Mazi Onu refilled his glass from the keg of palm wine. “My friend, drink up. Nothing is happening.”
Mr. Onwuka took a sip. “I’m drinking my friend.”
“Where is the bartender?” He looked around and spotted her. “Madam, come please.”
“Yes, Mazi.” 
“Get us more meat.”
“Ego amaka,” Mr. Onwuka said in Igbo as the meat arrived. “Money is good,” he repeated.
“Ribe ego na nwam akpatago ego. Enjoy yourself, my son has arrived.”
“Yes, I heard your son wants to start his house.”
“He is not only building a house, he wants to build a deck. Three story building with decks on each story.”
“This is not a mean feat Nkaa abughi ita aki,” he concurred and bit into the meat spiced with pepper and onions. “So, what’s keeping him? Why has he not started? Don’t let him waste the money.”
“Is it not that, my useless brother refused to give me a portion of our land?”
Mazi’s eyes narrowed. “Which land are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know our land by the expressway?”
“Oh,” his eyes narrowed further. “But I thought it belongs to your brother?”
“Oh, so, you are one of those encouraging him? So, you are behind this too? Don’t worry, we shall see.”
“No, no. Do not say such things. Just that I heard your father gave him the land when he was still alive.”
“That maybe true, but since he has no son, the land naturally belongs to me and my children.”
He took another bite from the meat. “You are right. What are you doing about it then?”
“Exactly the question and the reason I brought you here.”
“Do you want the land?”
His eyes hardened. “That’s a foolish question. I must have it.”
“Then, it is yours.”
“Promise?”
He nodded. “Promise.”
***
Maya typed hurriedly as the bus cruised along.
“Yes, your money,” the bus conductor demanded. 
She fumbled in her handbag, retrieved a crumpled N500 note, and handed it to the motor boy without looking up.
“What is this?” he snapped. “I told you to enter with your change.”
She continued typing without looking up.
“Answer your bus stop or I go carry you pass,” the motor boywarned and began reeling out the names of the bus stops. “Church, Onipani, Barracks, Pz.”
“Church dey,” someone said from behind.
“Barracks,” another said.
“Driver, church dey.”
Maya looked at her wristwatch and sighed. It was a few minutes after 8 pm and she was definitely running late. She had called Jeff earlier when it became obvious her IT report may not be ready. Her last resort was Jeff.
“White Hall?” the bus conductor called.
“White Hall dey,” she said.
“White Hall dey, driver,” he said to the driver.
A few minutes later, the bus rolled to a shaky stop at the bus-stop.
“White Hall, come down.”
She refused to get down.
“White Hall, come down.”
She hedged at the door. “My balance?”
“I told you to enter with your change,” he reprimanded her as he arranged the money in his hand. “Where do you want me to get your balance from?”
“What is the problem?” the driver asked, engaging gear and ready to move.
“My balance o,” she cried, still standing at the door.
“Your balance o!” he mimicked her. “I told you to enter with your change.”
“Abeg, give me my balance.”
He sorted the balance and gave her. “Next time, make sure you enter with your change else …” 
She snatched the money and jumped out of the bus.
Jeff was sitting outside his lodge when she arrived. One look at her face told him there was trouble. He took her hand. “Are you okay?”
She ran her hand through her hair. “I’m in a deep shit.”
“I guessed as much.”
She scanned the neighborhood briefly. “You don’t have electricity?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“Do you have power in your system?”
“No, but I have fuel. What is the problem?”
She slumped into the bed and heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I’m in deep shit. The typist couldn’t finish my IT report and I am defending tomorrow morning.”
“Is that all?”
A faint pout appeared on her face. “What do you mean? I can’t afford not to …”
“Have you taken a bite?”
She shook her head. “Food is the last thing on my mind right now. I …”
He laughed. “Then you’ve come to the solution ground.”
It was almost eleven pm when they were through with the report. 
“I can’t believe this,” she enthused. “How do I thank you?”
“You don’t have to thank me. Next time, don’t leave it till the last minute.”
“Lesson learned. Well, thanks. I must get going. Come and see me off.”
He looked at the wall clock and frowned. 
“What?” she glared at him.“You don’t expect me to stay the night here.”
“Well,” he shrugged. “If you insist, let’s get going.”
It started to drizzle the moment they left the house and by the time they got to the bus stop, they were almost drenched. For several minutes, they stood shivering at the bus stop with no taxi or motorbike in sight. After waiting for close to one hour and they could not see any vehicle to take her back to the campus, she decided to spend the night in his lodge. 
***
She was getting ready for fellowship when her mother’s call came through. She promised to send her money a few days ago, but up until now, she has not seen anything. It was unlike her and she wondered what must have happened. “Hi, Mom.”
“Maya, how are you?
“I’m a good, Mom.”
“You may be wondering why you have not heard from us. Your father is having a little health challenge.”
She caught her breath. Her mother was not an alarmist and her Christian faith taught her not to believe in impossibilities. Therefore, it must be very serious for her to admit it, even though she referred to it as ‘a little health challenge.’ “What’s the problem, Mom? Did anything happen?”
“Yes, but it is nothing serious. I am calling from the hospital. I thought I should tell you.”
She bit her lips. “Calling from the hospital? Is it that bad?”
“My daughter, what can I say? Pastor Thomas has been on it, but there’s been no improvement.”
“Oh my God.”
“Some insinuate it may be a spiritual attack.”
“A spiritual attack, kwa?”
“Yes.”
“But who could want to hurt Dad?” as far as she is concerned, her father is a good man and harbors no enemy.
“That’s the question I have been asking myself. The world is wicked.”
“It is well, mom. God is in control.”
“I know. So, how are you getting on?”
“It has not been easy, Mom.”
“I know. I will make some money available to you as soon as I get extra cash.”
She sucked in air. She was so broke she could hardly survive. “Okay, Mom.”
“Good. Hang on there while I see what I can do.”
“Okay, Mom. Bye.” The line went dead.
For several minutes, she sat contemplating her father’s condition. She was still brooding when the door flung open and Cynthia breezed in. She knew Cynthia was still unbroken, with an unprecedented passion for money, sex, and boys, so she vowed to keep her distance from her. She was wearing an expensive party dress and looking chick.Her curvaceous body was squeezed into a bright red bodycon skirt with several cutouts and a halter neck bracelet. The sexy attire showed off her tight waist and plunging neckline and all the curves at the right places. Towing behind her was Jude, another member of the school choir.
The moment she entered the room, the aroma of her perfume filled the entire room and so did her vivacity. “Hello, Maya. What’re you up to?”
Although annoyed at the intrusion, she kept her cool and restrained herself from making any rude comment. “Hello Cynthia, hi Jude,” she called back.
“Hope you are not going to fellowship when there’s an exclusive party in town?”
“I don’t see how that concerns you,” she clicked her tongue.
“Oh, come on, don’t be an asshole.”
“Why can’t you stop bothering me?”
“I’m sorry if that’s the way you see it, but there’s a party going on. I wondered if you’d like to come.”
“Parties are not for me, thanks all the same. I was about going to fellowship as you can see when you showed up. If you don’t mind,” she pointed to the door.
“But this is not just an ordinary party. Besides, if you know who is throwing it, you’ll come too,” Jude said.
“I don’t care and I don’t want to know. I’m not coming either, now can I …?” she opened the door wider.
“Oh, don’t be a spoil sport.” 
“Please, go away. Just leave me alone.”
“Look, this is an exclusive party. Everybody, all the big guys in town will be there. You should come too.”
She raised her brow. “Really? Oh, so just because everyone would be at the party makes it compulsory for me too?” 
“Oh, come off it. What’s wrong with going to parties?”
“I don’t know, but parties are not for me.”
Cynthia caught Jude staring at her legs. “Don’t you think she’s beautiful? I mean, any girl will die to have those legs.”
She shuddered. She had seen those looks in other men’s eyes before and it never ceases to scare her.
“Yes, what do you say, Jude? Don’t just stand there moping, say something.”
He made an impatient gesture and nervously put his hands into his pockets.
Cynthia fumbled in her handbag, brought out a wad of notes, and threw them carelessly at her. “That reminds me, I ran into Tony the other day, and he asked me to give you this.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What is it for?”
“Appreciation,” she said tartly.
Her face creased into a frown. “Appreciation? For what? Please, tell him I do not need his money and he should please stop sending stuff to me. What does he want?”
“Does it matter so long as he pays handsomely? Take the dough and stop complaining.You sure need it.”
“Listen, Cynthia. Mind what …”
“Shh! Shut up and don’t ever interrupt me when I talk. That beautiful skin of yours needs good cream and soap to keep it healthy, radiant, and clean and you need to fill that beautiful belly of yours with good food. Your wardrobe in particular, needs a total overhaul and you need money to pay your school fees.”
Suddenly, new ideas, new laws, and new notions began to contend with the old ones. The financial situation in her family made it even more tempting, but she refused to subscribe to it. “Well, thanks all the same but I still don’t need it.”
“Well, if you don’t, I guess I’d better help myself to it,” she picked up the cashand stuffed it into her handbag. “Besides, he won’t take back the money even if I return it.”
“Cynthia,” she stopped heras she turned to go.
“Yes.”
“When …when are you going to give your life completely over to God?”
“Who? Me? Who told you that …that I am not born again?”
“I don’t think so. The way you dress, the sort of things you say and the places you go does not suggest to me Christ dictates the way you live your life. You only use the church as a mere front. You…you’d better give your life back to God completely before it’s too late.” She turned to Jude, “Are you also for the party?”
“Of course, yes. Is there anything wrong with that? It’s only a party and nothing more.”
“Frankly speaking, I am disappointed, Jude. I …”
“Well Maya, since you are not coming, I guess we’d better run along. I want to catch my fun while I can and if you change your mind about the money, just let me know, okay?”
“You’re in love with her, Jude, aren’t you?” she teased himthe moment they were inside the car.
“What?”
“Don’t deny it. I saw the way you were looking at her.”
“You are right. I joined the worship team just to be close to her. Yet, she doesn’t give a fuck about me.”
“Or about anyone else either,” she laughed and turned the ignition on.
“There’s something about her that drives me wild.”
“Like seriously? What could that be?”
He blew out his cheeks “I wish I knew. I just wish I can …”
“Wish you can do what? Just keep your hands off her. She’s Tony’s girl.”
“Tony?” he cried. “But that’s not fair. Tony doesn’t deserve a girl like that, and you of all people should know that.”
“Why should I care?”
“You should care. She is your friend and you have a moral obligation to protect her interest.”
“Isn’t that what I am doing?”
“I don’t think so. Tony is an animal. He is a wolf in a sheep’s clothing, and you know that.”
“What is my business with that? That girl is made of gold and that is why I stuck to her like glue to paper. She has talent and a fantastic voice, and with the way she is going now, I know it is only a question of time before someone, somewhere discovers her unique talent. You see, she is not just a friend but she represents a future meal ticket.”
Cynthia, like most girls her age, was obsessed with being famous or a movie star. She dreams, eats, and thinks of stardom every day. In fact, she needed recognition so much that she nearly ruined herself on the fatal rock of poor ambition and succes