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CHRISTMAS
Christmas in London rings a bell. Despite the poverty that roams around like a wild fire, the people here make Christmas the memorable event that it is. Around the month of October and November, people troop into the town to purchase Christmas foodstuffs and clothes for their children. A child without new clothes on Christmas day will definitely feel out of place so parents place all hands on deck and ensure they save up for the annual event. On Christmas day, there is an exchange of food among neighbors. For instance, my mother cooks and gives to T.K and Mama Funke while they too give us. Such is the tradition. Food and drinks are shared among people celebrating the birth of Christ with love. The children roam around from one house to the other carrying out a ritual which is “Christmas dash” whereby people hand out sweets, gifts or money to the children who knock on their door for Christmas dash just like halloween. At night, teenage boys blow knockout an
SADUWODr. Amrah is gone 😭
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DAWN NEW YEAR
CHAPTER 59: NEW YEAR Dr. Amrah was gone and the Christmas day ended in bliss and sadness. I can’t deny the fact that I am going to miss her a lot, however I could call or text her whenever I wanted to and she promised to also keep in touch. Tonight being the 29th of December unable to fall asleep by 1am, my mother and I sat on the mat in our room reviewing how the year had been so far. In this year, I lost my father just when he had returned to us. In the same year, I made acquaintances, learnt a lot of lessons and saved the community from the ills of the demolition. My mother’s bar had recently been progressing and the peace she made with her family is enough to declare the entire year a blessing. “Fetty we have been through a lot this year” began my mother. “And we achieved a lot too.” I said. She nodded. ‘Previous years were worse.” She said. I nodded in affirmation. Our lives had improved and was way better than it used to. In a place that seems like a
DAWN DAWN
CHAPTER 60: DAWN Peter and I danced and had fun. He got us some soft drinks and we enjoyed the event till day break. We talked about lots of things enjoying each others company till it was time to leave. Peter will spend the new year with his grandmother so he left London that morning. My mother fried some sweet potatoes known as potatoe chips and complemented it with a meat sauce. According to her, the new year will usher us into bountiful yeilds. We sat on the mat in our room. My mother, Osifa, K**i, Tami and I formed a circle while we ate the delicious potato chips and sauce. While we ate, we joked, laughed and drank the soft drinks my mother had kept for us in her fridge at the bar which made them cold. After our new year breakfast, our mother went to the bar while we began packing. We will be going to our village the next day. What a way to begin the new year? I thought. We have contacted Uncle Awang earlier notifying him of our desire to grace the village and he assure
DAWN THE REVELATION
I am gradually realizing that my street seems to develop this strange stench over the years and this stink increases with time. The filth reflecting in the worn out clothes of the children aimlessly roaming the streets can choke one to death. From the famous Razzi beer parlor down the street to the GreenLand brothel adjacent my mother's bar, these places birth the disgusting stench of my environment and gradually it is becoming inhabitable. As I struggle to jump across piles of dirt littered all over, I could feel different hands and shoulders all over me. Everyone is always in a hurry in a space so small. I quickly stretched my hand out to greet a fellow who stretched his hand out on a moving bike. We smiled at each other.I got home at exactly 6:30pm and the last thing on my schedule is resting. I took out my shoes that were already soiled with water, dirt and oil. I raised the curtain of our one room apartment and I was greeted by an empty r
DAWN AWAKENED
I gazed up to our old wooden clock. It was half past 10pm already and my mother was yet to return. When my mother arrives late, she always struggle with customers especially drunk ones who wouldn't want to come home. When thier resistance becomes unbearable, she locks her bar after taking all her stuffs in and deserts the drunk customers addressing thier unseen friends. Shortly later, my mother arrived home. I could hear her fetching water from our drum into the bathing bucket. Each cup of water she fetched was immediately followed by another. She was tired.My mother came in with a wrapper across her chest and hurried to the bed like a child into the arms of his mother. She laid on her back and while facing the ceiling she said "Fetty why aren't you asleep. "? "I was waiting for you Ma. " I quickly replied. She knew I wanted to talk. When I wanted to collect money from her for my final secondary school examination, I waited for her that night to return from her b
DAWN FAMILY
"Oga give me the money please. Stop wasting my time. I have other customers to attend to. " I said while struggling to get a customer to pay his bill. It was obvious he was drunk but that wasn't my concern. He drank four bottles of Guiness and wasn't willing to pay. "Fine girl I will pay you. Come and sit close to me now. " he replied slowly. "Keep me my money Jor. " I barked. "Sorry oo small madam I will pay you. You are rude. Try and be nice like your mother. " he said while handing me a thousand naira note. "Oga your money is not complete. " I said. "How much did I give you first? " he began. I groaned in frustration and began explaining things to him. I knew the explanation was irrelevant because he was drunk but I still made my point clear. I collected the balance from him and moved to the next customer. This forms one of the major reasons why I hate our bar. You struggle to get customers to pay thier bill then struggle to get them to leave when you want to close. I han
DAWN FINANCIAL GAP
"Sister where are we going to this night? " asked Tami. "I think its a party" replied Osifa. Meanwhile, I had dressed them in thier best outfits which they used for Christmas recently. We reached Greenland brothel around 8:30pm. My father will be waiting for us at the Greenland front gate at exactly 8:30pm. He wrote that in the note he left. It was obvious I had mixed feelings. My body was slightly trembling and my voice shook when I began addressing my younger ones. "There's something I will be collecting from one man. " I began. I held my ear while speaking to prove I was passing a warning to them. "Under no circumstance must Mother find out that we came here tonight. Do you understand. " "Yes sister " they chorused. "I will get you guys buns and chocolate on the way. " They smiled and I knew our little secret was safe. "But sister, " began Osifa, look at our bar over there. " she said while pointing towards it's direction. "What if Mother sees us.
DAWN A FALL
"Thank God they brought her here immediately. " said Dr. Charles. He is the only Medical doctor in London clinic. Ever since we discovered my Mother had diabetes, I became more acquainted with Dr. Charles. I sometimes go to the clinic to get drugs for my mother and while she was admitted few months back , I spent three days there with her while my siblings visited during the day and slept in Mama Ajabo's home at night . When my mother had a heart attack that time, we rushed her to the clinic with some neigbohors on a motorcycle. She looked lifeless and today when I saw her in such state, I felt empty. Eventually today, a customer came to the bar with his car so when she fainted, she was placed in the car before my siblings and I came running in tears. "She had another heart attack. " said Dr.Charles. "Is there any older relative around? Maybe her husband, sister or friend? " "I am her daughter. " I quickly replied. He looked at me and I knew what
DAWN ROOM 127
I always knew Greenland brothel had its protocols like checks with the securities at the gate. I've been there for parties couple of times. Layo and I would normally flash our invitation cards at the gate then hurry in. Unlike the other time when I stood outside the front gate with my siblings to meet our father, I was inside the main building this time around because I meant business. I went straight to the gate keeper and when he asked me which room I was going to, I was silent. "Who do you want to see. " he asked. "I know who I want to see Oga just allow me inside the main building. " I replied. "All this small small girls without respect living here. So am talking to you and you are answering as you please. Is it because Men are coming to pick you girls on and on so you think you've made it abi? " I was furious and I spoke to him harshly. "Oga in the first place I dnt live here. Respect yourself and stop saying what you don't know. Don't you e
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