TWO WEEKS - Episode 22

Vicky appeared in class later, feeling quite distressed. She was worried about what she prophesied to Wayne’s professor and more, about what was going on with Wayne.
But, she dared not tell anyone. Not even Emeka though, sitting next to her in the lecture hall, he realized that, something was wrong.
She recalled Mr. Hurts’ instruction of keeping the incident under wraps.
As her class waited bluntly for the next lecturer to walk in, Vicky noticed Kyle, making his way through the occupied benches to her side.
“Oh my God.” She found herself murmuring. She just hoped that, it was no terrible news.
Emeka glanced at her and remained silent, wondering what she was worried about.
“Excuse me?” Kyle sounded at the third desk from Vicky.
She waited patiently till he arrived.
“Hallo? Hi?” Kyle greeted Vicky and Emeka.
“Hallo.” Vicky said.
“Hey.” Emeka replied with a short wave of hand.
Kyle turned to Vicky. “Hey amh, tomorrow we’ll be meeting with the record company. You, Deborah and the rest of the band.”
She nodded though, the information had not yet sunk into her mind. “And Wayne?”
“Oh. He’s leaving to Ohio. Didn’t he tell you that? I haven’t seen him since this morning, though.”
“Me neither.” She sighed.
“But, don’t worry. We already have his beats in an iPad. It will be the task of our usual producer to put them in the song.”
She nodded.
“Okay. So, nine pm sharp,” Kyle added about to leave. “We’ll meet at the usual place. The Derby.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“Sure.” He said and turned around, leaving.
“You’re going to record Salvation tomorrow?” Emeka asked Vicky after Kyle left.
Vicky turned to him. “Yes.”
“I can’t wait to have your CD.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Okay. And you should think about sending it to Africa. You will be the only African in the group.”
Her face lightened. “Yeah. I never thought of that. Thank you Emeka.”
He just smiled and turned back to his work.

                                                                              #

A couple of miles away, Mr. Hurts reported to the hospital where Mike was hospitalized. He was asked by the doctors to wait outside in the lobby while they operated on Mike, to remove the bullet from his shoulder.
The police had already arrived, soon enough because, the hospital refused to treat Mike without a police file.
They interrogated Mr. Hurts with the security guards and the medical personnel who took Mike to the hospital and administered First Aid to him, to prevent further bleeding. 
Mr. Hurts provided little information in order to protect his students. He already thought that Astrophe shot Mike and despite this, he wanted to protect him.
Some of the policemen left in search for Wayne; being that, he was the one who gave the information that his friend was shot.
As time lapsed, Mr. Hurts grew more and more anxious. Suddenly, he saw Astrophe and Gregory rush into the hospital in blue and dark suits.

NB: For the professor, Wayne was either Mr. Harts or Astrophe. For the rest of us, we just call him Wayne.

“Mr. Hurts.” Wayne called, approaching the professor in front of a red coach.
A policeman, who was keeping watch for either Wayne or Gregory from the reception desk, drew closer to the three and greeted the boys. “Which of you is Astrophe Harts?”
“They are with me.” Mr. Hurts said quickly, to Wayne’s amazement, and  took their side.
The officer narrowed his eyes at the professor and nodded, leaving.
Mr. Hurts sighed with relief after the officer was out of earshot. He turned back to the boys, and drew them to a hidden corner, between huge flower pots of the hospital lobby.
“Mr. Hurts.” Wayne called again.
“Who shot Mike?” Was his response.
“Alexandra Georgia.” Wayne replied, referring to Posh.
Mr. Hurts glanced at him. “Who is she? Is she in our class?”
“She always sits in the back seats. She has purple hair.” Gregory described.
“She and Annie Earl are the only girls in our group.” Wayne added.
“Okay.” Mr. Hurts said. “How did the gun end up in Mike’s hand without any prints of the shooter?”
Wayne explained to the professor the theory of Mike’s fake suicide attempt which he guessed, Mike made in order to protect Posh. That and the video evidence.
“Where is it?” Mr. Hurts asked.
“Here.” Wayne replied, taking Mike’s phone from his pocket and giving it to the professor.
Mr. Hurts went through the gallery first and then checked out the latest video. He played it at a low voice and skipped some parts.
“Where is this girl now?” He asked afterward.
“In her apartment,” Wayne replied.
“Is she psychologically fine?” Mr. Hurts asked again.
“Yes. We left her with Miley.” Gregory answered.
Mr. Hurts turned to him and said. “Okay. I will have to talk to her but,” he turned to Wayne. “We cannot avoid submitting this to the police. Otherwise, you will be held responsible for covering for assault and for concealing critical evidence which could interfere with police investigation.”
Wayne looked down. “I had more concern for Posh, Alexandra.”
“I understand that but, you can’t do anything now.” He waved the phone in his hand. “This has to go to the police and you have to go to Ohio. I will take care of defending your friend. And don’t you worry, she will not go to jail.”
Wayne furrowed his eyebrows in queer. He thought that, he didn’t hear something right. “You’re letting me go home?”
Mr. Hurts nodded.
“But, you haven’t received my presentation.” He said, in amazement.
“You’re wrong because I did. And although I didn’t check it, I’ve seen your progress now with your presumption of the suicide fake of Mike Reeds in order to cover up for attempted murder during a romantic quarrel.”
Wayne was very amused. Though he was in sorrow, he found a reason to grin.
“In fact,” Mr. Hurts added, turning to Gregory. “You all did your assignment well. Mike, knowing the key evidences to incriminate his girlfriend, picked up her gun and wiped her prints. He locked himself inside his house so at least, though the wound on his shoulder would not have verified a suicide attempt, it would have left the jury in the dark of the true criminal.” He explained. “It’s like, you indirectly collaborated in this case. Astrophe, you came to collect the last evidence and notified your friend first. Together, you and Gregory agreed to keep the proof until you met your client, Alexandra. Though, that isn’t recommended ethically, you did something.”
Greg found himself smiling.
“Thank you sir. Do you know how Annie and professor Earl are?” Wayne said and asked. The mention of his group made him recall Annie.
“Oh.” Mr. Hurts sighed. “I didn’t talk to professor Earl directly but, I know that, she asked for a leave for more than three weeks after losing her husband.”
Wayne was silent. He thought that, he skipped a heartbeat. He was shocked.
“Oh Jesus. So, Annie’s father, died?” Gregory asked, after having digested Mr. Hurts’ statement.
Mr. Hurts nodded somberly. “I’m afraid, yes.”
Wayne drew a deep sigh. “I don’t understand. She was so cheerful when she left. She came to see me in the clinic when I injured my leg a couple of weeks ago.” He shook his head. “I just don’t believe it. She must be so sad.”
“I think that, she was not aware of what her father was suffering from. From what I know, Mr. Earl was terribly ill. Professor Bard told me that, the man was clinically dead about that time when professor Earl left with Annie to New Mexico.” Mr. Hurts went on.
“This is terrible.” Gregory said.
“I don’t know. I feel so sad right now. For Annie.” Wayne confessed.
“It has been a series of tragedies for the Law department. Once this issue of Mike is calm, we’ll let the class know about what happened to Annie.” Mr. Hurts said.
Gregory nodded.
Wayne was silent. He wondered what would meet him after returning home and facing his family. He just did not want to find his mother dead. Not now when he already wanted to spend more time with her and the rest of his family. Not now when his heart had already changed. Not now when he already met Jesus.
“Wayne?” Mr. Hurts called him.
He turned to the professor. “Yes sir?”
“You have to go home and check out the situation there.”
Wayne nodded and sighed.
“When would you like to leave?” The professor inquired. 
“Tomorrow. I’ll check first how the situation goes with Mike’s health and perhaps, give a defensive statement for Posh.”
“Yes. You will have to provide a statement but, leave out collecting the evidence.” Mr. Hurts instructed.
“Yes sir.” Wayne agreed.
“I also will give a statement. Perhaps, assessing Posh’s character. In aid to the case.” Greg offered.
“Yes. Thank you.” Mr. Hurts said and glanced behind them.
The boys turned around and steeled themselves to face a couple of police men.
They walked directly to them from the entrance.
The head of them, a black officer, fixed his gaze on the two boys. “Which of you is Astrophe Hurts?”
“I am.” Wayne replied, confidently.
The officer turned to him, about to add. “You have to escort us-“
“It’s okay, Officer.” Mr. Hurts interrupted. “These boys only confided to me the person who shot Mike Reeds.” Mr. Hurts said. “Her name is Alexandra Georgia. She is their friend, my student and my client.”
The officer took sometime debating  that. “What evidence do you have to support such an accusation?”
The professor waved Mike’s phone in his hand. “This belongs to the victim. It contains the video of thirty minute duration, verifying that, Alexandra Georgia did shoot Mike Reeds.”
“I will have that.” The other officer, with gloves in his hand, said, grasping the phone from Mr. Hurts.
He stored it in a transparent bag.
“We will check that out but, Mr. Astrophe will still have to accompany us to the station.” The head officer said to him and paused to add, “We have to take his statement.”
Wayne nodded.
“I’ll go with you.” Greg offered.
“And you are…?” the head policeman asked.
“Gregory Bale. Wayne is my classmate and friend.”
The officer nodded. “Alright. We also need your statement.”
“That’s right. I am willing to cooperate.” Gregory said.
“I will go with you,” Mr. Hurts offered the boys, when the policemen begun to leave ahead of them.
“It is not necessary Mr. Hurts. We can take care of everything on our own.” Wayne assured him. “When Mike wakes up, someone has to be there to talk to him.” he added, assuming that Mike was sedated to facilitate his recovery.
Mr. Hurts nodded and sighed. “Alright. May God take care of you.”
Wayne smiled to hear the word ‘God’ from the tyrant professor for the first time ever.

The boys left and Mr. Hurts retired to the waiting couch, reconnecting with God in prayers for the recovery of his student and the welfare of the rest of his class.

                                                                              #

stay tuned for more to come in the  #twoweeksstory

TWO WEEKS - Episode 11

Vicky went back to class afterward. But, she felt so confused because Annie had already left campus and she had no one to talk with about what was going on.
When it reached noon and the professor had concluded his lesson, she remained sitting on her bench, staring bluntly at the stage.
Emeka’s voice coming next to her, was the only thing that drew Vicky from her thoughts.
“Aren’t you going for lunch?” he asked.
She turned to him. “Hey. Amh, I don’t feel like taking anything. I think that, I’ll go to the store and return back at 3 for the next class.”
“You should take something.” He suggested and rose from his bench, carrying his clear-bag. “Let us walk out together. There’s a booth that sells great food just outside the gate.”
She took some time to make up her mind and then packed her stuff in her bag, ready to go.
They strolled silently out of the lecture hall to where the booth was. A lot of students surrounded the booth, eating with their bare hands or calling for their order.
Vicky stared at the scramble. She noticed then that, there were a lot of people in that school. Back in Africa, she could know the names of at least everyone within the campus but  here, it was like, every day, there were newcomers.
“What can I get you?” he asked.
“Maybe a hamburger. Thank you.”
“Okay.” He said and joined the small commotion.
A few minutes later, the two were walking silently along a quiet craggy path that stretched around the campus to the dormitories. Students and teachers moved here and there making the ground quite live.
“So, what’s bothering you?” Emeka asked after an almost prevailing silence.
“Do you believe in God, Emeka?” she asked, twisting her head to face him.
The question got him a bit off guard. “Yeah. Why?”
“Do you also believe that, he can give you an objective to pray or to worry about someone who you don’t even know very well?”
He nodded. “Yeah. That is possible. In fact, we ought to pray for everyone.”
“I know that but, this case is different. In this case, it’s particularly one person and I think that, I am failing. I do not know what to do.”
Emeka took some time in silence, finding words to advise her.
She sighed. “Everything is going wrong. I don’t understand God’s message or at least, if there is even a message. Maybe it is my instincts that are guiding me.”
“But, what does the Bible say? I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8. Have you taken advantage of an opportunity to ask God for directions?”
“Yes. I do that a lot of times.”
“Then there must have been something that God told you. Work on it. Vicky, do not do anything humanly possible, ask God. Ask God for instructions regarding your matter, be it small or great.” He said and added, “I will also pray for you. Will you come to the fellowship tomorrow night?”
“Yes. It’s also my turn to lead the praise.”
“So, that’s it then. Take the opportunity to ask God.”
She nodded. “You are right. There’s also this word that says in Isaiah 48:17 that, I am the LORD your GOD who teaches you to profit who leads you in the way you should go. Now I understand that, God means each and every clause of the word. He should lead me in the way I should go, not my emotions or my instincts or people.”
He smiled. “Good.” He said and looking around, spotted an empty rock bench at some meters off the path. “Can we go there and pray?”
She glanced at where he pointed at. “Alright.” She nodded and they began straying from the path.
“You know one thing about praying, value any moment you get to do so because, you do not know whether at that time, God will encounter you and or will heal you.” he said.
She nodded in support. She had never reasoned that way before. “Yes. You are very right.”
They came to the bench and sat facing each other.
“So,” he begun. “We are going to ask God to teach us and instruct us and lead us in the way we should go.”
She nodded and shut her eyes.
He led the prayers which also encouraged Vicky a lot.

                                                                              #

Some miles away, Wayne limped to Mr. Hurts’ office; a stern black professor who was also one of the hardest men Wayne had known to exist within Ortegun.
With Linda gone, Wayne had a hard time requesting for leave to see his mother. After a difficult process in the secretary’s office, he turned into Mr. Hurt’s office.
“Good afternoon sir?” Wayne greeted, standing in front of Mr. Hurts’ desk.
The man turned to Wayne from a file in his hands. “Just the man I wanted. Here are with me all the assignments of class 100, where is your group’s, Mr. Harts?”
Wayne sighed. “Forgive me sir. I have come to ask you that we may delay to submit the work. I received a call from home that my mother is in a very bad condition.” He begun and placed the paper on the professor’s desk. “Please, may I leave to see her?”
The man frowned. “What is wrong with your class? You think that, you can give excuses just to leave campus and avoid responsibilities?” he bawled. “I already signed a Leave for Miss Earl and that was only because Professor Earl asked for it.” He said that and pushed the paper off his table. “Bring me your group’s work in thirty minutes or prepare for Supplementary.”
Wayne glanced at the gate-pass on the floor, feeling very bad. “Sorry sir but, my mom is very sick.” He added, pleading to him.
“Submit your work first and I might consider you.” Professor Hurts replied, focusing on the assignments on his desk.
Wayne sighed and picked up his paper, about to leave.
“I see here that your group is also the first one to present a case.” Mr. Hurts added, catching Wayne’s attention.
Wayne did not know that. “We are?”
“So there, you have got a lot of work. Bring those documents quickly.”
Wayne sighed again and left with devastation.

                                                                              #

He could not get the work done in thirty minutes like the professor demanded but, he submitted it in his office later that evening.
Mr. Hurts scheduled his group to present on Friday of that same week so, Wayne had no choice but to remain in Ortegun. Throughout that time, he did not cross paths with Vicky especially because he could not lead the jog team because of his leg injury.
He still suffered terrible nights and consequently more horrible days. He constantly avoided to face the uncertainty of his mother’s condition. He thought that, she died and he did not want to reach home to confirm that. Whenever his father called, he shut his phone. Apart from drinking and smoking, he worked on his group case. The same group did not care about anything but, he disregarded that. 
On Friday, he stood alone in front of the class, unlucky for him, Gregory (the other serious person in their group) was sick and could not make it.
Mike and Posh were around but, they were too afraid to stand in front of the class.
“You’re on your own?” Mr. Hurts asked, sitting on the front seats along with the rest of the class.
Wayne sighed and nodded.
“Where are the others?” The professor asked.
“Annie is out of town, Greg is sick and so are the rest.”
“So, are you a defense attorney or a prosecutor?” Mr. Hurts asked, deciding to overlook Wayne’s excuses.
“Prosecutor.”
“And who will defend the poor mouse in that cubicle?” Mr. Hurts asked, throwing a glance at a cube on the table with an isolated rodent.
“Amh. The class?” Wayne replied, wondering if that would be the right answer.
Mr. Hurts laughed cynically. “Mr. Harts you are obviously not serious with your work. Give me a jury.”
Wayne gulped with fright but, at that time he did not care what happened to him any longer. “You.”
Mr. Hurts perused on the group file in his hand, maybe he did not hear Wayne’s answer as the class laughed. “So, what is your accusation?”
“Its color.” Wayne replied.
Mr. Hurts raised his eyebrows at him. “Why’s that?”
“It’s brown. It should be white, right?”
The class broke into a laughter.
Mr. Hurts chuckled too. “Alright. Get on with it.”
Wayne took in a deep breath and begun, first, eulogizing the creature in front of the class and then, accuse it for being born brown. 
5 minutes while he was still speaking, some of the students begun yawning while others were murmuring about their own stuff.
15 minutes later, Wayne concluded his case with more than half of the class, being occupied with their own business.
Mr. Hurts himself was staring anxiously at his wrist watch. “Time is over Mr. Harts.” He announced.
Wayne sighed. “I’m done.” He said, picking up his mouse cubicle.
Mr. Hurts turned to the rest of the class. “Anyone willing to defend the mouse?”
There was silence. In fact, they were hardly aware of what was going on.
Mr. Hurts turned to Wayne. “Get back to your seat.”
Wayne nodded and left the stage.

He spent the night in the club but, without his friends. Saturday morning Wayne went back to Mr. Hurts’ office to ask for the leave only to find that he had flanked more than 10 points in his course work.
“How?” he asked Mr. Hurts, after receiving his grades.
“You’re also the last in your class.” Mr. Hurts informed, as if he was pleased with it.
Wayne sighed. “Can I go home?”
“No. Not after that awful report. I will not support this stupidity.”
“My mom is dying professor and for all I know, she is already dead.”
The professor sighed, rubbing his chin in thoughts. Maybe he wanted to believe Wayne. “Don’t you have a phone?”
“It’s my mother sir.” Wayne retorted, sounding very emotional.
“Okay.” He agreed, finally. “But, bear in mind that, you will be putting your future at risk if you are not back and rectify this nonsense piece of work.”
Wayne was silent he did not want to curse him at that moment.
“Where’s your leave?” Mr. Hurts asked, extending his hand with his pen to the end of the desk.
Wayne felt his pockets for the gate-pass and took out his phone and identity card. “Where is it?” he wondered out loud. “I kept it…. Aaw.” He sighed. “I left it with my friend.” He said, referring to Mike. Wayne slept at Mike’s place two nights back, in preparation for the Friday presentation and, Mike took Wayne's stuff for his own amusement.
“Oh great. So, your ticket to see your dying mother is with the other dude?” Mr. Hurts asked, mockingly.
Wayne tried not to express his offense and said. “I’ll just call him or get it myself.”
“Make that outside my office and quick because, it is a half day and I’ll be leaving at noon.”
This is so unfair. Wayne thought. “Sir, please? Bear with me now, for a mother.”
“Astrophe, if you realized that, maybe you would have brought the gate pass.”
Wayne sighed and left the room, emerging into the lobby which was also partially crowded with people moving here and there.
He tapped the dial pad on his shattered phone and placed it against his ear.
The call kept ringing without being received.
He tried again. “Damn this guy is high again!” he cursed, rubbing his brown hair back in anxiety.
The call was not received.
“I hate this!” he shouted and lowered the phone.
Before he could retry, the screen flickered into Chris’ name and begun buzzing in Wayne’s hand.
Wayne gulped.
What happened? He asked himself.
He had not talked to his brother for over two years and his calling meant that something wrong happened to their mother.
He watched the screen blink off and sighed, leaning back on the door of Mr. Hurts’ office.
He knew then that, there was no need to go to Ohio any longer. It was obvious that, his mother was dead. He never went to see her. She must have died cursing him.
It was over. His life was full of terrible disaster.

End of PART I of this story.
stay tuned for more right here @ multtalentedp.blogspot.com to find out what happens next?
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TWO WEEKS - Episode 10

7:00am
The clock was reading when Wayne woke up that morning. He went over the events of the previous night in his mind; his terrible nightmare: attempt to drug himself: his father’s call: his leg’s piercing and his phone shattering.
Nothing was going right. And now, he was lying on that bed on precisely the time when he should have led the jog team, got the plastic bags for his friends and got ready to submit his assignment.
He lived such a terrible life.
He twisted his head at the thought, turning around to face the waiting couch at the end of the room and Vicky sitting on it wearing a pink blouse and dark trousers.
She rose at the glance of his and just then he noticed that, she begun to get slimmer and her curves became more distinct.
But, that was not as important as this, “Get me coke".
She paused, making a queer face. “Wayne. You are awake that is great. Are you alright?”
He tried to sit up and held his right leg in agony.
“Let me help you.” she offered, drawing closer to the bed.
He reluctantly allowed her to support his back as he sat up, stuffing some pillows behind him.
“I’m so sorry.” She said, sighing.
“It’s okay.” He said, turning from his leg to her. “Get me coke.”
“Is that a soda?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. It’s gin. Now, please get me one. I’ll pay you back.”
She frowned. “Wayne. Sorry but, I will not get you that.”
“What is wrong with you!” he shouted, making Vicky feel the room shaking around her. “I am not like you! I am not happy, joyous, spiritual or, all that stuff!” he added, very aggravatingly. “I’m suffering! I am in agony and I can’t live with it. Get me gin!”
Vicky trembled afterward. She thought that she was out of wisdom to respond to his torturing words.
Just then the door opened and she turned to embrace the sight of the yellow haired boy in his usual dark leather outfit. He carried a bottle or wine in hand.
“I hear someone say, coke.” He greeted, laughingly.
“Mike. Thank you.” Wayne said, gladly.
Vicky took in a deep breath. She did not know what to do but, the thing upset her.
Wayne received the bottle and glanced at Vicky. “Why are you still standing there? You want some?”
“Wayne.” She begun. “Alcohol is not the answer.”
He chuckled, removing the lid and taking large puffs.
She sighed deeply.
“I think she likes you man.” Mike said, eyeing Vicky with his lazy eyes.
Wayne broke into a laughter. “Good one, Mike. Don’t you say that, we should welcome her to our hood?”
“Enh she’s too ugly.” Mike replied rudely.
Vicky sighed again, looking for the right way to approach the situation.
She turned to Mike. “He needs breakfast alright? Coke, or whatever you call it, is not breakfast.”
Mike narrowed his eyes at her. He expected that she would reproach him for getting him the drink on the basis of religion.
“Yes.” Vicky said to Mike. “He must be hungry.”
“I’m hungry for this.” Wayne interjected and Mike laughed at that.
She turned to him. “I don’t drink but, I know that, people don’t take wine in the morning. Please, let him get you coffee and sandwich.”
Wayne was silent, thinking. He turned to Mike afterward. “Do you have cash?”
Mike nodded. “Yeah.”
“Get me Five Guys Hamburgers then, I am starving.”
Mike shrugged and nodded. “Right on," he said and left.
Vicky turned to Wayne. “Can I put that away for you?” she asked, glancing at the bottle in his hand.
“Why should I trust you?”
“Can I trust you?” She asked instead.
“I haven’t asked you to help me with a drinking problem, I love this. It helps me calm my nerves.”
“But, you don’t need any nerve calming.”
“What makes you think that? You haven’t got into my head to realize what I am thinking. I am-” he begun and paused, hesitating to go on.
“There’s a time when we think that problems are heavily weighing over our shoulders but, the Word says that; for every matter there is a time and way though man’s troubles lay heavily upon him.”
He puffed his drink again. “So, you also have words for everything.”
“I don’t. God does.”
“Cut, the crap. You ain’t going to get me to be like you.”
“I am not struggling to make you a Christian Wayne.”
“So, what are you doing?”
“Convincing you to try out a better solution for your problem.”
“Okay. I don’t like admitting that, I have problems but, I already have so, we will go on this way. What solution are you offering me? God? Some beliefs?”
“Let’s begin with hope.” She asked, occupying an empty seat beside his bed.
He watched her closely for a while. The alcohol, which already got into his head, transfigured the images he was seeing.
She noticed that, first. “That thing you’re holding is a lie. You’re being eluded into thinking stuff that do not exist. The devil doesn’t want you to be in your sober mind to comprehend all the great things that, God means for you to do.”
“That is crap.” He said, breathing alcohol on her face.
“What isn’t to you, Wayne? Your problems or the gin?”
He turned to the bottle and held it a little far from him. “Maybe both.”
“What has been the way to fix things?” She asked again. “The gin?”
He turned to her. “No.” he replied, a little earlier than she expected. He waved the bottle to her. “Please put it aside.”
She grunted before receiving it. Was he coping that quickly?
He got the bed sheet off himself. “You are right. I haven’t been taking this the right way. Maybe, I have also been so rude to you.” he added, struggling to get his legs off the bed. “I have to face my problems like you said. I have to go to Ohio.”
She swallowed, getting a bit off guard by his decision. “Wayne, you are still not well.”
“No. My mom is…” dying. But, he hesitated to say so. “I have to see her. My father was calling me last night. Something must have happened. I have to go.”
Vicky was lost. She did not know whether to support him or to decline from doing so.
Oh God please give me wisdom. What do I do? Are you already done with him? Is that what he must do? She asked herself inwardly.
He turned to her. “Vicky. I’m sorry for behaving like a jerk toward you. Really, drinking in the morning is ridiculous even I should have known that.”
She was silent, lost in her own thoughts.
He supported himself on the rail of the bed, padding his feet forward.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“Back to my apartment and then I’ll request a leave to travel to Ohio.”
“Wayne. You are not completely well. Ohio must be far from here.”
“Yeah. That’s why I’ll take the plane.”
She sighed.
“Okay. See you around or something.” He said and left, in her watch.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - Episode 5

Wayne wriggled and turned over on his bed that night. After a whole while of struggling in a night mare, he woke up with a shout and begun panting.
He popped out his eyes in the night light and felt his face to wipe off the sweat that was leaving his body.
He shut his eyes and took in long deep breaths to calm down.
He was very depressed by the terrible dreams that he usually had. Even when he was boozed, it did not keep him from having difficult nights.
He stretched himself to a nightstand at the head of the bed and picked up the receiver beside a clock. He glanced at the time.
2:30am
He pressed some buttons and waited while the phone rang.
“Hallow?” a lady’s voice came.
“Excuse me for disturbing you this late ma’am but, you told me to call you if I had bad dreams again.”
“It’s okay, Astrophe.” The lady replied and sighed with exhaustion. “Tell me what did you dreamabout?” she asked, yawning.
Wayne exhaled. “I saw myself in Ohio. It was heavily raining and I came to see my mom. I held her in my hands and then, Chris came.” He paused, closing his eyes. “He pointed a gun at me and said that, he was getting back at me for everything. Suddenly I was a young boy and I could not defend myself.” He sighed. “I have never felt so terrified in my life.”
“I’m so sorry, Astrophe. Okay, have you been taking the sleeping pills like I told you?”
“Not today. But, they have never kept me from having these nightmares.”
“You know Astrophe, your dreams are the product… of your subconscious. Deep inside, you are scared and perhaps, really defenseless. Has anything happened to you recently?”
“Yes. My father called me and told me that, my mom is dying. She has a month to live.” He said and sighed.
“How did you take the news?” she asked when Wayne remained silent.
“I dismissed it from my mind. I rather not thought about it.”
“So then, you haven’t realized how much it affected you,” the lady reckoned.
“I guess, I am really scared that she is going to die. I don’t know how to react simply because I am helpless in solving the situation. I cannot save her life, I cannot keep her from dying.”
“Oh Astrophe. I can understand your grief but, try to use the time you have left to go home and make things right. Spend the time with her. Make her feel how much you love her. Tell her your fears and needs.”
Wayne rubbed his forehead drawing a deep sigh. “But, Chris is there. His presence just irritates me.”
“What if he acts kindly to you this time, for the sake of your mom?”
“That won’t change the fact of the way I feel about him.”
“Astrophe, be willing to make an exception. If you go home and face your fears, you might overcome the terrible nights you are having.”
Wayne was silent, undecided.
“I’ll give you a pass tomorrow, how’s that?” the lady asked.
“No ma’am but, I’ll come to you when I am finally ready.”
“Okay but, remember another thing, it’s okay to be weak.”
Wayne furrowed her eyebrows at that. “What?”
“Yes. Even a mascot leader, can have weak spots every now and then. Talk to people. Especially those who are ready and have the time to hear.”
“I’m lost Mrs. Earl.”
“You know, there’s this person who seems to be so composed. She has high self-esteem and she is very stable. Maybe you can talk to her.”
“Ma’am. I don think that I-” he begun but, the lady cut him short.
“I know it’s hard to trust a person who’s just too new to you. But, try to make friends with her. She is a very nice person.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“One of our new students. She is residing in the apartment that Annie likes to use.”
“Oh men, you are not talking about, that fat African girl?”
“So, you’ve met but, Astrophe? Do not make rude remarks about people’s appearances.”
“Ma’am. Thank you for the chat. Good night.”
“Astrophe?” she called but, he hang up.
This lady is so weird. He thought and turned around to replace the receiver on its place.
He pulled the sheet above his head and shut his eyes to sleep again. Thinking about Mrs. Earl’s silly idea was a better lullaby, to get him to sleep.

                                                                              #

I have to fast. Annie thought when she woke up in the middle of her first night in New York City. If I am not standing, that guy and his friends will win the bet. I need spiritual strength to tackle this. God will help me.
She turned on the bed and stared at the darkness. It’s not the way that I had expected to spend my first day in America but, I’m writing my history. She told herself and begun murmuring. “If I also jog while I don’t take much, I will get into good shape soon. My mom always wanted me to lose weight.”
With that, she sat up on her bed and stretched her hand to a lampstand where was a lamp. After struggling to light it to no avail, she sighed and placed her hands on her lap, shutting her eyes.
“Oh God. Please help me?” She begun to pray. “I am supposed to be thanking you for making me realize my dreams and I do but, here I am, praying for the challenges that I just met on my arrival.” She sighed. “I would like to hold on to you. I don’t want to leave you Lord Jesus. I don’t ever want to trade your love and grace for all the money or luxury in the world. As you’ve said; what will it profit a man if he gains the world and in the end, forfeit his life?” she sighed again and opened her eyes. She was scared. “I am so far away from home. There is no one watching me. But, you are.” She shut her eyes again. “Please guide me as you’ve said; I’ll instruct you and teach you the way you should go, I’ll counsel you with my eye upon you. You are everything to me Lord. Even if I am far from my mother and father, you will be my parent here.”

She made a cross sign and continued in prayers until her bedroom door burst open and light from the corridor drew her concentration.
“Vicky!” Annie called.
Vicky made a cross sign and opened her eyes to glance at her friend.
Annie was already in her sportswear. “What are you doing?” she greeted Vicky. “It’s already 5:00am. Get your sports gear quickly and we can go for the jog.”
Vicky raised her eyebrows a little. “I didn’t realize that, time had gone that fast.” She drew the bed sheet off her body.
“So it has. Do you usually wake early back home?”
Vicky got her legs on the floor. “Only when I had early college classes.”
Annie released the door knob, furrowing her eyebrows. “You have once been to College before?”
“Yes.” Vicky replied and suddenly dismissed the topic. “So, the jogging…” She said and turned to her duffel bag below the bed. “I have a tracksuit.”
“That will be fine.”
Vicky opened her bag and took out a black jumpsuit with a knee-length pair of shorts and a matching vest. She took out its sweater and tied it around her waist.
She turned around to Annie. “How do I look?”
“You know, there are some outfits which make you look slimmer.”
“That’s funny. My mother tells me that too.”
“Okay. I’ll grab our bottles. Come, follow me quickly.”
“Okay.” Vicky agreed and bent down to fetch her pair of white sneakers.

                                                                              #

TWO WEEKS - EPISODE 2

Meanwhile, in Manhattan and in the college club, a guy brought a tray with beer glasses and laid it on a table in front of a couple of guys and girls around his own age.
The peer welcomed him with a lot of cheers.
“It’s on the house men!” He called, as his friends picked up glasses from the tray.
They sat in a corner of the large club which also had a loud music playing. Some youths danced and hang around on various corners, sharing romantic intimacies.
The first guy picked his own glass and tasted the drink with his eyes closed. He shook his head as the sip of it run through his throat and down to his stomach. “This is good.” He commented to his friends.
“Yeah Wayne,” A girl replied, after having a puff of her own glass.
She wore a dark leather backless blouse and short matching pants. Her hair was dyed with purple and white and she had plenty of ornaments on her body.
Wayne sipped again, taking plenty of puffs this time.
“Guys? What do you think of the first year intake?” a boy with yellow hair dressed in a cape, asked.
“Ah. They are okay.” Another girl, a brunette and the only differently dressed among the group replied. She also did not have a glass in hand. Gradually, she wagged her head to the music that filled the hall.
Having almost emptied his glass, Wayne turned to the second girl and walked to the couch, dropping down to sit close to her.
“Annie. Tell me seriously, when are you really, going to be a part of the hood?” he asked, loosely holding his glass in front of her.
She grimaced and pushed his hand away. “I don’t drink.”
He offered her a silly grin. One that told Annie, he was up to something stupid.
Like she expected, Wayne dropped the glass on her lap and before she could panic, he forced himself on her to steal a kiss.
The rest of the group laughed and cheered as she struggled to free herself from his heavy body.
She only succeeded when she bit his lip.
“Ouch!” he whined before she slapped his left cheek.
The boys laughed loudly.
Wayne grinned devilishly at her. “Ah. You are a feisty… one.” He said just when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
“You! Never do that to me again!” Annie rasped.
Wayne in turn rose and took out his phone from his pocket. He turned to Annie after checking it. “I will be back.”
“Who’s is it Wayne?” The yellow haired boy asked.
Without replying, Wayne, abandoned the noisy hall and entered the men’s room to receive his call.

                                                                              #

“Hallow Astrophe?”
“Yes father?”
“Tell me, where are you son?”
“I’m at college. You know that.”
“I know but, I have been looking for you since morning. I also sent you a lot of voice messages and there has been no reply from you.”
There was an impatient sigh. “Well, we are talking now, ain’t we?”
There was a disappointed sigh. “Okay. Your mother is sick.” The man said and paused for a reaction from the other side but, there was silence. He sighed again and went on. “The doctors have said the cancer has reached to a certain point that, even chemotherapy is not going to help her survive. Your brother is here and we wanted you to come to Ohio to see your mother and perhaps, make her feel that she has all our support.”
There was a short pause before Astrophe came. “I will think about it.”
The man later sounded angry. “Astrophe. There is no thinking about anything. Listen, your mother is dying and I am telling you to come home so that we may be together. For her.”
“Father. I have school and besides that, I don’t want to see Chris.”
“This is not about Chris son, it’s about your mother. She needs you.”
“Listen dad. I love mom but, if Chris is gonna be there then, I ain’t coming.”
“Astrophe. Better sort out your differences with your brother and right now, come to show that love you feel for your mother.”
There was silence.
“Son?”
“Okay dad. I will think about it.” He repeated.
“Please come home quickly son. I’ll send you money through your account.”
“I don’t need it. I have a credit card.”
“No. Better not to use your credit card often. You could fall into debts if you don’t pay up. I’ll send you the money tomorrow. Let me expect you by the end of the week.”
There was a short pause. “Tell me, how critical is she?” Astrophe asked, sounding very sensitive.
“Your mom?”
“Yes. How long does she have?”
“A month. Maybe less.”
There was a deep sigh.
“See son? You have to come and see her.”
“Bye dad.” Astrophe replied and hang up.
He paused, leaning on the wall of the men’s room with the phone in his hand. The condition of his mother added to the tragedy in Astrophe’s life.
He had a long feud with his brother simply because, they always disagreed on everything.
Sometime later, his brother went to live in another state and when their mother begun getting sick with cancer that ate her up, Astrophe or Wayne as he called himself in Ortegun, discovered the involvement of his father with his secretary.
Their home was always hostile and full of fights; between Astrophe and Chris, Astrophe and dad. But, whenever their mother showed up, they pretended to be alright.
Mrs. Harts was not all that deaf or blind in her house either. She argued with them for arguing with each other. Soon, she resisted therapy and medicine and became bitter with life.
Astrophe’s only consolation was the gang he headed when he begun taking studies in Ortegun. They were carefree persons who knew how to party and to have fun.
Recently, they admitted Annie into what they called ‘Hood’.  She was the daughter of a professor who also taught psychology in their University. Annie was their latest and greatest conquest.  
Now, hearing that his mom was sick and about to die, Astrophe was lost. He kept on queering why everything had to be that way. He cursed himself, his family and life itself. There was no relief anywhere. None except in coke.
As the thought came to mind, he left the bathroom and returned back to his friends.

                                                                #