She was full of regret now. Terribly regretting for her actions, but it was so late. All those years they spent in London had been good for her. She had been left out of nothing, no panic, no worries. Now they were back, many questions, quarrels, interrogation and trouble.
 “You lack civility meant for people who had an English degree. Talk responsibly and reason responsibly. How could you have achieved anything if not for me and Mr. Ribadau. Before you attained to your glorious success, I had a long heart to heart talk with him about you and your brothers. I ……”
“Stop this sermon mother. I should not like you to continue with it”. He cuts in” “he was playing for safety in your behalf. I shall not fail to recognize that he is only selfish, to exploit you and that is all. Did you forget that the money father bought on our head as shares was enough to do everything for us? The money is running into millions of Troasa and have not been torched. He saved that money for our future. Even if he were to be alive, we would not have needed money from his personal saving for our studies”.
It was true and they all knew it. For this moment, they exchanged look and regrets and pains which Mrs. Zack could have saved them from.
Uka was naturally civil and forthcoming, a young man of solid gravity of character. He began, quite clearly, to dig things out of his memory, what had given the two young men who to him were young profiled in the scheme of things was too deep for him to understand. They were no longer teenagers. Their acting out their anxieties in various aggressive ways was something to ponder over and over again. But for seeing their mother for the first time after some years, the meeting should have ended in excellent terms. Mosi left them in anger.
The meeting that afternoon ended in an acrimonies dispute. Uka turned to her mother with all his emotion and felt for her. She was being judged wrongly by her own children. They did not understand. She was too young and worldly to decide to stay on her own when things were difficult for her. She looked at her again and said her sorry in the heart. She dearly loved this woman, who was nothing but a mother to him. Like a child, son to its mother and seemed secure of sympathy, he sympathized with her.
Christmas period soon arrived. A day to the twenty-fifth. The government activity had lied low for the year because of the two days compulsory holiday. The office had been closed and announcement had been made over and over again for references and emphasis. That twenty-fifth night ran slowly and finally came to an end. Christmas was just twelve hours away. The sun had receded and recoiled to its shell; a small cloud had formed giving the yuletide season a course for everyone to rejoice.
To the Christians, it was the finest period. They were all in active preparation for all the events associated with it. 
It was really a good one, a few days off from many worries and anxieties for Mrs. Zack.
Two day though was too short to be happy and out of worry.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
Uka had found favor in the eyes of Mr. President. Just three months after his return from Britain, he was already in the limelight, known by many politicians that court Mr. President. On Mr. Ribadau’s recommendation, Uka was appointed, chairman Electoral Council of the Republic (ECR) by Mr. President. It was one of the many fine tricks of the African political superpowers to install whoever that pleases them and those who could be retained in times of power handover. Many had lobbied for this post for many years, visiting and paying courtesies to Mr. President, but it all failed. Mrs. Zack had used the power of a woman to influence Mr. Ribadau and all her plans walked out as she wanted it.
          To Mr. President all political positions across the board were in his firm hand. He said who remain and who goes. The oath of loyalty and secrecy were in his firm hands of control. He could as well tell overnight how everything should be run and any question sends down to abyss anyone who ask out of curiosity or over learning.
          However, Uka had no record of long stay in politics, but his unadulterated and impeccable academic credentials, his transparency and accountability in all the commissions he had headed on paper as his experience while he was studying abroad marked him different from many of his parts as Mr. President insinuated. But how could he, when he had just arrived the state from England?