I woke up hearty that fine day singing praises to God. The phone began to ring in quick succession, congratulating me on my birthday.
My brothers and sisters had gone to the market with the driver to buy a few more things for the party leaving me alone at home. While I lay on the sofa, ruminating on the activities of the day, a group of six hefty boys came in, each in a three-piece suit. They came wearing friendly looks which attracted me. I jumped out of the sofa and gave them a very warm reception. I waved them to seats while they kept congratulating me on the occasion. I served them and each, with relative case, voraciously reduced the mountain of pounded yam with assorted meat in Egusi soup set before them. They washed it down with chilled beer.
Now back to business, one of them, apparently their leader, said after, the lavish entertainment. He cleared his throat and said, "Chief, we heard of your birthday party and have come to rejoice with you and to take our share. So, quietly go in and bring out all the money and clothes for today's occasion". In your own interest, cooperate," another added.
At first, I was in a fix. I tried hard to make out what was happening or about to happen. The more I tried, the more my mind went blank. While I was in this state, two of "my friends", who had been watching, suddenly got up and released two "bean cakes" (as they were commonly called) into the air. "Boom!" Now, I woke up. My heart beat faster pumping blood as if to gush it out through my feet. The gunshots were intended to assure me that they meant business. Before I could recover from the shock, a blow from another robber dazed me. I fell and lay helpless on the floor while two others went in and ransacked everywhere.
While the drama was going on, no one came in or went out. This gave them additional advantage to comb the rooms as they wished. I came back to my senses much later after they had gone with everything; but it was too late to raise an alarm. This, is no small way, ruined my day
