The day dawned brightly. As an Igbo adage goes, "a day dawns brightly very early". True to this adage the day was a good one for Oyibo. She had made a lot of sales in her shop that day and this

Preparations were in the final stages for the burial of Fr. Richard. From counting in weeks people were now counting in days. It was just three days to the day. Obioha joined actively in the preparations.

Obioha faced his studies with a renewed zeal and improved greatly. Though he had lost a year, he made up his mind to make up for lost time. At the end of the semester he returned to the Secretariat for

Later, Obioha wanted to know why he was looking so sickly and Fr. Richard informed him that he had been battling with a terminal heart disease for several years. He had been abroad all this while trying

Fr. Richard's words were like a dagger in Obioha's heart. He looked into Fr. Richard's eyes. It was quite different from what he usually saw in other people's eyes while interacting with them. For instance,

Something sounded strangely familiar about this visitor that kept gnawing at Obioha's mind. But ever since the time he lost contact with Fr. Richard and the bitterness that set in, he had come to hate

It was now completely dark and the bus was packed full with people who were rushing to get home after the day's business. The driver of the bus was reckless in his driving and the passengers kept shouting

It was by now dark. He started walking towards number thirteen Bukki Street. This would be about five minutes walk. As it was now dark most of the houses had their lights switched on. Just as he rounded

As Obioha lay on his bed that afternoon, he tried to recall some of the happenings of the past few months. After leaving Tony and Nwamaka that night, he had decided that the best way to get back at everyone

Two days later, Tony went to Oyibo's house and narrated to her what her sister, Nwamaka had told him. She was initially surprised but later she confessed. "Knowing my mother, I think she is capable

The clock had struck 12.30 am before Tony returned home that day. Nwamaka had sat up waiting for him. When he returned, he let himself in with his keys and after locking the door he walked towards the

Later that week, Oyibo visited Nwamaka and informed her of what happened at home and their mother's condition. Tony seized the opportunity to let her know that he was becoming really worried about Obioha.

Every evening, after supper, Nwamaka and her family usually sit in front of the television, relaxing. That evening, Tony was not in the house. Nwamaka was alone with her three children when Obioha violently

Euna was sitting in her sitting room when she heard a loud bang at the door. She listened to understand what was happening and a louder bang echoed through the house. She looked at the wall clock hanging

The intruders took him to their meeting point behind the auditorium. When he got there, they laid him down on the bare floor and flogged him. They gave him the beating of his life. After some time someone

Everyone in Tony's household heaved a sigh of relief when Obioha secured admission into the university. At least he will be leaving for the hostel and there will once more be peace and tranquillity at

Obioha had been with Nwamaka for three months, preparing for his JAMB examination. Within this time, he had made it known in no uncertain terms that he would not be controlled. He flouted all the rules

"We will all attend the 8 o'clock mass. That's what obtains here every Sunday. So why are you not ready?" Tony, Nwamaka's husband asked Obioha. "I prefer the 10 am mass. This 8 o'clock mass

Soon the result of the common entrance examinations came out and Obioha had one of the best results, but he was not consoled. Even when he heard that he had been admitted into the prestigious government

Obioha was now in the final class of his elementary education. He would soon be leaving for secondary school at the end of the academic year. He had intimated Euna on his intention to become a priest.