A STRANGE LAND

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2-

Good afternoon Mr Clinton, you sent for me,"looking down and moving his feet".

How are you? I'm fine sir, "still looking down".

Look at me, are you alright?

"Looks up", yes sir, what could be the problem, why have you been acting weird in class?

You no longer pay attention in class, you couldn't even answer the most simplest question I asked in class.

"Still wondering why he's acting so nice". I'm fine sir, I had a little headache that day but I'm very much okay right now...

So, Okpaaaalaaa, "completed it immediately" it's Okpalaeze sir.

What's the meaning of that name, Mr Clinton asked?

The first son of a king, "still surprised".

Alright then!

Do you mind if I call you Laeze?

No problem sir..

So tell me, how old are you?

I'm 15years sir.

Laeze, you're smart and intelligent.

You're bold and brave, and I like that about you.

"Looks up surprisingly", you like me?

Yeah, I like you.

I thought white men never likes black people.

"With a smile on his face".

I'm not like every other white man.

I'm your teacher and I think it's human for a teacher to like his students..

Mr Clinton, can I ask you a question?

Go right ahead dear, "Stands up from his seat and walks to the filter with a glass cup to get a drinking water".

Sir, is anything wrong in being black?

Why do you think white men hate blacks so much?

Why do you think white hates black? " Mr Clinton asked"....

You can't answer that, right?

"Drinks his water" so many answers to your question dear.

Now listen Okpalaeze, you can put a stop to all these, you can change things.

I believe in you..

You feel the pain more because it's in you to do something about it..

I so much believe in you dear...

"Tears rolls down his eyes" you believe in me.

Yes! " In a calm voice..

I will help see you through this.....

You can go back to your class dear.

"Okpalaeze stood and walks to the door.

Wait! "Gets up from his seat to meet him", I have an Offer to make, will you be my friend?

"Smiles", yes, I'll be your friend.

Thank you Mr Clinton, this means a lot..

What's up? How did it go? Did he try to punish you or something? "Uche walks to Okpalaeze"

I'm surprised, "turns his seat to his friend", he sounded nice.

Impossible! "shouted Enyinnaya", no white man is nice. Maybe he's just trying to lure you into doing something.

"Looks up", something like what?

I wouldn't know.

"Stands up" Immediately", what's going on out? " Three friends looks through the window but couldn't understand anything, because everywhere was crowded".

Look, is that not Mr Brown? With his long cane and over sized suit.

Yeah,"Okpalaeze strains his eyes to be so sure".

What could be the problem?

Hmmm, maybe normal student fight.

Let's go down to witness it ourselves.

Quiet everything one! "Mr Brown, standing in the middle of two girls kneeling in front of him, putting on his Cap", and with a long cane..

Okpalaeze had his way to the front and found out it was Amaka, kneeling down with a white girl..

Mr Brown addressed the student and made sure that both of them must be punished for violating the school rules which says "no fighting".

Now listen, if any of you indulge in such act next time, that student will get the same punishment as them.

Is that understood, All the students,Yes sir!..

What's up with you? Why would you condescend so low to fight."Uche asked"?

Hey guy! You just have to chill, we have to take it easy on her, she's going through a lot "Looking straight into Uche's eyes?

"Crying uncontrollably", "It's Mildred, she intentionally tore my book and remained unapologetic about it..

I couldn't control my anger so I had to fight her.

Listen Amaka," Okpalaeze draws close to her" we don't let our Emotions rule us.

We control our Emotions.

Next time, don't do things because you feel like, you do something because you know it's right, do you hear me....

Still crying, yes dear..

I'll amend the note for you, said Enyinnaya,

Gosh! I'm so hungry"Uche stands up".

I'm heading to the Mango tree.

I need some too, Amaka said", lol, you want to regain your strength after wasting it on Mildred.

"The three friends laughed"..

Stop that, you're mocking me and I don't like it."punched him".

Ouch! That was painful.

I'll pluck some for you, on one condition.

Which is? "She smiles".

Let's get to the mango tree first......

Chim egbuomoooo! ( My god has dealt with me). Chai!.

Nnanyi( my husband), please let's go to the camp to know if they would release Amobi, I can't just loose my son like that.

Nnanyi bikonu ( please my husband).

"Placed his write hand on his jaw , staring into the air without saying anything"..

"Pulling her husband", Nnanyi oo! I want my son back o!

Please nnanyi.

Nneoma throws her on floor and starts rolling...

Okpalaeze returns back from school and saw his mother on the floor, he didn't want to come because he knew he'd meet something like this.

"Stood for a while looking at his mom".

Mama, mama, mama!, I told you I'll get him back, I told you I'm working towards something.

Mama please forgive me for what happened that night "shhhhhhhh", it's not you, don't say that again, your hurting me more, Nneoma wipes her son's tears?

Listen mama, I have a plan, I'm working towards something, things will eventually fall into place and...

"Stands up and walks to where her husband is", ok my husband.

Nneoma my wife, I've told you not to cry anymore, I told you that Chukwuokike (God), would bring a savior...

It's well,

I strongly believe that Amobi will come back to us...

Walks up to the Reverend father..

The Lord be with you my son, "with a smile on his face" and also with you father.

I want to make a confession, I did something very bad and, "cuts him short", no my son, you can't confess to me standing right here, it has to be inside and also, there are specific days for confession.. In this parish, our confession days are on

Tuesdays, and in the evening.. Ok father "nods his head", I'll come around on Tuesday father.

So, let's walk together my son. Tell me, have you done confirmation and have you taken holy communion before? No father, I haven't..

So, tell me, this Jesus of a thing, is he real?

"Father Anthony stops and looks at him" oh yes! he is as real as anything.

Then why does he allow people to suffer?

"Smiles", to make them stronger..

I have to run along, I have a meeting to attend, be a good boy my son......

Kill it! Get a big stick, hit the head hit it so hard,. Look, it's running away, the soldier shot the Snake but missed his target.

Okpalaeze watched closely and went straight to them, he got a big stick and hits it's head twice.

The Snake died..

Ouch! God sent a savior to us, "laughs hard", ok then, now pick it up, you're going to the barrack with us..

The first soldier said, then Okpalaeze picks it up, holds it by the tail and carefully followed them.

Sir, you can have it, I have to go.

Shut up boy, I give orders here, I tell who goes and who stays..

Now you will have to go to my chambers and work for me.....

But sir, "tries to talk" shut up! one more word from you, and I'll deal with you ..

Now, you will have to fetch water for me and be my errand boy for today, then after that, I'll let you go.....

"Gave him a big iron bucket", he thought of how to get water from downstairs to upstairs and starts crying, he thought of how his mom would be alone at home and would need help at the moment, so many thoughts ran through his mind.

Okpalaeze finished fetching water and he was asked to slice pineapple by the soldier's wife, on doing that, he was cut by a knife, then he started bleeding profusely.."In a still voice",

Hey, let me help you, " "saw a young white girl with a first aid box".

Immediately, he gave his hands to her, she applied methylated spirit, savlon and cotton wool and held it with a bandage..

"I'm done" staring into his eyes".Thank you,stands up immediately," still wondering what she did to his hand since he hasn't seen something like that before.....

Alright, I have to go now, take me to your father, I've done almost all he wants me to do...

Ok, I'm Juliet, I'm the soldier first daughter, "Surprised because he could speak English" only a few of the black people she has seen could speak English..

Ok, thanks, but you have to take me to your father, I need to leave here at once.......

Ok , I'll take you to him...