The Faintest Dawn

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

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Idowu: All these poor people will not let me be, they will not make their own money.. See eh, if he cannot join my business, there’s nothing, I can do to help him. So, the guy is at the gate?. He picked up his phone and called one of his body guards to pick one Mr. James at the gate.

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James: where is the person he said he’s sending na?

He tried to take a peek through the slim space by the side of the gate to see if anyone was coming but, there was no one. The scorching sun was having adverse effects on his yellow skin, he was thirsty and he was angry. He had almost dialled Idowu’s number again when the gate opened and he heard.

Bodyguard: Enter.

James: Good afternoon..

The bodyguard looked at him and gave no reply.

James was astonished at the number of cars and how wide, the compound was. He was even more astonished when he entered the living room, it was really beautiful and gigantic, he was so sure, that he’d get help from his friend.

Bodyguard: Wait here for him, he pointed to the direction of another living room but, a smaller one.

Thirty minutes, after waiting a while, Idowu showed up. James had a very large grin on his face.

Idowu: James, James, how far na?

James: hmmm, na God ooo’, I’m okay sha, what about you?

Idowu: As you can see, I’m doing very fine.

James: okay, that’s good.

Idowu: Have they given you any thing?

James: (who is the they?, besides your body guard, I have not even seen a fly).

James: No, no oooo, but, I’m fine sha.

James wasn’t fine, he was really starving but, he didn’t want to seem like a glutton.

Idowu: (if you like, no chop na’)

No, no, you have to eat something, then, we’ll discuss over the meal.

James: Hmmmm, okay, if you insist.

Idowu: (pretender, instead of am to talk sey hungry dey catch am, im dey form, nonsense thing, see bone everywhere).

Idowu: Okay, let’s go to the dinning room, we’ll be served there, then we can start discussing.

James: Okay, that’d be great.

Idowu stood up making a phone call to order his chef for the meal. James followed behind.

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Laura: Mummy, my head, it has paining me since morning.

She noticed her mum gave no response, she was absent minded so, she tapped her gently with her tiny mild hand.

Victoria: Yes dear, what is it?

Laura: (she repeated the same words as before).

Victoria: since morning, why didn’t you say something?

Laura: (dejectedly bows her head).

Victoria: Okay, I will send someone to get you paracetamol because, we won’t leave early today. You know, today is Saturday and I have lots of customers in the evening.

Laura: Okay mum but, I’m hungry.

Victoria: She looked inside her purse and there was very little change only enough to buy snacks for her daughter. That was when it dawned on her that hunger may have been the reason for Laura’s hunger and just snacks would not do the job. She looked left and right for her colleagues to borrow money from but, she had no confidence as she owed almost all of them some cash.

Victoria: Laura, you like egg roll right?

Laura: Yes mum!. she opened her teeth, spread her chin and gave the cutest smile ever.

Victoria: Okay, mummy will get it now. She also tried to smile too but tears filled her eyes and would drop any moment if she didn’t control herself.

Laura: Thank you mummy.

Victoria: She whispered, “don’t thank me, I should be doing much more”. She started regretting why she fell for James’ good looks in the first place that she had to even conceive a child before he was introduced to her family members. Her parents were not proud of her but, they also didn’t want to go against her wish. Now, With the way things were, she was ready to swallow her pride, beg her parents and return to their house with her daughter before the worst would happen.

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James: Wow, this meal is really delicious. Then, He remembered his wife and kid, then, he felt guilty for eating alone.

Idowu: (of course, you have never tasted it in your life).

Idowu: Yes of course, I have the best cooks ever. So, what did you want to talk about.

James: Clears his throat and dropped his spoon. Hmmm, seeing my present condition, it’s obvious why I came here but, I will still explain myself.

Idowu: Okay, go on.

James: He explained his present condition to Idowu.

Idowu: Okay, I understand, so what do you want me to do for you?

James: (Are you that dumb?)

I need your help.

Idowu: Hmmmmm, well, I will only help you on one condition.

James: Name it.

Idowu: I don’t just want to help you but, I will give you an offer to join my business.

James: (Had a wide grin on his face). Your business?

Idowu: Yes, my business. I don’t want you to feed from hand to mouth. So, are you in?

James: Why not? Of course I’m in. Your business?.

Idowu: Of course.

James: So, what’s it about?

Idowu: Hmmm, well, it’s not an oil company nor a factory, it’s kinda different.

James: What kind?

Idowu: Okay, call it whatever you want but, I’m into drugs.

James: Oh, I see, like a pharmaceutical stuff.

Idowu: (Idiot). Did I mention medicine?, I said drugs.

James: Like, illegal drugs?

Idowu: Yes, James, cocaine and others. Most of these government officials are involved too so, it’s not risky. We are all well protected and you’ll be too if you join.

James: (Stared at him blankly for a while). Are you listening to yourself? Drugs? Cocaine?, no I’m not interested.

Idowu: (picked up his phone to call his bodyguard). Yes, you guys should come and take this ingrate out of here.

James: Ingrate? What did you do for me that I should be thankful?

Idowu: Take him out of here. He told the bodyguards that arrived immediately.

James: Idowu, he yelled as one of the bodyguards jerked him up forcefully.

Idowu: I don’t talk to losers.

James was dumbfounded at how blunt and harsh Idowu was.

In no time, James was thrown out of the compound. He felt really bad but proud of himself not to stoop so low to doing drugs. Though, he was poor, he didn’t want to involve himself in illegal practices.

He had barely moved out of that vicinity, when his phone rang. It was his wife.

James: See my life!, I know she wants to shout and, if I don’t pick, it will just make matters worse.

James: Hello dear.

Victoria: Come to best care hospital now.

James: Why?

Victoria: (admidst tears) It’s Laura ooo, I don’t know what’s wrong with her, she collapsed today at the market.

James: My God!. Then why did you take her to the hospital?. He asked without thinking because, if his daughter was in a hospital, it would involve bills he obviously couldn’t settle.

Victoria: Are you mad?, how can you be asking me, why I took her to the hospital?, you better come here now!

James: Yes, yes, I’m coming.

Looking at the last change in his breast pocket. The change he borrowed from a neighbor. The neighbor, he had no clues on how to pay back. He stopped a motorcycle.

James: Best care hospital

Cycler: Three hundred naira.

That was the exact amount in his pocket.

James: No be #200?

Cycler: #250, if you no wan go, tell me.

James: Oya jahre. (He climbed the motorcycle). Better drive fast ooo.

As the forceful wind blew on his face because of the speedy motorcycle, he began to regret his decisions of refusing Idowu’s offer. He was just going to the hospital, empty handed except for the fifty naira change the cycler would give him. Maybe, it was the wind but, James’ eyes became watery. He felt like the worst father and husband. His only daughter was in the hospital probably because of malnutrition and there was nothing he could do expect to present his filial self.