Worth Of Wrath

The Mysterious Girl

[Scene two]

After the school closing hour, Victor walks home alone in the late afternoon while calling his mum. She tries to know how things got going in the school and how fine Victor has been lately.

VICTOR: …No, mum. Nothing special really happened in school… Well, I didn’t call you because I am fine all these time… Alright. Once I get home, I’ll let you know. Bye.

Victor hanged up the phone call and stopped near to a church entrance. He glanced at a light skinned young girl with a long curly black hair speaking to a lady in the church compound. Victor often stops by to see the mysterious girl at the church premises whenever he comes back from school. After the distance conversation, the young girl suddenly glanced at Victor as he quickly takes his walk away from the church while acting unconcern as the girl smiles so faintly at him. At night, Victor stays in his room while playing video games as his mother comes in after few hours of coming back from work.

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor, my dear.

VICTOR: What now, mum?

VICTOR’S MUM: It’s your uncle. (Victor stares at his mum) He’s here in the living room.

VICTOR: (Continues his game) Well, I hope he is okay.

VICTOR’S MUM: He is, Victor. He just wanted to see you.

VICTOR: (Sighs) If he only wanted to see me, why sending you to me instead of coming himself to tell me things I don’t care.

VICTOR’S MUM: Your uncle is my eldest brother to your grandfather and you have to be respectful because I didn’t train you to be rude. Now, go meet your uncle right away. (Pointing her finger to the door exit)

VICTOR: (Stops the game and walks out of his room quietly) Alright, I’ll go.

VICTOR’S MUM: Good.

Victor comes down from the stair steps as he sighted his dark skinned uncle Laide. He is about an half feet tall with an appearance of a chubby body, an untidy beards and a pot belly the size of two to three watermelons joins together while holding a nylon bag .

UNCLE LAIDE: Victor, mi boy! You have grown much taller as time pass by.

VICTOR: Good evening uncle Laide.

UNCLE LAIDE: How are you?

VICTOR’S MUM: (Looking at the nylon bag) What is that you have in there?

UNCLE LAIDE: Oh. All these in the nylon are for Victor. (Faces Victor while handing the nylon to him) Take, mi boy. I bought them for you only. (Victor takes the nylon and takes out a psychology book)

VICTOR: Wha…what is this for? (Holding the book with an attitude of humiliation)

UNCLE LAIDE: Well…, It’s uhmm. You know, your mental state really needs a healing so I…bought these books for…

VICTOR: Really...?! You came all these way to humiliate me with a psychology book?! Thinking I’m some kind of a lunatic or what?!

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor. Enough! (Victor stops with the disagreement as his uncle adds in with seriousness)

UNCLE LAIDE: What I was just trying to do is to help you set yourself free from what you’re about to become. So, don’t get me wrong with what is about to be true in your life…

VICTOR: You mean…, a mad teenage boy...? (Scoffs) Thanks uncle. (Walks away to his room upstairs while Victor’s mum tries to call him back)

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor! Victor, come back here. Victor!

UNCKE LAIDE: (Taking a drink from the dinning fridge) Leave him already. He doesn’t understand what have become of him. (Drinks a few sip from the bottle) Until he read those books in the nylon, he will surely change for good. I assure you, sis.

VICTOR’S MUM: Really now, brother Laide. Why do you still have to bring that up with Victor?

UNCLE LAIDE: Sis. You know better that Victor isn’t in his right state of mind. He needs a psychiatrist or a therapist to check on him frequently at least. If he won’t be able to understand me with my ideas, why don’t you speak to him and let him understand better. It’s quite obvious he obeys you better than anyone in this world.

VICTOR’S MUM: But… (Sighs) But he is still a little child.

UNCLE LAIDE: A little child...? Victor will surely clock 17 by this year ending. Maybe next year, he’ll definitely enter the university. (Moves closer to victor’s mother) Victor is not a child anymore. If you allow this to continue in your son, am afraid you won’t be able to control him again.

VICTOR’S MUM: No. no, no. That is not possible. (Walks a few step backward)

UNCLE LAIDE: I know it’s really hard to take such action but deep inside Victor’s heart, he really, really needs your help. (Victor’s mum convinced and slightly depressed)

VICTOR’S MUM: So, what do you suggest we do?

UNCLE LAIDE: Let’s take him far away from these societal influences. Let him be taken to a doctor for study and checkup. This activity might last weeks or months but it’s really best for him.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Looking at the frames of Victor and her pictures placed on the living room walls and tables) I… (Turns to uncle Laide) I’ll think about it.

UNCLE LAIDE: (Holds Victor’s mum shoulder) Please do and don’t let it be late.

After the conversations, Victor stood up from the stair steps and walked straight to his room in guilt and depression. The next day at school, Victor rushes to Kolade while the other students were all heading to the assembly ground.

VICTOR: Kolade. Kolade!

KOLADE: (turns to Victor) Whatsup, Victor. What’s with the rush?

VICTOR: Uhmm. I just wanted to let you know that I’m…sorry (Kolade smiles faintly) I am truly sorry with the way I left you in the dining hall, yesterday.

KOLADE: Well, you did a lot of annoying things back at those days but I accept your apology. (Victor smiling in pleasure) Hey. We should walk home together after closing hour. What do you think?

VICTOR: That would be great…uh (Victor feeling to recall something about the mystery church girl)

KOLADE: What happen? Did you forget your assignment note at home or something?

VICTOR: No. It’s nothing. (Smiling broadly)

KOLADE: I thought you actually forget… (Remembers something in a change of expression) Ye! My homework! (Rushed off behind Victor) I will be back bro!

VICTOR: (Looking at Kolade running in panics) He definitely forgot his homework at home. (Turns to the assemble ground) Good thing his house is near. (Smiles)

School hour finished so fast as Victor and Kolade walks home together in the street. They walked pass the mystery girl’s church while they gist and laugh, Victor turns to the Church direction hoping the girl would come out from there.

KOLADE: Men. Am starving. Let go get some snack over there. (Pointing at a shop few meters away) Hey, do you want some?

VICTOR: Am okay thanks.

KOLADE: (Confused) You no dey eat at all? Ah, you strange o.

VICTOR: (Feeling satisfied) Just get lost. (Both joking with themselves as Kolade left for the shop while Victor immediately turns to the church entrance a few steps away to see whether the girl is still in. Victor stopped for a while and starts to look around the church perimeter as he encounters no sign of the young girl) I thought she use to be in the church. Where could she have gone to...? (Soliloquizing in silence as the young girl appeared behind him)

YOUNG GIRL: Looking for someone? (Victor becomes startled as the light killing voice echos to his ears)

VICTOR: Uh?! Uhmm…I … (Stammering)

YOUNG GIRL (ABIGAIL): Hi. My name is Abigail. What’s yours? (Stretched her arm for an handshake)

VICTOR: (Accepts the shake) My name is…Victor. I… I was only here to…

ABIGAIL: To see me? (Adds in as Victor becomes mute)

VICTOR: (Feeling defeated by his mind) Uhm…you…you know me?

ABIGAIL: I have only met you countless times but I’m just about to know who you really are, today. (Folds her arms) If I may ask, why have you been stalking me after your school closing hour?

VICTOR: I… I only…

ABIGAIL: If you’re interested in my grandmother’s church, you are free to come in. Though we serve the same God but His blessings can easily be a providence in our lives. (Changes her expression in a relenting way) …Unless you are planning on getting closer to me?

VICTOR: (Thinking absurdly) ---“How does she know everything that comes out of my mind. Why can’t I restrict her words or just walk away…Why am I staring at her like a goat that is about to be stolen…Why can’t I just…move”---

ABIGAIL: You haven’t answered me, Victor.

VICTOR: (Back to his senses) I…

KOLADE: (Appears from nowhere) He likes you!

ABIGAIL: What?! (Confuse)

VICTOR: What?! No! (Feeling guilty in blushes) Do not mind him, Abigail. He is just saying his own!

KOLADE: Hi. My name is Kolade and I am Victor’s dearest friend…

VICTOR: Then you are about to be just a friend with that lie you’ve just made.

ABIGAIL: (Watching the both of them ridiculousness) Okay…

VICTOR: (Turns to Abigail) you see Abigail…, uhm I only came to…

ABIGAIL: I will be around and free tomorrow. We can just talk more about ourselves. What do you think? (Smiles to Victor as he becomes mute and mild)

KOLADE: We think it’s great (Making a big grin on his face as Victor intervene)

VICTOR: No. I think it’s great (Staring at Kolade with seriousness)

KOLADE: (Surrendering) Okay, okay. You have it already.

VICTOR: (Faces Abigail) Tomorrow would definitely be great, Abigail?

ABIGAIL: Good…Uhm. I will be heading back to church now. So good luck, boys.

Abigail head back to her church while Victor and kolade takes their continuous walk to their various homes as they both stopped at a T-junction area to bid themselves goodbye

VICTOR: Oh, that reminds me, Kolade.

KOLADE: What?

VICTOR: You shouldn’t have brought up that terrible lie back at the church. You are making her see me as a p*****t.

KOLADE: That was only a joke. Besides, that lie you meant was the truth in disguise. (Comes nearer to Victor in an annoying way) You like her don’t you...? Yes, I know you do…

VICTOR: (Irritated) Okay, that’s enough already.

KOLADE: (Touching Victor’s shoulder) You are lucky to have a girl that beautiful, Victor. I think I trained you well… Am so proud of you.

VICTOR: (Pushed Kolade’s handoff) Stop being such a leech and shut up jor! (Both laughing as they had their separate ways at the T-junction)