CLAMOUR

Denis's POV

I'm hungry, I feel lonely and sad, what should l expect? After going through university and after youth service I'm good as jobless.

Thank goodness I acquired some electrical

skills before going to school, that's what keeps my soul and body together.

Oops, sorry I had to bug you with those stories.

My name is Denis Michael, I'm the first child

of a family of six children. My family is a replica of being poor, destitute, and hopeless.

My father had to sell the land he inherited before I could go to university. I studied civil engineering.

It wasn't a smooth ride because my mother had to put up some of her expensive attires for sale on my behalf just for me to meet up, you know how demanding Nigerian universities can be.

After four years of studying and tussling, I graduated with flying colors. The fact that a lot of sacrifices were made for me to go to school denotes that after graduating, a lot of

responsibilities were already waiting for me. Unfortunately, my present condition is nothing to write home about.

I did my youth service with a ceramic company in Lagos, and afterward, I had to move down to Abuja to find greener pastures. Meanwhile, my family is wallowing in abject poverty in my hometown (Benue state)

Mum is a petty trader, my siblings hawk bread and gala on the streets, while my father is just a substantial farmer. I'm stuck here at

a 'face me I face you' apartment in the outskirts of Abuja.

You know how this kind of local area can be

first, you live in an area that looks more like

a slump, living among people of different ethnic groups.

You can imagine the number of fights and disagreements.

Today it could be Uncle Ifeanyi not paying up his share of the NEPA bill, or it's Aunty Ekaite and Brother Romanus tussling for who'll

go into the bathroom first.

I've been living in this compound for 10 months now, and there hasn't been a moment

where I had issues with anyone. "I just dey

go jeje in my zone" the only problem I have is the two Jezebels who're disturbing the hell out of my life.

The first Jezebel is Chioma. I've tried everything in my power to stop her from barging into me. I don't know if she's selling herself so cheap to me, but from her body signals, I see a Chioma Jesus, but naughty like Nicki. She's married, and I can't see myself having an affair with somebody's wife.

The second Jezebel is Ekaite. An average beautiful woman, but she leads a promiscuous lifestyle, and that's the reason I'm not attracted to her. But from her composure when she's around me, I can hear her whispering in Simi's voice "1 dey give you green light tire.

My broke condition won't even allow me to

have anything to do with any woman now.

My house rent will be due in two months and I've got no hope on how to pay it up at all.

That leaves me with the tendency of being thrown out if I don't pay when my rent finally

elapses. I have no job, the little manual job I

do is just to put food on my table, it's not enough to pay huge expenses.

I've navigated every nook and cranny of Abuja in search of a job, but my efforts proved abortive. I've given out my CV to several people, but they'll promise to call back and I'll never hear from them again. Getting a good job in this part of the country implies that you must know people.

You need "Connection" and "Money" I have none of that and I'm among the youths suffering from the stings of a corrupt and poor society.

*******

Thoughts of getting a job and librating my family from poverty encircle my mind as I lay on my cozy bed, staring at the ceiling in this cave I call a room. The room was silent just like a morgue.

The ringing tone of my phone breaks the silence. Uh, who the hell is calling me by this time of the day.

(It was 8:45 pm) The caller was my friend Jerry Dantata

Jerry Dantata is from the northern part of Nigeria. We met in school, he has a job though and he has been more than a brother to me.

I pressed the receive button on my phone...

DENIS:-Hello

JERRY- Guy how far Nah

DENIS:- I'm not fine. Everything is just tiring, no job, no money. Do you know my rent will be due in two months, and I have no hope of paying up? I'll be thrown out soon. My guy everything just tires me. Even to feed is a battle on its own.

JERRY:- Bro, just calms down, I know how you feel. I've been through that path before. Trust me everything will be fine soon. I called with a piece of good news. Guess what!

DENIS:- In this recession? Good news? Just tell me you've tried and you still can't find me a job. I know that's what you wanna say.

JERRY:- Cmon, you should be optimistic for once, well let me burst your bubble. I just found you a job.

DENIS:- (hisses) You think this your silly pranks will not work on me this night? Oh not really.

JERRY:-I'm serious man. I found you a job!

DENIS:- Jerry stop the joke, it's too expensive, you mean you found a job for me? As I. "I don get work"

JERRY:- Yes bro. But I don't know if it's the kind of job you'll want to do. Y