Campus Echoes.

CHAPTER ONE. The Earth was rumbling, while lightening striking across the sky. The storm had just begun. It was mid June. One could understand what was going on outside while being indoor. "It would rain...",I heard dad saying. Mum had been running hectare scatter. Couldn't guessed why. I was just thirteen- a new teenager! At first mum had come to my room to check on me and made sure I was wearing thick clothes.It had always been her routine to check on me before going to bed. Yeah! It rained. Heavily! It was past five,but one would think it was mid night,as the clouds became so heavy and poured down it's content. Then, accompanied with the strong wind hitting directly to the roof, it was like a nightmare though. I remembered the rain lasted for about three hours before I fell asleep. Then the worst nightmare happened. ************************************************* Mum was pleading the blood of Jesus, while dad was groaning claiming there was no money in the house. At first I thought it was a movie but there was no power supply. "I must know what's going on there", I said to myself. As little as I was, I was never afraid of anything. This made my classmates nicknaming me "small but mighty". So I picked up my red and white torch light given to me by my uncle as a birthday gift. I dashed out of my small room and headed to my parent's. On getting closer, I could see three strange shadows moving about. I could also hear their strange voices. "... bring out the money or I go just wait you for here..."one of them had said, probably to dad as he groaned louder. They must be thieves! I thought almost aloud. I wasn't disturbed anyway, and I made for the doorknob. Mum was still pleading the blood of Jesus,but was too sensitive to know I was coming. "Val!!!",mum yelled at me,"get back!!" But I had opened the door already. I don't know, everything seemed to happen too fast, like a flash of light. As soon as I banged the door opened, I quickly spotted three hefty men on masks. They had pistols on them too. Whilst these observations, I had been shot! "Val!!!",came mum's yelling. "Yes mum!!!” I yelled back at the top of my tiny voice. Was I really afraid? O gosh! I was fuckin' scared!! "God!!!" I heard dad's voice faintly. I was lucky though. The bullet had hit my birthday torch light into pieces. Then I screamed. I didn't know why. But I did. Dad covered his face with his broad palm, while I watched the thieves package our electronics and left. Mum came close to me and put my head close to her breasts. I wasn't sure at the moment of the risk I took. My mother behaves like a mother. Lols. She's average in height. She's light in complexion too. She wears on these looks, like she never gets angry. Unlike dad, she's too religious for reasons best known to her. I love her though. Many a times,she advised me, asking me to be a good boy for her. It was as if I was all she got. Yeah, as I'd always thought, I was all she had. One thing I don't know was how it happened. Our properties were returned and the culprits were arrested at the spot. It seemed dad had called our neighbor. Mr. Ola was a police officer. His broad face was always restless and he looked well-to-do. He was popularly called "Olopa" by the street kids. He was highly respected among his peers. If you don't respect him,at least respect his big black military boots. Olopa must have assembled other police officers and were able to get the theives arrested immediately. Again, I couldn't tell how it happened. Dad had gotten up like a defeated lion and stood by our side petting my little head. I've never thought dad would ever surrender to any man. Lols. "... they were with loaded guns... I would have fought back...", I heard him talking to Olopa, "...after all they were just three...", he'd continued with great confidence. I saw the masked men handcuffed and thrown into a black police van. I just wondered where they would take them to... ************************************************* To be continued...