Chapter 9 INTENTION CHAPTER 9

The journey home was long and horrible for Adeolu although this was not the first time he would be leaving Mr Tunde's house back to Mr Femi's he hardly never felt like this way the all the previous times he was returning back

he really connected deeply with Mr Tunde and his family this time and it hurts so much to say goodbye couple with the fact that he know the kind of suffering that awaits him back at home,

Mr Tunde didn't say anything to Adeolu, he still felt guilty for what happened during the scholarship Exam, he really wanted Adeolu to have a better life but it seems he have to find another way to do that

After two hours still on the road due to heavy traffic on the road they finally arrived at Mr Femi house

Mr Tunde parked his pathfinder Toyota car properly outside Mr Femi compound, and Adeolu could see Mr Femi inside the bookshop from where he was inside the vehicle but Mr Femi hadn't seen them yet

" Adeolu... I want you to know I'm truly sorry for what happened that day, I mean your exam__"

" there is no need for apology, its not your fault, its by mistake__"

" No I need to apologize to you, but I will try to make it up to you " Mr Adeolu said putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out 1000 naira notes in five places from his wallet

" I want you to manage this, so you can get whatever you need for now, don't tell Mr Femi I gave this to you " Mr Tunde warned

" Thank you sir__ I promise I won't tell " Adeolu said with a smile as he put the money into his pocket

They got down from the car and it was then Mr Femi saw them and he

came to meet greet them with a warm smile on his face

" My friend, My friend__ back as promised, hope that this goat didn't give you a hard time " My Femi pointing at Adeolu

" you know, you should try to treat him a little nicer, his a good kid " Mr Tunde said in Adeolu's defense trying his best not too say any harsh word to Mr Femi that will put Adeolu into trouble

" Nice!! You say__ Haven't I been nice enough, I took him into my home when his own parent abandoned him to die, I feed him, clothed him and you think I haven't been nice enough to him or have this little rat corrupted your mind against me " Mr Femi said looking at Adeolu with a very familiar look

Adeolu knows Mr Femi is angry already, and he might get beating today despite him not saying or doing anything wrong

" No ooo, you are getting me wrong, Adeolu have mentioned things about you to me but all of them are nice things, he was very excited that he was returning back " Mr Tunde said trying to water down the situation

" You see, that's because he knows he is the one finishing all the food in the house, since he has been in your place can't you see he has reduced weight and that I have gained weight because I'm now eating well " Mr Femi said touching his pot tummy

Mr Tunde agreed with whatever Mr Femi said, he didn't want to get Adeolu into trouble

" You see why I always call this boy stupid, adults are talking and you are standing here__ will you go to the shop and sell market for me " Mr Femi said hitting Adeolu in his head

For two months now no one had hit Adeolu but his first day back at Mr Femi house and he had already been insulted and feeling pains, Adeolu quickly carried his load and ran to the shop, there was no time to feel pity for himself he knew this is the reality of his life

From the shop Adeolu could see Mr Tunde giving Mr Femi some cash as he entered his car and waved goodbye to Adeolu who wished he could follow him back. He wanted to scream " take me with you!!!! " but he couldn't....

" now that you are back I can go get some rest, do you know that Olalekan and his sister Daramola refused to stay in the shop " Mr Femi said trying to get sympathy from Adeolu

" am sorry sir " Adeolu said, but deep down he was saying that serves you right

Mr Femi left Adeolu in the shop as he went up to his apartment and not quite long after he left his children Olalekan and Daramola came down in a rush

" bring the money " Olalekan ordered and was supported by his sister

" what money " Adeolu said trying to play dump

" if I slap you, you will see stars and moon, will you bring the money that Mr Tunde gave to you " Daramola said gesturing angrily

This event always repeat itself, every time Adeolu returns from his visit to Mr Tunde he was always robbed off by Olalekan and Daramola, but he was not a fool so he always prepare for them

" alright I will give it to you " Adeolu said then brought out a thousand naira note from his pocket and gave it to Olalekan

" are you telling me he only gave you one thousand naira " Olalekan asked looking at him suspiciously

" don't mind this boy, he is lying, let's search him " Daramola said hitting Adeolu in his head

They both searched through Adeolu's things but they found no money so they left him alone, after they had long gone, Adeolu smiled as he brought out the remaining four thousand from a book, he knew they will never search a book, they hate the sight of books...

As Adeolu slept on the mat inside the shop, he couldn't help but think about the possibilities that his nightmares were his past memories, he also tries to connect the dots between Mr Femi and his dreams

Did he rescue me from the people who killed my parents?.... But why do he have to lie that they abandoned me?

Or could he be he was the one that killed my parents? __ No its not possible

although Mr Femi have been so cruel in the way he treated Adeolu, Adeolu does not believe he is capable of murder

That's too evil even for him he thought. Adeolu was so tired after doing a lot of work today he couldn't believe that Mr Femi and his family left there dirty clothes for him to come back and wash them, that's two months of dirty cloths, Adeolu was feeling the pain all over his body but he was too tired to care, as he fell asleep

The next day

Adeolu was awake as early as 4:30am to do all the house chores and get ready to prepare break fast for the family

Students were on holiday so it was a full house that day. After Adeolu was through with everything he was so tired he decided to take a small nap....

" Adeolu!!! Adeolu!!! Adeolu!!! " Mrs Tunde said as she bang at the shop door

But Adeolu had fallen in a deep sleep, so he didn't hear Mrs Femi calling, this made Mrs Femi angrier the more and she banged the door with much more force that made Adeolu got up from his mat still feeling sleepy though but as he heard Mrs Femi raging voice, he looked at the old wall cook hanged up by the corner of the wall, it says 7:30AM

" I'm dead oh!!!!" Adeolu exclaimed

" Will you come and opening this door now " she said as she kept banging the door with much force and intensity

Adeolu knows he is in a lot of trouble, he had overslept and it seems Mrs Femi is in the mood to give him the beating of his life. Luckily for him he had bolt the door of the shop from inside in case any one attempt to steal from the shop, if not so Mrs Femi would have entered and gave him a beating as he slept

Adeolu knew the more time he kept Mrs Femi outside the more his punishment is increasing, she was still banging the door of the shop and this drew attention of some people, as they asked if Adeolu was still alive

" He is still alive but when I enter inside he will be dead " Mrs Femi said raging on

Adeolu's heart was racing really fast, as he moved to the door to open it,

Mrs Femi voice was still as loud as ever and as Adeolu came out Mrs Femi grabbed him by his cloth and was about to start beating him

" will you stop that " a voice came out from the crowd who were watching

Mrs Femi and Adeolu turned to see who was that, and to his surprise it was Mr Tunde

What is he doing here Adeolu said to himself, but he was sure glad he was here, he really didn't care the reason that brought him here

" Good morning sir " Mrs Femi said embarrassed

" what is good about the morning, you want to start beating this boy early this morning!! What for? " Mr Tunde said as he glanced at Mrs Femi in disguised

" ...He has been sleeping since morning " Mrs Femi said trying to plead her innocence

But Mr Tunde was not buying any of that, and he told her to go call her husband

Mrs Femi hurriedly went to get her husband Mr Femi...

" Good morning sir, and thank you so much... But what are you doing here? " Adeolu asked really confused but also very excited at the same time

" I have good news for you boy ... You passed your scholarship exams!!!! " Mr Tunde said with his mouth wind open

Adeolu could not believe what he was hearing as he looked puzzled for a while before getting himself

" I passed the exams? How come? but I didn't finish the paper " Adeolu said shocked

" I was also surprised myself, but I got the mail yesterday night and I'm here to take you with me "

Adeolu was so excited that he hugged Mr Tunde so tight..just then Mr Femi came down stairs with his wife

" My friend hope no problem you are in my house this early morning " Mr Femi said

" no problem at all, I'm here to take Adeolu " Mr Tunde replied

" take Adeolu... What do you mean by that? " Mr Femi said confused

" I want Adeolu to stay with me, and I will pay for that "

" No that won't be possible, Adeolu can't go with you __ who will do all the work in this house " Mr Femi said

" he is not your slave, and he have a right to live a better life, and that's what I want to give him " Mr Tunde said

They kept arguing while Adeolu watched them until he was fed up and spoke out

" enough!!!! I'm not staying here I'm leaving with Mr Tunde " Adeolu said as he went into the shop and took his belongings

Mr Femi was in shock as Adeolu followed Mr Tunde into his car

What will happen next