LOST WTHOUT MR GENIUS

Chapter four

Dave jerked. He was frightened to the core. I too became rubbery as soon as I heard the word 'corps'. This was the fulcrum of our plight; it meant apprehension and jail. Jail! I had heard stories of many who'd languished in the dungeon. My Dave was routed. This was getting uglier than I had anticipated. Dave was in deep trouble and I wasn't safe either. My eyes glazed at him in fear. I didn't know what else to do.

"Ok, Sir." Maxwell flicked on his phone, a gummy smile flashing on his face. He was a sadist. Dave was begging for mercy but neither the driver nor Maxwell showed clemency. "Why was the world so evil? I had no clear-cut answer to this question. I dreaded them and everyone in this conspiracy against Dave. "Curse them all!" I growled quietly. Maxwell was probably dialling the corp's number and he placed the phone to his ear. I was so tense that I could feel my legs shake underneath me. When I glanced at Maxwell, I saw the frown on his face- as if he was worried.

The smile had deadened on his lips.

"Sir, the lines are cut off…" He told the driver whose face was puce with rage.

"What? Then try them again. We can't let this galah get off the hook easily." The driver said with a deep-dyed rigidity and gave Dave a frosty look. I was in a dead-end situation-stuck.

Suddenly, one of the passengers that sat behind the driver; a bald middle-aged man with a pair of specs fumed, "How long are you going to keep us waiting, eh? We are suffocating." Some of us have appointments…" It was as if the entire time everyone was waiting for him to speak and the swarm was rowdy like a beehive. Everyone was grieved and going crazy with grumbling. Maxwell stood solidly and shouted to calm them down with a propensity of arrogance,

"Drat! Can't you be patient? " He had dipped his finger into the fire! They all fixed angry stares and charged at him in one fell swoop as if he had committed a felony;

"F**k you!"

"Stinking P*g!"

"Schaumburg"

"Shameless man!..." Everyone hurled insults at him at their convenience and he shrunk. He was bitter with fury, and I was happy and thankful. He deserved more than that. The driver, seeing that this wasn't leading anywhere, gestured to him to throw Dave out.

"Hurry up, you fool!" He snapped at Dave and frothed at the mouth. The latter was propelled out of the bus like trash. Tears escaped my eyes as I peeked at him through the window. He was defined by despair and was disillusioned. Despite everything, I was happy that he was free- free out of that hell hole.

The driver soon ignited the engine and sped off. I was confused and lost. "What would happen to Dave? What if something worse happened to him?" My mind was hedged with many thoughts and I was tense. I knew he must have decided to leave his family and followed me to the city because he couldn't afford to lose me. What a sacrifice! Wasn't I fortunate to have him in my life? How could I sit comfortably knowing that he must be wailing somewhere out there? No, I had to find a way to be with him.

We had barely covered a kilometre when I gritted my teeth feigning pain. Crouching, I held my tummy and screamed, heavy tears hanging in my eyes, "Ah, my stomach! There's a fire in my stomach. It's writhing like hell, ouch!"

"Hey, are you okay…" Milly was trying to ask me when my saviour, Maxwell, leapt to my support before she could comprehend anything. Feeling my waist with compelling concern, he asked, "Where? what happened Pretty?"

"Inside my tummy is a brazier." My voice shook as I wrung my hand and choked. He thrust his filthy hand inside my blouse to feel my soft skin. I expected this insolence from him and used it to my advantage. I had been waiting for the opportunity. I, Joana, had mastered the rule of revenge. He had humiliated Dave earlier and I couldn't let it slip. Maxwell was playing with fire!

"Is it here, oh here or…" He inquired, placing his hand on my groin and I cried,

"Aw, it hurts!" I aimed at his arm and sunk my teeth deep into his flesh with all my strength as if it was a piece of meat. I had my revenge! I hated him dreadfully and seeing him scream in pain became a humdinger for me. "Ah," he wriggled, "babe, it's painful!"

"Yes, it's severe." I asserted in pleasurable pretence and sunk into him again and this time deeper and harder. Clutching at his humped shoulder. I plunged my nails into his muscle, gripping hard at his vein. His mouth fell open and he uttered an indignant growl of pain. His eyes popped in terror. I think he could hardly maintain his gallantry of bravery. The pain was core and he pleaded,

"Miss, you are hurting me!" I withdrew my teeth in a jerk and apologised,

"Sorry, Sir, the pain is too imposing. I couldn't avoid it." I wobbled, sounding remorseful. He hissed. Honestly, my happiness was immeasurable although it wasn't expressed outwardly. I relished every bit. Milly laughed her heart out and implored with indelicacy to provoke him, "Save her now, Mr Redeemer. Hold her tight, eh, she's in great pain." She broke into mirth. I created a fuss! The passengers craned their necks and goggled their eyes at us. I could feel my ears burning. The awareness that I was the centre of attraction got me tense and I braced myself against the big box beside me. In a matter of conjecture, it was improbable to those who saw me that I was acting because my creased face portrayed my pain eloquently.

I wanted Maxwell to feel the same pain he had cost my Dave.

I noticed that his face was coloured with chagrin and I slackened my grip, leaving his shoulder chafed.

"Dave!" The name plagued my brain and reflected in my mind in a flash. I needed to find Dave, but how? I girded my bowel with my hand and my tummy with another, yelling at the driver, "Sir, I am badly off, please let me out, I beg! Tell him, Maxwell. I can't cope with this any longer"

I clung to him as I writhed in an upset stomach. He looked pathetic with a tinge of hostility in his eyes.

I could hear the chortling sounds around me, but I perfected my game by smacking my behind as if the poop would soon come out. Milly saw my unpleasant state and yelled,

"What are you still waiting for? Do you want her to open her bowels here? Take her out for chrissake!" This was followed by a bout of murmurs, a gust of laughter and giggles. Nonetheless, I never bungled on my bounden duty and kept pestering Maxwell, "Please, Max, I'll empty it any time if you don't do something."

"Okay, come, easy, miss. Please, hold on." He implored and shouted at the driver, "Sir, pull over. Someone has a running stomach."

"Ah, not again! I can't see any public toilets around, they are a few kilometres ahead." I had already crawled to the door and noticed that he was dawdling. I hammed it up with a gust of groan, "Sir, eh… the bush, I will use the bush." I sputtered and gasped. The driver pursed his lips and pulled over. I got out while Maxwell stood waiting at the window.

"Make it quick, cutie," he said, still nursing his pain. "I should have circumcised you with my teeth, stupid bugger!" I muttered and as soon as I veered at the corner, I erected, straightened up and shimmied into the nearby bush, leaving everyone in disarray. "Great job, Joanna, what a commendable job!" My face broadened into a smile as I swelled with pride, dazzled by my abilities and the efficacy of my cutup; all for Dave! But where was he? At this realisation, the smile froze on my lips and I was sad, in a haze of thoughts.