Life changer
This is a story from imagination but also real in some other world.
I was narrating my ordeal with my Social Studies teacher to my sisters when our mother barge in after listening to the story outside their door. She praised me and went on to advise my three sisters against pushing their teachers to the limit. While she spoke, Omar, my only brother entered the room with a good news – he had been offered admission to study Law in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Ummi promised us all a big celebration of the news once our father is back. And Omar also mentioned that Dad had promised to get him a smart phone for his admission. But until he came, we all sat outside, drank Zobo and listened to Ummi’s stories about her admission and how Omar’s own will be a life changer for him.
Ummi started with a particular scene at her screening venue which involved Salma Mohammed and a young lecturer. Salma came for the same screening but was quite frustrated with the delay. She expressed her frustration by making harsh remarks about lecturers even to the face of a young man who, unknown to her and others, was the Screening Officer. The students were shocked when the young man entered the office after it was cleaned and Salma was full of shame. Afterwards, Ummi proceeded to the department for her Matric.Number. The secretary ushered her into the office of the HOD’s who seemed to be making advances at her and that got Ummi angry.
Back home, dad mentioned our quiet neighbour and how humans were unpredictable. That reminded Ummi of the experience she had during her registration, especially in the HOD office.Upon hearing the HOD’s incident and after laughing, dad told Ummi that the HOD was his friend and that he was the one that helped him with her admission.Knowing that dad and HOD were friends, Ummi was no longer angry nor embarrassed about the office incident. Omar then asked for the story of the “quiet neighbour” and Ummi started. A couple had been childless for long and decided to visit a native doctor after which they had a boy child. He was named Talle because his mother died shortly after his birth and was called “the quiet one” because he spoke less. Talle worked as a Local Government driver but after losing his both parents, he suddenly started to spend a lot more money than he used to, which called for suspicion. So much that Hakimi, the District Head, invited him over to defend his sudden source of wealth.However, While they spoke, the police barged in asking for Talle who accompanied Zaki to kidnap a boy for ransom. Talle, the quiet one, was then taken by the police and never again seen in Lafayette community. Ummi rounded up Talle’s story by advising us, especially me, not to trust anyone.
The story of Salma continued. After her screening, she proceeded to complete her registration in the 100 Level coordinator’s office of Dr Dabo. Dabo was a disciplined lecturer but on seeing Salma, he tried to ask her out. Salma refused his attempt and also insulted Dr Dabo who immediately felt remorseful. Next was hostel registration, which Salma completed at Queen Amina Hall. At first, Salma disliked her roommates who were Tomiwa, Ngozi and Ada, but later, she grew to like them all, especially Tomiwa. A disagreement almost ruined their friendship one day when Salma was on her way back to school from home. Two men, Habib and Labaran, in a Benz had stopped to offer her a ride to school which she accepted... The next evening, Tomiwa’s phone rang. It was Habib. Apparently, Salma had lied to Habib that she was Tomiwa and also gavehim her roommate’s phone number when he asked for hers. Towima was told to play along to the lie and she did. She went out with Habib who happened to be a Politician andLabaran, his driver. Habib confronted Tomiwa for impersonating Salma but they sorted it out and Tomiwa came back with lots of goodies from Habib, which got Salma jealous. So jealous that she insulted her roommates and they had a disagreement but settled that same night. Desperate Salma eventually ended up dating Labaran and was disappointed that he was, indeed, Habib’s driver. The girls continued with their peaceful and friendly lives, their academic grades were very good but something happened during their final paper.
***THE LIFE CHANGER***
Ummi continued.
She stated her easy the final paper of Moral Philosophy was, and that Salma had read only the past questions because they were been repeated for 3 years and counting. In the exam hall, Salma was shocked to see that past questions were not repeated and with that, Salma knew no answer to any of the questions. Kolawole Abdul soon yielded to her persuasion, wrote some answers on a sheet and sneaked it to Salma. An invigilator later caught Salma with the expo and made her sign the EMAL form. Kolawole signed too but only as a witness because he wasn’t caught. However, Salma implicated Kolawole and they were both expelled. At first, Salma tried to escape the expulsion by asking Habib to help her with his position as the Speaker of the House, but Habib only knew Dabo whom she had insulted during her registration. Eventually, Salma slept with Habib for a substantial of money to bribe the Chairman of the Malpractice Committee. She met Dr. Muhammed Kabir who posed as the Committee Chairman and duped her of N100,000, part of the money gotten from Habib. On the day of her trial, She neither found Dr Kabir as the Chairman nor member of the Committee and out of frustration, she mistakenly mentioned Kolawole’s name
Muhammed Kabir was neither a Doctor nor part of the EXEC but he was a Laboratory Technologists in the University and also a chronic gambler. Meanwhile, Salma had told Labaran how she was duped. She cried for justice, and so Labaran hired Zaki to go after Kabir. Habib permitted it but was not comfortable with Zaki again because he had once sent him to kidnap a young boy but he involved Talle and they both failed the mission which almost implicated him. At the gambling joint, Kabir won N300,000 but when he left after winning, a thug was sent after him and Zaki also followed. The thug attacked Kabir. Zaki attacked the thug, collected all the money from Kabir and took it to Labaran who, for personal reasons, refused to give it back to Habib. Omar asked if Habib ever got punished and Ummi replied that Salma didn’t say but there’s always justice after death. That reminded Ummi of the death of Salma’s father. It happened while she was still i school and Ngozi and Tomiwa had argued over the reasons why Muslims bury their deadfaster than Christians. At one point, Teemah teased Omar about chasing girls with his phone and that again reminded Ummi of a nasty experience Salim once had with chatting. Salim was a guy that Salma later went into a serious relationship with. He started online dating after get his new Samsung phone and soon encountered a beautiful girl on one of the social media. Salim asked his friend, Lawal, to follow him to her place. Lawal refused and Salim went alone but soon came back disappointed because the girl was not as beautiful as her displayed picture. Lawal was advising his friend to quit and that reminded Salim of another ordeal he once had with the same online dating. He told the full story to Lawal of how a prostitute was used to used to almost hijack his car. Salim concluded to shun all those dangerous adventures and settle down with Salma. In the end, Teemah teased Omar again and Ummi suggested that they should altogether tell their Dad about Omar’s admission once he got back.
My pillow
He had left without a word except for one thing left behind,a fancy frilly dress I think he left for me to find i took the dress with tender hands and laid it lightly on the bed when time had come for me to sleep upon the dress I laid my head down. Followed in this sewer, have I become my friend? By the manmade waters where my school principal killed himself, geese cried. On the other side of the barbed-wire fence is a large cloudchimney. I put on a straw hat I picked up in the gutters.When the clouds bent over, the geese cackled their beaks wide-open. The cry of the machine as it pushed the clouds through the conveyor into the chimney. Where are the better suicides?
My father built his house on the waters’ edge, and every day he packed the clouds in, spun the machine. Those who wanted to sleep bought Father’s pillow. All night, eyes peeled, I bent my body and straightened my body, over and over. Each time my bones popped, snapped, I escaped through the chimney. I thought about what kind of crying to do.
Near sundown, I urged him, let’s go where there’s a crowd, but in the machine the geese were bleeding. For a good night’s sleep we need wet feathers, said Father. I sucked on my lips while counting the tags on the pillows. I believe the essence of those who died better deaths must go to the sewer, where innumerable sleeps flow.
When spinning the cotton, I wore my hat. White feathers rose from the waters where those who killed themselves lay facedown. I took my hand, stepped on the feathers and went to school in the mornings. Waddling, I forged ahead. Close by the school hours I remember father's pillow,I close my eyes and forged against him
My gym instructor
It all started the day it all ended .I know you'll be surprised you the kind of word I use or what I meant by it all started the day it all ended.well it all started when my 5years relationship ended when I started seeing traces of another woman with my man.3years after our relationship I gained admission to study my masters in the university of ibadan.I met him during my 3rd year in the University during my degree.we were so fund of eachother that people around are so much jealous of us,we do things together, even at my final year we live a couples life and I was in my mind done for other guys. To me he was everything a woman want.
THE BREAKUP
Three years of relationship afterwards all started to crumble when I gained admission for my masters and then I was also working in a media company in lagos. I was living okay that my body started Changing because I eat so well.instead of my man to tell me of my fat,I discovered he started creating distance between us and we don't communicate like we do anymore.
On his birthday I was planning to surprise him with a party so I told him I was travelling for official purpose and wont be able to come for his birthday,without hesitation he said no problem. After work I called the event planner to get ready I went home to change for the dinner birthday party have organised,after I was done dressing I called his number and he wasn't picking so I guess he must be out with his friends to celebrate his birthday so it an opportunity for me to gain access to his house as I have a spare key. I went with the surprise crew to his house to set up the house. When we got there the front door was locked so I used my key to open the door,when I open the door I was surprised with what I saw,my man was totally naked pounding on another woman's body 😭😭😭😭,I looked around to be sure of what I saw,my heart beat and run faster than my legs could reach. He wasn't moved by this,instead he just dressed up and ask everyone to leave I was crying and ask him to tell me the reason for cheating he said I'm no more the lady he met that I'm fat. I looked myself and feel ashamed of myself but from that moment he ask me out of his house,collected his keys and broke up with me.
THE GYM
https://www.google.com/search?q=gym+images&oq=gym+images&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.10296j0j4&client=ms-android-samsung-gj-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgdii=2KNlrsGjHkhj5M&imgrc=8zw1dLKmIstXJM
Three weeks after my heart was broken,I was walking around my estate and I saw a gym house,at first I was like I don't even know such was so close to my house and secondly I don't really have time for gym class because of my work and school. That night I couldn't sleep,my mind was just beating so hard on the gym issue so I decided to visit the gym house the following morning before going to work.
The following morning I went to the gym house on my way to work at 7am,I entered and saw the receptionist who gave me the list of their services and the cost,in the list I saw they open 5:30am for those going to work and some other time were stated and also 7pm in the evening so I decided to register for morning because I do come home late night. I payed for a month service and left for work .For a week I couldn't meet up with my gym class because I wake up late so most times I go late like 30 minutes to the end of the class section. But in two weeks I started getting used to it. I go for my gym class everyday and after the month I payed for another month,it wasn't easy trying to loose weight and also meet up for work and school activities but I only tried to minimise my sleeping hours.
One faithful morning at the gym,I was there on my on focus on my gym class when someone called my name,I was surprised because the voice wasn't familiar to me.The receptionist walk up to me alongside with a tall handsome being,I was carried away by the creature I was seeing until the receptionist touched me and told me these creature's name is Johnson and he will be my new gym instructor, at first I was thinking in my head what I need an instructor for then he answered like he new what I was thinking "I was told you've been coming to the gym for over a month but no changes in your body shape,so I was told to be your instructor so you can understand what you are coming to the gym for". Johnson at first make the instructor thing hard on me for restricting me from many food I eat and force me to do things I don't want to,to the extent even at work if I think I'm free I do meet him during lunch hour,that I thought he was sticking me,I get used to him and my gym class was going well until........
LOVE
Until we both fell in love with eachother,at first I was not comfortable and tried so hard to hide my feelings but later I let it out and we both go on and on for a year and half before he proposed to me to marry him.Today we are happily married and that's how my gym instructor becomes my husband.
The lion and the jewel
Morning
A school teacher, Lakunle, is teaching a class when Sidi walks fast carrying a pail of water on her head. The teacher peers out of the window and disappears. Two 11-year-old school children start ogling her, so he hits them on the head and leaves to confront her. Lakunle comes out and insists on taking the pail from Sidi. She refuses, saying that she would look silly. Lakunle replies, saying that he told her not to carry loads on her head or her neck may be shortened. He also tells her not to expose so much of her cleavage with the cloth she wears around her breasts. Sidi says that it is too inconvenient for her to do so. She scolds him, saying that the village thinks he's stupid, but Lakunle says that he is not so easily cowed by taunts. Lakunle also insults her saying that her brain is smaller than his, making her angry.
After arguing, Sidi wants to leave, but Lakunle tells her of his love for her, but she remains indifferent. Eventually, it is revealed that Sidi does not want to marry him because Lakunle refuses to pay her bride-price as he thinks it is an uncivilized, outrageous custom. Sidi tells him that if she did so, people will jeer at her, saying that she is not a virgin. Lakunle further professes how he wants to marry her and treat her "just like the Lagos couples I have seen". Sidi does not care. She also says that she finds the Western custom of kissing repulsive. She tells him that not paying her bride price is mean and miserly. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_price
Soon, a village girl came to announce to Sidi the arrival of the stranger and the photo album he brought along bearing pictures of the village. As the village girls enter, they play "The Dance of the Lost Traveller", which features the sudden arrival of a photographer in their midst some time ago. They tease the traveller in the play, calling his motorbike "the devil's own horse" and the camera that he used to take pictures "the one-eyed box". Four girls dance the "devil-horse", a youth is selected to play the snake, and Lakunle becomes the Traveller. He seeks to be excused to teach Primary Four Geography but Sidi informs him that the village is on holiday due to the arrival of the photographer/traveler.
We also find out that the photographer made a picture book about the village based on the photos he took. There is a picture of Sidi on the front page, and a two-page spread of her somewhere inside. Baroka is featured too, but he "is in a little corner somewhere in the book, and that corner he shares with one of the village latrines". They banter about for a while, Lakunle gave in and participated because he couldn't tolerate being taunted by them.
**The Dance of the Lost Traveller**
The four girls kneeled on the ground, forming the wheels of the car. Lakunle adjusts their position and sits in air in the middle. He pretends to drive the "car". The girls dance the stall. They shudder, and drop their faces onto their laps. He pretends to try to restart the "car". He gets out and checks the "wheels" and also pinches them. He tries to start the "car", fails and takes his things for a trek.
He hears a girl misbehaving, but attributes it to sunstroke, so he throws the bottle that he was drinking from in that general direction. He hears a scream and a torrent of abuse. He takes a closer look and sees a girl (played by Sidi). He tries to take photos, but falls down into the stream.
The cast assembles behind him, pretending to be villagers in an ugly mood hauling him to the maram in the town centre. Then Baroka appears and the play stops. He talks to Lakunle for a while, saying that he knew how the play went and was waiting for the right time to step in. He drops subtle hints of an existing feud between him and Lakunle, then makes the play continue. The villagers once again start thirsting for his blood. He is hauled before Baroka, thrown on his face. He tries to explain his plight. Baroka seems to understand and orders a feast in the Lost Traveller's honour. He then takes the opportunity to take more photos of Sidi. He is also pressed to drink much alcohol, and at the end of the play, he is close to vomiting.
The play ends. Sidi praises him for his performance. Lakunle runs away, followed by a flock of women. Baroka and the wrestler sit alone. Baroka takes out his book, and muses that it has been five full months since he last took a wife.
Noon
Sidi is at a road near the marketplace. Lakunle follows her, while carrying the firewood that Sidi asked him to help her get. She admires the pictures of her in the magazine. Then Sadiku appears wearing a shawl over her head. She informs her that the Lion (Baroka) wishes to take her as a wife. Lakunle is outraged, but Sidi stops him. Lakunle changes tactics, telling her as his lover to ignore the message. Sadiku took that as a yes, but Sidi dashed her hopes, saying that since her fame had spread to Lagos and the rest of the world, she deserves more than that. Sadiku presses on, dissembling that Baroka has sworn not to take any more wives after her and that she would be his favourite and would get many privileges, including being able to sleep in the palace rather than one of the outhouses. As Baroka's last wife, she would also be able to become the first, and thus head wife, of his successor, in the same way that Sadiku was Baroka's head wife. However, Sidi sees through her lies, and tells her that she knew that he just wanted fame "as the one man who has possessed 'the jewel of Ilujinle'". Sadiku is flabbergasted, she insults and attempt to hit Lakunle for what he has done to her.
Sidi shows the magazine. She says that in the picture, she looks absolutely beautiful while he simply looks like a ragged, blackened piece of saddle leather: she is youthful but he is spent. Sadiku changes techniques, saying that if Sidi does not want to be his wife, will she be kind enough to attend a small feast in her honour at his house that night. Sidi refuses, saying that she knows that every woman who has eaten supper with him eventually becomes his wife. Lakunle interjects, informing them that Baroka was known for his wiliness, particularly when he managed to foil the Public Works attempt to build a railroad through Ilujinle. Baroka bribed the surveyor for the route to move the railroad much farther away as "the earth is most unsuitable, could not possibly support the weight of a railway engine". Lakunle is distraught, as he thinks just how close Ilujinle was to civilisation at that time.
The scene cuts to Baroka's bedroom. Ailatu is plucking his armpit hairs. There is a strange machine with a long lever at the side. It is covered with animal skins and rugs. Baroka mentions that she is too soft with her pulls. Then he tells her that he plans to take a new wife, but that he would let her be the "sole out-puller of my sweat-bathed hairs". She is angry, and deliberately plucks the next few hairs a lot harder. Sadiku enters. He shoos Ailatu away, lamenting about his bleeding armpit.
Sadiku informs him that she failed to woo Sidi. She told him that Sidi flatly refused her order, claiming that he was far too old. Baroka pretends to doubt his manliness and asks Sadiku to massage the soles of his feet. Sadiku complies. He lies to her that his manhood ended a week ago, specifically warning her not to tell anyone. He comments that he is only 62. Compared to him, his grandfather had fathered two sons late on 65 and Okiki, his father, produced a pair of female twins at 67. Finally Baroka falls asleep.
Night
Sidi is at the village center square, by the schoolroom window. Enter Sadiku, who is carrying a bundle. She sets down a figure by the tree. She gloats, saying that she has managed to be the undoing (making him impotent) of Baroka, and of his father, Okiki, before that. Sidi is amazed at what she initially perceives to be Sadiku going mad. She shuts the window and exits, shocking Sadiku. After a pause, Sadiku resumes her victory dance and even asks Sidi to join in. Then Lakunle enters. He scorns them, saying: "The full moon is not yet, but the women cannot wait. They must go mad without it." Sidi and Sadiku stop dancing. They talk for a while. As they are about to resume dancing, Sidi states her plans to visit Baroka for his feast and toy with him. Lakunle tries in vain to stop her, telling her that if her deception were to be discovered she would be beaten up. Sidi leaves. Lakunle and Sadiku converse. Lakunle states his grand plans to modernize the area by abolishing the bride-price, building a motor-road through the town and bring city ways to isolated Ilujinle. He goes on to spurn her, calling her a bride-collector for Baroka.
The scene is now Baroka's bedroom. Baroka is arm-wrestling the wrestler seen earlier. He is surprised that she (Sidi) managed to enter unchallenged. Then he suddenly remembers that that day was the designated day off for the servants. He laments that Lakunle had made his servants form an entity called the Palace Workers' Union. He asks if Ailatu was at her usual place, and was disappointed to find out that she had not left him yet despite scolding her severely. Then Sidi mentions that she was here for the supper. Sidi starts playing around with Baroka. She asks him what was up between him and Ailatu. He is annoyed. Changing the subject, Sidi says that she thinks Baroka will win the ongoing arm-wrestling match. Baroka responds humbly, complimenting the strength and ability of the wrestler. She slowly teases Baroka, asking if he was planning to take a wife. She draws an example, asking if he was her father, would he let her marry a person like him?
Sidi takes this opportunity to slightly tease him, and is rewarded by his violent reaction by taking the wrestler and slinging him over his shoulder. The wrestler quickly recovers and a new match begins again. The discussion continues. Baroka is hurt by the parallels and subtle hints about his nature dropped by Sidi. Sidi even taunts him, saying that he has failed to produce any children for the last two years. Eventually he is so angered that he slams the wrestler's arm down on the table, winning the match. He tells the defeated wrestler to get the fresh gourd by the door. In the meantime, Baroka tries to paint himself as a grumpy old man with few chances to show his kindliness. The wrestler returns. Baroka continues with his self-glorification. Then he shows her the now-familiar magazine and an addressed envelope. He shows her a stamp, featuring her likeness, and tells her that her picture would adorn the official stamp of the village. The machine at the side of his room is also revealed to be a machine to produce stamps. As she admires the pictures of her in the magazine, Baroka happens to mention that he does not hate progress, only its nature which made "all roofs and faces look the same". He continues praising Sidi's looks, appealing to her.
The scene cuts back to the village centre, where Lakunle is pacing in frustration. He is mad at Sadiku for tricking her to go see Baroka, and at the same time concerned that Baroka will harm or imprison her. Some mummers arrive. Sadiku remains calm, despite Lakunle's growing stress. Sadiku steals a coin from Lakunle to pay the mummers. In return, the mummers drum her praises, but Sadiku claims that Lakunle was the real benefactor. Then they dance the Baroka story, showing him at his prime and his eventual downfall. Lakunle is pleased by the parts where they mock Baroka. Sadiku mentions that she used to be known as Sadiku of the duiker's feet because she could twist and untwist her waist with the smoothness of a water snake.
Sidi appears. She is distraught. Lakunle is outraged, and plans to bring the case to court. Sidi reveals that Baroka only told her at the end that it was a trap. Baroka said that he knew that Sadiku would not keep it to herself, and go out and mock his pride. Lakunle is overcome with emotion, and after at first expressing deep despair, he offers to marry her instead, with no bride-price since she is not a virgin after all. Lakunle is pleased that things have gone as he hoped. Sadiku tells him that Sidi is preparing for a wedding. Lakunle is very happy, saying he needs a day or two to get things ready for a proper Christian wedding. Then musicians appear. Sidi appears, bearing a gift. She tells Lakunle that he is invited to her wedding. Lakunle hopes that the wedding will be between Sidi and himself, but she informs him that she has no intention of marrying him, but rather will marry Baroka. Lakunle is stunned. Sidi says that between Baroka and him, at sixty, Baroka is still full of life but Lakunle would be probably "ten years dead". Sadiku then gives Sidi her blessing. The marriage ceremony continues. A young girl taunts Lakunle, and he gives chase. Sadiku gets in his way. He frees himself and clears a space in the crowd for them both to dance.
The drama ends.
My story
Mother's are free gifts from God's to the family,without them little is what the man can do that's why I will be sharing my experiences.I'm the second child of my family,growing up I learnt that my dad don't want my mum to work but only to stay at home and take care of us. It wasn't easy taking care of five kids without her husband. That stay far away from us because of his job and couldn't stay with us for long we wait on him to send money every month to for us to have good leaving.
Later I discovered mum is trying to start up a business for her to raise the money for the house keep. When did discover mum as a job he got mad at her saying all sorts of things to her but mum didn't get discouraged she continue reader things our own way just to raise us the way she wants and to take care of all our children time goes on when I get to secondary school I started realising things I can differentiate between things well there I learnt that life it isn't easy. I can remember vividly then that Dad was also schooling and it makes it more hard for him to provide for the family I remember one of my siblings one fateful afternoon he was at the backyard of the house singing a song and that pass through and heard him singing, he was so touched with the song and went back inside crying that very same day in the evening when mum came back from the market dad called a meeting then he told me and my siblings that we will be changing our school to a public school I was so emotional that's why will I have to change my school to a public school when I'm about to be done with my Secondary Education I cried all through the night for 24 hours but after I reason with them then accepted.
Write dad travel back I remember we had a land that we were building that sent money for two rooms to be roofed, the day we moved the two rooms the day we packed into the house without door without window without anything we slept in that same building that night and nothing happened to us ever since then we packed into the house just for us to stop paying house rent and be able to use the money to cater for the family it wasn't easy but today we have a testimony.
I am telling you today no matter what you facing in life believe and trust in God and everything shall be sought out it's might be so hard you might not have a roof to stay under but believe me what goes around comes around and what will be will be I hope my story tells you more even though I am not giving details of it but I hope you understand what I went through growing up and right now I am working so hard so my children don't experience the same thing I experience why growing up.
My kidnap encounter
Thank God I am alive.
Our movie making job takes us to various locations , towns , villages, States and in some cases countries.
I had rounded up filming a flick with a friend as an upcoming artist at Peaceville Estate in Thomas Estate within the neighborhood of Ajah inward Epe, outskirts of Lagos State and was heading home to the other side of town, Ikeja GRA to be precise, when I a call came through on my phone.
Hello I bellowed, in my official voice to an unknown line or an unfamiliar number.
"Good afternoon ma, is this miss catchy, please?" the female voice from the other end of the line enquired...some how , there's a 'let your guards down' effect the female folk voice has on men, I must confess , I am no exception.
Yes , this is her ...how can I help please...I enquired.
"My name is perpetual, I am calling from Rumuola in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a Producer gave us your name and number, we are working on a movie project and would like for you to be part of it "
Thank you for reaching out Ms Perpetual, I responded...and in my usual manner I enquired ... may I have the date, the script so I can go through before we discuss artiste fees.
"Ok Ma.." she responded ...
A week later, we agreed on date, artiste fees, costume and location for the shoot in PH, Rivers State.
Days afterwards, I received a travel document on Air Peace for PH,
I informed my people , gave them the details of the shoot and the officials , called my friend the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State that I was PH bound.
Some hours later we arrived PH and the Artiste Liaison Officer came to pick me from the airport or so I thought .
I called my friend the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) and informed him of my presence in his precinct, he asked for the address and I asked the ALO who came for me, I noticed he was very hesitant to answer me but eventually blurted out the area albeit uncomfortably.
The address I forwarded to my friend, a little over 30 minutes later we arrived what I observed to be a posh area behind D-Line in Rumuola an area in Obi-Akpor LGA in Rivers State .
I noticed the area was very quiet and looked secluded and uninhabited, even in very bougeousy areas you'll still find people even security men, or mallams selling stuff from their gate house windows.
This didn't go unnoticed to me and I discreetly forwarded my map pin to my friend the PPRO.
Shortly after we arrived into a very affluent looking apartment , the edifice itself looked uninhabited and had very few signes of human inhabitance.
I did a panaromic view of the apartment, to my left, was a gate house and further down I saw a kernel with what looked like well trained German Shepherd Dogs all training their ferocious eyes on me.
Further down , I saw a walk way with lush green lawns that seemed to stretch further than the eyes could see but also disappearing at a sudden curb as if it was meant to confuse one.
To my right I saw a couple of luxurious cars and make shift production bus hurriedly adorned with posters of movies past.
A similar lawn with well manicured lawns similar to the one to the right but with a cacophony of criss crossed cactus and hibiscus flower pots littering the disappearing curve of the curb.
As I was being ushered in, I quickly took some snaps of the environ and sent via WhatsApp to my friend not sure if the house had an inbuilt internet disabler.
Inside was a lavishly decorated living room with gold trimmings and ornaments and a wall drapping sandwiched by stock heads of wild animals hunted down for their precious horns and ivory tusks.
I sat down and was immediately offered a choice of water , wine or beer.
Totally jettisoning the subconscious alarms ringing in my head warning me to decline both, I innocently accepted a choice of cold water, I should have known better when it arrived , served by a lady who seemed unsure of herself and literarily shivering , again this should have warned me.
After dropping the water off a glass cup on top of a very thick side table , she was surmoned immediately but not before she gave me a very cold look filled with fear and danger alarms ringing , stupid me did not take note .
I gulped down the water in one fell swoop and requested to see my co actors and the crew , at this time I was frightenly alone until yet another steward , this time a much more assured looking male steward sundered in , picked up the remote control of a very wide tv set with similar dimentions of a vertically placed ping pong board, he turned it on and requested if I wanted to watch a Nollywood movie or a foreign one , I answered in the later and allowed myself to be enveloped in the comfortably well made leather settee I had settled in.
I requested for the bathroom as he was about to leave and also enquired about the other crew members and my co actors , he mumbled "they'll see you shortly, and the right door to your left" to both my questions.
I could have sworn I staggered to get up from my enveloping settee to navigate the bathroom as he described , feeling like I was staggering , I made for the white door with a male miniature emoji indicating boys room on the door.
The bathroom had a 2' x 2' window installed and as I struggled with my quasi consciousness to unzip my fly, I could have sworn I heard voices speaking in hush tones deciding how much to make off my body parts.
After I was done and flushed, which I later realized to be a mistake , I observed the hosh toned voices had subsided and foot steps had taken over hurriedly leaving the bathroom window I had just used... I managed to send an SOS message to my friend fearing the worst and his urgent arrival to my rescue , with a last minute message not to come alone.
After I confirmed he had received the message and confirmation of his quick "Copy that, stay calm and do not give away your fears feedback" I quickly pocketed my phone , opened the door and fell straight into the arms of four heavily built men who started manhandling me and asking what I had heard, a quick upper court to my jugular by one of the men after series of migraine inducing slaps and punches and I passed out.
I came to at the Airforce Medical Facility by Rumukrushi Road and my friend was there to assure me all was well.
I had narrowly escaped a case of Ritualists and Cultists who were rampant in that side of PH.
My friend told me I was lucky and my updates had made things easy for him and his men as well as the IGP Anti Kidnapping Team who worked together to have me and about 20 other victims rescued.
Sadly two other victims were not that lucky as they had been dismembered , butchered and their parts packed for human organ traders , dealers and merchants.
Pease be careful where you go, and always leave a forwarding address, phone numbers and names to loved ones and possibly a member of the security agency.
The world is indeed now a very dangerous place and Nigeria is not exempted.
Lesson of life
1. *Dr. Ben Carson said,* "I struggled academically throughout elementary school yet became the best neurosurgeon in the world in 1987."
*LESSON:* Struggling is a sign that you are on a verge of success. Don't quit yet.
2. *Bill Gates said,* "I didn't even complete my university education but became the world's richest man."
*LESSON:* School does not make you rich. School is only supposed to polish what will make you rich, not make you rich.
3. *Christiano Ronaldo said,* "I told my father that we would be very rich but he couldn't believe me. I made it a reality."
*LESSON:* Your words rule your life. If you mean what you have said, each word will come to pass. You get what you say.
4. *Hear Lionel Messi!,* "I used to serve tea at a shop to support my football training and still became one of the world's best footballers."
*LESSON:* Believe in your dream. Don't let your pain tell you how your future will look like.
5. *Steve Jobs penned,* "I used to sleep on the floor in my friends' rooms, returning coke bottles for food, money, and getting weekly free meals at a local temple, I later on founded Apple Company."
*LESSON:* That you are small today doesn't mean you will be small tomorrow. Keep trusting God.
6. *Former British PM, Tony Blair said & I quote,* "My teachers used to call me a failure, but I became a Prime Minister."
*LESSON:* Don't let someone else's opinions of you become your reality.
7. *Bishop David Oyedepo said,* "I started Living Faith Church from a lawn tennis court with three members only & preached prosperity. Many of my friends criticised me, but today we have the largest church auditorium in the world & two world-class universities."
*LESSON:* Believe in yourself even if no one does & never think of quitting.
8. *Nelson Mandela said,* "I was in prison for 27 years & still became president."
*LESSON:* You can be anything you want to be no matter where you have been or what you have been through.
9. *Mike Adenuga said,* "I drove a taxi to finance my university education but today I'm a billionaire."
*LESSON:* Don't let your past decide the kind of future you need to have.
10. *Harland Sanders, Founder of KFC said,* "I was on the verge of suicide when an Idea of opening a restaurant hit me after I retired as a cook in the Navy."
*LESSON:* Nothing is ever too late. "Too late" is a language of failures. Your future can begin at any age. Don't ever let AGE limit you.
11. *Aliko Dangote said,* "I worked for my uncle since I was a small boy, people looked down on me. I later on took a loan from my uncle to open a tiny shop. I worked hard to make ends meet. Now I am the richest Man in Africa.
*LESSON:* Failures or limitations of the past have no control over the greatness in you. To him that believes, all things are possible.
12. *Barack Hussein Obama said,* I am a son of a black immigrant from Kenya, I graduated from Harvard and later on became a Senator in Chicago. I was also the President of the most powerful nation on Earth.
*LESSON:* Never design your life like a garden where anyone can walk in and out. Design it like the sky where everyone aspires to reach!
13. *Arnold Swarzzenegger said,* I traveled to America in search of financial independence when I was 15yrs old. I became the world's strongest man 7 times and Mr Universe. I then got my Economics degree, then I became one of Hollywood's best actors before I was voted twice as governor of California."
*LESSON:* Don't wait for everybody to believe in your ability and dreams.
The season for a reason
The day I realised life isn't what I expected, I woke up to check a message on my facebook then I saw a friend who messaged me on a platform that I can invest on, at first my mind isn't going for this,but at that moments I need source of income, I have been jobless for a long time after my school I tried so hard to get a job so I can feed my family. During the covid 19, it was so hard to feed the family.
When my friend told me about it I was overwhelmed that someone remember me for something good, so he told me if I invest 5000 Naira I will get 75% additional to what I invest in 24 hours I thought about it and I was like how do I get the 5000 Naira since I don't have any money. I tried contacting some friends on phone to see if they can borrow me the money so I can invest, I was able to get in touch with two friends of mine,one was able to help but on an agreement to pay back the following day, ⁷ I thank him and send my account number to him not less than 5 minutes I got the alert on my phone I was so happy then I called my friend to tell him I've gotten the money.
I send the money to him then a message to me telling me to wait for 24 hours and later asked me to send my Facebook password to him at first I go against the idea of sending my password but he gave me some reasons which I accepted to send my password after this I discovered I was unable to access my Facebook account anymore that was when it's done on me that I was being scammed by my friend I tried to contact his number which I have on my phone but it wasn't going not until later that day I open another Facebook account then added my previous account that was when I knew I was being scammed because they posted that I was given back my money which I wasn't is used to my profile picture as my phone wallpaper to scam other people on my page I commented on the post telling people not to listen to what they posted.
Later again that same month another incident happened that I was also scammed. This second incident broke me into pieces that I was unable to control myself and nearly killed myself I tried so hard to forget but I couldn't forget things went on and on I was paying debt for months and couldn't pay up on time because I wasn't working ..........to be continue tomorrow
Life thought
Surrounding yourself with the right people who will by every means motivate you to follow your dreams.This goes back to the positive environment point: You need to be around others who are just as ambitious as you. American entrepreneur John Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with it.” And whether or not that’s true is debatable, the reality is being around the right kind of people can only help you grow.
If you’re surrounded by those who love your ambition, you’ll be more ambitious and achieve more. If you’re surrounded by loved ones who tell you your goals are stupid and tell you to change them, you need to avoid them.
Be around those who help you feel comfortable being the ambitious, go-getter you are, so you can become the successful person you’re meant to be.I will be quoting some writers who have written about life....."All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” – Mary Kay Ash
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
“Only the paranoid survive.” *–* Andy Grove
“I wake up every morning and think to myself, ‘how far can I push this company in the next 24 hours.’” – Leah Busque
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” – Michele Ruiz
“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington
“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.” – Joss Whedon
If you take your time to understand what life bring to your table you will know it better to live the best of it serving yourself than thinking about what people think you should do about your life.
Image from my camera roll
Growing I thought I will achieve everything I planned for at my 20s,alas it wasn't as planned,it even more complicated than imagine.Seeing through it isn't easy but the ends justify the means
@Yesdoflink
