The beginning

A Nigerian based novel.

Wait!!! Before you read, know that this novel is all plotted in Nigeria. If you don't like Nigerian novels or the country itself, then you shouldn't be reading this.

But from my perspective, it's a must read for everyone.

★★★

Two young graduates who were putting on their NYSC uniform (an abbreviation for National youth service corps), boarded a cab to a small state.

The whole trip was silent and tiresome due to the bad roads which were filled with potholes,not just any pothole, deep potholes.

Finally, they got to their destination and pulled out their luggages from the booth, took it inside their already booked hotel room and settled in.

"Felix, my life is just about to start and I'm carrying..... See, I'm not trading my life to become a mother just yet." Jane said.

"Jane, you will have to" Felix said while holding her hand in a gentle way.

"And I'm not doing an abortion just so you know" Jane replied sharply.

"Not even in degradation." He said with a tightened face.

"See, Jane, we will keep that baby by any means, we are already in your state, tomorrow we are going to your home town."

"What if...."

"No what if. That's final." Felix said and layed down on the bed.

A lot of things were running through Jane's mind, she had so many thoughts.

"I'm scared of telling my people..." Jane said loudly.

"We'll do it together Jane." Felix caught her off

"Felix, it's not as easy as you think."

"If you're nervous, then let's start with your mum, we get her out of the way and then face my mum."

" So how do you think your mum is gonna take it?"

"Very pissed!! I mean, no parent would welcome such news, but I'm the only son, they'll be left with no choice than to accept the situation." Felix said.

Jane just let out a sigh.

'my mum is not the one making me nervous, its where I'm from, where i resides, it could be described by so many ugly names and none of them are good. Thugs, touts and many unacceptable behaviors are the main deal of my place.

The place where night never ends, the devil's backyard, no mercy for those who provocatively annoys the thugs. You give a little information to the police, and then your life is gone. Kabume as it is fondly called which means destruction. That is where I'm from".Jane thought

***The next day***

Felix and Jane boarded the available taxi to kabume.

They were welcomed with the ghetto-like buildings, the noise of market women selling different kinds of food stuffs.

There were also children in the market,those who used containers to make musical instruments, those who used container more of like plastic bottles container as football and those who cheered.

Indeed, kabume wasn't a quiet place..its the moat lousiest place you can ever think of.

Jane held Felix's hand as they both walked to her compound. They passed both the hilly and rocky areas, the small creeks, bushy areas and the plain places.

The met a lot of people smoking cigarettes and drinking to stupor, well, in kabume, that was normal. Even a child of five can smoke.

Kabume was indeed a poor town, because the standard of the people simply explained that.

Finally, they got to Jane's compound.

Jane hugged her mum and bowed to greet her. Felix also bowed to greet her, and they were warmly welcomed.

It wasn't quite up to thirty seconds they were welcomed in the house that Jane's mum started yelling.

"You were supposed to reason this matter before it got out of hand " Jane's mum yelled while averting her gaze to Jane's.

"Ma, I don't want you to worry about the baby , i promise to care and protect the baby" Felix said calmly

"Jane here knows what I'm talking about. The side you are thinking of is not the side I'm heading to." Jane's mum replied sharply.

Finally, Jane spoke "my brother Matt..."

"The one you told me about?" Felix interrupted.

"There's something I didn't tell you. He is actually the area top gang leader around here. Look, Matt is ruthless, he never forgives and he is always quick to strike".

Yes he is my younger brother, but he fancies himself as my father. Our father so to speak." Jane said while using her hands to make emphasis about who she was talking about.

"Well, in that case, we'll let him know that I came to prove my commitment to take you home." Felix said

"No no no no no, he mustn't here about this." Jane said.

" Matt is the one paying her school fees,he even warned her that she must make sure she carries her certificate back to this house. Now, it's pregnancy that followed her. The kind gbege (meaning: problem) that will fall on this house, it's only God in heaven that will save us. " Jane's mum said while raising her two hands and face towards the sky.

"Let's see my parents, we can handle this from their side." Felix said calmly.

"We have to see Matt." Jane said

"Are we not supposed to avoid him since this is gonna upset him?" Felix asked.

"He knows we are here already." Jane replied calmly.

"You told him we were coming?" Felix asked

"I didn't have to tell him that. He has eyes everywhere. You see those boys we saw at the creek when we were coming?"

Felix simply nodded

"Those guys, are his men.

Listen, just relax okay? We will figure out what to do about it." Jane concluded.

"What to do about what?" A voice said.