The Creek

In the creeks of Bagudu, in the Southern part of an African nation named Swedah, Eneni had been born. He was born into the cold breeze of the swamps that blew and the croaking of frogs

He had learnt how to swim at the age of four confidently since everything about his village had to do with water and swimming was just a custom for everyone.


As he grew up, he got accustomed to the creek way of life. Illegal bunkery was the norm, joining a cult was just like going to school. Living in the creeks was a life of "survival of the fittest". And Eneni had to grow into these. Violence became a part of him. He had to carry out his first armed robbery operation at the age of twelve since it was a proof of his maturity in the cult he belonged to.

At the age of fifteen, he had taken his first kill and it seemed like nothing to him. Instead he felt like a self-glorified king. He had found solace in the creeks. Eneni believed that the people who dwelt in the town were seen as boys as they had not been hardened by the challenges of life. Eneni saw no reason to stay in the city, for he enjoyed every moment spent in the creek.

Hardened by metal.

Meeting Dave

Eneni had gone to town get some drinks that he and his friends will use to take the chill off the dry season. It was at the shopping mall that he met Dave who seemed like a perfect gentleman who helped him stop one of the drinks from crashing to the floor because of a tear on the polythene bag.
Within a short while it began to rain.

Dave got talking with Eneni and liked his personality, though he knew he was from the streets but never looked down on him, rather saw him as a brother who could be trained to become better. Their talk lasted for about two hours while they waited for the rain to stop. They spoke about the weather and football.

Just before the rain stopped, Dave and Eneni exchanged their contacts and became friends. Dave told Eneni to call him when next he came into town, to which Eneni agreed.


Weeks past and Eneni spent his time in the creek doing the same things he had been doing. There was no difference to his life all that mattered to him was getting money from selling crude gotten from illegal bunkery, as he had stepped up his game and didn't see the need to be involved in street robbery. It was for the kids.

Mindset

He wrote his West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and saw himself as a fully blown man who had to begun to think about greater things to achieve. His business was moving fine as long as he settled those who needed to be settled.

After his exams he decided to go into the city to meet a dealer in crude oil. He was hoping that his meeting will work out fine.

He met Femi who showed interest and was willing to buy ten barrels of kerosene and for Eneni that was good business. After his meeting he headed to the park to board a bus and that was when Dave  sighted him.


Dave asked him to come and know his place since it was not far from the park. He hesitated a little and eventually followed him home. Dave treated him to a luxury of pounded yam and egusi(ground melon) soup which he ate with relish. It became obvious to Eneni that Dave had wealth beyond what he had anticipated for a man of his age, since he had maids who cooked and cleaned his house. And the duplex he had found himself in, was just magnificent with a well decorated interior.

Eneni looked at it all and was amazed but said to himself, "I am from the creek and I stay in the creek". He got talking with Dave and enjoyed his time in his house as it was quite comfortable.

When it was time for him to leave, Dave convinced him to stay the night since it was quite late and asked his maid to prepare his room for him.

Read Next Episode

God loves.
KingHenzy cares.