LIFE IN ME

Professor Atanga and his wife Dr. Mrs. Atanga are the wealthiest couple in the city of of wealth. They command fear and respect from everybody. Professor Antaga is notorious for evil doings during his days as a lecturer in the university before he was appointed as minister for education, years ago.  He was highly corrupt as a minister and through manipulation and corruption, he was president of the country. He has retired from public life but still actively involved in the decision making of the country. He is still very young. One of the few fortunates who achieved heights quite early in life. He is known as never regards anyone and never render help to anyone.
         This season, he received a very important visitor, the woman who nominated him as a minister. She came in late afternoon and was well received by the Professor and his wife. After a meal together, their house help was serving them red wine and as she does so, the glass of wine fell from her hands and the wine splashed, thereby, staining a little, the white rob of the guest. The house help quickly kelt down to beg for mercy; crying: "I am very sorry." But only to receive a slap on her face by her mistress and she fell to the ground but staggered up though in pain, to clear the flour. The hosts and the guest were greatly embarrassed and angry. They apologized to their guest. When she left that evening, the couple dragged Ebehiremen out and beat her mercilessly with hands, whip, wood, belt etc. when they were done with her, she was wounded and bruised, blood all over her, she was at the point of death. They bundled her in the vehicle with her little sack of rags and dumped her with her father who is now alone with his only son since his wife abandoned him and the children when they were still so tender. Who is Mr. Okoh to question the Professor and his wife after all. They insulted him and primed it, when the Professor's wife slapped him saying he could not raised up his child properly. When they left, Mr. Okoh held his daughter in his arms whom he gave out to the Professor as a house help when she was only three years old. And now, she is ten years old. She was never put in any school nor any vocational house by the Professor. Mr. Okoh cursed his "Lack" for he is a man who lacks everything. He lived from hand to mouth. Though he struggles all day and night, his luck is always unfortunate never has he been fortunate with life. It was for this his wife abandoned him and he later decided to give out his daughter so that he will be a bit relieved of the burden. He looked his daughter in his arm and cried in a loud frustrating voice: "she is dying...." She took her to a nearby health centre but he was not attended to despite the child's state because he could not afford a dime for the bill. Nobody would ever lend him money. He came home with his daughter with no hope. With the child in his arms he wept bitterly not knowing what to do. He will hug the child tight to himself time without number in deep agony until the next day. At about the 5th hour of the next day, Ebehiremen had lost too much blood and strength. She look at her father and said faintly: "Daddy, comfort yourself and my brother. I can't live no longer, my strength is failing me, I am weak. Death is here to take me. Be strong..." She gave up the ghost. Her father hugged her cold lifeless body and cried out bitterly.
During her burial, he knelt before her grave and cried to heaven:
"if there is a God who care for the poor, avenge my daughter;
for a glass of wine,
she was brutalized,
for lack of money,
she died.
I am sorrowful,
I cursed the day I was born.
Better to die at birth
than to be born poor and eternally poor."  He left the grave along side his son greatly saddened. Mr. Okoh's poverty could not be attributed to laziness or lack of ideas, he struggles every moment, yet no result ever come bye. His business ideas is suffering still-birth because he lacks the money to set it; he sells his beautiful ideas for supports and instead of helping him or partnering with him, they played him off and steal the ideas.
       Mr. Okoh never lived without the tragedy of his daughter in his heart. He recalls it day by day and it weighed him down. He lived longer than no time that death came to call him in miseries. His little son who has been watching it all was now all alone in this world. He became tough and rootless, a browbeater in the neighborhood,
see him,
you see one who feels there is no God,
One who feels love is evil
One who feels mercy is evil
One who feels forgiveness is a sin.
His whole life is to:
Steal, kill and destroy.
To rape, beat and cause trouble.
He has been to the police net over a thousand and one times; to the point that even the police were now tired of him. His case was out of hand that the city Mayor issued a warning that everybody should try as much as possible to stay away from him. He even granted him immunity. This was to calm him down. But yet he remained firm in crime. Anyone who reported him is now seen as one who looked for his trouble. He was on rampage one night and his mother was unfortunate, she drives into him and recognized him as her son, the mere introduction provoked him that he beats up the woman to a state of no survival. She died in the hospital few days after.
         One day, he was on the highway, waiting for a victim, when professor and his wife entered his web. He introduced himself as one who lost everything and one whose natural instinct is to inflict pain. Professor remembered himself as a university lecturer. He reminded them of his family and revealed to them his goal in life has been to kill both of them without mercy. He tied a rope on their neck and tied it together. He cuffed their hands and tied them to their car. He collected the key from professor and starts to drive with them tolling the ground, despite their pleadings. They were so much unfortunate because they did not go with any security maybe that would have helped them. He drives  to their house and dumped  them. They were rushed to the hospital but died an hour after they got there. He was fulfilled.
One evening he was taking a walk as usual like a predator from the Wilde, every one running away from him. He bought milk at a little grocery store by the road side and hang by to drink it, then, a beautiful young girl- Omono came to greet him. Everybody concluded death for her. She hugged him and greeted him with a lovely smile. This hasn't happened to him ever since his birth. 
"Good day"- he greeted
"Good day... You can't recognized me? I was the one you saved the last time along Atanga's way close to the chancery from hoodlums who wanted to rape and rub me". She explained.
"Oh! I've forgotten though... Too many things on my head..." he replied.
       Both of them where there chatting
and laughing. For the first time, people are seeing Fredrick laugh, not on rampage. It was like a dream. The terrific  Fredrick is laughing and chatting with somebody? Was the thought of everyone watching. When he got home that day, he was wondering what happened. How did he, Fredrick of all people stand with someone chatting and laughing. Though he could not tell, he was happy. Omono was on the other hand, happy that she was able to meet with one notoriety she has always admired. There is one thing you can't  stop liking Fredrick for;  his handsomeness which is from: "his dark complexioned-glittery-skin, white set of teeth, straight legs, tall, slim and to crown it all his fine physique. If there was one thing he was spared by police men for, it was his handsomeness. How can it be that this handsome boy is killed...? No! No crime is enough to minus this epitome of angel from this world. Everybody admire him but fear him when he exhibits. Omono thought throughout the night why such a handsome boy would end up a criminal. A terrific criminal at that. She decided to meet him again the next day.
But how would people see her and a criminal. -she thought
"But he did not turn a criminal for no reason. We condemn these people without knowing what prompted their way of life. I will see him." -she concluded.
It was the news that "Fredrick is wanted" by the government that flooded papers, resounding over and over on the radio. Omono just turned on her radio set when she heard it. She got up without brushing her mouth and rushed to the creek described to her by Fredrick the previous day. Fredrick has heard the news. He did not expect not to be wanted because the couple he killed lately were high profiled persons and government will not fold their arms about it. Fredrick is not above the law because it has to do with the rich.