Princess of Light

Twist of fate

"Good morning officer" Johnson greeted when he got to the station early the next morning.

"Good morning how can the Nigeria Police Force help you because I see that you came alone" Daniel the police officer on duty that morning asked him.

" Well, I came to see the DPO" Johnson replied him.

"You want to see Oga (boss)? it's alright, you will have to wait because he has not resume this morning, officer Daniel answered him.

"If you are in a hurry, you can leave a message with me and I will deliver it to him when he comes" officer Daniel added.

" Thank you very much sir, I will wait for him to come" Johnson said but I will step outside to get something to eat then return back he added.

"No problem" officer Daniel replied him.

On Johnson's way out, he had a thought to go back to the station to exchange contact with the policeman so that if the DPO enters and he is not yet back the policeman will give him a call.

"Please, I don't know but can we share contact so that you can call me when the DPO returns that if am not yet back" Johnson somewhat pleaded to officer Daniel when he went back.

"I do not normally do this but I will break my rules if you promise to get me something too" officer Daniel responded.

" That is not a problem" Johnson replied as he brought out his phone and they exchanged contact and he left.

"Lara come and carry these items to sell, gods of our land will bless us with many sales today" Grandma shouted as she woke Lara who was sleeping by a corner in the shop.

"Grandma, I am going to be a medical doctor" Lara said as she yawned while adjusting her eyes to the light from the hot sun entering her shop.

"I know you will be one someday" her grandma said not wanting to damp her granddaughter's mood that late afternoon.

"Grandma the gods of the land will bring it into existence" Lara added.

" Ise" (Amen) her grandmother responded.

Lara stood up to look for the cloth she uses as head rest for the tray she use to sell her wares and as soon as she found it she walked outside to the side of the shop to see what she'll be selling for the day.

"Grandma but I told you they people no longer buys this type of seasoning anymore" Lara lamented.

"You are right my daughter but I bought the pack then and since we can't use all it's better we sell it off even though maybe a little cheaper so that it also does not expire" grandma responded.

"It is alright then, please come and help me carry the tray on my head so that I can start going, I need to return early today" Lara told her grandmother.

Unknown to Lara, Larry has been watching her grandmother and her since morning to know what to expect from her because he was bent on following her about until she returns his property back to him. It looks like they need money,plenty of it too judging from the surroundings and the almost empty shop.

That was how Larry concluded in his mind that everything will end and he will be back to his kingdom. it's a win win done deal after all money is not a problem for him.

"Beautiful damsel" Larry called as soon as Lara passed the shop he sat to take a drink because the sun was a little bit hot.

"Lara turned to look at the was calling".

"You! you again! Lara said but no sound came out from her mouth.

"Are you stalking me? Lara said in unbelief when her voice finally was audible.

"I am not, it's just that you have what is mine" Larry answered.

"I am not a thief, besides I do not know you so how come I have your property with me? Lara explained further.

"Okay, let me say that you......."

"See you have the wrong person" Lara said cutting him off before he completed his sentence. I do not have time to waste standing here with you and as you can see, I am carry items to sell kindly leave me alone Lara explained as she walked out on him.

"Who is the girl? she will make me run mad with this naughty character of hers" Larry cried to himself.

With a dejected look, Larry walked slowly back to the hotel he lodged. His thoughts beclouded even his sight because stumbled on someone unknowingly.

"I am very sorry" Larry said as soon as he snapped out of the state he was and also realizing what he had done.

"You have luck that today my off day else you would have see another side of me" Johnson responded and walked away.

"Is it my eyes or what? that face sure looks familiar" Larry muttered even though he could not place the face.

"Lara is my problem now and I will do any thing to get this problem solved, anything Larry told himself. Then suddenly a struck him and he shouted a big yes.

"Waoh, this is the best way to get Lara's attention and get her to give me what is mine," Larry said smiling to himself.

So Larry joyfully quickly walked to the hotel to start the execution of his wonderful idea.

"Yes, just hurry up because he is not staying for long, he has a meeting on the island so kindly hurry else you will miss him, officer Daniel said hurried on the phone to Johnson.

"I am almost there"  Johnson said and ended the call, cursing Larry one more time for soiling his well polished shoe.

Immediately officer Daniel sited Johnson from the window, he went left the counter. He knocked and let himself into the DPO's office as he was told.

"Morning Sir !" Officer Daniel greeted his boss (oga) who did not even show concern anyone entered his office.

"What do you want? ........ Mr. Sunday asked him.

"Sir, there is a man outside that wants to see you sir, he has been waiting since morning and he said it is urgent Sir, officer Daniel added so that he will have the attention of his oga.

"You are an incompetent fool for a police officer Mr. Sunday fired back at him, someone said his message was urgent and you could not call me on the phone to inform me about it? This is very unacceptable but I will treat this later, kindly invite the person in he concluded.

"See, I lied to know your message is urgent that is why he agreed to quickly see you", officer Daniel told Johnson as soon as he saw him.

"No problem, thank you very much for your help" Johnson responded as he was walked to the door leading to the office of the DPO.

Johnson entered the Mr. Sunday's office as soon as he heard the baritone voice asking him to, in his mind he was imagining how huge Mr. Sunday would be judging from the texture of his voice only to be surprised at the statue setting on the order side of the table.

"Good afternoon Sir," Johnson greeted.

"My officer told me you had something you wanted to discuss with me and it was very urgent" Mr. Sunday answered in response to Johnson's greeting.

Johnson sensing that Mr. Sunday is not the one to play around with decided to hit him with the reason he was at his office.

"I bring you an other greeting from my boss, Mr. McDonald" Johnson said.

" hahahaha, Mr. Sunday laughed loudly.

"You ? from the most feared and reverend Mr. McDonald? please if this is the important matter I'd ask you to please leave my office before I lock you up" Mr. Sunday fumed in anger.

" Oga (boss) Sunday, shebi nah because I respect you and myself dey speak English abi?" (It is because I decided to be very formal)........ Johnson said angrily.

"Okay, now we go do something, I go call my Oga una two go yan and when una finish I go face you" (I will call my boss and you both will have a conversation and afterwards we will continue from where we stopped)" Johnson explained.

" Oga, I am in front of the DPO" Johnson said to the person on the other side of the phone while he passed the phone to the DPO.

"Hello! Mr. Sunday said in fear to the receiver on the other side"..........

" I believe you have been told who I am", Mr. McDonald asked to the DPO.

" Yes Sah answered" Mr. Sunday in fear.

"Sunday, I want to be your friend, associate and business partner, let us shake Makoko community together because one hand can not wash itself clean, it will need the assistance of the other" Mr. McDonald explained to the visibly fidgetting Sunday.

"You can not say no to my request because no one ever does and lives, you will be very wealthy from this alliance" Mr. McDonald emphasised further before ending the call.

"I'd have loved to teach you a lesson but the boss wants you alive" Johnson said as soon as he collected his phone from Mr. Sunday.

"Next time you behave in this fashion, you will not like yourself" Johnson added.

" See you soon" Johnson said as he left.

" Oga! Oga! God bless you ohhhh Daniel hailed Johnson as he gave him 5,000 on his way out of the station.

" Ma good evening ma, Please are you Lara's grandmother? Larry asked the visibly tired old woman he just disturbed from her rest.

"Has my daughter done anything? Lara's grandmother asked in fear.

"Not at all, on the contrary I have an N.G.O. that supports poor families to survive in this harsh economic weather, we have watched how she hawks around and decided to give her a scholarship and give you a grant so that you can buy more goods in your shop" Larry explained to the now almost crying woman.

"Do you really mean what you just told me?" Lara's grandmother asked again, this time you be sure she heard well.

"I mean every word I said ma, only that you'd just sign this document here that you'd keep us updated weekly on your business profits and loss, your daughter's schooling results and other things that might come up later" Larry explained.

"Where is the paper let me sign? Lara's grandmother asked.

"Kindly hurry up because I have the feeling that if my granddaughter meets you here she might not like this idea Lara's grandmother added.

"Trust me ma, she will thank you for taking this gesture from my NGO" Larry added even though he knows that the old lady's feelings was true.

"Okay bye ma, you'll hear from us via phone call before the week runs out" Larry told Lara's grandmother as he was taking his leave.