Chapter One

THE NARRATIVE

You have to understand that what a man has is what he can give. We are poor and are not politicians or business people. I manage what I get from the farm to feed my family, I mean you people and you know I and your mother farm everyday that's how we survive. Why do you desire so much money? Is it because of our neighbours; these yahoo yahoo boys?

Papa No! Nothing like that! Is it bad for someone to borrow little cash from friends when in need?

You say friends? What friends? Those boys I warned you against? They drink and smoke, womanise and in fact are responsible for all our young village girls' pregnancies.

Oh! Oh!! My God. He puts his hands to his ears and covered them irritatingly.

"You have started again. What I don't want to hear is what you like talking about! What's mine with pregnancy or the village people?

Okay! Who knows why you borrow money from people. Tell me so I know.

Haven't you heard about he who goes borrowing goes sorrowing?

Lecture! Lecture!! Every time lecture! What will I not hear in this house? He stood up and dashes out of the house.

PAPA: Come back here! RUMPEY (murmuring): You have turned our living room to a lecture theatre Papa. Rumpey! Rudey!! Papa paused and gaped then says: Why am I even, calling him a name I never named him? He soliloquised. Rumpey dashed out of the house without looking back any further.

"Only God knows who nicknamed him Rudey". Rumpey dashed out. On his way out, Rumpey met Aishat who he owes some money. He startled backwards and was gripped by fear and then came a sudden feeling of sweaty anxiety but, Aishat had no intention to demand for her money. He suddenly puts himself together as he got the feel of Aishat's peaceful façade who was confusingly changing her direction as she decided to go witness the heralded ongoing fight emanating from the two communities clash. He became concerned and said: "Aishat! You didn't fetch water today?" He asked.

"I did! Actually, I am about fetching the third time- that's my rubber bucket by the road side." Why did you ask?

Oh I see! Ok. No problem! Rumpey commented and waited for a while, expecting she would talk about the debt.

"Carry it now, let's go down the river. I feel like playing today at the stream." He continued.

No. Not now! I am going to the field. She wrapped her scarf across her neck happily. Haven't you heard what's happening on the pitch?

Not at all! He answered. What exactly? He asked and followed excitedly. They have started another fight. Aishat reported. Fight! He got startled and paused. You don't mean it! I was about to go watch the match, anyway I can also watch the fight! Let's go! Who are those fighting?

There was an unfriendly cloud full of dust that can be observed from afar as people began to run helter-skelter in a frenzied pandemonium, some towards Rumpey as he approaches and others away from the community while some remained in the field fighting. The scared ones hid behind some broken fences. Majority of the boys carried wooden sticks, awaiting their opponents closing in, towards their hide out. Aishat withdrew backwards retreating into a safer place to watch, but Rumpey ran into the battle field pulling his shirt and looking for sticks which he eventually grabbed one saying:

"Are they mad? He became aggressive and said: come to my village and fight my people! Are they crazy? We will tell you today this village is Okumu land." Rumpey said as he joined the fight. Aishat ran backwards and headed home following the bridge that was intact. She jokingly reminded Rudey of what he owes her: "You better stay out of it; don't join them! Rudey! Rudey!! Come and pay me my money o. She screamed aloud trying to distract him. From the football pitch.

Scaley, with his boys from the other community recognised Rumpey as he approaches them. Seeing that Rumpey is defeating others strongly he made a quick gesture and pointed: "Look, Scaley said and pointed: "See that guy- Rumpey, I told you about. He is owing me too. Another said. Me too. Sunle added. Today and only today we must collect our money. Today is a good day for us! Waoooo. They laughed out loud jointly in ecstasy awaiting the sighted Rumpey's arrival into the battle scene. Then someone said: "let's chase after him."

"He must not go! They dropped their clubs and wooden sticks to instead intercept him and started chasing after him.

Rumpey stopped fighting, confused he says: "What? What? He got startled as he observed scores of people rushing towards him so he ran quickly, dropping his fighting weapons. He has succeeded in inflicting injury on someone dangerously and hence was noticed by his opponents. After which he succeeded in running towards home. After Aishat passed successfully, the bridge got collapsed due to the enraging moment of the fighters who passed through it in frantic fears. When Rumpey got to the bridge connecting both villages he discovered it has been destroyed. So he quickly conceived the idea of risking it to the other side by intermittently and fearfully dipping his legs into the river but for fear of dangerous water animals like snakes and crocodile he changed his mind and direction quickly running at the banks of the river, where he succeeded in approaching John's house as the boys threw stones at him from a distance. Rumpey scampers for safety proactively and the next point of action was to seek shelter from a longtime friend John.