BACK FROM THE DEAD.

After living away from home for five years Tony finally comes home with his family to his parent’s burial and stays on for a while. In his father’s will he has been named the sole heir if he can be found or else everything goes to his cousin. His parents are very rich and the thought he had died because of what his cousin had told them and some picture of him, his wife and son.

About four years back there were threats been made on hibroken hearts, s life. Then eventually one day he came back and found his family had been kidnapped. He’s a detective who runs a private company. He had a problem with his parent five years before their death because of his choice of wife and resigning from government service. He had to find his family so he embarked on a long search for them, he’s been frustrated but eventually he gets a break but this leads him into a web of family hatred and spite. His cousin wants him and his family dead so that he can inherit. He gets proof via tapes and pictures, then…

After finding his family, he is captured along with them again and his cousin, present at the scene confesses, believing they would die but unknown to him Tony is wired and everything is recorded at home. Two days later the tape is discovered and removed and Tony is beaten up.

A week after they escape but they are followed and eventually during a heavy down pour their car skids over and their car drops into a very deep pit. The cousin believing they would die there leaves them there. The next day they are still there, unconscious and pictures of them were taking by Rex, the cousin, and sent home to his parents who became broken hearted by what had happened. They went to the scene of the crime but when they got there Tony and his family were missing. Rex tries to persuade his uncle to change his will in his favour to no avail.

Now Tony is back for revenge. First thing he tells Rex is that he is back to working for the government and they have tapes and pictures of him and his boys. They know about his drug deals and everything about his plot against his dead parents. Then he disappears again at this point Rex realizes that his days are numbered so he puts his business dealings in order and makes a run for it. The next time Tony comes back, his family is not with him and they (Tony and the authorities) go after Rex and his gang who are now at large.
Eventually they are caught and brought to book for their numerous offences after which Tony returns to be united with his family.

THE SHADOW

My! What a day. Such a fine day for a fine lady. Her husband had traveled to get something’s done in his hometown. He has been away for about five days and Shade his wife has been watching out for her husband Femi since yesterday. She went out of her way to take Moni, their daughter, to school. Femi had taken the car and anyway if he hadn’t, Shade could not drive.
She had been sometime in getting back and was a bit tired so she got prepared to have a little nap.
But nothing more, Femi was coming back from his journey today and she wanted to welcome him properly. She cast back her mind to the past when Femi always came calling before they got married. Dad the Oba of Ikare land was a very strict man.
He made it plan that no man was allowed to visit his daughter. But Femi had a brother, they had gone to the same school and Seye, Femi’s brother was sent to her. Seye came on the pretext that he wanted to teach me mathematics and sneak note to me, which she would reply. Later after dad died she used to go and visit Femi whenever she spent her holidays in Lagos. Shade seniors all lived in the north and had married from there.
Among all the members of my family I was the only one waiting to marry her town native. I was a bit sad at times because mum died when I was young and dad was recently dead. They were not there when I got married. A few years later I gave birth to a girl, Monisola, and since then no more children. Monisola is ten now. Although I do not take any pills or preventions. I do wish that God would give me another child; I knew Femi wanted another child, preferably a boy. Nigerian men believe about sons. At times that particular subject depressed me. I know it was wicked of me but I could not help thinking that Femi found or looked for pleasure somewhere else.
I must have slept off while I was thinking because when I woke it was the sound of someone banging the door. I looked drowsily at the door.
Who in god’s name could that be. I stood up and went to answer the caller at the door. What happened afterwards forever is imprinted in my memory.
“Hello” I said to the strange woman standing outside “What can I do for you”.
She looked a bit taken aback but quickly concealed it so I thought I had mistaken the show of emotion. But then she became all smiles and looked me up and down. I could sense the resentment, I never let people’s feelings get to me so I said, “please you must be looking for someone why don’t you come in”. She looked at me up and down again before answering me. “Yes please, I’m looking for my husband Mr. Femi Brown he told me he lives here when he’s in Lagos. You must be the housekeeper or something. And I also know he has a child, a daughter’’. She sneered at me. I was dumbfounded, Femi, my darling husband whom I loved to distraction and trusted implicitly. Why?
Well, I would have to shake her just a little bit. “If it is the same Femi I know you’re asking to see, well, my husband traveled a few days ago and wouldn’t be back for sometime”, I bit back.
She was so surprised, it was as if she’d seen a ghost and looked me hard in the face. Then said, “that’s wonderful but I am his wife anyway, you did not give him any sons I gave him two”. She retorted triumphantly.
Now it was my turn to look as if the surprised one I was crying within but I would rather die than let the bitch know that. “Really”, I said smiling, “but let’s put it like this –I am the first wife, you are the second and would always be. Secondly this”, spreading her hands to encompass the whole house “this is my territory. For your peace of mind as well as mine, it’s better you keep to your place and I mine. So I don’t want to see you here again. I’m sure you have a place where he spends his time with you. This as I said before is my domain and I wouldn’t entertain any of this nonsense from you. Next time when you don’t see Femi wait till he comes to your place. If you dare put it in that brain of yours to come here again I shall very much disgrace you”. I said and was about dosing the door when I was struck dumb again by her words.
“Well I don’t blame Femi for your sins. God has made you barren after one child. And to think it isn’t a boy. He doesn’t love you anymore; if he did he wouldn’t come to me. He wouldn’t even have told me about you”. She said triumphantly when she saw me go white.
‘You bitch I wouldn’t take this from you. And if you don’t leave this minute, I’d shout thief and the neighbourhood will come out to give you the beating of your life”. I glared at her and slammed the door shut.
I heard her laugh and then “You can’t keep him away from me. I’d get him and you’d soon be dispensed with. You and your little brat” and she was gone.
I flung myself on the sofa and wept like the broken hearted lady I was. I wept till I could weep no more. Then I rinsed my face and went in search of my confidante. A lady who lived in a flat above ours any time I had problems I always went to her and she’d advice me on what to do. She wasn’t at home and I felt like crying again but she hadn’t gone far so her children went to look for her. I think they told her I had cried because she rushed into “his” flat since I don’t think of it as our’s anymore.
“Mama Moni what is it, why are you crying, what happened”. She asked looking at me and sat down. I narrated everything to her wiping my tears and she sat quietly listening.

After listening to all I had to say, she asked me to start serious prayer which I did and after a lot of neglect on my husband’s part and ridicule from both his family and his wife I was able to overcome. Now I am living happily with my husband and children with my own story to tell other and my experience to share as an advice.

BILLY

During the year 1941, March in Moscow, Billy lived in a flat on his own with his mother in the front flat.
Mother: Billy. Billy where are you? (Sitting in front of the fire)
Billy: yes mother? I’m here. (Entering into his mother’s flat and going to her)
Mother: I’m going to the concert, I’ll be back before dawn (getting up to go and prepare for her outing)
Billy: okay mother, see you tomorrow. (Leaves for his room)
Next morning Billy goes out, on his way he meets Red( the street bully) and his three lieutenants talking to another boy.
Red: (looking at the boy and sneering at him he holds out his hand and points to the boy as if he were deaf) Money.
Boy: (afraid and sniffling) I don’t have any.
Red: (looks at his lieutenants and nods his head at the boy) search him.
His lieutenants make for the boy who tries to struggle with them but he is beaten up.
Red: next time you don’t struggle with red. (He says shoving his face into him)
Boy: (almost unconscious) you thief! Someone will get back at you one day. (Fall into unconsciousness)
Red leaves him there and goes on his way, while Billy rushes to the injured boy’s side.
Billy: hello, are you alright. (Kneels on his right knee and tries to lift the boy up). Are you badly hurt?
Boy: I don’t think so. Someone will get back at him someday somehow.
Billy: I’m Billy, what’s your name?
Boy: Smith (he says sitting up)
Billy: Okay smith let’s take you home.
Billy takes the boy by the hand and helps him to get to his home handing him over to his parents.
The next day Billy pastes a poem on the street notice board.
“He that thinks he is incapable of been beaten will one day be beaten.
We have among us rogues who steal and beat those they steal from.
They think they are wise but they are fools.
They feel they are winners but they are losers.
They are dead rats that pollute the house.
And unless they are put in their place they will continue to stink.”
Billy.
The title of the poem was Red the big bully. Four boys gathered at the board reading the poem and from the looks on their faces they were enjoying it.
1st boy: (turning to face the others) what do you think?
2nd boy: (laughing) it’s going to make him mad.
4th boy: (looking puzzled) but that’s the truth about him on the board.
3rd boy: it’s the truth but Red won’t accept that. (Smiles)
2nd boy: he’s going to kill Billy. (Shakes his head) poor thing, I sure pity him.
1st boy: yes he will, and I pity him too.
By noon everybody including Red had seen the poem almost all had even memorized it and could read it by rote.
About a week later Billy was walking along the street and then suddenly Red appears out of nowhere.
Red: Ah, the poet (smiling crookedly) so you write verses, eh. Do they rhyme?
Billy: Get out of my way big bully (afraid but unwilling to show it)
Red: Oh, see he can even talk. You want me out your way ehh.
Red reaches into his pocket and brings out his knuckle-duster.
Red: Ever seen me use this before (Billy doesn’t answer him) I’m going to use it on you (he laughs).
He hits Billy on the head blood came oozing out and he loses consciousness.

Billy on his bed at home.
Billy: (wakes) how many days have I been in bed. (He asks looking at his mother)
Mother: Almost a week. I don’t want to see or hear you have gone near that boy Red again. (shakes her head) how a mother can call her child Red I simply refuse to comprehend it.
Billy: Okay mother.
The next day when Billy saw Red on the street he took to his heels and ran home.
Billy: (in his mother’s apartment) can you give me some money please.
Mother: (surprised) What for?
Billy: I want to buy some books with it.
Mother: (counts out some money) Okay, here you go (and gives it to him)
Billy buys some books on ju-jitsu. He also trains himself with parallel bars and weights. He trained non-stop for three weeks before he was sure he could face Red. Three weeks after practicing with two boys Billy is able to go out again.
Red is outside on the lawn of Billy’s yard playing card with his lieutenants and absorbed in the game when Billy shows up.
Billy: (Afraid, kicks the card away) Hello Red, remember me.
Red: (surprised, after all Billy ran the last time he saw him). So, you are not satisfied with what you’ve got. Want more?
Billy: Of course I do.
By this time a crowd had gathered.
Red: (Dipping his hand into his pocket) I’ll give you some more.
Billy: (kicks off Red’s hand) give me now.
Red: (falls down hurt) You bastard you’ve overcome your fears, ehh. I’ll kill you. (Stands up with menace in his eyes)
Billy: Your days of ruling are over.
Red: (Brings out his knuckle-duster) I’ll kill you I say.
Billy grabs his hand and squeezes until the duster drops. And they start to fight.
Crowd: Go Billy, go
3rd lieutenant: Shut up.
Billy beats Red.
Red: (crying) You wicked son-of-a-bitch (and he leaves)
Billy: Au revoir.
Crowd: (carries Billy and throwing him around) Hey, he’s beaten the bully. The bully has fallen. (And they start to sing)
Crowd: For he’s a jolly god fellow¬……….
THE END.