"Yes, but it happened." Iby had stopped smoking. The cigar still between his fingers. "The federal government got upset. You know, these policemen also have families to take care of. So they came in with a bomb. They threw bombs everywhere not caring who was killed. The thing that hurts me most, though, is that people's parents died during the time. Kids, old men, and women. It was all because of those boys. But they managed to escape." "I can't believe I've been in this state for all my life and I’ve never heard this story," May saidmore to herself. Iby ignored her as he continued. "After some months later, people started building houses again and moving in. The government doesn't want what happened to happen again so this group was formed, the group I’m working in. Our duty is to discipline whoever is c

It was a good thing Edric didn't get to meet Iby. Any time May's mind flashes back to it, she wonders what would have transpired between the two men if Iby hadn't hidden in Maryam'sroom like she had told him to.Edric had forgotten an important file at home. He rushed in to collect it and rushed back without acknowledging May's presence.When he was gone, Iby came out from his hiding place. It was then that May explained every detail about her husband to him. Iby was angry. No. Angry is an understatement. He felt that no woman should be treated the way she was being treated."He needs to be dealt with." Iby had said. "After my group and I deal with him, he won't dare raise his hand at another woman. Can you imagine?!"May had pleaded with him in tears. She didn't want anybody to hurt her husband because of her. She told him that no matter how her husband was treating h

The sun had barely set when a knock came to the door. The woman outside was getting impatient when nobody came to open it. She knocked again. This time using both hands to hit the door brusquely. May and Bella came out of their rooms at the same time. They stared at each other for a while. Bella looked at her with hatred while May looked back with sad, bored eyes. When a hard knock came to the door again, they both diverted their eyes to the door. Bellaflipped her hair backward and majestically sashayed to it, shaking her round butt in an attempt to make May jealous. May yawned loudly, stretching her hands and body. Not even paying her attention. PHCN hadrestored the power earlier, so she decided to charge her phone.&nbs

Turning off the gas cooker, Iby took the kettle and poured some boiled water into a small bowl. He turned on the tap, totally forgetting that his landlord hadn't pumped water yet. When no water rushed out, he fetched water with a cup from his black water drum that was at the side of the kitchen close to his chest freezer. He mixed the cold water with the hot one. He dipped a finger into the bowl to be sure it was now tepid, took a towel from on top of his chest freezer, and, with the water bowl in hand, he walked to his room. May sat on his medium-sized muoka foam, looking around like it was the first time she'd visited him. "I still can't believe you got rid of the drawings," she said. His room looked different from the first time she was here. The lewd dr

Evening came by quickly. She dialed Mama and spoke to Maryam, telling her how much she's missing her. Maryam in return, told her of all the wonderful food she's gotten to eat in Mama's house. Telling her mother that she was missing out. "Mummy, you need to taste Grandma's Akara (bean cake) and moin-moin. It is very delicious. She makes buns and beans pie too." She spoke through the phone with delight. May could sense it.May laughed. "So just a week that you've lived there, you know all these foods already?."Maryam smiled. "Grandma feeds me alot. Even when I say i'm full, she still won't believe me."May heard Mama chuckle and say, "This girl won't kill me." in the background."Maryam I have to go now. Someone wants to buy orange and I need to attend to him." She told Maryam as she placed the phone inbetween her ear and her shoulder while she used her hand