ONCE UPON A TIME PART 1

I got a seat in the middle of the 2500 capacity lecture hall. That’s the largest the school had then. It was meant for general classes but this time, we were expecting someone who is coming to lecture both the students and lecturer. Prof Fredrick Duines is a world renowned sociologist who had bagged all the awards with his ideas in sociological theories. A contemporary with Parsons and Merton, whose view about neo Marxism is the greatest the world has seen. As a 200 level sociology student then, having the opportunity to listen to Prof Duines was the most amazing thing. It took the hall five extra minutes after I sat down for it to get filled. Pressmen were in attendance checking their microphones and camera for a good view of this presentation. Lecturers brought out their laptops and tablets and many took pleasure in the conventional jotting with pen on paper. I was prepared to get the best out of this, thus I sat far from all friends. Departments in attendance were sociology & anthropology, political science, International relations, economics and philosophy. 

We all stood up to greet the vice chancellor as he walked into the lecture theater. He had discovered the hall was too small for the presentation. Calls were made and in a short while canopies were arranged outside with screen for students who didn’t make it into the hall. The microphone was tested and the vice chancellor was introduced by the dean of social sciences.

Vice chancellor: today our great institution is hosting a world renowned social scientist that has spanned his knowledge and combed his ideas in the wheels of theories. He is a great influence to many and a friend to all. Prof Fredrick Duines graduated from the prestigious Harvard University where he also lectured till he was seventy five. He did his first ethnological research in Nigeria. Today he has chosen our institution as a ground for his academic deposit. Thus I expect all present here at the moment to get the best out of what he is about to present. 

As he was rounding off his speech, Prof Duines walked in and all stood up as he waved us. The registrar walked him to the stage and age could tell from his voice. The first words that came out of his mouth were “I need a chalk and a chalkboard”. I’m a teacher not a motivational speaker. Clapped roared the whole hall as a white board was manufactured in seconds with different markers showing up. He wrote in capital letters “ONCE UPON A TIME”.

God created the heavens and the earth and all the architecture of the earth were in place and God handed over the earth to men. Since that day, God has been stepping into the situations for men. I’m old and religious now thus I wouldn’t say God made a mistake by handing over something as great as this world into the hands of men. The earth grew so fast and trade and investment grew larger. Societies were built and government imposed. Laws were divined from the Moses and relatively institutionalized into different societies. Kings and Queens emerged amongst the people and they demanded worship from their mates in the name of gods. Civilization started from Africa “The strongest clan of humans the world possesses” The activities of Africans are overwhelming to the world. And at a time Egypt took over the world and made them slaves. To be sincere; most commentaries undermine the strength of Egypt. Egypt captured God’s beloved and enslaved them for 400 years. God negotiated with pharaoh and he declined. He felt so powerful within.

After Egypt was dethroned power was spread across the Middle East. There was no known world power for a long time. Dynasties were built in different parts of the world but the Persians and the Greek were in preparations of the world take over. India and china were building up populations and the world was increasing. 

Not to bore you with world history; let me jump to the Romans. When the Romans took over the world they captured all of Europe, part of Africa and part of Asia. They were the most mechanized army of all times. With the technology available at that time, Rome would fight the world and would win. Their entire males were soldiers and nobility started setting into pace. They became a better race compared to others. They extended the act of slavery beyond development and it became pleasure. The dehumanization of mankind started in Rome and the world embraced it afterwards. 

After Rome came Britain, France, Portugal and America. They all had a taste of masterhood over their fellow men. Africa… the same nation that started the affair of slavery was the deposit of it. It might interest you to know that the Israelites were enslaved by Egyptians for four hundred years and Africa went through the tragedy of slave trade for same four hundred years. Nemesis: a tool of the gods. 

That’s a little history of the evolution of men through the world. Men started fighting for his freedom from the day God handed over the affairs of this world into the hands of Adam and the struggle is what I have come to discuss today. 

My first trip to Africa was on a ship. It took three months before the navigation was completed. I wasn’t expectant of what I saw. The sustainable developmental structure was immense. The political structure was wonderful. The familial educational structure was excellent. Religion was native though compared to our Christianity and Islam but there was sanity in the land. Economy was crude but improving and manual agriculture sustained the society. All these happened once upon a time. 

At these times, the colonial masters were still ravaging the lands in exploration of natural resources the African nations were not bothered about. Living was without jealousy and greed was not present in Africa. All lived well and protected their clans. The slaves were returning to Sierra-Leone and Liberia, some were relocating to their former nations. The integration wasn’t easy but acceptance was good and the locals were documenting the experiences of the sojourners in forms of arts and designs. One thing I knew existed amongst Africans was LOVE. But today that love is no more. 

My name is Olusegun Jubril and this story is all about love………

GHOST PART 3

The newspaper headlines read: police lieutenant found dead inside a swimming pool. He allegedly lost his sanity before drowning himself. At this point Helen knew it was a spiritual thing. She was scared to tell anyone including her parents she knew anything about the series of deaths occurring. But she knew something must be done and it has to be as fast as possible. 

When Helen’s mother was told about her predicament, she nearly broke down. She didn’t believe at first but after a while she couldn’t understand why her only daughter would be attached to insanity and death for coming close to a man. She told an elderly woman who advised her to seek the help of a psychiatrist thus came Dr Humphrey.

Part 3

Naomi’s incidence has just happened so Peter was cooling off at Dr Humphrey’s hospital. He always gets stable when he gets there. Dr Humphrey’s dad was an herbalist. His practice of psychiatry is a combination of both orthodox and herbal. He has an oracle to consult and could interact with the spirits on issues beyond the physical. His diagnosis is mostly metaphysical; therefore many cases are brought to his hospital. He has risen to become an elite based on his medical profession and wealth. Everybody in his community seems to be at his mercy. 

The peculiarity of the case of Helen and Peter gave Dr Humphrey some concern. He tried all his therapies on them to diagnose what could be wrong but none was working. One night he locked the two of them in a ward. He wanted to check the interactions between both of them. He called some elders who were stronger in spiritual matters to come help him understand the case before him. That night; all was for Peter and Helen. They conjured all the spirits they suspected but nothing happened. To their surprise the two were getting closer. By the third day they were sex mates with no incidence of madness or death coming from anyone. 

It was their eleventh day in a hospital without taking drugs. They were being monitored and sincerely no traits of what was reported showed up in the hospital arena. Dr Humphrey wrote out his bill and advised their parents. The relationship between Peter and Helen started in a hospital ward with the acceptance of both parents. Don’t try to stop them he said and let someone always be around them always. The families left and they practically became in laws. 

The relationship grew stronger and the families grew richer. It seems like the love was made in heaven as both couldn’t do without themselves for a day.

Then one morning; Helen had walked down to Peter’s house and demanded to talk to him. They sat at the back of the house under a mango tree. She had explained how she wanted to get settled and have her own children before she gets too old for the vocation before her. That morning they both agreed they were getting married. By evening he had gotten a ring and he slowly placed it on her finger. That night Peter told his parent about his intentions of getting married to Helen. Peter’s parent made a visit to Helen’s parent and the two succumbed to the opinion of both getting married. The fact remained they knew the secrets and were ready to keep it for themselves. 

Preparations were going on and the whole town was set to celebrate with them. The church arranged a personal marriage class for them and Dr Humphrey was supposed to be the sponsor. Two days to the marriage; Helen and Peter had gone to see a Justice Edong. They were served alcoholic drinks and after the short meeting, Helen had felt that intoxication she felt those times again. He was rubbing on Peter all through their drive back home. The cabman would have been surprised at what they were doing but he kept his mute. When they got to Peter’s house they rushed into his bedroom and had the best sex ever. She slept over that night and left very early the next morning. Her mum was worried until she knew it was Peter’s place she slept. 

The preparations continued till evening. Aunties and uncles have travelled from far and wide and it was at this moment Peter entered into the room before his case of insanity started .

GHOST PART 2

The student affair officer walked into the police station. He was escorted into the lieutenant’s office.

Good morning sir he said …… I’m here in connection with the arrest of our student Helen Pumato.

The police lieutenant sat back to explain the case at hand.

Prof, we really don’t have any proof to the cause of the man’s insanity, but we need to press this lady very well to know what she knows about this situation. In a situation like this, someone must be responsible.

Dr Humphreys report was presented to Prof Bunmi…. And he read that his insanity was triggered by an external attack. It might not be physical attack but it was a scary experience that led to the situation.  All these happened after they had sex. 

Helen had gone to Abel’s house just for a visit and rain started falling. In the mood he persuaded her to have a glass of wine to push away the cold. She accepted to feel like she was used to it but sincerely that was her first time. When she was done drinking the glass of wine; the whole room became a circus to her. Abel was a clown to her. Everything made her laugh and all of a sudden she saw her clothes being taken off by Abel. She tried to stop him in her mind but the opposite was coming out. In a matter of minutes, he was plunging into her so hard not realizing it was her first time. 

It was painful and sweet; more she was confused. A state of partial intoxication mixed with pain of the first time all in conjunction with the ecstasy of sex made her gaga. That was the last thing she remembered. She woke up with the tap from a police officer saying you are under arrest. She didn’t understand what was going on till she was writing her statement. In all of these, she was feeling some pain and asking to see Abel. It was at the police station she was told that Abel had gone insane. She broke down in tears.

Prof Bunmi had successfully bailed Helen out of the police station and promised she would return whenever she is needed. The case would be transferred to school disciplinary if necessary. The reports would be sent back to the station if anything else came out. There was only one thing Helen was grateful for; Abel wasn’t in the same school with her.

Next week Monday was the day she was supposed to report to the dean of student’s affairs office. Surprisingly when she got to the office; she was directed to the senior staff guest house by the secretary. She took a cab and went there. Prof Bunmi was alone in room 203. She told her to come.

I’m taking you away from the office environment because I don’t want this case to really get into school. Do you understand? If you go around talking about it then you’ll have yourself to blame. She became very happy for the help he was rendering and after that she started narrating the episode. It took a while before room service came and brought a glass of Chapman. She objected but with a little persuasion she took it. Her voice became blurry afterwards and she started feeling sleepy. Prof Bunmi moved closer to her and started doing the same thing Abel did to her. She liked it and gave in her all. She didn’t feel the same way she felt during Abel’s session. She was more composed here like she really wanted it. She slept a while after the session and promised Prof Bunmi no one will know about what happened between both of them.

She left for her hostel to continue the day’s activities. 

The lecture theater was filled to the brim in expectation of the GST test. The test was to hold by 7am and all carry over students won’t miss this particular class. They were all waiting for the lecturer. Helen and her friends were prepared for the test as they got a space in front to it. Revisions were going on and lots of students were jotting answers into small sheets to cheat during the test.

Dr Wefa was sighted from afar and decorum was instituted into the hall. Everyone sat where they wanted and spaced themselves enough for her not to come and start the process of spacing again. She was accompanied by two other lecturers but there was something about her this very day. She wasn’t holding test papers and the agility of the Dr Wefa we used to know was missing. 

She apologized for coming late as she said the test would not be holding today because we lost a lecturer. Prof Bunmi Douglas is dead. The hall went into a roar. Helen was getting scared at this moment. The lecturers left the hall after the announcement and proceeded into the next hall. Helen sat there for a while to compose herself. How come he died after having sex with her?  Maybe she wasn’t connected to his death. The news spread like wild fire and the news headline the next day read: University of Nuypu looses professor. She bought the newspaper and to her surprise, he ran mad before jumping into the reservoir. 

Now, two men she had sex with had suddenly run mad and one is dead. It seemed to her she had a problem, another thing told her it was a coincidence. Something keeps telling her she was a murderer and the guilt was about taking over her. Was she really responsible for the death of Prof Bunmi and the state of Abel? 

The police commissioner called Helen one Sunday morning……..…….  I just think I should let you that Abel Johnson died yesterday after he was released. He jumped into the well in his neighbours’ house. There was silence on her side of the phone and suddenly she busted out into tears. The police officer started petting her to stop and asked to come see her. She agreed and in thirty minutes he was parked in front of her hostel. They agreed to go out together and 2 bottles of Gordon spark did the work. She became tipsy and alive. All the pains of Abel and the soberness attached to Prof were gone. Now she was wild again. The officer parked the car on the road and pulled Helen close to himself. Slowly he started kissing her and in a while it was a state of ups and downs. The experience was wonderful to her and that was the first person that gave her money. He couldn’t enter the school gate any longer; thus he gave her N5000 for transportation. A distance she would pay N50. She was so happy until the next morning ……

The newspaper headlines read:

GHOST PART 1

The dream was getting closer to becoming a reality. It is just fourteen hours to the blessing that would change Peter’s status from single to married. But the ghost in the past has started showing up again. It was as if the feeling he has agreed to overcome was now overwhelming than before. He walked out of the crowd in the sitting room into his room like he was tired and shut the door. The joy of the next day has brought friends and families from far and wide into the city to celebrate with the Adebanjos. Souvenirs were packed in and the caterers were constantly making food for the non ending visitors.

 He pulled off his clothes from the hanger and changed into it. He looked at himself in the mirror and the Marks and Spencer suit was a mess to him. The first thought was for him to hang himself with the tie but he brought a razor blade and started tearing up the suit. It was the first cut on his leg that created a shout. 

The door was forced open and his Jacob saw Peter in his own pool of blood torn up inside the cloth he was supposed to wear for his wedding the next day. The ghost has returned his dad said and in minutes he was in Dr Humphrey’s hospital getting stabilized.

Helen was surrounded with friends from work and school. The hair dresser was slow in fixing her hair. The makeup guy came inside her room to test some colours on her face to know how to combine his colours the next day. All the aunties in her families have advised her on how to be a good wife. It was auntie Vera’s turn she thought as she opened the door. She slowly walked inside and it was at this point she noticed there was some form of crying going on in the sitting room. She swiftly got dressed and told the hairdresser to stop work a little. 

She hurried there and saw her mum and two other guest crying. Some were petting them to stop and she was wondering why some people were grieved and some were strong enough to console. Her dad was not in sight and that was another fear. She called Mrs Benji and asked what happened. She said go back to your room Helen I’m coming to explain to you. She was scared and confused but she retreated into her room believing it was all going to be well.

When Mrs Benji entered, she started crying also and in a feminine way. She told Helen that “we just got news: Peter’s madness has taken over him again. He has cut himself up with razor blades and now he is too bad for tomorrow’s occasion. When Helen heard that she fainted. In minutes also she was in a ward in Dr Humphrey’s hospital  

Part 1

 It was inter-house sport in Berinda College where Peter was known as one of the best sprinters in his young age. He had trained tremendously for the events and everyone was waiting to see him perform those miracles with his long legs. Other schools came and parents were in attendance. The field and long distance races started the events. The climax of the events was 100m (senior). John was in lane1, Joshua in lane 2, Michael in lane 3, Peter in lane 4, Kingsley in lane 5 and Femi in lane 6. It was a contest between Peter and Michael. During the heat; they both had the fastest run. Now it’s the final. They were all dressed to represent the house they were and the supporters were chanting their names in echoes.

On your marks ……..

Get set……….

And the whistled was blown. The sprint began with Joshua leading the first ten meters, but Michael caught up in the next ten and at this point Peter was in the sixth position. It was fifty meters before he picked up and like he was pulling everyone back he moved beyond everyone. The last ten meter was a space of jogging as he was obviously the winner. Immediately Peter crossed the line something happened. He did not stop running as he kept on circling the big field. It was his second circle that called attention to him as teachers and parents pursued him to catch him. He kept running faster and lastly when he was caught he just was screaming……..

Dr Humphrey had given him two doses of Lagatin to calm him down and when he narrated his story he said “a ghost was pursuing me”. Thus it was the pursuit of the ghost that even helped him come first in the sports. Now who is the ghost that is pursuing Peter? It took Dr Humphrey two weeks to clear Peter off this ailment and told his parents not to leave him alone for long. He should be kept in the midst of people he said. The ghost never surfaced again till his second year in the university.

It was a long night and an interesting one. From school to his hostel off campus with Bianca beside him, he felt like a king. After their light dinner, Peter had been very agile till early hours of the morning. He felt the sex like it was his first time. But that was the second anyway. He woke up and saw it was bright already. Slowly he turned to Bianca and what he saw was a ghost dressed in rags with a scary face. He ran out of the room till he got to the streets. It was at the street he discovered he came out naked. By passers came to his rescue and followed him into the room to see the ghost and sincerely it was Bianca that they saw. Peter was the only one seeing the ghost and in minutes he was in Dr Humphrey’s hospital getting stabilized.

Same incidences repeated itself around Wendy, Merida, Naomi and now Helen. To Peter, there is a ghost but sincerely there is none.