Chapter Fourteen

For sometime now, she felt safe and had obediently worked for them but things had turned around so soon as she became a part of them, but Mrs Coker had let her stay with them despite the circumstances surrounding their lives. Having lost her job, she decided to go sell some wares at the street market down the road but already she had made some contacts with people to notify her when a vacancy for a job is on. She also dropped some application letters  in some of the companies that had vacancy. The day was a sunny one with the sun emitting it's scorching rays to the earth, they both stood as they called in a low tone for people to purchase their wares. A man dressed in a red shirt came to purchase what she sold. From a distance, Edna saw little children playing with a carton made toy as they sang and giggle at each other, suddenly one of the children in the midst of them began to cry because he had not made any toy from his carton. The other children left him to his predicament and played happily, feeling angry the little boy grabbed one of the boys toys and took to his heels. The boy whose toy was taken from him, began to cry why the rest consoled and promised to make another for him. 

Edna smiled watching the children as they continued playing keeping their worries aside. When dawn came, they packed their goods and walked some distance to get a taxi. On getting into  the taxi they met an old man with a white beard begging for alms. The man stretched forth his palm and asked for some money, which Mrs Coker gave to him. When they got into the vehicle it was almost filled up, and they were the last set of people in the car. They squeezed their body gently, perceiving the bad odour of congested sweat from passengers. The first passenger at the front seat spoke, on hearing the news from the radio about a recent case on the kidnap of an individual;

"They have been recent kidnaps of individuals in the society and it seems to be growing rapidly on a daily basis." 

"Family of these individuals, will be having a feeling of discomfort." A passenger at the back seat spoke.

"What baffles me the most is that victims who fall prey are barely found." Another passenger spoke.

"Hm my brother!" A plump lady in their midst exclaimed as she continued her speech. 

"A relative of mine also fell victim, he was brutally beaten almost to the point of death. It took the grace of God and some investigation, for him to be found and finally released. He was hospitalized for almost a week before he became revived. 

"May God help us all." The first man spoke concluding the discussion as all 

replied in agreement to what he said.

Meanwhile Mrs Coker and Edna made no contribution to the discussion but rather listened attentively as they spoke. The air became filled with a bad odour suddenly. 

"Driver something smells awful in your car." 

"Madam I do not know why, please kindly wound your glass down to let fresh air come in."

Everyone in the car held their nose why they murmured. They got to their residence at about seven o, clock in the evening. On entering their compound a neighbour was yelling at her daughter for disobeying her orders. They walked past them without uttering a word as they got into an apartment. No moment spent, with the absence of her husband and her present condition made Mrs Coker unhappy. Although their, intimacy as a couple had not been rosy for sometime now she deeply missed him, and had always wished he had a change of heart. 

"God save my husband," She whispered. 

She enjoyed his company a lot in their youth when they had newly began their relationship. Her thoughts wandered deeply now about 

his absence. Their was no way   

she could compare the comfort, she had when things were going quite well but right now her heart felt hardened to work hard. The entire neighbourhood was quiet that evening when suddenly Mrs Coker heard one of the neighbours shouting : "Oh my God, Kachi do you want to have me killed." The woman's voice spoke amidst tears. 

"What have I done to deserve, this from you?" She continued.

"Why don't you want to learn from me?"

"What am I supposed to do, if something happens to you?"

"You left the proper upbringing I gave to you and decided to follow the path that leads to doom."

"Mother it's not what you think, he is a good man and will eventually get married to me." Kachi replied confidently.

"That was what your father said to me." She spoke again.

"And now I have brought you up properly without him." 

"Mama I am matured to make my own decisions." She replied back sounding harshly. Her mother lashed out badly cursing, as she dragged her ears attempting to hit her but her daughter loosed herself from her tight grip. The noise continued as they began to argue then later on it died down. Mrs Coker heaved feeling relieved that the noise had subsided.

The next day was a saturday and Mrs Coker had decided to take a rest in order to recover from the stress she had accumulated during the week. Edna sat close to the window and watched as a confectionery company set up a stage to promote their brand. People started gathering to know what was going to happen, the master of ceremony mounted on the stage when it had been set. The disc jockey kicked off a trending afro pop song, the master of ceremony nodded to the rhythm of the song. The Disc jockey stopped the music as the master of ceremony mounted the stage to speak.

"Good day to you everyone, we are here to give you the best of what our product has to offer so don't move an inch as their would be prizes to be won." The crowd cheered giving an applaud.

"We would begin by a dance competition by the younger sets which are the children, so if you are interested come up on stage and entertain." Three average looking children came up on the stage to dance.

"Ladies and gentle men watch and get entertained." He said grinning as the disc jockey hit the music.  

The children immediately hit the dance floor and danced till the disc jockey brought the music to a halt making a screeching sound at the end 

of the song. The crowd cheered and clapped as the master of ceremony came on stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the dancers have shown their talented skills." He said smiling, as everyone watched with excitement. 

"So who do you think is the winner." He asked grinning with a show of 'Mr cool' guy smile. 

"Is it contestant number one." The crowd booed with a roaring sound.

"Is it contestant number two." He asked again some part of the crowd shouted 'no' why some screamed at the top of their voices saying 'yes'.

The master of ceremony paused and asked again and they repeated the same thing. He gave a slight laughter and moved to the third contestant.

"Do you think contestant number three has impressed you?" And the crowd roared saying yes as they hailed.

"Do you think he is the winner?" he asked again smiling as they screamed yes again.

"Then you have your winner, contestant number three." The little boy jumped for joy amidst tears. The crowd clapped and cheered as he was rewarded with a price. The crowd began to dance to the rhythm of the song as the disc jockey hit the music. Their were still more competitions and games which made the people happy, Edna moved from the side of the window to lie down as she smiled.

*

Mrs Coker was a devout Christian and this devotion to her faith was exhibited as she was steadfast and persistent in praying to God. That evening she said a heart felt prayer to God before going to the hospital. Mr Coker would often tease her about being too religious when she talked about God. And at a time in their lives when it was time for the family prayers, he would complain but he will finally pray with them to avoid being looked upon by his children in a bad way. Her pace was steady as she walked down to wait for a taxi. A taxi man stopped and she stepped into the car and relaxed as loud music boomed, the taxi stopped at the front of the hospital. On getting inside the hospital, everywhere was filled with patients waiting to be attended to by, the doctor who came out of his office, to have his lunch at a cafeteria. when he came across Mrs Coker, they exchanged pleasantries and they went together into his office.

"Mrs Coker, it's nice to see you again."  He said. Mrs Coker smiled and sat up to listen attentively to what he had to say.

"His health condition is deteriorating and he would need a blood transfusion." She looked away from him and then turned to him and spoke again.

"So what is the best option?"

"We need to get a blood donor, or someone who is a member of the family with the same blood match," She thanked him after their discussion and walked out of his office sadly.