The Raise of Esu

Chapter 4

The first time Adewale met Nicholas was in foster care; Nicholas arrived a week after Adewale and instantly a bond was made. "Thick as thieves" their foster parents would jokingly say, but behind every joke was the truth; together the boy, or the 'twins' as they loved to be referred to, would steal sweets and biscuits from the corner shops. Sometimes they would frame the kids they did not like, but of course they always covered their tracks. If you asked Bobby the foster carer what he thought of the 'twins', he would say something along the lines of "if a bike was stolen, blame the 'twins'. If a kid fell, broke his leg and blamed someone else, blame the 'twins'. Hell, if it snowed in a hot summer's day, blame the 'twins'!" Marie, his partner, would concur, adding that "the funny thing is through, you could never find them when they got into trouble, but you could always find them when they were about to cause some trouble! Bloody demons!"

As they grew older, they grew more savvy; they would steal sweets and sell it in their school. This venture was so successful, they had a distribution system encompassing three schools in the borough. Eventually they were caught and were rewarded with detention and orders demanding them to give the school a portion of their profits. Of course, these profits seemingly disappeared. A year later, and they got more restless. Both poor and a lot of time on their hands, they would sneak into arcades, skip school regularly, befriending pub goers, running various errands and occasionally stealing from high street shops. It wasn't until one cold winter evening when, stumbling upon 14-year-old students shouting over each other and arrogantly showing off their newest phones , that the wicked 'twins' has a devious idea.

The following week, the twins waited till the end of the school day. Wearing a black hoodie, black tracksuits with balaclavas, the twins hid by the trees in under the cover of the early winter darkness. After what seemed like forever, a large stream of children rushed out of school. Scanning the rich from the poor, the twins spotted their targets and staked them to the chicken shop, then to the park nearby. Confident that the coast was clear, the twins walked calmly to the kids -hands in their pockets – and threaten the kids; "Phones, phones, phones, Give it to me now! Don't try to be a hero bro, I will hurt it badly if you make any certain moves. Thank you, thank you, let go of the bloody phone!" (Adewale slaps a boy across his face) good boy. Good, not buzz off! If I see you again, your phone will not be the only thing I'll be taking. Have a good evening." Running away from the scene of the crime, the twins sold the phones at Arif's Phone's repair shoe (the proprietor been a frequent customer at the pubs the twins sneak in) at a profit. This hustle continued for a while at different schools, but like their friendship, it was not going to last.

________________________________________________________________________________

"Adewale, thank you for meeting me this evening, I know it's very late. I would like you to meet Ms Adwoa. We have decided it would be best for you to move in with her. Don't worry, she has experience with fostering and honestly, she is one of the best we know!"

"Thank you, Marie!" Ms Adwoa said.

"It alright babe!" Marie replied.

"What about Nicholas?" Adewale asked. "What's my bag doing here? You went through my stuff in my room?"

"We think it would be best that you two should be separated for you benefit. Wait, are you high?"

"No, no, forget this!"

"Adewale, we know this will be hard, but-"

Adewale got up to ran to the door but was stop by the hulking statute of Bobby. He kicked, screamed, cried. He shouted Nicholas' name, praying he would hear him, praying that he would somehow save him.