The Village Gardner

Episode 42

C.SIMON: do you know the reason why i asked for your release?.

ME: eerm eerm!yes sir sorry i mean no sir.

C.SIMON: what is the meaning of that.do you think i’m joking with you?.

ME: yes sir i mean sorry sir.

C.SIMON: i release you because.i don’t want to have anything to do with you again.i want you to stay away with my daughter…take this money.(he handed me some thousands of naira note)

shivering.i took the money from him.

C.SIMON: that is the sum of 50k.i want you to use this money and go back to the village.were you come from.i don’t wanna see you around my house again.we have no business again.use this money to do whatever you want.i won’t warn you again.i brought your clothes with some of your items.they are inside the boot.

I was silent for a while.thinking so many things.

Sir.can i ask you a question?.

C.SIMON: go ahead.but be fast about it.

ME: what about her pregnancy.i mean isabella?.

C.SIMON: so you have the guts to talk about the pregnancy in my presence right.i no blame you at all.any way.about the pregnancy.she will flush it out.(he said.looking mean and was staring at me as if he wanted to swallow me).

ME: but why sir.why will she abort the innocent unborn child?

C.SIMON: my friend.stop asking me nonesence question as if i’m your mate.i don’t want any b—–d in my household.and as for that.she must flush that b—–d out.do you get me now?.

ME: she told me earlier that she doesn’t wanna abort the child.why do you want her to do that.what of if she die in the process?what will you tell the world.

C.SIMON: is better she died than to give birth to that b—–d thing that you put inside her.and if she disobey me.then i will count her out as my child.i will disown her.

ME: what!!

C.SIMON: yes that is my finally word.what are you thinking.you are nobody and an illeterate.
Oh God.this man is a devil.how can he do such thing to his own daughter.is he insane?.i love Isabella.and nothing can make me to forget her.even though we didn’t marry atlast.i will always love her.she was the one that showed me the meaning of love.and true love.so no amount can make me to forget her.not even chief simon’s money.he should go to hell with his money for all i care.

ME: sir with all due respect.i can’t take this money.

C.SIMON:suprisedwhat?.

ME: i love Isabella your daughter.no amount of money can buy my love for her.i was unfortunate not to come from a well known family like yours.we are not rich.but we never complain of hunger.despite my poor background we always afford what we want.i appreciate the fact that you brought me to the city for my first time in my life.thank you for that.but sir i know i’m nobody and an illeterate like you said earlier.but that doesn’t mean that i don’t know my right.i know my right okay.so take you money back.i’m leaving your life for good.(i throwed the money back to him and made to step down from the car).

Chief simon was shocked for my action.his mouth was wide open.he never expected me to confidently and fearlesly said those words to him.he was still suprised and silent for my out burst.before he finally said.

C.SIMON: so you have the guts to open this your mouth that you used and eat yam and cocoyam and talk to me like that right.i don’t blame you.you even throwed back the money that i gave to you eeeh.is poverty that will kill you.i don’t even know the reason why i release you from that cell.but mark my word.you will regret this.i promise you.you must regret talking to me like that.
ME: fool am sorry sir.but you are not my God.poverty will never kill me.i must survive without you.

He became more suprise.he wanted to attack me.but he retreat.my plain was if he try and attack me at that lonely place.i will beat him black and white and ran away.but he should thank his stars that he didn’t attack me.old fool..i was pround of myself for telling him those words.he can’t do more than a dead fly.

I came down from his car. went to the boot and took my bag.after taking them i close the boot and said to him.

ME: thank you sir.and good bye.

He didn’t replied.instead he start his car and zoomed off.leaving me alone to decide my fate.i started soliloquizing on how to start my journey back to the village without any money.i searched in my pocket and all my clothes them whether i could see anything like money.but no way.i started blaming myself why i didn’t collect that money from chief simon.i remove all the clothes in my bag to search whether i could see any money.i searched every were in the bag.still nothing.i finally accept my faith as a loser.tears was dropping from my eyes…slowly.i started packing my clothes back to my bag.i was packing the clothes suddenly.my hand scrached something like a paper inside the other side of the bag.i unzip the tiny side of the bag and dig my hand inside it.i started touching something like a paper they are many.i removed all of them.and behold it was notes of five hundred naira.i counted them and it was 10k.i smiled to myself.and.