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Friday 29 April 2016

EVEN IF I DON'T. FIND PEACE...EPISODE TWENTY-5 (25).



...“Maxwell, Maxwell, Maxwell!”, Alberta called out as she shook the motionless body of Maxwell that had fallen to the floor. Alberta quickly run to answer the door. Immediately she flung the door open, she screamed, “Please help me!”, “I think I have killed Maxwell!”, Alberta's words echoed in the ears of the young man who was standing behind the door. 

"What are you talking about?", the surprised young man asked. 

"My son's father is lying down motionless in my room and I can't confirm whether he is dead or alive", Alberta said frantically as she tried hard to catch her breath.

"What happened?", the young man asked.

 "He came in here and started a form of confrontation with me about an issue so when you knocked at the door, we engaged in a scramble and he accidentally slipped and fell, hitting his head against the sofa", a confused Alberta explained. 

"Please come in and help me!", Alberta pleaded.


Alberta dragged the young man by the arm and led him into the hall where Maxwell lay, motionless. The young man was getting uncomfortable and in that moment, the least thing he expected to witness was any form of altercation or trouble.

 “I don’t think I should be here now”, the now timid young man said as he tried to retreat. Before he could think of stepping outside, Alberta grabbed him by his collar and pulled him towards her. “This is not a joke”, Alberta said with intent in her now red eyes. She held the young man so firmly that he began to choke. “What is wrong with you?”, the young man said as he fought off her clutch. “I just told you that Maxwell is lying motionless in my room and I need your help”, Alberta reiterated. 

“The thing is, I don’t want to be a part of all of the mess that you have gotten yourself in right now”, the young man said.

Alberta pulled the young man well into the room and shut the door. “As it stands now, we are in this together and to make matters worse, I am carrying your child”, Alberta said. “Do you know how that would play out in all of this?”, Alberta asked as she pointed in the direction of her room. 

“What are you talking about?”, the young man asked.


Alberta kept quiet for a while and stared at the young man.

“What are you insinuating, Alberta?”, the young man asked.

“Now, in the worst case scenario, it would be a situation where I am carrying your child, you came to see me with my first child’s father and out of jealousy, you decided to attack him and in your rage, you killed him”, Alberta revealed.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”, the young doctor asked.

“Now, you are free to leave”, Alberta started. “Or you can go inside with me and help me out, the choice is yours”, Alberta added. “But bear in mind that if you decide to leave, I would not hold you back, I have many alibis to back the point that you were here because I believe many people saw you coming in here”, Alberta suggested. 

“So you see, the odds are in my favour as it stands”, Alberta said.

“I can’t believe this”, the young man said.

“But you know I would do no such thing if you decide to help me”, Alberta said as she warmed her way up the young man who had grown increasingly disturbed. “You know why?”, Alberta asked. Without pausing to get a response, Alberta answered her own question. “It is because I love you so much and I am carrying your child, our child”, Alberta explained.

With this, the young man, like an innocent sheep being led to the slaughter house, followed Alberta into her room albeit out of his will.

"What have you done, Alberta?", the young man exclaimed as he saw Maxwell's body on the floor immediately he entered the living room. "Please help me out!", Alberta begged as sweat and tears married each other on her face. 

The young man carefully approached Maxwell's motionless body which was lying face down, and tried to aggressively turn him over to his side with his foot. 

"What are you doing?", a now surprised Alberta asked.

"What does it look like I am doing?", the young man asked sarcastically. "I am trying to ascertain whether he is dead or alive before I do any other thing", the young man added.

When Maxwell was finally laying face up after being shoved over by the young man, the young man pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and used it as a makeshift glove over his hand to be able to check to feel if Maxwell still had a pulse. As he stretched forth his hand, he shook and trembled. Alberta stood over him trying to wipe away the tears and sweat from her face with her palm.

"I can't feel anything", the young man exclaimed as he pressed his hand firmly against Maxwell's neck and simultaneously turned and looked into Alberta's face.

The young man took out his phone, unlocked it and placed it on the floor next to him.
"What does that mean?", Alberta asked as she backed away slowly, cupping her mouth with her left hand after her statement.

"I don't know yet and I don't want to speculate", the young man answered. "What did you say happened again?", the young man interrogated Alberta. 

"He slipped and fell", Alberta answered meekly. 

"Just that?", the young man threw the statement back at Alberta almost immediately. “Did you push him really hard?”, the young man asked. 

“No!”, Alberta said.

“So the two of you were struggling with each other and he slipped and fell?”, the young man asked.

"Yes", Alberta replied.

"Why are you asking me all these questions instead of helping me?", Alberta asked angrily. 

"You would have to answer these same questions when the worst happens and in the instance where we have to call in the police", the young man replied.

"The police, why?" "Is he dead?", Alberta asked all at once as she backed away further and pinned herself to the wall as she run her fingers through her golden brown hair in aggressive back and forth movements.
"I am yet to confirm that", the young man said. 

His statement sent shivers down Alberta's spine.


"He cannot just die like that, can he?", a confused Alberta enquired. 

"It would depend on the impact of the fall and which part of his body suffered the damage", the young man replied. "As it stands now, if it were a minor fall, he should have gained consciousness by now since I have been here for almost fifteen minutes already", the young man explained pointing in Maxwell's direction and looking at his Rolex watch.

"What do we do now?", Alberta asked. 

"We?", the young man asked. "There is no 'we', here", the young man started, pointing to himself and then pointing to Alberta. "I am not an accomplice in this", the young and now frightened man said. "Right now, I am going to try my best possible to ascertain whether this guy can live", he said. "As for you, just stay put and pray to your God asking him to revive this man here because if it turns out that he cannot live, you would have a whole lot of questions to answer", the young man added.

 Immediately he made his point clear, he started to work on Maxwell in a desperate attempt to revive him but was very careful not to leave any fingerprints on him which would implicate him as an accomplice.
As he reached to stretch out Maxwell's arm, Maxwell's phone rang. The young man, startled, reached for the phone from Maxwell's pocket and handed it over to Alberta, "Take care of this", he said as Alberta tried to find out who the caller was.

"It is Raphael, one of his friends", Alberta told the young man as she saw Raphael's name displayed on the phone's screen.

"Does anyone know he was coming over here to see you?", the young man asked.

"How am I supposed to know that?", Alberta asked rhetorically. 

Maxwell's phone rang again. It was Raphael again.

"Turn that phone off or something; it is distracting me and please turn on the fan, it is getting hot in here", the young man said.

There was yet another call after some minutes and this time, it was from Maxwell's mother.


Alberta's heart missed a beat.

She knew it was probable that Raphael had called Maxwell's mother to find out if Maxwell was at home since he was not answering his phone.

Alberta immediately changed the phone's profile to 'silent' because she knew Maxwell's phone was not going to stop ringing because of the calls that were going to follow in regards to Maxwell's refusal to answer the phone especially when his mother was the one calling.
There were seven missed calls on Maxwell's phone in five minutes; most of the calls came from his mother.


"There is something I need to tell you", Alberta said out of the confusion which took the young man by surprise.

"What is it?", the alarmed young man asked as he quickly backed away from Maxwell's motionless body. 

"Has it got anything to do with Maxwell's current state?", the young man asked.

"In some way, yes", Alberta answered.

"What?", the young man exclaimed. "Did you try to murder Maxwell?", the young man asked.

"No way!", Alberta exclaimed in her defence.

"Actually...part of the reason he is here is that, he found out something", Alberta started.

"What did he find out?", the young man asked, leading Alberta on.

"I actually told him that the baby I am carrying; your baby is his", Alberta started.

"You did what?", the young man asked almost fuming and walked up to Alberta. 

"I am sorry", Alberta begged as she backed up.

"Sorry you say?". "What were you thinking?". "Did I tell you I was incapable of taking care of you or the baby?". "Why would you give one man's responsibility to another man; an innocent man for that matter?", the young man enquired.

"I was afraid", Alberta started.

"I was afraid you were going to leave me since you started avoiding me when you told me your ex-girlfriend wanted a comeback", Alberta started. "You refused to pick my calls, you refused to return my calls and what is worse, I was not allowed to see you at your work place", Alberta revealed. "What did you expect me to do"?, Alberta asked. "I was desperate and I needed to find a solution to this problem", Alberta added.
"I didn't expect you to read meaning into my actions", the young man started. "I was actually doing all of it for a reason and I expected you to stay put and not worry your head over any of the issues I was involved in", the young man said in his defence.

 "How was I supposed to know that you had everything all planned?, Alberta started.

"I needed an alternative and since I didn't intend terminating this pregnancy, I knew the best way to cover this whole thing up was to pin it on Maxwell because we have a child together and having a second one with him was not going to raise any suspicions", Alberta confessed. 

"Wow!", the young man exclaimed. "I can't even bring myself to terms to fathom the extent to which you can go", the young man started as he began to pace up and down the living room. 

"Get me a pillow", the young man ordered. 

"What are you going to do with that?", an alarmed Alberta enquired.

"Jesus Christ!", the young man exclaimed. "I am not that kind of doctor so if you want us to save this man's life, you better do as I say", the young doctor said. "Now, go and get me the pillow!", the doctor ordered.
Alberta went into the inner room to find her son still soundly asleep and picked one pillow from the bed before tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door gently behind her. The young doctor took the pillow from Alberta and carefully adjusted Maxwell's head on top of it to give his neck some support.
“The pillow would give his head some support”, the young doctor said.

"What next?", Alberta asked.

The doctor bent over Maxwell and before long, Maxwell started to come around.
"Who are you?", Maxwell let out when he finally opened his eyes. "My name is Abraham and I am a doctor", the young man revealed his identity. He then gave Maxwell a hand to be able to get up unto his feet. “I came in to see you lying here unconscious after you had slipped and fallen and I helped to revive you”, Abraham said.

"One more thing, just so we are clear, I am responsible for the baby Alberta is carrying", the young doctor revealed. Maxwell touched his thighs in an effort to check if his phone or other personal effects had been taken from his possession.

"Where is my cell phone?", Maxwell asked. Alberta handed the cell phone to Abraham who in turn handed it over to Maxwell. As Maxwell took the phone, he looked at the number of missed calls on it and called his mother first.
He informed her that he was sorry his action scared her but he was going to explain everything to her once he got home.

Alberta stood there with tears running down her cheeks as Abraham helped Maxwell to get back unto his feet. "I am so sorry, Maxwell", Abraham started.
 "I didn't mean for all of this to happen, I swear", Alberta said, trying to keep her distance from Maxwell for fear of being attacked. 

"I lost Nancy because of you”, Maxwell started
“I have lost Linda because of you", Maxwell added.
 "I have lost a better part of my life all in an effort to love you but look at how you pay me back", Maxwell lamented. "This is the last time I am ever going to give you or anyone else the chance to treat me in a way I don't deserve", Maxwell said. 

"I just cannot believe that you would be so heartless to think of such a thing", Maxwell said. "If it hadn't been for the intervention of many good Samaritans, I would either have been living a lie by believing I was the father of I child I had actually not fathered or worse, I would have been dead by now because of you", Maxwell said pointing to Alberta with scorn in his voice.

"What ever did I do to you to deserve this treatment?", Maxwell asked.

"I couldn't stand the thought of losing any of you", Alberta started, referring to Maxwell and Abraham. "At least I also deserve some form of happiness", Alberta explained.

"At the expense of another man's bondage?", Abraham asked.


"Now listen to me very carefully Alberta, this is the last time I am going to talk about our relationship", Maxwell started. "We are never ever going to come back together so the earlier you get that into your head, the better for all of us”, Maxwell explained. 

"Secondly, I am going to take you on regarding this matter and I would go wherever you want us to go for the custody of our son because you are the worst kind of parent and  role model for him", Maxwell revealed.
"You are not going to have my son!", Alberta exclaimed.

“Oh, with this murderous intention of yours?”, Maxwell asked sarcastically. “Any judge would throw this case out the minute I bring what just happened here to light”, Maxwell added. “You are also indecisive and irresponsible”, Maxwell said.

“I take exception to that!”, the doctor interrupted trying to save Alberta some dignity. 

“You would not want to see the other side of me because if you think Alberta is crazy, wait till you see what I can also do”, Maxwell shot back at the doctor and silenced him.

“I think I have to take my leave now”, the doctor said.

“You would do no such thing!”, both Maxwell and Alberta yelled in unison. With that, the young doctor timidly looked for a spot, picked his cell phone from the ground and sat down as Maxwell and Alberta faced off.

“Like I was saying, I would do everything in power to get my son out of your life and the day that event materializes, which it would, that would be the last time you would ever get to be close to him or see him because I would never want him to pick up any of your traits”, Maxwell said.

“No sensible judge would grant you that request!”, Alberta exclaimed.

"My dear, why don't we leave that for a competent court and judge to decide that?", Maxwell said.
"I don't think this is a battle you'd want both of us engaged in", Alberta said as she started to get back some of her confidence.

"Oh really?", Maxwell asked sarcastically and let out a laugh. "After all that has happened here today, this case would be like a walk in the park for my lawyers", Maxwell assured. 

"Now, you!", Maxwell said as he turned to face Abraham who had been quiet all the while and sitting down quietly.

"Maxwell stretched out his hand to extend a handshake to Abraham. "Thank you for arriving here and for saving my life and thank you for clearing my name in this whole frenzy by owning up and accepting responsibility for your actions", Maxwell added. “I don’t envy you at all”, Maxwell said sarcastically. “I wish you luck with Alberta and goodbye”, Maxwell added and pointed to Alberta with his left hand as he approached the door.

"I am going to take my leave now but trust me, you would soon hear from my lawyers", Maxwell threatened and exited Alberta's room and headed homewards.

“Before you leave, I also have something to say”, the young doctor said. “I also have for myself, some form of insurance policy”, the young doctor started. “I voice recorded a better part of all that ensued here and as I sat down, I also got video evidence of the two of you”, the doctor revealed. “If any of you think you can sell me out, you better reconsider it because I have it here in voice and film”, the doctor said as he played back a snippet of the video he had just recorded. “And yes, I have sent copies of it to a trusted friend in case this thing goes further than expected”, Abraham revealed.

“Bravo!”, Maxwell said. “I have no intentions of selling you out because I have my own strong points to use in court”, Maxwell said. “The person you should be worried about is the young lady standing over there”, Maxwell said, pointing to Alberta.

“Why are you pointing at me?”, Alberta asked

“Because we know what you are capable of”, Maxwell replied. “I am out”, Maxwell said and exited the room.


On his way home, Maxwell called Raphael and told him about all that had ensued. 


Maxwell did this to also get his own alibi should matters get out of hand.  

Raphael suggested reporting the issue to the police but Maxwell turned down the suggestion and opted to take other legal means of getting full custody of his son.

"At least I am happy that for once, you have cleared your name and taken a bold decision to confront Alberta once and for all", Raphael said. "I also hope that the actions you intend to take in the coming days would yield favourable results", Raphael added.

"I am feeling very weak and I don't think I can make it to the office tomorrow", Maxwell said. “Can you hold the fort for me in my absence?”, Maxwell asked.
“That is the least I can do for you, brother”, Raphael said. “I know you are going to be a great single dad should the legal action go in your favour”, Raphael added and both of them laughed.
“I wish you luck”, Raphael added.
“Luck is for losers”, Maxwell responded and hang up the phone.

When Maxwell got home, both of his parents were eagerly waiting for him in the hall. He explained to them all that had ever happened between himself and Alberta up until the incident that had ensued, this time, he left no information out.

In the days that followed, many actions were taken. First of all, Maxwell’s father suggested a for a DNA test to be carried out to ascertain the true father of Alberta’s first child considering the situation she almost put Maxwell through. “The paternity of the boy would determine whether we can take legal action or not, that is in the case where it turns out that you are the true father of that child, if not, there would be no need taking legal action for the custody of another man’s son”, Maxwell’s lawyer said in one of their counselling sessions. A court order was secured in that regard and Alberta had no choice but to succumb to the law


The test was results were to be given in a week.

To the disappointment of many, including Maxwell’s mother and sister and to the joy of Maxwell, his father and their lawyers, the DNA test returned positive, making Maxwell the biological father of Alberta’s first son.

A legal battle for the custody of the little boy then began.

The legal battle went on for months. It was a ferocious tussle. In the end, Maxwell won full possession of his son but there were some clauses in the court’s ruling that allowed Alberta some rights too.
Linda attended most of the court hearings and assured Maxwell of her solidarity.

When the case was finally over, Linda wished Maxwell all the best and made her point of moving on with her life without Maxwell clear to him. Linda eventually moved out of the neighbourhood after securing a new job on the other side of town. She always kept contact with Maxwell and made him aware that she was never going to love any other man the same way she loved him.

Nancy tried the best she could to be good to Maxwell’s son by visiting them and showering him with gifts all in an effort to warm her way up his father’s heart but Maxwell remained indifferent. Nancy eventually gave up when she realized her plans were not yielding any results. The last Maxwell heard from her was when she sent him an invitation to her graduation from the university as a mature student but Maxwell could not honour the invitation.

Maxwell and his friends worked tirelessly and soon, they were on the floor reserved for the very best of Pardieson Global staff.

Maxwell and his friends did the best they could to support other members of the community to reach higher heights.

Maxwell tried the best he could to be a good father to his son and allowed him to occasionally talk to Alberta over the phone.

Alberta gave birth to a lovely little boy and Maxwell and his son attended the outdooring ceremony of Maxwell’s son’s step brother. Alberta got married to Abraham after many months of a stand-off between the families of Abraham and Alberta.


Both Maxwell and his son loved pizza so they always went out mostly on Saturdays when Maxwell was off from work and his son was off from school. On one of such outings, Maxwell and his son had to share a table with a young lady because the restaurant was almost filled to capacity. 


“Is that your nephew?”, the young lady asked.

“No, that’s my son”, Maxwell answered.

“I am a single dad”, Maxwell added.

“Wow, that must be hard work”, the young lady said.

“I am getting the hang of it”, Maxwell replied.

Maxwell’s son pushed his chair and sat right next to the young lady.

“So does he get to see his mother?”, not really but they get to speak on phone more often than not”, Maxwell answered. “Orders from the court”, Maxwell added.

“Oh, I see”, the young lady said.

“I think your son looks very much like you”, the young lady said. “Oh sorry, my name is Gertrude but you can call me Getty”, the young lady said. “I was just called to the bar as a lawyer”

“Getty, I think my son is going to love you”, Maxwell said and the two of them laughed…





THE END.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GOING ON THIS ROLLER COASTER RIDE WITH ME. THE SUSPENSE WAS INTENSE EVEN FOR ME. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE MILLIONS OF FEEDBACK I RECEIVED CONCERNING THIS STORY. THERE ARE MANY LESSONS WE CAN PICK OUT IN EVERY EPISODE. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE STORY WAS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, DATING. THE MAJOR LESSONS I RECEIVED HAD TO DUE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF ABSTINENCE AND WHAT IS MORE, THE VALUE OF BEING FAITHFUL TO ONE PARTNER IF ABSTINENCE FAILED. MAXWELL FAILED WOEFULLY ON THESE VALUES AND TRUTH BE TOLD, HE RECEIVED A LOT OF BASHING AND INSULTS FROM MANY READERS. I GENERALLY LOOK AT IT IN THE CASE THAT, ANYONE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN HIS SITUATION AND IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. LADIES, PLEASE FPRGIVE MAXWELL. MAXWELL PICKED UP MANY NICKNAMES THROUGHTOUT THE STORY AND I COULD NOT HELP BUT REMEMBER A FEW LIKE “The Idiot”, “Fool”, “Sex Freak”, “Fornicator”, “Anamuu buulu” (Ga language translated to mean “Stupid Fool”). IN MY REFLECTIONS, I ATTRIBUTED MAXWELL’S BEHAVIOUR TO THAT OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES WHEN WE SINNED. I AM PRETTY SURE THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN WOULD CHASTIZE GOD FOR LOVING US UNCONDITIONALLY EVEN THOUGH WE HURT HIM ALMOST ALL THE TIME. THAT IS WHAT I CALL, “The Maxwell-Alberta” kind of love; UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. THAT IS THE KIND OF LOVE GOD HAS FOR ALL OF US REGARDLESS OF OUR MESS. SO LADIES, NOW, CUT MAXWELL SOME SLACK…LOL. PERFECTION IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALL STRIVING AT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING THE MOST AMAZING AND PATIENT READERS EVER!!! MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS OF COURSE, IS ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM RANDOM AFRICAN THOUGHTS®.



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Thursday 14 April 2016

EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE...EPISODE TWENTY-4 (24).



"I beg your pardon but can you repeat what you just said?", Maxwell pleaded.

 Immediately Maxwell said that, all the guys in the office turned to look in his direction fearing that something terrible had happened. 

When Maxwell realized that he had become the object of attention in the office, he shook his head in a motion to indicate that it was nothing serious.

"I said it is highly plausible that Alberta's baby is not yours", Bernice reiterated.

"Please hold on", Maxwell said politely and stepped out of the office after he had asked to be excused. He rushed to the washroom on the next floor and resumed the call. "What did you say your name was again?", Maxwell asked. "My name is Bernice a friend of Alberta's", Bernice answered.

"Are you sure of what you are saying?", Maxwell asked.

"I am very sure", Bernice stated.

"Okay", Maxwell started. "You have my attention". "Please tell me more". I am interested", Maxwell pleaded and said all at once.
"Okay, I wasn't supposed to be poking my nose into others affairs so I don't expect you to judge me on this", Bernice said to make things clear.

"Point well noted", Maxwell said just to get Bernice to talk.

"I got a hold of Alberta's cell phone sometime back and as fate would have it, my curiosity got the better part of me and I decided to go through her messages just to pass the time", Bernice revealed. "I happened to read the messages that both of you sent back and forth and then I got the impression that you were the father of her child even though she had confided in me on the matter", Bernice said. "Then again, I saw another chat from one guy, it seemed suspicious to me knowing full well that you were  the father of her son", Bernice continued.

"What was their chat about?", Maxwell asked.
"It seemed to me that the two of them had been involved sexually and they were recounting their escapades which were in erotic detail", Bernice said.

Maxwell started to feel jealous.

"Okay, go on", Maxwell said after he had managed to block his brain from viewing the mental picture it had created of Alberta in the arms of another man knowing full well how Alberta made him feel when they made love.

"So, going down the chat, Alberta sent the guy a message asking him to confirm to her if he remembered the last time both of them made love but the guy could not remember", Bernice said. "Later that day, I take it that Alberta run a pregnancy test and found out that she was pregnant and confronted the guy with the matter", Bernice continued. "When Alberta revealed her current state to the guy, he asked her to terminate the pregnancy because he was not ready to become a father and that his ex-girlfriend had started giving him the impression that she wanted them to come back together", Bernice explained. "Alberta went back and forth with the guy telling him how she loved him and was scared to lose him to the other woman and also made clear her fears of having an abortion", Bernice summarized. "It was then that Alberta made a joke about framing it to look like you were the one who got her pregnant so that she could dump her children on you and do everything in her power to be with this other guy", Bernice said.

"When did all of this happen?", Maxwell cut in.

"I think some months back", Bernice answered.

"This whole thing makes a lot of sense to me now", Maxwell said. "I cannot say that I do not believe that Alberta is capable of such schemes but what is her motive this time?", Maxwell questioned Bernice.

"I wonder what she thinks of you", Bernice replied. "Later on in the chat, she told the guy that she has managed to coerce you to talk to your parents and knowing how naive you were, she knew you would fall for it", Bernice added.

"I cannot believe that I have been so stupid all this while", Maxwell lamented.

"I am even beginning to doubt the paternity of the son she claims to be mine", Maxwell continued.

"I don't think that topic should be up for discussion because in all honesty, I think that kid really looks like you", Bernice said.

"Resembling someone is beside the point!", an enraged Maxwell fired out.

"I just thought I'd do you some good by telling you this so that you can do your own investigation and find out the truth for yourself", Bernice said. "Thank you so much for this vital piece of information but can I ask you for a favour?", Maxwell started.
"What is it?", Bernice asked.

"I'd like it if you gave me the number of the guy so I could confront him personally", Maxwell said.
"I don't think that is so much of a good idea", Bernice shot back. "All I can tell you and all that I gathered from their chat is that he is a young doctor who works in a private hospital in town", Bernice revealed. "In case you need any more clarification, you can call me on this number", Bernice said and bade Maxwell farewell.

Immediately Maxwell ended the call, he rushed back to his office and called Raphael out.
"There has been a new development", Maxwell said excitedly as he stood with Raphael in their exquisite hallway.

"What is it?", Raphael asked wanting to know what the new development was all about.

"I think Alberta was framing me with her pregnancy", Maxwell started.

"Who does that?", Raphael asked.

"You heard me talk over the phone a while back in there", Maxwell started as he pointed to the direction of their office.

"Yeah I did", Raphael answered. "What has that phone call got to do with Alberta's pregnancy?", Raphael asked.

"Apparently, I was having a conversation with one of Alberta's friends and she was telling me about how Alberta was having an affair with a certain young doctor who got her pregnant and as we speak, the doctor is shying away from taking up responsibility for the said child so Alberta decided to pin it on me to make it appear as if I was the one who got her pregnant so that she can dump her kids on me and run off with her doctor lover", Maxwell explained.

"And you believed this story?", Raphael asked looking somewhat surprised.

"Yes I do!", Maxwell responded.

 "Why is that?", Raphael asked.

"First of all, Bernice sounded very convincing and I don't think I have to doubt her", Maxwell started. "Again she knew that Alberta had threatened to tell my parents about her pregnancy if I failed to do so", Maxwell told Raphael. "Now tell me, how did she know that?", Maxwell asked Raphael looking at him for an answer.
"I think thus is beginning to make some sense", Raphael chipped in. "I remember Alberta threatened to tell your parents a day after she had asked you to do same right?", Raphael enquired.

"Exactly!", Maxwell responded.

"And apparently, she failed to turn up because she knew you would believe her threats and it forced you to tell your parents that you were responsible for another man's pregnancy and as it stands now, it would be out of this world for you to go back and tell your parents that the same pregnancy you accepted responsibility for was actually another man's responsibility", Raphael explained. "This is messed up!", Raphael blurted out. 

"This Alberta is one very good schemer", Raphael said. "So what do you intend doing about it?", Raphael asked.

"I am going to do exactly what you are thinking", Maxwell started. "First of all, I am going to confront Alberta and if possible, force the truth out of her", Maxwell started. "Then I would inform my parents about the turn of events then if possible, I would try my best possible to win back Linda's love", Maxwell said. "Isn't that a bit too late?", Raphael asked. "Stop being a pessimist and be positive just for once", Maxwell fired back. "I am really excited about this news and I believe it has come in as a huge relief for me and I know it is a sign of good things to come", Maxwell said. "I cannot say I am not happy about this news but I still find it hard to believe", Raphael said. ""I just want you to be very careful and treat this news very carefully", Raphael reiterated. "You should be happy for me that I am finally going to break free from the clutches of Alberta for good", Maxwell said.

"So what will happen to your son if you eventually discover the fact that Alberta's current pregnancy is not yours?", Raphael. "That is a very good question but I have not given it so much thought", Maxwell started. "Isn't it obvious that I would have to take him away from her?", Maxwell asked. "I don't think she would hand him over to you without putting up a fight", Raphael suggested. "I know that, but as it stands now, if all of this drama happens to be true, she would have little choice than to hand him over to me and I would make sure that I get full custody", Maxwell explained.

"Like I always say, you have our full support and we wish you all the best in your quest to unravel this mystery", Raphael said. "Now, let's get back to work before we lose our jobs", Raphael added and both of them hurriedly walked back into their office to continue with the day's activities.


After work that same night, many ideas flooded Maxwell's mind. He wanted to be meticulous in his actions and wanted to get to the bottom of the matter so as to reach an amicable solution which would seek to favour all the parties involved in the matter. He tossed the matter over and over in his mind and applied different scenarios and approaches to it to see which one would best fit his dilemma. He felt as if his head was about to explode. That night, on his way home, he decided to go by Linda's house first to inform her about the latest news and use it at an opportunity to warm his way up her heart one more time. When he arrived in the alley leading to Linda's house, he received a call from his mother to come home quickly and assist her with an errand. Maxwell quickly boycotted his visit to Linda's place and rushed home to see to his mother's errand.

When Maxwell got home, his mother was waiting for him in the kitchen. "Good evening", Maxwell greeted as he chanced upon his mother.

"Good evening", Maxwell's mother responded as she turned to face Maxwell. "I want you to go to the pharmacy and get some drugs for your grandmother", Maxwell's mother said. "I'd be happy to do that", Maxwell responded in a gay manner. "You are sounding rather cheerful, is there any reason?", Maxwell's mother enquired. “I think I am onto something but I don’t want to jump ahead of myself for now till I get the full details of the matter”, Maxwell answered his mother. “Wow!”, Maxwell’s mother exclaimed. “I am anxious to hear this particular news”, Maxwell’s mother tried to coerce Maxwell to let her in on the matter that had gotten her son to be so giddy. “Has it got anything to do with work or the family”, an anxious Maxwell’s mother asked. “Mom, please I don’t want to jinx this but if you cared to know, it has got something to do with Alberta”, Maxwell revealed

“What about her?”, Maxwell’s mother enquired
“That is what we are all about to find out”, Maxwell answered.
“Okay if you say so”, Maxwell’s mother responded and doled out money from her purse to Maxwell to run the errand she had wanted him to run. Maxwell took the money, rushed to his room, changed his shirt and shot out of the house like a rocket to run his mother’s errand.

Before Maxwell could get to the pharmacy, he chanced upon Linda who was going in the opposite direction.
“Linda, Linda, Linda!”, Maxwell yelled. Linda turned and looked in the direction from which she heard her name being called. When she saw who the ‘caller’ was, she continued her journey, completely ignoring Maxwell’s calls. Maxwell doubled his steps, got close to Linda and stretched forth his hand in an attempt to hold her hand to get her to stop. “Are we enemies now?”, Maxwell enquired.

“We are not enemies but I don’t want us to have any attachment ever again so the best thing to do is to avoid you and fight the urge of missing you even though it gets unbearable at times”, Linda revealed.
“I have been trying to see you all this while but you ignore me whenever I visit and you have refused to answer my calls”, Maxwell complained. “Isn’t that the obvious thing to do?”, Linda asked. “Linda I love you so much and I would do anything to get you back into my life”, Maxwell pleaded. “Ha-ha”, Linda laughed. “Isn’t it a bit too late for all of this?”, Linda enquired. “It is never too late for us please, Linda”, Maxwell pleaded. “Just hear me out”, Maxwell started. “What is it again this time?”, Linda asked.
“The baby that Alberta is carrying is not mine!”, Maxwell announced looking into the eyes of Linda and expecting an excited reaction.

Linda, looking very indifferent at the new turn of events responded, “I am happy for you”.
“Is that all you are going to say?”, Maxwell queried.
“What else would you have me say?”, Linda asked back.
“I thought you were going to ask me to tell you how I found out”, Maxwell, who was looking very disappointed by Linda’s reaction asked. “You still don’t get it do you?”, Linda started. “What are you talking about?”, Maxwell asked. “I don’t and never have a problem if Alberta was carrying your fourth, fifth or even tenth child”, Linda started. “So what is your problem?”, a confused Maxwell asked. “My only problem is that you slept with Alberta while you still with me and what makes it worse is that you could not open up to me when I asked you about it”, Linda revealed. “You actually lied about it when I asked you”, Linda continued. “That lie has shattered into pieces any form of trust I had in you and in us”, Linda explained. “But Linda…”, Maxwell started.

“Maxwell please spare me all the misery”, Linda cut in. “I am happy for you that you are not responsible for Alberta’s pregnancy but honestly, I don’t see myself getting back with you”, Linda revealed. “I think you should fight your own battle”, Linda added. “Once again, I wish you luck in life and goodbye”, Linda said and turned to walk away. Maxwell could not believe what was happening. He stood there dumb-founded as he watched Linda walk away from him. Maxwell turned, disappointed and walked back into the pharmacy to purchase his grandmother’s drugs.

On his way back home, Maxwell pulled out his phone and called Alberta. “Where are you?”, Maxwell asked the second he saw that Alberta had answered the call. “I am at home”, Alberta answered. “Is anything the matter?”, Alberta asked. “You sound very much irritated”, Alberta said.

“We need to talk!”, Maxwell said in a commanding voice. “Stop shouting at me!”, Alberta barked back. 

“When do you want to see me?”, Alberta asked. “Tonight”, Maxwell replied. “Tonight would not be possible”, Alberta responded. “Maxwell doubled his steps, got home delivered the medicine and shot out of the house like a stray bullet ignoring the calls from his mother asking him to at least have his supper first.
Maxwell was on his way to Alberta’s house…

Maxwell was filled with rage and derision as he made his way past the house before Alberta’s house.
Maxwell knocked at the door and barged in to see Alberta half-naked lying in her couch.
“I thought I told you I cannot see you tonight”, Alberta said as she hurriedly grabbed her shirt from the floor to cover up her nakedness. Maxwell looked on; startled by Alberta’s behaviour. “Now that you are here, say whatever you need to say and you can be on your way”, Alberta ordered. “This is no laughing matter and I need you to give me the exact answers to the questions I am going to ask you”, Maxwell started. “Just ask whatever you want”, Alberta shot back.

“Who is the father of the child that you are carrying?”, Maxwell asked.

“I beg your pardon?”, Alberta shot back.

“Yes!”, “You heard me right”, Maxwell reiterated.

“I don’t think this topic should be up for discussion”, Alberta started. “Both of us know who the father of this baby is”, Alberta continued. “I have enough reason and evidence to doubt that I am the father of this child”, Maxwell said. “Maxwell, I don’t want to argue over this with you and I think it an insult for you to come over here and talk to me in this manner because both of us know full well that…”, there was a knock on the door and it disrupted Alberta’s speech.

“Are you expecting someone?”, Maxwell asked a startled Alberta.
Maxwell started to make his way to the door to see who was there. As he moved, Alberta moved in to prevent him from getting to the door.

There was a struggle.


Alberta managed to hold on tight to Maxwell’s shirt to prevent him from answering the door. “This is my house and I am the one to decide who answers the door”, Alberta said as she struggled to hold Maxwell back. In the midst of the struggle, Maxwell slipped on the woollen carpet which had been placed over the slippery ceramic-tiled floor in Alberta’s hall and hit his head on the edge of the couch in front of him and immediately passed out.

“Maxwell, Maxwell, Maxwell!”, Alberta called out as she shook the motionless body of Maxwell that had fallen to the floor. Alberta quickly run to answer the door. Immediately she flung the door open, she screamed, “Please help me!”, “I think I have killed Maxwell!”…

HAS MAXWELL FINALLY RECEIVED WHAT HE DESERVES? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT IS SO CHILLY THAT IT WOULD GIVE YOU GOOSE PIMPLES. MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS IS ANOTHER EPISODE OF “EVEN IF I DON'T FIND PEACE” ® MORE AT randomafricanthoughts.blogspot.com.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE NEXT EPISODE OF THIS CAPTIVATING STORY.








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Monday 11 April 2016

YOUNG AND TALENTED AFRICANS MAKING WAVES IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY.



It has become obvious that screen acting has become a passion in Ghana. Many African acts are discovered almost all the time. It would therefore not be wrong to say that Africa, going forward would be a force to reckon with when it comes to the national and international movie industries

After Abraham Attah of "Beast of no Nation" fame put Ghana and Ghanaian acting on the map, it appears other actors were making waves way before the "Beast of no Nation" actor came into the limelight. Many of these actors are also worthy of adulation and recognition.

One of such great and young acts is Elkanah Seddoh. This young talent affectionately called "BUJU", for his role in the hit TV series, 'XOXO' is one actor many producers should definitely put a close eye on. The young actor has a very promising acting career judging by his age and the stereotype character he seems to be attracting to himself as one of Ghana's few plus size male actors. He stars in the TV series which airs on a private Ghanaian television station along with other young and talented actors and actresses. The interesting thing about this young man is that he plays his role in the TV series so flawlessly that many people are of the view that the young actor is the exact copy of his role in real life. What many people would find hard to believe is that even though BUJU exudes a lot of confidence on set due to his massive acting prowess, he is very down to earth and takes in criticism whenever they come his way. He is also a fun-loving person and sometimes deemed a lady's man due to his plus size and role in XOXO. Elikanah is definitely one young act to watch and with the changing trends in the movie industry, it would not be long before producers and directors start falling over each other just to cast the young actor in their movies.




If you are a fan of XOXO and BUJU, this would be the right time to warm up your way to the actor and get his autograph before it is too late- That is just on a lighter note. Watch out for more from the camp of BUJU.