The Blog for the Ladies and the Gentlemen

If there’s anything I’ve learnt in life, it’s the fact that the mind of a desperate being is desperately stupid. I can never forget those eight girls; we called them the heroic seven Chastity, Thomasine, Irete; the girl whose father owned a boat, Chika, Abigail, Pelumi, Josephine and Aminat.  I watched them as they raided the first aid box for the things they could use and took over the entrance of the cargo. They all sat and acted like they were up to nothing with Abigail their fearless leader telling them what to do. ‘Thomasine’ Kike called with concern in her voice. Thomasine ignored her. She looked at Abigail who signaled to her not to answer her ‘Ignore Kike’ Abigail said ‘Thomasine, remember what Uju said about being stupid’ Kike persisted ‘I’m not being stupid Kike, you’ll realize that when we come out of this cargo’ ‘There is no coming out of this container’ she interrupted impati...

3 The Den as we named it had two opposite windows that gave excess ventilation on the breezy sea irrespective of the fact that we had no thick clothes on. On the shelves above us were packages wrapped in brown papers neatly arranged in rows. Two dim bulbs lightened the place a detachable toilet was at one extreme end. There was no chair or table just a stool at the extreme end where a first aid box was rolled under and a twenty five liter keg was beside filled with water. Nurse Vivian as she introduced herself was the care taker kept to watch us. She was an average sized ladies probably in her thirties. She was dressed in a while nurse uniform and had a cream cardigan on. She was pretty with a bright smile, gap teeth and very soft spoken. To me she was practically the only person that knew how what we were going through at that moment ‘Trust me; I know how you girls feel. Most of you are scared and confused if not all’ she said walking round ‘Most of you have been in...

2 CONTINUATION I looked at Muna as she slowly woke up. Her left eye had turned black from the hit she got and I could tell that she was hurting. She groaned in pain as she opened her eyes attracting everyone’s attention ‘Shhh….’ I cautioned ‘Muna its okay’ I whispered. She opened her eyes and sighed ‘We’re still on the road?’ ‘Yeah. But I think they stopped twice to refill the tank. God we should get some ice for your eyes; it’s swollen and black’ I said with a squeeze on my face ‘Ice is the least of our problems Tonia’ she mumbled. I moved closer to her and rested my head of her shoulder ‘I know that Tonia; but we’ll be okay, we always are’ Muna looked up as if she could find some answers there ‘What time do you think it is at this moment?’ ‘Its one’ a girl said pointing at Sparrow’s wristwatch. I looked at her, so did Muna and Asher and the other ...

1 CONTINUATION The sound of the car horn alerted me. I stood up and ran to the window. In view was a Toyota; exactly what I expected to see; Slim’s dad’s car ‘Muna’ I yelled walking away from the window. ‘Munachi Nzeribe’ I yelled louder. She ran downstairs with her sandals in her hands. An angry look plastered on her face ‘What is it’ she snapped; walking up to me. I pointed to the window as I sat down to wear my black flats. ‘Oh…. They’re here.’ I nodded in agreements concentrating on my shoe ‘Go keep them company. I’m coming outside to meet you when I’m done with my make up’ I looked at her and scoffed. ‘I’m not going anywhere without you. I don’t like your lanky boyfriend and you know that’ I said in a mocking voice. Muna turned and looked at me ‘Yeah yeah you hate his guts’ ‘And his cockiness. And his face’ I interrupted getting up....

2 ‘Tonia’ someone echoed. ‘Antonia’ the echoing continued. I looked up and found myself in the middle of a palm kernel vegetation whose beginning or end I couldn’t determine ‘Antonia’ the echoing continued now more desperately than before. I stood up and began walking to the east side trying to locate the origin of the voice. I was lost; that was the obvious fact but I didn’t understand why, why was I lost? How did I get here? ‘Who are you’ I asked in a bold voice trying to hide my fear but there was no reply just the continuation of the echoing of my name. I turned round at a spot confused. The voice seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere ‘What do you want from me?’ I asked ‘Please let me know who you are’ I begged tears rolling down my eyes ‘I’m lost’ I continued. But there was no response; jut my name. finally the voice came to a halt. I stood at a position; totally conf...

INVADED 1 September 14th 2008 As Bridget removed her wedding ring and placed it on the dressing table; she cleaned the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. No matter the circumstance she wasn’t going to appear weak in front of her husband. She knew Odiong’s stock in trade was to prey on the weak; she had seen him with his employees. She heard the bathroom door open and observed her husband walk in with his silk towel round his waist ‘I thought you would be asleep by now’ Odiong said walking up to his wife and putting his arms on her shoulder ‘And I thought you would have moved to the guestroom by now but once again Odiong we disappoint each other’ she said with a stainless smile and walked away. Odiong sighed and raised his eyebrow up. not this night he wasn’t ready to pick up an argument with his wife. But Bridget seemed offended by her husband’s nonchalant attitude ‘Any woman Odiong’ she started, raising her voi...