EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE...EPISODE THIRTEEN (13).

Maxwell hugged Alberta so tightly that he started reminiscing on the past emotions they had for each other. “Max, please don’t let go of me”. “I cannot live without you”, Alberta pleaded as she basked in the warm and firm embrace of her one time lover. “Alberta, you have to stop doing this to yourself”, Maxwell said as he broke up the embrace and put his hands on Alberta’s shoulder so as to have a better look at her. Alberta looked very pale and Maxwell felt that he was partly responsible for her current state. “Have you been eating at all?”, Maxwell asked, weighing Alberta’s arm in his palm. “I cannot eat well”, Alberta responded. “You are always on my mind and the thought of you doing all the things we used to do together with someone else makes me sick and the subject of food is the last thing that comes to mind when such thoughts fill my mind”, Alberta said, looking intently at Maxwell as if she wanted to be shown pity. “Albie, I thought we were way past these things and feelings”, Maxwell started. “I cannot do this anymore with you”. “I think you should leave now”, Maxwell added and looked at Alberta one more time before he started walking away. Alberta ran after Maxwell and held onto his shirt, “Maxwell, do you have a conscience at all?”, Alberta asked. “Have you forgotten so soon that this womb of mine once carried your seed?”, Alberta asked, touching her tummy. “I am well aware of that fact and truth be told, it is an episode that I am not proud of, so stop talking about it”, Maxwell said and continued walking on towards the entrance of his hostel. “Maxwell hold on”, Alberta pleaded while she tried to catch up with Maxwell. “Alberta”, Maxwell stopped and started to speak. “The last thing I want is for us to create a scene here”, Maxwell said, looking closely at Alberta. “If you are here to create a scene, I would not be party to it because I have had enough already”, Maxwell added. Alberta took Maxwell’s arm and placed it on her breasts. “You feel how fast my heart is beating, don’t you?”, Alberta asked, trying to effortlessly position Maxwell’s hand between her two firm beasts. “My heart beats this way only for you, Max”. This heartbeat yearns to be at rest in your loving arms”, Alberta said as she pressed Maxwell’s hand firmly against her chest area. “I see where this is going but it is not going to work”, Maxwell said and swiftly pulled his hand from in between Alberta’s breast. “I don’t understand what you mean by what you are saying”, Alberta fired back. “This is just a way of seducing me to make love to you right?”, Maxwell asked Alberta. Alberta, with the little strength left in her, gave Maxwell a slap on the cheek. “How dare you say that to me?”, Alberta asked, feeling very disappointed in Maxwell’s comments. “I won’t stand here and have you insult me for any reason whatsoever”, Alberta said and backed away from where she stood. “That didn’t come out right”, Maxwell said when he realized that his words were in a way harsh. “I am sorry”, Maxwell apologized. “I didn’t expect such words from you”, Alberta said. “You will never change and I will not force you to change”, Alberta added. Maxwell drew close to Alberta and said, “Honestly, I didn’t mean to cause you all this pain but things are just not working between us and I would not want any of us to be unhappy in a relationship”, Maxwell explained. “I understand you now”, Alberta said and turned to leave. “I wish you luck in life and goodbye”, Alberta turned and said as she signalled to stop a taxi to take her back to the bus terminal. Maxwell had complete confidence in the fact that he had finally managed to close Alberta’s chapter in his life. He had not heard from her or seen her around his campus and with the days that passed, he felt that was very comforting. It had been eight long weeks since Maxwell heard anything from Alberta. One evening, he was going through his lecture notes when he received a call from Alberta. “Hello”, Maxwell said and kept silent to hear what Alberta had to say. “Hello, Max, how are you?”, Alberta queried. “I am doing well”, Maxwell answered. “Are you hungry?”, Alberta asked, after they had exchanged pleasantries. “What kind of question is that?”, Maxwell fired back. “And even if I was hungry, what can you do about it?”, Maxwell asked, getting up to peep through the window if he could see any sign of Alberta but it was too dark to see anything. “You still haven’t answered my question”, Alberta insisted. Maxwell decided to think up a dish that would be ‘impossible’ for Alberta to produce even if it was the case that she was on his campus. “If I was to be hungry, I would love a big pizza and a bottle of coke to wash it down”, Maxwell said. “Okay, I would have it delivered to you”, Alberta said and hang up the phone. In about two hours, Maxwell was standing on the balcony in front of his room engaged in a serious debate with many of his hostel mates when Alberta came walking towards them with Maxwell’s pizza and a two-litre bottle of Coca cola in her hand. Maxwell was dumbfounded for minutes and was rooted to the spot until his roommates and other hostel mates asked him to invite Alberta into his room. He reluctantly agreed and acted as a gentleman and ushered Alberta into the room and he followed suit, leaving the others outside the room. “What are you doing here?”, Maxwell asked coldly. “I thought I told you not to come here anymore”, Maxwell added feeling very much incensed by Alberta’s presence. “They say that time is supposed to heal you but I can see that with you, the passage of time makes you detest me the more”, Alberta said and placed the pizza and bottle of Coca cola on the table. She walked to the door and turned the lock, locking Maxwell’s roommates outside. She then started to undress. Maxwell could not believe what was happening. “Maxwell”, Alberta started, “Let us play a game”. “I am going to give you two options”, Alberta added as she continued undressing. “The last time we met, you accused me of being a whore who was only interested in sleeping with you”, Alberta continued. “But today, I am going to offer my body to you and I want you to make love to me”. Maxwell was sitting on his bed and tried hard to shut his eyes so as not to be tempted by Alberta’s half-naked body as Alberta started walking towards him in an unusual way. “That is one part of the game”, Alberta added. “The other option available to you is that you can refuse my offer but I would walk out of this room stark naked and accuse you of mistreating me and throwing me out of your room without any clothes”, Alberta revealed. “Bear in mind that all your male friends are standing right behind this door and you would not want to disgrace me in such a manner, will you?”, Alberta asked as she finally sat on Maxwell’s laps. Maxwell, still with his eyes closed, tried to fight off Alberta’s advances. “There is no way in hell or on earth that I am going to sleep with you, Alberta”, Maxwell said. “You are free to do your worse”, Maxwell added and pushed Alberta off him. “Okay, suit yourself”, Alberta responded and started for the door with her breasts dangling in front of her. *Clock*clock*, Alberta started to unlock the door when Maxwell rushed to the door to stop her from going outside naked to the full glare of the crowd that had gathered right outside the door. “Alberta please stop this”, Maxwell pleaded when he managed to prevent Alberta from opening the door. “You just called my bluff and I was going to show you that I was up to the task”, Alberta said. “I know you will not cause me to do this”, Alberta said as she touched Maxwell’s cheeks. “Are you going to make love to me or not?”, Alberta enquired. “Albie, you know that I can’t do this with you anymore right?”, Maxwell explained. “I have moved on and I know that you have moved on too”, Maxwell added. “Okay, step out of my way then, I want to leave”, Alberta said. “I would only allow you to leave with your clothes on”, Maxwell fought back. “Then you know what to do to get me to put my clothes on”, Alberta said. “It is either we go and lie on that bed together”, Alberta said, pointing to Maxwell’s bed. “Or, I walk out of here alone, without my clothes on, Alberta said, pointing to the door which Maxwell had managed to bar with his fists”. “The choice is yours to make”, Alberta added. Maxwell stood there is if he was in a trance and contemplated on what to do. In a matter of seconds and with whatever considerations he made, Maxwell started walking towards his bed and Alberta followed him, laughing hysterically. Soon, Maxwell and Alberta walked out of his room together and headed towards the bus terminal to see Alberta off. Maxwell did not say a word throughout the drive to the main bus terminal. Alberta was giddy and all excited jumping around in the taxi like a young calf. “I feel like a million pounds right now”, Alberta said feeling so excited and was already beaming with smiles. As they walked up the driveway leading into the bus terminal, Maxwell finally broke his self-acclaimed silence. “What just happened back there is and will be the last time any such thing would happen between us”, Maxwell said. “The next time you try such a feat, I would kill you before you walk out the door”, Maxwell warned. “I know you enjoyed every bit of it because as hard as you tried to suppress it, I could hear your moans even though they were muffled and I saw how all the veins in your body stood at attention at the sight of my body”, Alberta added. Maxwell did not even wait to see if Alberta had joined the bus or not and left her there and went back to his hostel. When he got there, his roommates and hostel mates were all gathered there waiting on him to return. “Max, what are you still doing hanging around this young lady for?”, Ben, Maxwell’s roommate asked as Maxwell approached the crowd. Maxwell knew that he was going to become a topic for discussion because of his recent escapades with Alberta. “I just don’t know why she cannot stay away from me after all the constant warnings I have given to her”, Maxwell said in his defence. “You need to find a way to permanently cut ties with her before she lands you into a situation where you would find it impossible to break free from”, another guy in the crowd said. “It would be sad to hear that you got killed because of this girl”, the guy added. “No such thing is going to happen to my roommate”, Ben said and moved for the discussion to be brought to an end and managed to diplomatically disperse the crowd that had gathered to save Maxwell some face and give him some peace of mind. When they entered the room, Maxwell’s roommates sat him down and advised him. Ben spoke first, “Max, you are like the brother I never had and I would hate to be in your shoes right now but whatever you have going on, please try and get your act together and act like you know what you are about”, Ben said. “What is that supposed to mean?”, Maxwell asked Ben. “Maxwell, please listen to Ben”, Richmond, Maxwell’s other roommate said. “We are supposed to look out for each other like brothers”, Richmond added. “From the look of things, I think we need to step in to avoid the worst from happening”, Ben chipped in. “We have resolved that the next time Alberta comes here, we are going to ask her to leave and that is whether we get your approval or not”, Richmond added. Maxwell agreed to what his roommates said and went to bed feeling very exhausted. In the weeks that followed, Maxwell received the unfortunate news of losing a course mate and personal friend to cerebrospinal meningitis. A funeral date was set and Maxwell decided to attend the funeral to pay his last respects even though the first semester of his final year in the university was drawing to a close. Before Maxwell left for the funeral, he arranged with Nancy for them to meet up after the burial service so they could spend some time together. Just like they promised, Maxwell met up with Nancy in her house and they spent most of the afternoon together in each other’s arms. Maxwell decided to leave and go back to school when it was late afternoon. After Nancy had seen him off and he joined a bus heading to the bus terminal, he gave Alberta a call to check up on her. “Talk of the devil”, Alberta said when she answered Maxwell’s call. “I was just about to call you”, Alberta added. “Is there any problem?”, Maxwell asked. “Yes, there is a big problem, Max”, Alberta responded. “What is it?”, Maxwell asked in a frantic effort to find out what Alberta’s problem was. “I was just kidding with you”, Alberta said. “You are the one who called so I should be asking what your problem is”, Alberta said. “Anyway, I was passing through town and just called to say hello”, Maxwell explained. “So you are in town and you didn’t bother to pass by my end?”, Alberta queried. “It would be out of this world for you to come to town and not come over to my place”, Alberta started. “Wherever you are, please come over because I want to see you”, Alberta pleaded. After much persuasion, Alberta managed to convince Maxwell and took a detour to Alberta’s house. Before he got there, he called Nancy and told her that he was on the bus heading to his campus and that he was going to call her when he got there. Maxwell knocked on Alberta’s door and she opened it and threw herself in Maxwell’s arms. As they sat together, Alberta put her head on Maxwell’s laps and started to caress them. Maxwell asked to be excused to use the washroom and when he returned, he saw his phone ringing and the caller was Nancy. Maxwell could not answer the call because he had already told her early on that he was on the bus heading toward his school. When Nancy called three times and there was no response, she sent him a text message, “Maxwell where are you?...why are you  not answering my calls?...I am worried?”. When Maxwell saw the message, he knew something had gone amiss in the short period between asking to be excused to visit the washroom and returning to see his phone ringing. When Maxwell suggested that he wanted to leave, Alberta was infuriated and angrily left the room and stood outside. Maxwell dug his hands into his pockets and fetched all the money he had left on him. Judging by the time, he knew that he was going to miss the regular bus the plied his school’s route. He knew that to prevent any inconvenience or any unforeseen incident, he had to have additional cash to get him back safely onto his campus. He searched Alberta’s room and found some notes which he picked without Alberta’s knowledge. He stepped outside to see Alberta standing in front of the door. “I have a funny gut feeling that staying here would bring trouble for all of us so I want to take my leave”, Maxwell said and quickly hugged Alberta and made a quick getaway. As he sat in the bus heading back to the bus terminal, he kept receiving calls from Nancy. He could not answer her calls because he did not know how he was going to explain why he was held up and was still in a bus after several hours of leaving her place. True to his speculation, when Maxwell finally arrived at the bus terminal, all the regular buses had left so he had to join a private bus back to school. It was already 10:39PM when he joined the bus which was half full with passengers who preferred to travel at night. Maxwell’s phone beeped from a message received. It was from Nancy, “Maxwell, I am very worried right now, it is way past my bedtime and I just thought I could hear your voice before I go to bed but from the look of things, you are going to stand me up and deprive me of that too”. “Please call me when you get this message, love you bunch”. Maxwell prayed and wished that the bus would miraculously reach his campus in a few seconds so he could get back to Nancy but it was not to be. It seemed like ages before the bus was finally full. When Maxwell got to his hostel, it was almost thirty minutes past 1 A.M. He hurriedly found his way to his room and knocked so hard on the door until his knocks managed to wake Richmond up after he had called his roommates phones several times without any response. He took a quick shower and went to bed, praying for dawn to break quickly so he could call Nancy and explain to her what had happened. A loud knock suddenly woke Maxwell up from his sleep. He checked his time and it was ten minutes past 8 A.M. He hurriedly went to the door and unlocked it. *Clock*clock*clock. When the door flung open, Maxwell could not believe his eyes so he wiped them again. “Where is the money you took from my room?”, Alberta asked….. ALBERTA IS ONE OF A KIND. SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO GET MAXWELL'S ATTENTION. WHAT MORE WILL SHE DO? STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT. MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS IS ANOTHER MASTERPIECE…THE COUNTDOWN IS ON NINE DAYS MORE…WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE DETAILS. MORE AT randomafricanthoughts.blogspot.com

EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE...EPISODE TWELVE (12).

"What is that supposed to mean"?, Maxwell asked Alberta, looking into her eyes for an explanation. "You can take it to mean whatever you want but I know what I would do and I am sure you are going to hear all about it sooner rather than later", Alberta responded looking at Maxwell with tears in her eyes. Alberta went into the room and was followed by Maxwell. She sat on the couch and like a robot, Maxwell did the same. "Continue eating your food", Alberta ordered. Maxwell, who was now confused and scared at the same time looked into Alberta's eyes as if he did not hear what she said the first time. "What did you say?", Maxwell asked Alberta. "I said finish your food because I want to clear the table", Alberta said. "If there is nothing going on between you and my friend, then you have nothing to worry about", Alberta added. "I would do my best to find out how all of this started and we would set the records straight", Alberta continued as Maxwell resumed eating. When Maxwell heard what Alberta said, he dropped the spoon and sat upright in the couch. "Why are you doing all this?", Maxwell enquired. "What do you aim to achieve if you eventually find out?", Maxwell added. "My dear Maxwell, that is none of your business and you shouldn't worry your head over it", Alberta responded. "There is nothing going on between your friend and I so just leave this matter to rest", Maxwell explained. "Oh, Maxwell, I believe you and I know you would not do anything to hurt me", Alberta said. Maxwell struggled to finish eating his food before Alberta cleared the table. She went out to take her bath and she came back smelling very nice. "It is getting late, so take your bath and spend the night here with me", Alberta suggested. "I don't think that is so much of a good idea", Maxwell responded. "Moreover, the clock just turned only 5 P.M so I believe there would be more than enough time for me to get back to my campus before it really gets late", Maxwell said. "My stuff are also dry except the ones you just washed so I can take all of them with me and dry out just the few wet ones", Maxwell continued. As Maxwell spoke, his phone rang. He checked the number calling and it was Nancy's. Alberta snatched the phone from Maxwell with force and also saw the name that just appeared on Maxwell's phone and allowed the phone to ring till it timed out. "So why is she calling you?", Alberta asked rhetorically. Just go outside, turn left, go down that hallway and you would see the bathroom. Take your bath and come back here", Alberta ordered. "Before you ask, everything has already been set. Alberta handed Maxwell a towel and asked him to drop his boxer shorts on the couch. Maxwell had started to get very uneasy and wished he could predict Alberta's moves but he was so confused. "Can I have my phone?", Maxwell requested. Alberta laughed and said, "Don't worry dear, I won't answer any of her calls and so will you", Alberta said. "I want her to feel how I felt when I missed you so much and yet, I couldn't get to talk to you", Alberta added and pointed toward the door to signal to Maxwell to go out and take his bath. Maxwell left to take his bath and hoped Alberta would keep her word. He hurriedly took his shower and went back into the room. Before he entered, he heard his phone ringing inside. The room in which Alberta stayed in her uncle's house was a single room which was divided into two sections by a partition made of curtains. One side of the partition served as a living room and the other side served as the bed room. When Maxwell entered the room, Alberta was not in the living room section of the room where he left her before leaving to take his bath. He attempted to answer the phone but before he could get to it, Alberta had heard the door leading into the room open and close. "Don't attempt to answer your phone because if you do, I would yell and she would know you are with a lady and I don't think you are prepared for such drama", Alberta said from behind the partition. Maxwell obeyed and asked Alberta to help him with his clothes. Alberta told him they were on the bed. Maxwell parted the partition and saw Alberta laying on the bed. She was wearing a black see-through short dress. Maxwell could see her red underwear. Alberta reached out and grabbed Maxwell by the towel. It quickly fell off and he joined Alberta on the bed. As he got closer, Alberta's lips gently parted to make way for his. Maxwell was a good kisser because Alberta always loved the way he softly bit on her lower lip while kissing her. Things moved quickly but Maxwell was gentle and careful. He knew just how to treat a woman in waiting. He placed romantic kisses all over Alberta's body, from her sole all the way up to her crown. All of a sudden, Maxwell had forgotten all about the brouhaha involving the two ladies and himself and in that moment, he aimed to please Alberta. He knew that he was capable of making all of the present confusion go away with his touches and caresses. He trailed Alberta's back with soft touches and kisses. Alberta's  body was a revelation and in the midst of being high of anticipation it was giddy with excitement. Maxwell knew Alberta's body too well. With his right hand, he cupped Alberta's left breast which was firm and supple with ample perk and played with her nipple while kissing the hollow of her neck. Alberta wreathed and shuddered. Maxwell traced his tongue down to her right breast and suctioned her areola and swirled his tongue about her nipple. At this point, Maxwell felt Alberta's nails claw into his back. Maxwell and Alberta were suddenly lost in the moment and captivated each other with their touches...
 Maxwell opened his eyes long after the deed was done and realized that Alberta was not on the bed. He became alarmed and parted the partition that separated the living room from the bed room with great alacrity. He saw Alberta in the couch sobbing and in her hand was his cell phone. She had gone through his phone again and this time, she knew what was really happening to her relationship with Maxwell. "Albie, why are you doing this to yourself", Maxwell asked, looking at Alberta with pity. "Maxwell I love you, please don't leave me", Alberta pleaded, when she heard Maxwell speaking from behind her. Maxwell looked into her eyes and said, "Alberta, we are a disaster and I doubt if we can get past the many hurdles we have set for ourselves to be happy together. Alberta refused to accept Maxwell's discouraging words. "Maxwell please don't say that", Alberta said as she moved in and cupped Maxwell's mouth with her hand. She placed her hand firmly over his mouth as she continued her speech. "Maxwell, I promise that I would change", Alberta begged as tears run down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose you to anyone and I would be the biggest loser on this earth if I lost you to no other than my , Nancy", Alberta said. Maxwell looked into Alberta's eyes as he stood there motionless. Alberta walked up to the dressing mirror which was not too far from the bed and came back with a blade in her hand. Maxwell took more than a few steps back and desperately looked around for a weapon he could use to defend himself should Alberta attack him with the blade. Alberta managed to smile as she saw Maxwell move back. "I do not intend to harm you, Max", Alberta said as she moved in closer on Maxwell's position. "So what do you intend doing with that blade in your hand?", Maxwell asked as he pointed to the little shinny and sharp object in Alberta's left hand. "Maxwell", Alberta started, "I love you so much and I am willing to commit the rest of my life to you and if you claim to love me, then commit your life to me too", Alberta said. "I want us to have a blood covenant to seal this agreement", Alberta said as she handed over the blade to Maxwell. "No way!", Maxwell yelled as he quickly hid his arms behind him at the mere thought of cutting himself with the blade. "I have seen far too many movies with these kind of commitments and I seriously did not like the way they ended", Maxwell said. "I am sorry Albie, but a  blood covenant is the last thing I see myself doing", Maxwell added. "We don't need to do this to prove anything", Maxwell started. "I'd rather we allow things to take their natural course and not take any rush decision out of our desperation to regret our actions later in life", Maxwell explained. Alberta dropped the blade and dropped herself unto the couch. "You don't love me anymore", Alberta said. She cried uncontrollably and Maxwell had to struggle to keep her calm after he had disposed off the blade. He continuously run his hand through Alberta's hair till she eventually stopped crying and fell asleep in his arms. He stayed awake all night as he was deprived of sleep owing to the fact that he did not want Alberta doing anything silly when he was vulnerable. Soon, Maxwell had gone against his word and had spent the night with Alberta even though he was awake half the time he was there. His phone had not rang for a while and he began to get worried. He gently placed Alberta's head on the couch and quietly picked his phone and went outside very quietly. He looked at the phone and he realized he was out of battery so the phone had gone off as a result. He knew both Nancy and his roommates were going to be worried sick  over his whereabouts. He just could not wait for the break of dawn so he could leave. The next day was Sunday. Alberta woke up and claimed she had a bad headache. She apologised to Maxwell for her behaviour the previous night and begged Maxwell to pretend as if none of what happened the night before ever did actually happen. Maxwell was prepared to do anything provided Alberta also kept mute over what happened. Alberta did not say much after her apology. She packed Maxwell's clothes into the jute bag and handed it over to Maxwell. Alberta called her uncle and told him to forget about coming over to pick her up because she was going to go back all by herself. Maxwell and Alberta took a shower together and got ready to leave the house. They sat in the same bus. Maxwell was going to alight in front of his campus and Alberta was going to continue on the journey alone. As the bus took off from the bus terminal, Alberta smiled cunningly at Maxwell and started playing with her phone. She sent Nancy a text message which read, "I really enjoyed your boyfriend's company the whole of yesterday and I know he enjoyed mine too that is why he refused to answer any of your countless phone calls". Alberta hit the send button after which she showed the text she had just sent to Nancy to Maxwell. "What is the meaning of this?", Maxwell asked as he drew closer to Alberta so as not to attract the attention of the other passengers on the bus. "I am well aware of the fact that both of us cannot be together forever", Alberta said. "So if I cannot have you, my friend will also not have you as well and I am going to make sure of that", Alberta added. Maxwell did not know what to say to Alberta, as hard as he tried, he could not come to terms to find the right words to say to Alberta. He kept silent till he alighted in front of his school. He did not even stand back to wave at Alberta as the car was preparing to join the busy road again. He quickly crossed the road to the other side and picked a taxi going towards the direction of his hostel. When he got to his room, his roommates were preparing for a church service. He quickly looked for his charger and plugged it in to charge his phone. As soon as enough battery power had gone into the phone to power it, Maxwell called Nancy. He called her twice but there was no response. In a matter of minutes, Maxwell's phone rang and Nancy was the caller. "Where have you been and who is there with you?", Nancy fired away immediately Maxwell answered the phone. "I told you yesterday afternoon that I went to watch football and when I got back, I could not find my charger, I know you realized that at a point, my cell phone's battery died right?", Maxwell added. "You are lying to me", Nancy said and hang up the phone. Maxwell was confused and was trying to find a solution to his dilemma when his phone rang again. It was still Nancy. "Hold on", Nancy ordered when Maxwell answered the call and placed the call on hold. Maxwell desperately placed the call over his ear waiting patiently for Nancy to resume the call. "Hello, Maxwell", Nancy said when the call was resumed. "Tell me again, Max, where were you the whole of the afternoon yesterday?", Nancy added. "Like I told you before, when I called you, I went out to watch football and it happened just like I told you earlier, Maxwell summarized. "Stop lying Max and tell Nancy the truth about the fact that you were with me at my uncle's place to entire afternoon yesterday", another voice spoke. Nancy had conferenced the call among herself, Maxwell and Alberta to ascertain the truth in the whole matter. Immediately Maxwell heard Alberta's voice, he fired off, "What is the meaning of this?". "The two of you should stop this and leave me alone!", Maxwell added and hang up the phone. "What have I gotten myself into?", Maxwell asked himself. He quickly called Alberta and said, "Alberta, I think I have had enough of all this". "I want us to break up and this time I mean it", Maxwell said. "I don't want to see you again and please do not come visiting me because you will not like what I would do when I so much as see you anywhere close to my school". "It is over, I am done!". "Just stay away from me", Maxwell added and hang up the phone without allowing Alberta to say anything that might cause him to change his mind. He called Nancy and told her that she should not give Alberta any audience going forward. Maxwell tried his best to convince Nancy to forget what happened and she did although she had her own suspicions Maxwell refused to answer any of Alberta's calls or return any of her numerous messages. Maxwell dedicated most of his time to making Nancy happy and devoted all his free time to her. They chatted and laughed all the time and they had soon forgotten about Alberta's escapade and had come back together. Alberta stopped sending Maxwell or Nancy any more messages. Soon, Maxwell had forgotten about Alberta. One afternoon, Maxwell was returning from a lecture when a taxi zoomed past him heading towards his hostel's direction. He wondered why the driver was speeding in that manner. When he arrived at his hostel, he realized that the taxi that had gone past him had stopped some metres away from his hostel. The driver and  another occupant were in the taxi. Maxwell walked past the taxi and suddenly heard someone calling out his name. He turned to see who it was and out of the taxi stepped Alberta, looking very pale and her hair was very unkempt. She had lost weight and was unevenly dressed in a long dress and a pair of shoes. "Maxwell please I came to apologize for all the things I have done to you", Alberta started. "I am a completely changed person now", Alberta added. "Maxwell sized Alberta from her head to her feet and could not fathom how she had sunk so low. "Alberta, are you alright?", Maxwell asked as he drew closer to her to have a better look at her. "Alberta, you need help", Maxwell said as he took Alberta's hand into his. "I don't need help, Max because you are all I need", Alberta responded. Maxwell felt goose pimples all over him when he saw and heard Alberta. He moved in and hugged her tightly as both of them began to tear up... CAN MAXWELL EVER BE FREE FROM ALBERTA? CAN ALBERTA EVER ACCEPT THAT MAXWELL CANNOT SEE HIMSELF LOVING HER AGAIN? ALL WE CAN DO IS HOPE AND WAIT... MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS IS ANOTHER HEAR TOUCHING STORY FROM MY RANDOM AFRICAN THOUGHTS. MORE AT randomafricanthoughts.blogspot.com


SOMETHING BIG IS COMING....WATCH THIS SPACE!!!


14 DAYS MORE!!!

EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE...EPISODE ELEVEN (11).

“What did you just say?”, Maxwell’s mother asked again as if she did not her Alberta loud and clear the first time. “Mummy, please, I said Maxwell has impregnated me”, Alberta rephrased her statement. “This cannot be possible”, Maxwell’s mother refuted Alberta’s claim. “I know my son and I know he will never do a thing like that”, Maxwell’s mother defended her son. “I see”, Alberta responded sarcastically. “Why don’t you find out by asking your son whom you seem to trust so much”, Alberta added and hang up the line. At this point, Maxwell knew there was no way he could escape from what was about to happen. He looked at his mother and said, “Don’t say what you are about to say”. “I don’t know what happened but I think Alberta is pregnant and I am responsible”, Maxwell said to the hearing of both his mother and sister. “Oh Maxwell, I am highly disappointed in you”, Maxwell’s mother said as she put her hand on her chest and tears began to flow down her cheeks. “I had great hope in you and I knew you were going to make me proud but look at the mess you have gotten yourself into?”, Maxwell’s mother said, wiping her tears away with her cover cloth. “Are you ready to become a father?”, Maxwell’s mother asked angry and charged like a raging bull towards Maxwell who was sitting in the sofa with his head bowed. “You might as well go to the kitchen, get a kitchen knife and stab me to death”, Maxwell’s mother said. “It would be equivalent to what you have done”, Maxwell’s mother continued. “Mummy, don’t say that”, Maxwell and his sister said in unison. “What do you want me to say?”, Maxwell’s mother asked the two of them rhetorically. “I know what to do”, Maxwell’s mother said and stepped outside. When she got outside, she called Alberta back. “Now you listen to me”, she started. “Even if it is true that you are really pregnant, that child does not and will never belong to my Maxwell”, Maxwell’s mother said with venom. “You better look for who is responsible for your pregnancy and don’t you dare call my son again”, Maxwell’s mother added.  “Better still, you can have an abortion to kill that thing growing in your womb because my son is not ready to become a father at this age”, Maxwell’s mother added. “I thought we were going to handle this like adults but it seems you are not ready for that”, Alberta started. When your son was on top of me every night, where were you?”, Alberta asked. “How dare you talk to me like that?”, Maxwell’s mother fired back. Maxwell’s mother took the phone off her ear and yelled out Maxwell’s name summoning Maxwell to the place where she stood. “You see what your action has caused?”. Maxwell stood there confused yet he feared to utter a word knowing full well what the wrong words could bring. “I am talking to you”, Maxwell’s mother said. “You silly girlfriend has the effrontery to talk back at me because you could not protect yourself by wearing a condom”, Maxwell’s mother added as she handed over the phone to him. “Speak some sense into her head before I go there and teach her a lesson”, Maxwell’s mother said. Maxwell took the phone and started, “Hello, Alberta, this is Maxwell”. “Take it easy please”, Maxwell said as he walked away from where his mother stood to prevent her from hearing what the two of them were saying. “My mother is very angry and upset right now so please watch what you say to her or how you respond to whatever question she asks”, Maxwell pleaded. “I know her well enough and I can assure you that it won’t be long, she would forget all of this and we would find a solution to this problem”, Maxwell assured Alberta. “But why should she talk to me like that out of anger?”, Alberta asked. “I don’t know, but I am sure you would be pretty much upset if your son came home to tell you that he has impregnated someone after his first year in the university”, Maxwell explained. “I want you to do your best possible not to respond to anything she says even if they are intimidating”, Maxwell pleaded. “Why should I do that?”, Alberta asked. “I just can’t have your mother insult me for getting pregnant for you”, Alberta said. “I understand but please do this for me”, Maxwell pleaded. Alberta hang up the phone and Maxwell returned to where his mother stood and handed her mobile phone back to her. Maxwell went back into the house and straight into his room. His mother went about the house ranting and accusing Maxwell for being such a fool and allowing the devil to make him his tool. Maxwell quietly took his shower and decided to step out of the house. As he planned sneaking out of the house, he met his mother standing behind the gate. “Where do you think you are going?”, Maxwell’s mother asked angrily. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”, she asked. Maxwell looked at her and decided to speak, “Mummy, I am really sorry for what has happened”, he started. “Do you think saying sorry will miraculously cause the baby to vanish from her womb?”, Maxwell’s mother cut in. You should be ashamed of yourself for setting such a bad example for your siblings. As Maxwell received the bashing from his mother, her phone beeped and she paused to check it. “What?”, Maxwell’s mother exclaimed in anger. “Have you seen what you have caused?”. “This girl is really trying my patience”, Maxwell’s mother said as he handed the phone over to Maxwell to read a text message she had just received from Alberta. Maxwell took the phone and the message read, “When you got pregnant with Maxwell, did his father ask you to have an abortion? So why do you want me to have one? I thought you were a Christian.” Maxwell looked at the message but could not believe what he was seeing. He quickly beat a retreat into the house, picked up his phone and called Alberta. “I thought we agreed on keeping silent”, Maxwell said angrily. “What was that message for?” “You just don’t get it do you?”, Maxwell added. “My mum was just cooling off now your text has brought all of us back to square one”, Maxwell continued. “Just listen to me for once and do what I tell you to do”, Maxwell added and dropped the call. That afternoon, Maxwell’s mother cooled down and even asked Maxwell to run a number of errands for her. Before long, they were back to being one big happy family again and Maxwell revelled in that moment. His mother sent him on an errand and he figured he could use that time to pass by Alberta’s place to check up on her and run the errand before going back home. When Maxwell got to Alberta’s house, she was sitting in front of her gate. “What do you want?”, Alberta asked Maxwell when she lifted her head and saw him coming from a distance. Maxwell got close to her and said, “Albie, I told you to stay put didn’t I?” “Exchanging words with my mum would make things not only difficult but bad for us as well”. “Maxwell, let me ask you one question”, Alberta started. “Have you ever gotten pregnant before?” “No”, Maxwell responded almost laughing out loud. “Good!”, Alberta said. “So don’t come up in here to tell me what I can and cannot do”, Alberta said. With that, Alberta got up and started to walk away from her house. “Where are you going?”, Maxwell yelled out after her. “It is none of your business!”, Alberta yelled back. Maxwell shook his head in disappointment and walked back to his house thinking why Alberta was behaving the way she was. When he arrived home, his mother summoned him to her room. “Maxwell, why did you go to see that girl?” Maxwell was stunned by his mother’s query. “How did she know I was there?”, Maxwell thought to himself. “I…I…I…”, Maxwell tried to explain but could not find the words. “This girl is so disrespectful so I wonder why among all your university female friends, you could not find anyone but rather you went in for her”, Maxwell’s mother started. “Do you know she just sent me another text message?”, Maxwell’s mother asked, looking intently into Maxwell’s eyes as she sat on her bed. This time, Maxwell’s mother did not hand him the phone to read but rather read out the message to his hearing and it read, “Please teach your son some manners”. Maxwell was shocked to the bone when he heard the message Alberta just sent to his mother. Maxwell could not understand why his mother appeared calm and collected over the issue. He wished he could see what was going on in her head. He shifted aside slowly from his position on the bed. His mother ordered him out of her room after she had told him how disappointed she was in him and how he could allow his lustful desire to make a woman drag her name and reputation through the gutter.

 The next day, Maxwell’s mother woke up early and left the house. She headed for Alberta’s house. Maxwell knew something bad was definitely going to happen. His mother did not know Alberta’s house so she asked Maxwell’s sister for directions which she gladly gave out. After an hour, Maxwell’s mother returned. Maxwell quickly ran out to meet her. “I thought your girlfriend was going to be as brave in person like she was on the phone”, Maxwell’s mother started. “I knocked on her door severally and I knew she was inside the room but the good thing she did was that she did not come out”. “I would have given her the lesson of her life and taught her a few manners too”, Maxwell’s mother said. “If I hear that you have gone back to her house again, I am going to eat you up alive, do you understand?”, Maxwell’s mother warned. Maxwell dared not go against his mother’s warning so he stayed at home till his school reopened. Maxwell went back to school without seeing Alberta. When he got to school, he received a message from Alberta that she was told by a doctor that she had complications with her pregnancy and that she had to abort it. Maxwell called her immediately and asked her if she was sure of what she was saying. She confirmed her claims but had her own reservations. “Even though I have received this news, I am still going to give birth to prove to your mum that this baby is yours”, Alberta said as he spoke to Maxwell over the phone. “That is totally ridiculous!”, Maxwell said, after Alberta had made her intentions known to him. “There is absolutely nothing to prove here”. “You having to risk your life to prove a point to my mother would actually prove nothing”, Maxwell added. “Please listen to the doctor and do what is right”, Maxwell pleaded. Maxwell did not hear from Alberta again till after a week. Alberta called Maxwell and informed him that she had successfully gone through a ‘D and C’ to rid her of her pregnancy. Maxwell vowed to steer clear of Alberta but his conscience weighed heavily upon him like an albatross. “How can I abandon her like that after going through all of this for me?”, Maxwell asked himself as he lay in his bed one evening. He knew deep down inside of him that he owed her a favour and had to find a way of repaying it and then finally cut ties with her for good. He stayed in contact with her and always tried to be there for her when she needed a listening ear. One afternoon, Maxwell closed from lecture and received a call from Nancy, Alberta’s friend. “Hello Nancy”, Maxwell said when he answered the phone. “How are you, Max?”, Nancy asked. Nancy said she had called to check up on him after the incident that happened with Alberta the previous semester. Maxwell and Nancy kept calling each other and none of them told Alberta about it. Alberta also called Maxwell as and when she needed to talk to him but it seemed to her that Maxwell was drifting away from her. They spent less and less time on the phone. Maxwell had developed a liking for Nancy and vice versa. On one of their nightly chats, Nancy asked Maxwell if he had a wish. Maxwell replied that if he had a wish, it would be that the night never ended. Nancy sounded a bit disappointed over Maxwell’s response. “I thought you were going to wish for something like my heart because I am going to gladly give it to you”, Nancy said. “Okay then”, Maxwell said. “Give me your heart”. The next day, Maxwell called Nancy to check up on her. “What happened last night?”, Nancy asked when she answered Maxwell’s call. “I think we started a relationship”, Maxwell responded. Maxwell and Nancy laughed over the comment. Maxwell and Nancy kept their relationship from Alberta. Alberta noticed that Maxwell had changed towards her. Maxwell appeared cold and always was in a hurry to hang up the phone whenever they were talking. “Max, you have changed”, Alberta complained one day when he called in to check up on Maxwell. “You no longer have time for me like you used to and even when I get to talk to you, you are in a hurry to hang up”, Alberta added. “Alberta, it is not like that”, Maxwell started. “There is a lot of pressure with my academics nowadays so it makes it difficult for me to get enough time to chat”, Maxwell said in his defence. “I have not been to the university yet so I would take your word for it. Maxwell did not know how to let go of Alberta and also did not want to lose Nancy because he felt more comfortable around her. He knew it was going to be disastrous if he kept both of them company. Moreover, Alberta and Nancy were classmates so he knew it was a classic recipe for disaster if any of them, especially Alberta got to know that he was so much as seeing both of them. He knew Alberta was going to kill him if she got to know that she was going out with none other but her friend, Nancy. One early Saturday morning, Maxwell was laying his bed and received a call from Nancy. “Hey you”, Maxwell said when he answered the call. “Hey sleeping handsome”. “Wake up already, I miss you”, Nancy added. “I am up now, thanks to you”, Maxwell responded as he yawned. “What’s up for today?”, Nancy asked. “Today is Saturday so I would wash, do some cooking then I would watch football because my favourite team is playing today”, Maxwell responded. “That’s nice”, Nancy said. “And what will you be doing today?”, Maxwell also asked. “I am a young woman so I will wash, do some chores and above all, I would cook some sumptuous meals”, Nancy said. “I wish I was there to judge for myself how sumptuous the meals you are going to prepare will be”, Maxwell said. “Don’t worry, when I see you, I will prepare your favourite dish for you”, Nancy said. “So tell me, what do you remember about me from the last time you saw me?” Maxwell was about to answer Nancy’s question when he heard a knock on the door. Maxwell thought he was not hearing properly. He waited silently and heard the knock again. He tried waking Ben up by calling his name but he was lost in his sleep. Maxwell managed to wrap his blanket all around him and dragged his feet all the way to the door with the phone pressed against his ear as he updated Nancy on what was going on. *Clock* *Clock*, Maxwell unlocked the door and opened it widely. The next words that came out of his mouth were, “Let me call you back, okay?”. He was lost for words and did not know whether to shut the door or ask the guest to come in. “Surprise!”, Alberta said softly and let herself into Maxwell’s room. Maxwell could still not believe who he was seeing. He stood at the door in shock and had been instantly rendered dumb. “Why are acting as if you have seen a ghost”, Alberta asked because she was surprised that Maxwell was behaving the way he was. Maxwell’s phone rang and he looked at the person calling and it was Nancy. He exchanged glances with Alberta and put the phone on silent. Alberta looked at him suspiciously but preferred not to say anything about what he just did. “Anyway, I was on my way to my uncle’s and I figured I could pass through to see you”, Alberta started, although speaking very softly so as not to wake Maxwell’s roommates. I was considering what you said about being under pressure and all with school stuff so I actually came by to take your dirty laundry and wash them for you so that on my return, I would bring the cleaned clothes back to you”, Alberta added. Maxwell was sceptical about Alberta’s offer but he wanted her to just leave. Maxwell went into his wardrobe and packed his dirty clothes into a jute bag and handed it over to Alberta. Alberta left after she asked Maxwell to extend her greetings to his roommates when they woke up. After noon that day, Alberta called Maxwell and informed him that she could not come back the same day with the clothes and if it happened that she had to leave the next day; her uncle was going to drop her off. She pleaded with Maxwell to come and get the clothes from where she was. Maxwell took his bath and dressed up to leave but before leaving, he called Nancy and informed her that he was going to watch a football match. Nancy apologized for not calling him earlier owing to the fact that she was busy preparing some food. Maxwell boarded a car and arrived at the bus terminal where Alberta was waiting for him to take him to her uncle’s house. When he got there, his clothes were on the drying line but Alberta had prepared some food and had dished out Maxwell’s portion and had laid a table for him. She went out to get some soft drinks from the supermarket and returned with some of Maxwell’s dried clothes and asked him to take off the clothes he had on so she could wash those too. Maxwell quickly took off the clothes, wore the clean ones and continued enjoying the meal. After about ten minutes, Maxwell was looking for his phone and realized that it was still in the pocket of the jeans which he just gave to Alberta to wash. He quickly rushed out to stop Alberta from putting the jeans in the water she was washing with but when he got there, Alberta was already going through his phone. He did not know what to do. He walked up to her and quickly snatched the phone from her hands, “What are you doing?”, Maxwell asked. “Maxwell, I can’t believe that you would go out with my friend behind me!”, Alberta started. “As for Nancy, she doesn’t know what is coming”, Alberta added…. THE BATTLE STILL RAGES ON…THIS TIME IT’S GOING TO BE BETWEEN TWO YOUNG WOMEN... MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS IS STILL “EVEN IF I DON’T FIND PEACE”.MORE AT randomafricanthoughts.blogspot.com

EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE...EPISODE TEN (10).

Maxwell was instantly hit by a thunderbolt when Alberta told her she was pregnant. "You are pregnant?". "For who?", Maxwell asked looking completely confused. "I am pregnant for you, Max", Alberta said and started crying all over again. "And you beat me up even in my condition, Max, how could you be so heartless?", Alberta added amidst sobs. Maxwell was completely confused at this stage and he wondered in his mind about who beat who that night. Maxwell sat on the edge of the bed totally shattered and dumbfounded. He rested his head against the wall while he tried to console Alberta…. Before long, Ben aggressively woke him up. "Maxwell, Maxwell, I thought you said your paper was at 8:30 am", Ben started. "It is already five minutes past 7 am”, Ben added as he pointed to the wall clock in their room. Maxwell hurriedly jumped onto his feet and started preparing to leave the hostel to the examination hall. He had dozed off while sitting on the edge of the bed. Soon, he was ready and took off without checking to see if Alberta was up from bed or not. Maxwell was an intelligent student and did not have to study hard like average students so he took his examinations and general school work a lot easier than most of his colleagues but when he was handed the exam question paper, it was as if he had been robbed of all his intelligence. He looked at the exam paper in disbelief. He wanted to turn in the paper after the required thirty minute sit-in period and walk out of the exam hall but when he looked around him and saw everyone busily 'battling' with their paper, he took a deep breath and quietly said, "My name is Maxwell and I am not going to embarrass myself like this". That being said, he chose the questions he believed he had fair ideas about and attempted to answer them to the best of his ability. As he scribbled freely, he paused intermittently and the thought of what ensued the previous night coupled with Alberta's present condition flashed through his thoughts and distorted his attention from giving his best answers to the already difficult questions. After two and a half long hours, the invigilator yelled, "Stop work!". Maxwell dropped his pen and had an unsatisfactory smile on his face as he looked around and saw people smiling genuinely at him knowing full well that he was one of the good students in the entire hall. Deep down Maxwell's thoughts, he knew his answers to the questions left much to be desired and he knew his professor was going to be highly disappointed with his submission. Maxwell quickly walked out of the examination hall past a gathering of students who were busily engaged in a banter as to what answers best suited the questions asked. Maxwell did not want to suffer a heart attack so he plugged his earphones in his ears and quickly rushed to the shuttle terminal to hop onto the bus heading towards his hostel’s direction. When he got there, Alberta was all alone in the room and she was looking more beautiful than ever. She had held her hair back revealing a shiny forehead and she wore Maxwell’s favourite T-shirt.  Maxwell's roommates had gone to write their afternoon paper. "How did the paper go?", Alberta asked Maxwell immediately he entered the room. Maxwell looked at her in anger but kept his cool and responded, "Oh, it went well". "I prepared some rice, would you want me to serve you with some of it?", Alberta asked, walking up to Maxwell who was standing in front of his wardrobe trying to place his shirt on a hanger. "I am not hungry", Maxwell responded coldly. "You have not eaten all day and I know you are hungry so please eat something for my sake", Alberta pleaded. "Okay, just give me two spoons of the rice with a little stew on the side", Maxwell ordered. Alberta quickly rushed to the balcony to get Maxwell's food. Maxwell ate in silence and Alberta knew why he was that moody. "Max, from the depths of my heart, I want to apologize for what happened yesterday", Alberta started. "I didn't mean for all those things to happen". "I was really upset that was why I did what I did", Alberta added. Maxwell continued eating in silence while Alberta spoke. "Say something, Max", Alberta said and placed her hand on his shoulder. "We cannot undo what has already been done, can we?", Maxwell said, chewing his meat with his mouth full. "The harm has already been done so we just have to move on and act mature about it", Maxwell added after swallowing the meat in his mouth. Alberta felt bad about her actions and on a daily basis, asked for Maxwell's forgiveness. Alberta stayed on with Maxwell on his campus till he finished all his papers and they both left his campus and went home for the vacation.

 During the vacation, Maxwell was always in his room or sitting alone in the hall watching TV. He seldom spoke to anyone and always all the time; he went about his chores absentminded. His mother noticed that Maxwell's behavioural pattern had changed. One afternoon, while Maxwell sat in the hall alone watching a TV program, his mother sneaked up on him and stood behind him for minutes. "Maxwell, is everything alright?", Maxwell's mother asked. "Mum, you startled me", Maxwell responded as he jumped out of the couch and quickly turned to see who the voice belonged to. "Maxwell are you okay?", Maxwell's mother asked who was herself surprised by Maxwell's reaction. "I am fine", Maxwell said. "I don't believe you", Maxwell's mother started. "I have been watching you quietly ever since you got back from school and it appears you are always indoors which is very unusual of you", Maxwell's mother added. Maxwell knew that his mother was going to engage him in a boring lecture if he continued to be moody so he had to think up something to take his mother's mind off the accurate suspicion she had about him. "If I have a problem, you would be the first person to hear about it, mum", Maxwell said, trying to give his mother some assurance. "I would go out with my friends tonight if that would make you happy", Maxwell added while trying to smile. That night, Maxwell went out alone and pondered over the situation he and Alberta had created. He knew that all hell was going to break loose if his parents found out that Alberta was pregnant so he resolved to keep it a secret from them. As he walked along the road alone, he recalled a phone call he received from his mother during his first few days in the university. "Maxwell, you are now a full grown young man so if you have unprotected sex, chances are you going to impregnate someone's daughter", Maxwell recalled his mother saying. "I know you know what a condom is so if it happens that you are going to have sex, please use a condom". Maxwell recalled being embarrassed when his mother gave him that lecture and vowed he was never going to have unprotected sex. Now, he had done the very same thing his mother warned him against. "I am such a big disappointment", Maxwell thought to himself as he entered his house. Maxwell was in constant contact with Alberta. He told her to stay put while he figured out how they were going to get out of the mess they had created. He sternly warned Alberta not to mention that she was pregnant to anyone. "Maxwell, I am scared", Alberta confessed one night when Maxwell went to visit her. "I am almost a month pregnant and you still haven't said anything concerning the pregnancy", Alberta added. "I believe that the people in my house are beginning to suspect that I am pregnant owing to the constant change my body is undergoing". "I don't want any trouble so please act fast before you put me into trouble”, Alberta said. There was never a day that went by in which Maxwell did not try to figure out plausible ways of solving the mess he had created. One night, Maxwell was with Alberta when Maxwell’s mother called him and asked that he come home to help her out. Apparently, Maxwell had only been at Alberta’s place for only thirty minutes and he knew that Alberta was going to flare up if he told her that he had to leave. “Albie dear, something has come up and I have to go home and do something for mummy”. The moment Maxwell finished his speech, Alberta blasted off, “I knew you were going to come up with some flimsy excuse the minute you answered that phone call”. “Max, do you even care about me?”, Alberta asked. “Do you know it is your baby that is growing inside of me?”, Alberta queried with tears starting to roll down her cheeks. “It is not what you think”, Maxwell started feeling bad about the comments Alberta passed. “I know you are taking in a lot by just being pregnant and I really appreciate what you are doing now”, Maxwell said as he tried to console Alberta. Soon, he managed to convince Alberta and she allowed him to take his leave. When Maxwell stepped out of Alberta’s room, he looked at his phone and he realized that he had missed three calls from his mother. He hurriedly dashed home and met his mother in the living room. “Where were you?”, Maxwell’s mother queried when he barged in on her in the hall. “I know you went to see that girl”, Maxwell’s mother said. Maxwell’s heart missed several beats as he anxiously waited to hear the next comment that was going to come from his mother. “How is she, by the way?”, his mother asked. Maxwell struggled but managed to let out the words, “She is fine”. “But why do you ask?”, Maxwell  curiously added to get further clarification. “I am just asking”, Maxwell’s mother said. Maxwell heaved a sigh of relief and quickly assisted his mother with fixing dinner.

Two weeks passed and still, Maxwell had not given Alberta any feedback as to what he intended doing about the situation. One late afternoon, while still at home, Alberta called Maxwell and sounded very lively. Maxwell was surprised about Alberta’s behaviour. “You sound very lively today”, Maxwell said as he adjusted himself in the seat. “Is there any reason?”. “Don’t you know?”, Alberta queried. I want you to take a guess and call me back”, Alberta said and hang up the phone. Maxwell called his sister, who was out of the house and asked what was so special about that day. “Today is Alberta’s birthday”. Maxwell’s sister revealed. “I hope you didn’t forget”, Maxwell’s sister enquired. “The last time I forgot her birthday, she didn’t speak to me for a whole week”, Maxwell’s sister added. Maxwell knew he was in trouble. He quickly jumped out of his seat, went into his room and started searching his jeans pockets for money he kept and any loose change which he could salvage. He looked at the money he was able to gather and he knew it was woefully inadequate to buy a birthday present that could appease Alberta. He was turning in circles in his room when his mother knocked on his door. She let herself in without prior permission. “What is wrong with you?”, she queried. Maxwell stood still and responded, “Today is Alberta’s birthday and I don’t have any present for her”, Maxwell said. “Is that why you are walking in circles like a prayer warrior?”, Maxwell’s mother asked sarcastically. “Yes”, Maxwell replied. “I have three bottles of non-alcoholic sparkling wine in the kitchen cabinet”. “Bring them so we select one for her”, Maxwell’s mother added. Maxwell quickly rushed to the kitchen and in a flash; he was back in his room with the bottles of wine. “I think she will like the apple-flavoured one”, Maxwell’s mother said. She took the other two bottles and left Maxwell’s room. Instantly, Maxwell dressed up and started for Alberta’s house. When he got there, he cleared his throat instantly Alberta ushered him into her room and began singing his own cover of the ’happy birthday chorus’. Half way through his performance, his phone rang and he paused to answer it. After answering the call, he continued his performance and ended it on a very pitchy note which made Alberta cover her ears. “How did you know it was my birthday?”, Alberta asked, trying to find out who told him. “I just know things”, Maxwell said boastfully. "Albie, I know this is a very special day for you but I am needed at home and I have to rush back home”, Maxwell said as he handed over the bottle of Sparkling wine to Alberta. “If there is still time, I would come so we celebrate the birthday in grand style”, Maxwell added. Alberta did not utter a word and watched Maxwell leave her apartment. Maxwell rushed home and assisted his mother with supper. He could not thank his mother enough for ‘saving’ him. It took longer than usual for supper to be ready. When the food was finally ready, Maxwell quickly changed his clothes and rushed out of his room. When he opened the gate to step out, Alberta was also about to enter his house. “I don’t need your wine if I can’t feel your presence when I need it the most”, Alberta said and placed the bottle at Maxwell’s feet and turned to leave. “Alberta, come on”, Maxwell started. “Don’t do this now”. “As you can see, I was on my way to your house”, Maxwell said. “I am sorry, Maxwell but it is too late”, Alberta said and started walking away. “Don’t you dare follow me, Max!”, Alberta yelled. Maxwell recalled the incident that occurred on his campus and quietly picked up the bottle of wine and went back into the house. Maxwell placed the bottle of wine in the hall under one of the seats to prevent his mother from setting her eyes on it and enquiring why it was not sent. Maxwell sat in one of the seats and before long, he dozed off. He woke up the next morning to find his mother standing over him with the same wine bottle in her hand. “I thought you sent this bottle of wine to Alberta yesterday”, Maxwell’s mother started. Maxwell began to fumble and immediately, his mother knew something was not right. She called Maxwell’s sister and asked her to give her Alberta’s phone number and she dialled the number. “Hello, Alberta, this is Maxwell’s mother”, Maxwell’s mother said. “Didn’t you like the bottle of wine Maxwell gave to you?”, Maxwell’s mother enquired. “I did receive it but I gladly returned it”, Alberta responded. “Why did you do that?”, Maxwell’s mother asked. “I think you should ask your son because he knows why I did that”, Alberta answered. “I am talking to you and I know I could have asked my son but out of curiosity, I wanted to hear from you personally”, Maxwell’s mother said. “So tell me, is anything the matter?”. Alberta took a deep breath and said, “Mummy, I am pregnant and Maxwell is responsible”….. THE HEAVILY GUARDED SECRET HAS BEEN LET OUT OF THE BAG. HOW WOULD ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED REACT TO THIS SHATTERING NEWS? MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS IS “EVEN IF I DON’T FIND PEACE ®”. STAY TUNED… more at randomafricanthoughts.blogspot.com

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