Did anyone notice that when centino started this story it started in a autobiographical manner (everything was told from Ndifreke's perspective).... But I think as the story progressed centino realised that the characters have evolved and it would be unfair to be telling the story from Ndi's eyes alone.
And I love his way of thinking and how he's been to change the narrative technique without the readers noticing..... My advice to centino is to try and publish the book(because it's bestseller potential) or sell it as a script to a Africa magic.

I also noticed d change but centino's skills threw me off balance and forgot d switch. Abeg where is Centino oooooo!!!!

“SEE BOBBII!”


Eyes almost popped out of sockets when she came out of the corridor wearing a wrapper and colourful beads around her waist and just white body paint of calabash chalk on her torso up to her neck. She reached the gathering, knelt down, kissed her father’s feet, and then turned and looked every man in the gathering in the eye. It was the best Mr Cosmas could do to shoo the children away when Willy-willy shouted, “see bobbiii!”

Satisfied that the men had had a good impression of her, Evae glided back into the house, aware that there were a few jaws on the ground at her retreat. Time stood still until Agbonyibo began to cackle.

“Na my pikin be dat my brothers. No man don touch am before. Na him make my wife open him breast make una see as he stand.”

“I can’t believe this,” Mr Kingsley said. And when everyone turned to be sure he had just spoken in plain language he said “Many are the wonders of the world, and none so wonderful as man – Sophocles.”

“Yes, I agree” Achike said. “Agbonyibo is a wonderful man.”

Mr Zubi cleared his throat and swallowed and was about to speak when he heard an unmistakable voice from afar making its way to the gathering.

“What am I hearing? Men of number 225 Katakata Street! What is it that I am hearing? Mama Wily-willy repeated.”

“We are having a meeting, woman!” Mr Zubi said.

“What meeting? What nonsense meeting!” Turning to Agbonyibo she said “Oga Togo. What do you think you are doing? Where do you think you are?”

“Madam wetin I do?”

“How can you come and parade your LovePeddler in front of people’s husbands?” Turning to Willy-willy who was by her side she said, “She came out here naked right?”

“They rub only nzu on her bress,” the little boy said.

“Oga thank your stars. Thank your god if you have any that I did not meet her here.” Turning to her husband, she said, “Let’s go inside. That is the end of this meeting.”

“Woman!”

“Don’t woman me!”

You could hear the sound of everyone’s breathing in the seconds that followed. Then Mr Zubi said, “Gentlemen, we will meet again. Thank you all for coming.” Then one by one, the men dispersed. However, Mr Kingsley, Achike, Lukman and Josiah did not leave Agbonyibo’s side.



Ndifreke heard a knock and stood and up and went and let Maya in. He knew his Maya. He knew something was wrong.

“Nothing is wrong Ndi.”

“I know you Maya.”

“Alright. I have a request to make.”

“What is it?”

“I want my money.”

“What money?”

“My sign on fees.”

Ndifreke studied Maya. She had her eyes everywhere in the room apart from on him.

“It’s you mother isn’t it?”

“What are you talking about Ndi?”

“Don’t try to lie Maya. I can stand anything else but not that.”

Maya fell into his arms and began to sob.

“She says terrible things Ndi. I want to give her everything. Every single naira so that she stops saying those things to me.”

“You should not be intimidated Maya.”

“I am intimidated. She is my mother. My father, her husband is in jail because of me. I am also just hearing that she almost lost her life having me. If one million naira will buy back my dignity where she is concerned I will be happy to give it to her.”

“I put it in a money market fund.”

“I don’t know what that is and I don’t care. If it is my money, I should be able to have it when I want it.”

“You are right about that,” Ndifreke said and let his head drop.

“Please darling. Let’s give her the money and go away from here.”

“If we give her the money, it will be harder to go away.”

“Okay I don’t mind another one room. But away from this place. I don’t feel I belong here anymore."

“But Maya.”

“No buts Ndi. Let’s find a place and move out.”

“I don’t want you to move in with me just like that.”

“What do you mean Ndi?”

“You will only move into my place as my wife.”

Maya’s eyes flickered at the realization of what he was saying.

“Are you asking me to marry you Ndi?”

Ndifreke plumped down in both knees and Maya parted her legs so that he could get even closer to her.

“This is not the way I wanted to propose to you. Heck, I don’t even have a ring. But there has never been any doubt where this was headed. While you were pregnant and all that happened, happened, I told myself that the first thing I would do if I had the means was to bring honour to you. Despite how life has turned around for us, there are people who still remember that once upon a time two penniless people claiming to be in love almost had a baby and became objects of ridicule. I want to rewrite that story. I want there to be a happy ending to that story that people will remember. I want it to be on record in this same 225 Katakata Street that we celebrated our union, and restored the reputation of love.”

“Oh Ndi. You have not asked the question.”

They both laughed and he said, “I’m sorry darling. I guess I needed to get that off my chest. Maya, will you marry me?”

“Let me go and tell mum.”

“So is that a yes?”

“Yes Ndi. What is life if I do not end up as your wife?”

He grinned and kissed her.

“Is it okay to make love to celebrate this?”

“You will have me forever Ndi. For now, I want to go and tell my mother so that we do what we have to do and get the hell out of this place.”

“Okay hun. Run along then.”



The men that had stayed behind with Agbonyibo continued to smile at each other like idiots. Agbonyibo was also smiling as he waited for them to speak. Then Achike went first:

“You know, Togo is one of the most important countries in Africa.”

“That is very true,” Josiah said.

“I used to follow the National team of Togo whenever they play football. People think I support Nigeria but it is actually Togo that I support. I know all their players not just Emmanuel Adebayo. I was very happy when they made Steven Keshi their coach.” Lukman said.

“And I know that they have beautiful animals. The dogs and donkeys from Togo behave differently from the ones from Nigeria,” Josiah said.

“That must be why Mr Agbonyibo is in the animal business,” Lukman said. “Is it so Mr Agbonyibo?”

“Yes sir. Me I like animal na why I dey train dem.”

“I said it! Erm…do you have a dog, a small dog that I can buy and be sending message?” Achike said.

“Yes sir. I get dog. If you buy am I go train am for you. I go train am e no go dey sh*t anyhow.”

“Hahahaha I trust you Mr Agbonyibo. You are a very intelligent man.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Erm Mr Agbonyibo, since you came you have not had a haircut? I offer free haircut once in a month to compound members” Lukman said.

“Kai!” Achike said. But Josiah nudged him to be quiet.

Mr Kingsley had not said anything yet. So Agbonyibo turned to him. “You no dey talk plenty sir.”

Mr Kingsley stroked his beard and smiled at Agbonyibo and said, “Talk much and they think you are a fool. Be quiet and they become curious.”

Agbonyibo smiled and said “Na true you talk.”

“Ehen Agbonyibo, what is the name of your president?

“Our President na Foure Gnassingbe.”

“I hope he is not a clone?” Josiah said.

“No o! Na him Papa Gnassingbe Eyadema wey be President for thirty eight years hand over to am when him die.”

“That cannot happen in this country. Here, when our President dies we go to Sudan and get a clone.”

“Enough of this clone thing. You know it is ridiculous.”

“It is not. That is why Aisha Buhari has joined the opposition. She wants Jubrin to lose so that she can have a peaceful widowhood.”

“She came out the other day to say that two people are holding the government hostage. The question is, does she live in the same house as Buhari? Do they sleep on the same bed? Do they talk at all? I find it strange that a husband and wife can co-habit and still come to the public to sing divergent tunes.”

“That is because they are not husband and wife. This is the greatest indication yet that we have an imposter in Aso Rock. Aisha does not support that man.”

“Agbonyibo, is that how the wife of your president is?”

“No sir. We president get thirteen girlfriend and seventeen children. Even the daughter of former Ghana president Nana Ama Kuffour born pikin for am. Some people say na dat one be him wife but I know say na lie.”

“Is that not better? That way there is no nonsense first lady going about and frolicking with the opposition.”

“Speaking of wives” Mr Kingsley said, “What you just showed us. Count me in.”

Mr Kingsley had spoken again!

“Yes Agbonyibo. I am also interested,” Achike said.

“And me too,” Josiah said.

“Me too,” Lukman said.

“Thank you sir all of una. As e be like dis, my pikin don grow. I give una permission to talk to am. Anybody wey him like, na the person go marry am.”



Mama Tobi watched her daughter dither with excitement before finally making the announcement.

“So he now wants to marry you.”

“Yes mama” she said. “I’m so happy mama. We will show the people of Katakata street that love is not dead.”

“Love is not dead” Mama Tobi repeated, her face like the statue of Jacob Zuma in Owerri.

“Mama. Please don’t tell me you are not happy. He is finally coming to do the right thing.”

“You are a fool.”

It felt like a punch in her gut as she felt the air go out of her. She gently lowered herself in the only armchair in the room.

“Where is the money? Where is the money Maya!” Mama Tobi said, stood, and clapped her hands in her daughter's face. “You went to ask him for your money and he turned around and asked you for marriage.”

“But mama.”

“Think Maya! Think! He does not want to give you the money. Once he marries you, it is no longer your money. He will then have total control over it and over you.”

“Please stop it mama.”

“Open your eyes! Open your eyes Maya. Go and collect your money!”

Maya looked at her mother and then at the door and began to wail.



Mama Cowbell and Mama Kike, two of the more unassuming women of Number 225 Katakata Street were unhappy. They sat in Mama Cowbell’s shop and deliberated for a long time before they decided to go and speak to Mama Willy-willy about their decision.

Mama Willy-willy had just finished sweeping her frontage when the two women announced their presence.

“Ah…Mama Cowbell. Mama Kike. Una good morning. This one wey una come my house. I hope say everything dey okay?”

The two visitors looked at each other and then Mama Cowbell decided to speak.

“Mama Willy-willy. We come to tell you say we wan go Shiloh. And we want make you follow us go.”

“Shiloh? Mama Cowbell! But you no dey go church before na? Wetin come happen?”

“Na that bress wey my husband see.”

“Ehn?”

“Mama Willy-willy. My husband no dey take eye see bress. Even as my own big reach wey make dem dey call me Cowbell, e no dey belleful am. I no know wetin bring that Agbon-wetin-dem-call-am come this compound. How him pikin go open bress show my husband?”

“And you wan go Shiloh because of that?”

“My husband never sleep since dat day. I dey look am for night, e dey do mouth like goat wey dem give feeding bottle when him dey sleep. I know say him dey dream say him dey suck de bress. I know say na only God go save am. Him no go gree go church so make me I go pray for him head.”

“Mama kike, you too wan go Shiloh? You for kuku go Redeemed camp.”

“Mama Willy–willy I no wan go anywhere. I tell Mama Cowbell say make we meet Sister Esther make she follow us pray. I know say she sabi pray well well.”

“Eh hen?”

“Yes ma.”

“Okay. Good luck with that. Me I go keep my eye open, if I see Papa Willy-willy eye for dat girl body, I go soak him blokos inside fresh pepper when him dey sleep.”

“Hmmm Mama Willy-willy you know say woman like you wey go school husband dey fear una. We wey dem bring from village, if man find twenty thousand naira give you to sell small market him go want make you dey look am like God. If him carry woman sef you no get mouth to talk. So na to put everything inside God hand.”

“I see.”

Mama Willy-willy understood the worry of the two women. She did not want to make them feel any worse than they did. And she liked the camaraderie they were trying to foster. It would be useful in the future, she reasoned. For the time being, she decided to play along, even though she had no doubt in her mind how she was going to deal with the matter.

“Make we go meet Esther. That Shiloh too far. Bible say where two or three are gathered in his name, him dey there.”

“Mama Willy-willy, I know my husband. Him own need strong man of God like Papa Oyedeop or even Adeboye.”

“You think say if you reach there you go see Oyedepo? Na outside you go stand dey watch am for television. And he fit be say that time wey you comot for house na him your husband go take go pursue de girl.”

“God forbid!”

“Okay make we go see Esther.”

Sister Esther opened the door for the three women.

Mama Kike spoke this time.

“Sister Esther. Na de thing wey happen for this compound carry us come.”

“What is it?”

“That small girl wey open bress show all our men.”

“How is that my business?”

“I want make we come together as women pray. I see devil hand inside.”

“Don’t be ridiculous all of you.”

“Your man Kingsley dey there. E no worry you?”

“Please please please I am not in the mood for this."

"No be lie we dey tell you. We need prayer."

"I don’t trifle with my Creator. There are better things to pray about.”

“Sister Esther. No talk like so. We know say you be woman of God. We also know say you and Kingsley dey do fellowship for night. We no talk say na bad thing you dey do because we know say every woman need man. But this kind thing wey happen, we need to call God put inside before our man dem miss road.”

“Mrs Zubi. You are in on this?”

“Yes Sister Esther.”

“Kingsley will not do it. How will he explain himself to them? He has vehemently refused to talk normally. And from what I hear you must pass through the father to get to the daughter.”

“Kingsley is talking. They saw him negotiating with the Togo man.”

“It’s a lie.”

“Esther you know me. I will not be here if I did not know what I was saying.”

“Kingsley was talking to the Togo man?”

“Yes he was.”

Sister Esther took Mama Kike’s hand and said “Sisters, Please let us pray.”



TO BE CONTINUED.

wow

very funny update

Centino, you fa... I swore I will not be disgraced in the office because of your story, now I have to explain why I am laughing hysterically.
...and I've read less than 10 lines...
I can't believe this!

Okay, What is the lesson of today??

The lesson of today is...

Women, always pray for us men, because there are many open breasts roaming everywhere nowadays. Free viewing centres without registration.

So pray hard daughters of Zion

That which has been seen can not be unseen....... something tells me Agbonfine boy wants to spiritually defile the men in the compound and the easiest way definitely is the daughter and I can bet that for every suitor that approaches Eva package must follow you.
P.S remembering how Efe saved his father from the jaws of Mama Akunna, the father owes his son to do same cause this battle for Katakata come with template.

Hahaha, sister please let us pray

'And I know that they have beautiful animals. The donkey and dog from Togo behave differently to the ones from Nigeria.'

This killed me!

olumose001:
Wow, back here after a very long time.. Centino still delivering as usual with much wisdom.. not surprised why those guys took you for a cross bearer, your words carry so much wisdom and different from the view of others, although you put out your words with sense unlike most cross bearers I know who are very aggressive.. Keep up the good work man, we Love you

Thanks man. Great to have you back.

Maya should open her eyes o. Ndifereke is playing a fast one on her. How can you demand for your money, he give you marriage proposal

At the sight of boobs, all men reject Nigeria even dash our own Emmanuel adebayo and. Steven keshi to Togo. Boobs I hail

Xavier5:
Dear Centino,

I've always been a ghost reader since day one but lie lie, I have been arrested on my way to Damascus and please don't ask me how and where my where my Damascus is? take am like that, na arrest dem arrest me close to Damascus and, ***in paul's voice*** "Glory be to GOD, I have been unghosted readingly".

Centino, I must say, you are one hell of a writer. Everything in this story, the comic, arguments, drama, romance, supernatural, ideologies (even if I don't agree with some), violence and logics are just Legit. The way you captured, described, narrated, explained and projected every detail of the story is amazingly awesome. Keep up the good work.

The theory that one's name affect him or her or might be true (even if I don't believe it). Number 225 katakata street, no wonder everything in that compound is just katakata.

To me, Cosmas is just bias and sentimental. How can you believe some part of the bible and debelieve other part. There is nothing like partial obedience to the bible, you either believe the bible or you don't at all. What is the essence of believing some part of the bible when according to him is invalid. What does that make him?

Now that I have spoken what I want to say, let me join the "Centino Come And Update Oh Ranters And Crews" and honourably say

#Xavier.

Great to have you Xavier. Everyone knows I always rejoice at the conversion of every ghost reader

Thanks for the kind words man. In the days to come, I will make Cosmas respond to your charge. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I don update o. Na Nairaland mods come alter my calendar with ban.

Vulcanheph:
Did anyone notice that when centino started this story it started in a autobiographical manner (everything was told from Ndifreke's perspective).... But I think as the story progressed centino realised that the characters have evolved and it would be unfair to be telling the story from Ndi's eyes alone.
And I love his way of thinking and how he's been to change the narrative technique without the readers noticing..... My advice to centino is to try and publish the book(because it's bestseller potential) or sell it as a script to a Africa magic.

Thanks for the kind words man. I'm truly open to anything as far as this work is concerned. For now I'm enjoying the writing journey

Eberechi24:
Maya should open her eyes o. Ndifereke is playing a fast one on her. How can you demand for your money, he give you marriage proposal

Centino:

Teach that girl lesson, I hate iberiberism.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
'And I know that they have beautiful animals. The donkey and dog from Togo behave differently to the ones from Nigeria.'

This killed me!

Fazemood:
Okay, What is the lesson of today??

The lesson of today is...

Women, always pray for us men, because there are many open breasts roaming everywhere nowadays. Free viewing centres without registration.

So pray hard daughters of Zion

I can't blame these men, standing breast is a very big weakness even for strong men like me and Kingsley.

Jeez. That last line cracked me up full time. Good work Centino.

Fazemood:
Okay, What is the lesson of today??

The lesson of today is...

Women, always pray for us men, because there are many open breasts roaming everywhere nowadays. Free viewing centres without registration.

So pray hard daughters of Zion

Fazemood:
Okay, What is the lesson of today??

The lesson of today is...

Women, always pray for us men, because there are many open breasts roaming everywhere nowadays. Free viewing centres without registration.

So pray hard daughters of Zion

These people of katakata street will not kill kuku themselves

3 gbosa for u

queenitee:
This people of katakata street will not kill kuku themselves

What kind of comment is this queenite?

queenitee:
This people of katakata street will not kill kuku themselves

What kind of comment is this queenitee?

.

Centino as u dy show bleast anyhow here pls consider virgins like us. Well done bro

This Agbonyibo nah confam brainy man, see as he confuse dem elders with him daughter standing Breast, even the almighty Mr Kingsley wasn't left alone.



Oga Centino make I confuse you with this standing nyansh.

i like dis

What a way to unwind after a long day! Thanks man! You’re the best! You came through!
I just dey laugh anyhow!
You too much!

calamus:
Viewing this thread...Godmademan, TemmyLayor, Jpreyz... [b]Centino and 9 other guests...

I will just hang around. The man is discussing with Agboyinbo, eyesofpearls and Essyprity (the Agboyinbos) on the roof, I suppose

[/b]





Oga I no like height o... I no follow go rooftop

Lmao