THE LAST 24 HOURS
Rob To stared at the screen and sneered.
"Who do they think they scare with those kinds of adverts? Am not a kid anymore!"
He remarked.
It was like a hundredth time the normal programming of the television had been disrupted and a catchy, terrifying advertisement aired.
{BE Ready For a Takeover!}
{Your Life Could Just Change Forever}
{The G7 Is the Future}1With those words the advert was accompanied by a booming voice over and flashy images.
Some images were of unknown beasts cruising the land and transforming into human forms, then devouring other beasts!
They were followed by an inversion in which what appeared to be normal people transformed into berserk beasts and devoured other 'weak' humans as well as other beasts.
Then a countdown display like a digital clock concluded the advertisement.
"These adverts are for kids, these are cartoons!" He said as he sat on the couch.
His father, Mr. To entered with his briefcase.
"Hi Dad!" Rob To called, "You are back early today!"
"What are you doing at home now, aren't you preparing for the talent search ceremony tomorrow?" The stern father asked.
"Dad you know I am a genius! I don't need to prepare for anything. Besides, this county has no match for me. I will outshine everyone tomorrow. You just wait and see!" Rob To said boastfully as he turned the TV to his favorite channel.
{BE Ready For a Takeover}
Again that same advert!
"What the heck! This advert is all over and is repeated too often!" he shouted sounding really offended.
His father merely snorted and asked casually.
"Are you ready?"
Rob To looked at him confused.
After some minutes he managed to find his voice.
"Dad, don't tell me you believe those cartoons? These are childish games!" Rob said with an unconcerned attitude.
"Oh really?" the father said, heading to his seat.
"Yeah, obviously yes! Who is the G7 anyway?" Rob commented as he scrolled for other channels on the television.
His phone rang.
"Yoh! What's up Kuch!"
"You need to fly right here man, come see your girl with another man!" Kuch said over the other phone.
Rob To sprang to his feet and left while still on call with Kuch.
The father merely looked at him as he went away then lifted his phone to his ear.
"Is it done?" he asked and waited.
"All the ten of them? Great! Now get all the seven ships ready!" he instructed and put the phone down.
Mr. To stood and walked towards the window.
From the heights of his palatial home in the outskirts of the town he looked across the sprawling lands that lay below.
There were many indicators of life going on in many households. He sighed and lit up a cigarette.
"Be ignorant at your own peril!" he said and took a long puff.
"Enjoy the last of your twenty four hours!"
Elsewhere in the town center Gad Pa rode his bicycle rapidly towards the movie vendor stall. He was racing against time.
"Oh no! I am late again!" he was some meters away from the stall and the owner was outside pulling down the metallic doors as he shut his shop for the day.
"Hey! Wait please!" Gad Pa shouted as he rode even faster.
The owner noticed him and stopped.
"Sorry man I got late again!" Gad Pa said out of breath.
"Here, I am returning this disc which is due today!" he said handing the owner a parcel.
"Correction! Was due today!" the stall owner shouted.
Gad Pa scratched his head. He was actually not late but since it was already six o'clock in the evening then technically the business day for the vendor was over.
"Look man! I caught you just before you closed shop so just…"
"You don't direct me how I operate my shop. Fifty shillings for the delay will be your fine, as per the rules!"
Gad Pa's mouth fell open.
Fifty shillings was hard for him to come by.
Furthermore, that was the charge for a whole day delay, yet he was merely five minutes late!
But he knew he had no option but to pay. If he went with the disc again until the next day he would be fined not fifty but a hundred shillings.
Painfully, he handed over a fifty shillings note to the vendor together with the disc.
"Great! There are more games and action movies coming in tomorrow, you can pass by and check out any!" the vendor said.
Gad Pa was however not interested. He just mumbled a thank you and went over to his bike.
"That was my supper money!" he sighed as he rode away.
"I can't imagine sleeping on an empty stomach because of this selfish vendor!" he said.
After thirty minutes of cycling he reached his house which was located in a village outside the urban area. To his surprise, his friend Ney Shu was waiting for him.
"Hey Gad!" he greeted.
"Ney Shu! What are you doing here?"
"I didn't see you in school today and I thought I should check on you!" Ney responded.
"Welcome home brother!" Gad called as he parked the bike aside and went to open his door.
The room was small but tidy. Gad Pa lived alone after both his parents died. He had neither brother nor sister. He didn't have any friends except Ney Shu.
"Hey Gad, have you made up your mind about tomorrow?" Ney asked again as he sat down.
"I told you man I have nothing to present. I will not be taking part in this year's student talent search!" Gad Pa said with an air of finality.
He didn't sound sad. It was a fact to him that he had no special abilities to be considered for display for any awards.
"But Gad, you could just try anything, singing, dancing, drawing, reciting, fighting stunts, comedy, gymnastics! Look I have come to offer you any help for any materials if you would want to buy!"
Gad Pa simply shook his head as he turned his old TV on.
"Thanks brother for the kind gesture but tomorrow I will just pick the spectator's card!" He said.
At that instant the same advert appeared.
{BE Ready For The Takeover}
"Is this a new game being advertised? I have watched the ad severally but I don't understand it!" Ney Shu said.
"I have an odd feeling about it too! I don't know what it means but the sound and graphics are really terrifying!" Gad Pa answered.
"My friend, see you tomorrow at the auditorium. Hope you will change your mind before then!" Ney Shu said as he got up to leave.