<<<Chapter Two.>>>

After all the work Damien had to do that day, it was already late so he went home to relax.

He plopped onto his soft small bed once he got home. The day's events played in his head. He remembered after eating with Raul at Mama Emeka's restaurant, they had both walked home to give Mama her food, after which they went to Mr. Carpenter's shop.

Mr. Carpenter whose real name is 'Peter', asked Damien to work with him. Dami proceeded to work without asking questions. The only time he did ask, was when he was confused about something or did not know how to go about something. The carpenter would explain it better to him.

Raul sat down at one corner on a plank whilst watching Damien work. When Damien got tired and decided to rest a little, he bought water to drink while Raul brought out cigarette from his pocket to smoke.

Raul was a definition of his father. He was also a chronic smoker and drinker. This was one thing that normally saddens Mrs. Ennio's heart because she gave birth to six children. All, including Raul, was living a reckless life. The only difference was that Raul still cared for her while the others abandoned her just like their father.

"You want?" Raul asked passing the cigarette to Dami who didn't move to take it.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't smoke?" Dami asked, feeling disgusted by his cousin's act. Raul knew Dami wouldn't bulge but he always like trying to see if one day his cousin would agree to it.

"Why? Smoking is dope." Raul pressed on.

Dami shook his head. "Dope but it kills." Dami gulped down some water before he continued, "you know it's not good for your health. It might damage your lungs and—"

Raul cuts him off. "Save that lecture for my ass." Raul said stroking his ass, in demonstration.

"Your lazy ass " the carpenter chipped in and they laughed. The carpenter had come to collect a piece of plank on the floor from where they were sitting, when he heard them having that discussion and decided to add something.

"Eh.. Dami don't listen to your cousin oh. You know he is a bad influence." Mr peter added when their laughter had died down. He made it sound like a joke not to offend Raul but Dami knew he was dead serious.

"But seriously.. You have to stop smoking." Dami continued the conversation once Mr. Peter left.

"Nope." Raul replied plainly, popping the 'p' to lay emphasis to it.

Damien smiled while shaking his head in amusement.

"What's so funny?" Raul asked.

"The people that produced these stuffs you take clearly wrote on it and i quote that, 'warning! smokers are reliable to die young' and you still take them?" Dami asked.

Raul drew a puff of smoke out of his nose and hissed. "I thought you wanted to say something sensible." He drew in the smoke and drew it out again. "I know of a man who has been smoking since he was Ten and now he is seventy, he hasn't died and you are talking about me who started smoking at the age of fifteen and I'm just twenty." He added.

"Even if. You are not that man and he is not you. By the way, you don't know what he is going through secretly and you are here following his steps." Dami disagreed, shaking his head.

Raul rolled his eyes. "Guy, forget about that thing. Cigarette is good."

"As far as I'm concerned, it is not good." Dami opposed. "Since I was little and now I am twenty one, I have not and will never smoke."

"Why?" Dami was amused by Raul's question but he gave the answer to it anyway.

"Because Mama said that it is not good."

Raul laughed and it was Dami's turn to roll his eyes.

"I knew you would say that." said Raul "Mama's boy," he mocked.

"Yes, thank you." Dami said, standing up to his feet, feeling slightly offended because he knew that Raul calling him a 'Mama's boy' meant he was indirectly calling him immature but he also knew that it was what people call others just to make them feel inferior and it was a way of misleading them to do what they'd never intended to do all in the name of proving the world wrong. That they ain't a Mummy's boy or Daddy's boy and it was exactly what Raul was trying to do, so Dami ended the conversation there and went back to work.

When he was through with his work there, Raul left saying he wanted to join his friends at the bar while Dami went in search of other menial jobs knowing fully well that it was the only means he had to earn money. He was the only one his poor aging mother had so he has to take good care of her no matter what.

No dulling - he thought.

He gave up school for her because mama was worth it, she's been taking care of him alone after his father died.

Dami was only twelve when he lost his Dad to the war between their village and two other neighboring villages. The fight was exceedingly strong that they lost many villagers especially the men and Dami's Dad wasn't exceptional.

Dami remembered how his life was full of hopes and dreams nine years ago before his father's death, it wasn't like they were rich or something but the thing is that as far as Dami could remember they were living a more 'comfortable' life until death took that away.

Now, even if it doesn't offend him, he is the one to make a living for himself and that of his mother.

He shut his eyes wondering how it would taste like to smoke for the first time in his life. Then, reprimanded himself for ever thinking such and allowing it to get to him.

Mother taught him never to listen to any negative thing people had to say about him. He is been doing that all his life. When his peers laugh at him and mock him for being his 'mother's little pet', he'd told them that he was proud of it and with that, he was able to shut some of them up.

Now he wondered; just what if he had given it a try. what would have happened? He tossed on his bed uncomfortably.

No..no..no...

"Son." Mama called from the sitting room and when he did not answer immediately, she called again.

"Yes, mama." he answered. He was tired and needed rest but mama call was more important than any thing in the world.

She was his priceless jewel, oh let's rephrase that; she is his priceless jewel.

He stood up from his bed lazily, walked to the living room, where mama was lying down on the couch with one hand placed on her forehead and her eyes closed like she was sleeping.

"Mama." he called out, taking a seat opposite hers while she sat up.

"You called." He reminded her.

"Of course  I did" She yawned sleepily. "I heard Raul was with you throughout today." she started.

News sure travels fast like wild fire in this part of a remote village.

"Em." he cleared his throat "Not throughout today Mama. Just during morning to afternoon period then he left." he corrected her.

She believed him after all he was her son and her son doesn't lie.

"Okay, but you have to be careful with him. I am not saying that you shouldn't be friends with him." she adjusted on her seat "He is your cousin and your junior at that matter but you know how he misbehaves and I wouldn't want you to exhibit such." she added.

Dami nodded.

Now he thanked his stars that he did not allow Raul to deceive him into smoking. Who knows? Mama would have heard by now and she would have given him lectures of his life. When he was little, she would spank or whip him when he'd do something wrong but now that he was an adult, all she could do was to give him advice on how to live his life.

Although mama no longer believes in God, she believes in giving a child a proper education and moral vices.

She heaved a sigh of relieve before she spoke again. "You must be very tired my son due to the days work. I would really love it if you take your bath and rest."

Dami shook his head. 5he had thought of taking his bath but he was too tired to.

"But.." And Dami's face fell. He felt that if there is a 'but' in a sentence, it meant there was a problem.

"Your Aunty Ennio sent for you. You really have to help her fetch water, please.. You know how it is with her son, he doesn't do any thing at home and as you can see she is getting old. You don't expect her to do it herself. Do you?" Mama asked, worry laced in her voice.

"No." replied, Dami.

Mama shook her head. "Good. Then please help her." Mama pleaded.

Dami checked the wall clock, it was 11:00 pm in the night already but he had no option but to help Raul's mother. She was like a mother to him so he had to treat her like one.

"Okay mama. You don't have to plead, I'll do it." he said standing up to go to Aunty Ennio's house that was just opposite theirs in the same compound.

"Thank you my son." mama smiled.

..............

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