Rachael (5)

Toyosi was worried. Eric had barged into her house demanding to see Rachael but she told him that Rachael had not come by her house at all. The call from Marian had made her more nervous. Where could Rachael be? It was unusual for her to disappear without her letting someone know of her whereabouts. Toyosi was more worried that Rachael and Eric must have gotten into a fight because Eric's face was not a friendly one when he came to the house. Rachael didn't hold her cell phone and so no one could reach her. The last time she saw Eric's face like that was when she saw him beat up a young man on the street. She had since then known that Eric was a dangerous guy but Rachael was too blind to see the signs. She tossed from side to side on her willing sleep to come but she could not shake the feeling that Rachael was in some big trouble and more scary was that she felt strongly that Rachael was alone.

Marian had called everyone she could call that could tell her about the whereabout of her daughter but no one seemed to know. People had help comb the streets looking for Rachael but no one had seen her except in the early hours of the morning when she cleaned the shop and opened it up for business. Marian had called her Pastor who had advised that she get the police involved. Marian had her own troubles in life but she greatly feared that Rachael was living the same life she did. She sat down exhausted mentally and physically. Pastor promised to alert church folks so they can be on the look out for Rachael.

Marian's mind journeyed back to when she first discovered she was pregnant. She was so afraid of telling her father that she ran out of the house. She knew that her father was literally going to kill her. He barely had enough for both of them and now she was going to add another child into the already tight corner. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She had no idea where she was going to but she kept running. Then a car pulled up in front of her. It was an elderly man with a cream coloured senegalese outfit. He bent his neck so he could see her through the passenger's window. His smile calmed her down but she was nervous at the same time. "Where are you going young lady?" He asked."I don't know where yet but I just want to get out of here as fast as possible." The man opened the door and she slid in. He drove off and then she dozed off.

A knock woke her from her reverie and she stood quickly to open the door. Standing at the door was a young man. He really hadn't changed much. Still rugged in his look and stern. What was he doing in her house? She then realized that her mouth had been opened for some time. She hadn't seen him in 17 years and there he was standing in front of her out of no where. "David." She let out his name with a deep breath. "Hello, Marian. Long time, no see". The father of her child had come to her house. Things couldn't get more strange.

Rachael (4)

She woke up with a splitting headache. As she struggled to make out where she was, she could hear the sounds of birds. She raised herself up and sat up. The room was basically bare but neat. It was painted in sky blue and there was a table and chair opposite the bed with a small book shelf hanging on the wall with unevenly arranged books. The bed was quite soft and she knew she must have slept for a very long time. Where was this place? She stood up from the bed and tried opening the door. It was not locked. She saw that the passage was long with two doors on each side. She saw that the passage had a door at the end which was opened and she walked towards the opened door. It led to a small garden. She met Emmanuel seated on a wooden chair reading a book. It was quite dark but the security lights were on. The lights gave the beautiful flowers planted in the garden  a warm feel and made the garden more beautiful.


Had she been kidnapped? What was this man's interest in her that made him bring her into his home? She had so many questions to ask him. She moved to where he was seated and asked, "Why did you bring me here?". He looked up from his book and smiled. "Thank goodness, you decided to wake up. This is my house and I thought it was the safest place for you to lay low from whatever or whoever you are running from." "You are alone?" She asked with disbelief. A man his age ought to be married. "It depends on how you look at it. The fact that there are no visible people here now doesn't mean I am alone." He drew a chair to his side and tapped on it indicating she should sit, "Well, care to tell me what happened that made you start running like someone competing for a medal?" She sat and narrated the whole story to him. She felt weird and comfortable at the same time. Here she was in the middle of nowhere talking to a complete stranger. After narrating, she felt the urge to ask "How do you know my mother?" She hadn't forgotten about his admitting to knowing her mother. Strangely, she had never met him before, neither had he come to visit nor did she remember her mother mentioning him to her.

"Well, we should be talking about your safety first but I will tell you that your mother and I go a long way back. But it can be dated to when you were born. Your mother needed my help and I was there to assist. You look a lot like her. She speaks to me everyday about you. I know she cares about you a lot but you really don't care much". Rachael turned away from him and was quiet for awhile wondering how much her mother had told this strange man about her. She bet her mother told him how nasty she was and disobedient, complacent, unchristian and selfish. "My mother and I don't get along well because she always insists on my doing things her way. I am tired of being treated like a child." The man looked at her and smiled. "Then stop acting like one Rachael. You seem to think the world must revolve around you all the time. As much as you are looking out for your own interest doesn't mean your mother isn't. You just fail to see..." He looked up and looked back at her. "Rachael, God is also looking out for your own interest too. You are too self absorbed that you interpret the love others have for you as them being over bearing. Life is beyond the now dear Rachael. You know, your mother had you at eighteen?"

Rachael looked at him and it was as if the man was staring at her soul. She felt too open and she didn't like that at all. "I figured that out already. But that doesn't mean I will get pregnant at my age. I am doing all that is necessary to avoid that. I just don't want her judging me all the time. I am a woman already. I can make my own decisions." She suddenly felt exhausted talking with this man. It was like he was draining her. She felt a sharp pain below her abdomen. The running must be the cause of the pain. Emmanuel smiled. "Well, dear woman who can make decisions, this is where one of your wise decisions has brought you. Plus, you have made the same mistake your mother made. You are pregnant at eighteen." Rachael held her stomach, "What! How dare you insinuate such a thing! I have been very careful. Don't say such ever again. Are you a doctor? How can you conclude without necessary tests?" She was so angry now that she stood up. The man's calmness unnerved her. "You can call me a doctor, I won't deny it. You have been asleep for over six hours. I have helped quite a number of women who were somehow in your situation. Lets just say I know these things." Just then, Rachael remembered that her period was late by three weeks. She sat down slowly on the seat, her hand still clutching her stomach and her mouth open staring blankly at the fence. She was going to be a mother to the child of a killer who was out to kill her too.

Rachael... The story continues...(3)

She kept running and was so scared to look back. She had just witnessed a murder carried out by her boyfriend. She couldn't go home because that would be the first place they would look for her. All she wanted was to get far away from there and blot out every memory of what had just happened. She look the next turn by the left. It was quite a lonely road with bungalows separated by trees and small fences. She only saw a man jogging with his dog. She wondered if people stayed in the area. It was way too quiet.  She really hadn't come to this path before. She couldn't think clearly. She just kept running.

Eric sat down watching the lifeless body on his carpet. He was to pick Rachael up from Toyosi's house. What was wrong with that girl? She was full of surprises and had not envisioned that she would surprise him today of all the days for surprises. The room was quiet and he could read the minds of the boys. They wanted to know what he would do next. The option was to get Rachael to be quiet. Well, he could threaten her or he could kill her too. Threatening seemed like the best option but he didn't know if he could trust that she would keep quiet. His boys were watching him. He could not afford to show weakness. He had to do something. He had to make sure Rachael kept quiet. He walked out of the room. The boys began to wrap the dead body with a blanket.

A car pulled over and stopped her dead in her tracks. She was panting. She was afraid that Eric had caught up with her. As the door opened, she took to her heels again but the voice stopped her "Wait. Don't run. I want to help you". It sounded like an elderly man. She felt she knew the voice but she couldn't place where she had heard it from. She turned gently. There was something about him that caused her to feel more at ease. His face had a soft smile that just made her believe that everything was just ok. She heaved a sigh of relief but the comfort she felt just staring at the man made her uncomfortable. He looked like he was in his sixties but he stood so tall and attractively handsome. He wore a cream coloured senegalsese outfit that gave him more height. She shook her head out of her reverie when she remembered that Eric was after her. "I don't know you sir." She said glancing back and forth to watch if someone was on her tail.

"Rachael, I know you very much. In fact, I know you are running from someone and you need help. We need to go now". People spoke of angels but she usually laughed it off but as she looked at this man, she felt as though her guardian angel had appeared in the flesh. "Please sir, take me far from here, I am desperate. I don't know if I can trust you but right now, I seem not to have a choice..." She walked briskly to the car and opened the passenger's door and entered. The man slided in too and put on the ignition. As they drove off, she then realised that the man had called her by her name. "How do you know my name. We have never met." She asked though looking at the side mirrors to ensure there was no car following behind. "I know your mother and she is a good friend of mine. My name is Emmanuel." He knew her mother? That was just what she needed, A man to take her straight to her mother's fury. However, she feared for her mother. If Eric was as vicious as she had just witnessed, her mother would be in danger too. She and her mother had their problems but she would die if anything happened to her. "Don't worry, your mother will be fine." Emmanuel said with a smile. Now, this man began to scare her.

He could read her mind or was this man just weird? She was silent. Her heart was still racing. She stifled a yawn. She suddenly began to feel dizzy. Everything became hazy. "Please stop the car."But before she could hear a response, all she could see was blackness. Emmanuel accelerated. His work had only just begun.

Rachael (2)

It was past 10am. Rachael had told her mother she would be visiting Toyosi and spend the afternoon with her. Since her mother would not tolerate her visiting Eric, she had resulted to lying. What did she get for being honest? Her mother pounded and hounded her and she was really tired of fighting. It was exhausting. Eric would pick her up from Toyosi's house and they would go to the beach for a small get together Eric's friend was organising. She was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait till she was out of the house that was suffocating her. She needed to breathe.

Toyosi's house was bigger than hers with a very large front yard. She loved the serenity that came with the house. Asides the location of the house in GRA (which is the location of the wealthy), she wished she had the freedom that Toyosi had. Toyosi's father was never really around because of business trips but he spoilt her with money. Toyosi had all she wanted and needed. There was no one screaming verses of scripture and disturbing her with the need to attend church activities. Toyosi was third out of four children and two of them had chosen to settle in Sweden. Toyosi would be alone at home at the time she was to meet Eric which was why she agreed to allow them meet at her place. Eric said they would leave for the party around 1pm. She looked at her watch it was almost 11am.

Rachael felt she could surprise Eric at his place instead of going to Toyosi's house. She could hang around there till it was time for the party. Eric was the centre of her world. She wanted to be with him for as long as she could. She remembered their first night together. Though, she wanted to wait like her mother said every good girl should, Eric was not ready to wait for her. She had imagined that it would happen in a cozy environment with dim lights and music but Eric would not wait for such arrangements. It had happened in Eric's friend's truck parked behind a school. Eric had insisted and she had no choice. She felt powerless in his arms. During the act, she felt the eyes of her mother watching her and she trembled with guilt but the pleasure she was experiencing outweighed any feelings of guilt that her good conscience wanted her to feel. After that night, it had become pretty regular. She wondered why it usually happened in odd places. The last time, it happened in Danjuma's market stall. Eric had the keys and took her there not caring about her own preferences. She could not deny that she felt cheap after that but Eric kept reassuring her that his love for her constantly set him on fire. Besides, being Eric's girl was enough. His rugged handsomeness made every girl crave for him. She was a lucky girl, she thought.

Eric's head was bowed. He held his Cigarette tightly between his fingers. He was so angry that the idiot, Dennis would make a fool out of him. Watching him lie on the ground all beaten up was not enough to calm him down. He felt a throbbing headache but the matter at hand needed to be dealt with. Ola paced around the room in giant strides. Eric's room was not tidy because he never really stayed much in his own house. The posters of half naked women were plastered around. His lights were all blue colour giving the room a dark feel. His sound system was opposite the bed and a table top fridge that held all the booze was at the right corner. He really did not keep much in the house.

Dennis was lying almost unconscious on the carpet which needed a change. The floor had not been swept for as long as Eric could remember. He had tied Dennis' hands tied behind him and his breathing had become very unsteady. Marcus, his right hand man laid on the bed with a gun placed on his chest. He just wanted Eric to give him the order and Dennis would be dead. He owed them some money. He had taken merchandize worth over two hundred thousand naira. He had not only refused to pay but he thought he could hide. Eric was not the person to hide from because he had his ways of sniffing out rats from their holes.

"Give me the gun." Eric quietly ordered. "Finally! Jeez...! I was beginning you weren't man enough to end the guy. I don tire to dey look you." Marcus handed the gun over to Eric and stood up. This would be fun. It would send a message to others who thought they could take them for a ride. If Dennis got killed, all who owed them would pay back as soon as possible. The thought of money rolling in and the respect they would get made Marcus more excited. Ola stood now. He was a bit shaken but did not want to show it. He also craved the respect that being part of the gang offered him. His life had been too difficult and joining the gang seemed to make his problems go away. He however never bargained for taking another man's life. "Maybe we should give him some more time, I think after this, he would pay up" Ola said quietly with his head bowed. The silence was broken with the sound of thunder. The rain was warming up for a very big downpour. Marcus eyes glared with anger as he looked at Ola. "Oh boy! When you take join us? Do you know how we roll?" He had to control his rising voice. He felt Eric's hand on his shoulder cautioning him to be quiet. Eric looked at both men. His eyes stone cold. Ola was scared. It was as if a demon had possessed Eric. Eric walked to where Ola stood. Their eyes locked for five seconds. Eric turned. His hands held the gun at the perfect angle. A shot was fired. "Hi Eric!" The door opened. Rachael gasped. Her bag dropped. The world stopped. Marcus waited for Eric to do the needful. Eric was dumbfounded. Rachael was at the gate, her hands were quivering. She did not stop running. She had just witnessed a murder.

Rachael...

The morning was still young, the cool breeze swept through the room sending a shiver down her spine. She drew her blanket to cover herself  properly. Rachael tossed and turned on the bed but was not willing to get up. She could feel the softness of her bed and the soothing effect it gave her. It felt like her little heaven. The previous day had been a tough one. She had fought with her mother again. Well, that had become a constant event in the house and she was not going to beat herself about it. She turned to the left side of the bed where her electronic clock was. It was just 5:30am. She should have been up by 5am if she wanted to catch up on chores and meet up with Eric for the rest of the day.

The thought of Eric made her giggle. The young man had stolen her heart and she wished he would keep it in his care for as long as he willed. People misunderstood him but she knew him better than anyone else. People judged him and criticized him but she understood him. She loved him. Her mother would never understand. Why can't people understand that Eric meant no harm to her. He cared about her and she believed it. He drank a little and partied hard but hey! it was not as bad as people made it look like. Who doesn't like a little fun?

Eric was having a tough relationship with his very demanding father and the way he blew off steam was with a bottle. He was at least a lot calmer after he had his fill. Eric's father was to blame but in the society, elders are always right. "I have my own life to live and my own decisions to make. If people don't like it, then they can escort themselves to hell". Rachael thought. She would not allow her mother run her life or dictate what should be in it and not be. "I am eighteen and old enough to make my own decisions." She got out of her bed and stretched with a loud yawn. The day was going to be good. She went to the bathroom with a smile. A smile of love... She was in love!

Marian sat on her sofa just opposite her bed. The bed lamp was on and she began to wonder if she should repaint her room. She watched the curtains lift themselves up and gently come down as the wind kept coming in. It was a chilly morning but she doubted the wind was the cause of the chill she felt in her heart. Rachael defied her every chance she got. She felt this terrible fear that crippled her anytime she thought about her daughter's decisions. Her own life flashed before her. Her daughter was going down the same path she went. She remembered David and how she loved the bad boy in him. She would sneak out the window to see him to avoid her father's trouble and sneak back into her room in the early hours of the morning. She enjoyed the adventures with David. The rides and parties they had enjoyed made her forget all her worries. Well, momentarily. She loved that he prefered her to the other girls in school. She was not the prettiest in school, her father prevented her from using make up and so she felt so privileged that David would choose her despite her low income status and not so pretty face. Her father sold newspapers and did not make much. Her brother was serving in the military and was far from home. Marian remembered all the fun she had with David and how she felt true freedom.

In David's embrace she felt free. Her father was just a pain in her neck. It was like he followed her every move. Never really allowing her breathe or even do what other girls did; like go to cinemas, parties, and just have fun at sleepovers. In the evenings, he would make her read the Bible to him. She would read from one chapter to another till he fell asleep. God allowed her father live like a pauper and yet her father served Him with zeal. Her father had suffered too much. Her mother had left him to marry some rich sailor because she said his Bible would drown him in poverty. She knew in her heart that she blamed her father for her mother's actions. Maybe that was why she wanted to stay with David. David's father was a well known business man and if she could get along with David well enough, he might just marry her out of the poverty she has been cursed with. David was her saviour. The twists of life showed her how wrong she was.

She jumped out of her reverie when she heard a knock on her door. "Mum, I need the keys to the shop to clean it before the day brightens up". Rachael stood with arms akimbo as Marian opened the door. Marian went in and opened the drawer by her bed to get the keys. "Did you sleep well?" Marian asked her daughter. "Yes. I did" Rachael answered as she took the keys from her mother without looking at her and walked away. "I am going to lose my daughter." Marian whispered and caught a tear before it flowed down her cheek. It was too late, her other eye betrayed her. She allowed her tears flow freely and closed her door.

Less complaining, More Thanking...

It is so easy to see what is wrong with the world and everything around and not remember that life is a mixture of the good and the bad. We always have reasons to get angry and critical over matters but if we decide to really look deep, we will discover that life still has beauty in the midst of so much ugliness. In school; at home, at work or wherever we find ourselves we must learn to appreciate the good things we have.

Your father may not always be around when you need him but at least, you have a father. So many people will give anything to have a father figure. School isn't as fun as you would want it to be but believe me, some people would die just to have a sneak peek into a classroom. Your mum tends to use a whole tablespoon full of salt in her meals but at least she is cooking! Complaining comes easy but recently, I am beginning to see complaining as a sign of weakness.

It is a sign of weakness because those who complain never really do anything and it seems like the easiest thing to do rather than change the situation by actually doing something. We complain about everything and forget that life is so large and everyone has a part to play in it. Anyway, Lets come back home to the crux of this discussion. I want to appeal to you to be more grateful for your little blessings. And if we really look at them honestly, they are not little. God is faithful to His children and wants us to have a heart filled with gratitude.

So next time you want to complain, remember your blessings. Remember that after every rain comes sunshine. You are alive and at the best time of your life. Being young is such a blessing! You have a lot ahead of you and for you. Life is beautiful. Despite all your problems be more grateful that you are not there alone. God is there with you and will see you through. Less Complaining, choose to go down the road of gratitude!

Leave me alone!

I hear you loud and clear! That moment when you just want your parents to stop breathing down your neck with what you should do and not do. Believe me, it's not easy being where you are because parents don't know that you are no longer a 'child' and you think you are an adult and they don't see you in that way at all. Can't they just leave you to do your own thing and be your own person? Well, they could but they won't. Well, maybe not now...
No matter how grown you might look; muscular, six-packed, bearded, tall or if you are a lady, fully developed on all sides and even in the early stages of University, you will always be their child. I always tell teens, you will understand when you are a parent.

Every parent is protective of their child and wants what is best for them. Their approach might not always be the best but the more you understand they love you, it is easier to tolerate them. Truth is this, you really don't want to be left alone. Anyone who is alone will tell you they crave some sort of company and wish they had someone who could help them take decisions. God does not intend for anyone to be alone. Life is about people, friendship and bonding. The first bond you had is with your family and it will still be the strongest bond.

Parents are there to guide and provide the right counsel. Avoid telling yourself that you don't need anybody. Life gets cruel and you need someone to help you through those times. You need your parents to help you make the right choices. You need their advice on schools to pick or any other academic pursuit. The devil will take advantage of your aloneness. The Bible records that in the multitude of counsel, there is safety (Prov 11:14). We need not just our parents but good friends. When God created Adam, He said, it was not good for man to be alone. Though that scripture is quoted during weddings, God lets us know that man needs people around. Your parents, siblings and friends are the people God has put around you to help you.

Asserting your independence doesn't mean alienating people from your life  but knowing that while the ultimate decision lies with you, you need them to make you see things from different angles and your decisions are better informed. At this stage, you know a lot but not all. Don't fall for that lie of the enemy that you don't need anyone. You need God because without Him, you can do absolutely nothing and you need godly people. Whatever you do, don't be alone!