WHEN THE SKY IS BLUE

chapter one

NARRATOR: Somewhere in the northern part of the world, there lives a girl named Maryam who stays with her entire family member.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Slowly I heard the calling the calling of morning prayers . I am maryam muktar, from jigawa state. Second out of three kids, two girls and a boy.

MARYAM: It was nothing new, I was used to seeing my parents fight and argue. But that night everything changed. I could still see blood rushing down his broken head, He raped her again. My father has always been an abusive husband especially when he gets drunk.
That night, we finished our dinner without him , we had no idea of his whereabouts. My mother carefully packed his dinner in a food warmer , we all retired to our rooms because my father made us realize that the sitting room belongs to him alone.
After my mother finished serving him, he was about to force himself on her right on the dinning table , right before she declined him. During their struggle in other to protect herself, she pushed him which led to the bleeding of his head. I guess love is real, she quickly rushed him to the nearest hospital to get him treated.
NARRATOR :Two weeks later, MR MUKTAR is seen in his living room.

MUKTAR: Where is that useless woman that wants to kill me? ,go and call your mother and your siblings , tonight you all will leave my house. I can't stay with a demon like your mother( walks in angrily).

ZAINAB: mama, father has sent for all us to come downstairs and he looked really angry. Maybe this time around he's going to ask us to leave his house( sobs).

MRS MUKTAR: ( sighs), okay my darling daughter am on my way. Let me just finish arranging these clothes, while I am doing that get your siblings ready to see that monster father of yours.

MR MUKTAR: yauwa, since everyone is here let me speak my mind, this useless thing you call mother is nothing but a worthless pig. She can't even give me two male child, I am sure your brother was a just miracle. I've decided that I don't want to live with your mother again any child that wants to follow her is free to leave ( walks out).

MRS MUKTAR: Ya Allah ( sobs), Thank you for saving me from the claws of this evil man . ( looks at her kids) god will surely provide for us, let us go and pack our belongings I have little savings that will sustain us till I get a reasonable job. And again, (points at Maryam), if you like come with me or stay with your horrible father ( walks out)

MARYAM: Listen, even if I am father's favorite that does not mean I will support his evil deeds. So please am going to come with you and I hope that you will not treat me different from siblings because mama I love you very much.

NAHIM: mai faru? ( what happened). Mother , why are you crying ? look I have sweets and am willing to share with you so you won't cry again. Dan allah stop crying.

ZAINAB: mama is perfectly fine nahim, come here let me help you pack your bag we are moving to a new house. And in that place you will get to ,meet new people and you will make new friends , it will be fun I promise you.

NARRATOR: Maryam's life is the right definition of a messed up life . she was sent out of her father house at a very young age and has to make her believe that she will turn out to be like her father. They moved to Gombe where her mother sells snacks in one of the biggest firms there.

NARRATOR: Somewhere in Gombe, MR AND MRS RICHARD are preparing for church.

MR RICHARD: woman, please hurry up. I don't want to be late for today's service , last week you made us missed the pastor's sermon which I don't like one bit.

MRS RICHARD: darling , am coming . just few more minutes I can't find my gele don't be angry we won't be late today i promise you.

AFTER SERVICE

MR RICHARD: ehn, I saw daniel's missed calls , I couldn't pick his call then . kindly call him for me , I've missed my son very much that I can't wait for to come back to Nigeria and manage my company then settle down.

MRS RICHARD: Okay ( calls Daniel). Haa, hello my son, how are you ? hope London is not too cold. Your father was unable to pick your call because we were in the church then. Please do and come back.

DANIEL: iya Daniel, iya Daniel ( hails her jokingly). I am fine thank you, how are you ma? Happy Sunday. Daddy good afternoon, London is cold as usual ooh but we thank god sha.

MR RICHARD: My boy , I am doing very well your mother feeds me a lot of food and takes very good care of me. Daniel make sure you come back home soon am getting old and am yet to see my grandchildren and I also need a man I can always talk to.

DANIEL: Don't worry father, I will be back very soon. I will be finishing my final exams next year I will come to Nigeria immediately. I love you dad but I really need to go now my regards to rose (ends call).

MR RICHARD: Ehn, my darling wife. What are we having for Sunday( winks). You sha know how much I love your assorted vegetable meat with hot and soft amala.

MRS RICHARD: ( oko mi atata) my darling husband, you know I love you and there is nothing I will not do to make you happy because you being happy makes me happy. We will have pounded yam and ogbono soup. I will also call rose to send me the address where I can find the best wine here.