How far will you go for a good meal?
Would you loose an arm or be willing to kill?
Allow me narrate a late afternoon.
That began with a crave for food.
After the day's wandering
The need to satisfy our hungry bellies
Took over us six.

It was a risky business I assure you,
As through our options we looked.
'We have the gun-happy or money-hungry cops just outside,
Looking for bail money or to skin our hides.'
'Not to mention the curfew at 4
That puts us right in their paws.'
'How do we get dinner without being caught?'.... More at https://chinaomi./2021/01/14/dinner/

Close to ninety days
Since the pandemic struck.
“Is it a passing phase?”
Some ask, others are in shock.

Here is one thing we are sure
With unusual weapons we war....

https://chinaomi./2020/05/08/thru-my-eyes-covid-19/

GIRL;
Don’t get angry
That is how you were formed
To be second
From the minute you were born.
You may be the first offspring
But no one really sees you
Until.....

https://chinaomi./2020/05/07/a-poetic-conversation/

The calming color of the sea
May define a magical moon
Or a time when no happiness you feel.

It names a clear sky
Or tell immoral lies
Lovely on the pupil of the eye
Makes beauties that fly.

Was once a boy band
And very appealing on candy.
Depicts riches and royalty
Or a clear sign of insanity

As big as a whale
Or small, like sweet berries
Little wonder, it’s a fibre
In nature’s merries.

But, like a slow and sickly ending
Or black’s partner in beating
It is the topsy turvy feelings for you
Blue.

https://chinaomi./2020/01/30/blue/

www.chinaomi.

My escort had just sprung on me after the movie at the cinema, that he didn’t have enough transport fare for me to board a cab home. In a way, I was happy about that. I was in his debt so much, i needed to think of a way of paying back. Since he was feeling bad about his shortcoming, I just reminded him the alternative of public transport which I was already used to. In this case, it was the usual yellow buses. It was at that time, I felt a sick hole in my stomach. It was 7:58pm and I was supposed to move from Sabo bus stop to Alakija in Satellite Town.
By the time I had settled into one of the buses, I had broken into a sweat. I was seated like a sandwich between two plump and rotund women. I know I shouldn’t have gotten myself into that, but that was the only bus present and I had no other choice. The stench of body odor and weed was making me lightheaded as the conductor kept urging people into the bus with his hoarse voice saying “Orile wole ₦100, five people on a seat ooo, no change”. After about 30 minutes, the bus was ready to move. My legs were already cramped, but my face showed no pain because I had prepared my mind for this.
” Thank God say I no come here enter bus. Na ₦70 them go collect, but you go lose pass that amount with all the pickpockets wey full here”.....

Read more at https://chinaomi./2015/11/12/3-hours/

“If you love God, wave your hands in the air”
“If you love God shout a louder hallelujah”
“If you love God put your right hand on your chest and pray with me”
“If not, don’t bother your life; Let the Devil continue to use you to play soccer.”

These and many other expressions are components of the anthem of my new acquaintance with our love/hate relationship.

Last night, I made the big cut. So the length of my hair was primarily on my mind because one look at the mirror this morning almost brought tears to my eyes. My thoughts in the bus were the different natural methods of making my hair grow long and fast.

The preacher took this unintentional snob personally. “Some people here think God is not their business. Except you are a witch, everyone knows the importance of God in your life. So right now, tell your neighbor ‘Go and change your ways. Serve God’ ”
I smiled at that. I had no idea that my silence had pissed him off so bad. I am not a troublemaker but I wanted him to fret in annoyance at that moment; He called me out and now its showdown.....

Read more at https://chinaomi./2016/09/10/preacher/

The journey of 5 roommates to clear their reputation of guilt and find justice...
Please read at

https://chinaomi./2019/08/04/innocents-part-1/

https://chinaomi./2019/08/11/innocents-part-2/

https://chinaomi./2019/08/12/innocents-part-3/

https://chinaomi./2019/08/14/innocents-part-4/


Enjoy!!

Nneora was becoming worried like the rest of the other girls. It was Tuesday evening and Gbemi was not back from her boyfriend's place. Her phone was switched off and even though the other girls were too scared to admit it, the situation had a chilling familiarity. Contacting her boyfriend, Dapo was impossible since no one had his cell number and he wasn't a student anymore.

"Do you think anyone got to her?" Adanna asked quietly. “We shouldn't focus on that. Let's get all we can from that SIM card before Bolu retrieves it" Nkem replied. Almost immediately, Nneora received a text message on her iPhone.

"Dapo is a member of the gang who supplied Bolu drugs. Without knowing, I revealed all we knew about Morenike. The only thing he doesn't know is that we are all involved. We need to act fast before we are found out. Tell the others and no one else"

Nneora thought she was hallucinating. “She just sent me a message" she announced in a shrilly voice. Then she read it aloud. The girls went hysterical. "What if they already know who and where we are?".......

Read more at https://chinaomi./2019/08/14/innocents-part-4/

Mannylex:



HI OP, your story looks very interesting.... I noticed you however posted part 2 and 3 separately. Please consolidate them together in this post for continuity. Thanks

Cc: Lalasticlala

Thank you... Will do just that

Guilt and grief were not their only problems.

Gbemi came into the room with annoyance one afternoon. "Do you know that half the girls in this hostel thinks we led Morenike to her death? I heard two of them loudly making snide comments as I passed by. They think we are all prostitutes and Morenike was just unlucky in one of her escapades" Gbemi said heatedly."It’s just rumors; it will pass" Nkem said. Enitan sat up. "I think it’s more than that. Moji's mother called me; she is not coming back to stay here". Everyone could already sense the reason for the decision. All fingers were pointed accusingly at them.

"We need to clear our name" Nneora said.
"And how on earth do we do that? We are no detectives. Besides, we told the police everything that we know" Nkem said in reply.
"The police? You know they are as good as snails" Nneora said as she noticed Adanna just sitting cross legged as usual but this time, looking dazed and staring into space. "You are not saying anything, Adanna"

"Do you remember when Morenike's sister came to pick her things yesterday? I was the only one in the room. I saw something under her bed that I should have given her sister" Adanna said while kneading her head, "I know it was wrong to keep it, but now I am not so sure".
"You are not making any sense, Adanna" Nkem cuts in.
Adanna raised her pillow and removed a green notepad. "Morenike kept a diary" She said as she raised the book.......

Read more at https://chinaomi./2019/08/12/innocents-part-3/

By the next morning, Morenike had more than just a small voice. She was scolding Enitan for using her cooker and leaving it unkempt and untidy. Enitan herself was unapologetic. "I already said I was sorry" she said rudely in response. As surprised and very much awake as everyone was, no one took the argument to heart; it was just girls squabble.

That evening Nkem said she will be going out and won't be back in two days.
"Boyfriend, sugar daddy or home?" Adanna asked while pretending to be paying rapt attention to her laptop as she typed. "Take a wild guess, child" Nkem replied with a sneer.

Not long after, Morenike stepped out telling the others that she will be back soon. Everyone forgot her absence until they were about to retire for the night. Gbemi her bunkmate tried to reach her but her phone was switched off. Moji was already asleep on Enitan's bed. "Did she say exactly where she was going?" Nneora asked. "Does she ever say anything?....

Read more at https://chinaomi./2019/08/11/innocents-part-2/

"Welcome Enitan" Moji, her squatter greeted. That made everyone mumble a welcome greeting as well. But Enitan pretended she couldn't feel the tension in the air and answered everyone with a tight smile and thank you after Adanna had asked about her folks. Nneora was bursting with annoyance and was so close to yelling at Enitan when Nkem distracted her.

"Nneora do you have some milk? I want to take cornflakes"
That cleared the air and even made a few in the room giggle because everyone knew Nkem hated cereal. She weighed more than most thick girls and believes that the only thing close to snacks that could quell her hunger was chicken and chips; cereal was never an option. So even Nneora had to smile when she made that request. Later that evening when Enitan and Moji went to church, the other girls couldn't help but gossip.

"She owes me an explanation" Nneora declared.
"Nobody is disputing that" Gbemi replied, “but do remember that whatever she does with her personal life is her business"
"I am not disputing that either, Gbemi. But she made it my business the minute her mother called me or have you all forgotten?" Nneora asked as she looked around.
"I was so scared that my mind was exploring different scenarios; was she kidnapped? Is she missing? Was there an accident? What......?"

Adanna was interrupted by Nkem's laughter, "Do I sound funny, Nkem?"
"Yes, you do. Only you and your naive mind will think that she was kidnapped. Everyone knows that 90% of the girls who leave hostels with their small travelling bags actually end up spending their nights, or days or weeks at their boyfriends' houses", Nkem said as she counted off with her fingers, "the houses of their sugar daddies or any man who is willing to fund their expenses. The other 10% are true Christians and Muslims alike or girls like you", Nkem continues as she points at Adanna, "or you, bunkie (short for bunkmate), no offense" as she also points at Nneora.

For a moment, Nkem held everyone's rapt attention until Gbemi laughed and Adanna clapped her hands with a frown on her face while sitting cross legged on her bed. "Thank you for that enlightenment, Professor in Women Affairs" Nkem bowed her big bulk in gratitude with a mocking sneer on her face.
"We are digressing. Let's say that lying about her actual whereabouts is her business. Leaving this room to the residence of a man or a monkey or a bear is also her business", Nneora continued heatedly as Morenike chuckled quietly, "but her mum calling me about her whereabouts makes it my business. Me calling her countless of times with no response makes it my business. The good Samaritan who eventually answered the call from God knows where, telling me he found her phone makes it my business."
"And the most irritating part is her so-called boyfriend/sugar daddy calling us to say we shouldn't fret or worry about her makes it our business." Gbemi continued.
Nkem who had already laid on her bed laughed and added "Oh, and don't forget he said she is in safe hands" and then gestured provocatively with her hands. This made everyone laugh. "So what do we do?" Nneora asked.

"Moji doesn't know" came a voice from Gbemi's bunk.....
Read more at https://chinaomi./2019/08/04/innocents-part-1/