Trapped 21
Trapped 21
Trapped 21
By
Lot
aDi
buaandKi
zi
toMar
ti
ns
Tabl
eofCont
ent
s
Pr
eface
Dedi
cat
ion
Chapt
erone:
Somet
hingaboutl
ove
Chapt
ert
wo:
Theyal
way
slef
t
Chapt
ert
hree:
Needl
e’
sey
e
Chapt
erf
our
:Bl
i
nd
Chapt
erf
ive:
Broken
Chapt
ersi
x:Fear
Chapt
ersev
en:
Nol
i
fel
i
ne
Aboutaut
hor
Pr
eface
“
Trapped”i
sanant
hol
ogyof7f
lashst
ori
eswi
tht
rappi
ngsi
tuat
ions,
dil
emmasandbr
oken
f
eeli
ngs.
“
Trapped”i
sco-
wri
tt
enbyLot
aDi
buaandKi
zi
toMar
ti
ns,
aut
horof“
Stor
iesNotTol
d”
Copy
right
Everydist
ri
buti
onoft
hisbookwhetherbyanyelectr
oni cormechanic
meansmustbedonewi ththeexpr
esspermissi
onoft heauthorand
copyri
ghtowner.Nopartofi
tmaybeal t
eredorplagiarizedbyanysecond
orthir
dparty.
Cont
actaut
horat
:
Ki
zor
it
a@gmai
l
.com
I
nst
agr
am andt
wit
ter
:
@Ogaki
zi
to
Facebook:
Lot
aDi
bua
Ar
tbyJust
inMai
n
Dedi
cat
ion
Thi
sworkisdedicat
edt
oal
lthel
essf
ort
unat
eonesl
i
vingwi
tht
rappi
ngsi
tuat
ions,
dil
emmas
andbr
okenfeel
ings.
Chapt
erOne:
Somet
hingaboutl
ove.
Ther
e’ssomet
hingaboutl
ove,
Ijustcannotexpl
ain.Iwi
shIunder
stoodi
tenough.
Mamausedt otell
usst or
iesofpapa,
v erylovel
yst ori
es.Sheusedt otel
lusofthegentleman
shefel
linlovewithandmar ri
ed.Shetoldusl ot
sofsweetst ori
es,asideofpapawehav enev
er
seennorwi t
nessed…apar tofpapawehav enev erhadtheoppor tuni
tytot
aste.Asfaraswe
cantel
l,papa’ssweetnessandangeli
cat ti
tudeexistedonlyinmama’ sstori
es,andthepapawe
knewmadet hosestori
esmamat oldusseem l ikefair
ytal
es,fair
ytal
esshewishedcouldcome
toreal
it
y.Thepapaweknewwasamonst er,aselfi
sh,heart
less,abusi
vedrunk.Papawasa
deadbeat.
Papahadbecomenot ori
ousforhisl
oveforogogoro,not
hingcouldangerpapainasmuchashe
hadabot tl
eofogogorotowashhi smouthandquencht hefi
reignit
ingi
nhim.MamaOv ie’
s
j
ointwashi sonl
ypointofcal
l.Papawasoneofhermanycust omerswhower eloyalt
ojusther
j
oint.Rumourshaditthatsheusesjuj
utomakehercust omerssticktoherj
oint
.Oneneeded
j
ustal i
tt
letast
eofherogogor o,
andthatwasallittookt
obecomeaconst antcall
erathershop.
Li
ttl
ewondershehadnamedi t“Ogogoroti
ll
eternit
y”
Besi
desOgogor
o,Papapr
efer
redt
osat
isf
yhi
ssexual
urgeswi
tht
hewi
dowsi
nthecommuni
ty.
Howhewooedt hem andev ent uall
ygottopenet r
atebet weent heirl
egsremainsamy ster
y.
Papawasl i
vi
ngt helif
e,eventhoughhewasn’ twealthy,hehadogogor oandal otofwidowsto
callonwhenheneededt osatisfyhisdesi r
es.Papawasl ivi
ngli
kewedi dn’
tmat t
ertohim.
We'vel earnedtogr owupf ather l
essevenwhenourf atherwasaliveandgoingaround
disgracingthefami lydail
y.Wegotr i
diculedconstant l
yatschool andathomewhenpl ay i
ngwi
th
ourpl aymates,wel earnedtolivewi ththeendlessridicules,i
thadbecomeourwayofl i
fe.
Wel ear nedt ofendf orour selves,butmamaf ishbusi nesswasn’ tboomi nglikebef ore,shehad
l
ostal otofcust omer s.Myki dsisterandIhadt oswi ngintoact ion; shehawkedmama’ s
smokedf ishroundt hecommuni tywhi l
eIdidanyoddj obIsawar ound.Wewor kedv eryhar dto
sur vi
veonourown.Thi siswhyIhadgr ownupt odespi sepapa.Hewasabur dent ous, a
l
iabi l
ity,hewasourcur se.Papabr oughtnot hingbutshame, somet imesIwi shmamahadbor e
usf oradecentman.I twasv erydiff
icul
ttobel i
evepapawasoncedecent .Whathad
transf ormedpapat ot hismi screanthehadbecomewasanot herquest i
onmamacannotanswer ,
j
ustl ikeFej i
ro,myki dsi st
erhadonceaskedherwhyshedi dn’ tr
epor tpapat ot hepol i
ceaf t
erhe
hadbr okenbot hherl egs.Amongstt hetri
oofus, mamawast heonl yonewhost illhadhopei n
papa.Shest i
llbeli
evedt hathecoul dchange, andwhenev ersher aisedt hei ntentionf orusto
prayf orpapat ochangedur i
ngourusual dai
lymor ningdev otion, wewoul dkeepqui etandal low
herpr ayal one.Howpossi bleisitthatawol fcouldbecomeal amb?Myki dsi sterandIwasno
fanofpapa, especiall
yaf tertheincidentthathadl ef
tmamawi thbr okenl egs, andtheot her
whi chhandl eftmamahospi tali
sedf orweeksaf terhehadhi therheadwi thhi sogogor obot tl
e
becauseshehadempt i
edhi sbot t
leofogogor oandf i
ll
edi twi thwat er.Personal l
y,Ihadswor n
nev ert ol etpapamal t
reatmamaormyki dsisteranymor e, thiswaswhywhenpapawas
stampi ngheav il
yonmamaaf t
ershehadaccusedhi m ofr api ngFej irothepr ev i
ousni ght,Ididn’
t
thinkt wi cebef oreIthrustoneoft heki t
chenkni vesdeept hr ought hebackofhi sneck.
Chapt
erTwo:
Theyal
way
slef
t.
Theyal
way
slef
t.
Theywi
llst
ayforawhil
e,justt
omakeaf oolofmeandmyfeel
i
ngs,butevent
ual
l
ytheyt
akethei
r
l
eavewit
houtremorse.Theynevert
urnedback,
toseemyhear
tshatt
eri
nginamill
i
onpi
eces.
Theyal
waysleft
,lkeanOgbanj
i e.MaybeI’
m cur
sed.
Fi
rsti
twasSandr a;shet
ookmebyst orm.Ithoughtwhatwehadwasr eal
,veryst
rongli
kea
di
amond,nothingcanbreakit.
..t
hatwaswhywhenshel ef
t,i
ttookmef i
veyearsbefor
eI
deci
dedtogiveloveanotherchance.ImetSoni a,andt
henSof i
a,bothweren’
tdif
fer
entfr
om
Sandr
a.Theywer everymuchal i
ke,v
erylovi
ng,v er
ybeauti
fult
oo,yetsocunni
ng.Theyleft
.
Mamawasn’
tmaki
ngmy“
wif
ehunt
”easi
erf
ormeei
ther
,“i
fyounoseebet
terwomanmar
ryf
or
thatAbuja,comehome.Comest ayforWarr
iandgivemej ustoneweek,onl
yoneweek,Igof i
nd
betterandfineUrhobogi
rlmakeyoumarry”
.Sheoftenboastedinourphoneconver
sat
ions.As
i
ft hatwasn’tenough,
befor
esheendedhercall
s,shewil
lsay“ifshenosabicookmyfavouri
te
owohandst arch,
nocarr
yam comehouseo" .
Shel
eft
.
Sandr
a,Soni
a,Sof
iaandEv
a.
Theyal
way
slef
t.
Chapt
erThr
ee:
Needl
e’sey
e.
Ididnotcareabouttheri
verl
ookingredlikeJesushadturneditt
owine,nordi
dIbotherabout
theweightoftheheavybagIwascar ryi
ngonmyhead, norstoptothi
nkandponderaboutthe
consequencesofmyact i
ons.AllIcar
edaboutwas; r
unningfaraway,ver
yfar,
asfarasIcan
from myshadow.What everi
ttakestokeepmef ewmetersawayfrom mypastandclosert
o
theli
feIhadalwaysdreamedof ,Iwil
ldo.I’
m st
uckbetweenmypastandmydr eams.
Everydawn, Ist
ruggl
et ostayali
v eti
lldusk,
andev erydusk, Ist
r uggl
etosur
vivetheevi
lslur
king
i
nt hedarktil
ldawn.Lifeintheslumsi snevereasyf oranyone, andespeci
all
ynotwheny ou’
re
anor phan.Techni
cal
ly,Idon’tknowi fIcoul
dbet aggedanor phanwhenInev erhadthe
pr
ivil
egeofev erknowingmyf amily
.Ijustwokeuponedayi nthest r
eet
sandIhav ebeentryi
ng
everydaysincethatday,toseet henextdayhowev erpossible.
Theli
tt
leIknewaboutmy selfwaswhat everIwast oldbyMonst er.Monsteristhegeneralin
commandoft heMakokosl um.Hal fdrunkandsobert hatday,hetoldmehowhehadseent he
gi
rlwhohaddr oppedmebyt heri
versi
de.Hewast aki
ngapoopononesi dealongtheri
v eras
hewatchedherkeenl ydel
iberati
ngami dstherselfwhet hert
ot hr
owmei ntheriverorl
eav eme
bythesidet
il
lIpr obabl
ydieofst ar
v at
ion.Accordingt ohim,sheleftmebyt hebankoft heriver
aft
ershehadsi ghtedhim stari
ngather .Hechasedatherwi ththei nt
ent
iontomakehert ake
mebackandcar eforme, butshehaddi sappearedi ntotheslum.
Monst
ercont
inuedhi
snar
rat
ion;
IKungocar
ryyouaf
terInof
itcat
cham.Napl
ant
ainl
eafIKun
taywrapyou.AsIdaywakagodomynor malduties,
Iseeonegi rlf
orr
oad.Icarryyougiveam,
Kunwarnhersaymakeshet akecareofyouwellorIgodr ivesheandherf
ami l
ycomotourl and.
Theyeyegirlnohearwor d.OnedayIseeyouf orwhereshedunabandonyouf orunderone
tabl
eformar ket
.Thattimeyoudunr eachli
ketwoyear s.Youwearoneteartearpant ,
IKunpull
am wearyouoneofmysmal lboxer
s.Everyt
imeIseeyoudeyr unpasswiththatboxers,Igo
deyremembert hefi
rstdaywhenIpi ckyouforthatri
ver.Ithi
nksayyounogof itsurvi
vebutyou
dunbigfi
nishandyoust il
ldeyali
ve.Onedaysefyouf itsti
l
lbecomegeneralofthisourlandli
ke
mebecauseourt wost oryjustr
esemble.
Ironi
cal
ly,amanIhatedsomuchf orhi
scruelt
yanddemeani ngnat ure,hadbeenmysav iour
andf ai
rygodf
atheracoupleofti
met hatIdi
dn’tev
enknowof .Butunl i
kethedreamsMonst er
hadofmebecomi ngthegeneral
ofMakoko, Iwantedmor e.Iwasabi gdreamer,li
tt
lewonder
noneofmymat escouldfi
tinwit
hme.Iwasaonemansquad.Mybi ggestdr
eam wast oleave
theslum andfi
ndabet t
erli
fesomewher eanywhereinasmuchi twasnotanot herslum.This
waswhyIdi dn’
thesit
atetotakethechancewhent heoppor t
unitypresentedit
selfinagold
platt
er.
Istar
tedonmywayl eav
ingi
tallbehind,
theslum,mypast.Ther
ewasnofr
iendorf
ami
l
ytosay
goodby et
o.Ihadalwaysbeenalonesol di
er.Theonl
yfamil
yIhadcomet
oknowwastheman
drowninginhi
sbloodbutIcaredless.
Ididnotcareabouttheri
verl
ookingredlikeJesushadturneditt
owine,nordi
dIbotherabout
theweightoftheheavybagIwascar ryi
ngonmyhead, norstoptothi
nkandponderaboutthe
consequencesofmyact i
ons.AllIcar
edaboutwas; r
unningfaraway,ver
yfar,
asfarasIcan
from myshadow.What everi
ttakestokeepmef ewmetersawayfrom mypastandclosert
o
theli
feIhadalwaysdreamedof ,Iwil
ldo.I’
m st
uckbetweenmypastandmydr eams.
Chapt
erFour
:
Bl
ind.
Iam deadbutmyhear
tisst
il
lbeat
ing.
Ihavebeenstandingher
e…standingverysti
ff
,mot
ionl
ess,li
keastat
ueinthemiddleofmy
bedr
oom, di
rect
lyundert
heceil
i
ngf anwhoseseasonalsqueaksi
stheonlysoundthatcanbe
hear
dinmysmal l
onebedroom f
lat.Iwasli
keonewhohadseenaghost …actual
ly
, Iwas
l
ookingatone.
Thi
ckbal
lsofsweatr ai
seddownmybodyast houghIwasawat erfountain.Myheadwas
spi
nni
ng,mynosewasr unny,
andmyl egswerebeggingmetositforawhi l
e,butIj
ustcoul
dn’
t
movebecausetheghostIwasl ooki
ngat,wasboldl
ystari
ngback…asi fthatwasnotenough,i
t
wasmakingmocker yofme,mockeryofmyl ast5years…5yearsthatgavemyl i
feasudden
twi
st,
averymiserableone.
Iremember edmydad’slastwordstome;“…justgoaway,
you’
vecausemeenoughpain.Iwil
l
forgetIeverhadasononcey oucloset
hatdoorbehi
ndyou”hesai
dangri
l
ywi t
hhisheadbowed,
eyesclosed,andtear
sroll
ingdownhisbul
gycheekswhil
ehisri
ghti
ndexfi
ngerwaspoint
ingat
thedoorashespoke.
Thatwasfi
vey ear
sago,aft
ermymum hadpassedawaysuffer
ingf r
om asuddenri
sei
nher
bloodpr
essur
e, f
oll
owedbyasev er
ehear
tfai
lur
e.Dadwasnotmi nci
ngwordswhenhesaid
“…goaway…”thereweresecur
it
yguardsi
nplacewit
hstr
icti
nst
ructi
onstorest
rai
nmefrom
attendi ngmum’ sfuneral.Unli
ket hepr odigal son,evenwhent hingswentr ough, r
uggedandsour ,
Inev erwentbackhomet omyf ather.Itwasnotev enanopt ion,dadwasnotonet ogobackon
hiswor dsandIwasnotonet oswal lowmypr i
de.Dadwi l
lnotmi ssmemuch, Iwasagoodf or
nothi ng…agoodr i
ddance, besides, hest i
ll hadt hetwins,butIhav enobody .Myl i
ttl
er ebel
l
ion
hadmademel osetheonl yfri
endIev erhad, mysweetmum.Myt winsister
shadal waysbeen
myf ather’
sbeloved.Theyar eev eryt
hingIam not ;i
nnocent ,good,rel
igi
ous, obedientandsaint
ly.
Theydi deveryt
hingpapat ol
dt hem t odoandexact l
yashet oldthem to,andIhat edthem fori
t.
ThiswaswhyIdi dn’tevent r
ustt het earst heyshedwhendadaskedmet ol
eav ehishouseand
nev err et
urn,
andwhent heypl eadedwi t
hmet ogoaskf orpapa’smer cy,Iwasbentondoi ng
exact lytheoppositebecauseIhat edtof eel l
ikeIwasact ingaccor di
ngt opapa’sscr i
pt.
Now, i
t’sall
becomi ngcl earer.Icandeci pherthewr iti
ngsont hewal l
…whydi dittaket hislong
beforeIreali
zedI’dbeenacomf am maga?Chi kewasmyonl yf r
iendf r
om campust hatkepti n
closetouchwi t
hmesi nceaf terIdroppedout .Henev erstoppedt or emi ndmeofhowmuchhe
owesmef orthet hreey earsIal l
owedhi m squatwi t
hme, t
aki ngcar eofhi sfeedingandal l
…and
whenev erItr
ytowav eof fhisoverlygratefulatti
tude,hewi l
l putupapr otestpleadingt hatI
all
owhi m showasmuchgr ati
tudeashecan.Chi kewasmyconf idantandwi seki ngSol omon.
Hehadawayofcomi ngupwi t
hanopt imal soluti
ont oproblemst hatseemedl ikeanEv erestto
cli
mb.Thi swaswhyIt rustedChi ke’sj
udgmentwhenhesai dt odr opoutofschool i
nor dert o
takecareofmynewsmal l
fami l
ywast hebestdeci sion.All
t hesey earsI’vebeenassur i
ng
my sel
fthatIdidt herightt hing…now, If eelmiserableandhopel essl ikeausedsani tarypad.
ThisghostI’m staringati sabr ownenv elopecont ai
ninganot efrom Shadewi that ypical
doctor’
shandwr i
t i
ngbeggi ngf ormyf orgivenessasshenar rat eshowChi kehadgother
pregnantbeforeheshov edheri nmyway ,apaternityandpr egnancyt estr esul
tsconf irmingher
clai
m andaweddi ngcar dofherandChi ke.
If
orgi
vet
hem t
hough,
butnextSat
urdayIwi
l
lcommi
tmur
der
.Fornow…
Iam deadbutmyhear
tisst
il
lbeat
ing.
Chapt
erFi
ve:
Br
oken
Br
oken!
I
'
llt
ell
youmyst
ory
,ofhowIwasbr
oken.
May
,2013
"Dusttodust
,ashto.
..
"ther
ev er
endfather
'svoi
cecoul
dbeheard.Mot
herear
th
graci
ouslyr
ecei
vedtheremainsofFatherencl
osedinacasket
.
Mum,hear
twr
enchedint
omanyfragment
s,t
ear
sendlessl
yfl
owi
ng,
aspadei
nhand
wi
thsandoni
t,per
for
medherl
astduti
est
oherhusband.
No!I'
m notheretot
ell
y ouofhowfather'
sburi
al went
.Orhowf ol
kswer eladenedwi
th
emotions,sy
mpathyorfalseempathy,
asthecasemi ghtbe.Iwon'tt
ellyouofhow
devastat
edmum was.Howshewant edtojourneywit
hfathert
ot hegreatbeyondas
sheapparentl
yhadnothinglef
ttol
i
v efor(
hey!whataboutme? ).
August
,2016.
I'
l
ltel
lyouofhowIwasbr
oken.Br
okenbyamancal
l
edst
epdad,
dad.I
'
llt
ell
youofhow
Il
ostittohi
m.
Iwasbarel
y13. Hewoul
dcomei nt
omyr oom, comeclosetomeandwoul dtouchmeat
bi
zarr
eplaces,mychest,
myt high,mybuttocks.He'
dmakemesuckonhi sscrot
um.
He'
dbitemyni ppl
es.Hewouldf i
nal
lyi
nserthispeni
sintomybut t
ocks.Ididn'
tcommi t
si
n,di
dI?No.Sundayschool t
eachersaiditwasasintof or
nicat
ewiththeoppositesex.
Hewasn'toftheopposi
tesex.
Itwoul
dbecomear out
ine.Him sucki
ngonmyni pples,meonhisscrot
um,andthent he
penetr
ati
on.I
treal
lyhurt.I
twouldmakemecr y.Mum neededt oknowabouti
t,If
elt.I
wantedtotel
lheraboutitbuti
twasobv iousshewoul dn'
tbeli
eveme.Shewouldsimpl y
debunkitasdel
usionofamour ningchi
ld.Ist
il
l hav
en'tgott
enoverthel
ossofmyf ather,
shewouldsay.
June,
2016.
Iwon'ttel
lyouofhow, threeyearsl
ater,
UncleSammycamei ntothepictur
e.Uncl
e
Sammy ,r
ememberhi m?Mum' scli
ent,
theonethatpresentedthefatenvel
opeat
father
'sburi
al.Iwon'ttellyouthestor
yofhowuncl eSammyr ender
edmum somuch
help.Ofhowheof f
eredt opaymyschool f
eeswhenbusi nesswasbadf ormum andt
he
fundswer esi
mpl ynott here.DoIneedtotell
youofhowUncl eSammy 'sst
atus
changed?Ofhowhebecamemyst epdadordad, asmum f orcedmet ocallhi
m?
Sept
ember
,2016.
Hewoul dcomeint
omyr oom t
oo.Butthi
sti
me,akni
fel
aidbesi
deme.If
ear
ful
l
y
t
hreatenedtocutmysel
fifhet
ouchedme.Ascuff
lewoul
densuebet
weenusandi
t
wouldresul
tinmeteari
ngmyarm, usual
l
ymylef
t.
Atmum'snot
ice,
heli
ed.Hewouldt
ellherofIwasinv
olv
edinastr
eetf
ight.Hewoul
d
cookupst
ori
esaboutmyrecentmi
sdemeanours.Iwoul
dn'
tbeabl
etodefendmysel
f.
Iwasbr
oken.
Dayslat
er,
Iwoul
dfindmy
sel
fleav
inghome,
onaj
our
neyt
oSt
.Thomascol
l
egewher
e
I
'dbecomeaboarder.
Nov
ember
,2016.
Wit
hmyheadsbowed,
eyesf
aci
ngmypaper
,handcl
utchi
ngmypen,
I’
ll
tel
lyoumy
st
ory.
Thest
oryofabr
okensoul
,asoul
thatl
i
vedandst
il
ll
iv
esi
nsi
deofme,
ayoungboar
der
.
Chapt
erSi
x:
Fear
Thel
astt
imet
hemoonst
oodi
nfr
ontoft
hesun,
theki
ngofOzudi
ed.
Abi
gtr
oubl
eiscomi
ng.
Thechi
efpri
esthadconsult
edwi
ththegodsandtheyhadmadei
tknownt
ohi
mthati
ntwo
dayst
ime,t
hemoonwi llst
andi
nfrontoft
hesun.
Thel
astt
imet
hemoonst
oodi
nfr
ontoft
hesun,
theki
ngofOzudi
ed.
Chapt
erSev
en:
Nol
if
eli
ne.
Mamadon’
twor
ry,
I’
llbebacknextyear
.
Isai
d,t
ryi
ngt
ofi
ghtbackmyt
ear
s..
.
Mamacr i
edandwai ledli
keonewhowaspossessed.Theonl ytimeI’dseenmamacr ythisway,
wasf i
veyearsagowhenf ourablebodiedmenhadbr oughtpapa’ sl
if
elessbodyhome.Papa
wasstungbyasnakewhi l
ehewasatt hefarm.Wedi dnotj ustcrybecausewe’dlovedpapa
dearl
y,wecr i
edev enmor ebecausepapa’sdeathspeltdoom f orus.Papawasoursol ebread
winner,
withhim gone;mamahadt oswingintoacti
on,justsowecanhav eourdailybread.Sti
ll
,
povert
yhadr efusedtoacknowl edgemama’ seffor
ts,hencemydr ast
icdecisi
ontogosear chf
or
alandflowingwithmi l
k,honey,money,foodandany thi
ngt hatcouldtakeusfewmet ersand
evenmi l
esawayf rom povert
y.
Thatwasexact lytwelv
emont hsagobef oreIcamet oAbuj a, t
helandwher eev erystr
angeron
theroadisaki ng.I’dnoonei nAbuj a,nor elati
veandnotev enaf r
iend.Didn’ttheysaypovert
y
hasnof ri
endsbecausei tstenchessobadl y?Twomont hsIlivedinstr
eet,sleptinabandoned
busesatnightandwor kformydai lymeal bycarr
yingwar esf orbothtradersandt hei
r
customerst owher evertheywant edar oundt hemar ket.ThiswashowImetUche.Uchewasa
dri
verandhadcomepi ckupt hewar eshisogamadam hadpai df
orearli
erint heday.Aft
er
l
oadingthet runkoft hecarwi tht
hewar es, Uchehadi nvit
edmet opayav i
sittothehouse
wherehewor ked."worknodeynowoo, butyoubef ineboy...myogagol i
keyou”Uchehadsai d
smil
ing,whi l
eIst oodal i
ttl
econfusedwat chingther earofthecarasi tcrawl edfrom t
he
congestedmar ketint
ot hemai nroadwhi l
emyheadwasst i
llbatt
li
ngtodeci pherwhatever
Uche’sstatementmeant .
Asifthedev i
lhadopenedmyf il
eandhasswor nt omakel i
fehellforme, t
hebusst opwhereI ’
d
mor ethanenoughabandonedbusesf ormyshel t
er,wasdemol i
shed..
.andthemar ketwhereI
workedaswar es’carr
ier,
wasrelocat
edast heybot hdidn’
tfittheAbuj aci
tymasterplanno
thankstothepol i
ciesofthenewFCTmi ni
ster.I’
dnomor ecardst oplayanditseemedmyt ype
ofhustleandtheki ndofbigdreamsIhad, wheremi lesapart.TherewasnowayIwasgoi ngto
“makei t
”ifIconti
nuedt hepathIwast r
eading,eit
herIchangemydr eamsorgosear chfor
Uche..
.afteral
l,"I
’
m af ineboyandhisogawi lll
ikeme" .
"
Ihopeyou’
rer
eadyf
ort
his,
becauseonceIt
akeyout
omyogat
her
e’snot
urni
ngback"
.Those
wereUche’swords,t
hatmoment,Iknewwhat everi
twasIwasgetti
ngintowasgoi
ngtobe
ser
ious,butwhatdoIcar
e..
.wasn’
tthehardshipI’
dsuffer
edser
iousenoughtodr
iveonecr
azy
?
Mymi ndwasmade; Iwascompletel
yinf
orwhat everi
twas.
Uche’
sogat
urnedoutt
obeanol
dAl
haj
i
,av
eryweal
thyone.Ihear
dhei
sanexmi
nist
er,
hehad
tobebecauseI ’
dnobet terexpl anat i
onst ofitt
hekindofmansi onheli
vedi
nandt hef l
eetof
l
uxur ycarsthathisgaragecoul dn’taccommodat e,Icanbetthatnotevenj
ujucanmakeone
thiswealthy
, onl
yaNi gerianpol it
icianwhohadembezzl edpubli
cfundshal
fofhistimein
servicecanaf f
ordthi
ssor tofluxur y.Alhajii
sagay !Heprefer
redyoungboysforhissexual
pleasure.Al
thoughhehadt hreewi v es,theywerejustamaskt oshiel
dhist
ruecravings.Well
,I
want edmoney ..
.alotofmoney ,andy es,Iwasreadytosellmysoul f
oragoodaskingpr i
ce.I
t
turnedoutIwasgoi ngt osel lmor et hanmysoul .
Itwasjustthef i
rstmonthofmysecondy earwor ki
ngforAlhaj
iwhenMadam Rukkyhadcal led
meoneev ening,shesaidAlhajihadinst
ructedhert opaymeof fbecausehewaspl anningon
trav
elli
ngoutoft hecountry.
..thi
stime,withoutme, andhewi l
lbegoneforlong.Iknewhe
hadn’tfoundoutaboutFunkeandI ..
.whyt hesuddenbr eakup?Toobad, Iwaslookingforward
tohiscontinuouspatronage.Wel l
,mypay offwasahandsomedeal .I
’dtousemyl efthandt o
covermyl efteyesoIcouldcar eful
lycounttheeightzerosbehindtheone,si
x,nineont he
cheque.Iwasn’ ttoosurpr
ise,Alhaj
ineverhadr espectformoneynomat terwhatcurrencyitwas.
*
** *
***
**
Idon’
tknowwhatdemonmademebuyt
hedai
l
iest
hatmor
ning,
Iwi
shIdi
dn’
t.
"
Topex-
mini
stercont
ract
sHI
V/AI
DS.Tr
avel
sabr
oadf
ort
reat
ment
s-Fami
l
ydi
scl
oses"
.The
headli
neread.Iwaseagertor
eadthest
ory
,topassmyusual judgmentsatt
hosepol
iti
cians
that
'dembezzlenati
onalf
undsandwouldl
aterassaul
tsexual
l
y ,gi
rl
syoungenought
obet hei
r
daughter
s.
"
Ex-
mini
ster
,Al
haj
iBakodi
agnosedwi
thHI
V..
..
..
..
..
".
Coul
dIhav
econt
ract
edt
hedi
sease?Wer
e
thesymptomsf orsupposedf ever,act
uall
yforHIV/AIDS?Amedicaltestr
ant henextday ,
confi
rmedmyf ear
s,Ihadnotj ustcontr
actedthevir
us,andIhadcancertoo...analcancer.My
worldcrumbled!Mylif
eruined.IwishIhadnott akenanytest;
Ishould’
vejustfall
ensi ckanddi
e
slowlyobl
iv
iousofthecauseofmydeat h.ButnowIknow, ofwhatuseisthisknowl edgetome?
Whent her
e’sli
ttl
eIcandot osav emy self
.
Mamawor dscamebackatme, li
kedagger s.AllIhadwer eregretsandwi shesforasecond
chance,butsi
ncetheywer en'thorses, Icouldn'
tridet hem.Ihadt ocommencewi ththe
antir
etr
ovir
alandchemot herapy .Slowl yIwasl osingitall
;fr
iends,money ,pr
opert
ies..
.Iwasn’ t
readytolookint
hemi rr
orandseemy selfinragsagai n;Iwasn’treadytolosemyf amilytoo.I
plannedatri
pbackhomet haty ear’
sChr i
stmas.I twasagr andhomecomi ng,mycomi ngal ways
camewi thgoodti
dings,l
ikeSant a,Ihadmoney ,muchmoney ,ver
yplentymoneyf oreveryone,
most l
yformymum andsi bl
ingst hough, thenwhat ev
erIcanspar eforthosewickedshamel ess
unclewhowi l
ldoanythi
ngj usttohav eaf ewmor enai r
anotes.
I
’dl
eftstri
ctinst
ruct
ionsonhowmyhousewast olookli
keuponcompl eti
on,
andmademy
i
mmedi ateyoungerbrot
hersignat
orytoallmybankaccount s.Everyt
hingwasset;Iwasready
t
odienow. .
.Iknewmyf ami
lywon’tgohungryanysoonerift heymanagedproperl
yallofthe
moneyI’dhoardforthem st
ashedindiff
erentbankaccount
s, bot
htheonesIstol
eandear ned.
Mamahadhadl it
tl
esuspici
on,shebotheredmewi t
hquestions; “
..
.thi
sonethatyou’r
edropping
i
nstr
uctionsl
ikecowdunkso,areyougoingsomewhere.
..Howlongwil
lyoust
ay?Myson, hope
ever
ythi
ngisokaywithwork?Youknowyoucant al
ktomei ft
here’
saprobl
em abi
.
..youknow
whattheysayaboutprobl
emsshared.
..
”Ijustbr
ushedmama’squesti
onsasi
detel
li
ngherof
howbusyIwouldbei
nrecentweekshandli
ngtoomanyproj
ect
satwork,
mamawasnotonet
o
fl
ogadeadhorse,
she’
dlef
ttheissueonceIhadassur
ehert
hatther
ewasnot
hingt
obr
eaka
sweatov
er.
28thDecember2016; Ilef
thomef orAbuja.Iwasseat edatthebackseatofmyLi ncolnnav i
gat
or
Lwav ingatmysi blingsandmama.I t’
salway semot i
onalwhenI’ml eavi
nghome.Ast hecar
enginekickedtol i
fe,memor i
esstartedfloodingin,memor i
esoft hefir
stti
meIlefthomef or
Abujanotknowi ngwhatt hef
utureheldf orme, notknowingwhatmyf atewasorwhatwoul d
t
h
becomeofme, butthisti
mewasdi f
ferent,Iknew.Iknewt hat7 Januar y2017,
Iwillarr
ive
homeagai natt hebackseatoft hissameSUV, butnotseatednorsmi l
ingnorwit
hlotofmoney
foreveryone,Iknewt hatIwouldbehomeagai n,thi
st i
me,lyi
nglif
elessinawoodenbox, Ihope
i
twi l
lbecomf ortableenough.
Mamadon’
twor
ry,
I’
llbebacknextyear
.
Iwavedamidstt
ear
s,myfi
nal
goodby
etomyf
ami
l
y.Theywer
esmi
l
ingast
heywav
ed,
whi
l
e
thosewor
dskeptfl
oat
ingi
nmyhead.
..
Mamadon’
twor
ry,
I’
llbebacknextyear
.
AboutAut
hor
.
Lot
aDibuaisaci
vil
engineer
ingst
udentofuni
ver
sit
yofNi
ger
ia,
Nsukka
andshelov
esthepenexperi
ence.
Ki
zi
toMar
ti
nsi
sawr
it
er,
recor
dingar
ti
standi
stheaut
horof“
Stor
iesNot
Tol
d”