no know when I reach your back
Lanky: my brother, I just tire! I don search for work tire, every where wey i go na the same story!
Dandy: no vacancy?
Lanky: no vacancy!
Dandy: it is over five months now nah! Ant word from your former Company? (notices Ogiri’s drink) wait a minute! You are drinking Legend? Wetin happen ? no Star for my Bar?
Lanky: old boy forget that thing o! Na when I get money be dat o! Under normal circumstances I fit take three bottles of Star on a good day, but now I just need a bottle of Legend to give me the effect of three bottles of Star. It is called cost saving! (laughs)
Dandy: na wao! Before we sabi wetin dey happen now you go begin drink shekpe and kaikai! All na cost saving with more highness abi?
Lanky: me shekpe? God forbid bad thing!
Dandy: no worry nah! Na small small, when you reach that stage you go still find reason to justify am! I don tey for this business! I have seen Customers rise from drinking Alomo Bitters to drinking blue Label and exquisite wines here! I have also seen big boys go down from blue label to sachet whisky! Back to the matter! your company, how far?
Lanky: old boy I don lose hope for there o! Government don change hand nah! Our connection na from Abuja before and since the ruling Party don change now n aim be say no hope of automatic ticket for our Company again. The new Party stalwarts would have their own Candidates too, you know how it works in Nigeria!
Dandy: hmm, do you remember my friend Tamuno the Banker?
Lanky: Tamuno that smokes cigarette like a chimney?
Dandy: yes! Yes! I told him about your condition, especially your Wife’s attitude.
Lanky: can he help? I don’t have any experience in banking o, I read Agric engineering in school, but I can adapt to anything sha, anything as long as it is legitimate!
Dandy: (laughs) don’t worry Lanky! Tamuno is a big boy! You don’t know anything about him other than the fact that you see him here smoking and drinking. He will help you, just bring your CV to me and start praying and fasting so that those wey dey fillow you from home no go see road block this one for you! (Both men laugh) meanwhile don’t breathe a word of it to any body until it clicks!
Lanky: (Brings out a folder envelope from his rear pocket and hands over to Dandy) here! My CV!
Dandy: (Surprised) shuo! You dey carry am waka?
Lanky (Brings out two similar envelopes from other pockets, waves them at Dandy and pockets them back) my Guy! Dem no dey tell man o!
Dandy: so what is the situation now at home?
Lanky: I have paid the Children’s school fees. Now I don’t have a dime on me, i survive by engaging in any menial job that I come across. You won’t believe my wife came to me three nights ago and told me to provide money to replenish the food stuff in the house!
Dandy: kai! This woman no go kill you so? Upon say she sabi say you no get work!
Lanky: and the most annoying thing she does is that she chooses to embarrass me in the presence of the Kids! But my Kids are smart, they know her game and they console me after words. She cant influence them.
Dandy: kai! Your wife dey fall hand I beg!
Lanky: (Empties the content of the bottle into the glass cup) real falling hand my Guy!
Dandy: you don chop?
Lanky: I wan thief am? For where? This Stout dey serve as food and drink for me o! If I reach house for night, I go check Kitchen for any left over food to eat, if I see any, then I am lucky else i drink water and go to sleep in hunger.
Dandy: old boy! This your case na like ‘living in bondage o’!
Lanky: in my own house o!
Dandy: (Calls out) Akpan! Akpan! (Akpan appears) Bring another bottle of Stout for Oga Lanky and tell them for Kitchen to prepare rice for am (To Lanky) you prefer jollof or white rice?
Lanky: Guy! No vex I beg, I no need alcohol again, and as per the food, my own beggar still get choice o, because na we we. Give me strong fufu or eba, I take God beg you! Rice na bird food
Dandy: okay Akpan, tell dem to prepare yellow garri with native soup and Cow belle. You hear me?
Akpan: yes sir! Fufu plus yellow soup and (Dandy interrupts)
Dandy: shut up ya mouth! Idiot! Get out from here!
Lanky: (Laughs) you and this your Akpan sef!
Dandy: you no hear wetin he dey talk? I told him to order for yellow garri, native soup and cow belle and what did he say when I asked if he understood?
Lanky: he said fufu and yellow soup! (Laughs out loud)
Dandy: please let me give your order to them at the Kitchen (Excuses himself)

Exit.

peeled

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ACT 1 SCENE 1

(Mr. Ogiri has just lost his job, the contract being executed by his Company where he is a site Manager is completed and the Government has paid them off. No further contract in the company’s kitty and as such has to close down business until further notice.
Ogiri a.k.a Lanky because of his stature enters his house and undresses lazily, he toss his Shirt and Singlet carelessly on the Chairs in the sitting room, he goes to the wine shelf and pours himself a shot of Brandy, he gulps down a shot and squeezes his face in reaction to the effect of the brandy in his mouth, he then pours in another shot and retires to sit of the three seater couch in the Parlour, he picks up the TV remote control and flips through channels until he settles for one.)
Ogiri: (hissing as he soliloquizes) Na wa o! (Sips some brandy and squeezes his face) Where man wan start from now? (Hisses) Only God knows when they will call us back! With the elections around the corner, surely no hope for us until after the elections and too bad for us if the incumbent does not win (Hisses) kai! Na wao! This is the first time I will be out of Job in fourteen years! I did not see this coming at all! (Hisses a long one and sips his drink) Water go pass Garri if my Oga Party no win this election o! (He gulps down the content of the glass, squeezes his face and belches out loud, he pulls off his Shoes and lays comfortably on the couch and sleeps off)
ACT 1 SCENE 2
(Enters Mrs. Tombra Ogiri and their Kids. Joshua is twelve and Daniella is seven. The Kids are still dressed in their School Uniforms, they rush to greet their daddy but sees him sleeping thy run into their room to change their clothes, Tombra comes around and looks her sleeping husband over, she picks up the empty glass cup and smells it, she picks up the Clothes Ogiri had dropped carelessly on the Chairs then she sees the folded envelope on the centre table, she picks it up and reads the retrenchment letter of her husband: Ogiri turns over on the couch, utters some incoherent words, he hisses a long one and continues to snore )
Tombra: (Murmurs) Jesus! Jesus Christ! (She drops the letter and runs into the room tilting over a side stool, Ogiri jumps awake abruptly)
Ogiri: Who goes there! (Wide eyed) I say who goes there! (He stands up and looks around the sitting room; he notices the movement of the adjoining Curtain to the bedroom, he moves care fully towards the bedroom and shouts) I say who goes there! (The Kids now in different clothes rush out to greet him, hugging him, he was taken aback) oh dear me! It’s you Guys! Who brought you home?
Joshua: its Mummy sir!
Ogiri: Your Mum came home this early? What for?
Daniella: Today is Thursday nah! Mummy will go to Church for fellowship
Ogiri: Oh! Oh! I forgot!
Joshua: But Daddy, why are you home so early? Are you going to Church too?
Ogiri: Em, em, no! Not really, something happened at work and we closed early
Daniella: What happened at work Daddy?
Ogiri: Em em, we are on recess for now! We have finished the project we were handling at Elekahia and we do not have any other one at hand so I won’t be going to work for sometime until we get another Contract. Where is your Mum? Is she inside?
Daniella: yes daddy! She is inside! (The Kids leaves their dad and proceeds to the dinning table with their books to start working on their home works, Daddy come and help me out with my home work.
Ogiri: I am coming my dear! Give it to Josh to help you out; if he cannot do it, then I will do it!
Joshua: Daddy what about if you cannot do it! (Sneering)
Ogiri: Then we will consult the internet! (He enters the room only to re emerge trailing his wife) sweet heart I was coming to meet you in the room, the Kids say you are preparing for Church!
Tombra: yes I was!
Ogiri: You were? You changed your mind?
Tomra: Yes!
Ogiri: Wtin happen? Why the change of mind? Did you just change your mind on your way home? (Picks up the letter his wife dropped in the floor) or you changed you mind when you got home and read this letter?
Tombra: Daddy Joshua what is it nah? Haba!
Ogiri: Ahn han! Why are you so agitated? Did something happen to you too?
Tombra: (Snaps her fingers over her head) Tufiakwa! God forbid! Nothing will happen to me in Jesus name!
Ogiri: (Nods his head knowingly, he hands over the letter to her) Sweet heart, please read this!
Tombra: Read what? Will my reading it change its content? Please don’t give me any ad news letter to read o!
Ogiri: Which means you have read it already while i was sleeping, that is why you are acting this way and that is why you are no longer going to the Church, but you did not even show any sign of concern towards me! You did not even ask me what happened! You are supposed to me my pacifier instead you are being hostile and aggressive! What kind of attitude are you giving me so?
Tombra: You lost your job and instead of going about to look for another job you came home to drink, sleep and snore!
Ogiri: How? Is it not today that I lost the Job? Did I see it coming? No! Won’t I come home first and think of the next step to take? I have been working consistently for fourteen years non stop! I don’t even know where my credentials are any longer except I begin to search, I don’t have an updated CV! All these I have to come home and arrange before going out to look for another job!
Tombra: You did not come home to think! You came home to drink! (Points to the empty glass cup on the centre table. The Children leaves the sitting room with their books slowly)
Ogiri: see how you are disgracing me before my Children? Tombra what is wrong with you? You are getting me scared! You have never talked to me like this in our twelve years of marriage!
Tombra: you have never been jobless in our twelve years of marriage!
Ogiri: But you swore to stand by me for better for worse! Just my first day out of job and you are acting up this way! Darling, I hope you will not make me regret this marriage because as it stands now I need your support more than ever! I see no reason for this attitude you are putting up after all we are not yet desperate! Your Shop can sustain us until I get something to do or until they call us back to work!

Tombra: (Furious) Did You hear your self now? You hear yourself?

Ogiri: What did I say wrong?

Tombra: So you are going to wait until they call you back? And when will that be?

Ogiri: Hopefully, after the elections!

Tombra: (Claps her hands sarcastically) ha ha ha! You make me laugh! That is four months from now! And what will you be doing until then? Drinking and sleeping?

Ogiri: I cannot be hungry till then, I have some savings that can carry us for the next six month.

Tombra: Including payment of the Children’s School fees when if falls due?

Ogiri: Can’t you take care of the fees for me? Your shop can take care of that nah! After all i have never asked you to give account of your shop income to me! I gave you free hand right from its inception. But now, I need your assistance.

Tombra: Bros I can’t o! I can’t at all at all! I have other concerns i need money for!

Ogiri: (Angry) other concerns? For where? In this house of else where? Are you okay? Look here woman! It is for better for worse o! When it was rosy you were there to enjoy good life! Just today, today! That I lost my job you are already showing me attitude! You could not even persevere for a month of two before you start to complain. Just one day! One day! Tombra, you fall my hand!

Tombra: was it not you that said you want to wait until eternity before you start looking for another job? How did you expect me to react? You are scaring me with your nonchalant attitude!

Ogiri: Oh! Me! Nonchalant attitude? A whole me? I have maintained a steady job for fourteen years with a nonchalant attitude! I built this house from my savings with a nonchalant attitude! I bought you two Cars and set you up in business with my nonchalant attitude abi? Kai! Kai! Kai! My Gawd! Now i understand why it is not good to marry a girl you met when you have arrived! They will never know how to manage you when you go down because they are used to having everything at their disposal. Tombra! You are a gold digger! I made a mistake in marrying you! I think I will have to convene a family meeting so that we can revisit this charade you and I called marriage!

Tombra: (Clapping and booing) nonchalant man! Lazy man! Go and get a job! You want to turn me into a man over night! What is mine is mine! You will not see a kobo from my shop! You gave me money for business, and so what? Am I not your wife? Is it not your responsibility to make me comfortable? So why are you bragging as if you have done what Napoleon could not do? Go to Town and see what Men like you are doing for their wives! Common three million naira that you invested in my Shop we no go hear word again! (The Children emerges from the room standing side by side they stare at their Parent ranting till fade)

ASUNDER!.....(Family Matters)



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Naira land forum, thank you for your audience, CSSA Re-union, my Face book page fans, I say thank you for the love.




All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

DEDICATION

This one is for Daniella, my Second.

CAST
OGIRI
TOMBRA-Ogiri’s Wife
JOSHUA-Ogiri’s Son
DANIELLA-Ogiri’s daughter
UNCLE JOE-Ogiri’s Uncle
MAMA JOE- Ogiri Uncle’s Wife
DANDY- Ogiri’s Friend and Owner of Dandy’s Bar
TOPE- Ogiri’s Friend
TAMUNO-Ogir’s Friend
BRIAN-Ogiri’s Friend
NJOKU-Ogiri’s Friend
OLD SOJA- Tombra’s Father
MAMA-Tombra’s Mother
POLICE
BANKER 1
BANKER 2
AKPAN- Bar Man at Dandy’s Bar
WAITRESS-At Dandy’s Bar
SALES GIRL 1&2- Tombra’s Shop

Thank you for your kind words God bless you too,

gentlejohn:
DOMAWOYELE u finally brought me out of ghost mode. I know this day will come but never anticipated that it will be this year. Anyway, your story is kind of unique, lots of lessons and motivations. You are a superb writer, God will grant you grace and bless the work of your hands beyond your dreams. Keep it up.

I invite you to read 'Restless' and ' thorns in my Boots' both by domawoleye. You will be glad you did. You will see life in reality and not fantasies or illussions!

Brozo1:
Here comes another breathtaking story by Domawoleye. After reading Thorns in my boots, whenever I read your writeup, I visualize myself watching a Nollywood movie with real contents for the youth to learn from, rather than what we have today, aside from movies from great producers amongst which Domawoleye could be grouped into. I guess its hightime we had someone like you manning the production of great works like those you churn out on Nairaland. Kudo Sir. Looking forward to reading another master-piece from you. And with people like you writing stories that promotes the good image of the Nigerian Army, my undaunted love for the military just got rekindled.

What can i say Brozo! I am so honoured. By ur kind words. Thanks a bunch.

Dear all,

As the best new comer in the month of March, I have received the credit Alert for my winning. thanks to the Sponsor! and thanks to the motivator Princesa. to all that voted for me, once again, I duff my hat! One Love!

Dear all,
This is to confirm the receipt of credit Alert as the Winner of the "Best new comer of the month of March" Thanks to the Sponsor! and thanks to Princesa the motivator! God bless your hustles!

Jesuzboy, you are good. your descriptive prowess is outstanding. You have got it in you so keep the fire burning. thumbs up!

Thanks a lot Guys!

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Link for Restless on Amazon Kindly