Episode 6

That afternoon, the steaming heat of the sun thrashed me with the hostile energies of its malignant intensity. l had reached home pounding aggressively on the door, but no one opened the door. l paused for a while and l heard Blessing's voice clearly. She kept talking as l knocked. She spoke so effortlessly as if her mouth was a musical instrument that just let sound out when touched, her stream of sentences punctuated by her factitious laughter. My jaw clenched hard; l was sweating profusely as a result of the blistering heat of the sun. "Open this door!" I growled angrily, kicking and pounding at the door. Blessing opened the door seconds later.

"Are you nuts? Are you deaf?" l thundered.

She flashed me a smile, her head shaking slightly as though it needed assistance to avoid falling off her neck.

"William!" she exclaimed, "I didn't know you were the one at the door."

"You must be an idiot! What sort of creature are you?" I shouted at her and, then walked past her and entered the living room.

Crystal was sitting on the sofa, close to the television. "Welcome; you are out of prison already?" she asked as though she expected me to remain in prison for a number of years.

I just hissed and entered my room. I came out few minutes later and sat on a sofa next to Crystal.

She pretended she didn't see me and kept staring at the television screen.

Blessing turned to my direction and beamed her ugly smile. "You look taller and more handsome too," she said to me happily.

"Yes, l too, have noticed that, your head has grown bigger and you now look shorter than before.

Your ugliness, also, has heightened to that of an ape," l said rudely.

"What? That was harsh, "Crystal said sharply, looking at me. "You have no conscience at all," she added almost immediately.

"Useless boy; even as pretty as l am, you still have the guts to compare me with an ape. Well, l don't blame you," Blessing defended.

"Even a blind man would say a high-pitched tufiakwa on coming close to you," l said, looking at the television.

"William, stop that; she isn't that ugly," Crystal said, directing her gaze at Blessing.

l laughed aloud. "Seriously, you even admit she is ugly. Your mouth bad pass my own oh," l hollered.

"What is the matter with the both of you? Crystal, look at you; are you more beautifer than me?"

Blessing's voice rose notches higher.

"Oh my God! my head, my stomach, my chest," Crystal screamed, holding her head with her right hand and putting her left hand on her stomach.

I got scared and watched Crystal closely to understand what she was up to.

"What is the problem, Crystal? What is wrong with you?" l asked.

"Did l just hear beautifer; I think l'm fed up here. l'm done with you guys," Crystal said and stood up, still holding her stomach and her head, too.

"How is Father's health now?" I changed the subject, now speaking more seriously.

"I don't know; Madam has gone out with Oga this morning after you left," Blessing replied.

"Hmm, but for how long has he been ill?"

"You came out of prison last week, right?"

"Yes, that's correct"

"Em, I think it was last two weeks. He kept complaining of headache, fever, typhoid, malaria, chest pain....

"Shut up!" l interrupted her immediately.

"When did this illnesses begin, was the solemn question l peacefully asked you." And then, l thought deeply about Father; he brought me out of prison with his influence and probably with a lot of money. It was a debt l didn't know how l was going to pay him back, considering his nonchalant attitude towards his family.

Mother came back few minutes later. She came back with a friend of hers whom she had jokingly told me was her sugar mummy on one occasion before l had gone to prison. Mum's face was dull, bearing the mystery of a spanked child. I stared closely at her as she walked in. The deep dimples in her cheeks now looked more like permanent fixtures as though someone had sunk sticks into her cheeks.

"Mum, what is the problem?" l asked. l didn't care to greet her; l didn't think it was necessary.

"Your father is the problem. The sickness just getting worse. They said they observed symptoms of tuberculosis and syphilis, too."

"They said? Who said l questioned curiously.

"The doctor, of course; who else would say," the other woman who had come in with Mum said instantly.

"Woman, l wasn't taking to you. l think you should mind your wretched business here. Besides, this is a family discussion; l don't know what you are doing here," l cautioned her.

She tried talking again, but Mum hushed her, gesticulating that she should keep mute.

"A test is being carried out, so we will know in due time which of the diseases us actually troubling him," Mum continued.

"Okay, that is better. When will the test result be ready?"

"Well, the doctor said we should come tomorrow. I hope it should be ready by then."

Even though a part of me hated Father because of the kind of life he lived, a greater part of me still wanted him alive. Perhaps, l couldn't bear the thought of losing Father. He was still my Father, l thought. l stood to leave as Crystal walked into the living room.

"Mummy, good afternoon," Crystal greeted courteously.

"And who is your mummy? You impostor!

What gave you the effrontery to set those tiny, filthy legs of yours in this home when my husband is not even at home, eh?" Mum snarled, pointing directly at Crystal. Crystal fidgeted fretfully with her fingers and stood speechlessly, lowering her face.

"Mum, that is uncalled for. Dad is sick and that is why she is here," l replied on her behalf.

"So, here is the hospital where your Father is staying, right? You are protecting her from her shameful and disgraceful self. Well, no problem; its well," Mum shouted disappointedly and left with her friend who had been silent all this while.

"Thank you," Crystal said in a low tone.

"You shouldn't thank me at all," l said as l walked into my room and lay cautiously on my bed.

After few seconds, Blessing called my name in a manner that had scared the wits out of me.

l ran out just instantaneously.

"What is the matter?" l asked, looking around to be sure there was no sign of danger around.

Blessing smiled smugly and shook her head slightly. "Someone is here to see you. Go to balcony," she responded.

l sighed and walked reluctantly towards the veranda.l stopped abruptly, gazing at the young man that stood casually by the iron-coated railings of the balcony. "Was this for real?" l asked myself, clearing my eyes to be sure that l wasn't daydreaming.

"James! James! is this you?" l shouted as l ran towards him.

"Chairman, how far?" James asked as we shook hands.

"Seriously, where have you been? l didn't see you in prison or where you in another cell?" l asked inquisitively.

"It's a long story; just chill. l promise to fill you in later on. But l have a better package on point this night, man."

"James, you have not changed? Do you still want to end up finally in jail?"

"Once is a mistake and twice is a sin; no one is going to prison. l think l have learnt from mistakes. This is on point and l mean it. After this operation, l have arranged some classic babes to satisfy us until dawn." He paused and gazed at me, and then continued. "l'm telling you this is for real."

l scoffed and thought for a while. "Why do l have to be involved for James to carry out his plans?"

"Well, James l'm in; anyhow you are still the boss. l can't fall your hands."

"Okay, meet at brass junction at exactly 10:00pm."

"l will be there for sure; l still have your number in case something comes up."

"Don't disappoint me. Eh, lend me five hundred dollars, guy; am broke this days," James pleaded.

"No problem; what else are friends for?" l dipped my hand into my pocket and gave him the sum of seven hundred dollars. He smiled keenly and left the house shortly. l wondered what James did with all the money he obtained from the robbery operation he carried out. Probably, it was always like that, spending his money carelessly on women and drinks. That was usually how illegal cash were used up: on things that have no value.

It was 7:00p.m. the same day. l walked from one end of my room to another, mumbling to myself. l took out my gun from my pocket and smiled on staring at it. I wasn't going to shoot anyone definitely, but when ever a gun was involved, people listen and obey without hesitating. It made me feel powerful.

My phone rang immediately and l rushed towards it. "Why is James calling now, it isn't time yet," l murmured as l grabbed my phone. It was Mum who was calling. l sighed dryly "What does this woman want this time around?" l mused and picked the call. To Be Continued....