wow! I love this! Thanks for the mention tho. And the story is cool too... A LOT!

queenitee:
Eh eh

Um

matrixA:
wow! I love this! Thanks for the mention tho. And the story is cool too... A LOT!

Thanks.

seunnla:


Um

Too outside the box for a Lady..... I really would love to work with you... you've got the exact elixir to wake my sleeping state... Give me a pm..

Lovely

seunnla:



Thank you very much.

i Only Read Your Intro And I Knew You Were the Person I Have Been Lookin For

DeadRat:
i Only Read Your Intro And I Knew You Were the Person I Have Been Lookin For

Thanks.

seunnla:

Thanks.

check Your Mail

DeadRat:
check Your Mail

I did. I have a problem replying any nairaland email
I've sent you an email.

Please send me a pm...

patjane:
Please send me a pm...

I have, please check your mail.

seunnla:
Augustap patjane eROCK247 matrixA FreshestManny

Thanks a lot for the mention seunnla. I like d update. I'm imagining the look on Edet's face and OMG the facial expression I can see in my mind's eye is so so hilarious. Keep up the good work.

FreshestManny:


Thanks a lot for the mention seunnla. I like d update. I'm imagining the look on Edet's face and OMG the facial expression I can see in my mind's eye is so so hilarious. Keep up the good work.

Thanks a lot for reading and the feedback, I couldn't ask for a better feedback. One of my major goals when I write is to create scenarios that the readers can vividly picture. So believe me when I say I appreciate this feedback.

One of the many blogs on writing I follow, advices writers to write short stories in a sitting before you start to prune and what not. So, I finally did it. In one sitting instead of the usual three days it takes me to convert brain files to PDF, I wrote the story you're about to read. So forgive any typos because me I don tire.
Enjoy, feedback....feedback.
**************************
This is a WORK OF FICTION and as such any resemblance to actual persons, dead or alive, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.
© Ufuoma .K. Oluwaseun



August, 2014.
Nigeria (An alternative universe of some sort)

President Keke scrutinized the food his chef had neatly placed on the table. His face was cloaked with a mixture of suspicion and fear. His eyes bounced from the bowls of rice, chicken, coleslaw, assorted meats and fried plantains to the head of the presidential stewards.

He cleared his throat as he picked up the gold plated cutlery "Have these been tested?", he made a sweeping motion with his scrawny hands.

The head steward nodded. " Yes sir."

President Keke eyed him warily, the man returned the look with one of boredom "...and they all passed the toxicology tests? No poisons?"

The head steward nodded again. "I made sure of it sir. No poisons."

The president dropped his cutlery "Can I see the tox reports then? Please? You know you're the only one I trust." He paused, then with a sigh picked up the cutlery again and fiddled with it "Bring the tox report to me." He demanded.

The head steward exhaled and dug into his pocket "Here you go....", He handed the sheets of paper over to the president.

"You had it all along and you let me ask? Mr. Akpan you're incorrigible...." The president chastised as he studied the report.

"Sir, with all due respect, you have got to stop being a slave to some..." He paused, searching for the right word. Akpan knew he had to tread carefully. "...some past curse of some sort".

The president's head jerked up, his paranoid look morphed into a scowl. " Some past curse?" He queried with disbelief. "Some past curse of some sort? Tell that to my dead wife and children."

His face softened "There is no of some sort in the curse. That old hag cursed me and two months later my lovely family is wiped out by some...some cyanide poisoning in eba" his voice broke "It is unbelievable, who dies after eating eba?".

" I am really sorry for your loss sir, the old hag in question was delusional at the time of her death" said Akpan "It has been five years sir, you have to find a way to move on, you are so lean because you hardly eat, this paranoia has to stop...people think you are sick..."

"She wasn't delusional" Keke interrupted, he leaned into his chair and continued "I went to see her in her hospital room..you know, pay a sort of homage to those affected by that unfortunate event, you know...."

"The one where foreign companies were dumping toxic wastes into the water of a small rural village and you did nothing?" Akpan completed, shuffling his feet.

Keke shot him a dirty look and cracked open a bottle of water "You are so lucky we are friends, you say the most disrespectful things.

Akpan's lip curved upwards " Well, if I wasn't overworked....I'm doing the work of your advisor and heading the presidential kitchen".

Keke smirked at him. "It isn't as simple as you think, I didn't know about the disposal of toxic waste into the water until it was late..." He sighed. "What do I have NESREA for huh?" He held up the water in Akpan's direction.

Akpan nodded, "The water is not poisoned Mr. President".

Keke took a sip of water, recapped the bottle and said "..So I went to see the people affected by the incident, I reached the bedside of this old lady" He paused and rubbed at his eyes before continuing "...and she is muttering something I can't hear, I lean in and she whispers that my whole family and I would be wiped out by poison because I allowed her people to be ravaged by poison and before I can collect myself , she dies right there.." He chuckles sourly "It is like something from the movies but...here we are".

" Sir" said Akpan "I still believe it is a coincidence, can you please eat...so I can go back to my duty post...my leg hurts.."

"You can go...you don't need to babysit me..."

"Oh but I do...you aren't eating much...your paranoia is getting worse with time".

" I don't think I have much of an appetite. Can you ring my doctor? I think I might have malaria."

Akpan grinned "Malaria...the great equalizer. Who would believe it if I told them that the president had malaria like the rest of us huh?"

Keke's countenance brightened, rubbing at his temples, he said. "Go and call the doctor, Akpan".

"I'm going sir".
****************************
2 hours later.

"Can you describe your symptoms to me?" The doctor asked as she listened to his heartbeat with a stethoscope.

"Fever, weakness,pain" Keke answered in an almost inaudible tone from underneath a grey blanket. His teeth chattered as he talked.

"I talked to Akpan, he said you were fine a few hours ago. I have to give you an injection okay? It would act faster than the tablet and that's what you need right now."

”Okay" Keke muttered watching as the doctor prepared the injection. Few moments later, she injected him.

"You know?" She said when she had finished injecting him, "There are many ways a poison can be introduced into the human body "...by inhalation, by oral route, by injection, even through transdermal route" She paused, watching as he struggled to keep his eyes open and then continued "What happens if someone refuses to die by one means?" She answered her own question "You try another...."

Keke fought against the wave of weakness enveloping him "Wh-what have you done?" He slurred.

"What I promised" she replied as the face of the doctor melted away into a face from his past.
***********
Few seconds later, President Keke's doctor was let into the presidential Villa.

Augustap FreshestManny Frankenstein Favouritetega Maybelconor patjane eROCK247 MatrixA

Everybody (that is not a plagiarist) is welcome abeg.

Good

Thanks for the mention dearie. You're da BOMB

I'm new here too....still trying to figure it out. That your first story ehn...so disgusting and so on point! Couldn't stop reading...I'll be posting a few stories here too..Please check my profile. I'm still not sure how this thing works lol

seunnla:
Augustap FreshestManny Frankenstein Favouritetega Maybelconor patjane eROCK247 MatrixA

Everybody (that is not a plagiarist) is welcome abeg.

OMG! He never expected it. Beautiful update.

rchilee:
Good

Thanks.

Augustap:
Thanks for the mention dearie. You're da BOMB

You're welcome.

koraydayazeez:
I'm new here too....still trying to figure it out. That your first story ehn...so disgusting and so on point! Couldn't stop reading...I'll be posting a few stories here too..Please check my profile. I'm still not sure how this thing works lol

I will. Welcome to Literature section

FreshestManny:


OMG! He never expected it. Beautiful update.

He didn't. Poor guy, after all the hard work.
Thank you for reading

seunnla:
Augustap FreshestManny Frankenstein Favouritetega Maybelconor patjane eROCK247 MatrixA

Everybody (that is not a plagiarist) is welcome abeg.

Thanks for the mention, following closely.

Hmmmm, when one has been pencilled down for destruction it cannot be evaded no matter how hard you try. Nice update Seunla

Favouritetega:

Thanks for the mention, following closely.

Thanks

Maybelconor:
Hmmmm, when one has been pencilled down for destruction it cannot be evaded no matter how hard you try. Nice update Seunla

Thanks.

Hmmmm. Cool. Buh you take long to update. Why Nah?

Author's note: Long time people,this is my attempt at writing longer stories. I don't have a permanent title yet.This is one of my chat stories with more flesh, If you've read that story on my whatsapp status, Please do not post spoilers otherwise enjoy!!!

********************************************************************************************************

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author
© Ufuoma .K. Oluwaseun

This is a work of fiction and as such any resemblance to actual persons, dead or alive is purely coincidental.




FOREVER SMILING
PROLOGUE
January, 2016.
The lady in the booth facing him took a sip from her glass of whiskey as she punched away at her phone. She brought the phone to her ear and began to talk.
''Did you get my text? I’m screwed.’’ she blurted in a tone that sounded like she was trying to keep her voice from breaking. He watched as she listened to the person on the other side of the call, her lips trembled ever so slightly.
''How was I supposed to know it was a scam? They seemed genuine, had a website and all, now my life savings are gone.’’ she whispered softly into the mouthpiece and then paused to listen; her free hand crept up her face to wipe at a tear that had escaped her eye.
Her brows furrowed before she replied, ''Don’t call me stupid---well that’s what you are implying, I made a mistake.’’ Her lips parted slightly as a look of disbelief settled on her face, ''I can’t believe you right now, I feel like crap right now... I feel like dying...but you just had to kick me when I’m down.’’ She swallowed another gulp of her drink and continued ''No, you listen to me...I called because I needed you to listen but all you’re doing is scolding me...so just forget I called.’’ She ended the call and looked around the deserted bar. She caught his eyes and he swiftly looked away, apart from the both of them, there were only three other people. It was a Monday evening and not many people visited Sorchelles bar on Mondays.
She slammed the cup into the table and staggered out of the bar into the warm night.
He knew that he had to help her.
She fumbled with her purse trying to find the keys to her car when she heard a husky male voice behind her, ''You shouldn’t drink and drive, you know?’’
She turned to face him; she couldn’t see his face clearly in the dark. ''What are you, a policeman?’’ She queried, trying to stifle the annoyance bubbling to the surface.
He raised his hands in surrender and said ‘’Nope, just a concerned citizen’’, he closed the distance between them before continuing ‘’What are you looking for?’’
She belched, ''my keys...’’ she dug into her purse again''I can’t find it...’’
''If you don’t mind, I can drop you off at your place.’’ He pointed towards a Toyota Camry a few feet away. His hands grabbed her shoulders softly and led her towards his car; with the alcohol in her bloodstream, she couldn’t put up much of a resistance. Neither could she see the needle when it plunged into her neck.

********************************************************************************
Charles watched in silence the rising and falling of his wife’s chest as she slept. A transparent cord snaked from the drip stand to her veins delivering a powerful cocktail of analgesics. His eyes wearily flickered to her bald head and then to her face. Her eyebrows were nonexistent and so were her once lush eyelashes. Even asleep, she looked to be in pain. His fingers curled into a fist, he was struggling to hold it together both for her sake and their daughter but he knew it wouldn’t be long until he had a mental breakdown. He watched helplessly as the chemotherapy gradually stripped away the vitality of the woman whose vivaciousness he had found mesmerizing, leaving in her place someone with no will to live. He frowned at the irony of the situation; in order to heal her, her physician had to make her sick. He held back the urge to kick something just as her eyelids fluttered open.
''Hey’’ she said weakly, ''How are you holding up?’’
He nodded, too overwhelmed by emotion to say anything.
She sighed, ''How is our girl?’’
He nodded again. ''She’s fine.’’
She smiled at him. ''Liar...talk to me, please. How is she?’’
He ran his palms across his face. ''She’s taking it hard, you know?’’ he paused ''She’s flunking school, not attending classes...and...I...I don’t have it in me to scold her.’’
''Water...’’ She gestured towards the bedside table at a jug of water. He swiftly poured her a cup, brought the cup close to her lips and tilted it so she could drink.
''She will be fine.’’ She said, once she had finished drinking; her voice a bit clearer. ‘’You can talk to her you know, you two have always been close...’’
''I don’t know, Nancy. I feel she needs more than that...but enough about us, how are you feeling?’’ He asked; concern etched on his face. ''The doctors are optimistic about the trial drugs.’’
''The nausea has reduced, that has to count for something right?’’ her voice sounded tentative. After an awkward silence, she asked ‘’How are you?’’
''I’m ok.’’
''Can you please stop giving me the rehearsed answer you give others and converse with me?’’
''I just don’t want to...’’
''Burden me?’’ she sighed, ‘’It’s lonely here, the nurses are my only companions for the most part...and that’s when they come to check up on me or administer drugs.’’ She reached for his hands and held them ''Talk to me about work, stuff...anything.’’
''The sergeant wanted me to take time off...I refused, I can’t just sit at home and do nothing.’’
She nodded in agreement. ''Any leads on the smily face killer, Detective Charles?’’
He frowned, ''I wish they would stop calling him that, the name is so annoying. Journalists are a pain in the butt...they always glorify these psychopaths.’’
She smiled at him, ''I know you all will get the sick bastard and put him away...make our city safe again.’’
''I hope so Nancy, I hope so...I have to say that this case is...’’
A shrill cry from his pocket interrupted him, he pulled out his phone and said ''what’s up, Detective?’’ his lips pursed as he listened, ‘’I’ll be there...’’ he looked to Nancy for affirmation and she mouthed her approval.
''I’ll be there right away.’’

Maybelconor eROCK247 FreshestManny MatrixA Augustap patjane Frankenstein duch12
Anybody not a plagiarist, welcome.

seunnla:

Maybelconor eROCK247 FreshestManny MatrixA Augustap patjane Frankenstein duch12
Anybody not a plagiarist, welcome.

Hurray, my babe is about to give me a steaming plate of a nice part of her imaginations

Augustap:

Hurray, my babe is about to give me a steaming plate of a nice part of her imaginations

Thank you jaré