THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 3 (V)

–*–
ILLINOS, USA
——————————————
Sunday evenings is always set aside for recreational activities, religious meetings, emergency visitations to mention a few. And today being sunday was of no exception, while some inmates were playing all sort of games, football, tennis, basketball, others were just chatting, a parish priest was speaking to another set of people, a faction of the inmates were just returning from the visiting hall, while another set of people were just going the other way. There were less guards in the open field, and this gave a lot of aggrieved inmates the chance to settle past scores with others.
“I’ll be right back.” Kelvin told his boys with whom he was sitting on a very long bench with.
“Goodluck.” Only one of them replied as he walked away.
—–
“Hey Kelv.” Dale greeted immediately Kelvin sat opposite him in the visiting all with only a glass in between their tables.
Kelvin adjusted the landphone properly on his ears and prepared to listen to whatever Dale had to say. He just hoped it will be goodnews.
“The phone lines are being monitored.” Dale began.
Kelvin looked at his visitor like he was mad or something, but the serious look on his face told him, he might be saying the truth. But how could someone decide to intercept about fifty conversations at a time, even though presently, only fifteen are in use, but all the same, no right thinking person could monitor fifteen calls, five is even too much to monitor at a time.
“Not every line is being monitored, but the ones involving Danger-kelv. I was forcefully made to sit down here, which means, an electronic tracking device has been installed on the two cells.” Dale explained while Kelvin kept looking at him.
“Lest just change seat or what do you think?” Kelvin asked.
“That will look more suspicious. And moreso, I already figured out something.” Dale replied as he removed a scissors from his bag and broke the wire connecting the phone to its pad and carefully picking at the glass demarcating them until it slid open silently.
“Where did you learn that?” Kelvin asked, he was very suprised that a glass that was controlled by a remote from the DG’s office could be opened with just the pointed edge of a knife.
“Its a long time that I was let out of here. I have learnt a lot.” Dale replied with a smile.
“Good, then you’ll be needed in the present assignment before us.” Kelvin said with a straightface.
“Fill me in.” Dale requested.
“Yeah! The reason for sending for you is for you to help us devise a plan from the outside how we can escape from here. You have two weeks to to make it happen and I will call you everyday to remind you. Deal or no deal?” Kelvin explained.
Dale was not only dumbfounded, he was crazy that minute. He couldn’t explain what he the feeling was like in his head. Even though he was a criminal in his own capacity, a criminal who deal with hard drugs, steals packages off ships in the port, and sometimes kills anybody giving him problems, making the US government annoyed was no longer in his plans. He could remember how he was sentenced to five years inprision because he burgled into a couple’s vacation house with the aim of killing them, but being the a citizen, his sentence was reduced to two years in prison and a year in exile. Now, Kelvin whom he met in the prison is asking him for something gross.
“Dale, deal or no deal?” Kelvin asked once again his voice stern and serious.
“But..” Dale stammered.
“Remember, you owe me one. So answer the damn question of fvck off.” By now, Kelvin’s voice was very loud and every visitor in the hall and the visited inmates were watching the drama.
The bell rang, signalling the time to go and immediately, Kelvin turned towards the exit.
The fear of Kelvin alone could make one decide to stand in front of an oncoming train.
“Fine. I’ll just do it.” Dale screamed at the top of his voice, just as Kelvin got to the exit door.
“You say wah?” Kelvin asked.
“Deal.” Dale replied.
Kelvin only smiled, nodded his head and slipped out of the hall.

–tbc–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 3 (IV)

–*–
ILLINOS, USA
——————————————
Clement had just returned from mass in the church located at the topmost floor of the hotel where he was lodged and being his first time, he was introduced to the congregation as a visitor being a contractor who would be with them for a couple of weeks and his closest friend, Kayla who also attended the church with him for the first time was introduced as his wife. He couldn’t object in the presence of about thirty people, permanent church members and a few hotel users, he couldn’t embarrass himself and at the same time embarrass Kayla, therefore he had to play along. Kayla on her part seems cool with the whole setting and was all smiles throughout the service, she did everything perfectly such that he was tempted to call her a drama queen, but on the other hand, this doesn’t look like a drama, it looked real.
He actually loved the feeling of holding hands with Kayla all through the service and as they walked. In short, he loved Kayla and he wouldn’t mind getting married to him, afterall, she was a single mother like him a widower, but he could picture how bad his daughter was likely to take the situation. He knew Amanda too well and she might not want a foster mother or a step brother. Even though he could talk his daughter into consenting to the union another thing holding him back is a convenant he made seveenteen years ago.
He moved close to the large window where he was able to see a major part of Illinos in daytime.
–Seventeen years ago–
Seated on a wheelchair was a young Clement Obi Patrick, in his early thirties. The wind blew gently, but it spoke volume, it was a private cementry in Lagos and the feeling of being close to the beings from another world was what he was feeling, He was holding a picture of himself, a young of about twenty eight and a baby girl who probably was days old then.
“Rachel, its a pity you had to sacrifice with your life to bring back peace to this country. You are a heroine, you blood restored peace, you would be fondly remembered. Your murder was the height of it all and today, Nigeria is crime free. But I won’t forget that I had a hand in your death. Maybe if I had beaten you some more that day, the muderers would have met me in the house, maybe if I had given you time to explain what was going on between you and the Doctor, you wouldn’t be here today, maybe….” His voice trailed off.
He muttered some silent words and he could feel a force pulling him away from his wheel chair, like the force want him on his feet.
“Relax.” A young Ngozi was standing behind him as she held his shoulder. He calmed down, and Ngozi walked away, since it was supposed to be a moment alone with his wife.
“Our daughter Amanda will recieve the maximum security from me. If I ever walk with my two legs, I will stay away from the force, to enable our daughter get moral and emotional support from me. I will work to make money so I can leave something behind for her. She would be my wife as I have decided to stay single for the rest of my life.” It could be a coincidence, but the blowing breeze changed, there was a few second of wind blow.
“I will protect Amanda even with my life and on her eighteenth birthday, she would visit this place for the first time in her life. I love you Rachy.” He said and this time, he had broken down real bad. He placed the flower on the concrete slab and sobbed.
–Back to the present–
“Any problem Clement?” Kayla said.
Clement shuddered and turned to face the young lady still dressed in the attire she wore to church.
“Are you okay?” She asked closing in on him.
“Yeah, I am fine.” He stuttered.
“You look….sick.” She said touching his cheek.
“oh! Do I? Well, I am fine.” He said and walked away, leaving Kayla still standing beside the window.
“I thought you already left for your hotel, what are you doing here?” He asked.
“Had a rethink” She replied smiling.
“But, I remembered seeing you off until we exited the building.”
“Was lurking around and I got us ice cream.” That was when Clement noticed the polythene bag she was holding.

–tbc–

THE LIFE I LIVED– A very short story

MISTAKES! MISTAKES!
Growing up as a kid in the city of Akure has always been a major highlight of my life. I made friends with a lot of kids in the neighbourhood. My father was a Lawyer, my mum was a University lecturer. During the post colonial era in Nigeria, when the millitary government was ruling the country, my father was one of the few human right activist who was detained on January 1st 1983 a few hours after a palace coup was staged and a sitting democratically elected president was sent parking. My father went on to spend ten years behind the bars, while my mum as a result of the trauma lost her job. To make ends meet, she did a lot of menial jobs, even with her certificate, she slept with men for money, did all sort of things. But, they were good in our sight then, because, so far we were able to eat, then every other thing becomes unimportant.
My dad died in jail eleven years after his arrest and then, I was about saying goodbye to my teenage life and being the curious boy that I was, I checked through his books and saw a quote which reads;
“All my life, I have never made a mistake until I got married to my wife.”
Since, the quote was written by my father, I thought the quote was talking about him. I took it against my mother, demanded answers from her. When she couldn’t give me any, I ran away from home, went to Lagos to work and make money.
Seventeen years later, I was thirty six years and I met a beautiful lady of twenty eight. We got talking and after a few months, we started going out. I was comfortably okay and could within a day donate one million naira at five functions.
When the time came for me to meet her people, we travelled to Akure and behold, my mother was supposed to be my mother-in-law and the girl in question was my blood sister.
That day, my mum explained the reason behind the quote I saw many years ago and I realised that my mum actually made my father a smoker and a heavy drinker, which was what cut his life short while in prison. Truely, my dad only made a mistake which was getting married to my mum.
In the sight of my friends, they said, my running away from home was a mistake on my part, but many years later, I realised, I was right afterall, but I had made the same mistake my father made, which was getting married to a woman you know little about.
Now, I can write a quote of making just one mistake all my life, the only difference was, my supposed to be wife was not yet my wife, but she was three months gone and my sister was gonna give birth to my baby. A taboo the elders called it.
It is with great regret I wrote this, I have lost it, I have failed, what else am I living for?
I just have to take my life myself which will take me a step ahead of my father who made one mistake, while I made two.

–THE END–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 3 (III)

–*–
LOS ANGELES, USA
——————————————
Victoria was seated inside her kitchen, several books laid on the kitchen table as well as her laptop computer. She had a angry look on her face and mere looking at her, one can only assume what was making her angry. Probably she wasn’t getting things right, depending on whatever she was doing with the books and laptop. But moving close to her to watch her closely, one would see that working on the laptop gave her joy, but the moment she took her eyes of the screen, probably to think or read from the books, the angry look returns. And if one decides to use the last available option which is to ask her what the problem was. She would end up opening up that the church occupying the building next to her bungalow was disturbing her peace.
She has never and would never be a church goer, no matter the level of preaching and bible talks would make her change. She had attended various crusades in Nigeria for execution missions and she had seen pastors perform miracles which she concluded was staged. Since the pastors are performing the miracles on their church members. The church members won’t want to put their pastors to shame, she had concluded. Maybe if she had lived in the time of Jesus christ and he saw him heal the lame man in another man’s land, how he fed the multitude, maybe she would have being a strong believer. She had also at one point being approached by the muslim counterparts, basically those popularly known as the ‘hijab’ sisters. She blantantly refused to talk to them for more than five minutes, and what started as a preaching ended up as and interview on why they have to go to mosque five times in a day and those five times, they must rub water on their body, according to her. She personally once considered to be a pagan, but of what gain is it if she serve a god that is placed either on a carpet or a table, probably a stone. Why would she serve a god she could determine its fate? Which was why she decided to remain indifferent about religion, at social gatherings, when it is time for the opening and closing prayers, she excuse herself and returns after the prayer has been said. One of the reasons why she couldn’t attend her mother’s burial.
The more irritated she became, the more the noise increased. Even though she had many a times spoken to the presiding pastor who was also a Nigerian, one of the reasons why she hasn’t reported him to the authorities. But, as it stands now, she has to take legal action fast to stop this weekly disturbance.
She closed her computer and placed her head on the kitchen table. She thought about life so far, it has been far from fair to her. She had lived her life in patches, she had lived her life as if she was sharing it with someone else, probably the devil. She realised, she had no control over her life and decision a long time ago and she made no effort to seek spiritual help. But why is Clement always happy and glowing? Even his daughter is full of life, but her own life has never been like that.
She needed to do something about her life, her happiness. And the best way to be happy is to thread at the expense of someone else. Therefore, Clement will have to sacrifice his own happiness for her sake.
“I refuse to be moved by the devil.” She said at the top of her voice.
She didn’t know for how long, two voices are going to be speaking in her subconscious. While one tells her to do rash things, the other advices her to rebuke the first voice.
Now, she could take it no more. The noise had reached the maximum, its either she face it and be done with it or shy away from it and let it explode on her face. No way she was going to take the later.
“What the hell is this?” She asked herself as she approached her car which parked in the driveway. She picked an envelope which was placed agains the wind screen and tore it open to remove a complimentary card on which only numbers were written. Numbers numbering up to ten were written on the card to various countries. A Nigerian number was written, as well as a number with the United kingdom’s dialling code, the US too as well as Iraq, Iran, Oman and Afghanistan. Turning the paper over, she saw a short message which reads;
(Vv, you happens to unfinished businesses? They get finished the second time. See you soon.)
That moment, her anger reduced to the minimum such that she was begining to enjoy the noise coming out from the church.
Who would be so crazy to be coming to her house to drop letters? Maybe she needs to get a camera which would be hung strategically outside the house to cover anybody who moves into the driveway. But first, she needed to call one of these numbers.

–tbc–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 3 (II)

–*–
CALIFORNIA, USA
—————————————— Aside cycling, swimming is Amanda’s next favourite sport. On a normal day, she could spend nothing less than five hours inside the pool enjoying the coolness of the water and practicing new techniques. The only problem she has was that, she couldn’t swim in a public pool. She hates it when she is being watched, most especially some random men who have lost their decency and won’t mind hitting on her. Therefore, she loved private pools where she could book a session, like two to three hours and the door into the pool house would be locked. But, an evil occurence that almost took place a year ago made her have a rethink about the whole private pool issue. It was during the summer, where everyone was misty and the sun a lot more shining furiously. She just had a misunderstanding with her father and out of anger, she left home with a vow of never stepping into the house. She withdrew all she had in her kiddies account and proceeded to the train station where she bought a ticket to Los Angeles. The next Los Angeles bound train was not due back until an hour and a half later, therefore she decided to go sightseeing. Five minutes later, she found herself in front of a relaxation centre, she walked in, booked the pool and proceeded to relax her muscle and probably swim away her anger. And just when she was begining to enjoy the whole act, the door into the pool house was opened by one of her school mates, a bully. His father owned the relaxation centre. He and his goons tried to harm Amanda, but her slim and reflex body gave her the chance to beat the chubby boys who were no match for her. She sped past them and just when she yanked the door open, she slipped and passed out. The next thing, she opened her eyes in the hospital and every attempt mad by her father, Dolapo, Dale and even her Late Grandma to make her talk proved abortive. She just won’t tell anybody what happened to her, not even Curtis.
Amanda felt like dancing even though she was the worst dancer in California, she still loved doing it. Probably because she believed she’ll become a better dancer one day, afterall, she wasn’t born a swimmer, neither did she know how to ride a bicycle from birth, she learnt them all.
She did a back stroke to the side of the pool where her towel, phone and Ipod laid on a stool. She picked the Ipod, navigated her way through the songs. As she swam back to the middle of the pool where it is best to dance, she had a strange feeling, like she would tripp the next second and fall down. Even in the pool. The only time she felt such was when she was being watched, when a number of eyes were set on her as if she was a strange human. She stopped moving and turned to look at the house where her fears were confirmed, Dale was standing upstairs, windows open and watching her with a smile displaying accross his face.
“Amy, you swim real good.” He said.
She hesitated before giving her reply. “Thanks. Will you now shut the window and let me do my thing?”
She could feel the anger rising, ever since her short timed contact with Dale, the previous night at the restaurant, she has been angry with herself and at the same time angry with him.
“You want me to shut the window? Alright, one second.” He shut the window and walked away.
Just when she was about to continue what she was doing, she could hear as his flip flop kissed the ground.
Was he coming to watch her swim? No way she was gonna allow that.
Her heart lost its way as it flew from her chest into her mouth, the moment she saw him dressed in a swimming attire.
“Dale, you can’t join me here..” But he had dived into the water and her anger gradually washed away as they swam, and danced in the pool.
Maybe she needed to see a counsellor who would be willing to tell her what her problem was and also a priest who will bind every spirit of Dale from locating her. Even though the first things she ought to do was get out of the pool the moment Dale entered, she just couldn’t leave. She found herself enjoying the whole swimming and a minute ago, Dale recieved a call which mean he’ll be driving out in the next twenty minutes.
She could feel his hard boner throbbing her buttock as she stood in front of him to allow him take their picture. She knew it was wrong, for her to be this comfortable dressed this way in front of an in-law and the in-law on the other hand was having hard-on for an underaged sister-in-law.

–tbc–
Dale and Amanda! What have you got to say about them?

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 3

–*–
LAGOS, NIGERIA
——————————————
Patrick walked out of his room dressed in a sky blue fitted shirt and a black chinos trouser and a pair of plim soled shoes. On his right hand wrist was a wristwatch and on the left was a local bead used by chiefs and Royal fathers. He held his phone on his left hand and his bible stood on the right. He entered the living room where one of his siblings or better still put as his step brother was playing video games, his eyes glued to the tv and a game pad held in his hands.
“Chidi, where is everyone ready? Where is dad and mum?” Patrick ask the boy who paid no attention to him.
Patrick on his part knew he won’t be getting any reply from the boy whom with his elder sister were like strangers to him. They avoid him like plague, and Patrick couldn’t place the reason why.
“Chidi, are you not the one I am talking to?” Patrick asked raising his voice at the ten year old boy.
Patrick had vowed to treat everyone in the house the way they treat him, he had vowed to raise his voice at the mn he called his father if he tried rubbish with him, he had vowed to beat the hell out of his siblings, Christina and Chidi if any of them tries to disrespect him. He had vowed to pick a few of his things and run away from home if his mother who was his only hope, his shining amour for once failed to comfort him when he is hurting. He made these resolutions when a few days ago, he overhead his parents arguing like they were enemies. While his mother was crying her eyes out pleading with his father to do something, his father stood his ground and vowed not to do his wife’s bidding. He could sense they were talking about him even though he could hear nothing except when his father said something that looks like; “this is the last time I am talking about that boy.” And less than a minute later, his barrister father stormed out of the room and the look on his face the moment he saw him standing outside the door spoke volume. His father was shocked and it showed in his reaction. And a minute later when his mother came rushing outside to catch up with his father, she bumped into him and she was asking if she heard anything. His mistake was that he claimed he heard nothing which made his mother lie her way out of the situation, even though he had no idea if his mother was saying the truth. Assuming he had demanded explanation on what he heard even though he heard nothing, his mother would have at leas told him something. He cried the whole day on realising how foolish and gentle he was and also the pain his mother was going through. How she ran after his father, pleading and crying. Is this how men are supposed to be heartless? Then he shouldn’t see himself as a man.
He could remember how mercilessly the male teachers in the school beat any erring student, how his classmates, most especially the girls cry all in the name that their boyfriends are not talking to them, how they skip school, skip classes, cry the for the majority of the break time, how the girls refuses to eat, how they openly go on their kneels to beg their so-called boyfriends in the front of the class. If this was how God created men to live, then there must have been a mistake somewhere, he shouldn’t have been a man at all.
“Chidi, are you deaf?” He walked towards the wall socket and switched off the tv.
Chidi, came charging at him angrily and started hitting him. Patrick knew best not to retaliate because he knew what would happen.
“Leave my brother alone jor.” Christina a fifteen year old girl, who looked exactly like their mother came rushing at the two boys.
“Am I the one fighting you brother or are you blind?” He had said it before he realised what he had said.
Christina left the two boys alone and sat on the couch weeping.
“Leave me alone Chidi.” He forcefully freed himself from Chidin’s grasp and the boy fell down.
Patrick carefully walked over to where Christina was seated.
“I don’t mean it that way Christy…”
“Get away from me.” Christina pushed him away before she took off.
She bumped into their parents at the door and she retreated.
“What did you do to my children?” Benson was already advancing towards him.
“He slapped me and called Tina blind.” Chidi cried.
And that was all his father needed to hear before he ordered that he be locked inside the house while everyone else went to church.
He looked at his mother for help, but the tears in her eyes told him, he lost the battle this sunday morning.

–tbc–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 2 (VIII)

–*–
-CALIFORNIA, USA
“Do you mind grabbing something for dinner before we head home?” Dale asked Amanda a few minutes later. This time they were some minutes away from their street.
“Can’t we just head home and fix something for dinner?” Amanda asked gently with a smile.
“Really?” Dale couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “So who’s gonna fix the dinner?” He asked.
“Me of course.” Amanda replied.
“You think that’s possible? Come on, there is no way you are cooking in my house, I am yet to insure the house.” Dale smirked as he pulled the car over to the side of the road, just in front of a popular American restaurant.
Dale alighted and ran to the other side of the car, just in time when Amanda was getting out of the car. He stretched forth his hand and after a series of internal debate, Amanda took his hand in hers and together, they walked into the restaurant which was burstling with activities and very much overcrowded, today being a saturday.
“Take a sit, lemme just place our orders.” Dale said as he led Amanda to a table, after which he walked to the counter to place the orders.
Amanda was busy admiring the lights illuminating the restaurant, she was clearly fascinated with the way, the light shown and she was already carried away.
“Excuse me ma’am. Will you please tick the menu option on your table, so you can be served.” A young man dressed in a white shirt over a red trouser and a red bow tie said.
Amanda was caught off guard and she couldn’t really answer the question put to her by the handsome young man before her.
“Oh! I am here with my boyfriend.” She replied. One thing on her mind, she thought he was hitting on her. And the only way to keep him at bay is by telling him she was there with her boyfriend.
“I guess, he’s gone to place your orders.” The handsome man replied, more of a statement than a question.
Now, the realisation hit her. She couldn’t believe she had mistook the young man before her as some rich spoilt kid who was hitting on her on a saturday night dressed in a weird white and red attire. Unknown to her, he was a waiter. How could she be so foolish not to have noticed the restaurant symbol which was crested on the breast pocket of his shirt?
“Yeah. And it won’t be fun if he meets you here with me.” Amanda warned when she realised that the waiter was getting all relaxed and was about to take the sit opposit her.
Even while he is on duty, he still had the guts to chat with a girl.
“My name is….” He was saying with his hand stretched forward.
“hey! Hey! I can see your name, see it there.” She cut him short pointing to the tag just above the crest on his breast pocket.
“Your name?” He asked trying to maintain his smiling face, even though, one could see how pink he had gone out of embarrassment.
“Tell me my name is what you came here to ask.” Amanda said mockingly.
The waiter flushed pink in embarrassment.
“If you’ll please go back to your duty.” Amanda said and turned to face the other side, where Dale was making orders for their meal.
The young waiter dejectedly walked away.
“Good riddance.” she muttered and a few seconds later, Dale arrived with their meal.
“Thanks.” She said as he helped her fill her cup.
“Welcome.” He muttered almost inaudibly.
Amanda had a feeling that something isn’t right. First, she wasn’t supposed to be at the Dale’s this evening considering what Dale tried to do to her the previous week. Agreed that fate brought her to his house this evening and by standards, she is supposed to see Dolapo off to the airport, was is she supposed to follow Dale back home and probably spend the night? Even though she is yet to spend the night at his place, but every indications points at it that she would be passing the night.
Should she be scared? Certainly, she should be, most especially if Dale decided to inject himself with drugs once again. Then he could find his way into the visitor’s room where she would be passing the night, and things may go worse. She couldn’t imagine herself loosing her innocence to a man she felt nothing for, she couldn’t imagine loosing as a result of rape, she couldn’t afford loosing it to a married man. They are just too gross as they seem….
“Are you okay?” The sensation swept all over her body as he place his hand over hers in a gentle manner.
“What?…. I.. I… Of course, I am okay.” She stammered trying not to look him in the eyes.
“Finish up your meal.” he said gently not removing his hand from hers.
The next minute, she stood up abruptly and walked towards the door marked ‘convinience.’
Now in the restroom, she was standing in front of a giant mirror.
Why is she feeling this way towards Dale? Could it be love? Certainly not. But what could it be?

–¤END OF CHAPTER 2¤–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 2 (VII)

–*–
CARLIFORNIA, USA
——————————————
Amanda was seated on the passenger seat beside Dale who was behind the wheels. They had waited until Dolapo boarded the Nigerian bound plane before they left the airport.
“How do you feel now that Aunty D is out of the country?” Amanda asked at the top of her voice while Dale had to reduce the volume of the car stereo where a Bruno Mars song was being played.
“You say what?” He asked.
“You must be missing your wife already.” Dolapo replied.
“Come off it. She is only gone for a while, two weeks. She’ll be back before you know it.” Dale replied his eyes on the road.
“So, what do you intend doing for those two weeks?” Amanda asked.
Just when Dale was about to reply, a car overtook the red ferrari they were in and blocked the road, two well built guys came out of the car. While Amanda had her heart in her mouth, Dale was smiling.
“Dale, what’s funny? These men are gonna kill us, aren’t they?” Amanda asked.
“Cool down girl. I thought you wanted to attend the institute of Criminology, so why are you afraid?” Dale mocked.
For the past three weeks, everyone in the family(Clement, Dolapo, Dale) have been using all sort of things to discourage her from sitting for the exam which was due to hold in a month’s time.
“Hey nigga.” One of the two men, the short and the dark skinned one said walking towards the driver’s side while the light skinned of the two walked towards the passenger side where Amanda was seated.
“Hey Dre, how do you do?” Dale greeted the dark man with a handshake that sounded more like a slap.
“Am chilling mehn! When did you come out?” Dre asked.
“Over three years now, but I had to lay low for a while, so I left for Africa. I returned to America two year ago.” Dale replied.
“Oh man, that pretty cool, you know, or what do you think Pete?” Dre asked the other man who was already conversing with an obviously agigated Amanda.
“Yeah, its cool.” Pete replied absentmindedly. He obviously was not part of the discussion, but he heard Dre said something about ‘cool’ therefore, the best option is to reiterate the word ‘cool.’
“Don’t you think there should be a second coming? You know, pick things up from the scratch.” Dre asked.
Dale glanced at the side to see if Amanda was listening to them. Its obvious she was, even though she was quick to pretend she wasn’t listening.
Dale gave Dre a strange look and the dark complexioned guy seemed to understand the message he was trying to pass accross.
“Here, our new mansion. You just show up so we can discuss.” With this, Dre bounced off towards their own car.
“Its nice meeting you Amy.” The other guy, Pete said before walking away.
Amy couldn’t help but smile, even though the sight of him was irritating and intimidating, there was still a gentleman side of him. His smile was actually something that endeared Amanda to him, even if his breathe reeks of achohol, she liked him.
Dale waited a minute for the guys to start their car and drove off before he ignited the car and continued the journey back home.
“Who are they?” Amanda was forced to ask when she couldn’t keep her curiousity in check any longer.
“They are my guys. Old friends actually.” Dale replied.
“Where did you meet them? You look cool than to be moving with guys like this. They look dangerous.” Amanda had blurted out before she realised the gravity of what she just said, but it was too late.
She could see the smile on Dale’s face change immediately to a frown.
“They said something about when you came out. Came out of where?” Amanda asked.
“Can you please drop it. They are my guys and its non of your business.” He screamed at her.
Amanda was hurt, but she kept mute and allowed Dale to enjoy the silence, even though she had expected him to switch on the car stereo, but he didn’t.
“You know, Amy, am very sorry for yelling at you the other time. Its just that I hate to talk about it.” Dale said apologetically two minutes later.
“Its okay. I understand.” She smiled.
But, the talkative that she was won’t allow her keep quiet.
“So, are you serious about not missin Aunty D one bit?” She asked, this time the car had come to a rest, as a result of the traffic light.
“Am damn serious. Why should I miss her when I have you?”
-What!
The light turned green and Dale sped off at once, and during the process increased the volume of the car stereo. There was no way Amanda could talk about it any longer.

–tb–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 2 (VI)

–*–
–ILLINOS, USA
——————————————
As a usual tradition, Kelvin was sorrounded by his boys only that this time, they were at the dinning hall because it was not yt lights out. Every other inmates within the prison were suprised to see Kelvin amidst them in the dining hall, none of them could remember the last time he entered the dinning hall to pick his food tray talk more of sitting down to eat his food. Some other inmates claimed they had never seen him eat with them, probably because they arrived when Kelvin had grown wings as a second in command to Mysterious killer.
The dinning was also unusually silent today, the inmates were involved in less chatter, the dinning attendants and those in the kitchen in the next room tried to make sure there were no unecessary clanging of pots or other kitchen equipments, all because Danger-kelv wants everywhere to be silent.
The silence inside the dinning hall could be likened to a graveyard, but the silence further grew to a point that you could hear the next person’t heart beat, the moment, the Director General walked in.
“oh o! I can see there is a good side beneathe your evil nature.” The DG made a stop at Kelvin’s table and mocked.
Kelvin’s jaw twitched in anger, but looking around the hall, he knew he stood no chance, considering the number of guards in position.
“Attention everybody.” The DG said walking towards the counter before turning to face his audience.
“Its a new system here in Songa, a new director is here and things will change for the better. This facility was built five decades ago and for twenty years now, the equipments within this facility has continue to deteriorate. No one is paying attention to them, but with my emergence as the boss here, the renovation is currently going on.” He said and paused to watch their reactions.
There was nothing new, they still had that what-da-fvck look on their faces.
“And therefore, I have decided to make every inmates here equal. There won’t be a commando anywhere, neither would there be the executive councils to the commando.” He continued and glanced towards Kelvin’s table.
“Intimidation won’t be allowed, every inmates are to sleep in their cells and every seven thirty, you must all converge here to have your dinner and on Fridays, you will be allowed to watch tv till midnight.” He could continue no more.
A faction of the hall were cheering him, obviously they were happy about the new development, while another set of people were jeering and booing the DG, those one can be likened to be Danger-kelv’s loyalist or better still, the fear of intimidation made them want to be in his good books. A few number of people were indifferent about the new development, probably because they dread being on the bad books of Danger-kelv and falling into trouble with the authorities.
Five minutes later, the DG was forced out of the hall when the inmates threatened to attack him, but the most important thing was the message which he had successfully passed accross to them and nothing in his words would stop him from doing what he planned to do.
Kelvin was visibly shaken as a result of the rules and the reaction of the inmates. Even though a considerable amount of people were against the rules, yet, the number of those in support of the rules is equivalent to those against.
“You guys just do it.” He said to one of his boys who was taking instructions from him.
At once, Kelvin picked up the tray on top which his food was set and slammed it hard on the floor, thereby causing the plate and cup to shatter into pieces. There was no ‘go ahead’ bigger than that as his boys went in different directions within the hall and in the seconds that followed, all electic bulbs and flourescents has been broken and the hall thrown into total darkness and the fight began.
By the time the guards arrived, several people have been injured. While some were nursing minor injuries, others were nursing fatal injuries, even Kelvin who was on his seat throughout to fight was sporting a broken nose from where blood was gushing out, some tens of inmates were lying on the floor almost lifeless.
By the time the DG arrived at the scene, non electric lamps have been set up at strategic angles such that the whole hall was illuminated once again. His eyes first went to Kelvin who was still sitting down comfortably with a white turned red handkerchief dabbed on his nose.
The DG shook his head as if deep in thoughts.
“Truely, Danger-kelv is a force to reckon with within the walls of this facility.” He concluded.

–tbc–

THE SECOND COMING– Chapter 2 (V)

–*–
-CARLIFORNIA, USA
——————————————
Amanda agreed to return to Dale’s house after she had spoken with Dale a number of times and he had apologised profusely for his randy action, even though he blamed it on the injection he took, moment before Amanda walked into the kitchen. They both reached an agreement that they’ll try and avoid each other for quite a number of time to avoid a repeat.
As she parked her bicycle beside Dolapo’s Audi inside the car park, and realising there is no point playing pranks she decided to walk in through the front door.
“Hello…. Anybody home?” She called as she shut the door and strolled through the hallway into the living room where she met the shocker of her life.
Dolapo was weighing travelling bags which stood on the ground with a measuring scale and Dale was assisting her in bringing out the contents of the bag to make them lighter.
“What’s going on here? Who is travelling?” She asked.
“Is that the way to greet? Amy, I am disappointed in you.” Dolapo replied.
“Am sorry Aunty….”
“There is nothing to be sorry about. I recently delivered my baby and you didn’t visit to say hi to me and the baby. You only called me once. That’s very bad of you.” Dolapo cut her short.
“Aunty D, I wanted to come, but-.” She kept quiet and glanced at Dale who had an expressionless look devoid of anxiety, fear or confidence. It was evident that if she told the truth, Dale would expertly deny her claims.
“Aunty D, just forgive me. I am very sorry.” Amanda said giving Dolapo a hug.
“No problems, you are just a spoilt brat who didn’t know the right thing to do.” Dolapo replied.
Amanda pouted her lips feigning anger, but Dolapo would have none of that.
Then her eyes darted to the dining area where a baby cot was placed, immediately, she sped towards the cot and lifted up the cute little girl sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed. “She is so fvcking cute.”
“Hey! Don’t use such words for my daughter.” Dolapo warned jokingly.
“I mean it, she is cute. What’s her name?” Amanda asked.
“Oluwadarasimi.” Dolapo replied.
“You are joking right?” Amanda asked.
Dale who has been unusually quiet since the arrival of Amanda couldn’t help but stiffle a laugh.
“What sort of name is that? Dale, are you a part of the naming team?” Amanda asked.
Now, the agreement has been trauncated already.
“I called her Marrisa, but the mother insisted on calling her that weird name. I can’t even pronounce the name.” Dale replied.
“Aunty D, what does the name mean? Its Nigerian right?” Amanda asked.
“What do you expect?” Dale replied and they all bursted into bouts of laughter.
“So, what’s with the bags?” Amanda asked a few minutes later when they are done with the naming debate.
“I am travelling.” Dolapo replied.
“Travelling? To where? New york?” Amanda asked.
“No, Nigeria.” Dolapo replied.
Twenty five minutes later, Dale was driving the red Ferrari towards the city’s Airport where Dolapo would board a plane headed to Nigeria.
From the backseat where they sat, Amanda was able to get the reason behind Dolapo naming her daughter in the Nigerian way. She told the story of how her life in the University was, how she successfully made it to the final year alongside five of her friends, and in the months building up to their final exam, they were all killed one after the other. The decision to name her daughter, Darasimi came as a result of the fact that, on the day exams finished, the bullet which was aimed and meant for her hit one of her friends, Darasimi, and therefore, the only way to always remember her is to give her the name of the person who sacrificed unknowingly with her own life and in turn redeemed her own life.
It all turned touchy when Dolapo showed Amanda the picture she took with her friends when everything was all rosy and the two ladies couldn’t help but cry.
“Dale, are you that heartless?” Amanda asked.
“It not good to cry while driving and moreso, I have listened to the story a million times, so what tha heck?” Dale replied and pulled up into the Airport parking lot.

–tbc–