THE STRUGGLING STARS
© Kikelomo Fadugbagbe
EPISODE 11
Imma held her hand “what happened, why are you crying” he asked with so much concern.
“They are here” Rebecca’s Mum replied tearfully
“Who?”
“Government agencies they’re destroying the houses on this lane, they will soon get here”
“No they can’t do such why will they destroy houses like that without notification”
“They notified us, since last two months” She wailed
They heard an heavy knock on the door “Anybody in there should come out, please so you will not get hurt”
Imma wheeled himself out while Rebecca’s mum stayed behind to pick some valuable items.
One of the agencies saw Imma from afar and walked down to meet him.
“Hello young man, do you stay here” Imma nodded.
“I’m sorry for this, but I promise you we are going to compensate you. I’m Hon. Raymond. Are you the only one staying here.”
“No is both of us, he’s my only brother, we lost our parent years ago” Rebecca Mum answered crying
“Oh so pathetic, sorry madam. I’m going to help in my little capacity even if not for anything but for this young man here”
Mr Raymond made some call. And drove them to an estate. He gave them the key to a new apartment. “This is for you guys, this is where you will be staying as from today.”
“Thank you Sir” Imma appreciated, Rebecca’s Mum started rolling happily on the floor.
“Whose name should I write on the documents” Mr Raymond asked
“Write her name” Imma answered pointing at Rebecca’s Mum.
“Done! So is there any other thing you want me to do”
“Yes sir, please I will appreciate it if you can establish my sister, so she will have enough money to carter for me” Imma said.
“Consider it done” Mr Raymond wrote a cheque of 12million for Rebecca’s Mum. She almost fainted.
She started begging Imma as soon as Mr Raymond left them.
“Imma I’m sorry for everything have done to you, please forgive me.”
Imma smiled, “Now that the 12million is paid, can I go my own way?”
“You want to go and leave me with all of this. Is okay, If that is what you wanted”
“Thank you” before He left, he asked about the picture he saw earlier in her place.
“Who is he?”
“That’s my father”
“What? Jubril is your father?”
“Yes, that’s my father’s name, how do you know him”
“Met him in the prison, he was a very good friend and father. He said you’re staying with your grandmother”
“Yes, but grandma is dead now” she died weeks after he was sentenced to jail. So I had to start hustling I met Rebecca’s father a year later. Death did not still allow me to enjoy him.”
“Oh sorry about that, please one of this days we will visit him in the prison.”
Rebecca’s mum begged Imma to take some of the money Mr Raymond gave to her. but he refused. He contacted Gladys and they came to pick him.
“Nobody lives here” he said as soon as they got home.
“That’s true I live with Prof Ime now” Gladys answered.
“With your husband”
“No we divorced ”
“Divorced? Why?”
He became so greedy and so abusive. He was trying to sell your mum’s property, but thank God for Prof Ime.
“Any information about my Mum?”
“No”
“I think I have to inform the police now, I need to declare her missing” Imma said sadly.
Professor Sophia joined them.
She hugged Imma.
“Thank you so much ma, Aunty Gladys told me how you help retain my mum’s property.”
“No problem about that, your mum will be in Nigeria in few days time.”
“What! you know her whereabouts?” he asked surprisingly, even Gladys was shocked.
“Yes, she contacted me some months ago, I and your mum have been a good friend since childhood. She called me one morning that she saw our picture. The one you pasted in your room. Then she told me about her health. She had cancer of the lungs.”
“No!” Imma screamed
“She’s getting better believe me,
She has been in indian all this while for treatment, Imma she did not want to hurt you that was why she didn’t tell you about it. She’s fine now, she asked me to visit you, only to come and see the post ‘For Sale’ in front of her house. So I have to play along, she knows everything that is happening, she told me where she hid the camera. The one I presented in court”
“Really?”
Their door bell rang, “Yes come in”
Rebecca’s mum, Hon. Raymond and some delegates walked in.
“Oh Hon. Raymond, you’re welcome Sir” Imma greeted
“Thank you Imma, the governor sent me to you”
To be continued
