CHAPTER TWO
Fejiro who hailed from Delta State came from the family of eight. His father was a drunk and unfortunately for him, his mother was a prostitute. apart from his father been a drunk; he was also a gambler. He spent the money he got from his gate man's job in both drinking and gambling. His father was always drunk whenever he come home while his mother Margaret, would have gone to her usual joint to do her prostitution job.
Fejiro mother did not return home at her usual time but unfortunately, her corpse was found at the roadside beside the brothel where she used to work. This woman was the only one that showed care for the children. she used the money she got from prostitution to take care of her children's needs. The stupid husband pretended to be a good father when mourners came to pay their condolence but after the funeral was over; he turned back to his old lifestyle. The children suffered a great deal and later found themselves involved in illicit act to survive. The poor children found feeding very difficult and they could not continue with their education. Their father's behaviour became very worst by the day to the extent that he spent most of his night by the roadside.
Once in a year, the people of Tayese observed a curfew. This curfew is traditionally known as Oro in Yoruba Land. It implied that everyone was to be in his or her house latest by 7pm. Anyone caught outside his or her house will be used for sacrifice. It is done by the occultists members who sometimes wear white clothes and holding a stick that was fully charmed to hit their victims during the exercise At times, the occultists members may be all naked; anyone who sees them especially the female gender will be used for sacrifice. Though, it is a tradition that was often used to appeal or for the cleansing of the Tayeses' land by the gods. The victim of this cleansing will be beheaded in their shrine and the blood will be poured on the floor and every part of the shrine. The Town Crier passed the information as usual but Fejiro's father was defiant. That night, around 7 pm; his children could not find him and they were scared to come outside and look for their only parent knowing the consequence.
The following morning, the Town Crier came out in a good mood to announced to the people of Tayese that the Oro was successful. The poor children mourned for their father since he slept in his usual place. They decided to visit the shrine at least to bury the remaining part of their father's.
We are here to carry our father's said Fejiro to the priest. What do you mean? He never returned home yesterday night so we assumed he was a victim. The priest laughed! My children, Oro is our tradition but does not make use of indigene of our land. Our gods forbid it! We only use strangers who are ignorant of the announcement and walk late in the night to appease to our gods so go and look for your dad OK!
The children rushed out of the shrine in search of their father. Luckily for them; they found him sleeping comfortably by the roadside. They carried him home in joy and thanked God that he was alive.
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a deranged man feeding from dirts
Musa's father had five wives and his mother was the first wife. she was a caring and loving mother. In fact, a good mother indeed! His father took her out one sunny afternoon with the aim of returning home with her the following day. He came back alone after three days and was crying; profuselyy. When asked about his wife whereabouts he said he was attacked by armed robbers and after seizing all his goods; they went with his wife. The people that were listening to his story pitied him a lot and advised him to be calm.
After three years of Musa's mother disappearance, His father's wealth increase tremendously. He was so rich that he acquired property worth billions of naira. He changed his line of business and started acquiring lots of houses and cars. His investment increased beyond control and his children started living like children born with silver spoon. The children never remembered their mother because they were flourishing in superfluity of wealth.
After a careful observation, the children noticed that their father does not use to eat at home. Most times when they set the table for lunch or dinner; he will give one reason or the other to avoid the food. at first, they thought he was so busy to have his meal at home but later they took it seriously.
Ibrahim, the elders son monitored his father meticulously for a month. one cool morning, he found his father in an enclosed dumping ground where dirt is kept; eating his own faeces. He was so flabbergasted that he unconsciously shouted What! Immediately the father took notice of him and was ashamed of himself. He confessed to his first son how he used his first wife for money ritual. He lamented that things were so hard for him that he had no choice than to indulge in money ritual. The shaman chose his first wife and that was why he embarked on a sojourn in order to use her for the ritual.
He regretted his action because since then he was not allowed to eat from his house but to buy food from the roadside and eat in this kind of place. Thrice in a week, he eats his own faeces in this same place and that was why he was caught in the act today. He continued that he so much regretted his action because he did not enjoy his wealth and he never had a peace of mind. He concluded that he had been warned by the shaman that anytime he caughtaught by his own blood; that day, he will die and all that he had will vanish in no time. He told his son that he has lessthan ten minutes to leave the earth and advised him not to be impatient to acquire wealth. God's time is the best for anyone to wait for his or her own time. He stumbled and died afterwards. His son who was out of words carried his dead father home and explained the whole story to his younger ones and his stepmothers. He was buried that same day in the Muslim way.
Two months later, four houses owned by Musa's father collapsed. The following week, five of his lorries that he used to transport fuel and diesel got burnt. When the family was still complaining of the lost they just encountered, bank officials with some policemen came into their house to take possession of the remaining property left. They said their father was owing to their bank a huge amount of money and had used the remaining property as a collateral even before his demise. They showed them the document to back their allegation against their father. That was how all the property their father owned vanished to the extent that the children did not have shelter to sleep and feeding became a very big problem. As a result, They jumped into the street and joined other street boys and girls to fend for themselves and their poor mother.
Daniel never knew his mother. He was told that his mother died during his birth. He was trained by his busy father and his stepmother. His father was a traveller. He comes home once in a month. Being the first child of the family, his father showed him lots of care and this resulted in jealousy by his stepmother and siblings. When the father had travelled, as usual, Daniel's stepmother uses the opportunity to maltreat the poor boy. She did not allow him to go to school early because she would have engaged him with lots of house chores. As soon as he was done with them; she would give him another task. When the poor boy eventually goes to school; he will also be punished for lateness to school. His school uniform was always dirty due to the kind of house chores he engaged himself with.
Mr Akin, the Guidance and Counselling teacher observed that Daniel always come to school late and always looking dirty so he invited Daniel to his office for counselling. After paying a rapt attention to Daniel's explanation, he pitied him and promised to help him. Immediately, he organized an impromptu meeting with the teachers and used the forum to explain reason Daniel was a latecomer and why he was always dirty. They all pitied the poor boy and promised to take cognizance of such thing even in the future. They set up a five-man committee to visit Daniel's home in order to talk to his father and probably his stepmother but when they visited; Daniel's father wasn't around but his stepmother who they met denied all the allegation about her and before the teachers, she pretended to be a caring and good mother.
Daniel was afraid to tell his father all that had happened to him because he knew his father will take the matter up beyond his limitation so he decided to keep it to himself. He actually wanted the peaceful environment his father left to be maintained till he comes. Instead, he stayed with his friends after school and played with them. That was where Daniel started joining the bad friends and emulating them in their bad doings like they always say that birds of a feather flock together.
Daniel's feather did not return home the usual time so his stepmother decided to ask for the reason; she was about leaving the house when some group of men came into their house. She could only identify only one of them and that was the elder brother of her husband. Mr Christopher, he was a pastor and also an arbitrator. He often comes to settle the dispute in the family. she was so surprised to see him because to her all was well. Having seated and offered a glass of water as tradition calls, He broke the sad news that Daniel's father was involved in a fatal accident and some part of his body had been paralysed so he can't walk again but will be using a wheelchair. Daniel's stepmother fainted at that spot.
Neighbours joined them in the house due to the hullabaloo made by the stepmother before she fainted. She was quickly rushed to the hospital. Everyone pitied the family because Daniel's father was the only breadwinner of the family. Daniel's mother wasn't working; she only takes care of the family by cooking and assisting in house chores. She eventually woke up at the hospital and was discharged the following day.
The injured man was brought home after a month from the hospital with a wheelchair. He spent most of his money in his treatment and was bankrupt. Daniel was the one that was pushing the wheelchair while other people including his stepmother were following them.
Daniel's mother started showing her real character when she started seeing the vicissitudes of marriage but the helpless father will only be looking like a fool in his wheelchair. She insulted and cast aspersions on both Daniel and his father. Making life unbearable for the poor man with his poor son but they had no choice than to condone her and accept their fate. Anytime Daniel observed that his father is bettered due to the maltreatment of his stepmother, he would go to his father and console him. The father cries often time and he will pet him and promised him that all their predicament will be over soon.
His Stepmother brought in a man one afternoon and took him to her matrimonial room. His father was at his usual balcony where he received from fresh air and observed passerby. They started hearing moaning sound from the room and immediately Daniel saw his stepmother and the strange man making love. Daniel was so infuriated to the extent that he drove the man away in nakedness but did not allow his father to be aware. His stepmother was ashamed of her action and could not alter a word even when he insulted her for her bad action instead she apologised and promised not to repeat such thing.
She became friendly with Daniel's father and the rest of the family. Daniel was mostly happy for the peace that was restored to his family. He promised himself that he won't tell anyone what his stepmother did.
One sunny afternoon, it was a public holiday so Daniel was at home with his family. His stepmother beckoned at him and he went to meet her in her bedroom. Immediately he entered, his stepmother naked herself and hold him tightly. What! She said she wanted him to make love with him that since his father was paralysed that he was in the position to do that. Daniel in his sixteen found it preposterous and unheard of so he declined and was about to leave when his stepmother held him tightly and started shouting help! help!