The Outcome Of an Event
“I’m pregnant, ” she said in an inaudible tone.
“ Ehnn!! Preg what!!” the food she served suddenly became sour in my mouth.
“ Who’s the father? I’m happy for you oh!” I said with a straight face.
“You are the father, Marvin.” She was fighting the tears cycling in her eyes from dropping.
“ Don’t patronize me. I know you saw your period last week and we only did it two weeks back. Hello!! It’s circled on my calendar, love. ” I was trying to justify myself.
“Are you for real right now? You know I’m not promiscuous, Marvin. Don’t question my Fidelity, please. Look, I don’t know what to do.” She was now sweating profusely.
“Look! I don’t know whose child you are carrying but I assure you, I won’t be caught up in a web,” I slammed the door into her face and left.
It took about thirty minutes to get to my place. Jude, my roommate and best friend was in shorts and a T-shirt. He dropped the call and faced me.
“ I just got a call from Juliet. she said you denied the pregnancy. Bro… How could you? We both know that girl is not a call girl. So, school me, brother. Because I don’t know this you.” Jude’s muscles were pumped up. It was understandable. He had a thing for Juliet.
“Oh! Oh!! Oooh!!! This is a conspiracy. You guys want to rob me in your mess. Look saint Jude, I won’t have that pregnancy. ***Poverty no be philosophy. As I dey chop rice and chicken at will, e no sweet you abi? You think this small change we are making is money? Brother, you don drink garri before? Hmmm… I do no. I’m not caught up for this nau!***” I was at the top of my voice.
I sank into a chair next to me.
“ God knows I love her, Mahn!! How can a girl see her period and be pregnant? It doesn’t make any sense. Look at that calendar, Jude. The circled date was when we did it. Put yourself in my shoes, bro. What would you do if you was me?” I was looking at him straight in the eyes.
“What are you saying!!! Are you a medical doctor now? All I know is that, we both know she isn’t that kind of girl.” He looked disappointed at this point.
I wasn’t sure of what to do next. I wasn’t ready to become a father yet. We stayed on the second floor of the Three-storey building. I opened the window to get some fresh air. Directly opposite the storey building was another populated hostel with students.
I had a knack for news. So, I needed something to distract me from the situation. As I stared at the rusty black gate, as two guys walked into the compound. They seemed fond of each other. I watched as they cracked jokes and laughed out loud.
I observed with keen interest. The slim one had a tribal mark on his face ( a mark that looked like he had an encounter with a lion) The fat one brought out a chair for him to sit. He went inside again. His friend who was seated, stood up to quickly bring out a large polythene bag. I was curious to know what he wanted to do.
He went to the line where clothes were hung and pulled all of them into the polythene bag. He then threw it over a fence, into another compound, after tying the bag of clothes. I stood in shock. I wasn’t sure of what to do. So, I kept watching the whole incident. He sat down with a smile on his face. His friend came out with a plate of rice for him.
After thirty minutes, a girl came out and was screaming that her clothes were stolen. The alarm called out to every other occupant in their rooms. More people joined the fuss for their missing clothes. They decided to search everyone’s room.
The perpetrator silently followed them as they searched from room-to-room. I couldn’t hold back my laughter as I watched. It was a classic. They started accusing one another. When I had seen enough, I decided it was time to expose the real culprit.
I placed a call to a friend of mine. He was a member of the vigilante group. Since he was just a stone throw away from my hostel, he was with me within a flash of time. I explained the situation to him. He smiled and put a call across to some of his boys. I showed him the guy whom was responsible for the act and he asked me to wait for his boys to come. We waited silently.
**To be continued tomorrow.**
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Beautiful Stitches Of Pain
Life has become a memory
Dressed in smoke at dusk
And by dawn, fallen petals of a wilted dream
At times for the homeless hearts,
I dragged in smoke to form a hut in my chest
Other times, I find home in the curves of bottles, a chilled burning whisper of silence
I’m a wanderer in my own house
Searching for a home in a smile
Through walls that binds me,
A pair of feathers for my dreams
I held the balls of the world in my hands
And I heard the screams of a failed dream
My eyes became a stream of boiling water
Flooding through the claustrophobic vacuum of hopelessness.
Whenever I think of Nigeria
I get a bullet of euphoria on the forehead
I have roasted words into popcorn
Not without trepidation
Nor surreptitiously
Yet, these foreigners won’t order
Because my blood is GREEN.
Now,
My dreams are swept beneath my feet
And my passion has become nothing but a gallery of art
I knit a house of tears on my face like a hat sits on the head of a cowboy
I have tried to arrest ambition with words but they became thorns carved into petals of shame.
How does a man become a man?
I wove this question into the mirror and arrowed pains at the eyes of the reflection that stared back at me
I am not one to shiver
Sadly, all I do on my bed is listen to SHIBA
The world is a book
And life is her pages
I write on my skin
And you read my scars
Sometimes,
I screenshot my happiness
& stay close to the exit
For I know your stones are not far fetched
As I sit on my ass hugging the ground,
I breath the flames of frustration
Pay attention
For am not one but all
And I speak for all
My story is a sad song
A bruised note
My country is the crooner
Who turned it into a threnody
Life has scribbled Gothic poems
On the pages of my heart
The verses steal my sleep
To become shadows on my eyes sockets
I’m a baby eagle
With ashy throat
Perched on a leafless tree
I’m at the center of a burnt marketplace
Learning to swallow a big grain of sighs
This poem smells like the undies of an abused whore
There are melodies that never reach the river bank, stuck in the barrel of a gun
Like failed ejaculation
Sadly, the shadows that visit me do not come with name-tags
So, I do not know which left its tongue in my mouth
Painfully,
I find shadows that cut themselves whispering thunders in my head
A portrait of fading memories and rotten kisses of failure.
Hello guys, it's been quite a while. I'm sorry I have been away. I have missed this great platform. Most especially you. Yes, you reading this. I won't forget to subscribe and comment on your next post. Let's start afresh.
Life is a pen and what you write with it; is entirely up to you. I crawled out of the house of pain and joy. The above poem is a sheer representation of my struggle as a writer. Not just mine but the struggles of the black people—Nigerians who are often marginalized.
Thank you very much for reading. I love you. Your comments are important to me. Do well to share your thoughts and experiences in the comment box.
The Lashing Tongue Of Fate: Episode two
*He fried roasted corn with words*
*And held pain in the face of gain*
*Sadly, sorrow is the beautiful picture*
*Hung on the street of poverty*
*He sits down with wounds covered*
*in wants*
*And the world sets ablaze the little dose*
*Of passion he had .*
*Dead or alive*
*He mirrors the feathers of wealth on the back of his friends and frustration came knocking like a marauding beast.*
*Then, he wonders. If love did be created*
*Sacrifice must be made.*
—***Words on the marble***
“ Bro, there is a problem. We have tasted comfort it won't be easy to adjust.How that my girl is out of the picture. How are we going to survive? I loved that girl." I tried to hide the obvious.
"You loved her? Huhmmm... that girl was our saving grace, no one can dispute that, but guy!! I am warning you oh! Na person wey survive dey tell this story oh!,” Odion shouted and walked out.
As days rolled into weeks and weeks made love with months. The thought of Rose never skipped my mind. I wondered if she was ok. At time, I picked up the phone to call her but I couldn't kill the pride. She was a very thoughtful girl. As a matter of fact; the best life threw at me. Rose sent money to my account on a monthly basis.
She would send a text each time which ran : ***Things we do for love*****. I will always hold you dear to my heart, love.**
I couldn't summon the courage to call her. I wanted to, badly, but the thought of her ex boyfriend pointing a gun at my face held me back. Odion was not helping matters. He constantly introduced me to different girls.
Odion's philosophy to relationship was totally different. To him, it was all physical. No strings attached.
On a sunny Friday. I left the door open, due to the heat in the room.
I fell asleep when Rose walked in. She placed my head on her laps. I wasn't a deep sleeper, so I knew the second she touched my head but I feigned to be asleep anyways. I could recognize her Perf anywhere.
It drove me crazy. She sang Waje's ***for a minute*** song and ran her fingers through my head. She constantly pecked my cheeks and whispered, "I love you" into my ears.
I died a million times within and I never knew a tear had slipped off my face until she robbed it off with her handkerchief. I looked into her eyes but before I could speak; she placed her hands on my lips. The rest was mystery. She got out of bed and I watched her dress up to go. I felt terrible letting her of.
"I love you, you know that, right? It's just that the circumstances are terrifying." I said and turned my back on her.
"There is no gain without pain, love. My father taught me to trust my instincts.
I believe you are the one my heart wants to be with. You don't tell your heart whom or whom not to love. It just happens. Kelvin is handsome and flashy but we are done. It's you my heart yearns for. You have a good heart and I love you very much for that." she tried to hold the tears back but it was beyond her.
Her tears crushed me. "*How can you go to bed with a girl you love and toss her off like a coin*" these thoughts ran through my mind.
I drew her closer and gave her a deep kiss and told her, how much I loved her. I didn't know if my actions at the time were devoid of rationality but I did it anyways. We filled up lost times before she left. I was very happy and sad at the same time. The perplexity was killing me.
Odion walked in shortly after Rose left. He seemed elated.
"Guy, that your babe, no, sorry, that your ex girlfriend sent me 20k oh! That girl is too much." He carried a vibe of happiness that could explode the room. I was shocked. My mouth was wide open.
"Close your mouth, that babe is legit." He said and fell on the sofa.
"She just left this place not quite long, we are back together. We just made up." I said and tried to look at his face, only this time Odion's mouth was wide open.
"Close your mouth Na! Bro, she's proven beyond doubt that she's a keeper. I can't let her go. I love her.” I concluded and bowed my head.
"Na lie! Which kind play be this? Na goalkeeper you go see!! Wait, you accepted a girl without telling me? No baba!! My life is equally on the line here. I am not saying she's not a wife material. In fact, she's one thousand yard the material, but my guy, you are forgetting that it is he who escapes death that gets to marry?
You are with your love. fine! but why you want make them kill me wey never find love?
Baba! I use God beg you oh! This life still sweet me o! What are we saying sef? so the past three month na holiday una do? Ah!...”He reeked of paranoia.
"I know, right. I love her and I have made up my mind to stick with her. Bro, what are we saying?
This is a girl that took us from the gutter and cleaned us up. You know that girl's got our backs." I said and stood to leave.
"So we should die for her now? I think I'm packing. You know my friend, right? You could come from time to time to visit whenever you feel like, that's if you would still be alive.
I can't come and kill myself oh!” He said and packed his clothes into a bag.
“ Baba, na guy you be nau. I can't give up on that girl. Na my ministry you suppose dey promote o!..Abeg na bro." I pleaded.
"Your ministry will take us to our graves, are you thinking at all? Kelvins nickname is K-squad. Does that ring a bell? Did he approach you with his guys? I guess not. Well, let me break it to you, lover boy. The school has it that he sends his boys for warning but when his terms are not being adhered to, his presence is felt through death. Death! You heard me, right? My guy, you are like the brother I never had. I will stay, but if I perceive any sign of danger. My guy, I go move." He said and dropped his bag
"Thanks mehn! Nothing will happen. Trust me."
Even I wouldn't trust me. I knew a lot was at stake but I tried to care less.
It was Monday, business as usual. Rose and I hung under a tree to exhibit our love to the school. I never knew that was my funeral. Well, love makes us fools at times. While we played love, Kelvin smiled at me and passed. I knew that was it.
"I'm dead." I said within myself, unaware that it was pronounced
"Dead? Are you alright?" she asked me.
"I'm fine, lets go to the hostel.” My mood switched.
"Alright but I won't be coming with you. I have to tend to something. she said and left a peck on my cheek right after she wandered off.
"My guy, I saw Kelvin while playing love with Rose." I said petrified.
"Oh! Start counting your days. Write your Will if you have anything because your death has just been confirmed." he said and laughed.
"You're not helping.".I paced around the room like a confused mad dog.
The next day was a Tuesday. The Lecturer had just introduced the topic when Kelvin walked in with his men.
"I am a peaceful person, relax guys. I just want to have a chat with my boy over there." He pointed at me with gun.
At this point, everyone hid under their desk. I knew death was lurking around me already.
I saw Odion peed his pants but it wasn't funny. The class was in complete chaos. The lecturer who laid on the ground jumped out through the window. I thought of what Odion told me about Kelvin's presence and I felt the grip of death already.
When we were outside the class, K-squad got mad at his guys.
"Una dey look am? No be bottle dey your hand so? Person dey chop the same soup with una capon yet una dey loose guard am. Sniper!! Give me that bottle. Dem never pray for this dog before. MA reset im factory setting."
He collected the bottle and when I opened my eyes. I was in a thick forest, tied under an iroko tree. Everything looked blur. It was useless trying to know where I was. Death was inevitable at that moment. I prayed to God to accept my soul.
"Capon, lover boy don wake up oh!." A man called Kelvin's attention.
"Ah! Bros, I never wake up oh!!! I dey sleep. Bros, oga Kelvin. Abeg!! I no go near your babe again. Clearly, there was some sort of misunderstanding. I pleaded.
Was he stupid for going back to Rose?
Will this be the end of the lover boy?
***Watch out for episode three***
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Slavery
I was flogged by my ancestors last night to tell their story.
Pay attention, for this is no fiction. This is your history (Africans).
Wait!
Keep a handkerchief beside you, you might need it.
At their arrival,
The sky romanced thunder and kissed lightening
They came as though our souls needed saving, that was why we were at the mercy of their salvation and let our guards down
They came holy,
preaching the gospel of Christ
so that we would believe, so we did
When the fangs of reality hit us, we became preys praying for the natural course of justice, even though it was far from the shores of our land
These predators were ruthless, brutal and blood tasty animals
Their eyes, bloodshot
and their clothes cloaked with inhumanity
They slaughtered our pregnant women at sight, so as to take away our sons and daughters
They gloried in Savaging our vulnerability
They brought the gospel in exchange for our souls
They brought education in exchange for our services
They tore apart our world piece by pieces, stalking daggers in the hearts of men as they left scars of history for generations yet to come
Spiritually,
Our gods abandoned us;
Orunmila betrayed us
Amadioha ran like a child for safety
Obatala stood and watched as we got raped on thorns and in turns
And when we couldn't bear it; We became our gods,
Our legends;
Hail Jaja of Opobo
The great one who fought like a lion protecting his territory from intrusion
Hail Nana of Itsekiri
Who fought tirelessly like a fearless elephant trampling over their domineering guts, who died glorified
Hail Oba Kosoko of Lagos;
The crafty fox who refused to bow to their wishes
Hail Oba Ovarenmwen of Benin;
The fearless hyena who fought and died courageously for what he stood for
In their countries, we became caricatures of entertainment
History has it that we earned titles such as;
Black monkeys
African Gorillas
Apes
Chimpanzees
Oh! What a pity!
We were sold
Sold by our very own brothers
A thousand slave for a mirror
Be it rainy or sunny days, the journey to our grave was ascertained
Even when we fought for a peaceful treaty, we failed woefully
Through whips and guns,
came the right source of motivation,
as hot tears crawled down our cheeks every passing second and the ever scorching sun massaging our backs
They played gods over our lives
Our voice was answerable to their guns
Tiredness was a problem best solved with the complementation of bullets or whips
Our tongues were beautifully uprooted when we complained
They shared out our families and friends amongst themselves, as if we were farm produce
Our brothers and sisters
Daughters and sons
Fathers and mothers
Were all at their mercy, as they parted with them in chains and pains
As they journeyed,
any rebellious act was settled in the court of the Pacific ocean
On our lips stood padlocks preventing us from stealing their produce
Our legs were clipped in chains
Our bodies were tattooed with the map of the world's cruelty
And back home:
Our Agricultural produce and artifacts cried for safety and pleaded for mercy, as they were being carted away to the land of no return
This poem arrows the emergence the whites and the struggles of some Africans who fought against the slave trade in Africa. Particularly, Nigeria. The poem starts by introducing us to the manipulative techniques that the whites used to successfully penetrate into Nigeria and exploit our human and natural resources.
The poem also lament about some of our artifacts that are now housed abroad. The Ivory mask of Benin is currently in the British Museum.
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Worlds Apart
****This poem is not written to console you but to slap you back to reason****
**Let us pray first**
The road to success is not straight
There is a curb called **Failure**
A loop called **Confusion**
Speed bumps called **Friends**
Red lights called **Enemies**
Caution lights called **Family**
You will have flat tyre called **Jobs**
But if you have a spare tyre called **Determination** ; An engine called **Perseverance**; insurance called **faith** and a driver called **Jesus**
You will make it to a place called **Success** in Jesus mighty name, **Amen**.
............................................................................
Three worlds with
One soul
I live in the unknown world before now
A world that even the fathers before my fathers could not define
A world of space and time
The limitless world of possibilities
I lived in that world for nine months
In the jurisdiction of the placenta
Under the rule of the
Uterus
I was banished from that world
I left that world with pains in my heart
And chains on my
Lips
I still romance myself with the memories of the wonders of that world
Oh!
I remember
I remember vividly
I had no reason to work
No reason to strive
Neither was there a reason to worry about the future
Oh!
What a world
Where emotions were far fetched
A world without thoughts
A world with wondrous growth
A world engulfed with tranquillity and prosperity
Whenever I ponder about that world
I wonder about it agendas
Oh!
Cursed be the day
Cursed be the day
My sentence was passed in the court of the womb
When mercy ran so far away
That my host rained curses upon the initiator of my being
Being uttered out
By the uterus
And flogged for a crime
I know not of
With the aid of the
Umbilical cord
To cuddle me into a new world
A world which welcomed me
With a tap to hear me cry as a welcome note of speech
Oh!
Now
I hear yet of another world to be journeyed into when the breath of this one forsakes me
A world centred on the choices and actions I made in the previous world
A world believed to be supreme
A world with a supreme being to
Judge me based on
The level of the purity
My heart had attained
A world unseen yet believed to be
Because it has always been before the being of any being
And
Believed of being the ultimate source of the existence of other worlds
A world of eternity
A world with a prison for the wicked souls
Govern by a master of ruthlessness
A master who has attained degrees in the
School of cruelty
A master whose
Home is built on and of fire yet unquenchable
Here I stand
Told of freewill
Yet compelled to decide the end point of my existence.
Have you ever stopped for a second to ask yourself where you come from? Like what that world of emptiness was like. How your life was over there. This poem is drafted to arrest those thoughts. Most of all, capture the uncertainties of life and the judgement that comes when dead takes us to another world.
The poem aptly harmonizes the curiosity housed by humanity and how to best live a worthy life on earth. It also points to the fact that regardless of how you live your life on earth; you are either a candid of hell or heaven. Hence, whichever world you choose to embrace is entirely up to you.
**What are your thoughts on this?**
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A Pinch Of Change
I wish I could turn my tongue into the pages of the Bible like @Scotty17 and preach the rudiments of love like @Olasquare. If only I knew how to best arrest the crypto market like @Pantera; I would build dreams on the wise words of a great woman, @Jane. Have you seen @Farmgirl? If only my words were a hoe, I would dig and plant hope like her.
I wish I could motivate my girlfriend like @happyBoy. She would have been happy and stayed. Well, It has become a matter of what I wished for vs what reality stoned me with as @Princessbusayo warned. Now, I have to be realistically paint my pains on the cohesive wall of this blank canvas like @fexoniceone.
If only I had joined read cash earlier, I would have gotten my girlfriend what she needed. Now, I have to break out of my shell like @kushyzee to get a breakthrough. Sadly, her words were the harsh reality of life as foretold by @King_Gozie. I made love with this thoughts in my bed.
Two months ago, my girlfriend served me a salad of pain in bed.
“Tyelev, you are good for one thing; words. I don’t need a motivational speaker. I need money. I know you love me. See, love is an illusion. It doesn’t pay the bills. I know you are trying your best but I don’t need a guy who watches things to happen. I need a guy who make things happen. See, love and ambition are on the said side of life. I need money. I can’t deal.” She concluded and left. I stood there, transfixed, trying to understand what had happened.
*“ Did Benita just break up with me because I’m broke? Heeeyyy!!!”* I bit my lips hard. A relationship of two years flushed into the toilet. This is a wonderful girl. A girl I loved with everything in me. I saw the flames of love burn into dust before my eyes. Even as I craft, I can still feel her soft touches on my back. Yes, she used to massage my back while I write.
****People change, so you should adjust accordingly****
About a year ago, Benita saw no reason why she would ever leave me because I was lacking financially. She said I have dreams and most importantly; the potentials to grow. And to her, that’s everything she wants. Sadly, reminiscing upon it has made those words to become a venom from the bite of a cobra.
From a logical stand point, as humans, we are subject to change. Was that too subtle? Sorry, we are prisoners in the jurisdiction of Change. We are therefore helpless against it. Before Benita dropped the bombshell. Her incessant demands and screams for things was at its peak. I perceived it as a girl’s thing.
I spent all my salary on her, every month. Yet I could barely keep up. I had no new clothes. I mean, it’s love right? We are supposed to give it our all. I refused to accept that Benita has changed into a different person until now. Most people can’t let go of their partners because they can’t embrace a new reality. This is partly why even marriages end up in the belle of divorce. As a result of the birth of a new habit or standard.
When in a relationship, try to adjust to your partner’s needs ( emotionally and financially). Work closely together and see if he or she is a person who can compromise when you get a visit from Mr. Change. Because he will visit you, whether you like it or not. Understanding the concept of change has given me a new perspective to move life. And help to maintain a good relationship with my ex girlfriend.
****A broken relationship is better than a broken marriage****
A Relationship doesn’t have to be a do or die affair. If it doesn’t work, fall back and relax. Don’t make an enemy of your ex because it didn’t work.
In life, most especially in the quest to find that special one, you will meet different people who may not necessarily be your search. Regardless of the tussle, that one person who would love you and see that you don’t break a sweat is around the corner. So, stay strong and keep moving.
Apologies for tagging this great minds without their consent. I love you all for the great work you have been doing in the platform. There is always a thing or two to learn from you all.
Hope you learnt a thing or two. Kindly share your thoughts on the topic in the comment section.
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The Lashing Tongue Of Fate: Episode one.
When papa sold the only piece
of land he inherited from his father,
So as to get me schooled
It was unknown to him that he had Framed dreams on a wall forged with broken bottles.
Wasn't it just yesterday?
When he smiled like a God
While he played **Ayo** at the market square, drunk with dreams of an educated child
Papa's voice was a cold whisper,
a strayed soft-breeze that put his friends in their places.
“Shut up! **Okoro**, when men who have educated kids are talking, you listen.”
He would pound his chest like a wrestler, so as to be heard.
Papa was a proud town crier
Even the king knew his place
While he addressed him.
Unfortunately, his utopian dreams never came to light.
When I graduated with a pass,
The world was silent.
And it was felt at every corner and town like the plane that crashed into the world market.
Papa handed me a cup of fire
Hot; smoked the colour of his anger
With a wrath-filled eyes
And his soft gentle voice, replaced with that of a volcano while my heart was dressed in mourning
Papa's dreams became dead flowers
Littered in the Harmattan, with petals brown from grief. I knew them because they were coloured birds nested around his head,
a secret hideout in a claustrophobic space of nothing
Where all his pains were locked up in a sprawling closet of dark clouds.
— **Words on the marble.**
**This episodic story is loosely based on real event.**
" The day you will break up with Rose; will probably be the day we stopped being friends." Odion said while he struggled to chew the meat in his mouth.
"It's not your fault, she has charmed you. You know, at times I wonder who's dating that girl. *Na me they chop, na you e dey affect."* I said with a scornful look.
Odion has been a long time friend. We have been friends since elementary school days. And now, we are bottled up in the University of Ibadan. Life in school wasn't as we had presumed it to be.
I lost my parents in a ghastly road accident, shortly after I was given the admission. What can I say, life is bastard.
The incident took a toll on me. I was shattered, battered and broken beyond imaginable doubt. The claws of life were at my neck and I knew my education had hit a rocky ground.
It was then that Odion's parents offered to help me further my education. It's not like they had the extra money, but they deemed it wise to help or at the very least, try. The family was slightly above what seemed like an average class.
I hated the fact that I had to place a burden on the family but I was out of options. When the fags of fate stroke, it was either I crawled or stayed down. So, I chose the former. Surprisingly, another bombshell was on the way.
A shocking news that stroke Odion and I. We got a call from home that Odion's father had taken another wife. It felt like I was married to disappointment. And she was a faithful wife; trailing me wherever I went. We knew at that point; that if we had to survive, we had to stick together.
The semester was a long one, and as time went by, we struggled to survive. We had serious financial challenges. Odion and I got to a point where we understood that life was not just a battlefield, but more of an arena of gladiators.
We needed no one to tell us at that point that we had nobody but us. We took to manual labour: we dug gutters on weekends, sold sachet water at some events and roadsides.
The thing was, despite our busy schedules, we never let it get in the way of our studies. Well, Odion could be attributed to being a gifted child. He didn't read much, he flipped pages and went to bed while I had to spend hours trying to understand it, but it was alright. We understood we have our strengths and weaknesses.
"Guy, am getting fade up, this gutter business is beginning to irritate me. How many of our course mates are doing this kind of jobs? The other day, Esther saw me in the act and the way she shook her head, I felt like the earth should have made a breakfast out of me.
“A girl I have been crushing on. My G*,* lets find something else. Gutter digging, no be am at all." Odion concluded.
"You think I love the job? I met Nneka while doing it and you know Nneka, that girl doesn't keep shut. She’s a tap, bro. There is no better broadcaster. Oh!! Oh!! *You think say na odinari eye I use tell you say I no go class last Monday? See, we just have to do it, my guy*. Let me know if you have a better offer though.”
Silence arrested the atmosphere for about a minute or two.
"I was thinking, since you are very good at poetry, maybe you could compose a love poem and hit one of those big girls in our department.
*Abi Garri never taya you? Guy, hunger no be philosophy oh!* At this juncture, my guy, we gat upgrade our scope. Let’s use money to buy clothes, fancy dress. Baba, *make we approach them pepper them geng. We go catch one wey go spray us money.”* Odion explained with all seriousness.
"OK, someone needs to dig, so that you can eat. Anyways, I will let you rest today but if you try it tomorrow, my guy, you no go chop o." I said and dashed out.
After a hectic day, I came back to meet Odion arranging knew clothes. Then, it occurred to me that he had acted upon his suggestion earlier. I knew trying to talk him out of it would bring about a fight. So, I had to let the sleeping dog lie. I met a beauty that day, while digging my gutter with dignity and prestige. Frankly, it was better, compared to stealing or doing anything illegal.
I had to come to terms with the fact that it was just a temporary setback for a major comeback. So, I did it judiciously. Rose who saw me in the act came to greet me. It was rather awkward to me; as to why a girl who looked so ravishing would even consider a chat with me in such a place and condition. She spoke out of stigmatization. A tone of pure affection and concern.
We exchanged contacts and surprisingly she called. It started from there. With time, we bonded, she eventually got to know everything about us. Odion didn't like her at first but when she stopped me from digging gutters and we paid her a visit. It changed him completely.
Rose lived in a mansion. She had maids at her beck and call. She showered me with a lot of gifts but I was afraid. I was becoming too comfortable. And I feared that life would be carving a stone for me, or perhaps I was so much into hardship, that I had come to love it.
My worst fear was confirmed when a very rich handsome student of Engineering came to warn me, to keep off his girl. I didn't take it seriously. Although, I told Rose and she told me to be calm. She said everything was under control.
One fateful Monday, I was attacked by some unknown students and I was mercilessly dealt with. Odion ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
The news spread like a wildfire and when Rose heard of it, she went mad. We knew who was behind it but I asked Rose not to worry, that I could take care of it…
I knew I had to man up to keep what's mine but the question was how to go about it. I started by trying to know my enemy. I learnt that the engineering student was not a regular guy but a top cult leader.
On a scorching Monday, after series of lectures. I came back to see a dry bone in front of my doorstep. Perspiration of sweat dropped from my head to toe. I knew then that I was in for trouble. I acted as though I cared less but deep down there, I was crying.
Rose knew something was wrong but I won't tell. I started drifting away from her when I got a written note that read, "Less is more." I almost peed my pants after reading it. At this point, I was running away from Rose. I can't die for love.
Another incident happened on Jean carnival day. I was circled by some unknown students who asked me to be on my knees while they drank and poured the beer on my head. The worse happened when they walked into my class to fish me out, they asked me to drink their urine after series of beating which I did.
"I can't continue like this Rose, I know you are a good girl but please go back to your guy. I love my life. Look at me. I get humiliated every other day." I complained.
"You told me you will handle it." she said.
"But that was before I knew he was a cultist. Who I be? Ah!! Abeg oh!! The beating don dey too much o! Please, lets part ways. I agree you have been helpful ever since you walked into my life, but as a gutter digger, the humiliation wasn’t as terrible as this." I said sternly.
Rose held my cheeks to kiss me but what was at stake was more than romance; so I pulled back. She sighed and left. Odion walked in with a swollen body.
I looked in great astonishment, as he lied down first.
“ My guy, you must leave Rose oh! Wetyn Na!! I dey follow you do? See as those guys peel my back. Guy, you gat let that girl go or I promise you, we won't graduate from this school." He concluded in tears.
"Oh! Now I should leave her. Interesting, you told me never to leave her before oh!!” I shouted.
“That was before they did this to me. Now I know what you have been going through. Ah!! Those guys no get conscience o. Father!." He lamented.
"Ok, I think we are done. She just left." Deep within me, I knew that was a beautiful lie. I loved her in ways I could hardly comprehend
"Well, that's good. For our sakes.
There are a lot of girls out there who won't mind dating an ex gutter digger like you." He said and threw a thunderstorm of laughter.
"Oh! So you've got jokes now. Last I checked, this gutter business was your idea and it had helped us." I replied him.
**Watch for Episode two.**
I hope you had a wonderful read.
Will Kelvin go back to Rose
OR
Will he go back to digging gutters to survive?
What are your thoughts, do well to share them in the comment section.
Kindly subscribe to get notifications for more episodes. Thank you very much for reading.
In The Prison Of My Dreams
*Reality is a fragment of an illusion*
*You plant words on trees*
*Build legacies on dreams*
*And wrap time around your waist like a golden belt*
*Yet you sip failure*
*You sip a cup of wishes*
*Hoping that those stitches of success around your skirts or suits might shed light to the hopelessness*
*Yet failure refuses to fade far away from your home*
*You reach out to the world*
*And see the flames of ambition growing wide*
*You then dream like a god*
*But work like a servant*
*Yet you live as a slave to your dreams*
*You sit like God on the throne*
*Creating worlds in your own words*
*Pulling triggers of frustration on humanity just to be heard*
*You drench yourself in the failures of life*
*Making wishes from the smoke of a cigarette*
*Hoping to smoke out gods to hear your wishes*
*Only to get what life wishes*
**—Words on the marble.**
There are times when you look back to the stones life has thrown at you and put up a smile. It's being almost three years or there about since I met Maria, a dazzling spark of beauty. She used to be a student of mine. Maria had a near perfect shape. As her tutor, I struggled hard to keep my eyes of her killer steps. Maria's fashion designer wasn't helping matters, as her designs were so befitting and creatively topnotch.
I struggled every other day to teach her. Being a principled teacher, I promised myself never to indulge in any act of promiscuity but the fact that Maria was hitting on me too wasn't helping matters.
She would tell her friends how my gap-toothed dentition turned her on whenever I smiled, of how kissable my pink lips were. Being that girls are the wrong place to zip up a secret, her friends disclose every detail at the slightest provocation.
Tutoring at the time, was just a pass time activity for me, as I was awaiting my admission letter from the University of Benin. Maria walked into my office with a seductive smile, that almost took away my sanity.
I felt a hot rush ran all over my body within seconds and when she lifted her left legs on my table and her mini skirt stretched up, I began to say the lord’s prayer within me and when I was done. I was hoping this would be a dream. Although, I was struck by the reality of it, when she drew my tie and I followed the force like a man under compulsion.
“Maria, get out of my office,” I ordered her out but deep within me, I knew I wanted it. After all, I am human. She took her hands of my tie and when I heaved a big sigh of relief, she ran her left hands on my shoulders and as I shivered, her right hand ran through my trousers aiming for the **small** **me**.
*“This girl wants to kill me,” I said to myself.*
I knew if I stayed, I would be in for trouble, as my thoughts were beginning to run wild. Before I knew what was about to hit me, her lips locked mine. I knew a minute more, meant I'm done.
So, I stood up and ran outside trying to zip up my trousers. I found it enigmatic to understand how she unzipped me so fast. I stood outside of the office sweating profusely, as though I had a fight with a lion.
One of the Mathematics tutors, who happened to be passing by gave me an impassive smile. I didn't understand what it meant, until I turned back to see Maria who pointed at her lips ,then I knew her strawberry lipstick was on my lips.
“Get up, it’s time to teach. Your students will be waiting, you lazy bone,” Mama said with a broom in her hands.
“Jeez!!!!!! Thank God, it was a dream,” I said.
“ What was a dream?” Mama asked.
“ Mama, don't worry. You won't understand.” I said.
Thank you very much for reading. I hope you enjoyed yourself. Do well to subscribe for more articles and stories.
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Tears Of The Sun
On a cloudy day, when the sun had gone to rest. The rains battled aimlessly with lightning in the sky. A strike and the rains fell effortlessly from the mouth of the sky, transferring it's aggression upon those who walked the earth.
I was wrapped around my thoughts like a bird in a nest. I prayed fervently as though it would be my last.
“ Lord, please heal my mother, she is all I have got, please!,” tears began to stream down my cheeks like waters emitting from a rock.
Life has never been fair to mama. She came to life as a product of rape, so her parents sold her off to Madam Koyikoyi, a Lagosian (a resident of Lagos, a lagoon area in Nigeria) who sold children for home services, others for sexual pressure. My mother tried her best to live a moral and decent life but when the fags of fate strikes, doom is bound to surface in twisted phases.
As fate would have it. She was sold to the Adewales, a family of great repute. Mr. Tosin Adewale was a business tycoon, a successful man in all spheres of life except religion. He believed in the death of Christ to save humanity of her sins. Hence, he saw no reason to go to church or whatsoever, since every sin was automatically wiped out through the cross. What a religious dogma?
He was nothing but a terrible whore monger. He would kill to have whatever entices him under skirts. Well, his money always worked for him, until my mother (Joy) came into the picture.
His wife, Mrs. Adesuwa was a christian at heart. She loved as though her breath depended on it. she had no child of her own due to several miscarriages but she never gave room for that to be an issue. She persuaded her husband in getting a maid when she was heavy with pregnancy. A thing which was an inconceivable idea in the early years of her marriage.
This is because she perceived maids as a threat to her home. She finally got rid of her insecurities and my mother was brought in. So, My mother's stay in the mansion was a glorious one, as Mrs. Adesuwa treated her as a family member and her husband showered her with luxurious gifts, occasionally. He believed she was a naive girl who could be won over with gifts. After several presents; the anointed day finally came. His wife was in the hospital for delivery.
He made up an excuse and came back home to accomplish the mission.
“ joy, stop mopping. Come sit by me, you're too industrious for my liking, you need to loosen up a bit or are we maltreating you?, he asked.
“ No, sir. Not in anyway, you have been the family I have always wanted and I am very grateful about it but I can't sit beside you, sir." She stuttered.
“ You See, you are no longer a child and beyond a shadow of doubt your fruits are ripe and ready to be plucked, and your hips are crying out to be touched. Your beauty goes beyond artificial enhancement. When you walk, I understand why Samson died in the hands of Delilah. I would give you everything you seek of life, if you let me have a taste of the fruit planted between your legs, joy,” he concluded and walked closer to her, held her hands and then made a move to touch her from behind but she thwarted his hands off.
“ Sir, I can't do it, I'm a virgin and want to remain one until I get married, please.” She withdrew herself from him.
“ Who said I don't want to marry you? Once I taste and see that you are sweeter than my wife, she would have herself to blame. Besides, do you think I married her as a virgin? Men don't need novice in bed, no!! We need professionals, haven't you read- Why men love prostitutes? You should see this as a training or preparation for the future for your husband,” he concluded and desperation was cooking inside him and the urge took over.
“ Please, sir. Don't do this!!,” she cried and moaned but he stopped when he finally plant a seed in her. She bled all over .
“ I'm sorry about this, it was the devil's work, I promise it won't repeat itself. Please, don't tell my wife. He zipped up and left her motionless on the floor as she groaned in pain.
In order to save her face from the shame; she packed her things and left a few months after discovering that she was pregnant. Buried in frustration, she wondered around the streets and slept wherever fate pleased.
She deployed selling strategies to survive in the streets. She sold pure water to cars on motion not minding the risk involved. She needed the money, so that she could feed herself and the baby in her. She made a home out of an incomplete storey building where she gave birth to a son (me) with the help of a mad lass. She said it was a miracle, the way the mad lass helped her.
Years rolled fast and she went through hell to see me through school.
“ You are not an abominable act, my son. One day you will soar in the skies like eagles and never remember the days you slept on an empty stomach, persevere and make me proud, my son.” She would say with a dry smile hanged on sadness.
“ I will do my best, mama or die trying,” I would always reassure her.
I had always dreamt of a day when I would be able to provide my mother with the good things of life.
Well, the day finally came. I had just secured a job after several turn downs from my employers in the past years. My joy knew no bound. As I journey back home to break the good news, I found the one person who stood by me through thick and thin lying helplessly on the road after being ran over by a car.
It happened right before my very eyes and I ran to help the man put her in the car. There was something about how she looked at the man. Like the sight of the man made a greater impact to the accident or was perhaps another catastrophic outcome of an event.
“ Young man, who is she to you, if I may ask?. He looked curious and the waters of perplexity did a fast one on him.
“ She is my mother, the only person that I have in this world,” I said with a cracking voice and my eyes betrayed me, as tears gushed out uncontrollably.
“ I'm so sorry, young man, He muttered in a low tone.
“ And will that make her feel any better, sir? You have ruined me completely. That woman has never known joy all her life, and now that I am capable of uplifting her status, you are about to snatch her away from me.” I resigned to the floor in tears, hoping for a miracle when the doctor came out of the ward.
“ There was a massive internal damage, which led to serious bleeding. She might live but it would take God's touch. He was about to leave immediately when I held his tie and shook him in frustration.
“ You go nowhere!!!! Eeeiirrrhhh!!! God's touch? No!!! noooo!! I can't see God, so let him use you that I can see!!! Please, be God for today and save my mother, I beg of you, sir.” I pleaded in tears and the man who had driven us to the hospital held me back.
“ Doctor, can we see her?” He inquired. The doctor’s suit was in disarray, I made sure of it, his tie twisted like a tiny rope hung around a goat's neck.
“ You can see her, sir,’ he said, trying to comport himself.
We opened the ward and I saw my mother's eyes in bewilderment, the moment she sat her eyes on the man. she coughed in between her words.
“ It's a good day, my boy. You're not a bastard. This is your father, my son. Mr. Adewale, this is your son; the product of what you did on that fateful day. Son, don't be angry with him, be at peace, she said smiling.
“ Mama, haba!! I have a house now. I just get a well paying job. You will never suffer again, I have a car too. Please, live for me, mama. I have a job now. Please, don't leave me.” I pleaded with tears streaming down my cheeks.
“ That you have made it, is enough to be happy, my boy. Mr. Adewale, take care of him,’ she then breathed her last.
“ Ahhhh! Mama has cheated me, you can't die. OK, let me join you, please. You said we would be together forever.” I quaked in tears and Mr. Adewale tried to comfort me but his words were like thorns crushing my vain as I saw him as the cause of my pains.
Thank you for reading, do well to subscribe. I look forward to seeing your comments on this story. Do have a wonderful day ahead.
Logic On Valuable Emotions (L.O.V.E)
There is no currency as valuable as love. Unfortunately, this currency can’t be spent by just anyone or everyone. The saga that relationships breeds; make people shy away from the claws of love. Sadly, love is a fool, he opens doors that you thought were permanently shot.
Relationship is a course that even the best of minds (experts) fail at. Your relationship counselor have had her fair share of this pancake. In as much as the ladies want those six pacs, tall, handsome, sex active, God fearing, intelligent, loving and most importantly rich men, they keep kissing frogs until their stumble the desired Prince Charming. It is an indubitable fact that the result poses no different for the male counterparts. They have expectations too.
Most times, we take the experiences of a past relationship into present ones, which is partly a good thing but when the lessons learnt from the previous relationships are wrongly applied, it becomes toxic to the good thing you've got going on. The beauty of a relationship doesn't lie in bagging up all your expectations in a person. The beauty lies in striving together as a blank slate, trying to understand each other. We are all flawed MEN.
Hence, we are bond to hang a beautiful canvas of imperfection on our shoulders. I'm not an advocate of bullshit. So, I’m not saying you should take bullshit from him or her in the name of love; neither am I saying you shouldn't.
Therefore, It is wise to understand that the concept of a relationship is oneness and as such, it is worthwhile to live with the fact that you are not trying to understand another person or taking bullshit from another person but yourself. It's more like you are living with the consequences of your actions; only here, you are living with the consequences of another man or woman’s action because he is you and you are her.
Instead of asking yourself, “what it is a woman or man wants?,” why not ask yourself how far you will be willing to go to make things work. God forbid I preach the gospel of **money** **is** **not** **important** in a relationship. Money is the real deal, but is sex not a big deal? Is the fear of God not? Is intelligence not a big deal? What happened to the character?.
Let’s also put a peg on the head of **requirements** **needed** **in** **a** **relationship**. You would agree with me that the desires/demands in a relationship are endless. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean you can't have an amazing relationship. You are amazing the way you are, but you see, the problem is, you try to re-brand and assume a different personality just to suit that woman or man you assume to be a dream come true.
Most people are in a relationship to manage the situation, trying to fit in. The man doesn't want a natural woman and then, “**boom**!!, ” She hits the salon/cosmetics, all made up for the occasion. A woman tells you, she is not the churchy type and you try as much as possible to avoid religious conversations, in as much as you know it's not who you are.
What are you doing?
It's understandable, you want to be loved, but one can't truly love you without knowing the real you. Yes! You have been through some real shit and most likely come across some amazing people and lost them in the process of being you, but you shouldn't forget in the process of all this personal chaos, that you are someone else's amazing person. So, why settle for less?
.
It is undebatable that you just might be messing up with the chances or possibilities of you meeting that one person who would cherish you for who you are by being stuck in that joke you have settle for a reality.
**The best relationships house coins of pains**
Families fight, yet they are blood ties, yea? You know what that means, right? So, why are you in demand of so much from a person who is from a different background and upbringing? Yes, there is more to a relationship than love but that more is still motivated by love, almost all the time. Look around you, the moment you make the decision to cling onto another person, you shouldn't expect your world to remain the same. Changes must occur.
Hence, it is worthy to note that your parents, as in, your father and mother's life encountered a change which they adjusted to the moment you were born. Invariably, you should know that the presence of another person in your life will flame the course of change too. Don't quote me wrong, I'm not saying you should adjust in the process and forget who you are or let your dreams revolve around him or her.
**Materialism is a bird with wings, without dreams.**
It is important to note that most relationships out there are motivated by money. Am I saying it wrongly? Well, It's a major factor to be considered. We should all be financially free, so as to rid ourselves of financial crises. Although, is that all to it? Once **local** **man** ( a local parlance in the Nigerian language, meaning; a man) stumbles upon wealth, he feels he is ready and capable to dine in the pool of a relationship. It begs the question, “ Is he psychologically prepared for the saga that comes with it or will the money see him through the hurdles of life? Does she even want to know if he is ready when the money is staring at her face?
**The concept of different strokes for different folks**
We are not engineered with the same mindset. Hence, some women doesn't want your money but the sex is everything. On this one, there are quite a number of girls out there who would tell you to hell with your money but would dance to your tone, in as much as you are fire down there. Let's ask ourselves this, “What becomes of the woman when he or she isn't sexually active anymore? Now that you guys are married, will you abandon the man or divorce him? I guess that's why divorce cases are skyrocketing, right?
I mean, a number of things could go wrong, accident for one and the lost of the touch (he might grow tired of you) Don't advertise love if deep down there you know it won't work out fine. Don't rush into a relationship neglecting the vital signs. You know him or her isn't your kind of person: He hits you and treats you later like a queen. She disrespects you in front of friends and family. He sleeps with anything underskirt but wants to marry you so you stay mute and claim he loves you? No, he doesn't. He wants someone who he can call his and explore other worlds.
In conclusion, there is no advice that would perfect your present relationship, if it's as terrible as it goes, **Japa** ( This is a Yoruba word meaning; to flee). Remember that it is better to have a broken relationship than a broken marriage. If you have a good thing going, don't stop doing those things that are pivoting the affairs in your favour. Remember, what might work for Mr. A might not work for Mr. B, so don't go about craving for a perfect thing and ruin the beautiful thing you've got going on.
Thank you for reading. Do have a blissful day ahead. I remain Tyelev: **anything** **the** **mind** **conceives** **can** **be** **achieved**.
I'm a Seed Called read.cash
*I’ve imprisoned words with my pen and laid waste to the filth of deception. I know best not to leave a seed hanging, because hunger is a hideous foe. When I stared at the sky, I saw the branches of my seed smiling artistically with an inscription, “Read. Cash.”*
Hello, wonderful minds of this great platform. I’m a new member of this amazing site— **read**. **Cash** and this incredible community. I began with a poetic title and introduction to best market myself. I’m Tyelev Marcus by name, a graduate of the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.
I’m a Tiv guy by tribe. I hail from Makurdi, Benue state. It is an amazing place. Don’t forget: we are the **food** **basket** **of** **the** **nation**. You should visit the place. It is beautifully endowed with natural resources. Hunger is a prisoner in my land. The people are quite friendly and receptive to visitors.
Although, I spent most of my life in Lagos. So, I’m acquainted with the **N’gbati** people ( This is a local parlance used to refer to the Yorubas, a major ethnic group in Nigeria.) Yes, I speak Yoruba and the people are a wonderful puzzle, that tickles my fancy. Aren’t we all a bunch of riddles?
I remember my first day in Lagos. It wasn’t a funny experience. I couldn’t blend well with the people because they responded to virtually everything in Yoruba language. Buying things was difficult, where you have an old man or woman selling. It was frustrating at the time but as the wings of time flew, I grew to learn and to love it.
Personally, I feel the minority tribes, like the Tiv people should cultivate the habit of speaking their tribe with more pride. It is sad that I can’t write my language as well as I would the Yoruba language. Generally evaluating, our culture and traditions are dying because many people perceive it as a tool of primitiveness.
Unfortunately, this is partly why some children can’t speak a language which is supposed to be their mother tongue ( First language). We have embraced the western culture, which is a good thing. After all, change is the only currency that can afford progress. Needless to say, it has bought us civilization.
Although, that is not a yardstick to frown at the thought of ensuring our own languages reckon with posterity. The irony of the situation is that; the civilized people are making the effort to appreciate our culture, while we are making sure it is totally uprooted from the face of the earth.
**Where was I?**
I’m what you might like to call a Jack of all trades, in a way. I don’t know of the last phrase. I guess you would get to know if I’m **a master of none,** as we get acquainted. I’m basically a writer. I do poetry, fictions, articles, biographies, Resumè, memoirs, journalism, etc. Ops! I forgot to mention that I studied English and literature.
Well, I like to think of myself as an ambivert or more of an introvert. Well, you can pick any of the **“verts”** as you get to me (Lol). I’m not one to sugarcoat my affairs, neither do I fancy rubbing the good qualities I exhibit into people’s faces. So, I will say it as it stands. I snore a lot when I’m stressed. I don’t do well with pressure.
I hope to learn from everyone I meet on this platform. I want to thank each and every one who took out their time to read this post. It means a lot to me. I remain Tyelev: **Anything** **that** **the** **mind** **can** **conceive**, **can** **be** **achieved**. Stay blessed.
**Lead image downloaded from istockphoto.com**
@Tyelev
