On a good day

Act 1 Misguided youths He sat on the edge of a black couch. His head slightly tilted backwards, his short locks poured to his back as he dragged from the blunt in his left hand. Ring on both index fingers. A woman laid on the couch with her head to his lap. With his right hand he slightly run his finger through her hair as she slightly groan in pain. He wore a black T, black short accompanied by black sock and a black croc with a yellow smiley face emoji pin badge on it. it was as if he was one with the the couch and the darkness that almost took out the room. The room had a cemetery mood with little sound. He could hear the sound of music from a music box on the far end of the room, beneath the sound of music was the sound of rain and thunderstorm. But above all that, he was more focused on the footsteps he could hear running through the rain from blocks away. He heard a voice from the the from inside the room. "he's almost here" "i hear him" he replied continuing with his smoke The voice came from a man standing in front of him, looking out of the window of a seven storey. He was looking at a figure running, the figure ran towards the building under the storm. He turned towards the room with his hand in pocket. Dressed in a black suit with a yellow kerchief in his coat pocket. He looked at the music box then turned his gaze to the woman dressed in a yellow high slit ankara gown with a black pair of sharp heels. He looked at the woman groaning in pain, then turned his gaze to the man on locks , "aren't you tired of this song?", he asked. it's symbiosis" as he continues playing with her braided hair. He dropped his blunt on a stool by the left and looked at the man in the suit, their eyes met, he looked down at the the woman on his lap. Her face was buried in his stomach. He took his mouth to her ears and whispered. "you'll be fine". She pulled her face out and turned to him, she ran her right hand through his beard and said "i know, i love you" He kissed her on the head, "i know", he replied as the door to the room opened from the outside. If front of the opened door stood a man wearing transparent nylon raincoat, he hung his raincoat at the hanger next to a jean jacket, as he shut the door. His boot made a stomp with every step. . He was also dressed in black, a fitted jean and long sleeve shirt with two buttons undone at the top. He walked towards the couple on the chair and handed a black pouch to the man. All eyes were on him. "finally" the man on boot said as he walked up to the glass to get a view of the city. The eyes following him shifted to the city in front of them. "who knew today was going to be a good day" said the woman. The man on dread opened the pouch he received and pulled out a leaf. With his eyes stuck on the leaf he said "on a good day". He rapped to a music playing on a tiny radio. 14 years old teen with a clean chestnut skin and tiny growing locks. A half broken fan sound above him. He stopped his concert as he heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching his door. He rushed to open the door, he looked at the huge man with a perfect build standing before him,he was a shade darker, wearing a wife beater and a boxer of many colors. He gave him a 500 naira note "go buy me a pack of cigarettes" and "keep it with you till i get back" "okay dad" he replied Mr Andrew, a single parent from the ghetto. His dad made his way to the living room. He walked to the living room where his dad was sitting polishing his black boot. He looked at his dad now wearing a black khaki pants and a blue long sleeve uniform. The badge on the uniform says COTI. "that's right, today is his first day working as a boarder security", he thought, walking out of the house. "tobi!", his dad called in a soft tone. "yes dad" he replied "use the change to get something that'll keep you fed till noon, I'll be coming back late" Tobi smiled at the idea revealing a little bit of buck. His dad wore a sullen look. He felt empathy, "dad!" His dad took a long sigh, "tell your brother to come home tonight" he said, wearing a fake smile. He looked around the front of his house for his slipper, his search took his attention to local man putting up a campaign flyer on a light pole by the side of their house. He could see the city from the suburbs, the tall buildings all looking fancy. With a hint of apathy he thought "it's about that time when bad men will take to the streets to recruit ignorant youths". He shrugged off the thought and walked down the road. He walked passed an old woman sweeping the front of a church, "everybody needs to hold on to something" he thought. Two men were in a heated game of draft, they had a small audience observing the game taking place by the side of a kiosk in front of a small house. "tobi!" a boy from the audience called out. His straight face turned a smile, he walked up to the boy. Slim had a skinny build, cheerful personality but like most black men, he had anger issues. The same age and similar personality and beliefs was all they needed to be best friends. Slim: "i was about to come look for you as soon as my mum gets back". "who is in charge of the store?", he looked at the men playing draft, "it's obviously not your dad" He handed the money to slim "give me a packet of Boem" "a pack?, what happened to one stick of oris?" he smirked "it's for popsy, besides I'm only an experimental smoker", he replied, with a proud look "miss me with that speech" he said with a scoff. Slim handed him the pack of cigarettes. They found a corner to sit amidst the men and watch the game. The game moved at a slow pace with a quiet crowd. Slim's dad, a chubby man with full beard, his opponent was a another bum from the area. The graveyard mood was broken when the Bum made a move an got his game crowned, the crowd wailed because apparently Slim's dad was tough nut to crack. Both boy's knew the rules of the game and how to play but they consider it a game for men who have gave up on a society that has been cruel to them. After the wailing was calm, both boys engaged in a dialogue, still fixated on the game. Tobi: "did my brother come by yet" "i haven't seen him" he replied "what's up?" "it's nothing" he answered "your dad's about to win" "if only draft pays" Tobi chuckled, "you sound like your mum" he said A bike galloped it's way to the store "say her name", slim said. They helped her put the things in store as she paid the bike man. "if only draft pays" she remarked, "where's your sister?" both boys swallow a laugh "she's inside" slim answered "Tobi, give her this bag" she handed him a black nylon bag, "she knows what to do" she added. He walked up to the house. There was an aroma in the air "someone's cooking plantain" he thought It was a two bedroom apartment with. He walked through the dining to the kitchen. She was powerful, and fairly grown for a girl of thirteenth. Caro, She's was born ready to step in for their mom. Her skin glowed pecan brown, natural braids. She wore the wrapper like a gown exposing her back. He confirmed with his eyes what he's been perceiving. His mouth felt wet. "from your mum" he gave her the bag "what's inside" she asked opening the bag "you tell me", "what's inside" he asked "threads and needles" she said She walked through a door giving access to both rooms. He walked back out. He went to slim "you're about to feast like kings in this ghetto", he said "can we go now?" They set off "i wonder if they'll let us join today" said slim with excitement "us?" he replied, "you nigga" They walked pass a sign. The sign had a black African logo over a yellow paint. Further they walked, similar signs were could be seen around. They arrived at an abandoned high rise building. The building was a gift to a girl in the ghetto. She was dating a bad man, he was building it for her but he stopped few days after she went missing. In the ghetto,they called situations like that statistics. A situation where nothing could be done and they only have their powerlessness and decisions of their father's to blame. The current occupants of the building was known as motherland, a group bent on the belief that they're fighting for the ghetto. But they're just one of four of misguided youths who were just looking for something to hold on to. They entered the first floor of seventh storey, it was packed with girls, girls who found these youths appealing. Amongst the girls painted in yellow attire and a 15 years old stan-li. Stan-li, he had a coffee shade of black.. He was from the typical african home that doesn't feel like home anymore. Like most of motherland member, he was a full time resident there. "homies!" he cried out in excitement, "this day sucks" "what's been up" tobi asked. They exchanged handshakes "it's boring around here" he replied 'where's everyone who's not here?" "they're in a meeting" one of the girls replied "what is it about" slim asked the girl She turned her body away from him "beats me" she replied "no one knows" said stan-li, "what you don't know, won't kill you" Tobi turned to slim "looks like your initiation won't be happening today" "apparently" replied slim, "let's go to the field" "alright" said tobi, "can you take a message for my brother?" he asked stan-li "I'm coming with you guys, like i said, it's boring here" he answered, "we can give it one of the girls" A girl interrupted "he's coming down" she said, "but you'll have to be fast about it" The boys displayed a disorganized face "i sent him a text" Disorganized faces turned elated His brother came down the stairs four minutes later. Both brothers had a mirror image, but crow was 22 so he had the advantage of a rough but small goatee and better build. His black T had a dollar sign at the middle, black boot and a black crazy jean. "Thanks for the update Becky" he said to the girl "no matter, crow" "we'll still be in there a while" crow remarked He walked up to tobi who was shining bright with happiness. He bumped fist with the boys then turned to his brother "i heard dad works for the man now", with a smile lingering on his face "yeah" be replied, "he wants you home tonight" "i bet he does" he insisted, "tell him on a good day",he chuckled. "okay oh" he sighed "bring your ears let me leave a message for him then" he laughed He whispered into his ears Tobi looked at him "okay" he said, "the three of us" His brother cut him off "no" "are going to the field" Tobi maintained He turned to slim and stan-li "should go" The boy's nodded in accord. They made their way out of the building and getting further away from the motherland alleys. Slim asked apprehensively "everywhere good?" "more or less" with a touch of apathy, "like we get good days in the ghetto". END ©Andrew Ebikebuna Prince