《Hushed Echoes》


 Chapter 1.

    Marco woke up with a dissolute feeling in his eyes, he could not sleep but kept tossing on his bed all through the night, his bulging eyes seems to emanate an excruciating pain as though they were about to decamp from their sockets.


    The foul smelling gnash on his legs and arms ached intensely making him feel miserable, he nced awkwardly at the brass clock, it was 6:30am at the clock of dawn.


    He made an attempt to rise but the persistent pain which had diffused all over his body, rendered him incapacitated, the asional twinges of his headache also aggrevated his wretchedness.


    ¡°Fred! Fred?¡± He called out, but there was no response.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Where could he have gone to?¡± Marco asked rhetorically.


    He tried again to get up from the bed, it was rather too difficult fr him, as a result, he decided to rest for some few hours, this he felt would help in regaining his strength, waking up In the morning as early as possible was usual to him, he had been ustomed to rising early, right from childhood.


    The thought of his mother pounded his troubled mind, he vividly remember his mother¡¯s popr saying whenever he overslept, how she would be by his bed side, lean over to tap him on the shoulder and whispeo, ¡± Marco wake up, for an early riser is an aftermath toilet¡±


    Marco eyes were filled with tears as they began to roll down his cheeks, ¡± Oh mother, what have I done to deserve this?¡± He asked, anticipating no reply.


    He paused for a moment and stared squarely at the ceiling for a moment, ¡± I will make it mother, I must be rich, I must struggle and survive¡± Marco snapped and patted his chest tenderly, ¡± Yes, my mother must enjoy the fruit of herbor, I shall not stop until I get to the top, no matter how long thedder of life is, I shall not rest until I get to the Pinnacle¡± Marco muttered as he wriggled under the coverlet.


    His mother Maria had always been the most important person in his life and his life over the years had been tied monumentally to her apron strings, she was what could be described as the best mother in the whole world.


    A tremendous quintessence of hospitality, always loving, Caring and whimsical, her indulgence had always enormous to him despite the face that they were wallowing in abject poverty, she would struggle and strive relentlessly to ensure that her son was happy and contented.


    Marco father died twenty five years ago on the even of his son¡¯s birthday from a ghastly motor ident, on that fateful day, Maria as she was fondly called over the neighborhood was making preparations to celebrate her son¡¯s second birthday anniversary, obviously she was waiting for her husband who had gone out to attend his younger brother¡¯s wedding.


    Maria sat on a wooden stool that morning doing a thorough washing of  the clothes her son was going to wear the following day and at the same time she was humming the tune of one of the most prolific highly singer in the country, such humming was a characteristics of her whenever she engaged in her domestic chores.


    Having wash and rewash for the third time, she was about to cross the threshold to get some water when a young girl, her neighbor¡¯s daughter ran swiftly towards her, howling and clinging to the edge of her dress.


    ¡°It is Marco¡¯s father¡± she said dejectedly trying to catch her breath, using the edge of her top, she wiped her tears, ¡± ident! ident!¡± She shouted, ¡± your husband had been involved in a motor ident¡± salu bellowed ruefully, putting her hand on her head, the tears rushing out of her eyes again.


    Immediately Maria slumped on the ground and let out a blood curdling scream, ¡± How? how did it happen? where did it happen?¡± She yelled out in pain and anguish, using both her hands to pull the strands of her hair, gyrating round the ground with such poignancy as if she were beckoning on the ground to open up and swallow her.


    Her shrill voice consequently attracted the attention of her neighbors and within a short while, pandemonium broke out as every body became curious to know what exactly was amiss.


    However none of them could openly rte the unfortunate news to the anticipated crowd of sympathizers that had gathered there with a growing sense of anxiety. It took the effort of Jamal, one of Marco father¡¯s closest friend to bring the uncontroble weeping to a halt.


    ¡°For goodness sake, what is going on?¡± He screamed out with terror, ¡± how can you both be crying as if you have been stabbed with a hot sword¡± he snarled.


    ¡°It is an ident and Marco father is a victim¡± Salu said with fear gnawing at her heart.


    ¡°ident? How? Where?¡± Jamal retorted with fear and trepidation written all over his face.


    ¡°It urred this morning at Marnd extension, at about 7:30 am¡± Salu replied with a trembling voice, still crying.


    ¡°Then we have to get there as fast as possible to see what exactly has happened¡± Jamal ordered Marco¡¯s mother to get ready.


    He then ran briskly to get his car key, prepare and few minutester he returned, he turned on the old car which responded quickly, Maria emerged from her doorway and beckon on Salu to take care of her son while she was away.


    The journey to Marnd road extension was to her like one driving through the valley of the shadow of death, as she sat nervously at the back seat of the car, her heart beat wildly in her chest, beads of swear formed on her forehead, her hands were visibly shaking.


    Maria perceived the ident to be an event that was capable of causing a severe injury, permanent disability and even death.


    Her mind shed back to the terrible dream she had the night before, how a hawk descended into her room from no where and took away her most valuable dress, while she watched without being able to utter a word.

 Chapter 2.

    When Maria woke up, she had the feeling that something ominous was lurking around the corner but the involvement of her beloved husband in an ident that morning was perhaps the least on the list of the misfortune she envisage.


    Thus, with bated breath she had waited earnestly for him to return and had even prepared his favorite dish for breakfast, not until that fateful moment Salu brought the sad news of the unfortunate incident to her, that she began to see it as the manifestation of her dream.


    It was then she presumed that something was unpleasantly in the offing, it became clear to her that her husband might have sustained some injuries.


    This vague notion almost clogged her vision as she felt as blind as a bat, ¡± No way, it can¡¯t happen¡± she sobbed silently.


    ¡®But what if he suffered a permanent disability and be a liability go her all the rest of his life?¡¯


    ¡°Let it be far from me and my household¡± she rejected it as she used her hand to wipe the sweat which had gathered and started trickling down her face.


    Maria tried as much as possible to shield her mind from the stronghold of negative thought but the more she tried to curtail it, the more it elongated.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    But whatever was responsible for her strange feeling was grossly inconsequentialpare to her desire to get to the scene of the ident, to locate her husband, rescue him and fight against all forces and above all to make sure he was safe and sound.


    Even if he sustained injuries, she would do anything to guarantee his speedy recovery and give him the will to live on, but what she dreaded most gravely was the thought of losing her husband to the cold and wicked hand of death.


    No! that would be too much for her to bear because she could not afford to be a widow at the prime of her life, not even when they had a son to cater for.


    ¡°What would be of her? What would be of their son Marco? How would she aplish her uppermost desire? The desire to nuture her only son and see him grow to adulthood, the need to give him the best life could offer, educationally, morally and materially.


    Maria knew quite well that she would be swimming in stormy water if the unexpected happens, and s! The possibility of losing her husband hung over her head like a sword of Damocles.


    ¡°Dear God, please have mercy¡± she panted, ¡± save Sylvester please¡¯ she sobbed profusely.


    ¡°Take it easy Maria, Sylvester would be alright, iam sure nothing would happen to him¡± Jamal consoled her.


    When they eventually arrived at the scene, they were taken aback by the dreadful damage the ident had caused, it was a gory sight to behold, to the extent that the ill fated coaster bus which had conveyed about fifty Passengers that morning was badly shattered beyond repair, with a pool of congealed blood stream everywhere.


    It would have been considered a fairytale if anybody had escaped unhurt, it was indeed a doleful moment as the sight of the gruesome ident produced gloomy effect on the crowd who had gathered there to sympathize with the victims of the ident.


    However some of the sympathizers are actually rtives of this victims of the horrible mishap, who expressively demonstrated their sorrows over the dismiss if their loved one in the best piteous manner they could.


    Some wailed, whirled and twisted woefully, while othersmentably recounted the extent of the burnt they were going to near as a result of the tragic urrence.


    ¡°What a disaster, iam finished! My wife is gone with a seven months pregnancy¡± cried one of the sympathizers.


    As soon as Maria alighted from the car, she ran quickly, pushing her way through the crowd and shout on the top of her voice, ¡± my husband, where is my husband?¡± She screamed, her voice reverberated through the atmosphere.


    Within a short while she hurled herself violently on the ground and began to roll like a whirlwind, momentter she got up and ran bravely to one of the men who were watching and dragged him by his arms.


    ¡°Please do you know where my husband is?¡± She asked, desperate for an answer.


    ¡°Is your husband a casualty?¡± The man retorted.


    Jamal noticed what was going on and ran swiftly towards her, trying to console her, ¡± take it easy Maria, don¡¯t worry yourself to death¡± he caution her, fear gnawing at his heart.


    He inquired from the man about the seriousness of the ident.


    ¡°Is your rtive involved?¡± Asked the man.


    ¡°Yes¡± replied Jamal.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± The man continued, ¡± it happened at about 7:30 this morning, I came outside to get something from the grocery store nearby, when we heard a screeching of wheel and before we knew what was happening, the vehicle swerved off the road and summersaulted several times until it¡¯s finallynded in the ditch.


    ¡°Is there any clue as to what might have caused the ident?¡± Jamal asked.


    The man shook his head, ¡± up till now, the immediate cause of the ident remains very sketchy, but the police are carrying out investigation, to unravel the remote cause of it¡± the man said sorrowfully.


    ¡°So where are the victims?¡¯  Jamal asked, trying not to sound too irritable.


    ¡°Well heavy casualties were recorded and incidentally their bodies have all been deposited in the general mortuary, so I advice you to check the mortuary for confirmation¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you very much¡± Jamal muttered, his lips quivering.

 Chapter 3.

    Jamal began to feel very uneasy in his mind, particrly about the Faye of his best friend, if there was a way he could have appeared instantly at the mortuary through supernatural means, he would have readily some so, but that was not to be.


    The general hospital was still about twelve kilometers away and as such, he had to follow the normal process, ignite the car, revert it and hurry down there was the only way.


    And so he had to brace himself against the situation, quickly he went back to Marco¡¯s mother who was still sitting on the floor with her forehead bent beneath herp, still sobbing profusely.


    ¡°We have to go to the mortuary immediately Maria, in other to confirm the true state of the situation¡± said Jamal.


    ¡°Mortuary?¡± Maria eximed, does that mean my husband is dead?¡±


    ¡°No, we cannot conclude that way until we verify his body Is actually there or not, please stand up and let us go, there is no time to waste¡±


    Hardly he had finished the statement when Maria picked up her scarf from the floor and feebly entered the front seat of the car and off they went.


    As they approached the gate leading to the general hospital, they did not need anybody go tell that this was indeed their final bustop, it was at this ce their fate was going to be determined, it was this same time they will discover wether Maria¡¯s husband, who is Marco¡¯s father and Jamal¡¯s best friend was either dead or alive.


    Nevertheless they could not help but be astounded upon discovery that there were people gathered round every nook and cranny of the hospital.


    They being there was just to catch a glimpse of the detached structure of the hospital, but a great number of people amassed there because of the sorrow and misfortune that had befallen them.


    Come to think of it, what is life after all? When a person so close and dear to you suddenly dies mysteriously, someone you eat with, y and share a lot inmon with all of a sudden drops dead.


    Such was the stream of consciousness that pervaded Jamal¡¯s mind when he was craving to get a better view of therge crowd of people roaming round the hospital with a heavy heart.


    In any case, he really had no time to stand and stare as he asked Maria to seat outside and wait while he went inside to verify whether her husband was among those lying in the morgue, it was not up to Fifteen minutes, he came out of the hospital looking terrified.


    Though he had received the information with equanimity, the greatest task was how to ry the news to Marco¡¯s mother who was impatiently waiting for him, so when he emerged from the hospital morgue, Jamal stood apart for a while trying to figure out the best way to convey the message to the bereaved wife.


    The feeling of horror as well as the disbelief was overwhelming, his feet began to tremble with fright and phobia, he looked around and discovered that Maria was lying on the bare ground, adjacent to the gate, still weeping furiously, as a matter of fact he got more tensed as his gaze lingered on her.


    Yet he was still undecided on what to do next, as he stared at her again and again, standing there did not provide him the much needed courage he wanted, at a point Jamal became suffocated by his thoughts as. He felt a lump in his throat which he could not swallow, for not only would he announced the death of her husband, he equally have to adjust his absorber to contend with her shock.


    ¡®what if she copse immediately on hearing the news? How is he sure that she would not run back inside the mortuary to search for her husband herself?¡± These and itdf thoughts threatened  his mental faculty enormously, within a second he began to feel headache and his oblong face contorted with pains.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Inspite of these mind boggling, heartbreaking circumstance, he was still clinging to the face that something practical needs to be done and there was no other forerunner than himself, wether good or bad, the story has to be told.


    He was about to step down the frontage of the hospital after he had made up his mind when Maria turned round and saw him approaching, she ran briskly towards him and held him by the cor and shouted on top of her voice.


    ¡°What has happened to him? Have you seen Sylvester? Jamal please tell me, is he dead or alive?¡± She pestered with exaggerated emphasis.


    Jamal throat was so constricted that his word can out slowly, ¡± calm down Maria¡± he said.


    ¡°Please tell me, tell me Jamal¡± she groaned, holding tightly onto his shirt, ¡± I want to know what is happening to my husband¡±.


    ¡°I will tell you Maria, just stop screaming and pull yourself together, this is not the end of the world, you have to be strong and courageous, after all such thing as this has happened to so many people, though it¡¯s painful and sorrowful but there is hardly anything anybody can do, what has happened has happened, the only thing now is to pray to God to grant you the fortitude to bear the kiss because he has a reason for everything¡±.


    Jamal¡¯s voice had soften, almost imperceptibly when he mentioned those words and the whole of his far was throbbing, his eyes were bloodshot, it seemed as if he were about to lose his bnce, he felt his jaw tightened as he looked at her wondering how to say the next thing.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He continued, ¡± Iam sorry Maria, we have to go back home, the unexpected has happened, there is a need for us to start making preparations for the funeral, your husband body is in the mortuary and has been certified dead¡±


    Jamal¡¯s statement fell on Maria like a thunder, and just as he had rightly thought earlier she almost stripped herself naked trying to push her way into the entrance of the hospital.


    ¡°Leave me alone let me go and see him¡± she kept screaming loudly, ¡± let me just die here¡± she kept on screaming, hot tears rushed down her face, she made an attempt to disentangle herself from Jamal¡¯s strong grip.


    He had exerted all his energy to keep her in control, her skirt almost fell off her waist and her wet straggly hair was so scattered that it almost shielded her face, some people around the mortuary came to give him a helping hand, they finally seeded atst after several attempt to calm her down.

 Chapter 4.

    Maria became very calm to Jamal¡¯s relief, besides he walked with her quietly out of the hospital to where his car was parked, he entered the driver seat, turned on the ignition quickly, he tried for a while to coax the engine into action but it barely clicked.


    ¡°Oh God! What Is all these?¡± He shouted, banging the steering with the palm of his hand, he tried a couple of times and fortunately the engine responded, he heaved a sigh of relief, they rode back home slowly.


    One of the woman who had helped in consoling Maria just kept starring at the departing vehicle with utmost sympathy, and when they werepletely out of sight, she ced her hands across her chest, ¡± poor woman, how could this have happened to her?¡±


    When Marco¡¯s mother and Jamal reached home, a lot of people had gathered in thepound anticipating their arrival, friends, rtives and Marco¡¯s father colleagues were among those who made his smallpound appear like a cinema hall.


    Some of them kept ncing at all direction possibly go see if they were approaching.


    ¡°What could have kept them for so long?¡± Remarked one of his rtives, looking very worried.


    ¡°If I wait for another thirty minutes and they are not back, I would have no other choice than to go there myself¡± retorted his colleagues and very close friend.


    ¡°Well I pray all is well and he is still alive¡± said one of the neighbors, using his handkerchief to wipe the sweat that formed on his face.


    All the while little Marco who had been crying inside the house had to be brought out by Salu who had done everything possible to pacify him, but he would not just stop crying, as a matter of fact, it was so serious that she felt taking him outside to see the crowd was the only option left as he kept crying and demanding for his mother.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Bring him to me¡± said one of the neighbors who happened to be Jamal¡¯s wife, she immediately got snacks for him and slipped into his palm, after eating it, she sang the luby until the boy fell asleep.


    Hardly had sheid him down in the bedroom when they saw Jamal and Maria approaching from a distance, people rushed, pushing themselves as all scampered to gain ess to them.


    Jamal parked the car by the road due to howrge the crowd was, this enabled Maria alight from the car, she began to weep uncontrobly, this of course created an immutable impression in the mind of everybody, that indeed something back had happened, but despite the fact that they already knew that all was not pleasant, somebody needed to let the cat out of the bag, but who was to do that?


    That was absolutely a mind blowing questions in the heart of sympathizers that had waited earnestly with an amplified sense of anxiety for several hours.


    As for jamal, he stood still with his arms crossed his chest, held on so tightly as if they were stered together, and at the same time taking a steady gaze at the sky.


    Marco¡¯s mother was rolling on the ground still weeping vociferously, clothes were pping furiously to cover her semi nudity in the Dusty haze, arising from the stampede of the pitying crowd who were making appreciable efforts to her excessive bawl.


    But contrary to their expectations, the more they tried, the more she wailed and dashed round wildly, trying to wangle her way through the human ring formed around her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take her inside¡± ordered Jamal¡¯s wife, while making frantic efforts to cover her exposed thighs with a wrapper, she was forced indoors by a group of hefty young men.


    Jamal had stopped focusing his oblong face at the sky, as though he was expecting something to drop from there, whatever it was that he was expecting, nobody seems to be interested, what was in their kind was Marco¡¯s father condition and as such they wished Jamal would subjugate to his absentmindedness and summon courage to disclose to them what was really at stake.


    Hence one of the men grew out of patience and demonstrated it to the awe of everybody, he ran towards Jamal, pushed him on the chest and shouted, ¡± tell me, tell me right now or I will punch your teeth out, what is it that had happened that a mature man like you finds it difficult to say, or are your lips sealed?¡± His fist clenched as he spoke to Jamal, his voice rose with each statement, suddenly his body grew more tensed as he red at him.

 Chapter 5.

    It wasn¡¯t as if Jamal was fainthearte, neither was he attempting to hold anything back from them, the fact was that his mind was in turmoil, pondering over the inanity of worldly aspiration, when at the end of it all, all men will end up in the grave.


    His mind shed back to Sylvester¡¯s lifeless body in the mortuary, this was the same person he yed draft with about forty eight hours ago, bubbling with life and enthusiasm, he was very sound and healthy, then all of a sudden he became tranted into a state of inaction.


    ¡°OMG! May his soul rest in perfect peace¡± Jamal muttered.


    This unfortunate scenario change his notion about human existencepletely, his mind eyes saw human existence as a Sterlingplement of non-existence.


    This is because we are all in this world to live for a limited time, when we eventually die, we are gone for eternity, if Marco¡¯s father could only live and spend thirty seven years in this world that isposed of infinite number of years, then what is the meaning of life after all.


    But inspite of all these,  human beings arepletely insatiable, everybody everybody wants to get the best out of life and at such they struggle and work very hard to achieve all these desire, not until one serene day when anybody least expect, the body will beid like a sack of load, lifeless and ced in a grave and what is more? The usual word will imply,


    ¡°He is dead¡±


    But as for Marco¡¯s father, he died a poor man, even though he had struggled to make it in life, he didn¡¯t live long enough to aplish much, maybe if he had lived longer, he too would have be sessful, besides fate had decided otherwise, not to ostracized him to the great beyond, but to force his sun to set at the prime of his life.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Not withstanding Jamal felt as if he should have been endowed with the idiosyncrasies of the medical scientists who thought they could use imaginary substance to make people live for eternity.


    If only such an idea was realistic, he would dly have acquired that elixir of life for his best friend, no matter what and how much it could have cost him.


    ¡°So you have choosen to be a statue? Why can¡¯t you just say something so that we can atleast take necessary action, please Iam begging you, say something¡± a woman among the crowd, cried out.


    ¡°My people¡­¡± Replied Jamal, ¡± my body is buried in absolute despair, I cannot why this should happen to us at this point in time, this is a cmity, an unfortunate tragedy and it had descended on us like a polluted wind, our beloved brother and friend is gone¡±


    This Revtion brought upon them a strange eerie silence, for some few seconds everyone just kept mooching around, utterly confused, some were already busy shedding uncontroble tears, others who could not cry aloud did nothing else than toment on the demise of this beloved fellow.


    Without wasting much time, a meeting was summoned immediately as preparations for his burial got underway, thereafter every well wishers and family members assemble to work out modalities for a hitch free burial ceremony for Marco¡¯s father.


    Maria became very dejected, infact twenty four hours after her husband¡¯s death, she had lost so much weight and could pass for an AIDS patient, she refused to eat throughout the day, instead she kept weeping every passing minute, she could not fathom how she could survive without her husband, even what is more disheartening was the fate of her only son.


    Maria was beginning to feel as if the whole world had crumble on her, at a point she began to nurse the thought of terminating her own life.

 Chapter 6.

    The fact that she had a son brought her back to her senses, therefore she could not do otherwise, but expect to summo courage in order to mature him and give him a sense of direction in life.


    ¡°But how can my husband who had been my source of inspiration, the man who brought me so much dness and happiness suddenly plunge me into so much despair and depression?¡± Shemented bitterly, tears rushing down her face.


    ¡°Come on, please don¡¯t talk like this, it¡¯s not his fault, it¡¯s just a strange twist of fate, don¡¯t upset yourself with that, please stopmenting and get yourself something to eat, I brought some food for you¡± Jamal¡¯s wife, who had been with Maria for days, watching over her and Marco replied her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any appetite for food¡± Maria shook her head, sobbing again.


    ¡°No please, don¡¯t do these to yourself try as much as possible to eat something, even if not for anything, but for the sake of your son¡±


    In other to satisfy her friend, she managed to eat a little out of the food, however she had a great difficulty swallowing the chewed food because of her cracked throat and swollen gums.


    Few weekster, the remains of Marco¡¯s father weremitted to mother earth in what could be described to specifically ord a final honor and gratitude to the man everybody liked dearly.


    Almost all the sympathizers could not just stop talking about his Sterling qualities and virtues, everyone who knew him surely have something to say about him.


    As widely discussed, Sylvester was a benevolent and beneficent man who never  relented in assisting people by giving the little he had to the needy.


    His utmost desire was to see that people were happy and therefore a smile on someone¡¯s face filled his heart with so much joy and satisfaction.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Little wonder why everybody¡¯s face was painted with sorrow and anguish when they heard about his dismiss.


    A young man in histe thirties ran in from no where and made straight for the coffin, he held on to it as a him, then charged as if he was going to split it open, when dragged out by a group of men, he struggled to disentangle himself from their callous hands, but when he realized that they have overpowered him, he mercifully scumbed to the use of his mouth as the only avable weapon with the way he screamed furiously.


    ¡°He is not supposed to die, I swear by the almighty, howe? Tell me, howe? Or else I will die along with him now¡± the man continued to scream until he was dragged out of sight.


    The reality of life postted that everything, so long as it¡¯s endowed with breath just of a necessitye to an end.


    Therefore even the kind and the wicked, including the rich and poor, must be subjected to thisw of nature.


    The best and most vital thing that human being must put into consideration is the fact that no matter nd however the situation, we should strive as much as possible to live board an be mindful of the things we do.


    Maria cried gravely and refused to be consoled and in the process of weeping she kept asking intermittently, ¡± so my beloved husband, it¡¯s true that you have Departed from me fire?¡± She snivelled and fell on the ground.


    Jamal was ord the privilege to read the funeral oration at the grave side, as he read it with trembling voice, he could not hold back the tears as they kept on flowing down on his cheek like rain drops.


    It was indeed a gloomy moment for him as he stood and paid an evesting tribute to the memories of histe best friend whose untimely death appeared to have traumatized him beyond humanprehension.


    In the throes of the funeral, his whole body was shivering like that of a person suffering from epilepsy and his mind throbbed as if the world wasing to an end, it was beginning to look like a part of him has escaped from his body.


    Besides the fact that the deceased was his closest friend, they were more like brothers, even some brothers may not have had the kind of affinity that existed between them.


    At a point he realized that if he could feel that way about histe friend, how did he made up his mind topose himself and tackle the matter at hand with immersed tact and sensibility.


    All of a sudden he noticed he had notforted the bereaved wife throughout the period the burial ceremonysted, rather he had been engrossed with his own emotional trauma.

 Chapter 7.

    He withdrew from the ce where he had been standing and went straight to Maria, making countless effort to soothe her, ¡± please it¡¯s enough, stop weeping and ce your faith in God, he will surely Grant him eternal rest¡±


    ¡°.. though my friend meant a lot to all of us, there is absolutely nothing we can do about this, death had snatched him away from us, therefore not even a river of years would bring him back to life¡±


    Jamal¡¯s wife who had been holding and consoling Maria used her handkerchief to wipe off the tears from her face, ¡± it¡¯s alright Maria, i pray God grant you the fortitude to bear this irreceable lost¡±


    Sheid her wreath and was led out of the graveyard by some friends, however jamal wife suggested that she went with her and spend the night at her ce to enable her take adequate care of Maria and her son.


    But Marco¡¯s mother objected and decided to go home with her son, Jamal¡¯s wife felt that was not enough and subsequently decided to postpone all her engagement and follow her home.


    There she assisted in washing, cooking and cleaning the house, Maria waspletely impressed to the extent that she made her appreciation known to her.


    Inspite all these, Maria was still depressed and demoralized.


    By all intent and purpose, it was obviously her that she should be challenged with the responsibility of having to bring up her son alone, she decided to grid the loins in regard and determination, she exhibited this with a deep sense of responsibility and a firm desire to give her son¡¯s the best kind of education, no matter what it would cost her.


    The only sledge hammer that had almost smitten her head open was herte husband¡¯s family members, they made it a point of duty to create problems for her, they further went and confiscated herte husband¡¯s properties, as if that was not enough, they resorted to calling her names and all manner of insults.


    Maria became totally helpless, thus when she was just at the threshold of getting over the disconste and griveous turn of events which had obnoxiously reared its ugly head in her life, all that was finally left for her by herte husband were taken away and her image dented.


    All these brought her an unimaginable hardship, while her husband death was like a gust of wind that had blown her hat off her head, the aftermath attitude of her husband¡¯s rtives shattered her psyche.


    It was as though she and her son were jumping out of the fry pan into the fire, everything sheboured for with herte husband was carted away, leaving her with nothing except her only son whose mind was too young toprehend what was happening.


    There was absolutely nothing she could do about the turn of events in her life other than to seekfort from God, she perceived this turn of events as a passing phase in her life and that of her son, sheforted herself and promised to deal with the brutality of life as theye.


    Meanwhile all through this period, Jamal and his wife were very supportive, they assisted her with foodstuffs and sent her money to get a room for herself and her son, they even extended the generosity to his education.


    Marco grew up to be very dutiful and handsome boy, having being told several times by his mother about the cmities and miserable burden she bore as a result of his father¡¯s death.


    The subsequent heartless maltreatment his mother suffered in the hands of histe father¡¯s rtives made him determine in his heart that he would do everything in his power to make his mother a happy woman.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    That was why he would always cross-examine himself whenever he felt he had acted from base motive be ns would never do anything that may hurt her feelings.


    As a mark of responsibility, Maria worked harder to better the lot of her son, most times she would go hungry to make sure her son was satisfied, nothing in this world was important to her than Marco.


    As the years rolled by, Marco on his own part embrace hardwork as the only master key to his aplishment, each time he return form school, he had his lunch, the next thing is to assist his mother in the menial job she does.


    Shortly after his highschool, he gained admission to study Geology in a university.

 Chapter 8.

    Marco didn¡¯t allow his poor financial situation to have a negative effect on his academic performance, he therefore pursued his studies with vigour and immovable resolution, toe up with a very good grades while his mother was sweating her way through, in order to give him a lift in life.


    Marco had one thing in the back of his mind which has been his source of strength, despite how things turned extremely bad for them financially he would soon graduate from the University, secure a lucrative job and live afortable life.


    Not only that, he firmly nursed the desire to erect a paradise for his mother, thereby enabling her to enjoy all the fruits she hadboured for.


    Marco¡¯s dream was transformed into reality when he graduated with a first ss honors in Geology, he became the first student to ever attain that height in his department, it was indeed a thing of joy and honor to his mother who became psychologically relieved that atleast her innermost desire had materialize.


    It was not a rocklicking story to learn that four years after his graduation, Marco was yet to secure a job.


    There were hardly any organization andpany he had not approached, bit there was hardly anything they could offer him, the best they could offer him was a well seasoned verbalpliments about his college results and how good looking he is.


    This trend continously gave him cause to worry and at a point, he became frustrated by the endless job seaech.


    Then one day as fate would have it, he was returning from one of his job hunt when he came in contact with one of his childhood friend who left the town over a decade ago.


    After they had exchange pleasantries, he decide to narrate his ordeal to him.


    ¡°You mean you graduated four years back with a first ss and yet you haven¡¯t been able to pick up a job?¡± Fred asked irritably.


    ¡°That is the story of my life Fred, I have tried all I can, there is no where in this town I have not been to with this perfect certificate, yet nothing tangible is happening, I feel so frustrated and I don¡¯t know what else to do¡± he made a short paise and then continue talking, ¡°.. by the way what are you doing in the big city of ra?¡±


    ¡°I work as a dispatch rider with a courierpany, you know I left this town ten years ago with just my high school certificate, that is what Iam living on and I have managed to secure a studio apartment, anyways before we talk at length, let¡¯s us go to a nearby restaurant and get ourselves something cold to drink and rx¡±


    As they strolled majestically to the shop close by, Marco could not stop taking a nce at his friend, even though he was just some few months older than he was, Fred looked very robust and smartly dressed in a pair of jeans trouser, t-shirt and a pair of canvas, Fred not as educated as he was, had atleast something to show for it.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    What was the essence of him being so educated and get going about like a pauper?


    Marco took another look at himself and discovered that everything he was having on if valued would not be able to buy the canvas his friend was putting on.


    ¡°So Marco¡­.¡± His longsting reverie was interrupted by Fred¡¯s voice, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s high time you do something about that?¡± He said, after sipping from the ss of cold beer.


    ¡°What else should I do?¡± Replied Marco.


    ¡°Like moving over to ra, and we all know ra is a huge city¡±.


    ¡°Well that sounds like a good idea but where do I start from? I don¡¯t even have money for my transportation¡±. Marco frowned.


    ¡°Come on brother, that should not be a problem for you, after all Iam the one inviting you, I can provide you the money, all you need do us take my address with you to the city, show it to anybody at the bus terminal and they surely will dirext you¡± Fred said, bringing out his wallet.

 Chapter 9.

    They bade themselves goodbye and Marco was highly delighted, the look of sheer tion was written on his face when  he counted the money Fred gave to him, his only prayer was that he should get something tangible to do as soon as he gets to the big city, so that he can befortable and look after his mother.


    He continued walking as he made mental n of his departure, well he will be leaving for the big city in three days time and he can¡¯t wait to tell his mother the good news, while on his way home, Marco kept on looking at the address Fred gave to him, each time his eyes sighted it, it was as if he were on his way to ra already.


    ¡°So ast my light is beginning to shine, I believe this is an open door for me, but if I get there, will I be able to get a job in time?¡± He wondered, he brushed the thought off concluding to try his luck in making his journey worthwhile productive.


    When he got home that evening, he was smiling from ears to ears, still thinking of the happy prospect, and as soon as his mother who was trying to pack the clothes she washed that morning saw himing with an ted smile, she halted packing the clothes and walked over to him.


    Maria was carried away by Marco¡¯s cheerful appearance, she ran towards him and gave him a big hug, thinking that he had decided a job he applied for.


    ¡°What is going on Marco? Tell me the good news, it¡¯s been long I see you in this kind of mood, something tells me that the dawn of a new beginning is here atst¡± she patted his shoulder with a big smile on her face.


    ¡°Mother let¡¯s go inside, and i will tell you everything¡± Marco told her.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Son you can speak from here, I don¡¯t want to copse by the time I get inside, you know iam very curious about things that concerns you¡±


    ¡°Oh mother you don¡¯t have to be, rx yourself, and besides it¡¯s a long story and it requires us sitting down and discussing it¡±


    When they got indoor, Marco narrated everything about his day including the encounter with Fred, while telling her of his request to move over to the city


    ¡°Are you really serious about this?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely mother, you kyhow cumbersome it is to get a job in this small town, I think it would be worthwhile if I move to ra, who knows maybe that is where my fortune lies¡±


    Maria listened as her son spoke with enthusiasm, she remained silent for a while.


    Not that there was anything unusual about her silence, since that had always been her distinctive peculiarity whenever she was confused.


    As both of them sat inexpensively on the cane chair, Maria realized her silence was doing more harm than good, therefore she decided to bare her mind to her son, if only he would reason with her.


    ¡°So you mean you want to leave me like this Marco? How do you expect me to cope alone without you?¡± She stopped talking as a reflection of pain crossed her wrinkled face, she began to sob internii, she wiped away the bitter tears which was running down her cheek.


    Marco could not withstand watching his mother cry for his sake, his mother¡¯s tears were like a pool of blood flowing out of his body, he would rather prefer beingcerated, then having to sit and watch his mother eyes gush out streams of tears.


    As his body temperature was increasing, same way his mother¡¯s tears was flowing.

 Chapter 10.

    Although, he was fully aware of all sort of emotional trauma that was bound to afflict his mother by his absence, the basis remained that such trauma was only going to be temporal.


    In any case, it was better for her to feel his absence today and live happily after, all through the rest of her life.


    He resolved not to go back to his decision, he would try to convince her that his decision for relocation to ra was not meant to confine her to solitude, rather, it was was a way of seeking greener pastures that would enhance their living standard, improve their purchasing power and elevate their status in themunity.


    ¡°Mother, you don¡¯t have to worry like this, sincerely, I understand how you feel, but at the same time you must realize that we cannot continue to live like paupers any longer, you have sacrificed a lot to educate me from primary to university level, and yet look at me, four years after I graduated with first ss honours degree, I am still unable to secure a job. I think the best thing is for me not to sit down here, doing nothing, I must exploit other avenue as well¡± he cleared his throat lightly.


    ¡°¡­ iam very optimistic that I would be better off in Lagos, again i promise you that as soon as i get a job, your entire life would change remarkablely for the better¡± Marco pleaded with his mother.


    ¡°I quite understand your motive my son but you see, there is something i am worried about and that has to do with your safety, the city is like forest full of snakes, watching from the road side, you perceive a serene and calm outlook, but inside it there are wild and dangerous snakes ever ready to bite the daylight out of you, you must be careful with those you rte with so that you won¡¯t get into trouble¡± said the mother with a mollified tone.


    Marco was deeply touched by his mother¡¯s words of wisdom and there and then, he determined in his mind that he would never associate with base people. s, even the mere mention of snakes was enough to confound him.


    There was nothing in the world he dreaded like snakes, he could not afford the sight of it, not to talk of going to near it.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    He assured her that he would live up to expectations and avoid bad associations.


    ¡± Thank you very much Mum for opening my eyes to realities of life, the fact is that i am not longer a child.  I know what is good for me, and as such I will never relent in doing that which would bring glory and honour to your name, I promise  not to let you down, sooner orter, you will receive the news of my triumph¡± he assured the worried looking woman with a big smile on his face. Deep down in his heart, he kept wondering if he was actually going to ovee the temptation of the bubbling city life

 Chapter 11.

    ¡°May God guide you in all your endeavors and grant you sess in all you set to do, I have prepared your dinner, let me go and bring it for you¡±. Maria  brought the bowl of food she had delicately prepared for him.


    After a fruitless day spent prowling the street of the town, seeking for jobs, such a delicious meal was always a wee relief to Marco.


    There was countless times she had to go without food, mainly to reserve enough for him to eat. At other times, she took it upon herself to sit in front of their doorstep, anticipating his arrival.


    And when he finally arrived, she would first of all give him a hug, then touch his stomach and eximed: ¡± Oh! My Poorboy, see how your stomach has gone down like a punctured balloon,e and eat first before you think of doing anything else.¡±


    However, as she prepared the table for her son that evening, not only was she apprehensive about his hungry stomach but more importantly, she was bothered about his well-being and the fact that he would go away to the city all on his own.


    She wondered what was going to happen to him when she would no longer be there to provide him with his daily needs.


    When he finished eating, she did not waste time in packing out the dishes.


    Marco felt was her act were too humane. On so many asions, he had made her realize that she was over pampering him.


    They spent the rest of the night chatting until she became exhausted and fell asleep, Marco suffered from of insomnia, he tried in vain to sleep because his mind was busy imaging his impending life style far away in ra the big city of Ghana.


    He made tremendous attempts to focus his mind on a productive though as a very of rxing his nerve and making himselffortable.


    This positively corresponded to his efforts to sleep as his eyes became closed in the process and he fell into a sound sleep.


    Few dayster, Marco was fully set to embark on his journey. He woke up as early as 4:00am and started preparation. His mother who had woken up much earlier was busy praying and after that, she began to pack his personal effect into his bag.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She was oblivious of the fact that it was just getting to 4:30am, she stopped for a while to nce at the clock, then she realized that her brain had been absorbed in too much presumptions to a length that she did not bother to observe the time she woke up from bed.


    She was beginning to have a weird feeling about his journey to the city.

 Chapter 12.

    After a little to taunt her negligence, she glowingly resumed her task until she decisively lodged the remaining pair of trousers into the bag and sipped it.


    She sat dolefully on the edge of the bed, waiting for msrco who was having his bath.


    When she noticed that Marco was taking too much in the bathroom, she stoop up from the bed and stayed by the doorsteps to inform him that the time is running out.


    Under normal circumstances, the luxurious buses that plied that route between the the small town to ra would depart as early as 6:00am.


    Therefore, it was always advisable for anyone wishing to travel to at least, get to the station thirty minutes before the time of departure.


    She expected him to have finished and got ready as the time was now approaching 5;00am apart from that she also needed some few minutes to have a quiet time with him.


    ¡°I am through Mum, ¡± he announced when he scurried into the room with his towel wrapped around his waist, looking very fresh and vigorous.


    ¡± Uhm¡­ You wasted too much time in the bathroom or were you trying to wash off the whole of this town off your body? ¡°She teased him.


    ¡°Mmm! I have washed it already, but it is unfortunate that there is no sun for me to dry it,¡± marco replied jokingly.


    ¡°You know that the sun des not shine now it is rather too early, it will surely sher in the day, but before you wait for that time, you better get dressed so that you can catch up with the bus, Okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay..¡± he chuckled to himself and dashed off to get himself dressed while his mother was trying to put finished touched to pair of leather sandals, which he would use to tread his path to a new life in the city of Lagos.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    She skillfully wiped and scrubbed them until all the dirty pigments began to wear a polished outlook.


    Marco became so impressed on seeing his once dingy footwear looked so clean and wholesome, courtesy of his mother.


    ¡°Thank you very much Mum, In fact with the way this pairs of sandals  is sparking I¡¯m very certain that it is this same way my star would shine in the huge city¡± Marco said as he slipped his feet inside the sandals.


    After some minutes of prayers, marcowas ready to leave, he took his bags and gave his mother a nce, he could discern the feelings of emptiness written all over her.


    But there wa absolutely nothing he could actually do about it at that point in time. He felt as helpless as a cock, although he wished he would say something that wouldfort her, he did not know exactly what to say.

 Chapter 13.

    The more his rounded eyes caught a glimpse of his virtuous figure, the more ridiculous he became, it soon got to a point where he could no longer control himself as tears formed on his eyes, his tears caused her to sob profusely.


    Marco effort to persuading her to stay back was to no avail, he felt it was better for her to bid him goodbye while at home that for her to watch him disappear as the bus zoom him off at the station.


    She insisted she would escort him to the station, he was particrly concerned about the need for her to get back home safely without hurting herself in anyway when the bus might have taken off.


    At the station, they were not able to hold back their tears.


    ¡°Mum, you will have to wait for me to go and buy the ticket,¡± he said, still sniffling, he managed to wipe the tears from his eyes in order not to appear like an awkward oaf in the presence of the ticket attendant. Deep down in his heart, he was still crying.


    When he eventually bought his ticket, he went back to the spot where his mother was standing, he wound his arms around her shoulder, bent down and whispered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore Mum, I¡¯m not going forever, I willeback to you in a little while, my reason for leaving is dictated by unforseen circumstances beyond our control, nevertheless, you have to understand that fact that therees a time in a human¡¯s life when one would have to wake up in order to leap for treasure, for what shall it profit me if i continue to abide here, looking up to you for my three square meal. A man like me!¡±


    ¡°Richard, there is nothing in this world that matters to me except you.¡± His mother said through her tears.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I understand that perfectly well Mum, and that is why i would not stay long before i return. As soon as i arrive there,  I will surely write to you,  if i happen to see anybodying home, I will send down messages, and more importantly, immediately i secure a job, I would have to visit home, I am definitely not leaving you in a lurch. So Mum have patience because everything would soon be alright¡± he assured her, but deep down he wasn¡¯t sure about what was waiting for him over there.

 Chapter 14

    Before he could finish his statement, the horn of the luxious bus started to re out harshly, he was perhaps thest passenger to enter the vehicle, which of course, made the bus driver to wonder what he was still discussing after every other person had been seated in the bus.


    The driver became seriously agited, he suddenly released his hands from the steering, opened the ss and peeped out, shouting on top of his voice: ¡± Young Man! What is going on? Do you want us to sleep in this bus park? I will leave you behind if you don¡¯t want to go¡± he barked at Marco.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Marco heard the driver¡¯s remarks, without wasting time, he ran briskly inside the bus and the door was shut instantly behind him.


    He stretched out his hands out of the window and waved at his mother, as he waved, fresh tears flooded his eyes when his mother¡¯s figured began to diminish gradually as the bus switched into full motion.


    Sitting in that luxurious bus somehow proved to be a turning point in his life, he watched with keen interest the dignified ingenuity which the driver employed in swinging the steering of the bus different directions wondered whether that was not how his own life was being rotated.


    But unlike he steering which was intrinsically inanimate devoid of any stimuli or response, his life on the other hand, had a function of his characteristic personality and responsiveness to the environment factors.


    It was absolutely natural for him to be apprehensive about his new ce of abode since that was the first time he had to be distantly separated from his impecunious circumstances.


    Five hours after the journey had started, it seemed as if they were yet to cover one quarter of the distance. The fact that the driver was not withstanding the distance to be exploited, was still not know to Marco.


    The long distance gave him less concern, knowing fully well that he would eventually arrived at his destination at the end of the day.


    What became pressing in his mind was the neck breaking speed at which the driver was going, he felt that the earlier he cautioned him, the better for them all.


    To him, it was indeed advantageous for them to arrive at their various location safely going at the normal speed that may end up shattering their lives in the twinkling of an eye.


    ¡°Driver, please by careful, kindly drive slowly so that we will can get to our destination safely¡± marco said and then sat back on his seat.


    ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry you will meet your wife and children safely¡±  the driver retorted.


    Marco ignored his ignoble remarks so as not to make a mountain out of a molehill.


    He looked round and discovered that the man beside him had a wrist watch on him, he desired to know what time it was.


    ¡°Please, what says the time?¡± he enquired.


    ¡°It is 12:30,¡± replied the man who sat next to him donning a jacket and a stetson, replied in a baritone voice.


    He observed that the man seated beside him had all along been behaving funny, yet he did not suspect anything until the man quickly used the brim of his stetson to shield the depth of his forehead.

 Chapter 15.

    Somehow Richard became startled, searching earnestly for an empty seat so as to cross over in an attempt to avoid the man totally.


    Just as he was searching, it became apparent to him that there was no extra seat left; not even one. He resolved in his mind to put up a bold face to keep the man at bay so as to uncover what he was up to.


    Five minutester, the man brought out a whistle from his front pocket and blew it.


    Four tough rugged, looking men stood up at once, one from the extreme front, the second responded from the extreme back, the third man appeared in between the middle rows, while the fourth person from the seat next to the driver.


    All the passengers inside the bus became terrified when all of them brought out a pistol each from their pockets.


    ¡°I say everybody should reman silent right now! And put your hands up in the air!¡± the leader of the gang who sat beside Marco ordered.


    He removed the badge from hisps and slotted it into his pocket, he then ce the whistle back into his front pocket.


    ¡°We will not hurt any of you,¡± the man continued, ¡°¡­ provided you all cooperate with us, All we want is money! And in a situation where you choose to be stubborn, you will have yourself to me,¡± he pointed his gun at different direction and gestured to his men to swing into action.


    They instantly obeyed the instructions for their boss, and went straight away searching through the luggages and pockets of the passengers.


    One of the robbers was strategically stationed at the back of the driver, mandating him to keep driving on.


    Within fifteen minutes, the whole operation waspleted the driver wasmanded to stop, which he did without thinking twice, and the robbers ran out of the bus one by one and disappeared into the bush.


    ¡°Hey! My whole life is finished, ¡± cried one of the passengers who was seated in front, ¡°¡­ everything I have toiled and struggled for all through my life is gone. All the money i wanted to use in buying goods in the city  have been cartered away by armed robbers. I think it is better for me tomit suicide at once¡± hemented bitterly.


    ¡­ Oh no! Life does not worth living anymore, how can i exin the fact that all my life savings have been swindled out of my in right in my face? Anotherther man who was sitting in front, next to marcomented in pitiable tones and fell on the glovepartment of the bus, sobbing sorrowfully.


    The whole episode appeared to marco like a dream, although he had heard different stories about armed robbers attacks, he had neither witnessed one before nor ever imagined being a victim of it one day.


    ¡± Oh my God! What is this world turning into? How can people be so mean to carry out such a terrible act!¡±. He wondered aloud.


    However, he was somehow lucky that the robbers had not taken anything from him, in spite of the thorough search they gave his bag, they were not opportune to detect any cash in it.


    He had deposited the remaining of the money Fred gave him, in one of his trousers pockets after paying for his transport fare. So, when the robbers discovered that there is no money inside it, they simply flinged it in one corner of the vehicle.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    When marco picked up the bag after the robbers had perfected their heinous crime and found out that the money was still intact, he was happy and sad at the same time, happy because his money was not stolen.


    Had it been they the robbers made away with the money, his whole desire would have been nipped in the bud, moreover, he would have been stranded when he gets to the city.


    On the other hand, he felt sad because he was a living witness to that cheerless incident which had gued his co-passengers, a lot of them were dispossessed of enormous sum of money and other valuable items such as; wrist watches, gold, bangles, e. t. c.


    Gradually, the clouds in his mind stretched thicker and thicker, and as each of the passengersmented their woes, his heart grew more grievous than ever before.

 Chapter 16.

    The driver decided to continue the journey once more, with feeble hands, he tried to turn on ignition, there was no response, he tried the second, third, fourth and fifth time before the engine reacted to the ignition switch.


    It appeared like the vehicle would also swallow them, having been hit by the armed robbers, that would have amounted to a double tragedy. Meanwhile, by the time the bus started again, everybody heaved a sigh of relief.


    ¡± Thank God that the bus didn¡¯t break down in this ce,¡± a woman who was carrying a baby remarked to Marco.


    ¡°It is both ridiculous and amazing, imagine they were even chatting with some of us and we did not know they had an ulterior motive. One has to be extra careful these days, it beats me how wicked and vile human being could be, perpetrating such vicious act on their fellow human beings, how can a man strive all his life to carve a niche for himself, only for thoseboured for to be snatched away by some group of  undesirsble elements on a sunny afternoon such as this? I believe some people are specially created to be predators and prey on the flesh of others¡± Marco retorted in a strained tone.


    The bus journeyed on the city, the driver however had to pull the vehicle off the road to enable most of the passengers alight from the bus for a little refreshment, which some considered irrelevant, since they had no money left on them.


    Majority of them were even thinking of how they would get home when the bus finally arrived the bus park, they were not in anyway concerned about the persistent hunger that was ravaging their stomachs.


    The only thing they were able to do was to stand beside the bus enjoy fresh air and feed their eyes with the steady streams of vechiles moving across the road.


    Marco who had not eaten anything since morning became so hungry that he needed something to quench his hunger, he stretched out his hand and removed his bag from thepartment, opened it brought out his shirt pocket.


    At least, he was sure that amount would be enough for his lunch and transport from the bus station to his friend¡¯s house.


    Besides, he did not want to open that bag again until he got to the bus park, that exined why he took the amount.


    When Marco stepped down from the bus, he first took a stroll down the road in order to urinate, scarcely had he started urinating, when three young boys apprehended him.


    ¡°Stop! Stop there and don¡¯t make a move!¡± the three boys shouted resonantly.


    17.


    ¡°Do you know that it is illegal to urinate in that ce?  Come! You must follow us to the city council, when you get there, you will have to bail yourself out,¡± said one of them as he pushed him forward in order to grab him. The others followed suit and they began to pull and drag him.


    ¡°What nonsense is all these!¡± Marco yelled out in aguish, trying seriously to defend himself.


    ¡°You will know that when you get to the city council, if you want to save yourself, you better give us what you have now, otherwise, you will end up coughing out thousands at the city council before you can be set free¡± one of the boy who was the tallest among the three told him rudely.


    Marco knew very well that it was silly antics, the boys were employing to obtain money from him, he would have dealt with them were it not for the fact that the bus was billed to take off any moment from then.


    In fact, if he had been left behind, he would have lost from both ends,  He knew quite frankly that would have been catastrophic for him, so to save himself the trouble, he brought out a fifty naira note from his pocket and offered it to them.


    The boys, having seen that he had more than that, smartly dipped their hands into his pocket and took away everything and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.


    By the time he ran towards the bus, it had already taken off, he stumbled on a heavy stone and hurt his right foot, he had to hop along, shouting with exaggerated desperation.


    One of the passengers who was sitting at the extreme back noticed that marco was not on his seat, he quickly ordered the driver to stop the vehicle, the driver slowed down almost immediately.


    Quickly marco hopped on to the bus, panting heavily.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± asked one of the passengers who was upying the seat next to him.


    ¡°I was harassed by a group of hoodlums while i was urinating,¡± he responded and fell back in his seat.


    He was overwhelmed by the fact that he did not in anyway cut off that his nose to spite his face, the money the hoodlums extorted from him was nothingpared to the trouble he would have encountered, had it been that the bus left him behind.


    Though the boys defeated him but they didn¡¯t seed  in frustrating is innermost desire, thanks to divine providence that he was still left with some extra cash.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He considered the amount he had on him now and concluded that if he should spend a penny out of it, for food or anything else he might have to face some difficulties because the little amount of money on him cannot carry himfortably to his friend¡¯s house. Based on that, he opted to remain without food till he got to his friend¡¯s ce.

 Chapter 17.

    ¡°Do you know that it is illegal to urinate in that ce?  Come! You must follow us to the city council, when you get there, you will have to bail yourself out,¡± said one of them as he pushed him forward in order to grab him. The others followed suit and they began to pull and drag him.


    ¡°What nonsense is all these!¡± Marco yelled out in aguish, trying seriously to defend himself.


    ¡°You will know that when you get to the city council, if you want to save yourself, you better give us what you have now, otherwise, you will end up coughing out thousands at the city council before you can be set free¡± one of the boy who was the tallest among the three told him rudely.


    Marco knew very well that it was silly antics, the boys were employing to obtain money from him, he would have dealt with them were it not for the fact that the bus was billed to take off any moment from then.


    In fact, if he had been left behind, he would have lost from both ends,  He knew quite frankly that would have been catastrophic for him, so to save himself the trouble, he brought out a fifty naira note from his pocket and offered it to them.


    The boys, having seen that he had more than that, smartly dipped their hands into his pocket and took away everything and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.


    By the time he ran towards the bus, it had already taken off, he stumbled on a heavy stone and hurt his right foot, he had to hop along, shouting with exaggerated desperation.


    One of the passengers who was sitting at the extreme back noticed that marco was not on his seat, he quickly ordered the driver to stop the vehicle, the driver slowed down almost immediately.


    Quickly marco hopped on to the bus, panting heavily.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± asked one of the passengers who was upying the seat next to him.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I was harassed by a group of hoodlums while i was urinating,¡± he responded and fell back in his seat.


    He was overwhelmed by the fact that he did not in anyway cut off that his nose to spite his face, the money the hoodlums extorted from him was nothingpared to the trouble he would have encountered, had it been that the bus left him behind.


    Though the boys defeated him but they didn¡¯t seed  in frustrating is innermost desire, thanks to divine providence that he was still left with some extra cash.


    He considered the amount he had on him now and concluded that if he should spend a penny out of it, for food or anything else he might have to face some difficulties because the little amount of money on him cannot carry himfortably to his friend¡¯s house. Based on that, he opted to remain without food till he got to his friend¡¯s ce.

 Chapter 18.

    At exactly 6:30pm, the bus finally pulled up at the bus terminal after twelve hours of tedious journey. All the passagers busied themselves, trying to offload their luggage from the bus.


    In spite of their horrible experience with the armed robbers, they still had cause to give thanks to God for granting them a safe journey.


    Merely looking at their faces, nobody could have believed that these were the same people who were fretting a few hours back, when they were attacked by men of underworld.


    What could be more important than being alive? When there is life there is bound to be hope, as long as blood keeps flowing in human body so also would human beings keep attaching their hope to a  future.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Therefore, a fall today would test our rise tomorrow.


    Marco was not equally left out in the operation ¡°offload your load¡± he was stooping down trying to pick his bag that was ced under the seat.


    Stepping down from the bus, he felt a palpable sense of relief, he could feel the insistent pains all over, caused by his prolonged hours of sitting.


    Ironically, his backache did not give him much concern like the mass of heads and streams of the vehicle that were parading the street of ra.


    For a while, he became dumbfounded as he watched with his mouth agape the different brands of vehicles moving to and fro.


    Suddenly, he realised he had be absent minded at the sight of the magnificent building that adorned the street of this huge city.


    ¡°My God! This city is something else. What a beautiful ce! It actually makes my town looks like a pack of refuse bin¡± he mumbled to himself as he lowered his travelling bag from his shoulder and searched for his friend¡¯s address.


    He could not locate the piece of paper anymore, he searched his bag several times without any sess.


    ¡± How can this happen to me?¡± He queried himself looking up to the sky as if he were expecting a positive response from above.


    ¡°How will i exin this?¡± He questioned himself again, feeling more nervous and biting his fingernails at the same time, he stood there wondering what next to do.


    He instinctively searched again this time around more tenaciously, he did it with a special attention, and luckily for him, he stumbled upon it.


    ¡°Thank God!¡± he yelled with excitement with a heavy breath of relief.


    He moved forward and noticed a vulcanizers sitting by the roadside, he decided to show him the address and asked for directions.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ see you are new to this ce, I hope  your journey was great, let me see the paper¡± He looked at it intently and continue; ¡°okaywanson! You still have a long journey, anyway go to the car park over there and enter the bus going through that route, Once you get there, show anybody this address, they will  surely direct you to the house. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡± Yes, thank you very much¡± Marco said.


    He stopped a bus and waited, thinking that the bus was going to stop for him to enter, he could not understand why they kept moving, even when the driver was announcing the same ce he was going.


    ¡± Jump into the vehicle immediately they slow down, nobody will wait for you, this is a very busy city, enter now!¡± The vulcanizer admonished him.


    With that at the back of his mind, he became tuned to the external varieties of ra life, it was a different ball game altogether, which was iparable to the muffled life he had been used to in his town.


    This was ra Ghana and he had to behave like one of the Ghanaians.

 Chapter 19.

    The moment the next bus appeared with the conductor hanging precariously at the door in their usual manner of attracting passengers, shouting¡± Lawnson¡± marco wasted no time in leaping into the bus.


    ¡°What is the fare?¡± he enquiried from the bus conductor, as he chose a ce close to the rear window, apparently to enable him catch a good view of the metropolis.


    ¡°Just pay your ten cash. No more, no less¡± responded the bus conductor.


    When the bus reachedwnson, he alighted and scanned the whole area in the attempt to familiarize with it, this time around, he did not want to enquire anything from anybody.


    As soon as he saw another bus conductor yelling hisst location, he quickly hoped into it and within ten minutes, he arrived at his destination.


    He stood by at one corner basically to watch the movement of the people and vehicles, he would have remained longer than that were it not for the merciless hunger that was biting his stomach.


    He needed food desperately to banish the hunger, but at the same time it was getting very dark, he needed to locate his friend¡¯s ce first to be sure of a decent night rest after a long journey.


    He brought out the address and showed it to one tall man that was returning from work.


    ¡± You will have to go forward a bit, when you get to the third turning you branch left. Then, enter the next street on your right and you will see a house they has a kios in front of it, you ask them for the person you are looking for¡± the man concluded.


    Just like a faithful cock, he followed the direction intently until he got to the house described by the man.


    ¡°Please i am looking for Fred¡±, he asked the petty trader inside the small shop..


    ¡± Go this way and knock on the second floor¡± the trader pointed his finger to the exact door, then paused and looked at him momentarily before he continued. ¡°¡­ That is why the person you are looking for lives, thank your star he is at home¡±


    Thank you very much¡± Marco smiled to himself and proceeded directly to where he was directed to knock, when he got to the door to Fred¡¯s room, he knocked at it gently.


    ¡°Who is that tapping at my door?¡± a voice responded from the room. It was no other than his friend¡¯s voice.


    ¡± It¡¯s me Fred¡±


    ¡°Who are you now?¡±


    ¡°It is me Marco¡± he replied.


    Fred opened the door and chuckled with glee when he sighted his friend.


    ¡± Wee, when did you arrive?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I am justing.¡±


    ¡°I hope you did not find it difficult tracing this ce?¡±


    ¡°Well! Not as difficult as climbing a mountain¡±  marco said as he yawned rubbed his hand over his eyes.


    Fred patted him on the back and helped him carry his bag inside his room, He then shut the door behind them.


    ¡°You look extremely tired. Sit down and rx, I will prepare something for you to eat.¡±


    ¡°I will like to take a bath first¡±


    ¡± okay, I will get you some water from outside¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, that is a soap dish over there, just give me two minutes and I will be right back¡± Fred told him cheerfully, he went out with a bucket to fetch water and returned exactly two minutes after.


    Then he took marco to where the bathroom was, and quickly came back to start cooking. When he had finished preparing the rice and chicken stew, they sat down together and ate to their satisfaction.


    ¡°You are a very good cook, Your wife would have to be very careful otherwise, you will rgate her to second division¡± heplimented Fred.


    ¡°She had better return early,  or else i would win her trophy¡± Fred chuckled.


    ¡°So, you are married?¡± asked marco in amusement.


    ¡°Yes! My wife traveled yesterday to see her parents, she would be back next week¡± he chuckled on seeing the surprise look on his Friend¡¯s face.


    ¡± But you never told me that¡± marco said as he drank a ss of water in on gulp.


    ¡°Well maybe it never crossed my mind then, but all the same, enjoy yourself and feel at home.¡±


    When they had finished eating, both of them sat back to watch television and discuss their past, the present and the future, fred took his time to lecture him on a lot of things he needed to know about ra.


    The following day, marco spent the amount of money he had on him to buying newspaper, hoping toe across any vacancy that may be advertised in the dailies.


    To his delight, he came across a lot of adverts, and proceeded immediately to writing his application letters.


    To further enhance his chances of getting a job, he tried his luck by going round the street looking at billboards and every posters at different junction as many as he couldy his eyes on.


    One fateful afternoon, five days after he arrived ra, an incident urred which marked a turning point in his life, in a very humiliating way.

 Chapter 20.

    It happened while he was standing beside a billboard  reading a vacancy advertisement when all of a sudden, he heard some people screaming and shouting;


    ¡°Thief! Thief!¡± He was not bothered until he saw somebody flinging a portfolio on him, He stood there confused and became cold with fear.


    Before he knew what was happening, hostile mob had apprehended him, beating kicking and thrashing him with whatever object they couldy hands on, he tried to defend himself but nobody was ready to listen to him.


    ¡°He must be burnt alive¡± dered the man who was identified as the owner of the portfolio that was found on him.


    He paused and clenched his fist  to punch marco¡¯s head, ¡± I won¡¯t listen to anybody, this thief won¡¯t go Scott free he must be burnt today¡± he continued.


    Arge number of people had gathered within a very short time, looking for any avable object to use as a way of contributing their own quota towards the crucifixion.


    ¡°He must die! nothing will save him today, all these armed robbers have threatened our lives and properties too much. Just yesterday, they burgled my shop and made away with all the goods i have, thank God, Goodness Nemesis has caught up with one of them atst. Everyday is reserved for the thief, but only one day is for the owner¡± one of the mob jeered at Marco with bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Burn him! Burn him alive!¡± the whole crowd shouted.


    ¡°Someone should go and get a keg of fuel fast¡± ordered one of them.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    A gallon of fuel and four used tyres were brought, marco appealed to them and pleaded his innocence, but the mob remained adamant, yet he did not relent,  His voice became resoundingly audible.


    ¡°I am innocent! I am innocent. I swear I know nothing about this. Please, let me go in the name of God. I am not a thief. let me go¡± he shouted on top of his lungs.


    ¡± Shut up! You thief!  After you have steal, you want to prove innocent? You will fit in hell na for hell¡± said one fat woman as she hit Marco¡¯s head with a rod.


    By a twist of fate, Fred was riding toward the same location to deliver some letters, he sighted the crowd and became curious.


    He waspletely bewildered by the coldblooded treatment meted out to his friend.


    ¡°Stop it please! Stop it, Let¡¯s give him a chance for an exnation. I can¡¯t believe what i am hearing¡±. Fred screamed on top of his voice, after he had jumped down from the bike, He pushed himself toward through the crowd.


    His appeal was strengthened by the fact that the man whose portfolio was alleged snatched happened to be his boss in the office.


    The man beckoned on the crowd to stop the thrashings and quickly turned around to face Fred.


    ¡± What do you mean by that? ¡± the man asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Sir, but he is my friend. He just came to Lagos five days ago. I am surprised. I can hardly believe the allegations levelled on him. That is why I¡¯m insisting that he is allowed to exin¡±


    Marco prompted seized that opportunity to vindicate himself.


    ¡± I swear in the name of God, I did not snatch any portfolio from anybody, I was standing there trying to read through that billboard, when somebody ran passed and threw the portfolio on me. Honestly, I did not do it, I ampletely innocent¡± Marco said with misty eyes.


    ¡°Well, I think he is telling the truth, beside i was wondering because the person who snatched my portfolio got a tattoo on his hands, indeed, I feel deeply sorry for him¡±  the man apologized profusely and offered some money as reparation and also to enable him take care of his medical expense.


    Fred took him to a nearby chemist immediately, and he was given some treatment together with some drugs to help relieve his pains.


    From the chemist, he drove with him straight home, however fred was not able to keep himpany because he needed to report back to work.


    As Marcoy helplessly on the bed, he felt his entire body engulfed in agonizing pains.


    And as the pain grew intense, his mind afflicted with the most traumatic imagination, had Fred not arrived there at that point in time, he would have been burnt to ashes for a crime he knew nothing about.

 Chapter 21.

    Moreover, if he had been burnt alive, the truth would have been burnt like a stinking corpse , nobody would have known that he was just a mere victim of circumstances.


    Instead, they would have painted his name ck in the record book for theft, everybody would have gone to sleep thinking that he died as a thief.


    Problems are inevitable in human lives they are like the rain which falls when it¡¯s season is due, and when it does, you certainly need an umbre to shelter you.


    If umbre is the solution , then one has to be very careful so that the umbre does not have any hole underneath.


    Because it there is, the rain is bound to continuously feed the body with it¡¯s liquid. At times some people serve as an eyes opener they keep one awake, wiser and more courageous.


    Perhaps marco was one of the apostle of this ideology, He could not stop thinking that though he had  gone through a lot of difficulties all through the spam of his life, but the fact that remained incontrovertible was that his horizon had widened greatly and his courage had built uprgely.


    As a result, he had been freed from the shackles of ignorance and transport to the zenith of understanding.


    Nevertheless, the greater the problem he encounter in his life, the wiser he became and the more his courage to aplish his heart desires soared.


    He waited earnestly for Fred to return from work, and when it was getting toote, he began to worry thinking about what could have been responsible for histeness.


    He could not understand why his friend would returnte in spite of the afternoon, at a point his curiosity was so heightened that he had to listen to every cracking of footstep outside.


    He was disappointed to find out that on several asions the footsteps he heard were other people¡¯s, and he had tostrained his ears to hear if there was going to be a knock at the door.


    But instead he heard nothing except the stopping of the music that was buzzing from the transistor radio, and plunging the room into total darkness.


    ¡°Oh! What¡¯s wrong with the light again! He eximed in indignation.


    However, he was lucky that the match box and a stick of candle was lying by the bedside, all he needed to do was to stretch his hands, pick them and light up the room.


    No sooner had he done this that a gust of wind suddenly whipped through the window blowing out the candle.


    He quickly lit it up again and stretched his hand to close the window but his hands could not reach it,  He changed his mind and craned his neck to check the time.


    ¡± It¡¯s 11:30pm already and up till now he is not back. I hope there is no problem. ¡°He wondered aloud.


    He realized that if the window remained open, the wind was still going to put out the candle again, he therefore limped slowly off the bed in order to shut the window.


    Then, he heard a knock at the door, he quickly abandon his earlier intention and went straight to open the door, knowing fully well that it would be no other person than his friend.


    ¡± My goodness! What kept you so long?¡± asked marco.


    Fred raised his eyes and spoke slowly, ¡± It was my boss, they had a board meeting and needed us to stay around and tidy up the ce after they had finished, you know all these big men now, they are always looking for a means to exploit you. Anyway, he sent his apology for what happened in the afternoon¡± Fred exined.


    Marco limped back, shut the window and went straight to bed while Fred was busy preparing dinner, when the food was ready, they sat by the table to eat, Marco could not each much because his mouth and lips were badlycerated by the several blows he received in the afternoon.


    Fred tired to console him, but the pains he was experiencing denied him the opportunity to respond to Fred¡¯s friendly gestures, after some time, they both fell asleep.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 22.

    Marco spent a long time reflecting on his past, he was equally not sure of what the future had in store for him, but one thing kept him going, though; and that was the resolve to make it in life and then make his mother happy.


    ¡®No circumstances shall deter me from actualizing my dreams. Besides, I must always thread the path of hard work so as to be a sessful man¡¯  marco was thinking as hey on the bed.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He got up from bed, threw the coverlet aside and limped towards the mirror to catch a glimpse of his face.


    As he limped his feet made a crunching sound with each step he took. When he intensely gazed at the mirror , he was overtaken by a sorrowful sight of his cracked and blistered face.


    ¡°My God! This is terrible! I wonder how long it would take me to recuperate fully¡± he snarled and took a few steps away from the mirror.


    His next step would havended him on the bed were it not for the interruption by a sudden twist of the door knob, the door was flung open and Fred entered the room instantaneously.


    ¡°Good Morning Marco, how was your night?¡± Fred greeted


    ¡°It was extremely unpleasant, I could hardly sleep, my body ached severely. I was surprised to note you were not on bed when i woke up.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Somebody came and informed me that i had a message from my wife. So, I went with the person to receive the message. In fact, I had to sleep there because it was veryte and risky for me toe back.¡± Fred told him.


    ¡°Have you gotten the message?¡±


    ¡°Yes! She sent a letter that she would being back today¡±


    ¡°That means you have to start preparation so as to give her a warm reception¡±.


    ¡± She does not need any special reception. she has to walk into this room, the same way she walked out¡± Fred said jokingly.


    ¡°But she is your Queen, and as such, she deserve a Red carpet reception¡±.


    ¡± she has never been a queen. Her name is Diana¡±


    ¡°However, she is used to walking on this bare floor thinking ofying a red carpet for her now would amount to over stretching myself¡±


    ¡°Okay! Mr Tailor , before you start cutting your cloth, make sure you give her a warm kiss first when she arrives¡± Marco said trying to sound witty.


    ¡°Baaadd boy! That is all you know, don¡¯t you know that everybody is looking for money now¡±.


    ¡°But if there is no money won¡¯t you enjoy your wife again?¡± Marco replied.


    They bothughed at theirments.


    While Fred went to shower in preparation for work, marco on the other hand remained in bed undecided about what to do next.


    In the far corner of his mind, he was not pleased with the idea of having to lie down on bed while the day gradually wears away.


    He had always been desirous of bathing himself with the sun, even if it meant just walking and looking at his own shadows.


    It never really mattered much to him because he was holding tenaciously to the fact that one day, the sun would shine into his life  and he would stand out beforerge crowd and beat his chest that he had emerged out of the fog to be sessful in life.


    As he was thinking of those, he stopped for a while to take a critical look at himself again,  and all he saw were injuries all over his body, Which made him to consider it unwise trying to go out in such condition.


    He could not get over the thought that if he continued to lie in bed like that, opportunity would nevere and knock at his door.


    Whatever he wanted, there was no other way to get it than for him to go out physically and hustle at every opportunity he had, Otherwise , he would be like a careless striker.


    ¡°I must go out and look for a job! I can¡¯t continue lying here like this¡± he said aloud to himself.


    He got up from the bed, picked up a bucket and went straight into the bathroom, When he had taken his bath he came back into the room and began to dress up, Fred was amazed as marco put on his clothes.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked.


    ¡°To look for jobs of course¡± marco remarked.


    ¡°What do you mean? You are going to look for jobs? You want to tell me that in this condition you still want to go out?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any choice Fred, it is very expedient that I do something fast so as to be able to fend for myself. Ever since i came, you have been responsible for my upkeep, and it is not supposed to be so. You have a lot of responsibilities, yet you cater for me, even with your meagre sry¡±.


    Fred remained quite, his expression solemn and respectful, but marco noticed a glint of amusement in his eyes.

 Chapter 23.

    Fred looked at him once more and the empathy he discerned from his facepelled him to speak.


    ¡± Am iining about that? ¡± Fred askedconically.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No! But the fact remains that i have to start something, even if it means supplementing my little ie by doing some mental jobs. It would pay me a little instead of having to depend on you absolutely for a three square meal daily¡±.


    ¡°Cmon Marco, rx yourself, I quite understand your plight, but you must at the same time take into consideration that i invited you here.  Therefore, I have to be responsible for your needs until you can stand on your own, You don¡¯t have to feel sad just because you have not gotten a job, rome was not built in a day, you will surely get a job someday. Besides, it would not be advisable for you to go out at all in your present situation, Please stay indoor until you recover fully, take this money and buy yourself breakfast, there is still some rice in the pot, you can have that for lunch¡± Fred told him.


    Marco sat back on the bed after Fred had left for work, he rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling, ¡®what a nice guy¡¯ he thought, then all of a sudden a tear slipped down his left cheek, and slipped to the side of his face, but he quickly wiped it off.


    The wave of despair shuddered through his body and made him absolutely dejected, he could neither think or act as a resulof the overwhelming interest Fred had shown in him, they were not in anyway biologically rted, the only attachment between them was that they had grown up together in the same neighborhood.


    Marco could remember the first day Fred¡¯s parents moved into their neighborhood, some neighbors objected to it because ording to the them the ce was reserved for some dignitaries, but Fred¡¯s parent¡¯s are not influential and it was very obvious that they would not be able to secure aodation there.


    Even if they did, it was meant to be a temporal stay, until somebody from a wealthy ce woulde to rent the ce.


    Fred¡¯s parents were so desperate to obtain the ce, to the extent that they contacted Marco¡¯s mother to assist them in appealing to the owner, despite the fact that Marco¡¯s mother understood quite well that these people have no regard for people who are not well off, she sincere assured Fred¡¯s parents that she would try her best.


    Indeed she appealed profusely to the owner on their behalf and made them understand that a help to someone today, attracts a reward to itself tomorrow, the owner summon a meeting to deliberate on the issue, after series of meetings and consultations, he decided to acknowledge Marco¡¯s mother request.


    Therefore as a result to Marco¡¯s mother please, they allowed Fred¡¯s parents rent the apartment and free ess to the neighborhood.


    They all lived happily together in the neighborhood until when Fred¡¯s parents decided to move to ra after Fred had dutifullypleted his secondary school education, that was how they literally lost allmunication, until that fateful day he met Fred whileing back from his job hunt.


    Even though Fred had not been to a higher institution like himself, Marco still held vehemently to the reality that fred had been able toy a very solid foundation for himself, suffice it to say that he was married and was living in a studio Apartment at least.


    With that alone, Marco knew there were still rooms and strong indications for better and brighter opportunities toe his way in due course.


    Marco caught a glimpse of something flickering and glinting through the window, he craned just in time to see a car shing it¡¯s heamp, trying to make a reverse outside thepound, as if it was not enough, a white bird descended suddenly and perched on the window-ledge outside the room.

 Chapter 24.

    Then all of a sudden he picked up an empty packet of matches and threw it through the window, the bird instantly took a flight, disappearing into the air.


    As he rested his head back on the pillow, his mind went back to his line of thought before the sudden interruption, he began to wonder how fred virtually became his benefactor, never in his wildest imagination has Marco dream that the same boy he was fond of ying with in their house would be the one feeding him today.


    This seems to be one of the ironies life strike at the middle of the night, while you sit downfortable awaiting the evening moon to appear in the sky, much to your dismay you discover that instead of the moon, rain hade to shatter the evening.


    If it had not been for the little help his mother rendered to Fred¡¯s parents, maybe things would not have been this easy between him and Fred, there is nothing in this world that matters most like giving a helping hand to a fellow human being.


    Marco proposed in his heart that he would live the rest of his life for humanity, despite the fact that he was as living in hostile society where everyone wants to reap where they did not sow and those who have sown, went to reap more than they have sown.


    As if to prove the point to himself, he stroked the side of his face, therebi making a vow never to relent in his desire to always be of help to people because he would one day receive his reward.


    There is no other person on Earth apart from his mother that inspire him like Fred, and that¡¯s why he put Fred in his everyday prayer. Few period he had been with him, Fred has done what a brother would not have done for a brother.


    Fred was a totally different man who was never given to perversity, he was always honest, gentle and easy going, Fred would prefer not eating atall when he sees somebody who had nothing to eat, if someone is in need, he would rather use the money he would have used in feeding himself to solve that person¡¯s problem.


    A colleague of him ran to him one early morning two days after Marco arrived, informing him that his younger brother had a protracted hernia, and needed an urgent surgical operation, if it were to be someone else they would haveined bitterly to the man in need, that they did not have enough money, but no, Not Fred.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He wholeheartedly gave out thest cash with him, not minding he had to purchase somethings for the house, how Marco wished everyone will be like Fred, then the world would be a better ce to live in, and trusting someone would not have been a hard nut to crack.


    Invariably it has been like that, the worldprises of two contradictory set of humans hearts; white and ck.


    The white ones are like the owl, whose round eyes foment problems.


    That¡¯s the mystery of cosmology, it¡¯s something that is beyond humanprehension and could only be understood by the creator.


    The basic things that human being should attempt in whatever challenges is adhering to a gratifying behavioural pattern, though it might seem very difficult topromise  when one is confronted with mind blowing experience, but if one is guided by the principle that forebearance is the fruit of self-control, it would not be difficult in shaping and guiding one¡¯s behavior.


    This was the principle that guided Marco¡¯s reasoning after that sad event which threatened his life the day before.

 Chapter 25

    He resolved in his mind to put the event behind him and move on in life, he would rather set his mind on something worthwhile, assuring himself that there would be light at the end of the tunnel for him.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    As these thoughts shed through his mind, he sat up and looked around for whatever it was that had startled him, with the Ray of the sun radiating the room, he could make out the brown calendar thaty beneath the bedside, good enough the pain in his body were beginning to subside.


    Thanks to the pain relief pills he tookst night, it had really gone a long way to give him relief, it was getting into noon and he had not taken breakfast.


    Marco gasped, stood up frantically and walked up to the dinning table and took the single note Fred had given him earlier, he opened the door and went outside in order to buy bread for his breakfast.


    Marco walked under the sun from the shop he bought the bread, the morning sunshine was warm and soothing on his skin, when he returned to the room, he sat down and ate in delight.


    He brought out the remaining pain relief pills and swallow it, feeling satisfied hey back on the bed for some minutes with the hope that he would get up some minutes after to do his washing, but he didn¡¯t know when sleep overtook him.


    The atmosphere was humid with the sun, busy doing what if knows how to do bear with all it¡¯s energy, Marco was on the bed basking in the warmth the sun was emitting on the surface of the earth.


    Suddenly his eyes were opened and he felt the sweat that had soaked his entire body making him look like he wasing out of a pool of water, he got up immediately, stretched himself and yawned.


    ¡°What a sunny day¡± he mumbled to himself, then took a quick look at the clock, it was 2:00pm already, which meant he had slept for over five hours.


    He remove the damp shirt from his body and added it to the one he had earlier intended to wash, picked up a bucket, went outside and shut the door behind him.


    As he was washing the clothes, he noticed that ady passed by, carrying a bag in her hand, however it did not ur to him to look at her at all, as far as he was concerned nothing mattered to him expect getting his clothes clean and dry so that he would have something to put on the next day so that he would have something to put on the next day since he did not have enough clothes, the ones he had, he made sure he kept them sparkling clean.


    For some time, he was busy scrubbing the clothes expending much energy, and for some unknown reason he didn¡¯t turn his eyes to nce at thedy.


    Even in the university days,dies were thest thing that ever crossed his mind, he observed that thedy slowed her pace when she got loser to where he was washing.


    But that of course never propelled him to raise his head and look at her, the only reason he could have done that would have been if she had ventured to ask him question, he could not fathom thedy¡¯s mission either, wether she was a visitor or not, the fact that she did not enquire anything from him proved that she knew her way.

 Chapter 26.

    When he finished washing, he spread the shirts on the rope outside and stood for a while to examine them, he looked at them for a while and a feeling of fulfilment engrossed his mind because his shirt were sparkling clean.


    Having aplished his task, he bent down and picked up the remnants of the soap as well as the bucket and proceeded to the room, when he got to the door he was surprised to discover that it was ajar, a chill ran up his spine as something clicked in the back of his mind.


    Marco became confused, he had to stand there for a while thinking wether he actually closed the door or not.


    ¡°But I closed it, I could remember vividly that I closed it, then who could have open it for goodness sake¡± he wondered.


    He however decided that if he should stand there wondering, the much needed answer would nevere, therefore he pushed the door wide open and made an attempt to enter.


    ¡°Who is there?¡±


    That sonorous voice cut him shirt in his track as he stood there dumbfounded for a while, this time around Marco did not know what to say, instead he twitched his lip and suddenly thest emerged from the room and came in contact with hm, he could not easily find his voice until thedy spoke.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Asked thedy.


    ¡°My name is Marco, Iam a friend to Fred¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Eximed thedy, ¡± Fred told me sometime ago that you would being..¡± she paused for a moment, raised her eyebrow and tapped her fingers on the edge of the table, then she continued.


    ¡°So, when did you finally arrived?¡±


    ¡°Last week¡± Marco replied, looking straight into her face, he scratched his head and continued, ¡± erm, excuse me, are you his wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes of course¡± replied thedy.


    ¡°So you are Carolyn? Fred had told me a lot about you¡± Marco remarked.


    ¡°Is that so? Anyways now tell me, what has he been telling you about me?¡± She asked pointedly, smiling to reveal her dentition.


    ¡°Oh well, just like loverboy, he has been giving me goodpliments about you¡± Marco said giggling, he quickly dropped the bucket he was holding in one corner and came back to sit in the chair.


    ¡°Lover boy indeed¡± Carolyn said, ¡± is he really a boy? Why don¡¯t you call him loverman instead?¡± She chuckled andy down on the chair next to marco.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Marco giggled hysterically over her jokes, ¡± that is true, your sweetheart has already started growing grey hair, besides the lover man would soon be back from work and you know he has missed you so much, so when he is back, guess what? Well I won¡¯t tell you until you experience it yourself¡±


    ¡°Alright, I will wait until hees back so that I can see it for myself, by the way how is he fairing?¡±


    ¡°He is as fine as a fine man¡± replied Marco.


    Carolyn burst intoughter almost immediately, ¡± you are really a very funny person¡± she remarked.


    ¡°Really? But my name is not funny, Iam Marco by name¡±


    Carolyn continuedughing, she used her right hand to pay her hair into shape, ¡± alright Mr Marco, I now know your name, sorry for the misced identity¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much ma¡± Marco replied jokingly.


    He stood up, picked the bucket and went straight to drop it in the bathroom.


    Meanwhile noticed his rathercerated body and became anxious to know what must have caused it.


    Immediately Marco came out of the room, she did not waste time In asking him what was responsible for his injuries, ¡± what happened to you? why do you have bruises all over your body?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, anyways not to worry, I will narrate everything to you when I¡¯m rxed¡±


    Carolyn discovered a clear overtone of tragedy In his voice, she would have persuaded him to open up, but on a second thought she decided to let him until he had taken his lunch.


    ¡°Have you had lunch?¡±


    ¡°No, not yet, there is a little food left in the pot, you can as well eat it since you are just returning from a long journey¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, Iam not hungry at all, moreover I bought some foodstuffs, I intend to prepare some delicious soup¡±.


    Marco declined on the chair reading through the newspaper Carolyn brought, as he was reading his utmost concentration was not on the newspaper, but rather he was busy scanning any vacancy advertisement.


    As he opened the pages, he did not bother to digest anything, rather he was flipping through in a quest for any job opportunity.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 27.

    He kept on checking until he finally came in contact with what he had anticipated, there was a vacant post In a petroleumpany, a leading multinational oilpany, and it was written there in the paper that interested applicant should forward their application within one week from the date of the publication.


    Marco got up instantly and took the remaining cash left from the bread he bought this morning, put on his shirt and was about going out when Carolyn saw him.


    ¡°Where are you going to?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°I want to quickly buy a foolscap paper outside there, I will be right back¡±


    Within a second he ran outside and approached the provision seller, asking for two foolscap papers, when he had obtained the paper, he scurried back into the room as if he was being chased by someone, he sat back on the chair, panting and sweating.


    ¡°What is the problem?¡± Carolyn asked.


    ¡°There is no problem¡± Marco replied, using the edge of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face.


    ¡°Then why are you feeling uneasy¡± Carolyn asked again.


    Marco¡¯s eyes grew wide and his lips twisted into a broad edifying smile, it was a smile of seriousness and without looking at her he have her an effusive reply.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to take it easy atall, infact I just came across a job opportunity in the paper, so I want to write my application letter without dy¡±


    ¡°That is fine, but you don¡¯t have to write it with tension, take it easy, rx and take your time before writing¡±.


    ¡°Thanks for the advice¡± Marco said courteously.


    Marco found Carolyn¡¯s advice very useful, she was absolutely right, it was not that Marco did not realize the importance of having to be calm when ites to writing application letters, but his anxiety were precipitated by sheer excitement, in his inner mind he had longed for information concerning any job he could possiblyy his hands on as he had be so desperate.


    Maybe it did not matter much when he first arrived ra, but now it had be a matter of urgency, especially now that Carolyn had arrived, in the distance corner of his heart, he felt it was inappropriate to continue living with them in their matrimonial home.


    It would have been a different case if it was just Fred and himself alone, but now things would absolutely not be thesame again. Though Carolyn appear to be a nice person, at least for the few hours he had been with her, but one cannot determine the depth of a river by watching it from it¡¯s bank.


    Marco decided that he still needed time to observe Carolyn characters before he could pass his judgement, only if she could remain the same person she had proved herself to be in the past few hours, however he was confident that he was suitable for the job, if nothing else matters, the quality of his university degree was something that would give him an edge.


    But was it not that same formidable degree that had denied him an employment for over four years after graduation? Everywhere hebwent to, people gave him a pat on the back for obtaining such an excellent degree, Yes! that was a pat on the back and nothing more.


    Apart from that the next statement that would alwayse out of their mouth had been, ¡± sorry there is no vacancy yet¡± .


    How was he sure that this time around the statement was going to be different?.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    As Marco started writing, a conviction settled in his mind, it gave him the assurance that he was bound to make it at that point in time, what really baffles bhim was that he had never been so confident before, ever since he started writing application letters.


    Nevertheless, he had been writing application letters for the past four years, to the extent that he would just tease himself that If he hadpiled all those letters and had taken them for publication, he would have be a multimillionaire.


    s! Since that was not possible for him to do, he would have to continue writing until the day his dream would be a reality.


    Marco was going through the battle of his life, he had finished writing but was not satisfied with his handwriting, looking at the paper intently he felt the need to rewrite it, he dropped the first one, picked the second paper and began to write again.


    When he eventually finished, he made aparison between the two and concluded that the second one was more presentable than the first one.


    He ced it neatly on the table and was going to get his curriculum vitae when Carolyn came in, he quickly seize that opportunity to enquire from her where he could possibly make a photocopy.


    ¡°There is a photocopy shop in the next street, you can do it there, but it¡¯s already 5:30pm now, they would have closed for the day, why not wait till tomorrow morning? after all you are going to submit the application tomorrow¡± Carolyn replied and smile warmly at him.


    ¡°Okay, if that¡¯s the case, I will do it tomorrow¡± he returned everything back into the room and kept them safely. Carolyn called him from the sitting room and he came out lookingposed.


    ¡°Are you not hungry?¡±


    ¡°Iam as hungry as a lion¡±


    ¡°Then get ready to have your meal, I have just finished cooking¡±


    ¡°Oh! I will eat the leftover food in the pot¡±.


    ¡°I cannot allow you eat that food anymore, it¡¯s so tasteless, I know that was Fred¡¯s little effort, anyways he tried, some men don¡¯t even know how to put pot on the fire¡± she remarked,ughing loudly.


    ¡°You had better not underestimate us at all, remember that there are still some good cooks around¡± Marco responded.


    ¡°I know, but those ones are purely professionals¡±.


    ¡°You are beginning to sound like a genius¡± Marco ttered her and say back on the chair to rx for a while.


    Carolyn bought in the food and ced it infront of marco, his mouth began to salivate when he perceived the aroma of the soup.


    ¡°You make me remember my mother¡± Marco said, getting ready to do justice to the food.


    ¡°Easy Marco, Iam still very young and have not started making babies, howe Iam now beingpared to your mother?¡±


    They bothughed at the same time, Marco settled down to consume the sumptuous meal in the te before him, a meal such as this would not have taken him up to one minute to finish, but Carolyn presence forced him to observe some table manners, which he had abandoned for a long time.

 Chapter 28.

    Little wonder then that the meal which ordinarily would have taken him one minute had tost about five minutes, it was his best meal since he came to ra.


    Not that he was in anyway disappointed that he had not been eating well, he had taken into finality right there at the bus terminal when he was bidding his mother farewell that not only his eyes were going to denie him the pleasure of looking at his mother¡¯s expectant face, his stomach on the other hand was equally going to suffer the more, because his mother¡¯s pot was very far away from him.


    To therge extent, one of his personal philosophics came to light when he was thinking about his situation, and it perfectly corrted with his present stateof thought, Marco felt like saying it verbally, but he did not want to get Carolyn distracted, therefore he gazed squarely at the te and decide in his mind that things must change, if not, then the world would be like a chain.


    He had changed from a rural dweller to an urban inhabit, he had also changed from eating from his mother¡¯s pot to dinning and winning with Carolyn, maybe one day he would change from eating with his bare hands to eating with a silver spoon.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Carolyn enquired when she discovered that his yed were empty.


    ¡°Perfectly okay and satisfied¡± Marco replied.


    ¡°So, what do you think about my cooking?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simply delicious and wonderful, it has been quite a while I tasted such a meal and guess what? It was simply superb¡±.


    ¡°Oh thanks for yourpliments¡±


    ¡°And thank you for the meal¡± Marco concluded.


    Carolyn was highly impressed by Marco¡¯s appreciative remarks, even better than her husband¡¯s, nothing gave her joy so much and a sense of fulfilment like beingplimented after a worthwhile effort, even if her service did not worthpliments, she would still expect something nice to be said about her as a way of encouraging her.


    Every steps she took was meant to attract Marco¡¯s attention, she tried to make sure that he was not in anyway bored, she was determined to keep himpany until Fred returns from work, Carolyn knew that Fred would be back any moment from them and that when he was back, she might not have enough time to spend with Marco.


    Therefore it was desirous of her to be in full charge while her husband is away, and be ready to face a divided attention when her husband was back, in other to ensure that she had her way, she quickly packed away the empty tes as soon as Marco finished the food and returned back to the chair, smiling sweetly at him.


    ¡± I presume you are now rxed after a heart warming meal, so could you tell me the long story about the bruises on your body?¡±


    ¡°Mm it¡¯s a long story, I ought to have begun without you having to remind me, Iam sorry¡± Marco apologized.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologise after all, it¡¯s you who is going to do the talking, anyways apologies epted, so go on¡± Carolyn said, taking a deep gaze into his eyes.


    Marco began to narrate the story the way it urred, he did not bear about the bush, neither was he adding or subtracting from the story, hismunication skill added spice to the story to the extent that Carolyn began to feel as if she was watching it from a movie.


    Marco went on and on until tears began to well up in Carolyn¡¯s eyes, but she stilled herself from crying.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Although the story was touching, Carolyn did not want to present herself like a half-wit by crying, she felt that the most appropriate thing for her to do was to express her heartfelt sympathy for him.


    When Marco finally concluded the story, Carolyn was in dire need to sympathize with him, she went to sit beside him, as if that was not enough, she palced her right hand on his chest, trying to examine his heartbeat, it was more than just a heartbeat, her hands was busy stroking his hairy chest.


    ¡°Sorry dear, sorry for everything you have gone through, I believe all will be well, this is ra, one has to be very careful and mindful of what one is doing, a lot of things happens because of the increasing wave of armed robbery and crime rate, but one thing is always certain, the perpetrators would not go scot-free¡± she hesitated for a while and continue afterwards, ¡± but at least there is still cause to be joyous, the fact that you were rescued from being burnt alive is something marvelous, and it¡¯s worth celebrating¡± as she was taking, she made an attempt to move very close to marco.


    As soon as she did that, and reached out for a handkerchief to dab his forehead, she dropped the handkerchief on herps after it has be fully soaked, she then bent over to give him a passionate hug.

 Chapter 29.

    Marco became very embarrassed and confounded, he actually did not know what to do, wether to push her away from him or to scold her never to be passionate with him, he decided against such action in order not to upset her and present himself as an ungrateful fool.


    Though he could not discern her intention for doing that, Marco would have loved never to be consoled, than for her to do so, and it left him with a feeling of embarrassment.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    By andrge, deep down in Carolyn¡¯s heart, there was something about March that made her heart tremble with palpitations from the very first time she saw him washing outside, even when she didn¡¯t know that he was her husband friend, till the time he walked into the room, she had been carried away by his tall athletic figure, handsome face and irresistible lips.


    His big rounded eyes was another quality that sent tingling sensation between her thighs, each time she take a look at him, it was obvious she was falling for marco and she vowed in her heart that she would do everything possible to have him.


    The fact that she was going to carry it out in her husband¡¯s home didn¡¯t bother her a bit, after all he would always be away for work, while they will be indoors indulging in her escapades, all that was necessary was Marco¡¯s cooperation and her husband would never get to know about it.


    It would absolutely be impossible for Fred to know about it, not to talk of even having an iota of suspicion, in his presence she would pretend to be a good and faithful wife, whereas his absence would be for her an undefinable shield safeguarding her infidelity.


    It was not as if the thought suddenly came into her head while she was trying tomiserate with Marci over his travails, but on a more serious note, she already had the urge and feelings even while she was preparing the meal.


    At times when she looked into the pot, she could see nothing other than marco making love to her, by the time she picked up a cup of water, her mind and hand felt as though they were touching his well toned body, on many asions some men had caught her fancy and she had in turned admired them, but such admiration could not bepared to the immediate emotional and sexual pull she had for Marco in a short period.


    The Crux of the matter is that she didn¡¯t consider herself to be a flirt in any way, she felt it was just a natural thing any normal woman would have done if she were to be immediately entrapped in the sake room with such an attractive, charming and graceful young man like Marco.


    That clearly exined why on countless times she had praised and wonder why God endowed him with such a good looks, only to deny him material wealth as apliment, she had always waved aside that notion based on the fact that she had a conviction that Marci was a man with good prospect and potentials.


    The actuality which made him appeare like a man not called to enjoy the good things of life was just for a matter of time, very soon she knew all that would be a thing of the past, after all people are not meant to attain sess at the same time.


    Apart from his physical attraction which was to her satisfaction, another thing that turned her on about Marco was his intelligence, indeed she was awed by his excellent intellectual capabilities, each time he spoke to her, his speech were like hot water, while hers was like ice block.


    The moment he opens his mouth to speak, his speech would flow out melting her entire body from head to toe and within a short period of time, it would go beyond mere imparting of knowledge and drove her into a state of ecstasy.


    Her body would begin to lust after his on the spur of the moment, longing for his attractive lips, longing for those strong hands on her body, though she had learnt a lot within the few hours she had been with him, both academically and sensually.


    Academically because anytime he spoke, she must always learn one or two things from his word, and sensually because each time she took a look at him, his attractive figure always had asting impression on her, and by the time she gaze into his eyes, her whole body system became enchanted with a pining sensuality that Kay beneath the surface and made him irresistible to her.

 Chapter 30.

    Initially Carolyn had to supress this sexual hunger because she was not very familiar with him, and was just meeting him for the first time, barely three hours after, she felt she had done enough to ensure an intimacy with him, she was rest assured thates what may she was going to have her way.


    After all he was a man and at such he is bound to sumb to such, Marco is bound to sumb to her advances, there was no cause for rm ording to her presumptions that her desire was going toe true just at the snap of her finger.


    ¡°Thank you very much for your concern¡± Marco said, moving impulsively away from her, to the next chair, Marco refused to look at her, and no sooner had he sat downfortably on the opposite chair that she moved and sat on hisps.


    ¡°You are hurting me¡± Marco growled.


    All of a sudden she remembered the injuries on hisps.


    ¡°Oh Iam sorry Marco, I didn¡¯t do it deliberately, infact I have forgotten that yourp is blistered, please forgive me, I was only touched by your story and I feel the only way to keep you happy is byforting you¡±.


    ¡°That is alright¡± replied Marco.


    Carolyn felt her heart leaping, she tapped her fingers against her lips as she gathered her thoughts, ¡± Marco, i-i-¡­¡± She hesitated, ¡± I think I should do something fast to ensure your quick recovery, there are so many medicines you can use and these injuries would go away fast¡±


    ¡°Well I have the drugs the chemist prescribed for me, and Iam taking them conscientiously, I took two tablets this morning, this afternoon also, and I shall take another two tablets this evening¡± Marco retorted.


    ¡°Anyway I was thinking of something else that can easily cure the injuries, it¡¯s something I normally use whenever I identally have a cut or injury, let me bring it for you to see¡± she went into the room and brought out something in a small jar.


    ¡°This is it¡± she showed it to him.


    ¡°What is this?¡± He asked.


    ¡°It is a pain relieving ointment, it¡¯s very effective, by this time tomorrow your injuries would have started to heal, not only that, it would help the scars vanishpletely, let me help you apply it¡± she proceeded to unbutton Marco¡¯s trouser.


    ¡°Stop, stop it! What are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°I only want to help you apply the ointment, especially yourps, you told me yourps is hurting you, let me apply the ointment on it¡± she defended herself and made a second attempt to pull down the trouser.


    ¡°Get away from here¡± marco pushed hay, ¡± I have my own hands, So what is wrong if i apply it myself?¡± Richard had hardly finished his statement when he heard knock at the door, he stood up to button up his trousers while Carolyn went to check who was at the door, she flung the door open and there stood Fred at the doorstep.


    ¡± Hello Darling! When did you arrive?¡±


    Carolyn reached him and tugged at his arms, her conscience pricked her the moment she saw her husband, so much that if Fred had been very sensitive, he could have sensed it, but he was enraptured by his wife¡¯s homeing.


    He could not bothered himself with any expression on the face of his beloved wife.


    ¡°Just some hours back¡± replied Carolyn with a grin.


    ¡°Are you all right? You look so pale and worn- out. Is is because of your long journey?¡± Fred asked, wrapping his hands around her waist.


    ¡°Something like that¡±  Carolyn responded, looking even more demoralized than before.


    ¡°Come on sweetheart, Sorry for that, You see it not for this work i would havee around and pick you, and while in the bus, myp would have provided a copy settee for you. My hands would have been caressing you and tiredness would have been soothingly in aical demeanor¡±


    ¡± You did not even ask me about my parents and you know that was the major reason i travelled. ¡±


    ¡°Oh! Darling, it isn¡¯t that i forgot, I simply wanted to do what my friend asked me to do for you immediately i see you before anything else¡± Fred told him.


    ¡± What could it be?¡± Caroy asked curiously.


    ¡°It is a secret¡± replied Fred.


    ¡°So, go ahead ¡± she said firmly.


    He bent over and kissed her on the mouth, Carolyn felt the gentle touch of his lips brushing against hers, she smiled and winked at him.


    He was staring at her with a hot gaze that seemed to reach into the very core of her heart, then quickly he moved closer and whispered to her.


    ¡°That is it,¡± he revealed.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She took a deep breath, realising the whole joke.


    ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± she asked crossing her arms.


    ¡°Your parents?¡±


    ¡°Parents!¡± they both eximed inic unison.


    The Fred waited to hear if she was going to say something else, licking his lips in the process.


    After three seconds, he noticed that she wanted him to continue.


    ¡°Yes Your parents, I mean, how are they? I hope you extented my greeting to them?¡±


    ¡°They are fine¡± replied Carolyn.


    ¡°Have you seen my friend? His name is marco.


    ¡± I know¡­¡± Carolyn interrupted, ¡± He has told me a lot about himself already, I don¡¯t think there is anything you want to tell me that he has not told me, that makes an introduction unnecessary¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Fred eximed and turned to marco. ¡± Matco, how is your body?¡±


    ¡°I feel much better¡±


    ¡°I hope you have eaten?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, Carolyn prepared something for me, something very nice for lunch this afternoon¡±.


    ¡± That is good i can¡¯t wait to have a taste of this nice thing. I am very hungry too.¡±


    ¡°Before you taste it, you had bettere and bath and change your cloth first, i don¡¯t want you to spoil your cloth otherwise you won¡¯t have anything to wear to work tomorrow¡± She said.


    They walked hand in hand towards the bedroom, as they were entering the room Carolyn turned round and winked at marco, which Fred did not take notice of.

 Chapter 31.

    Marco sat back on the chair stunned into silence, he tried to figure out what Carolyn was up to, but he needed time to be able to think properly about everything, his eyes were fixed at the bare wall as if something was written there.


    After he had looked and looked at the wall, he finally regained his consciousness, he could not understand why his friend¡¯s wife would want to have a crush on him right in her matrimonial home.


    What he had experience this past three hours was something he had never heard of and could never have imagined possible.


    If she were to be a singledy, he would have thought probably that she was in need of a man or perhaps her emotions just welled up.


    But for a Lady, a happily marrieddy, to have gone to that entent, then something must be wrong with her he thought. He made up his mind that nothing was going to make him fall into such temptation.


    That was why he needed a job badly so that he could move out before he got his finger burnt, at first he thought she was just being nice, but she had gone beyond being nice to something like a whore.


    Fred and Carolyn emerge from the room over an hourter, with Fred wearing only a knicker and getting ready to have a meal, since it was bingte already the meal was turned into a dinner which required that the three of them partake of it.


    Though marco did not particrly have an appetite that evening, he had to eat just to impress Fred who insisted that he must take something, especially on the ground that he had his drugs to take, he had no choice other than to join them.


    While the mealsted, marco was very silent which was unlike him, Fred noticed this and wanted toment, he felt his attitude could be a result of his wife¡¯s presence.


    Maybe he was not yet used to her and thus could not rte with her freely, when the finished the meal, both husband and wife retired into the bedroom, marco was left in the parlour, where hey a nket and slept.


    While in bed with Fred, Carolyn was unable to sleep, whereas Fred had slept off long ago. Carolyn stayed awake on the bed thinking deeply about marco who was fast asleep in the parlour.


    When Fred woke up in the middle of the night in order to go and urinate, he was surprised to find her wide awake, though he saw her lying with her eyes opened, he wanted to ask her why she didn¡¯t sleep, but he was extremely tired to say a word, his eyes were so sleepy that he snuggled back to bed and slept off immediately.


    Meanwhile, Carolyn was expecting Fred to talk and had already prepared an answer for him, she waited for two minutes and when she did not hear his voice, she craned her neck from the pillow to look at him, she discovered that he was fast asleep. She heaved a sigh of relief,y and continued to fantasize about marco.


    This time around she had gone beyond imagining how it would feel like having his arms wrapped around hers or having to let his hand touch her wherever she wanted and driving her into the world of ecstasy, to imagining the size of his cock, how it would feel in her mouth, or his irresistible lips on her pussy that was already wet and throbbing for him, she was now trying to figure out ways to fortify her strategy.


    What transpired that evening was so devastating to her, besides she never wanted that to repeat itself, she needed to n better, she  needs to scheme a new n, which in the innermost region of her heart, was not susceptible to failure.


    As she thought about this, she smiled to herself like somebody who had justpleted a worthwhile venture, patted her hair and said, ¡°Congrattions!¡± Just like somebody who remembered something spontaneously, she  got up from bed and tiptoed towards the parlour, she thought of going into the parlour, but when she heard marco coughing, she decided otherwise, so she stepped back into the room and opened the blind to peep.


    The parlour was dark, the only gimmer of light was the one escaping from the bedroom, Carolyn felt like going over to lie by him, but had to restrain herself because if Fred should wake up , it surely would not end well for her. It was better she did it while he was away at work, and nothing on the face of the earth would make him find out.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 32.

    Carolyn was very confident that her next move would yeild a positive result. This confidence is a booster against the fact that she had been beaten once, and therefore had be twice shy. To prevent her from bing thrice shy, she tried to ensure that when next she made a move, he would stick together for as long as he remained in that house.


    She thought in her mind that if she tried the gimmicks and marco still remained obstinate, then she would do it and damn the consequences.


    Nobody could fill her and she was not ready to be a fool for anybody. The feeling she had for him was for both of them to enjoy.


    She was even the one at the receiving end and as such, any further attempt to resist her would be highly regretted by him. She felt she had never cheated on her husband and that was the first time she was going to try it.


    And it would definitely be thest time too, because after marco, there would be no other person to engage her fancy, so it was a matter of now or never.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Marco coughed the second time, she tiptoed  her way from the blind, and waited to see if he was going to stand up or continue sleeping, she waited patiently for two more minutes and when she did not hear any movement , she concluded that he had fallen asleep again.


    Again, she became confident to open the blind to look at him for thest time before she retire to bed.


    When she peeped she discovered that he had removed his shirt , there by making it possible for her to see his hairy muscr chest, Carolyn stood there for a long time admiring him with wild fantasies in her head, she could have stayed longer than that were it not for her legs that were beginning to sag. She decided to call it a day as she tiptoed back to the bedy there for some time before she fell asleep.


    Two weekster, marco received a letter asking him to report at head office of the petroleumpany he applied for an interview.


    His joy knew no bound when he got the letter, little wonder then that he kept opening the letter and reading it over and over again every two minutes interval, as if trying to cram the content word for word.


    Each time he read it, he became overwhelmed with joy and when he had closed it, his face would shine, with a delightful smile ying on his lips.


    He was sitting outside looking very moody when the post master brought the letter for delivery this was after he had freed himself from caroy entanglement, She had tried frantically to seduce him, but every move she made proved fruitless as he had built up a resistance against her moves.


    It was when he felt that he was about to fall into temptation that he decided to seek sce outside, he was rest assured that she would note outside to continue her antics. Carolyn¡¯s intrusion into his life had not only caused him severe heart rending agony, it had shattered his self confidence as a man.


    Ever since she started this shameless antics he had been behaving like an imbecile, at times he would be sitting down and his mouth would begin to quiver.


    Beside  he could be alone and all of a sudden he would be answering ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± without anybody calling his name. All these were due to  some psychological trauma he was going through because of Carolyn for two weeks now, It was one of such effect he had when he saw the postmaster.


    He noticed the postmaster approaching him, so by the time he became aware the postmaster was already standing in front of him, he became frightened and took to his heels, the postmaster was greatly amazed and had to call him back.


    ¡°I came here to drop a letter, Iam not an armed robber, this is not a gun but a letter, ¡± said the postmaster.


    It was then marco regained his consciousness and walked up to him to collect the letter.

 Chapter 33.

    ¡°Thank you very much. It was not that i was scared actually, but i was so carried away so much that i did not know what came over me, ¡± marco said, scratching his head with the right hand.


    ¡°Just take it easy,  Just know that if things are not that great today, tomorrow will be better¡± the postmaster said with a smile.


    He handed him three envelopes and discovered that one had his name and address written boldly on it, he knew that the letter came from no other ce but thepany he had written an application letter to two weeks earlier.


    His instinct told him to drop the other two letter in the letter box first before he settled down to read the content of his. And behold, the contents of the letter brought back  life and vigour into his body, forcing his countenance to change instantly.


    Initially, he did not want to tell Diana the good news and why he was suddenly excited but because he knew that he would have to give Fred the news, there was no way Fred would not disclose it to her, if that happened, it would look like they were ying games with him. So, in order not to present himself like a crook, he decided to break the news to her.


    ¡°I want to know what is making you happy, you walked out of this house few minutes ago pissed off, simply because i want to have you and here you are smiling as if you have  won a jackpot,¡± carolyn said broodily.


    ¡°It is almost like a jackpot, i have just received a letter asking me to report for an interview, that Is what excites me. And it is the only thing that can make a young and promising man like me happy, not a whole like you¡± marck snorted.


    ¡± What! You-you call me a whole? Anyways, I am wiling to forgive you if you offer an apology ¡°.


    ¡± I will not, I repeat I will not, and mind you, I don¡¯t have any regret calling you a whole because that¡¯s what you are.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t me you, it¡¯s because of my heart, it¡¯s only my heart I me  for having feelings for you,¡± Carolynsaid with a feeling of indignation.


    She walked out of marco into the room and spent about ten minutes there, Marco sat back going through the letter once more to relieve his anger.


    When Carolyn reemerged from the room she had changed from the long skirt she had on previously, she was now dressed in a micro-mini skirt and a body hug that revealed her curves.


    As she walked majestically into the parlour, she whistled to attract Marco¡¯s attention, but he ignored herpletely.


    To marco, the while saga seemed to be an indistinguishable stupid obsession of a woman who was worse than Jezebel, this made her name sound like a symbol of feminine wickedness whenever he heard it.


    Carolyn sat cross-legged directly opposite marco and pretended to be reading a magazine but she red at him intermittently, Marco¡¯s eyes neither twitched nor blinked.


    Even when he became increasing bored from the constant reading of the letter, he could still not drop it because it was the only thing that prevented him from looking at her direction.


    At a point, when Carolyn felt that her antics were being frustrated she go up and walked up to him, she stood in front him for a while and bafter a while she went to sit beside him putting her right leg on hisp.


    ¡°Stop it! Stop this Nonsense! What is the meaning of all these for goodness sake?¡± Marco shouted as he stood up, feeling highly irritated.


    Carolyn got up as well and moved closer to him, using her two hand to caress his chest slowly in a seductive way.


    ¡°Get away from me now and don¡¯t you ever try this kind of nonsense with me again¡± marco pushed her away violently and she fell on the floor.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡± How could you?¡­¡± he continued, ¡°my friend¡¯s wife of all people, listen Carolyn If you promise to behave yourself henceforth, then i would pretend as if this never happened¡±


    ¡°Marco so you have the audacity to push me to the floor? All right, we shall see, you think you are an angel. Not to worry, you are soon going to be a devil, iam going to teach you the lesson of your life, let me tell you, nobody antagonizes me and goes scot free, and you shall not be the first¡± Carolyn said angrily.


    Marco stared at her for a while and wanted to counter her statement but he was so dispirited that the words stuck in his mouth, he took the letter, pushed it into his pocket and went out, banging the door after him.


    He was undecided where to go, he contemted sitting outside tillte in the evening when his friend would return from work, Marco waved that idea aside, because if he did that, passer-by might want to know why he was sitting there alone, and that would worsen his state of mind and mood, he wanted to be leftpletely alone so that he could sort things out in his mind.


    After a careful thought, he decided take on a stroll and to return when it would be very dark knowing fully well that by the time he returned, Fred would have been back from work, and by then he would only need to go to bed and prepare for the next battle.

 Chapter 34.

    As the vehicles moved to and fro with the mass of Ghanaians rambling their way through the streets, Marco was busy feeding his eyes on the exotic cars and the mass of people rushing to no where in particr, he tried as much as possible to put everything that had happened between him and Carolyn behind him.


    He was believing God that all would be over, he would soon secure a job and get his own ce, he hoped to be a new person, he decided never to discuss the secret with any living soul apart from his mother.


    Darkness came and let loose the nightcrawlers, Marco felt it was time to return to the house bearing in mind that Fred should have been back, he walked back home slowly and after exchanging few pleasantries with his friend, he went straight to bed.


    The following day being the day for Marco¡¯s interview, he woke up before the couple and by 6:30am he had taken his bath and was already dressed.


    Although the interview was scheduled for 10:00am, he had to leave very early, not because he wanted to be there before the kickoff time but mainly because he did not want to be left alone with Carolyn in the house.


    He felt she might begin her foolish act again which he knew was capable of wrecking him emotionally all through the day, though 6:30am was still very far from the interview time, there was nothing he could do but to go out.


    When was he going to stay till then? What was he going to do to pass time until he was due for the interview? All the same, it was better for him to go somewhere else and prepare himself for the task ahead rather than to stay at home only to be tempted when he was supposed to be concentrating on the interview.


    In order to refresh his memory, he took some time going through some notes, shortly after Fred woke up and could not believe that Marco was already prepared.


    ¡°But your interview is billed for ten, howe you are already dressed? Asked Fred.


    ¡°Yes, but I have to get there early enough and familiarize with the environment before the time of the interview¡± Marco said, trying not to disclose his reasons.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early, by the time you get there you might not meet a single staff there, besides you are very familiar with the ce, why don¡¯t you wait till it¡¯s nine before you start moving¡±


    ¡°Okay, I will wait till you are ready so that we can leave together¡±


    ¡°That is all right¡± Fred shrugged and went to the bathroom to take his bath.


    Marco was still in the dinning room going through some books that was meant to guide him for the interview when he noticed that Fred was almost ready, he went to the mirror to look at himself, what he saw was quite satisfactory to him, he kept turning round to look properly at every part of his body in order to build his self confidence, he was d that his injuries had healedpletely, one could hardly believe that he ever had any blisters on his body.


    His skin was looking very fresh and radiant, his shirt too was neat and we¡¯ll ironed, it was the task he has to dost night when he came back from his so called strolling before he finally slept.


    When Fred was ready theynwalked out of the house together, befithey left he took a nce at the clockz and it was 7:30am, Fred realized btgatbut was risky for the door to be left open and unlocked.


    Therefore he scurried back to remove the key from the door knob inside and used it to lock the door from outside, he threw the key back into the palour through the window since Carolyn was still in bed, sleeping.


    ¡°You really look nice with this your shirt and trouser, you had better not overthrow the managing director of thepany¡± Fred teased him.


    ¡°Do you think Iam a coup plotter? look at me very well, am I in army uniform? Only a soldier in uniform can understand thatnguage¡±


    They bothughed at their jokes and in few minutes they came to the junction where they were to part ways.


    ¡°This is where you will take a bus¡± Fred said, using his right finger to point at the direction where Marco was to board, ¡± take this little money for your transportation¡± he patted him on the shoulder as he handed him the single note.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you very much fred, God bless you abundantly¡± Marco prayed.


    ¡°Oh this is nothing¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something and I really appreciate it¡± Marco said.


    ¡°Something like what?¡± Fred asked.


    ¡°You gave me this money¡±


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s for your transportation¡± Fred said, avoiding his face.


    ¡°There he goes¡± Marco giggled.


    They both burst intoughter and shook hands as a sign of friendliness.


    ¡°I wish you sess Marco¡¯ Fred told him.


    ¡°And you too, I wish you all the best¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡± Fred said.


    They waved at each other and patted, while Fred was still trekking down the road Marco jumped into a bus going towards his destination, the bus zoomed off immediately he entered.

 Chapter 35.

    Twenty five minutes after, he arrived at his destination, he did not find it difficult locating thepany, thepany had a veryrge building located in the heart of the metropolis,  it¡¯s signpost was strategically ced at a point within the vicinity.


    It was through that signpost that Marco found his way through to the office, it was 8:00am when he reached the venue, he looked round and discovered that a lot of people, both staff and visitor were trooping into the building.


    Since he didn¡¯t Know the security unit, he went over to the building nearby, ¡± Good morning sir, please my name is marco, Iam here for the interview¡± he introduced himself to a man who he assumed to be the chief security officer.


    ¡°Where is your letter?¡± the officer asked him, and stretched his hands to collect it.


    ¡°This is it¡± Marco handed over the envelope to him, the security officer collected the envelope from him and examined it critically, after sometime he opened it and brought out the letter to read, when he had finished reading the letter, he opened his own file to cross check.


    Alright¡­¡± The officer continued, ¡± write your name here and then your signature below the name, also don¡¯t forget to fill in your qualifications in that column¡± he said and gave a copy of the register to Marco.


    Marco took it from him and followed his instructions carefully, when he finished, he gave it back to the security officer, who then gave him a tag and instructed him to pin it to his shirt.


    ¡°You have to sit over there¡± he pointed to a ce to Marco, ¡± when it¡¯s 9:00am you will ba asked to move into the conference room before your final interview at the director¡¯s office.


    ¡°Okay, thank you sir¡± Marco said and moved over to where he was asked to sit.


    There were some other applicants like him already seated, both males and females, while some others were just arriving, he greeted all of them and settled himself in an empty seat at the extreme front.


    He collected a magazine from the man beside him and began to flip through.


    When it was exactly 9, the security officer came and announced that they should moved over to the conference room, he pointed at the direction they were to follow, they all got up and proceeded as directed.


    When they got into the office, another security officer led them into the conference room, as soon as they entered, they were asked to sit ording to their numbers.


    They all waited for about thirty minutes before the administrative manager came in to address them on what they needed for the interview, Marco was not disturbed because he met the requirements.


    The manager also asked them to get ready fo a screening exercise which he would oversee before they would be asked to proceed to the director¡¯s office where the interview proper would take ce, the screening was carried out and they were all qualified.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    At the reception, the applicants were called in one after the other, and gradually the numbers was reducing, Marco¡¯s turn was fast approaching.

 Chapter 36.

    Marco sat back feeling rxed, he had a confidence that he was going to hook the job, Marco overheard some of the questions thrown at the applicants since the door was left open, he heard the director bombarding the applicants with all sorts of questions, even though he could not see the man physically, he knew definitely that it would soon be his turn to meet him face-to-face and give a brilliant ount of himself.


    When the number of the applicants has reduced so greatly he began to notice a particr girl who was sitting next to him, apart from the person who was currently being interviewed, they were the only two people left, the others left as soon as they were through with the interview.


    He observed that the girl was very attractive and she was gorgeously dressed too, he quickly turned his eyes away and paid attention once again robrhe voice of the director and that of the applicants.


    Few seconds after, the applicant cane out and the receptionist called on the girl to go into the office, the girl quickly went in leaving Marco as thest applicant on the list of the interview.


    ¡°Good morning sir¡± she greeted the director


    ¡°Yeah beautiful, how are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Iam fine sir, thank you¡± said the girl, still standing.


    ¡°Come on, sit down and feelfortable¡±.


    The girl sat down and crossed her legs.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The director asked.


    ¡°My name is Aria¡±.


    ¡°Aria¡­ Aria what?¡±


    ¡°Aria Mensa¡±


    ¡°Oh nice name, well Iam Mr Desmond, Iam the director of thispany¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see¡± the girl retorted.


    ¡°So what is your education qualification?¡± The director asked, using his handkerchief to wipe his face.


    ¡°Erm¡­ Iam highschool certificate holder sir¡±.


    ¡°Highschool certificate?¡± The director eximed.


    ¡°Yes sir¡± Aria replied.


    ¡°You see young girl¡­.¡± The director continue, ¡°.. this job is exclusively reserved for a B. sc holder with a minimum of a second ss upper¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°But sir I really need this job, I passed out of highschool three years ago and since then I¡¯m doing nothing to earn a living, I need to do something so I can cater for my needs¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t look like an unemployed¡± the director observed, ¡± you look magnificent in that suit skirt, when I first saw you I thought to myself that you must have worked in one big organization before¡± he looked squarely into her eyes, ¡± are you really serious about wanting the job?¡±.


    She nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Then you can have it¡± the director dered.


    ¡°Are you serious sir?¡± Aria screamed with excitement.


    ¡°Of course, all you have to do is meet me at Sheraton hotel this evening at about 9pm in room 103 and the job will automatically be yours¡±.


    The director walked over to her seat and lifted her chin up.


    ¡°Room 103 huh?¡± Aria said with a smirk.


    ¡°103 and on time¡± the director repeated with a smile.


    ¡°Okay, I will be there¡± Aria agreed.


    Marco was still waiting to be called, although he overheard the conversation between the director and Aria, he was not in anyway perturbed, after all he was the next and thest person to be interviewed, all that mattered was for him to give a good ount of himself, present his perfect certificate and the job would be his.


    Aria cane out of the office looking exicted, without looking at Marco¡¯s direction she walked away feeling ontop of the world.


    Marco got up immediately and looked at the receptionist who in turn beckon him to go in since it was his turn, he took two steps which could havended him inside the director¡¯s office, as he approached the door, he was surprised to see the directoring out with his portfolio in his left hand.


    ¡°The interview is closed, it¡¯s closed already¡± the director yelled at him and walked away briskly, Marco gaze followed him until he waspletely out of sight.


    Marco was stunned into silence, the director¡¯s outburst had gone a long way in sealing his lips, he was not able to recover from the shock, his mouth trembled.

 Chapter 37.

    ¡°What? Wait! What does he mean?¡± Marco asked, looking straight into the receptionist face, the receptionist did not know what to answer, he had witnessed several of such situations before and he knew the things directors were capable of, he knew of severaldies who got job in panies simply because they were able to y ball with the directors.


    Some of them did not even have the basic academic qualification, he was not in any way surprise about what transpired between the director and the otherdy that just left, but the receptionist knew it was one of those things, and he could not disclose it to anyone anywhere because he owned his allegiance to thepany, that exins why he shrugged when Marco asked what was going on.


    Marco soon realized that the interview was over and he could not continue to stand where nobody was ready to give him any assistance, people went about their businesses, not minding him.


    Even the receptionist was not looking at him either, he was busy answering one telephone call after another, he felt it was high time he carried his burden away from there and find his way back home.


    He became more exasperated at the thought of getting back home without any cheering news, when he left the house in the morning, he was self assured that no matter what he was going to return with some good news, what is he going to tell Fred?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Thest thought was like a bombshell, and with thetest development, he knew that getting a ce of his own will be a mirage, since his hope had been shattered.


    Marco waited at the bus terminal for over one hour before he got a bus going to his destination, he hopped into the bus drizzly as everything around him spinned round.


    He arrived home thrity minutes after, and as soon as he got to the entrance, he discovered that the door was not locked, he thought that must be due to Fred¡¯s carelessness, he entered quietly and closed the door behind him, he gently removed his shirt because it was badly soaked with sweat.


    Later he discovered that Carolyn was in the room, because he heard some movement, he was about to sit on the chair to rethink about what happened and his next move when he heard his name being called.


    ¡°Marco, Marco pleasee and see something,e quickly¡±


    At first he wanted to ignore her but on a second thought he felt that what she wanted him toe and see must be something serious, so he walked straight into the room and met Carolyn wrapped in a towel, standing in front of a mirror.


    ¡°Please Marco,e closer and help me run this cream on my back¡± Carolyn said, shing him a wicked and utterly lewd grin.


    Marco felt like spitting on her, but he had restrained himself because he did not want to ferment trouble, ¡± you must be out of your senses¡± Marco retorted instead.


    Immediately Carolyn turned her face towards the window and was surprised to see Fred walking into thepound, she flung herself on Marco and started to scream frantically, ¡± somebody help! Help me, please help¡±


    Marco was scared when he heard her sudden screams, so many thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to figure out why she was suddenly crying, he felt pity for her, therefore held her and took her to the bed so she couldy down and rest.


    Carolyn¡¯s cries for help consequently attracted Fred¡¯s attention who by then was close to the door step, Fred ran swiftly into his apartment and made straight for the room.


    On getting to the bed as Marco tried to help hery on the bed so she could get some rest, Carolyn removed her towel and continued shouting, ¡± somebody help me, he wants to rape me, somebody help!¡± She cried out more loudly.


    Fred caught Marco by the neck and pounced on him, he dragged him away from his wife and dealt several blows mercilessly on his face.


    ¡°Are you crazy? So you want to rape my wife in my own house?¡± Fred gathered all his energy and punched Marco repeatedly till blood hushed out of his face and mouth.


    ¡°After all I have done for you Marco, you want to pay me back by raping my wife?¡± Fred continued beating him.


    ¡°Please let me exin Fred, it¡¯s not what you think¡± all his pleas fell on deaf ears, as Fred continued his assult on him, forgetting they were almost like brothers who lived peacefully and happily.


    ¡°So this is how you want to ry me? I took you as a brother and brought you to my house and yet you want to be a devil inside my house? Marco how can you be this wicked? What have I done to you to deserve this from you? Don¡¯t you pity yourself, your condition and your mother? Inspite of all that you have gone through, you still habour wickedness in your heart, I don¡¯t ever want to set my eyes on you again¡± Fred shouted and began to push him out.

 Chapter 38.

    ¡°Now get out of my house¡± he shouted and continued to push an helpless, bleeding Marco until he was outside the apartment, he banged the door and went to pack all Marco¡¯s belongings into his bag, when he had finished, he opened the door and threw his bag at him.


    ¡°Take your trash and get out of my house and nevere back here again you ungrateful fool, even when I die, don¡¯t you evere near my grave, Iam highly disappointed in you, never have I imagine you would do something like this to me, just leave now you son of a devil¡± Fred spat at him and banged the door making sure it is securely locked.


    Marco was on the ground, the ground was hot due to the sun and the heat burning deep into his skin like some roasted ntain, he felt the heat on his skin, with the  pains on his face and body, he was too weak to stand or speak any longer, raising his head he looked up to the sky as If expecting some powers to intervene on his behalf.


    But in his case, he was unlucky, in the sense that the more he looked up to the sky, instead of divine intervention, the ultraviolet ray from the sun was eating deep into his skin and eyes, almost impairing his vision.


    Since that gruesome incident which almost terminated his life, he had always tried to keep away from trouble, but it seems like the more he tries to stay away from these unforseen circumstances, his head had been forcefully dragged into a disgusting water by some undesirable elements, with Carolyn as the architect of his downfall.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She had seeded in bringing darkness into his life just because he had refused to sleep with her, which region of his mouth was he going to use in telling the whole world that what Carolyn did was just a mere setup, it was absolutely impossible, most especially when he did not have a single person to vouch for him.


    What transpired was really a pitiable story, ur was a story that was bound to spread through far and near such that people even spit on him when next they saw him, even those who trusted and liked him so much because of his looks, good characters and his intelligence began tonee him like a bundle of disappointment.


    Marco didn¡¯t know where to go or what to do that moment.


    That thought alone felt like he was carrying the burden of the whole world on his shoulder, answer to the thought appeared to be impossible as he was still trying to figure out the most appropriate step to take at that point in his life.


    ¡®should he go back to mother?¡¯ that thought was not ptable, and he soon realized the need to vacate Fred¡¯s ce in order to avoid further embarrassment.


    He took his bag and shoes and walked away like a refugee, as he was walking down the road, he felt as if the whole world was going to crumble on him, and in his mind the world seems like an empty space in which he had to build his own tent if he was going to survive.


    But where was the resources? He didn¡¯t even have money for food and hunger was bitting his stomach just like the sun was beating his head and his face and mouth was still bleeding from the impact of Fred¡¯s fist.


    Marco soon walked towards an overhead bridge and saw the need to sojourn there for sometime, at least to save his head from the scoring sun, It was there that he sat down and examined his problem critically, he came to a conclusion that the best step for him was to go back to his home town, back in his home town he had peace of mind without a job, but in ra Ghana, it had been problems all through coupled with his joblessness.


    The only thing he needed was transport fare as he did not have a penny on him. Had it been he had half of the money for that fare, he would have approached the transporters and appealed for mercy after he might have exined his conditions. But the worst was that he did not even have anything, besides, trying to beg for free transportation would certainly appear like trying to build a castle in the air.


    He thought about it seriously for some time and decided to try his luck first, if it did not work out, he would then think of what else to do.

 Chapter 39.

    He got up and moved away from under the bridge, he trekked for a long time and it seemed as if it longer he walked the more distant the bus station became, he passed through a house and saw a notice pasted on the outside wall, he stopped to read.


    He read aloud: ¡°A washerman is needed here. Apply in person. ¡± He decided quickly to give it a trial since that was a means some money for his transportation if he could work and save for about three months.


    He decided that was a better idea Instead of begging, the oue of which he was not sure of, he moved forward and knocked at the gate of the building where he saw the advertisement.


    ¡°Who is there?¡± asked the gateman.


    ¡°somebody.¡± replied marco.


    ¡°Who is somebody? Or the person doesn¡¯t have a name?¡± the gateman retorted and came over to open the gate.


    ¡°Yes! Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I just saw a notice here saying the owner is looking for washerman, so i wante apply¡±


    ¡± Are you a washerman?¡±


    Marco ran his finger tip over the cor of his shirt and sneezed.


    ¡°Yes¡±


    ¡°So, fine man like is a washerman. Anyways, my boss is not at house now, but he will be back soon, just sit and wait for him.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you very much¡± marco said.


    The gateman took another look at him and discovered that he had a bag with him.


    ¡°Why are you carrying this kind bag about, is it not work you are looking for? Why then even when you are not sure of getting the job you are already with your bag?¡±


    ¡°Please my brother, it is a long story, do you have anything i can eat? Iam very hungry¡± asked marco.


    ¡°You are very lucky, I was about to eat when you knocked on the gate. Sit let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    The gateman brought a bowl of food  and ced it in front of Marco, then, he went to get some water for him to wash his hands.


    When they finished eating, marco was so grateful to the gateman.


    ¡°Thank you very much my brother, you save my life, if not I would have fainted with this kind of hunger¡±


    ¡± Don¡¯t worry, just pray that my boss  give you the work¡±


    Marcy on the bare floor to rx his body, his legs were already weak after trekking that long distance, as hey the only thing that upied his mind was how he was going to secure the job, In spite of the fact that he had little experience aboutundry, he was rest assured that was indeed the easiest work anybody could do, since it did not require any special skills.


    All that was essential was for him to wash the clothes clean and iron them properly, and this would eventually provide him with the money for his transportation back home after three months of service, Instead of going to beg for favour at the bus station which may eventually add to his alreadypounded problems.


    The washerman job would save him the stress, his thought was cut story by the ring of a car horn and indeed that was no other person than the boss.


    The gate man rushed immediately to get the gate open, and slowly the man drove directly into the garage.


    ¡°Boss, wee¡± the gateman greeted after opening the driver¡¯s door for the man toe out.


    ¡°How are you?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°Fine Sir. Excuse sir, the washerman you are looking for has been waiting for you.¡± The gateman pointed towards his lodge.


    ¡°Call him toe.¡±the boss told him.


    ¡°Okay sir¡± the gateman, said and he rushed to call marco.


    Marco had seen the man while he drove into thepound, he had wanted to go put immediately but he suddenly felt that might not be the right manner to approach him.


    He was however very happy when the gateman came to call him and so he followed him to where the man was standing.


    ¡°Good evening sir.¡± Marco greeted.


    ¡°Evening! How are you?¡±


    ¡°I am fine Sir.¡±


    ¡°Are you a washerman?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir¡±


    ¡°How many years experience do you have?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I have never worked as washerman before sir, I Just want to start. I believe that i can do it very well.¡±


    ¡°Now, Tell me, what have you been doing since?¡±


    Marco took a deep breath. ¡°I haven¡¯t found any, that is why am opting for this.¡±


    ¡°And you think you can fit into this job perfectly?¡±


    ¡°Very well sir.¡±


    ¡°All right. I will give you the job and you will be entitled to five thousand cedis every month¡± the man dered, trying to adjust his specs.


    ¡°Make it six thousand cedis sir, please.¡± Marco said solemnly.


    ¡°I can¡¯t pay anything above that. So, you either take it or you leave it¡± the man snapped.


    ¡°Okay sir, I ept it¡±


    The man lowered his eyes and looked at him squarely. ¡°Listen to me attentively, there is one thing you have to know, if you destroy any of my clothes I will hand you over to the police because my clothes are very expensive. Your sry for one year can not buy any of the clothes. You understand?¡±N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Yes sir . I will be careful¡± marco replied.


    ¡°Where do you stay?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an amodation sir¡± he replied.


    ¡°Then you can put up with my security man for the time being.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much Sir¡±


    ¡°So, before I leave for work tomorrow morning, I will leave everything you are to wash with you. Moreover, you  have to iron everything as soon as they are dried up. Okay?


    ¡± All right sir.¡±


    The man ordered him to go back to the security lodge until the following day, marco was filled with delight that atst he had something that would earn him some money.


    ¡°So what , has he given you the job?¡± the gateman asked.


    ¡°Yes¡±


    ¡°You see, i told you that my boss would give you the work, but you have to be very careful,  boss doesn¡¯t joke with him clothes, he is very strict, If you spoil his clothes, he will deal with you brutally, If you see what he did to the former washerman, because he burnt his clothes while ironing, my boss got him arrested and Locked up in prison. My boss is wicked but if he is satisfied with your work he will reward you,  that is why i don¡¯t joke with my work¡±


    ¡± That¡¯s all right, he just told me that and i think I would be very careful with him.¡±


    ¡°I trust you¡± the gateman remarked withughter.


    They chatted all through the evening, Marco so much enjoyed hispany that he told him the story of his life.

 Chapter 40.

    They both woke up very early the following day, while the gateman was busy washing the man¡¯s car, Richard on his own part was piling up all the clothes he was to wash that morning.


    When the man was ready to leave for work, he called him and gave him one hundred cedis for detergent he was to use in washing the clothes.


    He took it and hurried to the next street and within two minutes he came back with the detergent, ready to start washing.


    ¡°My God! This is magnificent, how can only one man be living in this kind of a big house all alone.¡± he wondered aloud as he admired the architectural beauty of the building. He did not know that the gateman was standing behind him and overheard him.


    ¡°Are you surprise?¡± the gateman said, giggling. ¡± He is the only one living here,  his wife and all his children are living aboard, just  sometimes they would visit him here, or sometimes him would go over there to visit them.¡±


    ¡°I see¡± marco said as he bent down to pick the packet of detergent which had fallen from his hands.


    ¡°But doesn¡¯t he have a rtion that can stay with him?¡±


    ¡°Since i started  working for him, I have never seen any of his rtions one day, but sometimes his friends visit him¡±


    There was a knock at the gate, the gateman left in order to check who was knocking, marco started work immediately.


    He took his time washing and scrubbing the clothes, he had never thought that washing could be very hectic, but soon he was through with the washing and had to wait for them to dry so that he could resume ironing.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Marco worked for three weeks withoutint from his master and was beginning to look towards receiving his first sry, he was also very pleased with himself, although he had borrowed close to five hundred cedis from the gateman for his feeding, he was sure offsetting his debtpletely and then he would use the bnce to feed for next month until another sry would be paid and he would begin to save.


    Little did he know that his objectives were going to be abortive, five days to end of the month, something happened.


    He had washed the clothes the normal way he had always done and hanged them on the rope outside. Unfortunately for him, the rope cut and the clothes fell on the ground.


    But the worst of it was that three of the man¡¯s white Guinea brocade fell on the part of the ground that was flooded with diesel, and they were stained beyond repair.


    Marco was utterly frightened and dismayed, he tried hard to get the stain out of the clothes, but the stains stuck, he kept in trying until it became certain that the situation was irredeemable.


    He kept the stained clothes aside, because the more he looked at them, the more his blood pressure increase, Since he could not keep the matter to himself alone, he decided to confide in the gateman.


    ¡°My brother, I¡¯m in trouble! I don¡¯t know what else to do. Boss clothes have been badly stained and it seems there is no way out, i have tried all I could to remove the stain.¡± Marco exined nervously.


    ¡°What! What are you going to do now?¡± Why did you make that kind mistake? ¡±


    ¡°It was not my fault. I didn¡¯t know that the rope was going to cut.¡±


    The gateman removed the chewing stick from his mouth and held it with his right hand.


    ¡°Come let me see it¡±


    He gestured to him and they walked together the backyard where the clothes were kept.


    When the gateman saw the stained clothes, he watched with mouth agape, he knew instantly that marco hadnded himself in a very serious problem and that if care was not taken, he was bound to incure the wrath of the man.


    ¡°Ah!, this is serious problem, boss will be extremely angry, he will deal with you brutally,  How will you do it now? He had hardly finished his statement when the horn of the man¡¯s Mercedes Benz started ring.


    ¡°Boss is back¡± the gateman said apprehensively and took off instantly to open the gate.


    The man drove in slowly and parked the car, when he came out of the car, he was wiggling a can beer into his mouth while he used his left hand to signal to the gateman.


    ¡°Where is Marco?¡± the man asked.


    ¡± He is at the backyard sir¡±, the gateman replied.


    ¡°Go and ask him to check if clothes are dry, if they are, tell him to iron the one with a brownish embroidery I want to wear it in the next hour¡±


    The gateman was lost in thought momentarily so much so that he forgot to give a reply to the man¡¯s order.


    ¡°Did you hear me?¡± the man snapped.


    ¡°Oh! Yes sir¡± the gateman responded nervously and then went to the backyard to inform Marco.


    ¡°There is problem, boss said he wants to wear that dress that is severely stained, he even said you should iron it now¡±


    ¡± What am i going to do for goodness sake? I think the best thing is to let him know about it¡± Marco remarked soberly.


    He picked the clothes, packed them and put them in an empty bucket and slouched towards the house.

 Chapter 41.

    He door was flung open immediately and the man appeared in front of him, when he saw the condition of his clothes, he became livid with anger, there was no doubt that he was poised to vent his spleen on him.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± the man shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir, it was the rope that a-a-a¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut-up!¡± the man interrupted, ¡°Did I not warn you to be careful with my clothes? Now, look at what you have done, do you think that your sry for five years can buy these? Wait I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson¡± the man mmed the doo and went back inside to dial a number on his phone.


    Marco stood for some time with his heart in his boots, hoping that the man woulde out again so that he could apologize, he could not understand why the man refused toe out.


    It was rather too strange in his imagination, he did not know whether the man had forgiven him or not, something in him told him to press the door bell once more so as to remind the man of his presence at the doorstep, but he had to restrain himself because he did not know what the man wanted to do next.


    By the time he waited for over forty five minutes, he did not need any Jupiter to tell him that something was wrong, and before he realized what was happening there was a loud knock at the gate.


    The gateman instantly threw the gate open and three well-armed policemen tripped in.


    ¡°Where is your boss? Where is he? Tell him we are here¡± one of the policemanmanded.


    ¡°Okay let me call him for you¡± the gateman responded


    By then marco had moved away from the door step and was standing in front of the garage, the gateman rang the bell and the man responded immediately.


    ¡°Go and call them in here¡± the man ordered the gateman.


    ¡°Yes Sir¡± he replied.


    The policeman appeared and the man nodded his head with satisfaction, he was absolutely impressed with the quality of men that his D. P. O friend sent to him.


    They were smart, tall and well built, he knew they were capable of carrying out his mission satisfactorily.


    ¡°Good day Sir¡± the policemen greeted the man with enthusiasm.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee¡± he looked at them one by one before he continued. ¡°Now with regards to what i discussed with your D. P. O, I want the man there arrested and detained with immediate effect.


    ¡± All right sir¡± the policemen answered.


    ¡°Tell the D. P. O that i will speak with himter¡± the man concluded, moved back and shut the door behind him.


    Marco was dragged into the waiting 505 station wagon outside thepound, he tried to plead with the policemen but it was to no avail.


    Thirty minueteter, they arrived at the police station, he asked to move in, and before he knew what was happening, he was ordered to change from his personal clothes into the prison uniform, he obeyed without anyint and was thrown into the cell.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    In the cell he went through a harrowing experience which would remain in his memory for as long as he lived on the surface of the earth.


    Much more than that, he would always have a story to tell and pass down to his generation yet unborn, Never in his wildest dream had he thought of ever being taken to the police station, let¡¯s alone being caged in a prison.


    Through he had offended the man by destroying his clothes, the offense was not grave enough to warrant penalty of a prison term.


    Ever since he was thrown into prison, he had attempted frantically topare his former lifestyle with the horrible experience he was going through in prison, and all he could remember was total frustration, abject dejection and untold hardship being inflicted on him by his inmates.


    On several asions, he was forced to stand for several hours fanning them, to the extent that the most senior inmate nicknamed him ¡°KDK¡±.


    All he did was to lie on his back, dishing out instructions to him, what he told him was that whenever he shouted increase the speed of the fan a little high, two meant higher, and three meant highest.


    Apart from that, his inmates denied him his own ration and as a result, he was made to go on empty stomach most of the time.


    Were it not for providence, he would have dropped dead, Marco  could not even tell what was keeping him alive.


    When it seemed as if he was going to slump and die, strength woulde and he would continue to live on day after day, his worst moment came when the inmate realized that he was taking every pain unleashed on him with stoicism, they decided to make him more miserable by subjecting him to emptying there faeces, he dared not resist because if he did, they intended to beat him severely.


    Two monthster, marco was released, On the day of his release, he could not believe it when the sergeant came that and called him out, he thought he was meant to go for a hardbour, but much to his amazement, he was asked to change back into his personal clothes.


    When he stepped out of the prison, he stood for a while, looking up to the sky, trying to see if there was anything  the world had in stock for him, he had this image of the world as being far away from him.


    He felt that if he was to stretch his hands he still would not have reached anything tangible that was capable of transforming his life.


    Nevertheless, he thought he had enough cause to be grateful for leaving that gruesome episode of prison life, but now that he has been released, what was the way forward?


    He really could note up with a possible way of sustaining himself, things were just going from worse to worst for him as he was looking more haggard than ever before, his clothes were worn out, and he had lost so much weight that his bones were beginning to weaken.

 Chapter 42.

    Whenever he walked, his kneecap would give a sharp pain making him to feel ufortable, It was very obvious that he had returned to square one, now that he did not know a single person that could give him a  helping hand.


    He had thought that he was going to keep his body and soul together with the job he secured as a washerman, since things did not go the way he had nned it, then there was a need for him to start all over again. But how? he wondered.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    It started to rain very heavily, such that he had to take a shelter at a nearby shop for the rain to abate, he concluded in his mind that he would have to pass the night under a bridge. With the hunger that was raging in his stomach, begging was definitely the only way out.


    He began to look into the faces of the people around the shop, those he felt sure that when he begged, they would not refuse to give him something, at least the little that would take care of his feeding for that evening, instead of having to die of hunger.


    He was still looking when a woman emerged from the shop with some bags of provisions in her hands, the woman walked passed him. He wanted to beg the woman for money, but something told him she was not going to respond positively.


    The woman soon got to where her car was parked with the bags of provision on her right hand and an umbre on her left hand, she opened the car, dropped the bags and cranked the ignition.


    The car refused to start, seeing this marco ran to her under the rain and offered to help her push the car with all the strength he could gather.


    Five minutes after started pushing, the engine roared to life, the woman was impressed, she gestured through the window that he shoulde.


    ¡°Thank you very much¡± she picked up her purse. ¡°Take this fifty cedis¡±.


    Marco collected the fifty naira note and was very happy that at least with that, dinner was guaranteed for him, however, he was so much intoxicated by the euphoria of the fifty naira note gift that he became impetuous, thanking her profusely.


    ¡°Thank you very much ma, I¡¯m very grateful, but ma, I don¡¯t know if you can help me, iam looking for a job and very desperate about it.¡±


    ¡°What kind of a job are you looking for?¡± the woman asked, trying to use her handkerchief to clean the water on the steering.


    ¡°Any Job, any kind of job ma. I can do anything.¡±


    ¡°Okay! I am in need of a houseboy, if you are capable you cane along with me¡± she said smugly.


    Richard thought for a second about it, houseboy was too low for his standard, he could have preferred working as a security man to being an ordinary houseboy.


    But in his mind, half bread is better than none, It was better for him to ept that than wait endlessly for a better one that would nevere, He concluded that a bird in hand was better than two in the forest.


    ¡°Okay ma! I will do it¡± marco said with a tearful eyes.


    ¡°What about your people? I may have to know them before i bring you into my house, at least, someone has to stand for you as guarantor.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true ma. But I¡¯m all alone here in ra, I only have my mother back home, I havee to ra to look for jobs, i would be d if you could help me¡± marco pleaded tearfully.


    The woman looked at home pitifully and shook  her head, she thought of asking him some other question but changed her mind, marco could have been one of those sensible youths who really want to do well in life but have no opportunity.


    Atst, she spoke, ¡°take this card..¡± the woman handed him a card which she brought from her purse, ¡± meet me at the exact location on this card by 10am tomorrow¡± she was about driving off when Marco spoke again.

 Chapter 43.

    ¡°Please ma, I have no where to go at the moment, I will appreciate it if you can help me out ma, can I apany you home ma, I promise to be a good boy¡±


    The woman looked at him and thought that he was genuine, she weighed the consequences in her mind and then finalized, ¡± Okay, enter let¡¯s go¡±


    Marco jumped into the car in his wet clothes, which made him feel uneasy, thinking that the woman might get upset, he thought the woman was going toin, but she never did, rather she concentrated on the wheel, Marco was surprised at her driving proficiency.


    Apart from the fact that it was his first time of entering a car being driven by a woman, it was basically the first time he was entering a private car, in the real sense of it, being driven in a private car was something of novelty to him and that was the reason why he sat as if the owner was going to rebuke him.


    As the woman elerated the car, Marco heart and thoughts began to buzz, shing back to him images of his prison experience, some hours back it was as if he was going to wither away in jail, he had almost lost hope since he neither had not knew anybody who could volunteer to bail him.


    He continued to be thankful to that almighty foring to his rescue when all hope was lost, in a way, he bagn to see his travails in prison as an experience that hade and gone


    He had seen and conquered, the feeling that he was once again a free man gave him so much delight and indeed, he really had every cause to, because a new door had been opened for him when others had closed, besides Marco was still optimistic that if everything went on the way he had nned it, in a matter of three months, he would sure to be back with his mother.


    He still needed to save some money as to afford his transportation fare, that was why he epted to serve as a house help.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± The woman asked.


    When she did not hear any response from him, she turned and looked at him.


    ¡°I said what is your name?¡± She asked again, having observed that he might not have heard her the first time.


    ¡°My name is Marco¡± he replied.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The woman was about to ask him something else when she realized that she was very close to her house, she therefore concentrated and drove into thepound, she parked the car and they both alighted.


    ¡°Mommy! Wee¡± the two of the woman daughters greeeted and ran over to them to collect the provision she bought.


    ¡°How¡¯re you girls doing?¡± The woman asked, using her hands to pat their hair-do.


    ¡°We are fine mommy¡± the two girls replied simultaneously with radiant smiles on their faces.


    ¡°You can take the provision inside I will be with you in a moment¡±


    ¡°Alright mummy¡± both girls responded, took a nce at Marco whose mission they could not possibly guess right, they knew there would be enough time to ask their mother about him as soon as she was inside with them.


    ¡°You said your name is Marco¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am¡±.


    ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t think there is any point asking you too many questions, the important thing I have to tell you is that you should take your work seriously, make sure that you wake up as early as 5am, clean up the whole house, both in and out, after that you wash my car, before you wash the clothes, are you listening to me?¡±


    She paused for a while, watching Marco.

 Chapter 44.

    ¡°Yes ma¡± Marco replied, scratching his head.


    ¡°Now I will show you where you will be staying, and when I get inside remind me to give you the key to the boys quarter¡±


    ¡°But how about my sry ma¡± Marco asked nervously.


    ¡°Let mend before you bury me¡± she snapped.


    ¡°Oh sorry ma¡± Marco apologized.


    The woman ignored his apology and continued with her statement.


    ¡°Your sry will be five thousand cedis every month, if you damage any of my things I will make sure to deduct it from your sry¡±


    ¡°All right ma¡±


    ¡°Good, first of all Iam taking you inside the kitchen, I want you to tidy it up, you have to do the dishes, and mop the floor¡± in a jiffy, Marco followed her as she walked her way towards the kitchen.


    ¡°This is the kitchen, do as you were told and be very fast about it, I want toe in and cook dinner for my daughters¡± she concluded and went into the sitting room to Join her daughters.


    Marco was left in the kitchen all alone, he stood for some time and survey the untidy kitchen, he became so confused because he did not know where to start the cleaning.


    The pots were dirty and are as ck as a charcoal, dirty and used tes littered every corner of the kitchen, nylon of breads, peels of fruits, ntain, potatoes and other dirty stuffs deposited every where, the kitchen looked as if it had not been swept for one month.


    Marco could not understand why people could be so carefree about their situation, was it not the same kitchen she had been using day in and day out? And yet they were not bothered about it cleanliness, considering the fact that the woman  had two daughters at home who could approximately be 15 and 17, Marco could not understand why the woman did not maintain a neat kitchen.


    What If he was not employed at that point in time? So that was how the whole ce would have been untidy? He kept wondering, opening a pot to see what was inside, he quickly covered his nose as the pungent smell from the decay food hit his nostril.


    Apart from thinking of the steps to take in cleaning the messed up kitchen, another thing that bothered Marco to a great extent was why he had agreed with the woman when she mentioned four thousand cedis as sry, but he didn¡¯t have the courage to disagree, because on the other hand he felt that the four thousand was still reasonable, considering the fact that he would not have to pay for the house rent, and at thesame time she would be feeding him.


    When he realized that he had spent a lot of time thinking, he attempted to start from somewhere.


    Marco started by washing the dishes before he proceeded to sweep the floor, when he was done, he looked for a clean rag to clean the wall stained, the entire cleaning took him less than thirty minutes, and by the time the woman came into the kitchen, she was extremely impressed, sheplimented him by saying ¡± well done¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She brought out some foodstuffs and handed it over to Marco, she instructed him on how to prepare the item and asked him toe and inform her after he must have finished preparing them.


    She immediately went back into the sitting room to continue watching the movie with her daughters while Marco remained in the kitchen to get the items ready, he was finding things difficult because he was not used to this kind of responsibility.


    Marco had to put in more efforts to ensure that the ingredients were nicely prepared, he had to apply  his initiative to get them ready, when he finally finished, he went and knocked at the door leading to the sitting room, the woman came out instantly and was ready to start cooking.


    She brought out everything she needed for the cooking, including the ingredients which Marco had helped her to prepare and seasoned everything into the pot, she lit the gas-cooker and ced the pot on it, within a few minutes, it started to steam, she remembered that she needed some tin-tomatoes.

 Chapter 45.

    ¡°Lydia! Lydia!¡± She called her eldest daughter.


    ¡°Yes Mom, Iaming¡± the girl replied, and with five seconds she was in the kitchen.


    ¡°Go into the bedroom and get my handbag¡±


    A minuteter she returned with her mother¡¯s handbag, the woman took the handbag from her, opened it and brought out a hundred cedis note, meanwhile the girl had returned to the sitting room and could be heardughing with her younger sister over a funny orogramm that was being ryed on the television.


    ¡°Marco, where are you?¡±


    ¡°Iaming ma¡¯am¡± he replied from the back of the room where he had gone to pour away some water.


    ¡°Drop the bucket immediately and take this money, go across the road, you will see a small kiosk, buy me tin-tomatoes, hurry I need to add it to the Vegetable on fire¡±


    ¡°Alright ma¡¯am¡± Marco replied looking around for his footwear, he did not find then, however he did not allow that to dy him as he ran bare footed out of the kitchen to do the woman¡¯s bidding.


    He got to the shop and bought the tomato paste, the shop keeper was trying to look for a small bag to help keep it, but Marco could not wait for that, as he dashd back home with great speed.


    He was about to enter the building when he felt a sharp twist on his neck, he had no inkling as to what exactly was happening.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make any sound, if you do I will kill you right here¡± a voice warned him.


    Marco could not believe what was happening, it was like a dream.


    His assant turned and looked intently at him, he saw a tall dark and ugly looking young man spotting a trouser with a zer, he became more afraid when the guy revealed a loaded double barrel riffle under his bazer.


    ¡°Have you seen this before?¡± The guy threatened.


    ¡°Y-yesss¡± Marco trembled like someone suffering from epilepsy.


    ¡°I say shut up, I don¡¯t want to hear you make a noise¡± he quickly removed his mouth from Marco¡¯s ear and looked around in a suspicious manner, ¡± Snake! Silence!¡± He called out.


    Instantly two other guys emerged from the back of the fence and joined him, each with a pistol.


    ¡°Take us inside¡± the first guy ordered him.


    It was then everything became clear that the house had been attacked by armed men, an idea shed into his head.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Please I don¡¯t live here, I don¡¯t live in this house¡± Marco cried out.


    ¡°You are joking with your life, do you want to die?¡± The first guy warned him, holding him tightly and shaking him fiercely.


    ¡°Man, let¡¯s shoot this guy¡± the other guy cut in.


    They moved backwards a bit and made as if he wanted to pull the trigger.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t shoot me, I will take you inside¡±.


    When the two guys heard him, they pulled back their guns while the third guy still pointed his at him.


    ¡°Then do that fast!¡± The first guy ordered.


    Marco took some steps forward, the two guys walked behind him, while the first guy was still holding and walking at thesame level with him, as they walked towards the main entrance, Marco felt sharp pain under his left foot, he knew fgt a broken bottle had pierced him.


    But that was not as painful as the gun pressed into his temple, the broken bottle could only hurt his foot, but the gun was capable of putting an end to his life his body suddenly became so hot, like a rubber melting away very easily.


    His twinge of conscience prompted him to run away but he had assured himself that running away was as bad as death itself, if he had attempted it, he would not have remained remained alive.


    Marco thought that the robbers were going to knock at the door on their own and then set him free, but when they got to the entrance, he realized that he was going to be used as a bait in the operation.


    ¡°Knock the door now, when they answer, you call your name¡± the first guy whispered into his ears once more, ¡± I say do it now or I will scatter your skull¡± he threatened.


    Marco¡¯s hand became as thick as wood, he had suddenly forgotten how to knock the door, instead he opened his palm and began to beat the door.


    Whichever way he did it, the robbers did not care a hoot, what mattered to them most was a response from within.


    ¡°Who is there?¡± The woman responded from inside, but she didn¡¯t hear any corresponding response from outside.


    ¡°Who is there?¡± She yelled aggressively once more.


    Marco voice was so constricted that it only became eased when he saw the gun starring at his face, ¡± it-it-it is me¡± he drawled.


    The woman upon the recognition of his voice went ahead to open the door, but before she could say Jack, the two other guys rushed at her, pointing their pistols at her forehead, at thesame time the first guy dragged Marco inside the house and shut the door, when the two daughters saw what was happening, they screamed with terror and made an attempt to run upstairs.


    ¡°Silence, get them, get them fast¡± the first guy shouted.


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