He knocked and there was no answer. He knocked persistently.
‘O boy, let it not be that I’m a bit late,’ he thought. Just at that instance, he could see a security man advancing towards him.
‘Who is there?’ The guard asked.
‘JT,’ he answered.
‘Whom do you wish to see?’ He asked.
‘Please, I want to meet with Prince.’
‘Prince?’ The guard asked in confusion.
‘JT on realizing that he could not be granted entrance rephrased his statement.
‘I mean, I want to meet with the chairman.’ He knew that Prince would definitely be with the chairman.
The security man opened the gate and ushered him in.
JT walked towards the main building and never imagined that looking at the building from the outside, one would bet that the exterior is just as good as the interior.
But on the contrary, the interior seemed much more sophisticated than the exterior itself. This artistic irony seemed to impress him more. The flowers! Yes, the flowers caught his attention. There were beautiful laurels as well as flowers all around the house and he couldn’t stop himself from touching them. He however felt that the rain did not drop on this side of the world as everything looked just perfect.
Just as he was about to pick a rose from the flower garden, he felt a force on him. He could feel so much energy instantly. There was this connecting force between him and whoever that owned such hand.
‘What do you think you are doing?’ She snarled.
JT, who was squatting in a bid to pick the flower, looked up and saw the most beautiful being he had ever seen.
He stretched up his upper limb and stood eye ball to eye ball with this intruder.
‘I’m JT, Justice in full,’ extending his hand for a handshake and equally smiling.
She ignored the extended hand and brushed off the hand she was already holding and used her high-heeled shoes to crush the rose he had just picked.
‘You don’t go about in people’s houses plucking their flowers? Do you?’ she snarled again.
‘I don’t think I have ever done this before, but I didn’t know what propelled me today. They are just simply beautiful,’ he said.
‘Well, the next time you come into my residence and touch anything, exquisite or beautiful as you may see it, you would see the worst of me.’ She said as she walked past him but stopped abruptly and added.
‘What the heck are you doing in my house and who do you wish to see anyway? I can’t imagine father pulling out with the likes of you. I don’t wish to see you here again.’ She sized him up with her eyes from top to down and from down to top again. She had a wry smile with her as she walked away.
To say that JT was amazed was an understatement, as a matter of fact; he was hypnotized by her beauty and not her arrogance.
‘I didn’t know that Chief Thomas Idowu had such a beautiful grown-up daughter like this.’ He thought.
As he walked towards the building, he could spell out the girl’s features.
She is indeed a beauty to behold. As she walked; her long legs sprouted out from her short skirts. The high- heeled shoes gave her an elegant look. She had a habit of pushing her long black hair back with the nodding of her head from different positions.
In contrast to JT’s colour, she had a dark shining colour like that of a polished earthen ware. Her big round eyes were simply overwhelming. She spoke with an accent and JT thought she must have lived in the U.K. He was totally enthralled by her beauty.
‘Everything I want in my woman.’ He fantasized.
He entered into the gallery and as he walked towards the huge sitting room he saw from the walls of the gallery a collection of knick knacks. He browsed through them and was quite intrigued by the collector’s sense of art.
Prince on sighting his friend rose and introduced him to Chief Thomas Idowu.
‘Sir, meet my friend Justice,’ gesticulating with a wave of the hand.
‘Good morning sir,’ JT greeted still standing.
‘Good morning my dear, how are you?’
‘I’m very good sir,’ he responded.
‘Well, in that case what are you waiting for?
Please, do sit down.’ He waved his hand to a seat.
‘Thank you sir,’ he responded, sitting.
‘Well, what brought you to my house young man?’
‘Hmm…,’ he muttered.
‘Actually sir,’ he rolled his eyeballs as to pick his words carefully and seizing the opportunity to scrutinize the man before him who was actually unaware. He was a sturdy man with all his physical features telling off his success story. He looked mean from his appearance but had the softest of hearts. Justice tried to draw an analogy between this kindhearted man and his harsh daughter but couldn’t place it. He was drawn out of his assessment state when he heard his name.
‘JT, we are still waiting,’ his friend chipped in.
‘Yes, as I was saying, I called on my friend Prince, but unfortunately he was not home. I was told he was here and as the matter was urgent I decided to meet him here myself. I hope you wouldn’t mind sir?’ He opined, unsure of his response.
‘Why would I mind? You seem to be a well-groomed young man, judging from your appearance though these days, appearances are quite deceptive.’ He chuckled, throwing his right hand into thin air.
‘All the same, you are quite welcome. Pardon me Justice; I hope you wouldn’t mind telling me a bit of what brought you here.’
Immediately, JT looked at his friend and Prince gave him a carry-on nod.
‘Sir, a couple of hours ago the rains came and unfortunately, the whole house was drenched. As it is, Prince is the only person I have that I can trust as a friend. So, I need him to help me wriggle out the water from the soaked foam. And if possible, help me close the opening on the roof.’ He exhaled as soon as he was through with his statement.
‘Why would you need someone to climb the roof with you? Why not call a builder to rectify the problem?’
‘I don’t have any money on me sir. I’ve not been paid owing to the fact that my boss travelled out of the country. Consequentially, I have to manage myself until I get paid and there is no other person to help me in this situation but my friend here.’ He gesticulated towards his friend, giving him a captivating wink.
‘I admire you for your sincerity and humility. One wouldn’t get most young men like you with these endearing qualities these days. Well, how does giving you Ten Thousand (N10,000.00) Naira sound? Will it enable you rectify the problem?’ The Chairman asked uncertain.
‘No sir, thank you. I’d rather do a job and be paid than collecting money I did not work for.’
The chairman sat staring at him. Honestly, in all his service years he had never seen an honest and active young man like this.
He gave him a job of attending to the laurels.
The same laurels which the daughter forbade him from touching.
He finished his work that day and went home and was able to fix the leaking roof, cooked a tasty meal for his parents and still had some money left that could carry him for a couple of days before his boss returns.
That evening, he sat with his best friend and reminisced about yesterday, talked about today and then dreamt and fantasized about tomorrow.
It was an auspicious day. The dusk had finally given way to the dawn. It was a long wait for Justice.
His alarm clock struck 5a.m and started ringing.
He was awakened by the sound of it, he ran straight to the convenience to ease himself. When he was through with that, he went back to the room, knelt down in front of his bed and made a short prayer. He was full of anxiety as to what would happen at work today.
He didn’t know what to expect.
‘What does today hold for me?’ He asked.
He hurried down to the bathroom and had a cold bath. Over the years, he had grown so fond of having cold water bath. He believed it energizes him and creates a kind of mental alertness. He thought that today could be the day that would change his story.
Straight from the bathroom he hurried into his clothes and bade his mother good-bye.
‘Mother…mother, I’m off to work.’
‘Aren’t you going to have breakfast, my son?’
‘No mother I’m already late,’ he closed the door behind him as he hurried out to the streets.
He looked at his wrist-watch it was already five minutes past six. He wondered how he was going to make it to the Island before 8.00am given the constant traffic jam that has always been unavoidable in the mornings.
Immediately, he saw an oncoming bus, the conductor of the bus was calling out to passengers going to the Island. He hailed the conductor and the bus stopped. He was anticipating going to the rear as usual, when the conductor gesticulated that he should sit in the front seat since no passenger was there. He agitated but eventually gave in. He opened the front door to enter and while he was about to sit on the passenger’s seat, he noticed in front of the bus just directly facing the driver, the picture of Jesus Christ with a halo on it. He sat down and for some moments, was captured by what he felt was the presence of God. He sat still and prayed within him again for the second time that God should make his day auspicious. He didn’t want any inauspicious moments in his life again. He dozed off in no distant time and scenes in his life were just flashing before him kaleidoscopically. He opened his eyes to the clean mass of water. He realized he had reached the Island and sprouting f
He thought, ‘what drastic change of emotions.’ ‘JT, you have brought back my glory.’ I’ve actually waited for this break all through my life. Yes, I’ve made it in life. I have money, fame and prestige but I wouldn’t be happier than now. Thank you my dear.’ JT was surprised and elated the same time. He had never been more informal with his boss than this. ‘Are you here?’ He asked. He shook his head and answered. ‘Yes sir, I’m here it’s just that I’m short of words, I mean words seem to elude me.’ ‘My boy, finally we’ve gotten the contract; the long awaited contract to build the Miami tunnel. And as a matter of fact, the deal would not be concluded without you flying down there and giving the presentation yourself.’ ‘Wow! Wow!’ he jumped and fell on his knees and thanked God who had made it happen. He could see a lot of skirts and trousers moving up and down. There seemed to be seriousness in every corner. He removed the
She carried her in her arms and kept her in her shoulder as she walked in to lay her down. ‘Madam, ma’am,’ A voice was calling out to her and a hand was trying to wake her up. ‘Uhh,’ she started. ‘Well, I’m sorry ma’am you h’d better wake up otherwise you would miss your flight,’ the air hostess said. ‘Thank you,’ she said as she adjusted her sun-shade and rose to move. ‘You are welcome,’ the voice said.The queue was almost disappearing by the time she reached. She was almost the last person to be checked. ‘How long had she been sleeping in that reception hall?’ She asked herself.She went straight to the security officials checking passengers and their luggage.All her life she had never experienced this.She could not allow herself to come up with an answer regarding the reason behind her sleep this afternoon. She prayed that today should be auspicious given the fact that she was going to fly in the next couple of minutes.When the security official was through with his sc
However, as they continued their journey, his companion was always taking some calls. None of those calls lasted for fifty seconds each. JT wondered whether it wasn’t just a coincidence. He knew right then that he had a lot to learn from these people. Right before them was the tallest building he had ever set his eyes on. He whistled and said that it was an architectural masterpiece. He brought out his mobile phone and took a picture of the building. He could share knowledge and improve on his own designs, he thought. Mr. Cooper on the other hand only nodded his head. He led the way for him as they entered a lift. The lift stopped them on the twenty-second floor. As they approached the office of the Managing Director, Justice could see a silhouette from the window shade. The silhouette seemed to be holding a stick in his hand and putting it into his mouth. He thought that the person must be smoking. The door opened even before Mr. Cooper could touch it. Right before them was
‘Kleptomania is a mental condition, a disease that causes a strong desire to steal things, often with no wish or intention to possess the things stolen.’ ‘This is serious,’ exclaimed JT. ‘How is the father of this girl protecting her?’ ‘In the light of the law, she’s been protected since her father is a justice. He makes sure that she is never prosecuted.’ ‘Why then doesn’t he, kind of restrict her movement?’ He asked. ‘He wants her to live a normal life hoping that one day nature would reverse what it had done on her.’ ‘Well, I hope so too.’ ‘Now to your second question…I happen to be a lawyer by profession and I work as a team with two or three other lawyers for the company. Secondly, I watched you enter the mall in a confused state and that was how I figured out your problem. And to your third question, let’s just say that I decided to put my emotions under control.’ ‘You mentioned a company. Which company are you talking about?’ ‘I’m talking about the same company for whi
‘I just finished speaking with you now; there must be some mistake somewhere.’ ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ he touched her fore-head to dictate any hotness on her head. ‘Stop it.’ She shouted and subsequently removed his hand. ‘If you weren’t the person I’ve been talking with then who could that be?’ He yelled. ‘Well, my dear JT it may surprise you to know that Ku Klux Klan dwells in the world of illusions.’ She said puckering her face. ‘What in God’s name are you saying?’ He asked in bewilderment. ‘Cornerstone constructions are actually the cornerstone of this cult known as Ku Klux Klan. Heard about it before?’ she asked. ‘Yes I’ve come across it in a book. Does it exist?’ ‘You can ask that again.’ She said. ‘What just happened to you is one of their tricks. They want to trick you into giving away your presentation by using me. You’ve got to thank God that I was here in time to save your butts otherwise you would have been in for it.’ ‘I’m speechless. A lot is actually happe
‘You’re welcome,’ she said. She reversed her car and viewed the happy moments of loved ones and also shared in their happiness. When it was evident that she h’d had enough, she drove off. ‘My son, welcome back,’ his mother uttered. She hugged him for a very long time like a lost child. ‘Tessy, you are going to suffocate the boy,’ his father said. ‘Yes, let me suffocate him I’ve missed my boy so much.’ She said amidst tears and sobs. He wound his hands around her and took her in. His father only followed them and shook his head as he joined them. ‘Women, when will they ever change and understand the life we are living?’ He chuckled. ‘Justice you are indeed a great person. Who knows? You must have come from a lineage of great people.’ The M.D said. ‘Well sir, I think the credit goes to God almighty for bestowing me with such wisdom.’ ‘You have made my day my boy and this call for celebration.’ He came close to JT and placed his hands on his shoulder and led him to the recepti
‘Hello, JT where are you? Where have you been? Do you know how your mum is at the moment? She is worried a whole lot about you. He twittered. ‘Calm down Prince. I too didn’t know where I was until a moment ago.’ ‘You mean you were kidnapped?’ ‘No, no, no, it’s not what I mean.’ ‘Then what do you mean? I was with you at the party and suddenly I decided to ease myself and when I returned I didn’t see you. I anticipated you had gone home but was surprised this morning when your mum called me requesting to know where you were. I couldn’t tell her I didn’t know where you were because the poor woman would’ve fainted if she h’d known the truth.’ ‘Well, I’m in Sharon’s house. Hope to return home soonest.’ ‘What the hell happened?’ He twittered more. ‘It’s nothing you should worry about. We shall talk more when I return.’ ‘Alright, see you then but make it snappy because I wouldn’t know what to tell your old woman again when she calls.’ ‘I will. Bye.’ ‘Bye.’ Prince responded. He wa