THE STUPENDOUS MAN

FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT

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The court was large. It was established by the Alabama government five years ago. It could occupy 10, 000 people per sitting.

All eyes faced Rowan as he was dragged into the police station by a police officer. Rowan looked so lean and dirty. He had blisters on his lips.

A man who must be in his 40s walked in the direction of Rowan. He was wearing a black suit, a green tie and a pair of black shoes. He was clutching a bible with his right hand and an Islamic book with his left hand. He allowed Rowan to raise his head up and said, “Rowan, are you a Christian or a Muslim?”

“I am a Christian,” Rowan said sharply, though he was scared.

The man put the Islamic book on the table. He was now holding the bible. He looked into Rowan’s face. He could see a lost dream, unachieved vision, sadness and discomfort.

“Now repeat after me…” The man said and halted. He wanted Rowan to repeat after him before he continued.

“I, Rowan, am making a vow today being 12th Friday that anything I say in this court of law is nothing but the truth,” Rowan repeated after the man. When the man was satisfied, he picked up the Islamic book gently and walked away.

The crowd were looking in the direction of Rowan. Most of them were men, though there were some women sitting in different rows of the court. Waylon and his two daughters weren’t left behind, they were sitting on a pew close to the window. They were whispering to themselves which they only understood.

“Young man, you are accused of killing your only son because of negligence. What can you say about that? Do you have a lawyer that wants to speak on your behalf?” the judge said. She was sitting in between two men who were in suits. Everyone gazed at the fat judge as she spoke.

“I don’t have a lawyer,” Rowan said.

“It’s alright. Now let’s hear your own side of the story.”

“Thank you, my Lord…,” Rowan said and coughed. “I am Rowan, a father of one. My son was an ex-pupil of Crest International School, Alabama. One day, a police officer followed my son home. It was a hot afternoon, so I was shocked. The police officer told me that my attention was needed at my son’s school. When we got to CIS, we moved into the headmaster’s office. At the end of the discussion at the headmaster’s office, the headmaster expelled my son. He accused him of sabotaging the school authorities. I had planned to take my son to another school when I got a strange call. Alas, it was a doctor from a hospital. He told me that my son had been knocked down by a car. I was so scared. Before my son left home that day, he told me that he would be visiting a friend. I should have allowed him to stay back at home, if I knew he was going to have an accident…” Rowan burst into tears.

“We don’t cry here.” The judge frowned.

“I am sorry, ma.”

“What happened at the hospital? Or did he die before he was taken to the hospital?”

“He was taken to the hospital alive, but wounded. The doctor told me that they would have to give Emmett robotics legs, because his natural legs were damaged. I was uncomfortable. I never wanted my son to walk without his natural legs. On the day of the leg implantation, I boarded a car to take me to the bank, so that I could collect some money. Before we got to the bank, our car had a malfunction. The driver pleaded with me that he would love to go and call a mechanic. I got inside the car and picked up a newspaper. As I was reading the newspaper, a traffic warden walked up to me. He accused me of parking my car wrongly. I told him that I was not the owner of the car, but he wouldn’t agree. He said I would have to go and explain myself to the police station. I refused to follow him to the police station, so he slapped me on the face three times. I would have slapped him back if not for the intervention of three men. The men pleaded with me that I should follow the traffic warden to the police station. I had spent many hours in the police station before the driver showed up and told the police the truth. The police were so sorry for the wrong accusation. The driver pleaded with me and bailed me out. He took me to the hospital. I was told by the doctor that Emmett had already died before I came. He died of severe pain.”

“Did you pay your Ward’s school fees before he was expelled?”

“I haven’t finished the payment, ma.”

“Did you have an issue with the headmaster before Emmett sabotaged the school authorities?”

“No, judge. The headmaster was my very good friend. I don’t know why he changed towards me all of a sudden.”

The media were all around the court. They were taking pictures of different sessions in the court.

“And why would you allow a child of Emmett’s age to visit a friend’s house alone?”

“I have told him several times to stop visiting friends’ houses but he wouldn’t listen. When he was expelled from CIS, he used that as a medium to visit more friends.”

“Where is his mother?” “Or are you a single parent?” the judge said.

“No, ma. My wife went for her master’s education at the university.”

“I see…,” the judge said silently.

Rowan could hear whispers from different corners of the court, but he ignored the whispers. He was more interested in the aftermath of the court session. He was looking in the direction of the judge and praying inside his heart.

“You’ve spoken as if you’ve rehearsed everything you said,” the judge said. Everyone was gazing at the judge. They knew she was about to sanction Rowan.

“With the power embedded in me by this court and by the US government, I hereby send you to five years imprisonment with hard labor for child a***e and neglect…” Before the judge finished her words, tears were already dropping down from Rowan’s eyes. He was pained to his bone marrow. He looked backwards and could see Waylon and his daughters, who were laughing. He could see other people whispering, though some of them were talking on top of their voices.

“Court…, Arise!” the judge screamed and people started trooping out of the different exits.

A police officer, who was holding a pistol with his left hand, walked Rowan out of court. They were walking in the direction of the van when they heard a lady’s voice from behind.

“Mr. Rowan. What would be your advice to parents out there on how to train their children?” the lady said. “Are you walking out on me?” she added when she saw that Rowan wouldn’t talk.

Rowan was wearing a sad face as he entered the minivan. He sat down beside two police officers and the van was driven away.

FIVE YEARS LATER

Corporal Dylan’s office was still the same. Nothing has changed. The door went open and a man and a police officer walked into the office.

“Rowan, have your seat.” Corporal Dylan smiled.

“Thank you, sir…,” Rowan said and sat down.

“Maxwell, you can go now!”

“Alright, corporal!” Maxwell saluted before he left the office.

“Yeah!” “You can come to the office now.” “In ten minutes' time?” “Alright, I shall be waiting for you.” Rowan kept looking at corporal Dylan. He wondered who he was talking with.

“I hope the co-prisoners never dealt with you this week?” corporal Dylan said. He was shy because Rowan kept looking at him.

“Yes, sir.”

The door went open and a young man entered the corporal’s office. Corporal Dylan smiled as soon as he saw the young man. The well-favored young man was dressed in a multicolored shirt and a pair of black trousers. He must be well-to-do.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Desmond,” corporal Dylan replied to the greeting of the man who had just entered his office.

“Where is he?”

“Here he is…,” corporal Dylan said, pointing to Rowan.

Desmond was so shocked. It wasn’t the person he expected. The Rowan he knew was tall, handsome, fair-skinned and chubby. So why would he change all of a sudden?”

“Corporal Dylan…” Desmond smiled. “This is the wrong person. I mean Luca Rowan.”

“Desmond Lucky…?” Rowan said and stood up gently from the chair.