GRASS TO A GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER TEN (PART ONE)

CHAPTER TEN
THE GRADUATION
    The subsequent semesters were very successful for Bisi, Kunle, and Abayomi. The news of their parent's reconciliation really stirred up the siblings as they decided to make the best results in their departments. The final year was not easy for Kunle who had to visit some general hospitals for practicals. There he was exposed to dead bodies and was even asked to carry out experiments in which he had to dissect the brains of some dead bodies in order to study the brain cells. This he did with his lecturer's assistance as a final year test. The determined future medical doctor had to spend sleepless nights, studying voluminous medical texts and materials. For Bisi, the bulk of her final year thesis was based on analytical procedures of financial accounts. She was asked to work with some financial firms in order to carry out an analysis of business procedures and accurate record keeping.
   Abayomi in a similar vein did not find things easy too. He was asked to work with some field civil engineers to acquire practical knowledge. He also had to rigorously study both outdated and modern materials on Civil Engineering, and was exposed to brain twisting engineering mathematical problems. But if it is painful, it must be gainful, he thought.
  The final year examinations were around the corner. It was actually slated for September, 28 and all final year students were asked to submit and defend their thesis paper after the examinations. Bisi, who graduated before Kunle and Abayomi, submitted her thesis in her fianl year. Abayomi was however asked by his lecturer Mr. Washington, an American professor of Civil Engineering, to modify  and elaborate his thesis. He was asked to this with adequate references and illustrations. This was so much work and had to be done in the stated time. Abayomi extended the tentacles of his research and emphasized practicality in his work. This time it was accepted and he was commented by Mr. Washington.

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER NINE (PART TWO)

...Mr. Taiwo was to go to his wife's house the following day and deliver her portion of the money their son sent. At first he was reluctant, but later mustered courage and decided to take the bull by the horn. At least for the sake of their children. The next morning, Mr. Taiwo got up early, had his bath and breakfast and then headed for his wife's house. On arrival, it took him almost five minutes to knock on the door, and when he finally did, he faced down with eyes closed.
       "Come in!" was the reply from inside, but Mr. Taiwo refused to come in for fear of his wife's reaction. When no one opened at her response, Mrs. Iyabo walked up to the door and opened it, to see her husband standing at the door, faced down. Mr. Taiwo's heart rent into two when his wife opened the door.
       "Oh, it's you. Come in" she said with a smile, to his utter amazement. Kunle had earlier written a letter to his mom, which she received a day before the postman delivered Mr. Taiwo's parcel. So Mrs. Iyabo had already decided to reconcile with her husband.
       "I'm awfully sorry for everything I made you and the kids go through" Mr. Taiwo said with streaks of tears on his cheek.
       "Please find a place in your heart to forgive me" he added.
       "It's okay. I forgave you a long time ago" Mrs. Iyabo said as she walked towards her husband who was standing across her in her white-painted sitting room, well furnished with black leader sofas. She then kissed him before they embraced each other with deep emotions. Moments later, Mrs. Iyabo returned the keys to her apartment to the land owner before moving back in with her husband.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious.

FEAR!

The mirage of danger that appears on the road of life, frightening its users,
The voice that makes a mountain of a mole hill, and obstructs the path of pusillanimous fellows,
The hands that grip the feet of the defeated, holding them back from rising,
And the factor that enslaves mediocrities, and up the rungs of greatness stop them from climbing,

The enemy of courage,
An adversary of bravery,
Drenched in invisibility along the journey of the great,
And enclosed in insignificance, in the cause of the purpose-driven,

The ropes that binds the wings of the dreams of the unfulfilled,
Hindering their flight to the skies of accomplishment,
The heat that drains the strength of the once energetic, drowning them in the rivers of stagnation,
Places a magnifying lens over infinitesimal challenges, thus getting cowards infused with apprehension,
Weaknesses nurture and strengths stifle.
The greatest fear being the fear of fear itself!

IF I BE BORN AGAIN...

To what shall I liken this love you have shown me,
It's like the tender loving a mother shows her child,
A love that has made me free,
From pain and heartbreak; a love so strong, but yet mild,
Baby, if I die and be born again, you'll still be my only love,

Loving you is a feeling I wish has no end,
Not even with the end of mortality,
A lover, a soulmate and a friend,
Is who I'll be to you, even for eternity,
So, I just want to take this time and tell you how I truly feel,
Truth is, if I were to be born again, you will remain my soul mate and I mean this for real,

I never knew love could bring fulfillment,
I never thought love could be one's greatest achievement,
Until I met you,
I never knew love had the power to revolutionize,
A life and make each day feel like paradise,
Until I found you,
What more do I need when I've got you,
Honestly honey, if I were to die and be born again, you will remain my heartbeat

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER NINE (PART ONE)

CHAPTER NINE
THE RECONCILIATION
     Kunle and Bisi became committed to their academic work again, and were thus able to make up for the carry-overs they had in the second semester. So, they moved onto the third semester. However, for Kunle who was studying Medicine, it was not easy at all, as he frequently had to borrow relevant text books from the school's library. At the end of the third semester, the siblings, with diligence and God's favor made the best results in their departments. The British government thus moved them back into their apartments and re-enlisted their names for the regular monthly allowance.
   Mr. Taiwo had not heard from his children for a long time and was getting really perturbed.
        "What could have happened to my children? This is strange and unlike them. Maybe they
         are planning to send me a bigger package this time. I still need to call them though"
As these thoughts ran through Mr. Taiwo's mind, there was a knock on the door.
        "Come in, the door is open" Replied Mr. Taiwo anxiously. It was the postman.
        "Good morning sir. I have a letter for you. Here it is sir. I'll need you to sign here sir" The postman said as he dipped his hand into his mailbag and handed over an envelope to Mr. Taiwo, who then signed on a note pad the postman had asked him to sign on.
      "Thank you very much. God bless you" Mr Taiwo said as he received the envelope from the man.
     "Thank you sir. I'll be on my way now" The postman said before leaving the room. Kunle had written a letter to his father, telling him all that had happened and why there had been an unsual delay in cash transfer. Kunle also advised his father to apologize to his mother and put right that which has gone wrong. Mr. Taiwo felt sorry for his mistakes and was ashamed for failing in his responsibilities as a husband and father, and for causing his children much pain. He was therefore determined to make amends.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER EIGHT (PART TWO)

CHAPTER EIGHT (PART TWO)
A NEW DAWN
...The service commenced by 9: 30 am, after all religious rites have been observed. It was now time for the sermon and Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Lambert mounted the pulpit, a five meter structure made purely from Elizabethan gold. He was a tall, light-skinned, white-bearded man in his late fifties, and the sole-spiritual head of the church. That Sunday, he rendered an elongated message which put all the little children to sleep. But he vibrantly preached on the message, "what matters most". In course of the message, he made the congregation realize that it is of great waste to acquire all of life's abundance and loose one's soul in hell. In fact for Bisi and Kunle, it was as if they had been reported to the Rev. as it appeared he was talking directly to them. The words of the Rev. really impacted the lives of the siblings that they decided to begin serving from God from that day. They sorrowfully and humbly walked out during the altar call and gave their lives to Christ. To Abayomi, it was a dream come through as he had longed to see his friends make peace with God. Bisi and Kunle were very happy in their new found faith in God. It was to them a new dawn in life.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

THINK TWICE! II

For that child you abandoned today, may be the key to your prosperity tomorrow,
That strange woman from whose sexual treasure you tapped, might be the beginning of your pains as you lie on the sick bed inflicted with syphilis,
And that beggar you ignored, and orphan despised,
Might be the millionaire to whom you'll run years from now,

That wife out of whose life you stepped, might be the only wife with whom you had a peaceful night's sleep,
That maiden you abused yesterday, might be your daughter for whom you've long searched,
That subordinate you mistreated might be your employer tomorrow,
That company from whom you stole might be the last you work in,
And the nation's wealth you lavished, might lead to your utter disgrace and impoverishment,
Ergo, fellows, always think twice!