Emotional Tingle episode 20
EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(Mind Reader at School)
Episode 20
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Written by Author Nath
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A warehouse, dark, quiet and void had creepy rodents, roaming around it’s corner. A ray of light from windows enhanced the visibility of the floor where the rats wandered apprehensively. At the centre was a round table where young gang-stars surrounded. All were in black attire puffing out smoke of weed and Indian hemp which concentrated and saturated the oxygen in the house. Suddenly, the echo of a footstep in shoes reflected on the walls. It came intervally in their ears like the movement of a ghost. All directed their eyes to the sound wave to see Mr. Nelson in a black suit. He looked innocent but could be deadly. The man sat down among the men, put his hand in the inner pocket of his suit, brought out a packet of cigarette, opened it and placed a stick at the tip of his l-ips. The nearest man lit it for him with a lighter. He drew the first smoke and held the stick in between his fingers.
“I called for a round table meeting because our distribution territory is dwindling of buyers. Rogo is dead, Papi was short last night. We need to find the person behind this shit!.” he blows out a smoke while the men kept staring at him.
“I suspect the Coast territory, boss” one of them said.
“That’s Adams territory, I doubt.” Mr. Nelson objected. “That reminds me; we have a threat to our lives especially to my life and that of Adams. But I’m more concern about mine.”
The men looked at one another. “Threat by who, boss?” Kester, the leader, asked. He has a black complexion, tall and muscular. His voice alone can render a parrot quiet.
“He’s called the mind-reader.” Nelson replied.
“Mind reader?’ they soliloquized among themselves.
“Yeah, and he’s a kid.” Nelson stood up. “Find him. He needs to be dead before we all do. Who knows if he’s already on the move by clipping Rogo and Papi. We must find him! Lastly…” he turned to Kester. “Expand our territory and get more buyers.” he began to step away thereby bringing the echo of his shoes back to their ears. On his way, he dropped the last part of the cigarette and adjusted his suit.
How would Nelson have the knowledge that the mind reader was at his grip and his daughter was hopelessly in love with him likewise Mr. Adams? Ridiculously, the boy in question had no knowledge about gun thoughtless of taking someone’s life. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought of such things. How would that happen? Funny enough, the boy was living a free life without knowing some people were after his life.
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Nonetheless, Crucifix could be seen in his room on a knicker and singlet, arranging his belongings. He dressed his local bed, hung his school bag on the wall and arranged the table. He suddenly stood er×¢t at the center of the room, thinking about Raina. “How am I to approach her now? Are we still friends?” He deviated his thoughts to Linda, the black girl believed to be his peace of mind. Crucifix exhaled and sat down at edge of his bed as he continued thinking. “God, how can she be my peace of mind? What did Obiageri even mean by… Oh, f–k peace of mind! All I want is a life with Margret. I do not care if she gives me a violent mind instead of peace of mind..” he smiled at his own thought. “That reminds me, we have a date tomorrow, she promised to grab a cup off coffee with me.” His heart limped for joy but suddenly saddened. What’s the problem, lover boy? Oh, it can only be one thing; that thing every man wants: money. How would he go on a date without money?! The boy stood up swiftly, thinking very fast. He would have gone to his rich friend, Raina but… you know… things had gone South. Would he go to Emmanuel or back to chopping of woods? No, that might take a long time. He needed urgent money. Just as he paced in the room, he stopped and smiled. Damn! He just discovered what to do. Briskly, grabbed his shirt to leave.
“Going somewhere?” The grandfather’s voice from the door paused him.
Crucifix looked at him. “Uhmm.. yes, to see a friend.”
“Raina, I guess.”
“No, no, not her.”
“She visited at Achara, didn’t she?’
“Yes, she did.”
Geb waited for some seconds. “It would have been better you channelled your energy and love to that young girl. She likes you, but the deed has been done as far as lovcilia is concerned. Anyways, I came to tell you that Kenny High School called. Your expulsion has been lifted. You can go back to school and continue your troubles.” the old man left.
Wow, that was double joy for Crucifix and more reason he needed money badly and urgently. Zoom! he vanished from the house with his bicycle. As he rode on the road, his shirt that he left unbuttoned continuously flew backward, making his singlet visible to the public. Oh, teenagers! Sooner did he get to his destination; a casino!! Holy shit! Casinos are no place for teenagers. It’s dangerous and full of bad, deadly gamblers who can kill to win a game. Oh, no, Crucifix wanted to gamble.
Frighteningly, he locked his bicycle on a street light metal pole with a chain, then began to walk towards the entrance. He could hear h¡p hop song by 50cent, popping out from in,side and shouting of men too. The boy got to the door to see a tall huge muscular man, standing like a bouncer. His heartbeat increased as he looked up at the man. Without saying word, the man opened the door for him thereby bringing the music louder to his ears. Nevertheless, Crucifix stepped in,side on his knicker and shirt with his local canvas on his feet. He could see half naked women; some were walking around while some seated on the thighs of old men, smoking. Some were at the bar, drinking some liquor. He directed his eyes to the bar but couldn’t believe who he saw; Linda, his so called peace of mind. She was the bar attendant. Briskly, Crucifix dodged from her. He never wanted her to see him. Walking to the inner part of the casino, he saw a man having s–x with a woman on a standing position. At another corner were two young female adults, k-sing and pressing hærd on the wall in just a black pant. Their br–sts rubbed pleasurably against another and their l-ips locked on each other’s hungrily while one of them placed her hand in another’s pant to have her clitoris craving for more pleasure. Oh, that was much for a young Crucifix to behold, but the boy passed them to a more quiet place where millionaires gambled on porker game.
The two millionaires seated face to face on a round table full of cards and h¡ps of marbles. Crucifix could also see bunch of money on the two sides of the table. He also saw body guards surrounding both the men and the table. How would he start? What would he tell them about lack of money for a beginning? Luckily, he heard a man complaining at a corner.
“Shit! I just loss all my money tonight!” the old average man, puffed out a smoke of weed and hit his hands on the wall. “f–k!!” he shrieked.
Crucifix wanted to meet him but was stopped by the man’s guards. “Where do you think you’re going, kid?” one of them asked him.
“I wanna see your boss.” he replied.
“For what?”
“For a game. I can make him a million tonight.”
Hearing that, the angry boss looked at their direction. “Let the boy come to me.” he puffed out another smoke of weed as he watched Crucifix walked to him. “What did you say, boy?”
Crucifix swallowed hærd. “I said that I can make you a million tonight, sir.” he replied.
“Call me Ero, kid. And how do you think you can do that?”
“Forget about how I’ll do it and concentrate on how you gonna enjoy the money. But we gonna have a deal first; I’ll get sixty percent of any amount I win.”
“You’re getting thirty.” Ero objected.
“Fifty-five.”
“Forty”
“Deal” Crucifix agreed.
Ero kept staring at the boy wondering what gave him such guts. How would he have known that he was a mind reader who would hærdly lose on porker game? So he pulled Crucifix harshly to himself and hit him on the wall in a way he closely looked into his eyes as he said, “If you fail to make me this money, you’ll leave this place in an ambulance, not to the hospital but to the morgue.” he released him.
Crucifix saw fire in his eyes. If he had the power to cancel the deal, he would have done so, but there was no going for him anymore. So he exhaled and followed the man to the table…….
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On the other hand, Eda met Margret in,side her room where she seated before her table, solving mathematics. An assignment she wouldn’t fail to do no matter what. She was really good in mathematics. However, Eda’s presence interrupted her. She wore a black loose short and a white polo shirt. She looked up at her nanny. “Mama Eda, is there anyhing wrong?”
“No, no, my daughter.” the woman replied.
Margret exhaled. “Thank God! Ever since you told my parents I left for a school debate while I went to Achara, my heart had not been at rest. What if they call my school to confirm that there was nothing like that?” she dropped her pen.
“They can’t do that.” Eda assured.
Both became quiet, looking at each other. All of a sudden, Margret began to smile. “I know you want to ask me about Crucifix again, Mama Eda. We planned for a date tomorrow. My problem now is my parents. I don’t know how to tell them about him and the date.”
“Really?’ Eda said as an afterthought. “Simple, invite him to the house tomorrow, introduce him, make it official and I’ll support you.” she suggested.
“Hmm..” Margret began to tap her finger on the table.
“But do you really love him?” Eda asked.
“I think I do. He’s a good boy. At least, he’s honest and full of ambition.”
“That’s to say you can marry him.”
Margret chuckled. “Marriage? At my age? You’re funny, Mama Eda.”
“I’m not actually talking about now. I mean when you come of age.”
Margret stared at the woman suspiciously. “Mama Eda, you’ve not seen this boy, you already want me to marry him in the nearest future. What are you not tell me?”
How can Eda reveal to her about the meaning of the seven gifts dropped at her doorsteps? How can she let the cat out of the bag? She must not! Though would thrive to see it come to pass. So she said, “Nothing, my dear. I asked out of curiosity.” she smiled and began to walk out. Just at the door, she heard Margret call her name.
“Mama Eda, at this age, I can’t tell who I will end up with in the future.” Margret said emotionally.
“I understand.” The woman finally left.
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Back to the Casino. Crucifix seated before an old man and surrounded by hefty men. In his hands were cards which he gazed at quietly, wasting unnecessary time. He swallowed hærd and said to Ero who stood beside him, “I need a hot drink, please.”
“Play this game, you f–king kid!!” His opponent shouted angrily while Ero sent for a hot drink.
Crucifix looked at his opponent. “You’ve lost severally already and you’re still in a hurry to lose.”
The old millionaire shook his head angrily. His guards wanted to pull out guns, but he waved his hands for them to chill. Just then, Crucifix put down the three remaining cards in his hand.
“Check.” he said, pulling all the money on the table to himself. The hot drink arrived at the moment. He looked up to see Linda with it. Oh, no, when ordering for the drink, he forgot Linda would be the one to brink it. Now, he couldn’t hide anymore. As Linda bent down to give him a bottle of liquor, both eye-balls caught, but the girl did as if she didn’t know who he was; no familiarity, no emotions or atom of feelings. After opening the drink, she walked out without looking back.
It was weird to Crucifix. Two beautiful girls were ready to strip for him but here was the one said to be his peace of mind showing no emotions towards him. In as much as he didn’t like the girl, he couldn’t stop thinking about her attitude. Probably because she was at her place of work. But that wasn’t it. Linda had always been like that.
“Hey, kid.” the old opponent called his attention. “You’ve succeeded in exhausting my money.” he said, smoking.
“Not all.” Crucifix replied. “You can bet with your car keys. Who knows, it might be your lucky turn to win.” he smiled mockingly.
“Fine!” The old man wanted to select some marbles.
“No, no, no, let me see the car key first.” Crucifix requested.
The man jingled his car key on the table. He didn’t know who he was dealing with. Almighty Crucifix, the mind reader. Of course he loss again thereby losing his car too. But Crucifix never took the key, he returned it back to him and stood up. He made up to a million bucks and Ero kept his own end of the deal by giving him forty percent. Leaving the casino, Crucifix and Linda’s eyes caught for the second time.
“Go after the boy. Know where he lives.” Ero instructed his men..
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THE NEXT DAY
The sun had set, cool wind emanated from the East. Margret could feel it from her window where she contemplated on how she would tell her parents about her date appointment. She wore a black elastic skirt and a designer top, leaving her hair to dangle around her neck. She glanced at herself through a standing mirror before flinging her butt to the living room. Luckily, only the mother seated there, watching a programme. Margret stood at a distant, twisting her hands nervously until the mother noticed her presence.
“Margret, what is it with you?” Mrs. Adams turned to her.
“Mum, umm…” The girl swallowed hærd, totally met the mother on the cushion and sat beside her. “Mum.. I… I have a date tonight.” she let the cat out of the bag.
Mrs. Adams narrowed her face. “A date? With who?”
Just then a knock came from the door. The two women directed their eyes there. It was certain to Mrs Adams that the person at the door was the so called date. Margret wanted to go open the door but her mother’s voice stopped her.
“Come back, let me get it.” She had said.
As the woman was walking towards the door, Mama Eda stepped out to the dining room with a rag in her hand. Margret glanced at her, still twisting her hands. Both saw the mother of the house opening the door and interrogating the visitor. Margret knew within herself that it must be Crucifix. To clear her doubt, she saw her mother stepping away from the door and Crucifix entered in a grand style. The dude looked different! He wore a black suit without tie. An expensive rolex chain watch hung on his wrist. On his feet were sparkling Italian shoes. Moreover, immediately he entered, the air dispersed the breathtaking of his perfume. Margret could hærdly recognize him! The girl became stunned analyzing young Crucifix. Was it the wood chopper? She thought.
“Hi, Margret.” Crucifix said, just the same way he did at the back of Mary’s Restaurant with an axe in his hand. His voice and stare in the living room reminded Margret the moment. Oh, what an atmosphere of r-mance and love that filled the room. Margret felt like crying but she swallowed hærd. Already, Eda couldn’t stop smiling from the dining room.
“Hi, Crucifix.” Margret later found her voice as both stared at each other.
“He will wait here as you dress up for the date.” The mother approved.
“Okay, mum.” She hurried into her room while Crucifix was offered a seat by Mrs. Adams. The young boy sat down and crossed his legs like the president of the country. What an act from an ordinary wood chopper? 😂 Of course Mrs. Adams would have objected to that date, but Crucifix attire and boldness had her mind disfigured. Even as she sat down again, to talk to him was a very big problem to her. But she had to as the mother of her daughter whom was about to go on a date with a total stranger.
“So where do you live, Crucifix?” she began.
“At DeMar, ma’am.” he replied with a smile.
“It’s not too far from here. What about your parents?”
“Uhmm… They are late, ma’am. I’m staying with my grand-pa.”
“My condolences.”
“Thank you.”
Both went silent again to enable the sound of the television circulate once more. Of course Crucifix knew that more questions were still coming and he was ready for them. Fortunately, Margret came out immediately. He turned to see the girl in a short elastic blue gown with heel shoes in her feet. Her w-t l-ips sparkled gold with the help of reflection of light. She was the most beautiful thing Crucifix had ever seen.
“Shall we?” Margret smiled.
“Of course.” Crucifix stood up.
“Bring her back safely, young man.” Mrs Adams interfered.
“She’s as safe as heavens.” The boy replied, putting a smile on everyone’s face. “Thank you, ma’am.” he walked to the door and opened it for Margret. The young girl glanced at him with a smile while passing through. Surprisingly, a cab, hired by Crucifix was already waiting for them. The boy did Justice again by opening the back door of the taxi for her. When she entered, he joined her before the driver sped off.
“Crucifix!!” Margret exclaimed his name in,side the cab. She hadn’t said anything but Crucifix began to laugh out hærd.
“Are you surprise?” he asked her.
“I’m stunned!!” the girl kept staring at him. “Where did you get all this? Cush!! You should have seen the look on my mum’s face!”
“I saw it.” Both laughed while the driver kept smiling and glancing through the inner mirror. “Well, all this doesn’t really mean anything. Just wanted to look nice for my girl tonight. Not only that, I really want the night to be a memorable one to both of us.” he added humbly and honestly. Margret couldn’t hold back her feelings, so she quickly k-sed him and rested her head on his shoulder while Crucifix crossed his hand on her shoulder too. The love of the two began to grow exponentially.
They went to the beach but never came close to the tides. They could be seen in an open bar beside the beach drinking and laughing. Margret’s cracking laughing could be heard by the fish of the sea.
“…believe me, I was really going crazy over there in my former school. This same boy called Jimmy caused a havock there too. The boy is following me everywhere I go. I don’t know if my umbilical cord is tied to his.” Crucifix said while Margret laughed.
“Thank God your expulsion has been lifted.” she said and sipped a drink through a straw. “So when are you resuming school?”
“I can’t miss school tomorrow unless you won’t be there because you’re my education, my academics, my knowledge, my inspiration and understanding. Without you I’m an illiterate..”
Margret laughed! Even Crucifix found himself laughing at his own words.
“I love you so much, Margret.” he held one of her hands gently. “I’m so happy to witness and experience this moment with you.” he added.
“Me too, Crucifix. I love you too.” she replied, still blushing and smiling.
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Darkness creeped in. Geb was sitting outside his local house when Crucifix stepped in with Margret. He looked up at them to see the young damsel, roaming her eyes around the compound. Obviously, Crucifix’ outfit that day didn’t correspond to the nature of his residence. Though she cared less.
“Papa, this is Margret, my girlfriend.” Crucifix introduced.
“Good evening, sir.” Margret greeted. “You must be papa Geb. Crucifix told me about you.”
“Likewise the way he talks about you too.” the old man replied. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, my dear.” he stood up. “I was about going out. I’ll know more about you next time.”
“No problem.” Margret held Crucifix’ hand as the old man walked away.
They entered into his room where she kept roaming her eyes. Of course she sat down at the edge of the local bed, still looking around.
“This is where I live, Margret.” Crucifix sat down with her. “Now you’ve seen it as you requested.” he added conclusively.
“It’s not bad.” she smiled and held his hands once again. Silence creeped in as both stared into each other’s eyes. Gently, they began to k-s passionately that Margret had to pull his suit. On the other hand, Crucifix’ hand rubbed around her br–st until he pulled down the handless gown in a way he saw her white br–st. Both stopped, breathing hastily and gazing at each other again. Slowly, Crucifix laid her down on the bed and totally removed the gown to behold the girl’s extraordinary beauty. Meanwhile, Margret’s heart accelerated more than ever. She didn’t believe she was about to lose her v×rgiπity to the ‘wood chopper’
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TO BE CONTINUED.