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ReplyDeleteSTORY TITLE: THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
ReplyDeleteAUTHOR: IKENNA ROGER
CHAPTER ONE
Uchechi Mba was the only child of her parents. Her mother died during childbirth, so it was her father who brought her up single-handedly. She was a staunch Christian; she always helped in carrying out the works of the Church, and always paid her tithes and sowed seeds.
Due to hardship, her father pleaded with her to get married when she finished secondary school. She eventually agreed to get married at such a young age, because, the husband-to-be promised to train her through the university. Her father died after a prolonged sickness few years later.
Uchechi’s husband, Obioma was a very nice man. He was hard-working and humble. As a sailor, his exploits were known all over the town. He toured around the world and dined with white men. He was a good family man, and was blessed with two children – a boy and a girl. He did his possible best to ensure that his wife actualized her dream of becoming a graduate.
On one faithful morning, Obioma woke up from sleep, he had his breakfast, kissed his wife on the cheek, then went off to work; little did Uchechi know that it was the last time she’ll see him.
Later in the evening, as Uchechi was preparing dinner she heard a knock on the door, she opened it and saw a policeman standing in front of it.
“Good evening, madam,” said the officer, “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” replied Uchechi, taking him into the living room.
The officer said, “Are you Mrs. Mba?”
“Yes,” replied Uchechi.
He said, “I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.”
“What is it?” she shrieked.
He said, “A yacht that was going off the coast of Dakar capsized and everyone drowned. I’m afraid your husband was among.”
It was like a terror in the air, it seemed like the world had come to an end, as she cried profusely and uncontrollably.
After the death of her husband, his family descended on her, took his cars away and emptied the house. On the day he was buried, the elder brother asked her to submit documents of the house and any property he owned. Uchechi had no choice other than to relocate to the village with her children.
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN- Chapter 1(cont'd)
ReplyDeleteBack in the village, she searched earnestly with her CV to see if she could get a job, but all of her attempts were futile. It was either that she wasn’t qualified for the job, or that there was no vacancy in the position she was looking for. There was even a case in which, the manager asked her to sleep with him in order for her to get the job, but Uchechi bluntly refused. She then decided to start selling food items in the market, and with the little money she saved up, she was able to enroll her children back into school.
Uchechi had two children – a boy and a girl. She named the boy; Nnamdi and the girl; Ifeoma. Nnamdi and Ifeoma were down-to-earth and hard-working; they always helped their mother in selling food items in the market, and they never left the domestic chores undone. Nnamdi was three years older than Ifeoma, he was still in SS1 when the father died, whereas, Ifeoma was in JSS1.
One morning, Uchechi went to solicit for monetary support from the husband’s elder brother, Ugo. Ugo was sitting outside his compound when Uchechi walked in.
“Good morning, nna anyi,” she greeted shyly.
“Good moring,” replied Ugo, “What brings you to my house this early morning?”
“Nna anyi, I want to ask you for a favour,” she calmly said.
“What is it?” asked Ugo.
She said, “I’m in dire need of money to pay Nnamdi’s school fess.”
“Oh, is that all?” giggled Ugo. “I can help you.”
“Really?” she beamed.
“Yes, but you have to do your own part,” he chuckled, as he started to stroke Uchechi’s hair. “Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’
“But Nna anyi, I’m your brother’s wife,” she sighed.
“So?” he laughed. “He is dead, and you need someone to take care of you.”
“Nna anyi, I’m a born again Christian,” she moaned. “I’ll do no such thing.”
“Then go elsewhere and look for the money!” he bellowed.
“God will judge you!” sobbed Uchechi, as she stomped out of the compound.
Uchechi laboured to ensure that her kids attain the highest level of education. Two years later, Nnamdi was due to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as well as the University Matriculation Examination (UME), but due lack of funds, Uchechi asked her daughter, Ifeoma to stop school at that moment; so as to enable her to fully concentrate on Nnamdi’s WASSCE and UME registration respectively. Ifeoma duly obliged; she then decided to help and carry some her mother’s food items on a tray and sell them round the village.
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
ReplyDeleteCHAPTER TWO
Nnamdi was very skilled in sewing. In school, he always scores the highest grade in one of the subjects: Home Management. His works during the practical classes were always kept back by the school authorities for exhibition in the school.
During the practical classes, they were asked to sew things like: clothes, curtains, hats etc. The one that drew Nnamdi’s interest the most was the curtains; Nnamdi loved sewing curtains so much to the extent that he searched for various designs on the internet, and took a shot at sewing each one of them. This went a long way to help him to be perfect in sewing curtains. Albeit Nnamdi got his kicks from sewing of curtains, he decided to try and see if he could make a living out of it, as soon as he is done with his exams.
Each day Nnamdi walked around the village to look for construction sites. He would meet with the site owner and plead with him to give him a chance to sew the curtains that will be used for the building’s decoration. He was turned down numerous times by the owners; they were afraid that he was a dubious man, and his intention was to swindle money from them.
Luck smiled on Nnamdi one day; one man gave him a chance to the work for him. Nnamdi’s mother sold some of her jewelries and wrappers in order to raise money and buy a sewing machine for him. Nnamdi thanked his mother with a tear in his eye and vowed to make her proud.
The man and Nnamdi discussed the type of curtains he wanted in the building and negotiated a payment of 50,000 naira; 25,000 naira will be paid to Nnamdi for a start, and once the job has been completed, he will pay the balance. Nnamdi walked tirelessly, and the completed the job within three days. He then went to collect his balance from the man, but the man gave him flimsy reasons on why his money wasn’t ready. This went on for over one week.
Emeka, Nnamdi’s closest friend came round his house during the weekend and saw him looking glum.
“What’s up, man?asked Emeka, with a concerned look on his face.
“Can you believe it!” sighed Nnamdi.” I sewed curtains for one man, and he doesn’t want to complete my payment.”
“Oh I see,” he said, patting Nnamdi on the back. “I know what you’ll do and he will pay you in no time.”
“Really?” asked Nnamdi, as his face lit up. “What do I do?”
“Just buy me a bottle of malt and I will tell you,” he said.
Nnamdi dashed out and bought one bottle of malt from his local store.
“So what’s the plan?” asked Nnamdi, as he handed Emeka the malt.
“Have you got a suit?” Emeka asked, as he opened the bottle.
“Yes,” replied Nnamdi with a puzzled look. “What has a suit got to do with this?”
“Relax,” said Emeka, as he took a sip of the malt. “You ask too many questions.”
”I can’t wait to hear it,” he replied.
“The plan is this…” he bagan. “Wear your suit and go to the construction site tomorrow.”
“Okay, then what should I do?” enthused Nnamdi.
“You hide somewhere and wait for the man to come into the site,” he continued. “As soon as he steps out of his car, stay under his car and never come out.”
“And how is that going to help?” he quizzed.
“Well,” said Emeka, “Whenever he wants to enter his car and sees you, tell him that you won’t come out.”
“So?” he asked.
“He won’t be left with a choice other than to pay you your money.” he replied, as he took a mouthful of his malt. “Because as long as he moves the car he will kill you – I don’t think he would want to do that.”
Nnamdi thought about it for a while. “I’ll do it!” he roared.
“Now you’re talking,” smiled Emeka, as he gulped down the last drop of his malt.
The next day, Nnamdi did as he was told. He didn’t really have a suit, so he wore one of his father’s, and then stormed off to the construction site. He lurked around the place for hours, and then, finally, the man walked in; this time around he came with his wife. As the man went to supervise his site with the wife, Nnamdi stealthily went and rolled under his car and waited for him to come out.
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN - Chapter 2 (cont'd)
ReplyDeleteAfter his supervision, the man and his wife walked out, and was about to enter the car, when his wife noticed a leg sticking out under it.
“Jesus Christ!” she shrieked, pointing down. “What is that?”
She went and took a closer look, and to her bewilderment, it was a human being.
“Do you want to kill yourself?” she called out.
“It is better for me to die,” Nnamdi replied. “This life is not worth living?’
“What’s wrong, dear?” asked the woman.
So Nnamdi went on to narrate the whole incident to her.
“I can’t believe you’re so heartless!” she yelled at the husband.
“Calm down,” said her husband, as he stared at Nnamdi. “Please, come out from there, young man.”
“No!” exclaimed Nnamdi. “It’s either you pay me or you kill me.”
“Pay him, you heartless bastard!” screamed the wife.
“Okay, I’ll pay you,” said the man, “But come out from there first.”
“I won’t!” Nnamdi hesitated. “Give it to me down here!”
“Alright then,” said the man, as he walked over and opened the boot of his car. He opened his briefcase and brought out a bundle of 500 naira notes, counted five 1,000 naira notes, and then wrapped all of them in a polyethylene bag.
“Here,” he said, stretching out his arm. “Take your money.”
Quickly, Nnamdi took it and ran off.
Meanwhile, some weeks after that incident, Nnamdi got admitted into Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering – it was with that money that he used to pay both his school fees and acceptance fee.
Few days later, the man’s wife came back to the site and made enquiries from the labourers about Nnamdi’s whereabouts. One of them told her that Nnamdi had disclosed his address to him, so he promptly gave it to her. The next day the woman went to that address and knocked on the door.
The door opened. “Good morning, can I come in?” said the woman.
“Sure,” replied Nnamdi taking her into the living room. “Have a seat.”
“I came to apologize for what my husband did to you,” she said.
“It’s been forgotten,” said Nnamdi with a wry smile.
“I saw your curtains, and I must say, I was impressed,” she said.
“Thank you so much,” he blushed.
She said, “I’d like to introduce you to some of my friends, what do you say?”
“That would be nice, ma’am,” squealed Nnamdi with joy and started clapping his hands like a seal.
So she handed him her card and said, “See me tomorrow morning.”
The next day, Nnamdi met with the woman, and she introduced him to two of her friends. Nnamdi diligently sewed their curtains to perfection, and from there onwards, more and more jobs were brought for him.
Nnamdi continued with this business; it was through it that he got the money for textbooks in school. He also put his sister back into school, and gave his mother large chunks to enlarge her business. Nnamdi was now the breadwinner of the family and carried the problems of his family on his shoulders.
Uchechi, his mother was still very much a staunch Christian. Being elated with Nnamdi’s progress she vowed to donate her savings for one month as a seed in her church – which she did. During prayers in church on that faithful day, the preacher gave a prophecy. He said, “There”s someone here, the Lord said that I should tell you: for you have sowed all your labour and sweat on my altar, henceforth, you will never lack.”
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
ReplyDeleteCHAPTER THREE
On that very month, telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria came into the village in search of where to mount their mast. They walked around the entire village but couldn’t get a network signal, until they eventually stumbled into Uchechi’s compound, and hey presto – there was network with full bars. Immediately, they knocked on the door. Uchechi opened the door to see three men wearing yellow t-shirts branded ‘MTN’ on it.
“Good afternoon, madam,” said one of them with a smile.
“Good afternoon,” said Uchechi, “How can I help you?”
“We’re MTN staff,” said the man.
“Oh!” she replied.
He said, “Yes, and we’ve been going round the entire village searching for a place to mount our mast.”
“I see,” she said
“And we’ve decided to mount it in your compound,” said the man.
“What’s in for me?” asked Uchechi.
The man said, “We want to take this land on a lease, and we will be paying you annually for it. All we want from you is to tell us the amount you want us to be paying you.”
“Is that so?” she grinned.
“Yes,” he replied, “Plus, we will build a house for you; where you will move in with your family.”
“This is wonderful!” said Uchechi with excitement. “Please come back in two days time, I want to discuss it with my son.”
“No problem, madam,” he said, as they all shook hands with her. “Thanks for your time.”
“You’re welcome,” said Uchechi with a broad grin on her face.
The next day, Uchechi went to Nnamdi’s school and discussed it with him. Out of fear, they came to a conclusion that she’d tell them to be paying 1 million naira. When the MTN staff returned the next day, Uchechi told them the amount that they would be paying, which they gleefully accepted.
Days later, GLO Nigeria came into the village in search of a place to mount their mast, and the same thing happened ¬– it was only at Uchechi’s compound that they got network signal. They told Uchechi about their intentions to take her land for an annual lease. Uchechi informed them that MTN had earlier came for the same thing and agreed a sum of 1 million naira with her. The GLO staff then offered to give her 1.5 million naira, which she gladly accepted.
The next day Etisalat Nigeria arrived into the village and it was déjà vu all over again; the searched fruitlessly for network, but it was only at Uchechi’s compound that they got it. So they knocked on Uchechi’s door and told her about their plans. Uchechi informed them that GLO had previously come and struck a 1.5 million naira deal with her, to which Etisalat offered 2 million naira, and she generously accepted the offer.
When MTN came back to finalize the deal, she told them that Etisalat Nigeria had already offered to give her 2 million naira for the land.
“Ha Ha,” laughed an MTN staff, “We are the father of all networks – we will give you 5 million.”
Uchechi joyously accepted the offer with tears rolling down her cheek, as they signed the agreement papers. Later on, Uchechi established a poultry business in the village, and boy, the business boomed.
Few years later, Nnamdi graduated from the university – he graduated with a second class upper division. As soon as Nnamdi finished his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, he was employed by MTN Nigeria, and was designated to their headquarters in Abuja. His sister, Ifeoma on the other hand, got admission to study Law in Imo State University Owerri (IMSU).
Very good
DeleteVery good
ReplyDeleteGripping. Was hooked from the beginning to the end
ReplyDeleteVery good. It kept me waiting to see what the outcome would be. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteNice piece of work. I enjoyed it most because of the grammar and the organization. Kudos buddie
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to read this - I found the story to be a compelling glimpse into an honest description of another life. I hope that you write more and I get the chance to see how your style develops.
ReplyDeleteWow! Your lines are quite good. I enjoyed the story. Keep it up Ike!
ReplyDeleteThe woman did a great work by not keeping her son out of the deal.Most women will like to do things on their own.....Lomo John.
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteNice story, nice lines, good grammar and interesting. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete