VALLEY OF SHADOW

never called me ever since I grew up to know him as a cousin to Papa. He said he collected my

years after my NYSC. There was this sounds of pity on his tone. He said I should make time to come and

t of N100,000. The biggest money ever entered my account was N30,000. Even at that, the money was

t it is meant for, because such amount was beyond my imagination. He began to laugh broadly and told me that

ould return home to see him, because he had been in the village and been helping other youn

y doing tutorial classes of JAMB and SSCE to students on a private arrangements. A placid gri

Akure. I was sure Mama had never gone beyond Enugu, yet she would call, to ask, "Ikenna, where are yo

y, "thank God, you people are getting closer as though she has ever heard the names of the place

news would arouse her. An earthquake would happen in Japan, Mama would hear it on the news or rumour, she

ding to his request, he was happy to see me. He dragged my hand to his inner sitting room, o

I have never seen such amount physically. Uncle Ugwu said the money was mine in an exchange of a plot of land close to hi

, and my only land, moreover, you know that land is where I intend to build my h

ider his offer. I knew the money if I use it judiciously, I could buy more lands and build