TEMPTATIONS

The only part of the service I enjoyed was the testimony part. The reports were overwhelming. I believed in God once again but some I doubted it. The first report was great. It was a healing through faith and with the evidences provided I knew it wasn’t a lie. The second guy was a joker. He came up with stuffs like he didn’t have any money and haven’t eaten all day. He walked through three shops to ask for credit purchases but was denied. On the long run he ended up at the ATM machine to just check his account and when he checked he saw eight hundred thousand naira in the account unexpectedly. When he found out who paid later on, it was a fraud he pulled long ago. And he still praised the LORD for that. The pastor reminded everyone about tithes and offering and prayed and that was all about service.

I rushed home as I needed to get to the toilet. The shit needed a comfortable place where smell wasn’t a thing to consider. My wife was used to it but with this pregnancy I don’t think I’ll use the toilet in the bedroom. I was in the visitor’s toilet for more than ten minutes and then I heard a knock on the door. I quickly ended the toilet adventure with air freshener and hurried to open the door. My wife was standing behind me as I opened and saw a lady with an elderly man and one old woman. I knew it was Jehovah witness people the way they were dressed. We greeted as they asked to come in. I asked them what for and they introduced themselves and pointed to their daughter as the reason they were here. We allowed them in and in a bit the narration started.

The man started; oga I wanted to come alone before but in our tradition she must be present the first day I’m meeting my daughter’s husband. She had told us all that happened between both of you and as she must have told you we are from the traditional home of the igudus. Our daughters don’t do abortion else three people in the man’s family will die also with her. Secondly whoever gets her pregnant must marry her. If he denies her he will run mad after seven days with no cure. These statements are not to scare you but to make you understand the implications.

I cut the man short and asked “who is pregnant and who got her pregnant?” I seem not to understand.  The young girl knelt down and called me by my first name; Daniel I don’t intend to do anything to hurt you or your family but when my parents found out and told me all these I had no other option than to bring this into the open.

Now it’s getting more interesting. My wife stood up and asked the girl and her family who is responsible for the pregnancy and in a chorus answer like they planned it pointed at me. She looked at me and yelled wont you say anything Daniel!!! I tried to calm her down and then my questions started. Have I ever seen you before young lady? She answered yes and I asked where. She gave me a rundown of my life; my work place, my hobbies, where I hangout, the things I like, the banks I use and I felt like crying immediately because with these evidences provided I was in deep shit. The only way out was a DNA test but trust was about to leave my marriage from a lie planned from somewhere by someone I can’t figure out.

The elderly man stood up and looked at me….. young man you know the implications. Think about it and get back to us. A word is enough for the wise. They all left and now I have to face my wife and convince her about the whole lie. When I walked into the room her call was to her mother to please come and pick her because she might soon die from the curse I just inflicted on the family. The first temptation; after a supposed church service.

GETTING THE RIGHT PERSON

Recently I got into an argument with a friend and in all time spent I discovered that perception is a tool for seeing differently from another person. It's like beauty that they say it lies in the eyes of the beholder. I went ahead to ask one question what of ugliness? The answer was simple……. Ugliness is just a degree of beauty that drives most into the negative part of our sights. The truth goes further to expatiate that what lies within could cover up for what is on the outside. Which means there are virtues one can have, to cover up with the degree of beauty one possesses. Same with the beautiful people; beauty without brains….. hmmmmm. 

I have a friend who in all realities of love at first sight she would score zero. The beauty and the curves that lie on her face are negative in sight. The defects are not accidental, they are natural. She now lacks the virtues of good socialization but possesses almost all the vices of environmental communication.

We sought a religious explanation to her supposed problems and the session we had with the pastor produced these results

The religious leader listed the following as virtues and vices respectively.

Virtues: humility, liberality and mercy, chastity and continence, patience and meekness, temperance, abstinence and self control, love of God, love of neighbour and love of enemy, fortitude and courage.

The vices are: pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth.

As much as I believe we all understand the virtues just listed I have a conviction that we don't all understand the unethical stands of the vices. He went further by explaining the following as it affects her

No 1 Pride: whenever you see yourself talking about a guy and you say am I your mate or I'm not your class. You have pride in you. That moment you see yourself better than the guy you should have married based on the fact that you see yourself as better than who you really are. You loose on a perception prideful thought. This has affected many ladies who today are thirty and above but don't know where the issue started from. 

No 2 Greed: whenever you wish you had the boyfriend or husband your friend had instead of appreciating the one God has given you, my sister greed has set in. you might end up sleeping with all your friend's boyfriend before you discover you have left your future based on the greed that lies within you. It's a vice try to stop it 

No 3 lust: excessive sexual desire. "Lust detracts from true love". As many ladies read this they know within themselves they are professionals in this particular adventure. Lust is involvement in sexual acts and adventures for no genuine reason. Money is no good reason for lowering your potentials in front of a man. If you persist in these acts; I can be so sure you've made your husband your customer. 

No 4 Anger:  in the Nigerian context you'll hear some ladies with these slogans “he is just so annoying”. I can't stand him any longer. All these are reactions from little incidences that even the devil can forgive and we hold it so strong that we loose our future to a supposed temporary act. For going out there to watch soccer with his friends; you can’t stand him any longer. Hmmm my sister your reward is in heaven. 

No 5 Gluttony: I need to be really particular about this Oliver twist kind of ladies. No man like s you for eating and drinking like a fool. Whenever you are around you are hungry and when he takes you out, you drink more than him and his friends added together. He will definitely run away one day because for him to have savings and build a future; you mustn't exist in his life. 

No 6 Envy: these are people who sorrow over another person's good. When you have sadness over another person's success….. My sister you are envious and you have to stop . It includes both sorrow at the prosperity of others and joy in their hurt. A person who has envy in his heart sorrows at the good fortune of others because she regards it as a hindrance to her own good. The truth is your friend's fiancée wouldn't have married you if he didn't marry her. God will provide for you the real man just stop being envious. 

No 7 Sloth: laziness many don't know is a sin. Some ladies are in the habit iof postponing everything. Even washing of their underwear can be postponed. They are lazy in every other thing apart from pleasure. Sloth is extreme laziness when it comes to God’s issues but it goes further in respect to our environment. They find it so hard to do good because it has no reward and they are loosing a future based on that. 

When he finished he asked her in all truthfulness; how many of this do you think you have as a vice and her response was all. Let’s all take a moment and check ourselves and see how many of these lie within us and then we’ll understand why we need change to affect our future

PERFECTION IS A FLAW

I didn’t believe I was the same person she was talking to. It has not always been like this. Christie has always been a darling girlfriend. It was close to me proposing to her. I took her from the gutters in her pains into the memorable success which she is today and all I can get from her was this humiliation I saw today. 

I was walking down the street whilst publicly chanting to disturb the neighbourhood if anyone wanted my services as a housekeeper. I made an average of N600 a day. My works ranged from cleaning to babysitting, washing of clothes and clearing of grasses. In short I was a GRA (general running around). I was diligent in this work and I prayed one day I would make it so well that my children wouldn’t suffer the same stead which I suffered. It was an unbearable pain for me at first but after a while I got used to it.  Christie was sighted after cleaning chief’s house beside a gutter crying profusely and I wondered what a little girl like her is doing there. I walked towards her and asked what was wrong. She told me her story and the pains in me grew stronger. She had lost all senses of identity as I escorted her to bury her mum a couple of days later. She was all Christie had and now she was gone. There was nothing else. The house was practically empty thus I made a promise to her which I fulfilled. I told her I would sponsor her through school and from the proceeds of my hard work; my first responsibility started.

She moved into my house and I had to be a father and brother to her. It was her senior secondary school days and in two years she was writing her SSCE. I paid and when the result came out she graduated the best in her school. The pains and blisters showed up as the best thing in her result. I prayed and thanked God for giving me the opportunity to be able to partner in her success. It was time for university admission and we did together also. She never joined me in the labour of days that produced the first school fees and resumption in the university seems the hardest thing for me to do. I borrowed money from friends which took me months to pay back but the matriculation was awesome. The glamour of that day was a blessing I would never forget. Days passed and months before she came back home as the first semester has ended. When she came back, she was looking different. Emotion arose within me and I pushed a little towards her for a relationship that would last a lifetime. To me now it was an investment. The day I disvirgined her, we both cried and promised ourselves heaven on earth. Which she also did. The whole aroma of love was scented in the air and the blessing that followed was when someone gave me a car to be using as a taxi. My income increased and taking care of her was easier. Days passed and months passed also and the final exams period started.

My daily contributions was collected and without stress she was about to graduate and I know my first success could now be pronounced. She came out with a 2^nd class upper thus after youth service it was easy for her to get a job. It was at this moment that Christie changed. The sexual part of the whole relationship stopped. Quarrels were easy for her to build and in seconds she reminded me in names calling that I was an illiterate. It was always painful and one faithful she brought a guy home. I was furious when I entered and I saw her sitting on the guys lap with their tongues twisted in each other. I snapped and raised my voice on her. To my surprise, the same good girl I saw sitting beside the gutter the first day I saw her shouted back at me and called me names. She rushed into the room and parked her things. She wrote a cheque of 200,000 naira as a departing gift and that I should never contact her again.

Her final words were “I should look for my mate” …………. Victor I can’t marry an illiterate like you.

So funny how life treats us sometimes and I looked at myself in pains and anguish as tears dropped from my eyes. All my life efforts are gone and God permitted it. Please is it fair what she did to me?

HUNTER'S TRAIL PROLOGUE

Pains and pleasures, love and hatred, peace and worries, fears and faith, joy and sorrow…. Mixed emotions I have lived with in this over thirty years of my existence but one thing I am so sure of is in all things I give thanks to God. From childhood to being who I am today, I have built friendship and caused hatred, made relationships and broken many hearts, loved and have been loved and sincerely I’ve had my share of heart breaks also.  The celebration is about to get jiggy as friends are so willing to share their Saturday with me in this new Port Harcourt city I found myself. But I must leave my fans with something so interesting on my birthday.

Exactly 10 years ago in the ancient city of Benin, there lived a girl called Rolly. She is an example of a beauty. She had a ideal shape and good looks. Her diction was perfect and her morals were on point. Her personality was heavenly as she can pass for the most decent girl in the city but something exposed the other side of her. She wasn’t all we knew her to be….. and in the course of my life I celebrated a birthday that got her invited and the whole episode started. Rolly was the pride of every man in the city. Daddies queued like they needed a second or third wife in her, uncles oppressed us at her presence and even pastors and reverend fathers acted like they have to lead her to Christ. But all these people were misplaced just for me.

The hassles of getting all set for a celebration isn’t that easy. Moving from one point to another and getting to make sure the dj was on point not to talk of drinks being chilled and food being ready. I didn’t know what a party planner was called then and the whole arrangement was based on little resources daddy and uncles gave me coupled with the little one i could steal.

I called all the girls I could remember in Benin and some guys so that my party could be the talk of the town. At 2 pm I had like 16 girls in my house for a party that was to start by 4pm. The dj started with some slow songs and the atmosphere was going to be turned up later. Dad and mum had left the house for me thus the whole essence was misbehavior. For the first time it took me close to thirty to pick the right cloth to wear and afterwards I decided something simple would be better. The sitting room was crowded which was against  our plans thus we controlled the crowd by moving them outside but I saw someone was struggling to get in. I looked at Susan as she was struggling to get in and I paved the way for her. In a bit the sitting room was cleared and there was free flow of human. Drinks were in excess and the whole house looked like a love garden. Sincerely I felt like Gatsby at one of his parties.

happy birthday storyteller

Girlfriends were beefing themselves as they all wanted my attention. Vera was with my room key, as Omo was wearing a jersey with my name printed on it. Zara was with my car key as Tina was coordinating the servers. All of them were showing relevance at a future that doesn't belong to them. Susan was on the phone as she stepped out of the gate and the entrance was a gift. I turned back when she tapped my shoulder and with a sigh of surprise; beside her was Rolly. I wiped my hands clean on my cloths to give her a hand shake but the words that came out of Susan’s mouth was “Hunter this is my gift to you on your birthday….. Take good care of her”. Sheepishly like a sheep led to the slaughter she came close to me and publicly for the first time in my life I gave a kiss openly.

The so called birthday gift was the beginning of what happened to me and I call this story the hunter’s trail. My name is Emeka Hunter and ………………………………………

SHADOWS OF THE PAST PART 4

The next morning saw me doing a lot of work. Editing my person online and changing to become someone else all for the sake of money. I asked myself one question: why would I want to con this lady and run away with her money when I can get her pregnant and marry her and have a share of the money she has…….. Then the reply came. She’ll find out I was a lie. I can’t lie too long about this.

We were supposed to have lunch and I choose DUNES restaurant.  A place of class and luxury. I’ve been there a couple of times to show my frail participation in spending but today I was going in for an investment. I looked into my savings account and I emptied it. It wasn’t that much though; but I could boast of sixty five thousand naira. 

It was 1.45pm and I heard her call, she was leaving her hotel room with a cab. We agreed to meet there. Greg has agreed to be of help since his uncle had travelled. It means the 2014 C Class Mercedes would be available for me. We apparently got there at the same time and I dished out all the assignment in the whole world to Greg like he was really my driver. He obediently answered and drove off to be back in one hour or more. 

Entering the mall where the restaurant resides was like as hot knife penetrating butter. Everyone greeted me like they did to governors and celebrities. I walked majestically like the building was one of my father’s properties and she was surprised everyone knew my name. We got a seat near the balcony to have a sight over Maitama and when we were done ordering I knew I have just spent nine thousand. I planned it before hand because I can’t afford to empty my account and wallet the same day. 

She told me more about herself and every minute the amount I was going to steal from her increased. How and when I don’t know. I ordered for a bottle of red wine to follow suit and she was so interested. She wasn’t really used to this Bulgarian wine and the concentration caused her to be a little tipsy. I called Greg immediately to pull over which he did without hesitation and it was when we were in the car back to the hotel that I discovered it was possible to kiss and have the greatest sex of all time with her this lovely evening. All I lacked was a condom. But the lady I saw can’t have HIV

I struggled with her upstairs and when she finally got into her room she was passed out already. I pulled the gown off from her shoulder through her breast and down to her hip and slowly lower to her heels and all I saw was a lovely woman without panties on wearing a black bra. She told me to cover her and instead of using clothes I used my body to cover her. I concentrated on the breast and lips for the first twenty five minutes and when I got lower I was there for over an hour. I didn’t allow any space of rest in her as I started the peristaltic movement of my waist. The entrance was wet and that was needed. I banged like it was my last time and made sure she reached orgasm multiple times. I didn’t hesitate to do it faster anytime she requires and when we were finally done and tired…… the real work started. 

I looked at her and asked why she likes keeping money inside the safe when there are banks downstairs at the lobby. She said she doesn't keep much money in her safe any longer. Anything more than $200,000, I don’t keep in the safe. Immediately I heard this I started touching her again. She tried to oppose me but I brought out the African nature in me. It took seconds for John Thomas to respond and the response was strong and hard. I plunged into her again to consolidate before I ask for the password to the safe or better still I was going to use the phone call approach. 

This time around she held me so tightly. There was something natural about her and as we held ourselves I pulled my phone and sent a text to Greg “please call me or flash immediately”. It seems he was waiting for the text to deliver and the next thing was a call on my phone. I stood up to receive the call and as nature will have it I made it a distress and an appeal for funds. She asked what the problem was and I said it was some truck drivers from the company who had an accident and they need money tonight. She asked how much and I said like $3000. 

She gave me a pat on the back and struggled to stand up. She walked towards the safe and opened it. It wasn’t a clear sight as she counted out some notes and came towards me. She threw it on the bed and said baby that’s four thousand dollars but I’ll need the naira from you. I need to get some things and the bureau de change here isn’t favourable. I willingly gave her the remaining forty five thousand naira with me. I called Greg to drive down immediately as we kissed ourselves and I stepped out of the room. I don’t need the password to the safe again. I have the password to the safe owner. Greg was always on point and for all his effort we drove straight to zone 4 to change a little to party. I gave him $500 for his effort and planned to change $500 for myself. He was changing $200 for himself and when the guy changing the money flashed his light on it; he told us the dollars were not genuine. When he sincerely showed us real dollars I knew I’ve been duped. Stella is really a good player and it’s time for second half.

SHADOWS OF THE PAST PART 3

I was born into a family that respected me a lot. I was the only boy in the midst of five girls. Male children are the pride of an African father. My dad was a successful businessman and I was the heir to his throne but along the line something happened. When I was seventeen years old also, my dad lost his sight. It was a painful experience for everyone in the family as we can’t fathom where this attack came from. The series of events that led to him loosing his sight were pathetic incidences. He was ill for over six months with no diagnosed ailment and when he finally regained his strength; he lost his sight. From that moment onwards we became very close. I was with him all day and he told me all the stories in the world. He told me how he met my mum and wished my mum was still alive to take care of him. I missed my mum also but I never said that to anyone. 

One particular day, my elder sisters came home with a lady holding a child that looked like an albino claiming he was my father’s child. That he impregnated the women and left her when he was doing business in the east. I heard when they were planning but didn’t suspect they were up to anything. They approached my dad in his closet and told him about the woman that just came from abyss to affirm the paternity of her son. My dad denied knowing any woman by that name and that he had no affair with any woman. The struggle went on and on as my dad said he wasn’t part of the play. He sent for his lawyer and made a will. I guess he knew he was going to die. Few weeks later he died. The funeral ceremony was the talk of the town and surprisingly afterwards the whole family was gathered to hear the testament left by my father. It wasn’t much of readings as all his companies and shares were given to me. It brought a squabble in the family as my elder sisters took to the court to challenge the rationale behind a father giving his only son all his property. 

The first of my sisters who challenged that died three weeks into the case. She was just having dinner in her house as she felt choked by her food. She started coughing and as posterity would have it; she died in the hospital not too far from her house. The other sister who also challenged the fact that I was the only son of my father died in the bathroom. She slipped and her head hit the toilet seat and she died also. Eight years after, my third sister tried to raise an eyebrow; she is also paralyzed and I don’t know how these things happen. Whoever tries to ask questions about the will, always have problems coming around them. 

You can see we have almost the same issues affecting us. Left with lots but has people trespassing. I called a property firm lately to look into the properties left for me and see how we can manage it. That should be done next week. She listened attentively and I could see it in her eyes that she felt so good about my story. 

Now that both of us has created defenses about whoever comes close to our wealth; let’s see who falls first. I stood up afterwards as it was now late. I was about to leave when she offered me to sleep with her. I looked at her and told her next time I would, but as for today I had to go home. That act really buttressed my story. She felt I was the real thing and in pity I looked at her and concluded she would be the one to give me those monies herself. I would never walk to any safe; all would be demands. 

She picked her phone immediately I left the room and placed a call to Thompson. He just left now she said and I think he is nailed already. He believed all the stories I told him about myself and when he told me his story, I believed what you said. That guy has money and property. I asked him to stay for the night but he rejected for a next time though which would be tomorrow. The sincerity in his tone was pitiable and I know I would soon end him. Just give me two weeks. 

When I got home I called Norbert to buy some weed that we could smoke. While chilling at the roof top of my late father’s only uncompleted building looking at the stars as we smoke, I told him the story of this particular lady I met. She is a multi millionaire. When she told me her history; I fashioned one story for her. The same story I told that girl that came with Thompson the other day. She believed immediately and in my mind I know I would squeeze her till the last dime. Homeboy …… we are made. Just keep praying for me. 

I couldn’t sleep all night. I was figuring how to continue the life I just lied about and in the middle of the night a call came through to my phone. I looked at it and it was Stella calling. I picked it up and acted like I was fast asleep and the only question she asked me nearly put me into confusion. Sorry to wake you up dear; please what’s your first sister’s name again? I can’t remember ever telling her my sister’s name thus I ended the call like it was network. I was about to mess up. What names have I used today…. I started thinking as the call came in again. I picked and complained about network. Then told her my first sister’s name was Mrs Janet Komolafe. She said okay, it means she is not the one. Good night dear. I replied good night. Immediately I sat up and pulled my laptop close to me to edit my life on the social network. Putting it on broke my heart as it showed low battery ………. And NEPA won’t stop misbehaving.