Do you remember the days when hosting a television show, coming as a guest, acting a movie or speaking on radio made you an instant celebrity?
If you do, juxtapose those times to today’s world, where the influx of media and diverse entertaining channels have surfaced. You would notice a vast difference between the two ages.
The world mourns the death of a great boxer, a legend an inspiration and a mentor. A man of action, activism and an attitude towards winning that makes you want to stand in the boxing ring, and dash out when reality hits you after some few minutes, that, ‘you aren’t a real boxer, it’s just you lost in Muhammed Ali’s inspiration’.
Well, not each one of us could stand in the boxing ring, or be the one who’ll defeat the other outstanding boxers. We cannot all be the winners of every round and stand the pain of being punched in the chest, in the face, the head while the bell chimes the next round. Ali’s greatness is defined by his consistent and persistent motivation to winning with excellence and leaving no loopholes for doubt that his win was well-deserved and earned.
Believe, it’s the stamina, that he gained from his first fight, the experience that he attached to what he’d learned, the training that he so committed himself to, the determination, the chants by his friends, family and fans and the optimism he added to every fight that has made him what we celebrate today at age 74.
On the day of his demise, I tried to read every article, news item and tributes written in this icon’s name. A writer wrote about Ali’s fighting spirit and strong will to stand tall and firm even in his long term battle with Parkinson’s disease. In the piece, the write-up acknowledged that there was a time, when the great fighter had given-in to the conditions. This was when things actually became exceedingly tough.
The ability to win, is birthed out of a will to fight. The battles of this world, physical or spiritual have exceptional ways of weighing us down, to make us frustrated and take every little strength from our fragile souls. There are times we feel that there is no strength and we would want to throw in the towel and just lift our hands and say, it’s over!
Every fighter must learn to do many things and it’s just one I’d like to share with you. The fighter in you, should know he is a winner. Brag to yourself positively about all your great fights you’ve won, tell yourself you aren’t a failure. Are you asking if you’ve won any battles yet?
Do you remember when you defeated that severe headache? Do you remember how you won that contract? May you’ve forgotten about the girl you really had to date and this guy wouldn’t leave. You remember how you skillfully plotted and won her heart. Again, probably you should reflect on the way you struggled to catch a seat in a bus in the midst of an overcrowded car. Don’t forget how you once told a bully in his face about his useless attitude and threatened him till he had no courage to come close to you.
These are examples of every single fight you’ve fought. You may not have earned a title belt for it, but, with every fight, you became better, stronger, wiser, older, and gained experience.
There are times we focus on so many ‘big’ things and want to be overwhelmed by them. Don’t forget to seaech deep in your memories and remember how much of a fighter you are. If you still don’t believe this, remember the fact that you have Life. That’s your certificate of evidence of your exceptional fighting spirit.
Be strong, remember your every battle and know, that you have everything it takes to win. Never give up. Remind yourself of the great battles you’ve won, like the ant, tell yourself you’ve crossed great rivers and believe in the God-given abilities you have. Never look down on yourself or wait till you have a huge platform. You’ve been a fighter since your birth.
We thank God for Ali’s life. The lesson’s he taught the world were great. This is mine for you.
We are all fighters in our own right!!!
Photo credit: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C_fEIVwjrew/maxresdefault.jpg
Graduating from the roots of our very traditional system of having company that was either desired or not to the modern day living where the nuclear family system has steadily replaced its roots, Ghanaian homes have always been full and fun, with lots of drama, interaction and more importantly communal living.
This form of living, characterized by the presence of family members, either under the same roof, or on a compound presented early morning greetings, daily and weekly chore schedules, and night associations that were mostly desired.
Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s come to the point that the average Ghanaian’s desire to live in a city like Accra, Kumasi or Takoradi and others, presents a living that’s probably marked with stress, management, and organization of daily routines that would minimize cost and satisfy the fewer people in the home. Parents are left in the village, uncles find their own small apartments and just a few children are willing to accommodate their parents in their homes, under their roofs.
It’s not uncommon that for so many reasons, Ghanaians have chosen to find other sources of company to entertain themselves while they live private lives and make a good living.
It’s either a dog, cat, hen, or a parrot. These are the most common ones you would find here and they are present in most homes for company, security or economic value. Any other reason, I’m certain people usually don’t share.
It’s become common to a number of enlightened Ghanaians hosting these pets to very admirable conditions, like having special menus for them, giving them regular baths, taking them on strolls on weekly basis as well as finding them suitable partners for another integral aspect of pet development; mating.
It’s fascinating to see cats lay in people’s couches, dogs roam in rooms and seated at their allocated area and the house owners getting furious when they realize the pet has not been adequately fed or given enough care in their absence. Others train their pets, as though they would ever utter a word, by taking them through a few preliminary language lessons. They obey words as sit, stand, let’s go, inside and the like.
Inasmuch as most pets covet to also feel special and loved, just as probably every human does, some pets have always cursed the day they came to a particular home. If they ever said a prayer, they would re-affirm the Israelites prayer for God to take them completely out of the mess they face.
These unfortunate pets are hustlers, no choice of their own. They are kept hungry, fend for themselves and stray to find their own food, friends and affection. The owners of these pets are unfriendly, uncaring, inattentive, and aren’t concerned about their well being.
The educational system in Ghana has made it quite difficult for people to keep up with their pets. It is mostly the young children in the home who have time for these pets but when it’s time for them to advance their education and move into the boarding houses, parents and relatives are indifferent towards them allowing the pets to feel the hole and gaps their perfect friends have left; they have to endure.
One thing that disgusts and irritates pet lovers is the fact that some people actually take pleasure in abusing pets, something that beats their imagination. It’s either calling them wicked names, kicking them in their bellies or throwing objects at them, for reasons best known to themselves.
In some homes it’s common to see cats being kicked and sacked when the food is good and wants to be enjoyed outside. Or dogs being smacked for defecating where they are not supposed to. Only if these pets could report what happens to them or at least had people who did that on their behalf, there would have been some interesting statistics.
I remember meeting Sheba, a beautiful female dog, pretty and firm. She should have been about four years, and any body would be careful when they entered the home and saw Sheba.
What fascinated me most was, Sheba took to her heels anytime she met someone new. She rarely barked, and was meticulous in meeting people.
After some days, I decided to inquire about her seemingly strange behavior. Her caretakers explained to me how Sheba had had a terrible past, years of abuse and unfair treatment. Her former owners would beat her and abuse her in every direction, starving her and making her depressed, left alone and sad.
It took a family member to secretly rescue her and bring her home. There was news that was even more fascinating. The care taker mentioned
‘She is better now, she would eat charcoal every evening but allows people to touch her and hold her once in a while’.
Another interesting scenario. After realizing their cat wasn’t fine, this Ghanaian family decided to take it to the veterinary for diagnoses and treatment. All three of the newly born kittens had died because the mother of the cats wouldn’t go near them. The cat had a good record of taking care of the several kittens she had bore but seemed to have absolutely lost interest in these ones.
The cat was taken to the veterinary and after careful tests and analysis, she was given medication all at the cost of 50 cedis. When the old woman in the house heard of the cost, she almost went haywire. She shouted at the top of her voice and just couldn’t fathom why such an amount of money should be spent on an animal. Who cares? Death comes right, they should’ve just left it?
I followed up, the cat’s healthy and whole, playing around and living well.
Pets United is calling, for your support, care and love. We need you to understand we are not witches nor wizards, nor a bother to you. We love you and would want to be part of you…
Yours sincerely,
Pets in Ghana.
If you feel like responding to this call, I’m certain you would take the initiative to pay attention to these creations of God, educate the abusers, share your leftovers rather than dump them in trashes for them to find, give them a bath and make them feel bad.
Maybe veterinarians should expand their scope and not give up on Ghanaians yet. Educate the masses on their roles. Associations should be ready to defend these creatures and spread the word about their significance in homes.
For those who love their Bibles, maybe you’ve not discovered the part that talks about a special blessing for pet and animal lovers.
Get busy, save a pet.
Bobbywrites
On Valentine’s Day, it’s amazing the categories of people we have on earth and the various needs they wish they could have sorted out.
It’s true Valentine’s Day is a day of love. Ghanaians have had a history of celebrating the day in red. But over the years, the red, the nights out have been replaced with church activities and the buying of Ghanaian Chocolates as a sign of love, and promoting the Ghanaian made goods.
Thanks to social media, people have been occupied. No longer those nights out and careless sexual encounters. Gone were the days that statistics revealed there was an increase in the buying of condoms to commemorate a day of love such as this.
Today, Valentine’s has been characterized with the donation of blood with reputable organizations investing in the participation of celebrities and the consistent advertisement to encourage people to join the train and share their lives with others in the name of love.
But even with all these varied activities, it’s hilarious the hearts that stand to be broken on Valentine’s. There are people who have a perception that it’s someone’s responsibility to make them happy, they wish the special someone would spend the night with them, wrap them in their arms or take them to a dinner and spend so much on them.
The reality is, those times are really gone.
Looking unto someone for happiness is a mistake you should never make. For the start, keep in mind that man is man, and anything could happen on any day. They could get stuck at work, caught up in heavy traffic, have a terrible emergency or even have a terrible health condition.
Prepare something special for yourself. Love isn’t about always receiving or being spoilt. It’s about creating the best atmosphere for yourself to feel so loved you would wish to share with others.
Interestingly, anyone who sufficiently depends on themselves for such occasions with numerous options enjoy the day and are never disappointed with any happenings.
Are you still expecting that expensive mobile phone? Or a proposal from that guy you’ve been dating for three years and over? Or you’re waiting for a sexual experience that’ll blow your mind?
Don’t be depressed after Val’s Day. Remember that love begins from you, after all it’s those who have an overload of love, who’ve experienced the overwhelming effect of it who are capable of sharing it with others.
Wait, before you throw all your eggs in one basket; order your favorite meal, watch your favorite movie, visit an orphanage, speak with an old woman, sing your favorite song to yourself, and have yourself a mega mega Valentine’s Day before someone else makes you heart broken.
Chill yourself this Val’s.
Happy Val’s Day…
Bobbywrites.
Image credit: http://www.theromantic.com
Lucy was mad. Granny called her back in the evening and narrated the event. Granny couldn’t control her tears. They run down her cheek, she blamed herself, she couldn’t just fathom the happening of the day.
Lucy screamed at her mum over the phone. She cried harder.
‘Where are you? Where are you?’ Which hospital did you take her?’ Lucy asked her mother impatiently.
‘Saint Francis Hospital, near the bridge’ Granny told her, she still was in tears.
Granny saw her granddaughter lay innocently, unconscious on the hospital beds, with tubes fixed to her body. She stood quietly, and cried the more.
It was seven o’clock when Lucy ran into the hospital building. She was ready to scold her mother, why her mother couldn’t just be attentive. Why her mother couldn’t call her granddaughter’s name. What was she doing?
Lucy rushed to the children’s ward of the Saint Francis Hospital. The hospital was perfect, grand and had a beautiful view of the city. Lucy was comfortable that her mother had been sane enough to bring her daughter somewhere she could receive the best of care.
‘Could you check the list for Hilda, recent case, my daughter’. Lucy asked impatiently.
The attendant had thick make-up on her face, the pores on her face could literally breathe, her eyelashes could paint a wall and her nails were colourful.
‘Lady, check the list for my daughter’s na…’ Lucy did not finish.
‘Calm down ma’am, take it easy, I’m still looking through the list’.
The attendant said slowly, she was absolutely irritating considering Lucy’s predicament. She wanted to scold her, seize the list and find the name and the room number herself.
‘Oh yes’, the attendant continued, ‘she’s in room 491’.
Lucy left in haste.
The attendant called her.
‘Hello, where are you going? You have to tell me your relation with the little girl’.
Lucy came back and pointed her finger at her. She looked sternly at the attendant, watched her in the face and replied.
‘I’m her mother’.
The attendant was scared now. She knew she was dealing with a woman who was furious, disturbed, and angry.
Lucy got to room 491. She couldn’t control her tears. She cried. Loudly. The pain and anguish gushed out through her eyes. Her world, her angel, everything she had, lay before her eyes, quiet, silent and calm as a piece of stone.
Lucy stared at her daughter from the room window. She felt defeated and was scared of what the doctors would have to say. Lucy’s friend’s and parents had sent in flowers and members of the church had phoned Lucy to pray for her.
Lucy took a short stroll to see whether she would find her mother.
She felt a quick urge to pee.
She walked towards the female guest urinal. Before she opened the door, she saw something that frightened her most.
Lucy screamed.
Granny had left before her daughter found her. A poisonous overdose of a drug had taken care aware, she couldn’t forgive herself. She left Lucy to fight her own battles of taking care of Hilda and forgiving her for her perceived irresponsibility.
Lucy was yet to begin the toughest battle of her life. She knelt beside her mother’s lifeless body. She couldn’t call a doctor. All hope was lost now.
The journey had been amazing. Christmas came with a cheer that revived Lucy’s busy schedules and she knew she was a great cook. She spent most her time away from work in the kitchen, cooking sumptuous meals for Hilda, her eight year old daughter.
Hilda was Lucy’s world. After the early death of her husband, Lucy had held on tight to Hilda. He had died of incessant alcohol abuse and had shut his liver completely and couldn’t even concentrate on leaving the earth peacefully. A once devoted and contrite man, after gaining a good job, with a fat salary, decided to waste his life, at the expense of his wife and beautiful daughter. He cared less.
Grandma Linda, had taken Hilda to practice ahead of the big hockey game on Sunday. Everyone loved Hilda. She was this sweet innocent face child, who would smile all day. Her eyes were perfect and she had thick eyebrows that completed her fairly chocolate colour.
Already in level four, teachers admired her and most of the young male kids just wanted to be that guy around her.
Granny read a book and Hilda practiced and gave her all.
‘Hello, Granny how’s the training?’ Lucy asked her mother.
‘Its going well, don’t worry much, we’re fine’. Granny said.
‘I’ll pick you after the cocktail today, that’ll be in about an hour’. Lucy suggested.
‘Lucy. We are fine. We’ll take cab’. Granny stressed.
‘Alright, take care then, love you mum’. Lucy ended the call.
Granny smiled after the call. She remembered the many years of pain she had endured with her daughter. Life had been tough on them, but they had sailed through. Her slightly wrinkled face had been covered by make up and she looked healthy and strong at age sixty six.
She read her book, and watched Hilda intermittently. The session was over, Hilda visited the locker room and returned, dressed up, in her jeans and blue top.
‘Thanks Granny for coming with me’ Hilda said.
Granny smiled and watched her granddaughter.
If only her father was around, Granny said in her thoughts.
Grand mother and granddaughter set off. They crossed the street to pick a cab.
Hilda had forgotten her tablet. She had to return quickly to the locker room to fetch her device before one of the kids took it home.
Granny stood waiting for Hilda. She still was thinking about how beautiful and overly pleasant her granddaughter was. Their lovely little angel.
Granny watched Hilda return from the main gate.
‘Alright, cross the street dear’ Granny called.
Blue, sleek Toyota. The car pushed the the little girl off the road. Not even the driver or the lady in the co-driver’s seat made the attempt. They sped off.
Hilda lay unconscious. Blood oozed from her face, the impact was heavy, not from the hit, but from the fall on the ground.
Granny cursed whoever invented tablets and mobile phones. She forgot she used one now. She cried, she was speechless, she went to lift Hilda’s body and a cab came by.
It was now Lucy’s turn to hear the story. Granny wasn’t picking her calls, thank God! There had been no cameras. What was Lucy going to do after hearing the happenings of the day. She had already vowed she was never going to forgive whoever hurt her baby. She said she would retaliate and punish any guy or lady who made her baby’s life miserable.
And yet, something more than miserable had happened.
Photo Credit: http://www.clipartbest.com
John shivered.
‘Could we leave tomorrow Hun? I think I would have to see a doctor’.
John’s acting in high school had given him an advantage now. He shivered, and took the least opportunity to put some drops water on his face when Jenny went out.
‘But we are to spend two weeks here?’ Jenny asked.
‘You’ve seen my condition Hun, it’s not getting any better’. John said, raised himself off the bed, slowly.
‘We could visit a hospital nearby?’ Jenny suggested.
‘No, let’s just go home okay’, he kept his cool. He didn’t show any sign of being upset.
‘But John, how could you have a sudden change of mind? What’s the issue? You are not well, that I know, you need care, that I know, but we going back soon isn’t a good choice?’ Jenny complained. She sounded very worried.
‘Hun, I have a doctor who takes care of me. I want to see him. I’m sure I’m not well’. John replied.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ Jenny asked. ‘There’s a doctor you’ve been seeing?’ She proved further.
John had left off his guard. A secret he had been keeping all these years. What did he have to tell her? He had to be smart.
Gogora and Junior had fought over the pack of diamonds. The diamonds had split and both had sustained various injuries. Gogora’s lips were badly hurt, Junior was weak but they had become two male lions, ready to fight for the female.
‘I no go make you take am’ Gogora told Junior.
Junior got furious. He threw himself at Gogora. He fired the last but one shot in the pistol. Junior lay down, lifeless, pathetic.
Gogora looked at the diamonds. He won the fight. But what was life without his team? Damn, Yoomi and Zed. His partners for all these years. They had been together when they robbed people, had mad fun with the money, went to clubs and made out with countless women.
Gogora watched the diamonds. He saw how blood had disfigured the room. He moved to corridor and saw Zed’s lifeless body. He fell down, wept bitterly, regretted deeply his action and watched the pistol in his hand.
Life… He ended it. With the last bullet.
The man and his lovely wife for the very first time in a long time were yet to have an argument.
‘John, what are you hiding from me? I would never do that, I swe…’
‘Don’t continue the sentence’ John interrupted.
‘Explain these messages’ John rushed to pick Jenny’s phone.
‘Explain this to me, please do’ John, for the very first time sounded angry. He did not understand what was going on.
‘John, really?’ She knew what John was referring to. Jenny laughed mocking John.
‘But that’s no one, just a friend’ She said. John wasn’t convinced.
‘Can I have your phone?’ John asked. He had trusted his wife, been the best of a husband to her.
Jenny offered the phone. John called the number.
‘John, that’s not fair? You don’t do that’ Jenny rushed to pick her phone from John’s hand.
John resisted.
‘Hello sugar pie’, the voice at the receiving end replied.
John had heard this voice. He could bet his last coin he knew this voice. Who could this be?
The voice hung up when he realized it wasn’t Jenny on the line. John picked his phone and dialed the number.
Doctor Jones…
‘Jenny? What? How? Why?’ John seemed confused. Very confused now.
‘Jenny tell me. What the’, he paused. Is going on?’ John’s anger scared Jenny. He held her by the arm, squeezed the secret out of her’.
‘John stop it, there’s nothing I’m hiding, please stop it’ Jenny shed tears. The anger in John’s voice scared her.
‘Tell me, just tell me’ John said.
‘Ive been good to you. Everything to you. We loved, shared and everything?’ John continued.
‘John, I’m sorry’ Jenny said.
‘Sorry for what? Tell me, tell me’ John shouted. His anger was different.
‘I’ve been dating Doctor Jones. I know him from school. He’s been telling you lies about your health, he wanted us to elope, go somewhere far away from my impotent husband to make babies and love and live together’. Jenny said, crying.
‘He promised me a better life if I was able to bring the diamonds along. He said the only way was to get you to believe you were sick and you would do anything for me and your health’.
John grew furious. He put his head down and would not watch Jenny’s face.
‘John I’m sorry’ Jenny pleaded. ‘He convinced me, he told me things’.
It was almost three thirty in the morning. John said not a word. He picked his car key, wrote a note on the bed, added some money and drove back to the city.
He came back to meet an open house, six lifeless people and his box of diamonds. He wept bitterly. It was a feeling of shock and pain. He felt no guilt
Jenny called Doctor Jones. She cursed him. She recounted how many times he had made her abort John’s babies and hers. How he slept with her on several occasions and made her his own. She just couldn’t resist it.
Jenny could not stand the public humiliation. She devised a plan to join Junior, Jaro, Jem, Gogora, Yoomi and Zed in their ‘rests’.
John had gone just to meet the oddest welcome.
It was almost 1:45am when the two, Gogora and Yoomi, still adamant. They kept thinking about what they stood to lose from their operation and agreement with the one who contacted them for their services.
That night, John watched his with much care. She realised he acted differently, and Jenny had never see him in such a mood.
She moved towards him on the bed, and pushed her skin against his. John wasn’t present. Initially he would have rushed to respond, but today he wasn’t there, at all.
She tried even harder, she placed her head on his chest, and John lay stiff, trying to avoid her.
‘Hun, I have a bad headache’, he told her.
‘You should’ve told me’ Jenny said.
She moved to his side of the bed to get him an aspirin. She saw her phone near his pillow. Jenny panicked.
She gently picked it up and went out to fetch John a glass of water.
‘My phone, I was looking for you’. Jenny said, trying to take his mind off whatever results the phone had given to John’s mind.
‘I just checked the time’. John said, still faking his headache.
‘Here, take one’. Jenny offered.
‘Thanks a lot hun, you’re the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me’
John said.
Junior, with the assistance of Jaro had been able to open the suitcase he found. Jem was seriously trying to get the flat screen off the wall, when he suddenly heard the door slide from the corridor.
Jem rushed to see who was there. Before he took the next step, Gogora had already pointed his knife at him. Gogora stabbed him from the back, making him lose consciousness.
Yoomi watched his partner, Zed’s lifeless body on the ground. His anger made him seize the knife. He furiously and vigorously stabbed Jem in his stomach till he felt his partner’s death was fully avenged.
‘Damn you’, he said without shouting. There was something better. He wanted Junior to pay for what he did.
Junior and Jaro had opened the suitcase. Heaven! Precious diamonds!
John had kept them at home for a reason. He had stole them from the company, and did not want people to trace him. His worsening condition of a disease he had, not yet fully diagnosed, scared him.
A doctor friend, after narrating the symptoms to him, told John he may have to pay so much for the treatment, that was, if it were what they expected. And it would include a kidney transplant, the doctor told him.
John had kept the diamonds to secure his health. The bank was a bad place. The home was the best. He could hide it from his wife and tell her later. She had asked him for a large sum of money the year before, but John refused. He told her she still hadn’t given him a good reason why after earning a good salary, she still needed such a huge amount.
Junior and Jaro’s eyes grew wild. They gave themselves a high-five and were ready to bag.
Gogora pushed the bedroom door open. Yoomi followed. Droplets of blood were in the shirt he wore.
‘Jesus’, Jaro shouted.
‘What all you dey search for here? What? Tell me?’ Junior asked, you could sound the scare in his voice. Gogora’s was furious and his next move could be really detrimental.
The case of diamonds were open on the bed.
‘Bosses, relax, make we talk’. Junior suggested.
‘You fool erh?’ Yoomi asked.
‘Naah, it’s not needed say we have to fight, make we do am professionally, we go fit divide the diamond, we all go get our share’. Junior suggested, he was visibly shaking now, but slightly composed.
‘Haha, see am’. Gogora mocked.
‘But where Jem dey?’ Jaro said.
‘We can’t be three against two’. Yoomi said.
‘Damn’!!!! Jaro shouted.
‘You kill am?’ Jaro asked.
‘Ah, you want him alive?’ Yoomi teased, ‘it’s a fair game’.
Jaro almost screamed, he picked the gun from his pocket and fired at Gogora. Gogora swiftly dodged the bullet, threw himself on the king size bed and held the diamonds.
Yoomi had sustained the wound. It had him in the chest.
‘Shit, what you do?’ Junior asked.
Gogora punched Jaro in the face. They exchanged blows, and fought. Gogora saw his strength was an advantage. He kicked Jaro the leg and just when tried to fire at him, he swiftly took his knife and stabbed him.
Junior stood motionless. He was scared the neighbours would hear them by now. He hadn’t seen anything like this before.
Jaro was weak, his blood oozed from his chest and he saw his life leaving him.
‘Please, easy, easy okay, bro, relax, it’s okay’. Junior pleaded as Gogora looked in his direction. Junior was shaking now.
Gogora’s heart raced. He was mad he had lost his two friends in a space of two hours. Thanks to these intruders.
‘See what you do’ Gogora was pissed. He seemed to regret what he’d done. He never thought of this happening. He having to kill someone.
Junior also wept now. He was visibly terrified. Gogora was shaken by the experience. The two thick bodied, grown men hugged tightly and wept over their quick losses.
After a brief moment of mourning, they came to their senses.
‘The diamonds’ they both said.
The suitcase lay on the bed. Who got it first? What happened next?
Jenny lay by John’s side confused. Had he found out?
The two groups of robbers stood aghast at each other.
Yoomi, Zed and Gogora stood and watched Jaro, Junior and Jem steadily. The scene was characterized by tension, confusion and a slight twist of humor.
As it stood now, Junior was the only one who had had the chance to explore the room and knew there was a high chance of getting damn rich after this escapade.
Jaro turned to Junior and asked,
‘What them dey do for here?’
Junior watched Jaro, he looked skeptical.
‘How a go know? Ask them?’ Junior replied.
By this time Jem was still eating his chocolate biscuits and was having a time of his life while his back lean against the corridor wall.
Gogora laughed.
‘You too be robbers?’ He asked all three.
There was dead silence.
Gogora continued, ‘You know say we come here leff you?’
Junior looked at him in disbelief.
‘You make serious? You come, you no enter, wey we enter leff you’. Junior argued.
‘How? That ain’t fair’ Zed answered angrily. His hair curled and he had a strong physique, the others weren’t so different.
He continued,
‘You know say we come, we open the doors, wey you enter leff we’. You could feel his anger from a distance.
‘Why is he angry, see this guy oh, Hahaha’ Jaro teased.
Jaro suggested, ‘If you came for what we also came for, then make we strike a good deal then leave’.
Zed had a bad temper, he felt like grabbing Junior, Jaro and Jem and squeezing them till they were dead.
In the Volta, Jenny had gone to the washroom. She had eaten a plate of stuffed turkey with vegetables and wine. Her stomach wasn’t so hospitable to the meal. She looked at him and smiled.
John arose and wanted to watch his time. His phone was off, he realized Jenny was out of bed. He picked her phone and watched the time. It was just some minutes past one in the morning.
‘I hope she’s not communicating with anyone from work?’ John thought.
He went to her inbox and found a conversation that got him wondering.
The texts read…
Jenny; ‘I need your help’.
Number; ‘Anything for you, name it’
Jenny; ‘He’s got some stuff inside, I have to get for both of us’.
Number; ‘What? Tell me’.
Jenny; ‘I’ll call you’.
John had the scare of his life. After these years together. What strange thing was this? He began to think. Was she really in love with him? Was she a scam? Who the hmm was this? There were thousands of unanswered questions flowing through his mind. He was confused, at one, he never thought he could be normal.
The guys had gotten angry at each other.
Zed had taken offense at Jaro and time was not on their side. Zed asked that the three leave so they could do what they came to do.
Junior wasn’t willing.
‘You are crazy, who should leave, you rather should, we come here before you’. Junior said.
Zed punched Junior in the face. Junior got angry and pulled the pistol from his back and shot him dead. It was quick and silent. They didn’t know how that happened.
‘Man, what’s wrong with you? Are you crazy? Fool’ Gogora cursed him.
Zed lay lifeless. His blood drained from his chest and Yoomi held him, effortlessly trying to help him.
Gogora cursed the three, and asked that they leave.
He held Yoomi who was both angry and sad about everything and asked that they just get out.
Jaro was visibly scared, and Jem was indifferent. Junior was high to regret his act.
Yoomi got up. He cursed them and raised insults at them.
Gogora joined him, they were ready to leave.
Junior went to the room to continue the operation, Jaro went to the fridge for some wine and Jem tried to explore the other parts of the house.
Gogora was as pissed as Yoomi was.
‘We no go fit leff, we for show these fools’. Gogora suggested.
Yoomi agreed.
They picked up their knife and went back.
They were not accepting defeat.
Jenny was done and she was happy to see John up. She panicked when she saw her phone close to John’s bedside.
She looked into his eyes and asked him,
‘Could I have my phone please?’
John smiled mischievously and stretched his hands.
For Junior who’s nose bled from the blow, for Jaro who was drunk on wine and for Jem, those two losers had left.
For John, Jenny was a mysterious thing to him and if it were true…
Photo Credit; KP Photography
After their failed attempt, the next day was very successful. The locks had been broken and the robbers celebrated their entry.
They knew John and Jenny weren’t around. Who robs people these days without the introduction, literature review, methodology and findings? Their references were solid, and they were in to make good progress.
Zed expressed how he envied Jenny all his life. He was in the same primary school with her till class three when he dropped out. His dark face and uneven muscles proved that he had been through serious troubles in life. He loved to smoke, a daily ritual he did not miss.
The three deviants opened the first door of the room.
‘Shit’ Gogora shouted!
‘Whossop’ Zed replied
‘Another lock, man’ Gogora felt defeated. He went back and the three of them struggled to continue their operation.
After thirty minutes of struggle with the metal lock, almost after their seemingly unending entrance to the home, Gogora managed to open the door, someway somehow.
‘How you do it?’ Zed asked, surprised.
‘When you have a dream, you don’t joke with your vision’ Gogora replied.
Zed could swear he did not understand Gogora. Dream, vision… He had to celebrate his mate.
Just before the three opened the door to enter, they heard the sound of a car’s engine approach the drive way to the house.
Gogora was frightened. Ah, what were they going to do? Now they knew someone was coming to the house.
Gogora jumped into a box below the stairs, Zed covered himself with a large old rag he found and Yoomi hid behind the box Gogora lay in.
Meanwhile, John and Jenny sat under the cool live band at the hotel. John fed Jenny grapes and looked into her eyes telling her all the sweet things she could hear. The previous night had been almost divine. Their favourite music played and they never left their side. With no noise from neighbours and phones, John would repeat the rounds of passion over and over till they both were exhausted. He did not expect this night to be different either.
‘John, I still have this feeling that something may be going very wrong somewhere’.
John immediately cast the devil out of her mind. He knew it was the work of their enemies.
‘Don’t speak, shhhh’. He pulled over to kiss her forehead. He didn’t want his princess to be worried over anything. After all they had more days, and the two days had been perfect. He wanted to give her the best. The pregnancy test kits should give the correct results. They couldn’t go without a third person.
John sang Jenny a song. The hoarseness of his voice made her forget of her feeling. She smiled and watched him curl his lips to the lyrics of the song. She loved him. And his charm always worked for her.
As the three hid in their respective hideouts, they heard some three people laugh hard, not so loud…
‘Charley, the couple no lock the door’ Jaro said.
‘Are you sure we’ll get something from these two? A free entry site, ah, let’s go back’. Jem said.
Jaro looked amazed. It seemed someone had been there before them. They had a mystery to solve.
Junior looked at his two counterparts. ‘Free entry, more vim’. He took a bold step and went to the other door his predecessors had spent years opening.
‘This one too them open oh. This couple mess up’ Junior giggled.
‘Boys, we go fit make mistake. I dey think say e be trap’. Jaro said cautiously. He moved closer to the top door, where Junior stood.
Jem stood below, looked up and run up the stairs. He opened the door and it instantly opened on both sides.
Yoomi, Gogora and Zed burnt with anger. They were confused too. What was happening, who were these, what did they want?
Jem, Jaro and Junior entered the home. They realised the beautifully decorated hall. These people were healthy. The furniture was exquisite and expensive. Jem opened the fridge.
He went back as though he had been electrocuted.
‘Sha sha sha’… Biscuits, wine, sweets, nuggets… Name them.
It was only half past twelve. They had more time to operate.
Jem called Jaro. He froze. Junior was in the master bedroom by then. He saw a MacBook, a wardrobe that teased him and a case which got him curious.
Just when he was about to flip the case open, he heard conversations in the hallway. The voices were undertone but chirpy.
Junior went to the hallway. He met three strangers. Aliens? Damn, they flopped their move. What did they want? Confusion seized his facial organs. His team could not make any deductions yet.
By this time John and Jenny were sweetly and soundly asleep in their beds with the cloth as their only covering. It had been an hour and a half and they hadn’t even had enough. They both slept but with a high possibility of waking up within the night to work harder. They had their mission but in their home, the drama was yet to unfold…
Photo Credit: KP Photography
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