STORIES

A sad but funny story of child abuse and the result of an attempted suicide by the abused. The victim is faced with a problem- decision to die by suicide or continue to live on and be abused forever. He opts for suicide, but the unfolding abortive suicide attempt ends up in humour that confirms to all that “Life is Sweet.”

The story of a truck-pusher who rose from his menial job of truck (cart) pushing to a reputable and admirable international height as a superman/physical education instructor. It is a story of humility and hard-work and its reward. 

A funny but sad story of the problem of alcoholism and societal insensitivity to victims of alcoholism. It is a story of an alcoholic whose problem has reached a pitiable proportion. Rather than pity and help him, he is left to face his fate- an entertainer of little children than a patient.

African children often go bird-hunting in the forests and bushes with their catapults. In this story, the writer narrates the story of a typical childhood adventure involving some 13 year-old boys who went birds trapping and almost met their doom. 

An incident from the diary of a young university undergraduate, her love relationship and how she accidentally got impregnated by her boyfriend and the agony she had to face for her future in a society such as hers.

Have we ever heard a deceased tell us a version of the cause of his/her death? In this short story, the writer gives us a pathetic story of love, lost love, betrayal of trust, loneliness, alcoholism and death reported from both perspectives of the killer and the victim. A creative work of art. 

One of the most shameful things to happen to an African male will be a loss of a fight to, or a defeat in a fight by a female. Some young men bully girls who do not have brothers to fight for them. In this story, the writer brings to us this thrilling story about an African “superwoman” who beat up young boys with ease. She was so dreaded that like a cult, she was named the masquerade of the Iyioku stream.

Traditional Igbo society frown at “professional” begging, especially when people who are involved are able-bodied individuals. For the society, it is undesirable and unacceptable. In this story, the writer reveals to us events that will amaze and amuse the reader as he exposes the incidents of exploitation, laziness, greed, pride, and arrogance that has engulfed the society. 

Although he prayed to God for a safe journey before his journey, a ‘born-again’ Christian is robbed of all his money during the trip. The incident, sad as it was, will leave the reader with mixed feeling of laughter, pity and anger. Above all lies the lesson of the experience.

“If you think that it is only the mass media that know how to inform the public of events, you better think twice” This is a story about the Nigerian civil war. It is a dramatic narration which revealed how the then Biafran Headquarters was saved from falling into ‘enemy’ hands and how it was dramatically moved from Enugu to Umuahia as the federal troops advanced to the capital city. 

When and how can stealing and robbery become desirable and justifiable? Well, the answer is not farfetched. Call it “Liberation” and you are on the “right track”, and make sure you are not a victim. This is a story about some of the evils of a civil war. A situation where people found themselves helpless and confused in determining what is right from wrong. It is a story full of humour, and at the same time pathetic.

Human beings love to show off. We love to show that “we belong” and that we can do whatever the other does no matter who the person is. We often get hurt in the process. Worst of it all is that we refuse to learn after each sad experience. This is another war story. It reveals some of the consequences of staying in a wrong company and emulating habits. Like the stubborn rat, we join the lizard in risky water games forgetting that there are skin differences. 

Gambling can make or unmake a person. Most often, people and their families are ruined because of addiction to gambling. The gamblers, like all business people, are out there to make profit. How then do we expect to make profit from a person who is out there for the same purpose? This is a story of greed, deceit, duping, cheating and exploitation in the name of “Money doubling”. The sparrow says that the potency and the accuracy of the hunters’ gun has kept him flying without perching. Conversely, the hunter says that it was because the swallow flies without perching that he learned to shoot without aiming. Who will be the winner?

People who are reckless in their love’s relationships tend to pick up partners at any time, anywhere for pleasure. “One must enjoy life”. Any beautiful human in skirt or gown is “edible” and must be tested. This is a story about two reckless lovers who had fun with girls and how their promiscuous affairs got them to a climax!