THE TEST

As I was in my living room with my fiancée I realized it was getting late so I woke her up and told her it was time for her to head home. Joyce begrudgingly got up and wore her shoes. As we were about heading out of the door to my apartment some men in black mask stormed in. They commanded I and my fiancée to get down on our knees. The men in mask were four in number. Joyce got down immediately but instead I tried to play macho man. They warned me to cool it off and stay calm or else they will bulge out my eyes. In fear of what the masked man said I immediately got down on my knees. As I hit the floor I held my fiancée tight. Their supposed leader demanded for money and a lot of jewelries. I told them I didn't have any money in the house but it was big fat lie because I had up to two hundred thousand naira in the house. Their leader pointed his gun to my head and told me that if I didn't bring out the money I had at home he would blow my head off with his gun. As he pointed his gun at me my fiancée pleaded with the gunman and told him to kill her instead. I told Joyce not to worry that the gunman was just bluffing. I told her that the gunman wouldn't kill me. As I was talking he turned the gun away from me only to point directly at my fiancée. He told me that if I didn't bring out the money he would rape Joyce. I remained adamant thinking he was just using that to scare me. Immediately he commanded Joyce to get up as he told her to lead him to the bedroom. Joyce begged the gunman but he didn't listen. Joyce begged me to give them what they wanted but the gunman laughed as he told me it was too late. After laughing he dragged her into the bedroom. I tried to save her when I saw the seriousness in the gunman's eyes. I pleaded with the gunman to spare Joyce that I had money and I would give it all to them. The shortest one among the masked men told me to calm down that his boss just wants to sample my fiancée. At this point tears began to roll down my eyes. I was helpless so I couldn't save Joyce because there three other masked men with guns in my living room. I screamed and begged from the living room that the gunman should have mercy on my fiancée but my screams proved abortive. Not too long I heard Joyce screaming and shouting from the bedroom. I felt like committing suicide at that point because it was my fault Joyce was being raped. I knew our marriage plans were over and that Joyce would hate me for life. Twenty-five minutes later Joyce and the gunman came out laughing. My fiancée told me it was all a test. She threw the engagement ring I gave her the night I proposed to her. She told me I had failed the test. The masked men removed their masks only to find out they were her brothers and that the guns were fake. She told me she couldn't spend.the rest of her life with a man who would choose money over her. Joyce was dsmn right about one thing and the one thing is I don't joke with money.

WEDDING DAY REVENGE

Agodi got to the church in his black suit looking handsome as always. It was his big day and he was excited he was going to spend the rest of his life with Beatrice. Butterflies began to rumble in his stomach as tears rowed down his eyes. His best man Tayo gave him a handkerchief to clean the tears from his eyes. Two hours had passed and Beatrice hadn't shown up at the church. All efforts to call her cell phone number proved abortive. He tried her cell phone and the only thing he could hear on the other end was -The number you are calling is switched off. His best man also tried to call her as well but it was a wasted effort. Agodi's parents and guest began to wonder what was happening. While Agodi and his family were trying to find out what happened; two men in grey suit walked in the church. One of the men pointed his gun at Agodi while the other man read out a message from Beatrice to him.

"In case you are looking for me I am already in a plane on my way to China. I never really loved you. It was all an act because I was just acting out the script I had come up with to use to take my revenge on you. I know you remember a certain student called SPIDER that the both of you were students of Uniben. He was a medical student in his second year at the university. You were told to kill him because of a certain girl. Spider was shot three times in the chest in his room one Friday night by you. He pleaded for his life but you told him to keep quiet and take the gun shots like a grown man. Well Spider was my younger brother. His friend told me everything and I decided to take my revenge on you. I waited for the perfect time to take my revenge on you. This is the reason why I convinced you to leave London and come back to Nigeria. Agodi you killed my innocent brother merely because of a girl. Spider begged for his life but today you won't get to plead for yours. See you in the next life Agodi. Goodbye Agodi."

As one of the men in grey suit finished reading the note the other man shot Agodi in the head. Agodi dropped to the ground as the whole guest ran out in dismay and fear. Before Agodi's friends could do anything the men in grey suit had disappeared from the church.

THE VINDICATION

Mama Adaugo could barely because she hadn't eaten in days but the women behind her told her that if sh didn't walk they would continue beating her with the tree branches. As Mama Adaugo was walking to the Dibia's shrine a crowd full of women followed her behind. The women were chanting songs of shame at her. Some.of the women were pushing her as some were beating her with leaves. A black wrapper was tied round her waist with black charcoal rubbed on her face. As they got to the Dibia's shrine Mama Adaugo was ordered to sit on the floor. Her husband's brothers and his uncles had brought her to the shrine to swear that she didn't kill her husband Papa Adaugo. Six weeks ago Papa Adaugo had died of suspicious circumstances. Mama Adaugo had been kept in a to for seven days without food or water because she refused to drink the water had husband's was bathed with. She had told her in-laws that she was a Christian and she doesn't practice such culture. Not too long the Dibia came outgo meet them. He commanded the women to stop chanting and stay quiet. Immediately he handed her a bowl of concoction and told her to eat it. She was hesitant but her husband's elder brother Iche Ayanwu forced her to eat it. After eating the concoction she was asked to round a black statue and swear three times about her innocence. The Dibia handed a horn that had red charms tied round it. She was to swear three times with the charmed horn that if she killed Papa Adaugo let thunder from Amadioha strike her to death. She sweared three times as she went round the black statue three times. After swearing nothing happened. Everyone was amazed that nothing had happened to her. Not too long the crowd began to hear the rumbling sound of the thunder. Everyone was happy at the sound they were hearing because they believed Mama Adaugo was finally going to see the wrath of the gods. They all began to praise Amadioha for his quick judgement and how mighty he can be. The rumbling thunder sound came closer but it stroke her husband's younger brother Obinna instead. In amazement everyone left the Dibia's shrine thinking of how the thunder stroke Obinna and not Mama Adaugo. The Dibia shouted at her in-laws to carry his corpse before his blood defiles Amadioha's holy ground.

KIDNAPPING IRETI

As Ireti closed from work she went downstairs to wait for the cab she just hired. As she was waiting she perceived some roasted corn nearby. Ireti was a lover of corn. She decided to follow the aroma so she could buy some corn. Before Ireti knew what was happening her head was covered with a black mini-sack. Her hands were bound together as she was bundled into a strange looking car. The two men hopped into the car as one of them started the engine. Ireti could hear as one of the men started the engine. Her heart beat began to increase. Different thoughts began to run through her mind. Her scariest thought was that they kidnapped her for sacrifice. She began to cry uncontrollable. At one point she didn't know when urine ran down through her legs. Ireti hadn't prayed in a very long while but this time she began to say The Lord's Prayer. After saying some prayers she began to beg the men. She offered them a lot of money. She told them how her father is a business tycoon and how she could get them a lot of money. The men didn't answer her. She kicked and screamed but all was to no avail. No one could see her in the car because the windows of the car was tinted. Ireti started to think of how to jump out of the car. She tried to use her legs to unlock the car door but she hurt her leg instead of unlocking the car door. Since she couldn't jump out of the car she decided she was going to just stay calm. She finally made a plan than seemed like a genius one. She made up her mind that when she gets to the sacrifice ground she would beg the herbalist. She had concluded in her head that if she offered the herbalist a huge sum of money he would spare her life. Everyone loves money she echoed feintly. That was her beautiful plan and she was sticking to it. The men were amazed of how she had simmered down and how she wasn't making anymore trouble. After a long drive the men stopped the engine. As the men stopped the engine Ireti's heart rate increased. It was like she should just die. She felt the worst had befallen her. So I will end my life as  meat for sacrifice she thought.One of the men opened the back sit door and reached out to carry her. She tried to fight the man but it was a wasted effort. The man hung Ireti across his shoulder. Ireti began to count the steps of the man. Suddenly the man dropped Ireti on the floor. He untied her hands and removed the mini sack that was put over her head. As the mask was removed she was amazed to see her fiancé Eyinna. She began to have mixed feelings. Immediately Eyinna dropped down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She stood there looking at him in astonishment. After a minute and a half she moved closer to Eyinna. Eyinna was afraid of what Ireti would do to him so he started begging for his dear life. As Ireti drew closer she whispered in his ear saying -yes I will marry you. She reminded Eyinna of how she had told him the year before that if he was going to propose he should make it an epic proposal. She hugged and kissed him feintly while she thanked him for making the proposal an epic one.

POPE HOPES TRUMP RE-THINKS DACA DECISION ON IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

Pope Francis said he hoped U.S. President Donald Trump would re-think his decision to end a programme protecting undocumented immigrant children, saying it was important for young people to have roots.


“One hopes that it is re-thought somewhat,” Francis said on Monday in answer to a question on the plane returning from Colombia about the programme started by his predecessor and known as Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

He spoke about DACA and the problems of immigrant families in general, adding that he wanted to learn more about Trump’s decision.

Trump’s move this month to end the five-year-old programme instituted by former President Barack Obama plunged almost 800,000 young people, known as “Dreamers,” into uncertainty.

It drew criticism from business and religious leaders, mayors, governors, Democratic lawmakers, unions and civil liberties advocates.

Trump said during his election campaign he would end DACA if he became president.

Recently, 15 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s decision.

It claims Trumps decision was “motivated, at least in part, by a discriminatory motive” against Mexicans, who are the largest beneficiary of the programme.

It points to his statements from the 2016 presidential campaign..

“In the end, young people feel like they have no hope. And who robs them of hope? Drugs, other addictions, and suicides – youth suicides are very high – and this happens when they are torn from their roots,” Francis said.

“The relationship between a young person and his roots is very important. Young people, who have been uprooted today, are asking for help,” he said.

He appeared to take a swipe at Trump when he said: “The president of the U.S. … presents himself as a man who is pro-life.

“If he is a good pro-lifer, he understands that the family is the cradle of life and you have to defend its unity.”

The pope has already clashed with Trump over immigration issues, such as the president’s intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico and deport undocumented aliens.

Francis, the first Latin American pope, has made defence of immigrants a major plank of his papacy.

The pontiff said during the presidential campaign that a man, who thought about building walls and not bridges, was “not Christian”.

Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was “‘disgraceful” for the pope to question his faith.

Trump met the pope at the Vatican during a tour of the Middle East and Europe in May.