ANGEL OF HOPE 2

(CONTINUED FROM THE FIRST PART) .

We thought that all was well but nothing was. What the landlord didn't tell us was that the canal used to overflow it's boundaries during raining seasons and flood into the houses in the area (Ours was the closest in the area and it was usually the first victim of the hapless flood). That was the reason why when we packed in, there were only two tenants living there and both of them were nut cases.

In April 2012, the raining season began and our problem began with it. The canal became slowly filled up with dirty, brownish water but it goes nowhere. At first, we were excited at the sight of so much water but as days grew older to weeks, we became worried and restless. All the excitement vanished as the water became menacing. I warned my7 sibs that under no circumstances should they go near it lest they drown and they didn't.

Two weeks after the raining season began, Miss April requested for my service again after several months. I went there but the cleaning could not be finished that day.

"Maybe you should stay the night and continue tomorrow morning?" She suggested as she came into the room where I was doing serious scrubbing. "It's already 9 o clock now and you still have many things left to do. There are some rooms left so that in the morning, you will continue?"

I've never dreamt of sleeping in the house before and here the opportunity was presenting itself but what if the canal overflows its boundaries and sweep away our house?

"No ma" I said. "Let me go now because of my sibs" I said sadly "The rain may fall in the middle of the night"

"Okay then" She said indifferently and drove me to the bus stop 5 minutes later but there was bus and we remained there almost 10 pm then I knew that I had to wait or else trek to Mushin which seemed almost suicidal because I was as tired as I could ever be. I accepted and she drove me back to her house.

She gave me cake and milk for supper (a combination that didn't quench my hunger. I wondered how someone can eat such thing instead of a solid food and be satisfied) and told me to use one of the guest rooms when I was ready to sleep then she left for her room.

Four hours after she had gone, I was still awake, reading a novel to prevent myself from sleeping. All the while, I was scared that it would rain lest my sibs be washed away in their sleep.

"Hey, why are you not sleeping?" She asked as she came into the living room where I was reading.

"Nothing ma, no problem." I said and feigned a smile "I'm not just sleepy besides I'm reading a novel..."

"Are you sure or something is bothering you? You look so sad and scared…"

"Nothing ma, I'm good, see?"

"Okay. Sorry for holding you back. It seems you are already missing home. So you love reading novels uh?"

I nodded.

"That's great. Maybe I'll lend you some in the morning when you are going. Put out the lights when you want to sleep. Goodnight" She said and left.

The following day, she did as she promised and even gave me N3000! I felt so happy and I liked her beyond description. She was kinder to me than the boss that hired me. After that day, I began going to her house to clean and we got closer `and friendly till I usually go to her place at least thrice in a week whenever she was around and I began to spend less time at my boss' house. She told me her interests which she said were singing and writing and she had published three books. I told her that my only talent was writing. Knowing that both of us have passion for writing brought us closer. I read her two books and they were exceptional. I showed her some of the stories that I've written and she said they were okay.

All the while, my boss was unhappy with this. On two different occasions he refused to let me go to her house when she requested for me out of anger than having me to do anything. He became harsh and fault-finding with everything I did. Sometimes he would make me wash a car twice or more by complaining that sit's not clean enough. Miss April was engaged to him and soon would marry him so he didn't see any reason why she should develop any relationship with someone like me. He had told me this on many occasions and threatened that if I didn't mind my business (which he said was to clean his compound and nowhere else) he would sack me.

One day I was in the library, dusting the books that has never been read by my boss and which he may never read when Miss. April came in. even before she spoke, I knew that she was angry. Seeing her made me happy because I've not seen her for two months but the expression on her face made me uneasy.

"Hey Aunty!" I exclaimed "Long time ma"

"How are you?" She asked but before I could reply, she continued "Well, did you tell Nat that you don't want to come to my house again that I'm over working you? Was that what you told him and the reason you refused to come on several occasions when I told him to send you?" I became dumb. How could that be? When did I say all that? Definitely my boss had made that up but I couldn't tell her that my boss never told me she wants me and that I didn't refuse anytime to go to her place and that Uncle Nat had been lying. It would cause misunderstanding between them yet I didn't want to admit it so I won't look like an ingrate to Miss April who helps me a lot. What should I do?

"Ehm…not that aunty" I said "You know we have problem with the new house. The canal has overflown its boundaries and our house is almost submerged in waters. We are living in the streets now and the worst part of it is that one of my sibs; Reuben is down with cholera so all these strains are probably the reasons why Uncle Nat told you that I can't come but I didn't say that you are over working me."

Her expression changed from anger to pity. "Whoa! That's too bad.so how is your sib now? Have you taken him to the hospital?"

"He is okay now. He has even gone to school before I left home this morning" I said.

"Okay. That's good. I'm coming" She said and left the library. She came back several minutes later with many cloths in a bag and gave them all to me. "These are some of Nat's unused cloths. He doesn't wear them anymore but I don't know the reason why he's still holding on to them, it makes his closet messy. When you are through with this place, please go upstairs to his closet and give it a serious scrubbing then you let it dry before you put back the cloths and the shoes. Then I want you to come over to my place tomorrow because we are throwing a welcome party for a friend at my place today. Don't forget; help to clean his closet please."

"Yes ma!" I said excitedly.

The cloths she gave me were better than even my best cloth. Since my boss was taller and bigger than I was, I had to slim-fit all of them to my size. When I was through, they all looked good on me. I selected a black shirt with a pair of cream coloured trousers and tucked the shirt in it with a brand new shoe that I have been preserving for so long. Seyi was the first person that commented on it.

"Mike, have you gotten another job; as in, like in a bank?" She asked, eyeing me critically in that way that used to make me blush.

"No, why?" I asked as I put on socks.

"You look different. New cloth, new shoes, new haircut, new look. Are you taking your GF out on a date?"

I laughed.

"No I just decided to look good" I said.

"You don't look good, you look awesome" She said.

"Thanks sis. I wonder if you've told to Habass that too" I teased and she blushed all the way down to her toes. Habass was her classmate and she always talk about how brilliant and handsome he is. We all knew she has a crush on him but she wouldn't admit it to us.

"Mike stop. There is nothing between us and I don't have a BF" She lied "I'm still a small girl…"

"And I still have a long way to go blah, blah, blah!" I completed her sentence for her.

"Argh! You are so annoying you know?" She asked, smiling.

When I got to work, my boss was at home. When he saw me, he became enraged sand for several moments I didn't know why. Eventually he confronted me.

"Hey, is that my shirt?"

"Yes sir. Aunty gave me yesterday"

"Who is aunty?" he demanded impatiently.

"Miss April"

"April gave you my cloths, What for?"

"Hmmm…I don't know. She said you are not using them anymore…"

"OK" he cuts in sharply and stormed away. I could tell from the way he walked away that he was mad with anger and really pissed up. How could I placate his anger?

Contrary to Uncle Nat's reaction, Miss April was taken aback when she saw me. "WOW!" She exclaimed "So I did the right after all. You are good looking now that you've barbed your hair and nice up"

"Thank you ma!" I smiled and blushed under my dark skin. When I was through in the evening, she drove me back to Uncle Nat's residence in Ikorodu. He was at home by the time we got back there. I went to the library and she went upstairs to meet him.

I was halfway into the book I was reading when I heard Uncle Nat's voice shouting and scolding her. I paused and listened. He was asking her why she gave me his cloths without his consent. All the while, she was apologizing and begging him to lower his voice but he kept rambling on and on. Somewhere in the middle of his heated anger, he said something that finally pissed her off and she told him pointedly never to say such thing to her again and that she would buy the things she gave me back for him in ten folds if that would make him happy. This last statement finally detonated his volcanic anger. I heard three slaps in quick succession from where I sat embarrassed, ashamed and sad but I didn't know who slapped who. I knew barely thirty seconds later because she ran down the stairs to the living room which was just adjacent to the library where I hunched up in a corner, wishing that I was dead or I was never born. She was sobbing quietly and holding her cheek with her hand. I know I shouldn't be listening in to the conversation but it was hard and impossible not to. Even when I shoved my fingers deep into my ear holes, I still heard everything clearly and my heart was vibrating madly as if it would jump out of my chest.

I felt like walking up the stairs to his room and tell him off and drop his cloths on the floor but that was the worst thing I could do in such circumstances. Apart from being fired at that moment, I would not leave peacefully without being physically attacked. If he could attack Miss April who was so precious and angelic, how much more I? I shoved my pride back into my heart and hung my head in shame and frustration, asking God why I had to be poor to be treated that way. I heard her sped out of the compound and not long after, Uncle Nat stormed down into the silent library with kindled anger. "Listen up you, next time you use your beggar attitude just to rouse sympathy and cause probs around here, I'll skin you alive and I will make you lick the floor of this house with your tongue till I'm satisfied and I will collect the money I lent you more than I actually gave and then you will be sorry for the rest of your life that you messed up with me." He balled his palms into hard fists and clenched his teeth tightly over his urge to hit me hard on the face and knock me unconscious till His kingdom come but somehow he didn't. instead he spat on me and stormed out just as he had stormed in. it all happened very fast; less than a minute. I sat back on the chair, my head lolled back against the headrest and staring vacantly at the ceiling and wishing I could see beyond it and look God in the eyes and ask him why He is so unfair. Two silent tears strutted to my eyes and rolled down sadly on my cheeks.

About a minute later, other staff came into the library one after the other after making sure that our boss was nowhere around. They tiptoed around with exaggerated carefulness like a tight rope walker

"That was very serious." The chef who cooks nothing but gossip said. "But you are too forward to say the truth. Are you the only staff here? When did you come that you are already destabilizing a peaceful milieu? Why must it be you that they would be fighting over? All of us know our boundaries and we seldom pass them but you..."

"I've warned you before to take it easy…" the gate/security man began but I walked away from them both. They were the last people that I would talk to. I'd rather confront my boss than to talk to those two busybodies

For the next four weeks, nothing happened. My boss was still mad at me. Every time I greet him he would just ignore me completely and scold me unnecessarily so that within those four weeks, I became really fed up and tired of that place and I started telling the few friends I had to help me get another job. I knew if I don't quit he would sack me but if I want to quit, I still owed him forty thousand naira.

On the last day of the fourth week, he came to where I was washing his car for the second time that morning and gave me an envelope. He told me that my salary was in the envelope with additional twenty thousand naira. He said that my appointment had been terminated immediately I finished washing the car. I collected the envelope and thanked him. I wanted to beg and apologize but the expression on his face warned me not to so I let it slide as I shoved it into my pockets. I left his house twenty minutes later. Another cleaner was employed the next day.

The bible says that in everything we must learn to give thanks to God. Also I have a habit of bringing out the good side of every bad situation. What Uncle Nat has done really surprised me. i thought of the money I was owing him and the money he still gave me despite everything. I got another job the following week. This time not as a cleaner but as a sales rep of packaged plantain chips on the highway. The salary was lousy; it was on commission. The number of chips that I'm able to sell determines my income. I carried each sachet at the rate of forty naira and sell it for fifty naira so my diligence would determine how much I'm able to rake in each day. Therefore, I worked very hard at this so that I could be able to finance our family. I usually left home by 4:30 am each day and arrive back home around 9pm including Sundays.

My sibs began to grumble about my long absences from them but I tried to make them understand that it's either I work myself into oblivion or the family would starved to death. It took them three months to get used to it and Seyi now assumed the role of the mother in the family by waking up by 5 am each morning, wash the cloths, prepare food, and get her younger ones ready for school. Sometimes she would wake up as early as 4 am and prepare food so that I could eat out of it by the time I leave for work by 5.

I felt sad and sorry for her that as young as she is, she had to take up that kind of heavy load on her young shoulders but I realized that if I continue to protect my sibs from the hardships that we were passing through, we can't succeed because each member of that family has a role and a responsibility to perform for the common good of all of us. By then Seyi was already in SS2, Reuben was in JSS 3 and Eliza was about to write her common entrance examination.

Reconnected!

About nine months after I'd left Mr. Nat's house, was on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway one day , attending to a customer when one of my co-sellers on the road ran up to me with his carton of galas. His name was Dammy

"Hey!" He said breathlessly "There is a customer calling you at the other side of the road. When you are through go and see her" he said and walked away. When I was through attending to the customer I was attending to, I ran quickly to where he had pointed to me. I was happy that I was about to make a big and tippy sale (a tippy sale is the one where a rich customer purchase something from you, overpay you for that thing and even tip you. It was every street hawker's prayer to find such luck). I walked to where a brand new and exotic convertible KIA sport car was parked with its tinted glass. People were already gathering and gaping at the car and somehow someone had given it a name. He said the car's name is Flying Devil that it can make itself bigger or shrink in size if it wants to and that it can run as fast as some airplanes. I knew all what he said were lies but many people believed him. "Buy plantain chips!!!" I hollered as I got nearer to the driver's side. The glass wound down automatically to reveal Aunt April who sat behind the wheel!

I almost ran mad with joy. It's been almost a year since I set my eyes on her. I haven't seen her even long before I was disemployed by Uncle Nat.

"Wow! Aunt April!" I cried excitedly. This car is really beautiful!" I said "Did you just buy it?"

"Yes" She said and smiled sadly. She looked at me oddly and I felt momentarily scared. Before I could ask her what was wrong, she began solemnly "I'm so sorry about your brother that passed away. It must have been very hard for you guys, losing your parents and now, your brother. When I didn't see you again, I became worried so when I asked Nat, he told me that you decided to quit working and go back to your village so when I saw you here today, I couldn't believe my eyes and that's why I waited to talk to you. I'm very sorry for the loss. So what are you doing now?" She asked. "Is hawking this thing paying that much?"

I didn't know what she was talking about so I told her "Aunty I'm sorry to tell you this but nothing happened to my brother and nothing bad will happen to any of us. He is okay and I didn't go back to the village. I'm always in Lagos."

She looked unbelievably at me.

"Excuse me. Why did you lie to Nat then? What would you gain by telling such brutal lie? Why going to the extent of saying your brother is dead? If you don't want to work anymore, you simply can quit…"

"Aunty April I didn't say anything like that! I swear to God I didn't! My sibs are my life and they are the reason why I'm doing all these. I'll never deny them even if my life is at stake." I said with all the anger I could muster. "He told me that he didn't need my service anymore. He paid me off. Even then I owed him about thirty five thousand naira that he lent me to secure a room for us…"

We continued to talk about all these and with each passing moment, it became clear to us that uncle Nat had been lying all along but why did he do that? The clouds began to gather in the sky for some sort of meeting and they joined one another until they all became one dark canopy, shielding out the little light that was coming from the dying evening sun. The rain began without warning in torrential downpour. She opened the front door and I hopped into the car to the envy of my co-workers who were hiding under tables and empty cartons.

"Are you sure of all these things?" She asked seriously. Her expression had changed and she looked rigid and inscrutable.

"Yes I'm very sure ma…" I stopped abruptly in the middle of the sentence , remembering that as the rain was falling harder, our house would be flooded and almost submerged by water again. The deep-wide canal had been full for almost two weeks now without any hope of it's going down and now the rain seemed hell bent on adding to that grief.

"My sibs!" I cursed under my breath and unlocked the door without warning and sprinted out of the car, running away towards the direction of the bus stop to catch a bus back home as soon as I could make it. All the while, I was waving down buses. I was very scared as I ran on on the rain swept road because there was nowhere or no one that my sibs could stay with should the water rise higher. Our house was out of the options because even before I left home, the floods inside our house was knee deep. Thirty more minutes of serious rain would definitely spell disaster for us.

"Hey, get in!" Miss April drew up the car beside me, she opened the door for me but I kept running while she drove slowly beside me to catch up "Mike I said get in. you are getting soaked for Christ's sake!" she shouted above the din of the rain sounds.

"No. I have to get home now because of my sibs" I shouted back without stopping.

"Don't worry, I'll take you there. Now get in before you catch pneumonia!" I was happy and I hopped in beside her, not minding my wetness. I gave her directions to our house and all through the fifty minutes' drive there, we talked about my family. It was not a new subject but discussing my family was one of those things that I was not comfortable discussing but I told her everything she wanted to know. I told her the reason why I was so scared.

"My greatest fear is that they won't wander away into the canal because the water has completely covered it and made everywhere look the same so that anyone who has never been to the area or even an unsuspecting resident may fall into the deep canal and that would be the end. It has happened before. There were two cases of drown people this year alone" I said.

"Relax, they will be alright by God's grace" She assured me.

We had to park her car three streets before we reached our own. The streets beyond that had been flooded to knee level and our street was the closest to the canal. I threw away all caution and fears and got into the water and walked to our street where the water level was higher. All the while, Miss April was closely behind me. I told her to wait when I got to the front of our house while I went into the house. I told her to remain like and not to over a limb because she didn't know the place and any false move can take her to the middle of the canal. I made my way into our house though the water was well above my knees.

"Reuben! Seyi!! Elizabeth!!! Are you guys in there?!" I shouted in the empty house and my voice echoed back at me. I shouted again but there was no response still. I felt happy. At least, they were not anywhere near the house and that has been my prayer since I remembered them. I waded through the water to the third room door and using my own key, I unlocked the door and went inside. Our things were floating happily on the brownish flood water. I got dry cloths from the rack that was up against the wall and where the water has not yet reached. I reached up quickly and took the little amount of money I have been saving for emergencies where I tucked it hidden in one of my shirt's pocket and made my way back out, ignoring our things that were floating on the water after I packed off all documents from the top of the cupboard.

I joined Miss April who was waiting for me inside the rain and we made our way very carefully back and away from our house, gong to the upper part of the street where the water level was not that high. All the while I was calling my sibs names at the top of my voice. All around us people walked aimlessly about in the rain. Like us, they too have been forced out of their small rooms too. A landlord and his tenants were battling it out in one of the houses we passed but I was not paying attention to all these because my mind was totally on finding my sibs save and sound. I was afraid that one of them might have falling into the canal and while others were trying to help him or her, others had fallen into it too! I almost cried at this horrible thought but I kept on praying to God silently that it wouldn't happen.

All these evil thoughts were still tormenting me when I heard Eliza's happy and childish voice beside me. "It's Mike!!!" she shouted excitedly from the doorway of a wooden shed that serves as a canteen for a woman who had already closed for the day. I felt happy and relieved at this and I sighed appreciatively to God. She sprang out of the shed and ran into the rain towards me. When she got to few feet before she reached me, she flew towards me and though I was tired, I caught her midair and hugged her very tightly. I ruffled her hair and pulled her cheeks. She loved it when I do that so she giggled excitedly.

"Hey Lizzy, you shouldn't have come out into the rain. You could get drenched like that!" I said but she didn't mind. "Where are Seyi and Reuben?" I asked as she led us to the shed.

"We are here!" Seyi and Reuben too said excitedly from within the shed. They sounded so joyful that I was wondering if they were happy that we were forced out of the house into the pelting rain. I was expecting them to be sad and gloomy and I've been bracing myself for the soothing words to tell them but somehow God has taken care of that.

We ducked under the shed to take shelter from the rain. We ducked under the shed to take shelter from the rain. I quickly introduced Miss April to them and they curtsied and said hellos. Lizzy however did more than others, she took her hand in hers and shook it very warmly and this brought a glowing smile to Miss April's face. She bent down and pecked her on the cheek.

"Mike I think we can pass the night here. I've taken our quilts and enough cloths to ward off the cold and the mosquitoes. The flood cannot reach this place cuz we are far from the canal now" Seyi said. She had already spread a blanket on the cold and uncemented floor of the shed and it looked warm enough.

"Yeah, Seyi. I've been thinking about that too. We would be gone before the owner comes in the morning. Now what do you guys want to eat tonight?" I asked through my chattering teeth and vibrating body. The cold was penetrating through my bones marrow. Miss April too was shaking pretty badly even though she tried so hard not to show it.

"Indomie! We will eat indomie tonight Mike" Elizabeth said excitedly as if she just found a cure for HIV/AIDS when many people have tried and failed.

"That's dumb." Reuben retorted. "Mike, don't mind her. Bread or any other emergency food will do" He said sagely and Seyi nodded her approval.

"But why can't we eat indomie?" Elizabeth shot back angrily. She was close to tears. She obviously hated the way Reuben treated her last statement.

"Because this is an emergency center, makeshift. It's not our house and no pot and other cooking things and without those things, we can't do any cooking" he explained with his usual I-am-your-big-brother attitude and Lizzy strangely accepted his explanation.

"I'll go out to get something when Miss April is going back to her place…" I was saying but Miss April cuts in.

"We can really cook together guys and eat hot and spicy indomie instead of dry bread. I think everyone is cold now?" Miss April asked and I became dumbstruck.

"Miss April…" I protested weakly.

"Don't you guys like the idea?" She asked and ignored me. My sibs went wild with excitement as they leapt up in jubilation. "Now pack your things and let's rush into the car, we are not coming back here tonight" She said.

"Miss…" I began as my sibs rushed past us with their cloths and school bags. "Are you s…."

"Am I sure if I really want to do this? Of course I am! I can't just let you guys sleep in this thing while I sleep alone in a big house with many empty rooms. We will not have this conversation again, now get in the car and let's scram from here because I'm chilled to the bones"

From Grass To Abundant Grace.

Miss April's house must have been the best house my sibs had ever seen because they didn't conceal their amazements and wonders as they wowed everything they saw right from the gates to the lounge. I walked with the confidence of one who was familiar with the place while my sibs trailed gingerly behind me, afraid to touch and spoil anything from the exquisitely beautiful house. It was a duplex with the lounge, dining room and library on the ground floor while the bedrooms and restrooms were on the top floor.

"Wow! This is the most beautiful room I've ever seen!" Seyi exclaimed, Reuben and Lizzy agreed silently by nodding their heads in agreement. Miss April just smiled through it all.

"Okay now I'm hungry but I don't know about you guys, before we head to the kitchen, let me show you to your rooms" She said and we all followed her upstairs. She gave the girls a bedroom beside hers while she gave Reuben and me the third room from hers. This was more than my expectation all through the drive to her house. I wasn't thinking much of getting separate rooms for us. All I was really expecting was a guest room for all of us to crash in. I wanted to cry for joy but I didn't. I was about to thank her when Seyi began to sob. We all felt the same way so it didn't surprise any of us- not even Lizzy who was the baby of the house.

After we've comfortably settled in, Miss April retreated to the kitchen and both Seyi and Lizzy followed her. Reuben and I hung aimlessly about, not knowing what to do while the ladies cook up something from the kitchen. We decided to stay put in our room and we were hearing excited voices drifting in from the kitchen as the trio prepared the late supper. After 35 minutes or thereabout, we supped together and then retreated back to the living room to watch a movie on the satellite. We've never watched one before, it was always on the local channels with our epileptic black and white television that must be slapped and kicked before it could even on. It seldom on but when it does, it's always a sort of celebration in our room because Christmas celebrations come more often than the times that the TV used to work. So watching movie on the unbelievably big screen TV which we later knew as LCD TV was like having a taste of heaven after spending centuries in hellfire. While this was going on, I used the opportunity to help them all with their assignments; not that they really needed the help but I oversee what they were doing just for the fun of it.

When it was 10pm, Seyi told us that it was time to pray and say goodnights (that was one of the things we always do. It has become part of us to the extent that even outside our house, we can't overlook it. It's like a bad habit; it sticks to its owner like a glue. Miss April looked surprise and a little awkward at first but when we began singing praises, she relaxed and soon forgot about all her reservations)

The next day was Sunday so we all attended a parish of The Redeemed Christian Church Of God at the estate. Before we left home for the church, Miss April confessed to us that she couldn't remember the last time she was in a church. She said she believe that there is a God up there who controls everything down on earth and beyond but that she just found it hard to believe too strongly in religion.

The service was brief but awesome. Every one of us loved every minute we spent right there in the church. We sang and danced and prayed without restrictions. When the first timers were asked to step forward for recognition we all trouped out to a loud and friendly ovation from all the members of the church. We shook hands and hugged many people with lots of joy and peace of mind that was so rare to us. Miss April spoke for all of us when we were given microphones to introduce ourselves and if we would love to join the parish as one big and happy family.

"My name's April and these are my siblings; Michael, Reuben, Seyi and Lizzy. We love this place and we want to be part of this family" She said and the church broke into another joyful celebration as if we were the most important people in the world.

The service began by nine AM and two hours later we closed. We were surrounded by both the members and the leaders of the church, answering questions and giving assurances to be coming frequently. At last we were free and while we were going to the park, Miss April told us how happy she was. "The last church I went to must have been five or six years ago but the service was….that was why I lost interest in going to any church. I thought that the people that constitute the church are a bunch of boring people" She said and we laughed.

"Aunty it's good to go to church" Lizzy said. "Because when we do, God would be happy with us and beat the devil if he wants to harm us. God would tell him not to touch his children but if we don't go, God will not stop the devil if he wants to harm us."

"That's dumb Elice" Reuben said with exasperation.

"Grow up sister" Seyi said.

"Lizzy don't mind them. They are just jealous because you know the truth" Miss April said and she took Lizzy's small hand in hers and turned her to face her. She bent down in front of her when we reached her car. Seyi and Reuben got into the backseat. "When the pastor told us to make a request to God before we shared the grace, hope you prayed for a great future? Did you pray about what you want to become in the future?" Miss April asked seriously. God knows who told her but since she was in Kg 2, she had been hammering the fact that when she grows up; she wanted to become a medical doctor and she has talked our ears off with that fact to the extent that whenever she began talking about it, we used to shut her up but Miss April strangely seemed to be fascinated and believe it every time she starts saying it.

Lizzy shook her head. "I didn't pray about it" She replied.

"Why, what did you pray about then?" Miss April asked, amused.

"I prayed to God to protect you and make you happy all the days of your life as you are making us happy." She replied quietly. I was taken aback. Sometimes she used to say things that goes beyond her age and surprise someone with her utterances.

Two ripe tears emerged from Miss April's eyes and she let them fall freely in her squat position. She took Lizzy's head in her palms and spoke softly. I turned my eyes away from them to look at the horizon where the sky and the land joined together but I was hearing everything she said.

"Whatever I do for either you, Michael, Seyi or Reuben is not from me; it's from that God that you prayed to. He is just using me to do those things so always give Him praise instead of thanking me. Meanwhile, I want to promise you that as long as I live, nothing bad will happen to you and your brothers and sister, trust me" She said and stood up. "Let's go now cuz we are still going to the beach after lunch or have you forgotten?"

Early the following day, I prepared my sibs for school and sent them off riding in Miss April's car because their schools were along the way to her work so she dropped them off before heading to Victoria Island where her working place was. I went out when they'd all left for work as well on the highway to sell the chips and throughout the day, I was in high spirits and as happy and smug as a monkey that has a bunch of ripe banana up on his tree house.

Immediately she closed at work, she said she went to Uncle Nat's place. After the usual hurdle-cuddle, she went straight to the point.

"I saw Michael yesterday" She told him.

"Michael who?" Uncle Nat had asked.

"Your ex cleaner…"

"Oh, him? Really, so what about him?" he asked disinterestedly. "See April let's forget him. How is the engagement plan…."

"Nat let's talk about him" She had said.

"No we can't cuz he's not important" He said, a little loudly.

"Maybe he's not but what he told me sharply contrasted all you told me…"

"Don't mind that beggar- he is a crooked lying bastard!"

"Nat please, the only one who is not saying the truth here is you…"

"And why would I lie?" He said defensively.

"That's exactly what I want to know" She said "If you can lie about him to me when he is not important to us then how many important things have you lied to me about? How many lies have you…"

"April stop, you are getting accusatory again" He said angrily.

"I'd rather we talk about him. I can't marry you when I'm not sure if you are lying or saying the truth. Why did you sack him and lied to me that he resigned? He never did. You hired him Nat and you can sack him if you want. You have every right to do that but why lying about it to me if not that you know saying the truth about it will mean you have treated him very badly? Why ?" She asked with silent tears cascading down her cheeks. "Nat I can't marry you when you are so full of lies and I don't know what to believe and this is not the first time either…"

"Hey baby; that's in the past. Don't try to bring up the buried issues. Calm down. Okay, I'm sorry. I thought we are fighting because of him and that if he leaves here things will get back better and obviously it has. Ever since he's gone, we've been fine so let him go" He begged.

"No Nat. He didn't do anything wrong. I don't just understand the reason why you hate him that much. He is in my house now. He slept there yester night…"

"What?!" He shouted angrily "What nonsense are you getting into? What's wrong with your head?"

"Nat wait and hear me out ok? I just helped him and his sibs…" She said but he wasn't listening. "Get out of here!"

"C'mon Nat don't be stupid. This is nothing. I just helped…"

"Oh, you think I'm an idiot? An idiot is a girl who is stupid enough to put a grown up guy in her house when she is betrothed to another man and would get married very soon. That lady is an idiot. Now get out! I don't want to see you here again! Scram, out!"

She came sobbing in the evening and all attempts to make her stop were fruitless. What really pissed me off about Uncle or Mr. Nat (call him whatever you want) had the gut to hurt her because of us. She was only trying to help. My sibs were all there when she came crying into the lounge. Lizzy who wanted to run and hug her at the door as she used to do freeze halfway across the room when she saw she was crying? I quickly shooed my sibs away from the lounge into the rooms upstairs with strict warning that they shouldn't come down until I say so then I went back down to hear what happened.

She told me her conversations with him and tried not to make it sound as if he was mad at her and not me because I was in her house but I knew that part. I consoled her as much as I could and tried to make her see that the present would pass and a better future would take its place. Then I went upstairs and told my sibs to pack their school bags and cloths and we should leave the house. It doesn't make any sense if we would be hurting her because she was helping us.

We were still packing our things when she came upstairs and saw us. She looked at our packed bags then looked at my sibs who wore sad expressions and at me. She said nothing but walked away and few moments later, we heard her vehicle started and she drove away.

"Mike, are we really leaving Aunty?" Seyi asked sadly

"Yeah. We've got to. Now no more argument please hurry up and let 's go" I said.

"But we haven't anywhere to go or have you forgotten?!" Seyi said again. "Listen Mike if you have done something wrong to make her mad at you, tell us and we will beg her. We have nowhere to go and don't think about you alone, think about us- most especially about Lizzy…."

"Shut up!" I snarled. My anger at what Uncle Nat did was building up within me like a volcano of immense magnitude and I was about to vent it on her. "This is not about me. I didn't do anything wrong and as to how we will survive, don't you worry about it because we have been surviving all these years without help from anyone or anywhere and we haven't died yet. Now let's go before I lose my temper!"

It was already dark by the time we left her house. I held Reuben's hand while Seyi backed Lizzy and carried her school bag on the left hand. Reuben carried his bag while I was carrying Lizzy's. We walked silently through the well laid streets and well lit Magodo streets to the main road that linked the estate to Ikeja. We were at the bus stop waiting for a bus heading for Oshodi when Miss April drove up and parked in front of us. She got out of the car and walked briskly to where I was standing. I was about to speak and tell her the reason why we packed when she slapped me hard and fast on both cheeks. The sound of it was louds and unpleasant. I held my burning cheeks and looked angrily at her.

"You are an asshole!" She spat in my face. "I thought you are sensible and man enough to keep cool and calm in difficult situations but here you are; running with your tail between your legs like a scared rat. This is my life and I can damn well do anything I like with it. Nat doesn't have any hold on my life and I make my decisions if you don't know that you big head idiot! I didn't say you should pack and I'm quite disappointed that you are like that stupid Nat. Go on and leave and go back to the streets if that's what you want" She went back to her car and drove away.

It's been three weeks since we left Miss April's house but it has been hellish for us. Each time the rain fell it meant trouble for us. Our house (if you can still call it that) was halfway drowning in the waters and that left us with sleeping in wooden empty sheds. Though my sibs didn't say it out loud but I felt it with the way they looked at me and the kind of silent communication among them. At first I wanted to call them and talk it through but I let it go. With time perhaps, they would get over it. I continued with my work and tried to forget the episode.

On the fourth week, I received an unexpected visit from Uncle Nat. he parked on the highway and I thought he was a customer and he wanted to buy something until I got near his car and realized he was the one. He came out and signaled to me to come. I move closer to him and listened.

"I don't have time to be wasting over someone like you so listen to everything I'm going to say now. I don't ever want to see you anywhere near her again- you know who I mean. The last time you went there the next day she walked out on me and I'm tired of that bullshit. You are a bad luck to us so stay away. I won't come to warn you verbally anymore and if you think I'm bluffing, do it one more time and you will wish you were never born. Here is money to keep you away." He threw five one thousand naira notes in my face, got into his car and drove away. I didn't pick the money though I was at that time penniless but picking it would mean agreeing with his nonsense and I didn't want to. So I walked away. My co-sellers were beating each other over the money as I walked away.

One bright Sunday afternoon, we were in a shed on our street when Lizzy jumped up excitedly. We were wondering why when Miss April's car parked in front of the shed and she walked in. Lizzy ran and met her, taking her into a warm embrace and she hugged her back. Both Reuben and Seyi stood up too and hugged her in turn. She stood in front of me and we both stared at each other without saying a word. Seyi took the cue and she told us that they wanted to go and buy biscuit and I said okay. When they have gone, I said hello and she replied.

"I'm very sorry for the way I behaved." I said. "It was a very stupid thing to have done. I thought it would help if we leave the way but I didn't know that it will only hurt you."

"It's ok. You didn't mean to upset me. I would have done the same thing too."

There was an awkward silence.

"So how are you guys?" She asked to break the silence.

"We are good" I tried to fake a smile that was not real. We were really suffering sleeping in the streets at the mercy of rain, sun, mosquitoes and germs.

"I hate it when people are lying to me. it's obvious that nothing ok here. Well, I'm here to tell you that the rooms are still vacant if you want them that is. You can decide not to follow me but you can't stop your sibs from following me because it is dangerous here in the street."

"Thanks but we can't" I said.

"You can't but they will. Anyway, why not?" She pointed out.

I told her about Uncle Nat's visit but she waved it off impatiently.

"That's rubbish…..he can't do anything. I have told him, I'm calling off the wedding. I now realized that we were never meant to be together. There are so many things about him that I can't live with and the earlier I let go, the better. So, cheer up bro, you have nothing to worry about."

I was still thinking about this when my sibs filed in solemnly. They looked tense and uneasy.

"Now guys, let's go home!" Miss April said smiling.

My sibs looked enquiringly at me for confirmation and I nodded my head then they busted into a wild excitement. They grabbed their bags and shot out of the shed like bullets.

"Are you coming or not?" Miss April asked.

It's been three months since she took us back in. those three months had been the best three months of our lives. She had been the perfect hostess without a moment of getting tired of us. She was there for us like a big sis, guarding and guiding us like a mother hen. Uncle Nat had come twice and told her told rent a house for us outside instead of living under the same roof but she had bluntly refused, telling him that whatever she does was none of his business. On those two occasions I was not there but she told me when I got home. I was still filled with fear of him and his threat.

During those three months she took us to amusement parks, theatres, restaurants etc. and we've met some of her friends either at their places or hers and they were all pleasant and very nice to us but we've not met any of her family members because they were in Washington DC.

One day in the middle of the third month, she called me into the lounge and told me she wanted me to stop selling on the highway.

"Why?" I asked, baffled.

"Don't you want to continue your education? Actually I've been thinking about it. You have to go back to school. There's no future in hawking in the streets and collecting dimes weekly. Michael, are your O level results okay or do you need to sit for another exam?"

I couldn't believe my ears.

"I have the necessary papers." I said.

"Good then. You will obtain the JAMB form tomorrow"

"But I don't have money; not to obtain the form alone but to send myself to school. My sibs futures are more important than mine right now. I've pegged all thought s of my schooling. Seeing them through is the…"

"No Michael. You all have different future and whatever might be happening now doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice yours for theirs. I'll take care of the monetary aspect; you take of the reading aspect and make sure that you pass. I'm taking care of everything henceforth so leave it to me"

I didn't plan to but it happened all the same. Silent tears cascaded down my cheeks and my voice trembled, yet what I felt was happiness and not sorrows. I smiled through my tears and said

"You took us in, fed us, clothed us and financed all that we've been doing ever since we've moved in when you don't know us or owe us anything in anyway. Saying that I love you is an understatement. I feel like hugging you and holding you tight right now, may I please?" I said with uncontrollable tears.

"Yeah, c'mon and do it" She said with as much emotion as I felt and I walked up the short distance between us and took her into a fierce and warm embrace. I cried without restraint and all the while she was patting my back and telling that everything would be alright and not to worry. She said as long as she lives, nothing would happen to us.

We were still on this when Uncle Nat came in. he found us clinging to each other.

"What?!" He screamed. We didn't know he was there until we heard his voice. We broke apart but not guiltily, after all we've not done anything wrong. He advanced towards me and even as she tried to stop him by stepping between us, he pushed her violently away and she hit her head against the glass center table to get to me. He was huge and tall and well-muscled. He gyms every day and plays basketball for Lagos state in the National Basketball competitions and he was due to be signed up for the National team very soon. Miss April on the other hand was just 5.3 feet tall, 126 pounds and well-shaped. There was a very delicate softness about her that attracts attention not only from men but from women as well. Frankly, she was the most beautiful lady I've ever seen in my life.

When he got to me, he took me by my shirt collar and used it to lift me up on my feet. He drew my face a few inches away from his and bared his teeth as if he wanted to take a deep bite from jugular. All the while, my heart was racing wildly in my chest. "Next time I set my eyes on you again, I'll break your bones and hang you on a stick but before then let me teach you some lesson that you forget in a hurry…." He said and the beating began. I was not as tall as he was and barely heavier than Miss April but not anywhere as strong as he was and no way could I engage him in physical combat- he would take me down within seconds. I didn't bother to put up a fight; instead I was protecting my vital body parts like my eyes. Somewhere in the middle of the assault, I heard Miss April's wailing voice and that was the last thing I heard before I fell into darkness.

I found myself on a hospital bed. That wouldn't have been bad if I had not been hooked up on a hospital respiratory machine. Wires snaked into my body in a meaningless jumble and into the respirator. The room was quiet and I was alone. At first, I suffered memory loss, I didn't know why I was there but as minutes crept by, all the events of my last conscious moments came flooding back into my head with full force. I tried to sit up but it was impossible because no part of my body moved. A white- hot pain shot suddenly through my ribs and exploded in my body. I was lost in deep darkness where I was coming from before I woke up the previous time.

Though my eyes were still closed tightly, but I could hear voices around me. Though the voices were loud enough but they were inaudible to me. I tried to decipher the meaning of what was being said around me but nothing made sense and the effort of straining my mind to understand and make sense of it was causing me an unbearable pain so I let go and drifted off into the dark-silent emptiness again.

"Hey wake up" Said a voice that was barely above whisper. I opened my eyes and leaning above me was a gentle, kind and very beautiful face of a woman I've never seen in my life before but there was something about the way she looked that made her look so familiar. "Are you okay?" She asked and I nodded my head as much as the pain would allow me to. I realized that the machine that was hovering over me the previous time like a blood-sucking predator with its wire tentacle had been removed and that I could move the parts of my body again.

"Are you hungry now?" She asked.

Yes, I was ravenous. I could eat the whole Kilimanjaro Mountain at that time if it turns to food. I nodded my head very firmly then the face disappeared from my line of vision and I was staring at the white ceiling. Moments passed then another face appeared. It was a nurse. She lifted up my head and put a cup of warm tea to my lips. I gulped it down hungrily and asked for more.

The next day, I was able to sit up on the bed as I woke up. About an hour later, the same kind and angelic face appeared at the door and beamed with a thousand watts smile at me. "How are you now?" She asked. She spoke fluent English with an accent that was not Nigerian or African at all. I wondered who she was.

"I'm fine ma" I replied, smiling back at her "Thank you"

She came into the ward and closed the door after her. She approached my bed and sat on it. "I've been worried sick about you. It's been 5 days since you've been in this vegetative state. We were all worried about you. Your sibs were here yesterday. They might be here today as well"

"Sorry ma, I'm sorry for saying this but I don't think we've ever met before yet you seem to know so much about me?" I asked as politely as I could.

"O my!" She exclaimed. "I am so sorry okay? My name is Mrs. Lola Smith. I know you don't know that name…" She quickly said when I began to shake my head "I am April's mum" She said.

"OH, really?!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Welcome ma" I said. "So how is she? Hope she is okay?" I asked eagerly.

"She is okay and well. The doctor said that you can leave here tomorrow" She said and we began to talk. She asked about my childhood, my family and my plans for the future then she told me things about herself too. She said she had the opportunity of travelling abroad with her father she was just 12 years old. She had gone to school in Washington DC and began working in a law firm for a few years before establishing her own law firm and later married her partner at the firm who was a white man. It was so captivating to the extent that I wish that the story will never end.

The next day, I was discharged and driven to a big hotel in Ikeja. We took the elevator to the 5th floor where she told me that her suite was. When we got into the lobby of the suite, the door into the well-furnished and cozy lounge opened and Reuben was standing at the door. I was happy to see him save and sound and I took him into a warm embrace as we went into the lounge.

Miss April was already waiting for us. She wore a white short knickers and a V-necked pink top that was adorned with roses and hearts pictures. Immediately we walked into the lounge she rose up from the settee and took long strides between me and her and took me into a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry!" she sobbed. I was embarrassed and awkward at first, not knowing what to do back. As fast as she hugged me, she stopped and walked aback to take her seat. Seyi came slowly towards me and looked searchingly into my face as if I've changed. I've missed them more than I could describe here so by the time I took her into a crushing embrace, we were both sobbing very hard. When the moment of reunion has passed, I was led to the settee to sit down. The interior of the suite was breathtaking. Plush chaise lounges were placed at strategic places and the floor was covered with plush sea green rug that has the colour of the furniture in the room. The electronics were sparkling new and modern yet Miss April's lounge was superior in beauty to it. Everything was okay but where was Elizabeth?

"Please where is Lizzy?" I asked but instead of answering, Miss April put her head n her palms and sobbed both Seyi and Reuben looked away- examining their toes and fidgeting with their cloths. Miss April's Mum cleared her throat uneasily and said "That is the problem we are having now" She said.

"What's wrong with Lizzy?" I shouted, rising up, afraid to hear that she was dead. How could that happen to ...

"Michael please sit down." Mrs. Smith said and slowly I sat back down then she began. "Last week when April went to their school to bring them back home, they were robbed on the way. All her money and cell phones and laptop were taken away including Elizabeth. Since then, we've been looking for her. She called me immediately it happened and I flew down here that same day. Then you were in comma. We've searched every possible place and gone to the police and even hired private detectives but all to no avail." She said.

A deafening silence ensued.

"Mum, I just wish they'd take me instead of the poor innocent Lizzy! Miss April sobbed without taking her head off her palms. I felt so sorry for her. She shouldn't be passing through all these pains because of us. She has not done anything wrong. I stood up and went up to sit beside her. I placed my hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer to me. "It's okay. We will find her. You've not done anything wrong and it's not your fault at all that she was abducted…"

"And we are not even sure if she was abducted" Her mum said. I can imagine how painful it would be for .her when she was crazy about my sibs and loved Lizzy very deeply. What we her elders used to find stupid and childish always interest and awed her about Lizzy. Over the period of 6 months that we've spent together, she had come to love her almost to the point of death and maybe that was the reason she was disturbed most about her kidnapping.

Mrs. Smith broke the silence.

"I'll be going back to the States by next week Tuesday. I'm in the middle of a very important case over there and I have to appear in court on Wednesday. I've talked in length with April. Michael, will you allow your siblings to follow me to the States and continue their education there? I'll take care of everything before that next week so that you and April can concentrate on finding Elizabeth and for the safety of others. What do you think?"

I've never dreamed of such divine help. My sibs in the United States of America?! Yes Please!.

"WOW!" I exclaimed "This is amazing! Thank you ma! May the Almighty God bless you and your entire family. I support it wholeheartedly!" I rushed Seyi and Reuben and took them into a crushing hug "Congrats kiddies!" Though they were as happy as I was but they were not surprised. It seems they've been told while I was still on the sick bed.

"Like I said, we've hired detectives who are working on the case. They will find Elizabeth soon and when they find her, let her come and join us and I believe that that would the best thing to do"

"Yes ma"

It's been 3 weeks since Mrs. Smith took Seyi and Reuben abroad. I've been missing them every day since they've gone and most especially I missed Lizzy who we haven't found yet. I missed her happy voice and tiny feet as she runs through the whole house from room to room. The whole house seemed empty and lonely. We all stayed with Mrs. Smith in her room till she travelled back to the USA and Miss April and I returned back to her house. The house was strangely quiet without the happy chattering voices of my brother and sisters. Miss April told me one evening while we were watching a movie together that though she had been quite contented, living alone before our arrival into her house but now that my sibs were gone, she said she felt so empty as if she'd never lived alone before.

One day (about two months since Lizzy had been abducted by the unknown gunmen) I was alone in the lounge, listening to music and reading for my UTME exam when a postman rang the bell at the gate. I opened the gates and got the letter, signed for it because it was addressed to me and tore it open and began to read even before the postman left. What I read in the letter scared me though I have been expecting it all along. I was not surprised because I knew that there was a motive and a reason why they took Lizzy. The robbery has been staged but the intention of the gunmen was to kidnap and I knew they would demand for money. Whoever they were, they said in their letter that to release my sister, they didn't need money but that I should leave Miss April's house within the next 12 hours without telling her anything or where I would be heading to or else I may never see my sister ever again. I've been thinking about it and expecting it all along that I was not surprised but scared. This is the work of only one person that I knew- Uncle Nat.