C4 FREEDOM

The following morning, Prissy and James went to the police station as early as they could, they explained their plans to the police and it was accepted. According to the text sent by the kidnappers, Prissy was supposed to go alone to the described place, a black drum was kept there, inside which she was to drop the money and when confirmed, Essien would be released.

James brought a briefcase filled with paper inside, he arranged one thousand denominated (currency) on top of the paper inside the briefcase. They took off to drop the money at the described place. Prissy called the kidnapper that she was on her way to drop the money, the kidnapper reminded her not to play any unfair game; the kidnapper gave Prissy an assurance that he will release her husband once he sees the money but if police are involved he will make sure he kills him. Prissy became more afraid and prayed that the trick would not resolve to another bad news. One of the kidnappers was sent to where Prissy was to drop the money to see if she was about to play games with them.

When Prissy, James and the Police men got close to the place they stopped and parked the cars, the police hid around, they asked only Prissy to go and drop the money, She walked with unsteady steps, eyes bulging out, her hearts started skipping beats, she looked around dropped the money inside the drum and stood there shivering as she called the kidnapper and told him that she had dropped it and it’s a fair game. The kidnapper called the boy he sent to spy and confirm if it was fair without the police; the boys gave the chief kidnapper a green light to come, and told him the money was in a briefcase according to what he saw. Essien heard that the money had been dropped at the supposed place he wondered where and how his wife got such an amount of money without him.

The leader (the kidnapper) and his gang took Essien inside the bus he uses for his operations to the place the money was kept, he told Prissy when he confirm the money inside the briefcase he will let go of Essien. They finally got there, the kidnapper held Essien to where the money was kept, he brought out the briefcase and opened it a little bit, he was happy that the money was intact he immediately let go of Essien and asked him to run as fast as his legs could carry him. Immediately Essien ran the police came out in their numbers, they struck heavily. The police shot the kidnapper on his leg and killed four of his boys instantly. James picked up the briefcase in order to remove the real money, the police took the kidnapper to the station; Prissy was very happy that her husband was back to the family alive and unharmed.

The kidnapper was at the police station for two days without telling the police the reason he kidnapped Essien. The police interrogated and drilled him, but he still said nothing.

The next day Essien woke up, had his bath, ate some food and off to the police station. On his way he decided to show up in his office at least tell them he was now free, when he got there, he explained everything to his secretary, Odudu suggested Essien goes to the police station and talk to the kidnapper in a low and sympathetic tone. He also added that Essien should beg the kidnapper when he gets to the station.

Essien got to the station he sought permission from the police to interrogate the kidnapper, and he was granted. So he went in and saw the kidnapper lying helplessly, Essien called him gently, helped him sit up on the chair because of his wounded leg, Essien began to advise the kidnapper, he told him to think of himself being a free man, achieving what others were achieving, Essien told him he would help him if only he will disclose the source and why he was kidnapped and what happened to Bassey since he escaped that he has been running away from his family.

The kidnapper waited for a while before talking with a shaky voice, he started by telling Essien he was sorry for kidnapping him that he was just on a task for his friend.

“Friend?” asked Essien.

The kidnapper said it was Bassey, Essien was disappointed he immediately realized the reason why Bassey had not come to him since he left him with the kidnappers he sent. Essien stood up and kept his promise to the kidnapper by telling the police not to torture him again, he asked the police to come and listen to all the kidnapper had told him, the police did, and the search for Bassey began. Essien got home and explained everything to both Prissy and James; it was really disappointing to the whole family. At that moment, James told them what happened when he saw Bassey also,

“I saw Bassey, as I was about approaching him, he ran away”.

Bassey went to a beer parlor at night for some drinks, so he drank until he was drunk. On his way home, the police in charge of investigating his case caught him and took him to the station that night at about 8pm. The following morning Essien’s phone rang, it was the police and they asked Essien to quickly come to the station, that Bassey had been caught.

When Essien got to the station he saw Bassey, a man he trusted so much and had taken as the one and only friend, he couldn’t say anything, the police started interrogating Bassey in front of both Essien and the kidnapper who exposed him. The police asked him why he framed up and kidnapped Essien. Bassey began to explain, he said he kidnapped Essien out of greediness.

“It was due to the manner in which Essien talked about getting a child that he was ready to spend millions if only he could get just a child. So I was greedy and kidnapped Essien so that I could get money from the ransom which would be paid”. He explained.

After everything the case was taken to the court, Bassey and the kidnappers were found guilty, Bassey was sentenced to three years imprisonment while the kidnapper was one year because of Essien’s promise.

Essien sat down and thought of all that he and Prissy had passed through, because of just a child. He indulged in acts that were not pleasing to God, thus losing faith in God. He called his wife Prissy, they both went to church prayed and confessed their sins and asked for forgiveness from God and promised never to do such a thing again rather they will wait for God’s time.

Eight months later on one bright morning Essien’s mother who has not visited the family for a long time came to the house with a lady. Essien who had already prepared for work had to call the office that he will not be able to come to work because of the arrival of his mother. Essien did not know the intentions of his mother’s visit with the lady and she did not even inform him before coming, although Prissy smelt trouble, she decided to let go of such thoughts, Prissy went to the kitchen and dished out some food for them. After the meal, the aged woman called her son and Prissy to sit, that she has an important thing to say and began

“This beautiful lady sitting beside me is called Daisy from a good and rich family”.

She continued, “A long time ago I was praying for my only son and only child to get married and give me grandchildren so that I could see, touch and play with them before nature calls, but my son never gave heed to that. All he had cared for was work, until one day he brought you Prissy home and told me he wanted to marry you”

Prissy and Essien smiled and held each other hands with lot of love in their eyes.

“I was very happy that my dreams of having grandchildren would finally come true. However, what I never expected happened after my child’s wedding, no issue, for over ten years”. She lamented.

Prissy asked Essien’s mother “but mama the doctor even confirmed that I don’t have a problem with child bearing....it’s all God’s time”

“Then is it my son that is the problem?” Essien’s mother asked.

That was when she brought to light the reason why she came with Daisy.

“Since Prissy had stayed close to eleven years without showing forth a seed, it’s time Daisy talk over and bring forth what Prissy couldn’t get” she said.

Essien was silent; he can’t imagine his beloved wife and his beloved mother having issues. He then asked his mother what she was driving at by saying that Daisy whom he had never seen or known should take over from Prissy. Essien’s mother said what she was trying to say was that,

“It’s either you send Prissy away and marry Daisy or if you can marry the two I wouldn’t have any problem with that”

Essien told his mother that such a thing would never happen;

“I love Prissy so much and cannot leave her for a worthless woman who doesn’t know her pride as a lady coming to live with a man who was still living with his wife”.

He turned to the lady called Daisy and said to her, “ youbetter get up and disappear from this house”.

Prissy was still watching and listening to her husband, immediately he said that, his mother jumped up.

“Never!!! Nothing like that will happen; Daisy will not leave this house” she shouted.

She took Daisy’s bag inside the room and told her not to worry she will go and get all of her other belongings she didn’t come with, and for Essien if he sends Daisy away she will kill herself, Essien was so afraid of what his mother just said.

Prissy stood up walked into the room and began crying. Essien’s mother came into the room and began shouting at her

“My pastor told me that you are the real cause of my son’s childlessness and that if you leave, my son will have a child” she said to prissy

“But mama, heaven bears me witness that I have done everything in my power to get a child. In fact I have prayed and fasted for God to give me a child” prissy cried out to her mother in law

“Ooh really, where was your heaven when your so called fasting and prayer got my son kidnapped or do you think I don’t know that it was you and your fellow barren cult members that caused that” Essien’s mother said

“See let me tell you something, you and your cult members cannot do anything to me and Daisy....we have come to stay and there is nothing you can do about it and it is better for you to leave and let Daisy bear me children” she shouted at her and busted into tears.

Just right after that, Essien came inside the room and saw his mother shouting at his wife. He wanted to go and pacify his wife and at the same time he wanted o pacify his mother, he was so confused that he didn’t know what to do

“After I carried my own child and trained him till he is a grown man, he cannot provide me a grandchild....or is that too much to ask?” she cried out loud

Hearing that, Essien felt guilty and walked up to his mother to pacify her, prissy could not believe that her husband will neglect her

She began packing her things since her husband has obviously picked sides. He pleaded and cried for Prissy to stay that he will never marry Daisy, but Prissy told him to please go marry Daisy and start a new life with her and never to call her again because she wouldn’t come back. She moved to her parents’ house, Essien already knew that Prissy would never go to anywhere except her family house, so he quickly called Prissy’s mother on the phone and explained everything to her. When Prissy got home her father had travelled, so she met only her mother in the house, her mother stood by the door. She told prissy that she won’t come into the house because it wasn’t the way she trained her.

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked her mother

“Please let me go in” she begged

“Why are you coming to the house with bags of clothes?” her mother questioned

“My mother-in-law got me angry and I’m tired of the marriage” she replied

“But marriage is for better or worse and moreover it was not your husband that offended you so you must go back”

Prissy screamed “NO”.

Her mother screamed back with the threat: “before I open my eyes pack your things and go back to your husband’s house”.

Prissy’s mother went into the house, Prissy knew how her mother behaves, she knew that she would never allow her in, so she took some of her clothes and moved to Ella’s house, Ella was her childhood friend.

Essien rushed to Prissy’s house but before he arrived, she had left, Essien tried reaching her but she refused picking. He had to sleep at Prissy’s parent house that night because he wouldn’t be able to go back to his house because of the distance; he explained everything to Prissy’s mother.

When Essien got to his house the following day, with frustration and fear of losing Prissy he threw Daisy’s things out and asked his mother to leave his house.

One week had passed, with no news from Prissy; Essien was so unhappy living without Prissy whom he loved so much.

Prissy, however began to feel so weak as if she wanted to get sick, Ella took her to the hospital, the doctor confirmed her pregnant, immediately Prissy heard that, she became strong, stood up on her feet and told the doctor it was a lie, the doctor still confirmed her one week and 5days pregnant, she was so happy, she called James and told him, James in that same bliss went to Essien’s room and told him that Prissy had called, and that she was pregnant…

Essien planned with James to trick Prissy. She told James where she was and every detail of the place she was staying. James told her he was coming to see her.

Essien and James both decided to go and meet up with prissy, James called her to come pick him, to her surprise, she saw her husband with James and asked James why he came with Essien. Essien immediately went on his knees and pleaded with her, Prissy asked him about Daisy, Essien told her that he sent Daisy and his mother away after he couldn’t locate her, Prissy felt touched for her-mother-in-law and realized how much he loved her. They all went to Ella’s house; Prissy gleefully told her husband what the doctor said before showing him the test result. Essien was so happy they planned not to tell their parents about the pregnancy until she gives birth. They only told Prissy’s mother they had settled their differences.

They came back together and lived happily together again. But the both parents still found out about the pregnancy. During the pregnancy period, Essien pampered her, she no longer did anything. They always went to church to praise God and pray for God’s protection over their lives and the baby in the womb.

After NINE MONTHS, Prissy gave birth to a set of twins, a boy and a girl it was really a testimony. After a painful experience, looking for JUST A CHILD, they got children. But one was blind.

Essien’s mother came and asked for forgiveness, it was granted; the whole family became one big family again as the twins Luke and Leah started growing up beautifully.

What later happened?

 What later happen to the family of Essien?

 Who among the twin was blind?

 Why was one blind?

 Did the twins grow to find out the mystery behind their birth?

 What challenges in life occurred to the twins?

 Who is the better twin?

To find out all this and more.

read “JUST A CHILD part two” Luke and Leah on babelnovel