THE EXPERIMENT 4 --by Nickz

(Image source: www.youtube.com)

Dear Reader,

This story is sequel to THE EXPERIMENT 3. Please follow the series from the first part for clearer understanding. At the blog's homepage, go to the category "Series" and scroll down to see previous parts. We apologize for the delay in its continuation. We hope not to let this happen again.

In mid-1938, the relations between Hungary and Czechoslovakia were tense. The Hungarians held an invasion force on the border, threatening to take a region of Czechoslovakia.

In the evening of 13 March, Germany forced Slovakia to declare independence from Czechoslovakia, threatening that a rejection would mean German-authorized invasion of Slovakia by Hungary within days. Slovakia complied at 1700 hours on the next day. Adolf Hitler claimed that the unrest in Czechoslovakia was a threat to German security, and sent troops into Czechoslovakia for a forceful annexation. Germany soon declared support for the Slovakian regime. On 15 March, Hungary declared recognition for the new Slovakian nation, but only two days later the Hungarian Foreign Ministry requested Germany to mediate further transfer to territory from Slovakia to Hungary. Before any final agreement came to fruition, however, Hungarian troops invaded Slovakia on 23 March and starting the Slovak-Hungarian War, also known as the Little War.

On 23 Mar 1939, Hungarian troops crossing the border largely surprised Slovakian troops, penetrating the border. The Slovakian Air Force, however, was slightly better prepared and was able to launch a bombing run on three Hungarian cities, causing minor damage. Nevertheless, Hungarians won the air war during the conflict, as 11 Slovakian aircraft were destroyed at the cost of no Hungarian aircraft. On the ground, by the second day of the war, the Slovakians were able to organize a counterattack, supported by armored cars. Near the Okna River, Hungarian forces countered with field artillery and anti-tank gun fire, destroying several armored cars, at first faltering Slovakian morale and then turned the Slovakians back in a panicked retreat.

Early on 25 March, after the arrival of four armored cars, three light tanks, a 37-millimeter anti-tank gun, elements of the Slovakian 41st Infantry Regiment, and a battery of the Slovakian 202nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, Slovakian troops were calmed and was able to resume the advance again. On the same day, Hungarian aircraft raided the Slovakian airfield at Spisská Nová Ves, killing 13. On 26 March, the remaining units of the Slovakian 202nd Mountain Artillery Regiment arrived on the Hungarian border, followed by elements of the 7th and 17th Infantry Regiments; Slovakian forces now totaled 15,000 men. A major counter offensive was now being planned by Slovakian leadership, but by now the Hungarians were well-entrenched and had ample anti-tank weaponry to counter Slovakian armored cars and light tanks, plus Germany began the assert pressure for an end to fighting. The war embarrassed Germany, as Germany had the obligation to protect Slovakia while it also enjoyed friendly relations with Hungary.

Fighting largely ceased by 31 March. On 4 April, a peace treaty was signed in Budapest, Hungary, which forced Slovakia to cede 1,697 square-kilometers of territory to Hungary. Eight Hungarian military, 15 Hungarian civilians, 22 Slovakian military, and 36 Slovakian civilians were killed.

Mr. Dalimil Bronislav always had this story in his heart; the statistics and details were still fresh like it was yesterday. His despise for the Hungarians was unfathomable. They killed his people, took their lands, destroyed their properties, and separated families; they were the single cause of calamity and instability of his country. He was happy he had a chance in his lifetime to give them sorrow. He would instigate a conflict and it will escalate into war. He knew the people to contact and had access to classified files that gave intel to the security level of Hungary. They were no match for their new weapon of destruction.

Professor Lukas paid a visit to his playground the following day with his friend Dalimil. The two aged men still looked strong and brisk in their perfectly tailored suits. Lukas led the way into the closed chambers where Dr. Natalia, Dr. Ayinka and Mr. Hooke were awaiting their arrival. The professor made introductions and they were wowed by the caliber of guest he brought along. The two men looked quite enthusiastic as they saw for themselves how smooth things went. The professor was pleased over his creation. He handed Hooke an empty hard drive. “Download the programs and command files, the stages of formation, the details of the VCU, everything on this project; I want them here. Do that now.” The technologist nodded and departed with the storage device. He commended the scientists and assured them that they’ll be rewarded even more.  But earlier in the morning, Dr. Ayinka had held a conversation with Dr. Natalia, expressing his fears and concerns over the legality and application of the project. He had also shared with her the possibility of them to be exploited and discarded after the project. He did not trust Lukas anymore. Dr. Natalia, though she personally reasoned along that line, refused to accept any of his suspicions, deliberately rejecting the possibility of being screwed over. She had worked for a while with the old man and knew his level of respect for her. Besides, she, like most other workers who knew the Prof well enough couldn’t afford to do anything against his instructions. Dr. Ayinka was not convinced by her faith in Lukas’ trustworthiness. He needed someone to see things the way he did. There was something about the whole project and the professor that made him so unsettled. 

Today, the old man had visited the facility with his friend and he was not saying anything about his discharge. He did not visit Bratislava for this. He only came to get assistance for his project. This was just on the way and he had to remind the professor of their deal. “Excuse me Prof, I would love to express some personal concerns.” Lukas was still engrossed in watching the Sapiens. If only Ayinka could see the picture he was painting in his mind while watching those robust creatures, it was that of billions of dollars. Ayinka was too small to fathom. “Yes, Doctor. Let me guess; this is about our deal right?” The Prof said, not shifting his gaze from the transparent viewing glass pane. The doctor fell silent. The old man turned and looked at Ayinka with the kind of glance that said, “Don’t worry, everything’s fine”. “Well, you can see I have a very important guest here so your timing is not acceptable. I’ll give you a call in the evening but I have to say again, I’m really impressed at your performance. I knew you were good enough for this. You have no reason to be concerned about anything.” He patted him on the shoulder and continued his dialogue with Dalimil. “Here it is professor, all intact.” Mr. Hooke interrupted him to hand him the loaded device. After few minutes, he exited the facility with his friend.

Mr. Dalimil had made his calls and developed a plan. He would take advantage of a dispute the country had with Hungary over airspace invasion which trended for weeks late last year. It was few months ago that a Hungarian jet was claimed to have been spotted within the Slovakian airspace and was shut down after repeated warnings. The Hungarian government had accused the Slovakian government of initiating an attack on them, claiming they were not within their airspace. International communities assisted in resolving the crisis and after a while, the news gradually diminished from media tabloids. Dalimil had contacted some loyalists in the military. He knew where and how to get a perfect Hungarian designed long distance RPG. The plan was simple but consequential: shoot down a Slovakian plane. Let forensics gather fragments. Investigation would reveal the source of the attack; Hungary. It would look like a small revenge from them. The Slovakian government would be furious. That’s when he would come in with his proposal. The Prime Minister and the federal government would give him an open cheque. Professor Lukas will come in with the ferocious Sapiens and the world would be one sweet bowl of war. This time, victory was guaranteed. The thoughts brought so much pleasure to his heart he hardly could wait for the professor to finish producing the next batch of one thousand Sapiens.

When the professor called Dr. Ayinka in the evening, he expressed his apologies for utilizing his service for long. He appealed to him for a little more time to complete another batch but that did not go down well with the doctor. He disagreed and opted to withdraw his services. That was when he confirmed the other side of the old man; the venomous side. The old man did not yell at him, he did not slam the table or throw a glass at the wall, no, he couldn’t hear any of that at the background. All he heard was a heavy silence from his end. The line was still open. Then finally, the professor, in a deliberate and carefully coordinated manner, spoke words that sent chills down his spine. “Doctor Ayinker, there’s something you fail to have noticed. The moment you walked down the stairs of that facility was the moment you stopped living for yourself. No one on earth knows where you are, if you’re alive or dead or got eaten by a bear; not one soul, except me. If you, in anyway try to challenge my authority, I’ll send your death certificate to your family in Nigeria. Of course, I know that’s not what you want. So what I say you should do is what you will do. And one more thing; that dialogue you had with Dr. Natalia was a very stupid thing to do. She knows better. Do as you are told and everyone will go home happy and of course, alive.”

When the professor hung up the call, Dr. Ayinka stared at the receiver in disbelieve. That was the same man that he had thought was his salvation. Indeed, all that glittered was not gold. But he needed to be cooperative until he could develop a good plan. It was obvious all was not well. He was almost sure the Sapiens were created for the wrong purpose. Instincts told him. He had to do something.

…To be continued

(Italicized part extracted from http://ww2db.com)

THE PHOTOGRAPHER 13 --by Rose

(Image source: www.gettyimages.com)

Dawn had set in a bit quickly. Duncan gently shook the sleeping Udeme beside him. They had settled for the couch in the waiting room where other visitors stayed. “Ud,” he tapped gently. “It’s five a.m. dear. Let’s see the Doctor in charge and know about his current condition.” She yawned and nodded. Slowly, new activities began in the hospital; new patients being brought to him and others leaving. They walked closer to the consultant’s office, but it was empty. “Let’s go back and wait Dee.”

“Excuse me,” Udeme called to the nurse who had addressed her earlier. “Yes, good morning.” She directed them to another office. They waited patiently for the in-charge to let them in on Bode’s condition. The young man who was already dressed for a new day smiled at them. “Good morning Barrister Edwards,” while offering Duncan a handshake. Settling comfortably, he brought out a file from the drawer behind his seat and read it carefully for some moments, having been satisfied he looked up to the people before him who had such high hopes on their faces. “Bode will be fine but he would be asleep for some hours. The surgery was successful, he was quite lucky the bullet didn’t hit a major organ, he should recover soon enough.” Udeme couldn’t believe her ears; she had already started praising God in her heart. Thank God her baby was okay. She had so many fears and the police were still on the matter. Knowing the type of police institution the country had, her becoming a suspect was not ruled out. The young Doctor quickly scribbled down some drugs on a white sheet and directed them to the pharmacy. Udeme heaved a sigh of relief while Duncan playfully elbowed her. “You see, I told you everything would be fine.” She nodded at him and was grateful he’d come to be with her in such a condition.

“You got me so worried,” he continued as they walked out of the pharmacy towards his car. She just smiled recalling the events of the previous night. Which woman wouldn’t get worried? When the man her heart lay with was bleeding to death. She shuddered from the memories. “Did you inform his people?” Duncan asked. She was about replying with an affirmative when they spotted Nadine running towards them. This got Duncan shocked, what was she doing here? He had told her he would be with Udeme hence she had no need to worry. Women! He shrugged. Nadie arrived and hugged her friend. Her insides squealed; she hated this girl with a passion. It was her fault her Bode was in that condition. “How’s he?” she asked eagerly. Udeme was thrilled by her concern. Truly, she had caring friends. “The Doctor said he would be asleep for several hours. He overreacted to the anesthesia but he’s okay.” Nadie felt relieved. Her baby was okay.

“You know what guys?” Nadie began cooking up her plan. She wanted to spend a little time with him again. “You guys should go home and rest, I’ll watch over him till you return to take the next shift.” “That’s a good idea sweetie,” Duncan kissed her gently on the forehead and got into the car. Udeme was quite happy, she needed some rest. She would come back later and watch over her Bode. Nadie waved sweetly as the car moved away. She carefully packaged the drugs Udeme had handed to her and carefully recited the room number again, “Room 54”. She chanted as she walked into the hospital.

Arriving the room, she opened the windows and walked over to where Bode lay, even in his sleep he was an angel. She caressed his hard chest and his toned arm muscles, she wished all this were hers but the fool had stolen her man which she was soon to reclaim. She covered him up again and decided to clean his body; she dipped the towel Udeme had given her into the warm water she had brought herself. She knew most people who were hospitalized needed hot water. Just then the door to the room opened and a woman who looked about fifty - something years walked in gracefully. The woman was tall and light in complexion, there was something familiar about her, those eyes reminded her of Bode. She gasped at the thought and immediately rose up to greet the woman; this should be his mother.

The woman ignored her at first and walked towards her son, dropping the basket she carried. She touched his face and examined his body. Turning to the men that escorted her, she said something in Yoruba and they both departed. After her scrutiny, she eyed Nadine suspiciously. “Are you the girlfriend to Bode?” Nadine shook her head in negation. This was time to make her move, she would make this woman like her. She would use this opportunity very well. “I’m sorry madam, his girlfriend is not here, she got quite busy and left.” The woman frowned easily. “What do you mean she isn’t here?” She quickly brought out a phone and began dialing numbers. “She was the last person seen with Bode and she isn’t here to nurse him, leaving you her friend to do it for her. That is most suspicious. I’m calling the D.P.O. That girl has some confessions to make.” Knowing fully well that this would amount to trouble and changes to her plans, Nadine immediately got to her knees and begged the woman. After careful consideration of her pleas, the woman asked her to rise. “So what is your name and what relationship do you have with my son?” The woman observed Nadine for a moment, she was very beautiful, like a biracial woman, she instantly liked the girl.

“I’m Nadine, I dated Bode briefly but he dumped me for my friend who is not a very sincere person.” The woman was silent for a while. She believed this because Bode was her son and had one terrible weakness; women. “And I suppose this friend of yours got him into this mess which you’re currently cleaning. Why do you then take pity on her, you should let me put her in that cell.” Nadine touched the woman’s hands gently provoking her motherly side. “Mama, vengeance is for God. Udeme paid me back in a bad coin after introducing her to Bode. She tricked him into loving her because of all the bad things she had told him about me.” Bode’s mother listened intently, she had to believe this story. That Udeme girl was very rude and shady, she didn’t even have the courtesy to call them herself, instead, she had sent the cook to inform them of Bode’s condition. “You said your friend is not straight forward, throw more light on that because I would deal with her. I will make sure Bode breaks up with her immediately he wakes, just tell me,” she urged. Nadie sighed; this was her golden opportunity to teach the bitch a lesson. “Mama I will tell you everything but you have to keep it to yourself for the meantime.” The woman nodded. “Go on.”

‘Madam, I cannot lie to you, my conscience wouldn’t let me, my friend Udeme has not been straight with your son from the beginning. She’s only after his wealth and political connections. She’s even engaged and would wed very soon, she has been engaged the whole time but she keeps deceiving Bode…” she waited as the older woman rose on her feet angrily. “You mean she is married? How could Bode go out with an engaged woman? Are you sure of what you saying?” She asked again, Nadine Nodded. “In fact, she just left with the man she is engaged to, but they would be back.” She was silent for a while, she prayed her plan worked. She wanted to find her way into this woman’s heart. If this worked out well, she would definitely leave Duncan and cling to Bode, she was ready to fight for this love.

The woman glared angrily at the sleeping Bode, and wondered what sort of loose woman he had gotten himself entangled with. She hissed disgustedly, how could a woman deceive two men at once? She pushed the thoughts out of her mind, she had already made her decision, Bode had to end such a dirty relationship. Here was Nadine the one he had dumped, by his side, taking good care of him while the olosho he had dated was out with another man. “Thank you Nadie, I’m glad you were open with me, Bode would be yours again, it’s a promise.”

THE DRAGONFLY --by Nickz

(Image source: www.flickr.com)

One day, I visited my nephews and I found a water pistol among their toys. I was in the mood to play so I filled it up with water and went outside to test my hit man skill. I couldn’t find any challenging target so I kept pointing and squirting out the liquid and just when I was almost getting bored, I found a live and moving target—the dragonfly.  As a patient man, I waited for it to perch on the surface of the fence it was hovering over. Finally, it did. Like Agent 47, I aimed my ‘9mm’ and fired. Guess what? I missed! Damn! The agent was better. After multiple attempts, I mastered the fluid’s trajectory and the degree of pressure to apply on the trigger with respect to distance from the target. I hit the fly and it moved to another spot. I followed it round and fun began. A little voice inside me was like, “dude, this thing could turn tiger and sting the heck out of you” but I ignored and played on, though with caution.

Now, let’s keep my childishness aside, though it’s necessary to keep the mind flexible and young. Let’s get down to business. We’ve introduced a new category into our blog; Knowledge Box. Go to the homepage of this blog and check out this category.  We’ve found out there’s a need to enlighten our readers on some facts to keep their intellectual archive loaded on certain topics people have vague knowledge on. As they say, knowledge is power. Who knows who’ll ask you a question that would leave you mute, probably like the other time? Who knows when your friends may bring up a strange topic and start to debate on? But you, already enlightened on the topic will have facts to educate them.

Today, we wonna talk about a special creature—the dragonfly. Let’s find out a little about this fly under these subtopics.

Dragonflies are ancient insects

Long before the dinosaurs walked the Earth, dragonflies took to the air.

If we could transport ourselves back 250 million years, we would immediately recognize the familiar sight of dragonflies flying in pursuit of prey. Griffenflies, the gigantic precursors of our modern dragonflies, took flight in the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. Now that’s some scary shit there. Who’d wonna travel back 250 million years? Well, maybe I could, just to take a selfie with a Griffenfly and come back to post on Facebook.

As nymphs, dragonflies live in the water

There's a good reason why you see dragonflies around ponds and lakes – they're aquatic!

Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the water's surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or mosses. Once hatched, the nymph (or naiad, in this case) spends its time hunting other aquatic invertebrates. Larger species will even eat the occasional small fish or tadpole. After molting 9-17 times, the dragonfly will finally be ready for adulthood, and the nymph will crawl out of the water to shed its final nymphal skin. You may ask yourself, “what’s nymph?” Well, it’s the larva stage of some insects like grasshoppers and dragonflies that do not undergo complete metamorphoses. They grow from this stage directly into adults without passing through the pupa stage. And the molting part; molting is just a biological process of shedding off the old skin, like snakes do and some reptiles. I feel like molting off this mark on my skin.

A dragonfly nymph breathes through its anus

The dragonfly nymph's gills, oddly, are inside its rectum. That's right, it breathes with its butt. The dragonfly nymph will pull water into its anus, where gas exchange occurs.

When the dragonfly expels the water from its rear, it propels the nymph forward, providing the added benefit of locomotion. Eeww! That’s sensitive, but on a second thought, I secretly wished humans breathe that way. Tell me how we’d have gays. No one would risk suffocation.

Up to 90% of young dragonfly adults get eaten.

When the nymph is finally ready for adulthood, it crawls out of the water onto a rock or plant stem and molts one last time. It takes up to an hour for the adult to expand its body.

This newly emerged dragonfly, referred to as a teneral adult, is soft-bodied and pale, and highly vulnerable to predators. For the first few days, until its body hardens fully, it is a weak flier. Teneral adults are ripe for the picking, and birds and other predators consume a significant number of young dragonflies in the first few days after emergence. That’s sad; I guess that’s how the food cycle works. Bird eats fly and gets eaten by …. And so on.

Dragonflies have excellent vision

Relative to other insects, dragonfly vision is extraordinarily good. The head consists almost entirely of two huge compound eyes, which gives the dragonfly nearly 360° vision. Each compound eye contains as many as 30,000 lenses, or ommatidia. A dragonfly uses about 80% of its brain to process all this visual information. They can see a wider spectrum of colors than humans. This remarkable vision helps them detect the movement of other insects and avoid collisions in flight. Wow! That’s superb! If I had such compound eyes, I could have probably seen the signs that my girl would leave me. Nah, I’m kidding. No girl walks away from Prince Charming.

Dragonflies are masters of flight

Dragonflies can move each of their four wings independently. In addition to flapping each wing up and down, they can rotate their wings forward and back on an axis. This flexibility enables them to put on an aerial show like no other insect. Dragonflies can move straight up or down, fly backwards, stop and hover, and make hairpin turns, at full speed or in slow motion. A dragonfly can fly forward at a speed of 100 body lengths per second, or up to 30 miles per hour. Scientists at Harvard University used high-speed cameras to study dragonfly flight. They photographed dragonflies taking flight, catching prey, and returning to a perch, all within a time span of just 1-1.5 seconds. Oboy! And you thought you were fast. I think the government should organize a contest for trained dragonflies so they’d do the aerial show like military jets do on Armed Forces Day (if I’m not mistaken). 

Male dragonflies exhibit aggression toward other males

Competition for females is fierce and male dragonflies will aggressively fend off other suitors. In some species, males will claim and defend a territory against intrusion from other males. Skimmers, clubtails, and petaltails scout out prime egg laying locations around the local pond. Should a competitor fly into his chosen habitat, the defending male will chase him off. Other kinds of dragonflies don't defend specific territories, but will still behave aggressively to other males that cross their flight paths or dare to approach their perches. Look at that! I think they learnt that from humans. Things we do for the ever dependent females. I wonder if their females also demand money for make ups and gold jewelries. Smh.

The male dragonfly has secondary sex organs

In nearly all insects, the male sex organs are located at the tip of the abdomen. Not so in male dragonflies. His copulatory organ is on the underside of his abdomen, up around the second and third segments. His sperm, however, is stored in an opening of his ninth abdominal segment. Before mating, he has to fold his abdomen and transfer his sperm to his penis. Hmm…let me not talk about this. I can only imagine the size.

Some dragonflies migrate

A number of dragonfly species are known to migrate, either singly or en masse. As with other organisms that migrate, dragonflies relocate to follow or find needed resources or in response to environmental changes like cold weather. Green darners, for example, fly south each fall, moving in sizeable swarms. They migrate north again in the spring. The globe skimmer is one of several species known to develop in temporary freshwater pools. Forced to follow the rains that replenish their breeding sites, the globe skimmer set a new insect world record when a biologist documented its 11,000 mile trip between India and Africa. Wow! What a trip. Welcome to Africa dear. How’re my brown-skinned friends?

Dragonflies are capable of thermoregulation

Like all insects, dragonflies are technically ectotherms (cold-blooded). But that doesn't mean they're at the mercy of Mother Nature to keep them warm or cool. Dragonflies that patrol (fly back and forth, versus those that tend to perch) will fire up their wings, using a rapid whirring movement to warm up their bodies. Perching dragonflies rely on solar energy for warmth, but position their bodies skillfully to maximize the surface area exposed to the sun's rays. Some even use their wings as reflectors, tilting them to direct the solar radiation toward their bodies. Conversely, during hot spells some dragonflies will position their bodies to minimize sun exposure, and use their wings to deflect the sun. That’s creative. I think we engineers have learnt a lot from this wonderful creature and still have some more to learn. The solar deflection sounds intelligent.

From these, you can appreciate the wonders of nature in the body of this slim fly with four wings. Yes, I almost forgot, they don't sting! That means more shooting next time! Isn’t our Creator wonderful? 

References: www.insects.about.com, Encarta Dictionary 2009

FAST N FURIOUS: BIKE VERSION --by Kreed

(Image source: news.motorbiker.org)

15 March, 2015 is a day I won’t forget in a hurry. It was probably the strangest day I have ever had, as you’ll discover at the end of this article. I woke up that fateful day, just as I had always done, since the day I was born. Only difference that day was, I had planned to visit a friend. I had last seen her in camp. What made it special wasn’t the fact that I was visiting her but the fact that I could finally use some of those fighting skills I had learnt  as a kid from the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and of course, Steven Segal (yes, be very afraid). You must be wondering what my fighting skills had got to do with this visit. Well, she had a boyfriend… a soldier by profession. I’ve heard a lot of stories of how friendly visits get awry. It usually happens towards the end of the visit, just when the visitor steps out of the house, a blow would connect to his jaw (best case scenario) or a blow that covers every facet of his face (mehn...this is not even the worst case scenario, they’re more). I don’t really know the impact (if any), the fighting skills of Jackie would have on a Nigerian Soldier but I had little options in my basket of choices.

I stepped out of the house and I found myself frying under the heat of the sun within minutes. Fortunately for me, I found a taxi sooner than I thought. I had estimated a ten minute journey but I have a history of making wrong estimations, so it didn’t surprise me when the journey took longer. I reached my destination after about thirty minutes, I alighted from the vehicle and I almost made it to the stairs of the pedestrian bridge, when I remembered that I hadn’t paid the cab driver. I turned back immediately and I met the stern eyes of the driver that translated, “You’re lucky I didn’t come with my suya knife”. As if on cue, the passengers also gave me ‘the look’. “Oga no vex but I just dey give you this look, so that this driver go pity me collect N100 instead of N150”, I quickly read the mind of one of the passengers. He’s probably dead by now.

I took out my phone, dialled her number and I told her where I was. Before I could blink, she was at the junction. I initially wanted to hug her but I thought I saw a red laser light on my chest, so I shook her hands instead. We strolled to her place, which was about a stone’s throw away. Yea I know most of my friends would be like, “Oh! It’s Kreed, nothing happened in that room” and bla bla bla. Well, what I’m about to say might stun them and actually change their opinions about me, because ‘something’ did happen. I actually drank the Coca-Cola she offered me. Yep, I can see some of them fainting now and I’m feeling so badass right now. Anyways, we talked about a lot of things, watched a movie, etc. I had a nice time, I didn’t expect less and no, I didn’t want more than I got either. Maybe some other time :-D.

Then it was time to go and suddenly, my heart started to beat like some sound track from a song produced by David Guetta. If I had no ribs, I would probably be heartless today because it almost beat out of my body. What was it going to be? I hadn’t been in a fight for years. I had forgotten all my skills (oh wait, I had none). This was going to be a walk over. I had packed my stuff but I was hesitant and then she pushed me towards the door. Just then, what I had feared all day long happened. In split seconds, faster that I had imagined, the door shattered in my face. I thought the dude was going to let me open the door but obviously he had other plans or maybe he just couldn’t wait any longer. I tried to protect my face but it was a metal door, so I cowered in fear as I struggled against the impact.  Just when I was expecting the worse to happen, I heard a female voice say, “I’m sorry”. I looked up and it was a girl, my friend quickly introduced her as her neighbour. She apologised profusely but I told her it was nothing, just like a boss that I am. Remember when I said the door shattered? Well, it didn’t. It only opened, like every other door does.

As soon as I stepped out, I heaved a huge sigh of relief. That was the closest thing to a dent on my undefeated streak (the record reads 0-0-0). I looked across the street and I noticed the traffic scenario was in a heightened state. Everybody was running away from something my friend and I didn’t know. Then I looked up to the sky and I knew why. Ever seen a baby cry for his/her missing toy? He/she does so with all the energy she can garner. The sky was about to do same. I was afraid I wouldn’t find a bike and my fears were confirmed when after twenty minutes, I was still by the road side waving my hands, while the motorists kept speeding past me, like I was just a scare-crow or a fan in a motor GP circuit. If only they knew that I was their future president. Anyway, a motorcyclist finally stopped five minutes later. I told him I was heading to the junction but he told me he wasn’t heading in that direction. I told him I was going to double the price but he rejected my offer. I brought out one thousand naira note and he told me to hop on. “Money stops nonsense.” I said to myself, in Oritsefemi’s voice.

I never knew the power of N1k note up until that night. That explains why I jumped from the first floor to the ground, when my friend showed it to me in secondary school. Money also starts nonsense. Back to my story, the biker suddenly got hyperactive. We drove through manhole-like potholes; speed bumps suddenly became mere zebra crossings, we drove between two on coming vehicles and all I did was laugh. I only drank Coca-Cola remember? I didn’t know speed could make one high. They were many close shaves but I’ll mention this few. Oh I almost forgot to mention but I’m almost certain we went under a trailer once or twice. I wish I could bet my life savings on this but I have none. It happened in split seconds though, so I can’t really say I’m sure it did happen but I’m almost certain it did.

So when I saw other bikers just speeding past us, I couldn’t help but wonder, if there was actually a denomination greater than the N1k note. Maybe they were offered more N1k notes. The later was a more plausible theory however, as most of them had 2 passengers on their bikes. However, this troubled my mind even more. How could they be so fast with two passengers? I was the only passenger on my bike, yet they made my Bolt of a biker look like Toure…no, not Yaya. I postulated that maybe, it had something to do with my weight but that theory wouldn’t fly (couldn’t make it past the preliminary stage as I scrutinised it). Some of you do know that I weigh lighter than some women’s Ghana-must-go…sorry hand bag. In fact, I was surprised that I was still on that bike with the pace it was going. I had expected the wind to lift me off from the bike into the heavens. Maybe God didn’t want the biker to feel like he had missed rapture.

I remember vividly, the journey from the junction to her house took fifteen minutes but this biker covered that distance in just five minutes, even with the heavy traffic!! It is journeys like these that convince atheists that there is God. By the time I alighted, I felt my heart beating in my tummy. It was time to settle my bills. I gave him the NGN1000 note and then I asked him for my change. The next morning, I woke up on a hospital bed with a black eye and all I could remember was…okay, there was no hospital but I felt a bit reluctant releasing the money. I still was thankful; I didn’t fall into the hands of a merciless Nigerian soldier, neither did I fly off the bike into a speeding trailer. It had never felt so good to be home in one piece.

MY WIFE OR MY MOM? --by Rose

(Image source: english.cri.cn) 

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine this: you got caught in a shipwreck, and there is only one canoe available to float ashore, and this canoe is so small, it can contain only two people, and your wife and mother are about drowning, fighting for their lives, as the waves of the ocean rises towards them in fury. You look at your wife; you remember your children and the passions you two share. Then turning again, you see your poor mother, struggling with the water and swallowing some, you remember her years of suffering, her midnight prayers and her tears, all for you. Who would you save? Shall it be your lovely wife or your mother?

One of the issues confronting marriages in this part of the world is the friction between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and when these two parties collide, the man is left in the middle–so who is the man suppose to choose? On whose side should he stand? That, my friend, is a very difficult position and one should hope never to find himself in. Who’s more important then; the wife or the mother?

Your mother is very important, at least she brought you to this world, she fed you, washed your clothes, nurtured you and protected you. There are many sacrifices our mothers have made on our behalf, sacrifices so huge that no price can serve as repayment; no, she will not tell you about them, she swallows them in her belly, she cried every night while you slept comfortably in your room. She has so many secrets but keeps you from their harsh realities, yes, a mother is very important. In fact, the life of any young woman ends when she has a child. She now has to focus her time and energy to the seed she has brought to life. Our mothers are our complete source of joy, reliance and backbone that may fail to break. We are attached to her like bees to nectar until we reach full maturity—that point in your life when you have to be a man. Being a man doesn’t necessarily connote having the male organ or the ability to yell on people. Being a man is when you have assumed full responsibility in all facets of your life. At this point, you need another backbone, another source of joy and reliance—in essence, another mother; a wife.

When a man agrees to marry a woman, they make plans and swear oaths of loyalty to each other before the priest. They’re made to say “till death do us part,” in turn the priest proclaims “for this reason, a man must leave his father and mother….” And this part too; “what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” At this point, your wife becomes supreme; she is now your queen and everyone else is second to her. Your wife may not have to make huge sacrifices like your mother, but she is in for something deeper, something scarier and quite frustrating. It is a whole new level of relations with her. Unlike your mother, you are bare before her; you show her your true character, the good to the worst, you hurt her more than you do your mother. That is, if you even hurt your mother. And she has so many responsibilities; she would bear your children and nurse them to maturity, she would endure your bad moods, so you see, hers is a double job. Your wife is equally very important.

There are many cases where some men treat their mothers as superiors to their wives, they tell their mother everything that goes on in their marriage, they consult their mothers before making and taking any important decision, they take good care of their mothers more than their wives and I’m asking, “why didn’t you marry your mother?” Why do you have a wife and treat her like a mere concubine? Your wife is your queen and has a right to your respect and love. Sometimes, we see the mother and son taking strolls together while the wife scurries off somewhere to hide from mama’s harsh scrutiny. Such men are not fit to be called husbands.

This daughter/mother-in law friction might never have an ending solution but the man should be wise in his actions. Let each woman know her place in your life, though it’s impossible to treat them equally. There would always be some elements of ‘more than’. So it’s now left for the women to solve these problems themselves. As for the man, do not neglect your mother just because you have found another kind of love in the arms of another woman or neglect your wife because of the strong bond between you and mother, no. Try adjustments and a little spice of wisdom.

To the women involved in this debacle, try understanding yourselves from your position. Wives you are mothers, how would you feel if your son pushes you out of his life for another woman? And mothers, remember to give your son some space, even if he is your only child. You have had your own share of time with him. Allow his wife to enjoy the remaining. If you have a daughter, how would you feel if her husband treats her as inferior in comparison to his mother? Think about all these case scenarios and try adjustments in your relationship with another.

Who should a man choose between his wife and mother? I don’t know the answer to that but I would advise you to pray against such a situation. But if it shows its ugly head, choose wisdom; that little voice inside your head.

TWO SIDES --by Kreed

                                                            

(Image source: sazzy-bu.deviantart.com)

TAYE

Tall, Pretty, Slim, wild, crazy, lousy and sometimes, a bit trashy; those were the words I would use to describe her. She had very few attributes of my kind of girl but somehow and strangely too, I was attracted to her. We had met at a friend’s birthday party, five months ago. But we always conversed with each other like we were together from birth. She was more exposed than I was. To be sincere, she wasn’t reserved like I was. I remember how we would spend most of our conversations exchanging banters with each other. I felt some level of freedom with her than I did with most of my female friends. She always opened up to me about many things. Whenever I offended her, she never hid it from me and it was one of the things I liked about her. Sometimes I would ignore her complaints just to infuriate her more, not because I loved seeing her angry but because she always did the same to me. I always apologized eventually, just as she often did. I remember the first time we hung out, it was also our last. I learnt a lot about her that day, as she did about me. To be honest, I had completely misjudged her. Yea she was lousy like I earlier stated but she was a beautiful person. She cared a lot more than I could even imagine. We became closer after that day.

Then one day, she told me she was travelling to her state for a week and that was it. I never heard from her again. Initially I was afraid something had happened to her. I was sincerely worried. However I became angry when I realized she was okay and was clearly just ignoring me. But then where did it all go wrong? It is the one question that I can’t provide answers to, even till this day.  “Precious what did I do?” I kept asking myself. It’s been two months since I last heard from her. I spent the first month begging her to come back or to forgive me for whatever offense I must have committed. I called severally but she’d never respond and I sent several text messages too but I still got the same silent treatment.

It wasn’t the first time a girl had left me like this but hers hurt me because I told her how depressed I felt when my former girl left me in similar circumstance. I just never learn. I had always felt pity for the female populace, especially when my friends tell me how they would dump them after having sex with them. All that pity was replaced with hate at the moment. They all deserved worse. They’re no better and all they do is exploit those who show them love.

Now all that love has been replaced by hate but a part of my heart still wanted her. My phone buzzed, I pick it up but it was only a message from Airtel. I drop it back disappointed and began to massage my temple. I couldn’t get her out of my head. Some part of me abhorred her but then, another part yearned for her presence. Deleting her pictures won’t make any difference; I can always get them back on Facebook. Just then, the light bulb in my head flickered. There was only one thing I could do in times like this. I smiled to myself and then I picked up my laptop. Write it out. Writing down my feelings has always been my natural cure for pain. So I’ll just write about everything. It’s the only way I can stop myself from loathing her or obsessing over her.

PRECIOUS

“Look at his young, cute face.” I can’t help but smile as I think of the good times we had. I always loved his smile. I’m just sad we, sorry, I had to end the way I did. To be sincere, he wasn’t my kind of guy. He was lanky, not sociable, always talked like he had no fears but had a lot of them. However, just somehow, I got attracted to him. I loved the fact that he always had a response to every banter I threw at him. I also loved it when he often refused to apologise to me after offending me, especially when I told him about it. Maybe he wasn’t macho guy that every girl was obsessed over but he had a very special and lovely character. I wouldn’t trade that for anything to be honest. He always teased me when I blushed, nobody ever did that. He always opened up to me about issues that bothered him, that made me feel wanted.

Everything was going right, up until that night, two months ago, when I was raped. Tears never ceased to stream from my eyes every time I recall it. I had always wondered why rape victims were ashamed of speaking out but now I am also a victim and I understand why. I haven’t told anyone, I doubt I ever will. I still remember his face, as I saw my world crash before me with his every thrust. I felt nothing but disgust every time I starred at myself in the mirror. All men are indeed dogs. How do I move on from here? The one unanswered question I have asked myself the last two months. He is probably somewhere with his friends, bragging about his conquest. Meanwhile I’m here, struggling with how to get on with my life. The hate I have for every male knows no bound. Even my brothers are not exempted from this. They all should be castrated, all of them but Taye.

Taye was different and I know but I just couldn’t control the animosity for males that presently engulfed my heart. I had to leave because I didn’t want to hurt him anymore than his last girl did. I wish I could just open up to him but I’m just too ashamed of myself right now and I don’t know what his reaction would be. He had sent countless messages last month, all of which I ignored, including his calls. Sometimes I don’t know which has been the harder task; hating him or ignoring him. I just hoped he would somehow forgive me but I doubt he was ever going to do so.

On the table was a picture of my family. We took this photograph during Christmas last year. Look how we were all happy. I was happy too but that was before this cruel fate befell me. There is only one way to put myself out of my misery. “I hope my family forgives me.” I said to myself as I wiped the tears off my cheeks and with my eyes firmly fixed on the picture, I picked up two pills. I hesitated a bit and then I decided it was just the best way to end it. I threw the pills in my mouth and then I swallowed with a glass of water. I took off my slippers and then I lay on my bed.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER 12 --by Rose

(Image source: gettyimages.com)

With the help of the guards, Bode was quickly rushed to the hospital. Udeme had asked the old cook to call his relatives as she hadn’t met any of them before, besides there was no time to go through his phone. So many thoughts ran through her head as she recalled the statement of the assassins. Somebody wanted her dead and very fast. She paused and stared at the wall of the waiting room, counting the number of people she had offended lately. “Who could want me dead?” Suddenly she remembered her two friends. She had to call them and inform them of the current situation. For now, the focus was on Bode and how to bring him to full health. Later, together they would solve the mystery.

“Excuse me Madam,” a nurse called. She turned, using the medium to inquire about Bode. “He’s very fine, we just need you to sign some documents. He lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion.” She nodded. “When would I be allowed to see him again?”  The nurse rolled her eyes, “come back in the morning, he will be ready.”

Checking her purse, she quickly took her phone and dialed Duncan’s number. “Hello Dee, it’s me.” Duncan paused at the other end, wondering what could warrant such a distress call, fearing the worst. He shook Nadine who was apparently having a good dream due to the smile spread across her angelic face. “Udeme what is it? Are you okay? You sound worried.” “We were attacked last night, Bode was injured,” he felt glued to the bed in shock as he shook Nadie harder, she awoke staring daggers at him, “Udeme was attacked,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, where are you right now?” This was what he feared. For some reason, he saw Bode as the kind of guy that attracted danger wherever he went. “I’m at the hospital right now.” “Okay, stay calm. I’m coming over, where’s the hospital at?” He rose up and changed from his pajamas. “Little Doves Hospital, along Brooks street, thanks Dee, inform Nadie of the situation.”

“What’s going on?” Nadie asked nonchalantly. “Udeme was attacked during the date. Bode got shot and is at the hospital, his condition is critical.” He was quite surprised at her reaction at the mention of Bode’s situation. “Please it’s not true, how did it happen?” He tried to calm her down. For some reason, she was over reacting; after all it wasn’t even Udeme that got hurt thankfully. “I’m coming with you Duncan,” she made for the wardrobe but he stopped her. “You need to get some sleep so you could make it to the caterer tomorrow.” She just stared at him disgustedly. If only he knew her heart was for Bode, he would find his level. How could that brat put her baby in such a condition. She was so furious. Udeme had to be put in her right place; she had to deal with her once and for all. She wished those assassins had killed her. That would have made things easier for her.

She hissed and faced the wall. She didn’t care about any damned caterer. All she knew was that as soon as dawn was close, she would land in the hospital to see her baby. She only love Bode. “See Nadie, you have been acting very funny lately, tonight’s behavior is so out of it but I will ignore it, take care.” He stormed out angrily. Something wasn’t right he could feel it but he wouldn’t accept it, their wedding was sooner than ever, he wouldn’t do that to her. He could’ve just called it off but he loved her too much to walk away. Sometimes he wondered if he made a mistake, he remembered Udeme had told one of his friends that she harbored feelings for him, but he didn’t want to encourage it because he wasn’t into her kind of girls. He liked his cereals with milk, she had been too bland back then, now she was stuck with that Casanova, he wished there was something he could do but she was already in love with him.

Adenike paced around her study restlessly, it had been four hours since the boys had departed for the mission, yet there was no report of the outcome. She sighed. “They mustn’t fail, that operation had cost me so much,” she muttered, now slightly drunk. She dropped the glass carelessly on the marble floor. No woman could take Ola from her, this would be one bitch down. She smiled at the thought of a dead Barrister Edwards. That would leave her with one more contender. She had already issued a warning to Nadine, if she didn’t obey and back off, she would waste her to the ground without remorse. She just hated people sharing her Bode, especially, Barrister Edwards. The way Bode had acted with her the day of her interview, she knew it was more than the sex, he was taken by her. She slammed the table with her bare fist, why weren’t they picking? Just as she was about to leave for their usual meeting place, she felt her phone vibrate and she froze.

“Stupid boys!” She yelled angrily. They had failed her. A text came in, informing her about the shooting of the Managing Director of the Artmaster Luxuries Firm. As the head of the Legal Department, she had to go and visit him. That only meant one thing; Udeme Edwards was still alive. She thanked God the boys hadn’t killed Bode, she wouldn’t have been able to forgive herself. It was already dawn, she yawned and moved to the room to get some sleep. She would come up with a better plan, something definitely greater than this. Bode was hers and when she wanted something, she always had it.