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{The three young men rush to finish their palm wine, pay the Barman and hurry out. The Barman watches them go, shaking his head in disapproval and contempt.}
BARMAN: - {In soliloquy} It is ignorance that makes the mouse call the cat for a wrestling contest.
SCENE TWO
{Apparently several hours later, on a beaten bush path, the three young men appear, looking exhausted.}
HASSAN: - Hey, fellow wanderers! We have traveled for several hours already and we still haven’t found this fellow, Death. Let’s ask this woman.
{A poor woman enters, looking shabby and grim}
POOR WOMAN: - Greetings, young men! I beg you; please give me one Afro to buy lunch for my family. We have had nothing all day long!
WOLE: - In a country that is richly endowed like yours, you mean you still beg for lunch?
POOR WOMAN: - You are right, young man. My country is richly endowed and wealthy but the people, my countrymen and women, are disempowered and poverty-stricken, only a few rich people own the greater wealth in my country, but the majority are poor and starving.
KOFI: - Who caused all these anomalies, poor woman?
POOR WOMAN: - I cannot tell, but everyone blames Mr. Corruption.
HASSAN: Mr. Corruption again? Thank God he is dead. Things will become normal soon.
POOR WOMAN: - I pray so. But I fear that that terrorist called Mr. Corruption is alleged to have nine lives. He might surprise the world by coming to life again, though he is dead.
WOLE: - Even if he has nine lives, Mr. Death will surely meet him nine times as long as Transparency and Good Governance are still used as weapons by our people.
KOFI: - That brings us to the issue at stake, Death.
POOR WOMAN: - Please give me just an Afro and my family will survive another day.
KOFI: - We will give you the money if you can tell us where Death is.
POOR WOMAN: - Oh, young men! He is everywhere, and nowhere! He has visited my family many times, yet I have never seen him. But I have just passed an old man on the way. Perhaps he can tell you where to find Mr. Death.
HASSAN: - Poor woman, the information you have just sold to us is useless and we cannot pay for it! Be off with you! There’s no Afro for you!
{The poor woman leaves, disappointed.}
{A very old man enters, supporting himself on a walking stick.}
OLD MAN: - Greetings, young man! May God be with you!
WOLE: - {Impolitely} God has obviously forgotten you. You look like a skeleton! You ought to have died long ago!
HASSAN: - What is God? His name is Allah!
KOFI: - Pity, Hassan! Are you still operating at that low level? Who told you God, or Allah, or Osenebulua lives in a name? He is the Almighty and different people everywhere have various names for Him. But He is one big Father of us all. He is the nameless Almighty.
HASSAN: - But why is there a small ‘g’ or a big ‘G’ in various spellings of the Almighty’s name?
KOFI: - That is a fallacy. There should be no small ‘g’ or big ‘G’ for the Almighty. He is God everywhere and we are all His children. Every tribe and tongue calls Him by the language that they understand best and He will not refuse a widow’s wail simply because her tongue says ‘Ubong Abasi’ and not ‘Jehovah’ or ‘Allah’.
WOLE: - Yes, Hassan. There may be many tribes and tongues and colours but there is only one Almighty Father. Call Him God or Allah or Osenebulua. He remains the Eternal Creator and Controller of the entire universe. He is Allah, Yahweh, Budha, Krishna, Olorun, Oghene, Ubangidi, or what have you. He does not live in a name.
HASSAN: - That is true. That is very true. I wonder why some of my brothers still fight and kill one another over the issue religion. If we actually believe that Allah or God or whatever He is called is our Father, then why should we kill His children to appease Him?
WOLE: - Right Hassan. You are thinking like a true Muslim. Only heathens fight and kill over matters that they could resolve amicably without bloodletting.
KOFI: - Is it not too bad that men who are too old to live cause wars for children who are too young to die, just because of their evil and selfish ambitions? Worse still, they deceive us that they are fighting for the Almighty Father. Demagogues and sophists, they are!
WOLE: - Imagine this God-forsaken skeleton that ought to have died long ago! He is one of those types that cause many wars for our people and that arm our children to go and die in their place.
OLD MAN: - {Surprised; angry but concealing it} I am old, young men. I cannot find a young man who will take away my old age and give me his youth instead.
KOFI, HASSAN & WOLE: - And may you never find one!
OLD MAN: - I tap on the earth with my stick, trying to get in, but Death will not take me away. And so I go on living, getting older and older.
KOFI: - You are talking nonsense!
OLD MAN: - Am I? But you, young men, you know that this is not the way to speak to an old man with gray hair. All valid religions oblige young people to treat old people with respect.
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Writer Profile
Saintmoses Eromosele
The author is a Nigerian writer, editorial consultant and community organizer born in Benin City.
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Comments
Very enthralling story and timely! eghere udumetotor | Jun 27th, 2008
The play is very interesting and I enjoyed every bit of it. You are a good writer, Saintmoses. How may we get other of your hard copies books? Keep it up.
adham Adham Tobail | Jun 27th, 2008
Dear beautiful story writer, there are many money spent for something useless
I wish you success
Adham
shakil ahmed | Jul 1st, 2008
Really excellent story. Is it real?
Thanks for the Comments Saintmoses Eromosele | Jul 3rd, 2008
Thanks Udumetotor. Thanks Adham. Thanks Ahmed. And thanks to all of you who had called to say you liked the piece. I am really honoured. Ahmed, you asked if it was real. It's obviously fiction. But the message is clear and real. Totor, you may get my books by vising amazon or write to me directly. I guess you have my contacts online. Adham, I did not get you really clearly but i suppose you are commenting on the characters in the play. Life is beautiful and we must all strive to be happy in our lives, shunning all vice, which precipitates death.
Delightful Piece Iyere Valentine Era-Imuse | Jul 3rd, 2008
You are a great writer, Saintmoses. I have been following your writings and I think highly of you. I want us to be friends. Do you mind?
Amazing! Tess | Jul 8th, 2008
In every soul there's darkness, greed, and selfish ambition to get rich, or to be on top. They are all hidden in a human heart. Some will trample someone to get there no matter what. Mr. Corruption, Death and Wole's friend are no difference. However, it all comes to the bottom line. I would ask the people who read this play...could you identify yourself in the play? Nevertheless, a man is also capable to be as honest, dignified as a servant of God, his governmennt and every part of his life.
I enjoyed it and captured the image of what you are portraying.
Thanks, and God bless with your writig.
Tess
This extreme wonderful joseph | Jul 11th, 2008
This play is very interesting, men bro keep it up.
What else can l say? you re the bomb.
joe
Thank you Tess Saintmoses Eromosele | Jul 11th, 2008
Your quasi-review was delightful and I really appreciate our friendship. You are a great friend and I hope that the future holds the best for us. Saintmoses.
That's creative Kingsley Idiagbor | Sep 11th, 2008
Saintmoses, that short story is quite creative. All that remains is for you to have a distinct style that will ring through all your write-ups. We are proud of you. Keep it up.
CRAZYSMART WRITER Hafiidhaturrahmah | Oct 2nd, 2008
u know...i always read the comments first before read the story...
and..i become more curios to read quick ur story.
and...they are right. U are very smart writer that i found directly by TIG.hehehe
You make me smile when I know Mr. Corruption died. GREAT Saintmoses....very deep touchy story.
I love to read ur book also (when u was 16)
I wrote a novel also when I was in junior high school but just for fun. hahahaha
Thx for sharing Saintmoses
Keep Writing
Warms,
aViS
^_^
Hafiid Saintmoses Eromosele | Oct 2nd, 2008
Thanks for your kind comment. I browsed your pages and noticed that you have been doing great in the promotion of knowledge in your communitites, especially on HIV/AIDS awareness. Kudos. I repect your courage and drive. Keep it up. I also noticed that you have travelled to many countries, but never Africa. Why? Would you like to visit here someday? I like to see someone like you. Once again thanks for the kind comment. It's really humbling for me. It can only spur me to greater achievements.
dear Saint Hafiidhaturrahmah | Sep 15th, 2009
nice to hear ur invitation to visit Africa
I would like to be there someday, hopefully after I graduate from my medical school, so I can do sumthing better there (not only just vacation^_^)
waiting ur new stories again friends^_^
do u have facebook
let me be yours
my facebook: avis unsoed
Avis Saintmoses Eromosele | Nov 7th, 2009
Thanks for the comment. It is always exciting to hear that ones work is appreciated from around the world. Like you requested, I have added you to my facebook. Lets chat more frequently and see how we could collaborate in our efforts to see a better world beginning from our immediate environments.
Saintmoses Eromosele | Mar 30th, 2010
Sure you can find me on facebook with me names...
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