Episode 3
On the course of returning to my habitat. With the rags I wore that i referred to as clothes; I couldn't even afford a good bath because i was too broke to afford a soap. I didn't like the way I looked, I looked like I had wallowed in mud .
I ran into a lady, She seemed different from any other goblin; a word I used to describe the girls in the community. She has a slender waist, whistling down from her bust, as smoothly as the water from a waterfall, the bends of her hips could be so voluptuous that you feel as if it has been carved out by the creator who sculpted out of care and feel just like a potter sculpts a vessel from raw clay and the fullness of her bosom, reminiscent of the idea of perfection; as I imagined.
I was on the other side of the road , she crossed to my path to request directions on her destination. For few minutes i was lost at sight of her, I could steal a gaze at her ravishing looks till my dying moment. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me like it would even in the darkest of times. She introduced herself as Ochuwa without and requested direction to the village river, but I remained motionless , trying to make a sentence, then she snapped her fingers right at my sight to draw me back to reality. I suddenly regained consciousness, "young man, pls where is the river in this village I have been seeking directions , now I think am lost" as she spoke again. "em, um, em, em , it , it its" I mumbled, scratching my head the same time, trying to give her with my fingers pointing to an unknown direction.
After few seconds of waiting for my response , She held my hands while she asked me to stop and pleaded if I could take her there and offered to tip me for my assistance. I shivered at her touch; like a current was sent on an errand all over my body from my brain.
Afterwards, I agreed immediately after a distinct smile from my usual frown and worrying looks. We embarked on the little journey but I couldn't hide my gaze on her. She looked like something not far from goddesses, on the second thought I began to wonder what she wanted to do at the river. Suddenly, I became very scared, hope she isn't a goddess trying to lure me to my doom; clouded my mind.
After walking few miles, we came to a halt, the river could been seen from there, I insisted I would be going back from then as I turned in haste. She called out to remind me of her promise but I was rather to fast, I knew she said something but I claimed deaf ears.
As I find my way home, I was still enjoying the thoughts of the lady I met and would love to meet her again if she isn't a goddess. Days after days , night after nights, still the misery continues. We were living in bondage, the village youths was yet to come up with a good plan and the only lucrative job was to go hunting. My mother, mama Ene as she was called was one of the lustrous business woman in the community, my father the late Urata owned a very big farm land; had alot of workers and made alot of money.
No family in the community could afford sending more than one of child to higher institution, but my father broke the deadlock and availed three out of his five children the opportunity to attain that level of education. I had a brother and three sisters, I was the first son but not the eldest child. My elder sister Ene had been married for two years, she lives in Delta state with her husband and kids and she has been the only source of our feeding from her small business.
I returned home after studying in a foreign country. My dream was to acquire a white collar job or partake in my fathers business but Its like an imperspicuous situation now. The only idea was to seek employment from the local government but I will betray my people especially my mother whose farmlands and market had been taken away from by the same evil hands.
We could only welcome a single meal in a day, but the odds have to change, I had planned returning back to the city at least the it may be greener but I am the son of my fatherland; I can't run away leaving my people in the dark especially my family; I pondered.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us soon"; a verse from the holy book which I read out to myself in self motivation as I see the reflection of the man I had become in the mirrors of my doom afterwards an instance of exuberant behavior overtakes my shadow.