FED UP!

(...continued...)

  “Remove your cloth,” she told Cynthia when she got it.

                Cynthia sat up and did so.

  “Are you sure you can do that?” their mother asked.

  “Yes,” Mabel replied. “It is not a big deal.”

  “Ok if you say so.”

                Mabel began massaging Cynthia while their mother watched. After watching for a while, she took the balm from Mabel and began to do the massage herself.

  “You are not doing it well,” she said. “Children of nowadays, with soft hands.”

  “Ok oo,” Mabel replied and sat down.

                After massaging for a while, Cynthia said she was tired and asked her to stop. She stopped and Cynthia lay for a while till the hot sensation subsided.

  “Let me go into the room,” she said. “I want to sleep.”

                Mabel helped her get up while her mother went ahead of her to make sure the bed was ready for her to lie. She lay down, they tucked her in and she soon slept off. Mabel and her mother went back to the sitting room.

  “I hope what is wrong with Cynthia is not a serious matter?” she asked Mabel.

  “Dr. Obinna said she will get better,” Mabel replied. “With the drugs she is taking, she will be fine.”

  “I pray so. This one that has touched her kidney is scary. I don’t need any organ issue o.”

  “It will not get to that.”

  “If you say so. I have already sent SMS to our pastor.”

  “Ok. What did he say?”

  “He said he is praying for us.”

  “Did you tell him about me?”

  “No. Your matter is not something to talk about anyhow. You are the one to tell whoever you want to tell.”

  “Ok. Thank you.”

  “Though I was tempted to tell him.”

  “I will talk to mummy pastor, his wife tomorrow.”

  “Please you need to. So we will know what to do about the issue.”

                Mabel suddenly sat up as if she remembered something.

  “I have not heard my phone ring since we came back,” she said

  “Are you sure you did not forget it somewhere?” her mother asked her.

  “I don’t think so.”

                Mabel searched the sitting room but did not see it.

  “Let me try flashing it,” her mother suggested.

  “Let me check my handbag.”

                Mabel went into the room and soon came out with her phone.

  “It is switched off.”

  “Battery low?”

  “Yes. How did I not remember to charge it since I came back? We can’t trust NEPA people.”

  “I don’t blame you my dear. You have been stressed lately, both physically and emotionally.”

  “Mummy as if you know. It has not been easy.”

  “All will be well.”

                Mabel got her charger and plugged her phone. Then she sat and flipped channels for where they were giving news. Just as she began to do it, NEPA took the light.

  “Ooohm,” she lamented.

  “They will still bring it,” her mother said.

                Barely two minutes after the power outage, there was a knock on their door.

  “Who is it?” their mother asked.

  “It is me,” a guy said.

  “That sounds like Chuka,” Mabel said as she went to answer the door.

                When she opened it, she met Chuka.

  “How is Cynthia?” he asked a bit breathless.

  “Did you run?” Mabel teased him.

  “Answer me na?” he said, smiling like a kid whose secret had just been exposed.

  “She is sleeping.”

  “No need putting the generator then.”

  “There is need. When she wakes up we will tell her that it was you who put the gen.”

  “No. I will do it when she is awake.”

  “Please.”

                Chuka put his hands akimbo and thought for a while. Then he agreed. He went to the backyard.

  “Please come with a torch light,” he said to Mabel.

  “Ok.”

                Mabel got a torchlight and went with him to the backyard where the generator was.

  “Did the generator go off by itself last night?” he asked her.

  “No. Cynthia put it off.”

  “I need to check the level of fuel and oil left.”

                As he tried to check, NEPA brought back the light.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(...continued...)

                Along the road, she stopped briefly to buy some fruits.

  “Madam do quick o,” the keke driver said. “You know say things dey happen these days.”

  “I know.”

  “Abeg o. Na election period we dey.”

                Mabel did not step out of the keke while purchasing for security reasons. She pointed at the fruits she wanted and paid. When she was done, they continued. He dropped her at her house and she paid him. There was light when she entered the compound.

  “Thank God,” she said.

                She met some neighbours as she went towards her house. She waved at some and stood briefly to exchange pleasantries with the others. One of the persons she met was Chuka.

  “Your babe no well o,” she told him.

  “You mean am?”

  “Yes o.”

  “Wetin dey do am na?”

  “She go use mouth tell you.”

  “Kai. Cynthi m no suppose suffer at all.”

                Mabel laughed.

  “I fit see her now?”

  “She fit dey sleep now sha. Maybe tomorrow.”

  “You sure say I no fit check am now?”

  “Make we leave am tomorrow.”

  “If NEPA take light, I go come on gen for una.”

  “Ok. Thank you.”

                Mabel got to her house and entered. The door was not locked. She met Cynthia and her mum in the sitting room watching a home movie. She greeted her mum.

  “Welcome my dear,” her mother replied. “What kept you so long?”

  “I was looking for fruits and yoghurt.”

  “Welcome,” Cynthia said, managing to sit up. “How is Mrs Biodun?”

  “She is fine. How are you?”

  “I am feeling the pains o.”

  “Hope you are not observing bad posture?”

  “Not at all.”

                Mabel dropped the drug pack and her hand bag on the center table.

  “Take the yoghurt and fruits,” she said and handed the other nylon bag to Cynthia.

                Cynthia opened it happily and rummaged through.

  “You bought two yoghurts?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You will take one then.”

  “No. I took one already. I am watching my weight.”

  “Then give me one,” their mother said and stretched her hand.

  “Yoghurt is for children, not for elderly people,” Cynthia told her.

  “Says who?”

                Cynthia gave her one.

  “It is not cold,” their mother said.

  “Let me put them in the fridge for some minutes,” Mabel said.

  “Ok. Take the fruits also.”

                She took the yoghurts and put in the refrigerator.

  “Ehe, Chuka said I should greet you,” she said to Cynthia.

                Cynthia laughed.

  “Did you tell him I am sick?” Cynthia asked.

  “Yes o.”

  “Why na?”

  “Is he not your…?”

  “I know you are just teasing me. He is just our neighbor.”

  “But he is from a comfortable family.”

  “And so? My school first joor.”

  “That boy likes Cynthia,” their mother joined in the teasing. “And the way Cynthia is shy around him, I think she also likes him.”

                They laughed.

  “Oooohm. You people should stop it na.”

  “Just make sure he doesn’t score goal without following due process,” their mother continued.

                They laughed.

  “He even wanted to come and see you now.”

  “What did you tell him?” Cynthia asked with a little frown.

  “I told him to come when NEPA takes light.”

  “It is you he will see.”

                They laughed.

  “What did you eat?” Mabel asked Cynthia. “So you can start your drugs.”

  “I ate rice.”

  “She ate very little,” their mother said.

  “No o,” Mabel said. “You need to eat well. You have drugs to take.”

  “I have eaten enough.”

  “No.”

                Mabel went into the kitchen, dished some food for Cynthia and brought to the sitting room.

  “Try and finish this one.”

  “I don’t have much appetite and I have been feeling feverish.”

  “I know. Just try.”

                Cynthia took the plate from her and slowly ate the food.

  “Go and put your own na,” their mother told Mabel.

  “I need to bath first.”

  “Ok. There is water in the bathroom.”

  “Thank you.”

                Mabel went into their room and undressed. She had her bath, wore something simple and came out to the sitting room. Cynthia had finished eating so she took the plate back to the kitchen, dished hers and came back to the sitting room with it. She gave Cynthia her drugs and then sat back to eat her food.

  “Is there no station giving news?” their mother asked.

  “Not yet,” Cynthia said.

  “This election sef,” Mabel said. “Mummy who are you voting for?”

  “I don’t even know. I may not vote o.”

  “Why? Don’t you have your PVC?”

  “I do. But I don’t know about security.”

  “They are ensuring the security of lives and properties.”

  “That’s what they will say. So who will you vote?”

  “I don’t even have PVC?”

  “Why?”

  “They did not make it easy for working class people like me. Come here, go there, come today, come tomorrow. The stress is tiring. I tried my best.”

  “My dear. I just had to struggle and get my own o. They said if we don’t get it, we will not receive salary. I actually fought to get mine. It was not easy o.”

  “Mabel what about the balm?” Cynthia asked.

  “Is true,” Mabel said. “It is inside my hand bag.  

She went inside the room to get it.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

VOTE WISELY

Don't vote out of sentiment!
Don't be violent!
Don't attempt to commit electoral fraud!
Go out and vote!

Vote wisely!

(This message is from the WRITINGSTHATINSPIRE team.)

FED UP

(...continued...)

                He dialed the gate man who answered and said he was washing in the backyard. He ordered him to run and come. Moments later, the gate man ran into the sitting room, smelling of booze. They all covered their nose.

  “What did you say you were doing at the backyard?” he asked the gateman.

  “Washing sir,” he replied a bit scared.

  “You were drinking and you said you were washing.”

  “Am sorry sir.”

  “Let this not happen again.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Will you go and put on the generator!”

  “Yes sir.”

                He ran out.

  “All these men from the village,” Mrs Biodun said. “They think alcohol is everything.”

  “This man is an addict,” her husband added.

  “Why not fire him,” Mabel suggested. “It is risky to have a drunk as a security man.”

  “He is from my husband’s family,” Mrs Biodun said and laughed. “We are trying to help him.”

  “Was it not you that asked him to stay?” Her husband said laughing.

                The generator came on.

  “Let me leave you two,” he said to them. “By the way, have you given your friend anything to take?” he asked Mrs Biodun.

  “She is doing shakara.”

  “Ok o. Let me check the kids before they spoil something.”

  “Ok dear.”

                He went into the room after the kids.

  “Ma I think I should be leaving so you can resume your family duties,” Mabel said.

  “Ok dear. But you are yet to tell me what really happened.”

  “What Glory told you is what happened.”

  “The summary of what I know is that Kemi took Segun from you. is that it?”

  “That is what happened but let me add some flesh to it.”

                Mabel told her everything in brief. In less than five minutes she was done.

  “It is well,” Mrs Biodun said when she was done. “So what do you plan doing about it?”

  “Go on with my life,” Mabel replied.

  “You don’t want to confront him?”

  “No. It is not necessary.”

  “But you still have feelings for him.”

  “Yes I do, but I can’t keep getting hurt.”

  “I understand how you feel. I have been there before.”

  “So how did you handle it?”

  “I will tell you when you come to work. Let me not keep you here longer than you should.”

  “Ok ma.”

                Mabel got her things together and stood up.

  “Hold on a little,” Mrs Biodun said and went into the room. She soon came out with something in her hand.

  “I hope that is not what I think it is,” Mabel said. “You don’t have to bother yourself.”

  “It’s nothing.”

                Mrs Biodun tried squeezing some money into her hand but she refused taking it. She forced it into the drug bag.

  “At least, for your sister.”

  “Ok ma. Thanks a lot.”

  “My husband said you should take care of yourself.”

  “Ok ma.”

                They went outside. It was dark.

  “Time has gone o,” Mrs Biodun said.

  “Not really,” Mabel said. “We are in shorter days and longer nights.”

  “Really. I don’t follow all those things.”

  “You don’t surf the internet.”

  “My dear. I don’t have that time o.”

  “You  have to. It is important.”

  “Important for people like you. When you add family to your work, you will know how far.”

                They laughed.

  “How will you go now?”

  “I will just pick a drop.”

  “If not that I don’t drive at night, I would have dropped you off.”

  “No problem.”

                Mrs Biodun called the gate man to open the gate.

  “Stand with am for main road make she enter drop,” she told him.

  “Yes madam.”

  “Thank you so much ma,” Mabel told her.

  “You are welcome,” Mrs Biodun replied and gave Mabel a hug. “I will expect you the day after tomorrow.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel left. She got to the main road and waited.

  “Madam wait make I find moto for you,” the gate man said. “You no fit trust all these people for night.”

  “Ok. thank you”

                They stood for a while. The man will see empty tricycles, stop them, look at the driver for a while and tell him to go. They cursed him as they left. Mabel didn't know whether to laugh or get angry.

  “Oga stop one na,” she told him.

  “I dey look their face o. Make you no enter one chance.”

  “Oya stop this one wey dey come.”

                He stopped it and looked at the driver for a while without saying a word.

  “Wetin you dey look?” the man asked him angrily.

                Mabel interrupted when she saw that it was an elderly man. She told the man where she was going.

  “Madam na for your own good o,” the gateman said. “You for wait make I scope this man.”

  “Go scope your papa,” the keke driver said.

  “No worry,” Mabel said. “I no be J.J.C”

                Mabel beat price with the man and entered. She waved at the gateman.

  “Anything for the boys?” he said.

  “No. Another time.”

                She tapped the keke driver and he drove off.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(...continued...)

                They went into the sitting room.

  “Have a seat,” Mrs Biodun said to Mabel.

  “Thank you ma.” She said as she sat down. “What about the kids?”

  “Their dad took them out. They should be on their way back anytime soon.”

  “You didn’t go with them?”

  “N o. I have to make dinner.”

  “You don’t have a house help?”

  “I have never had one.”

  “That’s amazing. Why?”

  “I don’t have strength for stories.”

  “I understand what you mean,” Mabel said, laughing. “So how have you been coping?”

  “My husband and I agreed on it before we got married. We have been doing things by ourselves. The ones I can’t do, he helps me do. Then from time to time, my elder sister’s kids come around for weekends or holidays. They are big enough to help me out.”

  “Wow. And it does not affect your work at all.”

  “My dear. I grew up the hard way. I am toughened.”

  “As fine and tush as you look? No way.”

                They laughed.

  “It’s true. God’s blessings can transform a person.”

  “Ok o.”

                All the while, Mrs Biodun had been standing. Then she went towards the refrigerator in her dining area.

  “What do I offer you?”

  “Nothing ma.”

  “You can’t say you will not take anything.”

  “I am not really in for anything now.”

  “What about yoghurt? This particular one is very nice.”

  “Ok. I can have it. My sister asked me to buy one for her.”

  “Take three then. One for you and two for her.”

  “OK. Thank you ma.”

                Mabel got up from the seat and went towards her in the dining. She opened the fridge and brought out the yoghurt.

  “Check the cupboard for nylon bag,” Mrs Biodun told her.

  “Ok.”

                Mabel checked and brought out one. She put two inside, opened one and sipped as she went back to sit down. Mrs Biodun also sipped one as she sat beside her.

  “How have you been?” she asked Mabel.

  “Not doing too good. It has not been easy at all.”

  “I know how you feel. People in the office were asking after you today.”

  “Ok. I guess they must have heard.”

  “Different people heard different things o. you know how rumour is. No one gets the authentic information.”

  “What are they saying?”

  “Some said someone broke your heart. Some said you snatched someone’s husband and then you were caught and you ran. Some even said you took company money and ran away.”

                Mabel broke into laughter. She laughed really hard and almost choked on the yoghurt.

  “Sorry my dear. Let me get you water.”

  “I am fine thanks. You mean they said all that?”

  “Yes o.”

  “It’s funny.”

  “It was Glory who told me exactly what happened, in confidence.”

  “People and rumour. They must have spoilt my name in the office.”

  “Not at all. They are all concerned about you.”

  “Not all of them o. I know some who are eyeing my seat in the office.”

  “Even the Manager asked me about the matter and I told him the little I know.”

  “He asked?”

  “Yes. He said you should take as much as one week off if you need to.”

  “That’s nice of him. I don’t need one week off. I will resume the day after tomorrow.”

  “Is that not too soon?”

  “I better face the challenge than keep running from it.”

                The bell of the gate rang. It rang again.

  “Where did this gateman go to?”

  “Could it be your husband at the gate?”

  “Most likely.”

  “Let’s go and check.”

  “I wonder what we hired a gateman for if he cannot be at his position.”

                They went out to the gate. Then they heard the horn of a car.

  “It is my husband,” Mrs Biodun said and opened the gate.

                Her husband drove in with their two kids and she locked the gate. Mrs Biodun opened the car door and helped the children come down.

  “Honey welcome,” she greeted her husband.

  “Thanks love,” he replied. “Where is the gateman?”

  “I don’t know o. I have not seen him since you left.”

  “Oh. He was waiting for me to leave so he will also leave.”

  “He is now an oga na.”

  “Did you check his room?”

  “I did. He is not there.”

  “I will handle him.”

                He locked the door and they went towards the house. Mabel greeted him and Mrs Biodun introduced her.

  “I think I have met her before,” he said. “How are you?” he asked her.

  “I am fine sir.”

  “Greet aunty,” He told the kids.

                They greeted her shyly and ran into the house.

  “Children will always be children.”

                They went inside. As Mabel sat down, there was power outage.

  “Ohhhm, NEPA!” they said and hissed.

  “Honey can you put on the generator?” Mrs Biodun told her husband.

  “Let me call this gateman on phone,” he replied.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(…continued…)

“This one my mum is sounding like this, who knows what happened?”

  “It could be network. Try calling her back.”

                Mabel tried severally but her mother’s number was not going through. Her palms were wet with sweat and a bit shaky.

  “Try Cynthia’s line then,” Margret suggested.

                Mabel dialed Cynthia’s line and she picked.

  “Is everything ok?” Mabel asked.

  “Yes,” Cynthia replied. “Why are you asking?”

  “Mummy just called me now. She was sounding somehow.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Is she there with you?”

  “No. let me call her.”

                Cynthia called out to her mother who answered from the backyard. Her mother came and took the phone from Cynthia.

  “Mummy what were you saying?” Mabel asked her.

  “I wanted to ask you whether you have the balm with you.”

                Mabel heaved a sigh of relief.

  “And I was thinking something happened?”

  “Why will you think so?”

  “The way your voice sounded when you called me.”

  “The network has been bad.”

  “Ok. I have the balm here with me. I will bring it back when I come. Is Cynthia complaining of pain?”

  “Not seriously.”

  “No problem then. I will not spend so much time here.”

  “Ok.”

  “Don’t forget my yoghurt,” Cynthia shouted from the background.

                Mabel hung up.

  “You see,” Margret said to her. “You would have given yourself high BP for nothing.

  “My dear, these past few days have not been easy at all.”

  “It will get better.”

                Margret got to the entrance of Mrs Biodun’s house and parked.

  “You can find your way from here right?” she asked Mabel.

  “Yes. Thanks a lot dear.”

  “Make sure you don’t stay too long. Cynthia needs to start her drug as soon as possible, and she may have needs only you can help solve.”

  “I know. Thanks.”

  “I will talk to Segun.”

  “Whatever.”

                Mabel stepped out of the car. She stood for a while and waved as Margret drove off. When Margret was out of sight, Mabel went to the gate of Mrs Biodun’s house. It was a self contain apartment with a big gate. She pressed the door bell and waited. After pressing for a while, no one came to open the gate. She dialed Mrs Biodun who wondered where the gateman was and said she was coming to open the gate herself. Moments later, the pedestrian gate opened.

  “Good evening ma,” Mabel greeted her.

  “Evening my dear. Come in. How are you?”

  “I am fine ma.”

                Mabel went in and she locked the gate behind her. Mrs Biodun noticed the customized drug pack she was holding and asked her about it.

  “Are you the one taking all those drugs?”

  “No ma. My younger sister.”

  “Ah ah. What is the matter?”

  “We have been in the hospital all day.”

  “What is wrong with her?”

  “infection and pain.”

  “Eiyaa. How is she now?”

  “She is fine. But she has not yet started taking the drugs.”

  “You should have informed me so we can reschedule.”

  “It’s not a problem ma. I am here already.”

  “Ok.”

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

THE COMPASS

In every airplane, there is a compass. There are different types with different functionalities but the basic is that they are always there. A compass is a navigational instrument for finding direction. What the compass does is to let the pilot know the trajectory of the plane at every given time. With the aid of the compass, the pilot knows where exactly on the geography of the earth where the plane is per time. with the compass, the pilot knows where north, south, east and west are. This helps him or her to navigate the plane aright. The compass is a very important addition to the tools in the cockpit which the pilot uses to take the plane to the desired destination.

Our compass is the Bible. Everything you need to know is in the Word of God. The Word of God lets you know where you stand with God per time and gives you direction of where you can get to. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16). In the Word is everything you need to know, from medical to sports to politics, and so on. It is the word that shows you the state of your spirit, why you are that way and what you need to do to go in the direction you want to go. The more you neglect the word, the more you stand aloof in this life.  The more you study the Word and put it to work, the better your life gets. The more of the Word you get into your spirit, the lesser the possibility of making mistakes and getting confused in life.

Take heed to the Word today. Bring your bible out of that hiding place and dust it. You may not know, but inside it is all you need for life and Godliness.

-Airplane series

by Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(…continued…)

She got the car under control almost immediately.

  “Yeye okada people.” She said angrily. “That is how they will kill themselves.”

  “The person he is carrying is not even bothered.”

  “Don’t mind them.”

                Some distance later, they saw an accident scene by the road side. The same okada man who overtook them speedily had collided with a car parked by the road side, apparently having lost control in a bid to overtake from the wrong side.

  “You see.”

  “What these people do to themselves is terrible.”

  “and their passengers also.”

  “Should we stop and see what happened?” Cynthia asked.

  “You forgot I have an appointment with Mrs Biodun,” Mabel answered her.

                Margret meandered and drove on. When she got to Mabel’s street, she slowed down.

  “I have forgotten the exact house,” she said to Mabel.

  “Where you have been to several times?” Mabel asked her.

  “Forgive me. All these houses look alike.”

  “Keep going. I will tell you where to stop.”

When they got close to Mabel’s house, they saw their mother standing at the gate, still wearing the clothes she went to work with.

  “That’s your mum,” Margret said. “So that must be your house.”

  “Yes it is. Park by the side of the road.”

  “I hope area boys don’t charge for wrong parking here?”

  “Not on this street.”

Margret parked well and they came out.

  “How are you,” their mother said as she walked towards them.

They greeted her.

  “Maggie how are you?” she said to Margret.

  “I am fine ma.”

                She turned to Mabel and asked, “What took you so long?”

  “Hospital process. We were even lucky. If not for Dr Obinna, things would have been more stressful for us today.”

  “God bless him for me.”

                She held Cynthia close.

  “How are you?” she asked Cynthia.

  “I am fine o.”

  “So what did they say in the hospital?”

  “Cynthia will tell you when you go in,” Mabel answered. “I have to go see my supervisor and also get the drugs for Cynthia.”

  “Ok. You need some money?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

                Cynthia and her mother went into the house.

  “Should I get anything for you?” Mabel called after Cynthia.

  “My yoghurt,” Cynthia replied.

  “Ok.”

  “Or better still, just get her some fruits,” her mother said.

  “I will get both.”

                Mabel and Margret entered the car as she drove off.

  “You will be going home from here right?” Mabel asked Margret.

  “Nope. We get the drugs, I drop you off at Mrs Biodun’s house and then I can leave you for today.”

  “Aww. That’s so nice of you.”

  “You deserve much more from me. what are long time friends for?”

  “Abi.”

                They got to a pharmacy and Mabel went in with the prescription note. She got the drugs for Cynthia and they continued to Mrs Biodun’s house.

  “Do you need to call her so she will know you are coming?”

  “I think I need to do so,” Mabel answered.

                Mabel dialed Mrs Biodun and she answered. She told Mabel to come, that she is waiting for her. Mabel dropped the call when she was done.

  “Wheew, What a day,” Mabel said and sunk into her seat.

                Few minutes to Mrs Biodun’s house, Mabel’s phone rang. It was her mother. She picked but she wasn’t hearing well. All she could pick out was what sounded like a worried voice calling “Mabel…mabel…” Her heart jumped into her stomach.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(…continued…)

  “Ok. I will write some drugs for you now. You will start them immediately, pending when the result of the culture will be ready.”

                He wrote an antibiotic and some other drugs for Cynthia to take. Then he gave them the prescription note.

  “You can get them in any pharmacy you want,”

  “Thank you so much,” Mabel said as they got up to leave.

  “Meanwhile, Cynthia, you have to observe right posture. It is very important. It will help with the back ache. Continue with the massage and pain relievers. Avoid lifting heavy things for now.”

  “Ok. Are there things I should avoid because of the infection?”

  “Use a properly cleaned toilet, stay away from sexual intercourse, take a lot of clean water, a lot of fruits and vegetables. You will be fine. At least we discovered it on time.”

  “Thank you so much doctor.”

  “What about a folder?” Mabel asked as they got to the door. “Will it be necessary?”

  “Yes. I will do that for her. I have her information already.”

  “Ok. Thank you.”

                Dr Obinna saw them off to the car where Margret was waiting for them.

  “Come back in three days time,” He told Cynthia.

  “Ok.”

  “Come with her,” he said pointing to Margret.

                They laughed.

  “Please greet your wife for me,” Mabel said.

  “He is a nice man,” Margret said as they she drove out.

  “Yes but he is married oo,” Mabel replied.

  “And so?”

  “Don’t go there. His wife is a prayer warrior.”

  “I have seen praying mantis people many times o. No shaking.”

  “Until  you start seeing people chasing you in your dream.”

  “Don’t mind me. I am kidding o.”

  “I for say.”

  “I am in a serious relationship now by the way.”

  “You, in a relationship?”

  “Yes o. I think he is the one.”

  “Finally, Maggie will settle down.”

  “Yes o. finally.”

  “So who is the lucky guy?”

  “I met him at the airport few months back.”

  “Really?”

  “He is everything I want in a man. Rich, tall, handsome.”

  “Wow. Congrats.”

  “Thank you my sister.”

  “So when did he pop the question?”

  “He has not said it yet officially yet but he said I am the kind of woman he will love to marry.”

                Mabel laughed long and hard.

  “Men,” she said.

  “And women who will not open their eyes,” Cynthia said.

  “Not this one,” Margret insisted. “He has not asked for sex.”

  “He is just bidding his time my dear.”

  “you can’t be so sure.”

  “I wish you all the best. But please use your head. Don’t give him your heart yet.”

  “And your laps,” Cynthia added.

                They drove past a pharmacy.

  “Should we check this one?” Margret asked her, changing the topic.

  “Mabel, remember your meeting with Mrs Biodun,” Cynthia said.

  “Don’t worry about her. You are more important to me.”

  “I know. But if she doesn’t see you, she may think you are dodging.”

  “She is right,” Margret added.

  “Ok so what do we do now? I can’t go there with you. You need to go home.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I mind. We will drop you off in the house than I will go to see her. I will then get the drugs on my way to or fro.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel turned to Margret and said, “You have really tried for me today. What would I have done?”

  “Don’t mention. What are friends for? At least I got to hear the true version of what happened.”

  “So you can now tell the whole world that Segun is a…” Cynthia started and didn’t finish.

  “Beast,” Margret finished for her.

  “It’s not me that said that o.”

  “I will talk to him.”

  “I am over him,” Mabel said and looked out of the window.

  “Story for Simbi. You still have feelings for him.”

  “Please look where you are going. Feelings ko feelings ni.”

                An okada man drove past her speedily. It was so sudden that Margret lost control of the steering.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(...continued...)

In his office, Dr Obinna asked them to sit. He brought out the xray film.

  “You got them by yourself?” Mabel asked him.

  “Yes I went there myself. At least we can have an idea with the results that are ready.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “So what is wrong with me?” Cynthia asked, still worried.

  “It is nothing to panic about.”

                He looked at the xray very well.

  “Your chest is clear. There appears to be nothing wrong with your back either.”

                He dropped the x-ray.

  “Thank God,” Mabel said.

  “So why am I having the pain?”

  “I saw something from the urinalysis.”

                Cynthia’s heart skipped.

  “What?”

  “Infection. And I think it has found its way into your kidney.”

  “O God!” Mabel exclaimed.

  “Is it kidney failure?” Cynthia asked, teary.

  “Far from that. Remember you said you experience some other symptoms like itching and so on.”

  “Yes from time to time.”

  “And you have never taken antibiotics?”

  “It has been more than six months I took one last.”

                Dr Obinna shook his head.

  “So what do we do?” Mabel asked.

  “You will have to give another urine sample so they will culture it for growth of the bacteria doing this.”

  “Can we do it now?”

  “Yes please, before they close. Let me call them to hold on for few minutes.”

                He called the lab and they said they were closing. He asked them to hold on for few minutes. They were reluctant but later agreed.

  “Please hurry,” He said to Mabel and Cynthia. “Also collect the remaining test result when you get there.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel and Cynthia left in a hurry for the lab. Margret saw how briskly they walked and ran after them.

  “What is the problem?” she asked when she caught up with them.

  “He went her to run another test,” Mabel told her.

  “What is going on?”

  “My sister, I don’t know o.”

  “What is he saying?”

  “We don’t understand what he is saying yet.”

                They got to the lab and met a lab attendant. He filled the form for Cynthia and she went in and produced another urine specimen. They collected the remaining test result and left the lab. As they walked back, tears flowed down Cynthia’s cheek.

  “Why are you crying?” Mabel asked her.

  “So I now have kidney problem,” she replied.

  “Is that what the doctor said?” Margret asked.

  “It is just an infection.”

  “It is not something serious then. He will tell you what to do.”

                Margret put her arm round Cynthia’s neck and told her not to worry, that she would be fine. When they got to the Dr Obinna’s office, Mabel and Cynthia went in.

  “Let me wait for you in my car,” Margret said. “So I don’t lose my tyres.”

  “Ok.”

“So is that what is causing the back ache?”

  “Not entirely.”

  “What else again?”

  “The pain from the kidney section is mild and not enough to cause such pain. The pain is muscular cum nerve oriented/originated.”

  “O God! Is that another sickness?”

  “No. Do you carry heavy things?”

  “Chuka is quite heavy. Do you carry him?”

  “Mabel please stop. I just carry the normal things in the house.”

  “What is your sitting and lying posture like?”

  “She sits anyhow o.” Mabel said. “She does not observe posture at all.”

  “That is the cause of the back ache. It is good we ran these tests. We wouldn’t have known that there was a silent killer at work.”

  “So what do we do now?”

                Dr Obinna looked out of the window for a while, in thought.

  “What about your boyfriend?” he asked Cynthia.

  “Boyfriend kwa.”

  “We need to know where this infection is coming from.”

  “I broke up with him long time ago. He was cheating on me.”

  “What about Chuka?” Mabel asked. “Is there something going on?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Are you sure you are not seeing someone else now?” Dr Obinna asked.

  “No one. I am in my finals. I need to concentrate.”

                He shook his head.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac