In the end by Zara Iko

It is the first day of a new term; Nala is excited to go to school and impatient too. Dressed in everything new from head to toe, she hurries into her mother's car and beckons on her mother to join her quickly.

 “Mum I would really like to get to school on time so I don’t miss the first day assembly.  It will be a good time to show off my new school stuffs.” 

“Nala, haven't I warned you about showing off” her mum asked

“Showing off! Showing off! No I’m not mum” Nala replied

“You said so yourself young lady”

“Mummy they do it too, we all do it”.  

“That doesn't mean you have to do the same, these things are not the most important things in life -your dad and I work hard so you can have all these things for your comfort not for show off.”

“Mum I am still a kid and that's what kids do, brag about what our parents buy for us.”

Nala got to school a little late while the morning assembly had already started; she hopped off to meet her classmates and didn’t even mind her mum coming behind her. Her mother stayed for the morning assembly so she could have a chat to Nala’s class teacher and the school’s head teacher before she left for work. One thing struck her mind as her eyes hovered around everyone gathered. Most of the children looked jolly, flamboyant and Rosy while their teachers looked rather haggard and frustrated on the first day. She thought, shouldn't they look excited about the new term like the kids. She remembered a popular saying she had been hearing a long time “a teacher’s reward is in heaven” she whispered to herself “this cannot be right”.

“Hello Mrs Gana, I see you brought Nala yourself today” Patricia the school’s head teacher said “it’s good to have the children back” she added dryly without any enthusiasm. She had the same experience chatting to Nala’s class teacher Miss Ezzi.

Throughout her drive to work she wondered why the teachers’ mood had been so dull; she imagined that if they were not happy with their jobs why they didn’t quit. Taking Nala to a private school was out of it. Ever since they decided that most private primary schools around were rather artificial caring more about how much to milk out from parents rather than giving the children sound education, they swore to Government owned schools for all their children.

The next day after dropping off Nala in school and already at work Mrs Dawana Gana's phone rang, she ignored it she had a principle of not attending to call outside work and family except during break. She let the phone ring another 6 minutes until it clocked twelve noon. Without any pleasantries the person poured out the information “Ma’am, armed men forced their way into the school this afternoon and five children were abducted, I’m sorry but Nala is among those taken”. She cut off the line, grabbed her bag and headed straight to the school. On her way she called the house to make sure Terni her 1+year old son was safe with the Nanny, her husband’s number was out of reach. Earlier he informed her he would be in a meeting for most of the day. She arrived in the school and rushed to Nala’s class but it was empty, she rushed to the head mistress’s office and met some very upset parents in there.

“How was my daughter taken away? She asked the head mistress Patricia

“Ma’am armed men walked in and picked a child from each class” Patricia responded

“Randomly! And they decided to pick Nala out of 50 plus children in her class” Dawana reiterated 

“Nala sits in the front of the class” Miss Ezzi took over answering.

“No I have been to my daughter’s class and she sits at the second to the last sit on her row”

“We had to change her position because she complained about not seeing clearly from behind” Miss Ezzi answered.

“Now she’s not here to say if that’s true or not. She tells me everything. How come she skipped that?!” Dawana said rolling her eyes in disbelief.

After waiting in the school until evening without a word about their children's where about, the parents decided to return home. By then the news had spread all over the media. Dawana returned home a few seconds before her husband, he parked his car behind hers and walked up to her. Nathan saw his wife’s swollen face and asked “is everything alright, you look like you have been crying, where u fired?!” she looked at him surprised and asked “You decide to joke on the day Nala.” she didn't finish her statement and she brushed past him. He led her back and said “Nala what? What!” Getting apprehensive. She burst out crying. Apprehensive Already he grabbed her arms firmly and asked her “Tell me something Dawana, what’s happened to Nala?” 

“Nala was kidnapped from school her this afternoon.”

The mood in the Gana residence that evening was sulky, all evening they sat in front of the television waiting for any break through information from the police, they had their phones close to them but all calls came from friends, family and other sympathisers .They moved up to their bedroom and put their son to sleep between them but they couldn’t sleep not knowing what had happened to their eight year old daughter.

Dawana didn’t remember when she fell asleep but she woke up to a poignant smell. She thought “could be maybe Nathan burning Rose scented incense and possibly saying a prayer”. She stood up from bed and felt light headed; she called out to Nathan but he didn’t respond so she walked out to look for him. As she drew closer to him the smell of rose faded to a strong smell of Tobacco, she met him dragging a cigar, and he didn’t look like he slept throughout the night, his eyes were bloodshot. She spoke to him but he didn’t even notice she was by his side. “You shouldn’t be smoking indoors; our son is still sleeping upstairs” Dawana said to Nathan. He didn’t nudge, he sat still and continued dragging his cigar. She sat by him and inhaled the tobacco, the smell irritated her and she coughed hard 

“You don’t have to sit here” Nathan said to her. 

“You don’t have to smoke here” she replied him. Dawana tuned on the TV for the morning news at 8 and they both sat quietly as they listened “Government school teachers have resumed an indefinite strike to protest the delayed payment of their salaries, our interview with a government school teacher reveals that salaries have not been paid  for the last 3 months....”  a breaking flashed and the caster announced “ four out of the five kidnapped pupils from the government school have been released their names are .................................... Miss Nala Gana is the only pupil still held captive. They had been so engrossed in the news that Nathan forgot to drop ash from his cigar on the tray until ash fell on his bare chest, the heat made him bolt out from his seated position. Dawana thinking he was reacting to the news jumped up from the chair too then threw herself on the floor crying for Nala.

Just a boy 4 By Zara Iko

Stanley started making preparations for his first catering job by sourcing for other chefs who wouldn’t mind working with him to meet up with demands of the wedding. Unfortunately he was unable to convince anyone, not even ex-class mates from the catering school he never graduated from because they didn't find the venture lucrative enough for their time and effort. Nana was the only person he had full-time to assist him; Selma did her best to help out when she came home from one of the IAAF league meetings. Selma out of all the others understood Stanley’s heart rejoiced most when he made a meal that people enjoyed.  
Stanley returned home from one of his outings and met his dad on the front porch holding a paper, to make it obvious he was waiting for him, he threw the paper at him. Stanley pick it up and felt his father’s scrutinising eyes on him as he read through the paper . 
“It arrived this morning addressed to your mother and me”. Stanley senior said watching junior’s reaction “you don’t look too surprised, you must have known about this. Why did you keep quiet about it? Junior still kept quiet, he was tongue tied , he was caught red handed, taken off guard so he couldn't cook up an excuse. He totally forgot his Uni would post same letter he got to his guardians and not been at alert to receive the letter when it came so it wouldn’t get to them.
“Of all the times I have called you irresponsible, this crowns it up” Stanley started off again “I can’t believe you will be silent about a thing like this. You messing with your future”
“I was afraid of your reaction dad”
“That is not an excuse; you don’t intend to go back? Stanley asked his son “Isn’t that it?”
No! I intend to go back and I plan to raise the money myself.
Stanley laughed sarcastically and called Rosario “come and hear what your son is saying. He still talks like a kid at 20”. Rosario having already read the letter joined the two. “It’s been your plan to drop out of school since you got in. I know, but it won’t work. Your mother and I are giving you the money.
“Shouldn’t you be mad I chucked out on sports and got my scholarship cancelled?”
“Hell yes I am mad, terribly mad, isn't it obvious?! Stanley replied his son with anger strains on his face. He could not intimidate junior with his stature anymore. Stanley had grown to be just as tall as him at 6 feet 3 inch and as nature would have it Stanley senior had started to age while Stanley Junior was blooming in youth. He stepped so close to his son that his breath fanned juniors face. Junior sensed the tensed raising and fall of his chest threatening so he stepped back. Stanley looked at his son like don’t you even open your mouth to say anything and repeated with an affirming voice “we would pay your tuition”. He walked back into the house and slammed the door. Stanley followed his dad behind cautiously “I don’t want the money Dad, I will source for my fees myself”
“Where do you think you can get that amount in this short time, are you going to rob a bank?” Rosario chipped in.
“I would rather do that can collect your money”
You are not a kid anymore it’s high time you man up and stop acting irresponsibly; your mother and I have worked hard to provide the best for you and your sisters. We have more than enough to pay for the completion of your studies”
“I am being a man by wanting to fix my mistake myself”
“No!  You are being a little boy.” his father reinstated
Stanley turned and faced his mother; she  always had his back “mum, are you not going to say anything here”
 “You should listen to your father” Rosario replied him. By then Stanley had left them alone, Rosario joined her husband and left Stanley to himself. 

Stanley searched his heart to find out why he didn't want to accept his father’s offer, his actions surprised even him. He thought, after-all he had just been bailed out from having to raise his tuition, he could just as well tell his sister to forget about hiring him for her wedding catering and enjoy his summer holiday with Nana. He toyed with the idea of accepting the money and using it to birth his dream but quickly he shook the idea off, his integrity would be at stake. For most of his life he heard his father tell him. “Man up”, he needed to prove to his father he was every bit his son, maybe not in the quintessential way his father expected but just like his father he was going to pursue his passion against all odds, start his catering business from nothing and build it up to be something.

With two weeks left to the D -day and very little done Stanley received the final menu from the couple but he faced the biggest road block; Nana decided she had had enough of Stanley’s craziness. It annoyed her that he refused to see the impossibility of what he was doing and decided to end it with him. he planned all cooking arrangements  around her, her folks were to travel for the summer for three weeks and since Stanley had nowhere else to cook they decided that they would use her house.
“Hang in there babe, it’s only two weeks remaining and ...” Stanley couldn’t finish his statement before Nana cut him short. She was moving around  the kitchen of her house restlessly while her parents prepared for their trip upstairs. “When will all your fantasies end? You are wasting opportunities for this. You have abandoned sports, and now your education, what for?” Stanley understood how upset and confused she was and he stayed silent to let her vent all bottled up emotions. After she was done, she opened the back door and asked him to leave. “Babe hang in there for us, please” Stanley told her but she shook her head and said “just leave”. Stanley stopped by her in front of door and looked into her eyes to see if he could still find love in there he thought maybe her confusion led to her decision but he met a cold face staring back at him. He walked out and didn’t look back until he heard the door shut.

 It took a lot for Stanley to own up to Sarah and Patrick that he couldn’t meet up with the challenge “For someone who had been so optimistic, your countenance now is such a sharp contrast, what’s up bro” Sarah probed Stanley. He was still her little brother and it didn’t take much for her to realise that something had gone wrong “is it your father” she asked him but he shook his head. “Then what’s up” she asked again “nothing, It’s just that I give in, I can’t meet up”
“Phew, it’s a good thing we didn’t cancel with caterers” Patrick who had been quiet all along said. His statement seemed to tick Stanley off in the wrong way and he erupted “You never wanted me to do it anyway and you are still not hiding that fact”. Sarah interfered to calm him down and he left pretty upset. He didn’t share his split from Nana with anyone so he had to deal with the pain alone.
Despite how annoyed Sarah might have been with Stanley for losing his focus at Uni she didn’t enjoy seeing him  sad. After much consultation with Patrick they decided to give him something else. They cancelled with the bakery and lost the money they deposited so they could give the baking of their cake to Stanley. Sarah decided Patrick broke the news to him so they could mend their rift. The couple also arranged for him to use the kitchen of the caterers they hired for their wedding food.

Stanley managed to complete the job without his father’s knowledge, until at the wedding reception when the MC called for the person responsible for the baking of the cake to supervise its cutting. Stanley senior stared at the cake in amazement unable to comprehend how his son could have done that good of a job, he turned to his wife “did your son actually make that” she had a smirk on her face and she replied “of course he did and even the snack you said was yum he did that too” Stanley senior squeezed his brows then Rosario added “including dessert to come, he made that too” “how come, when, where? “ Stanley asked. Rosario simply shrugged her shoulders and then turned to admiringly watch her son walk on stage with loud the cheers from his siblings, their families and friends. He stood by the couple behind the cake. He spoke to the guests “this is a beautiful white velvet cake torted and filled with seedless raspberry filling, specially requested by the couple, with a bit of my improvising. The raspberry filling was my idea, I don’t mean to be preferential here Patrick but my sister loves raspberry and thought I could give her something back after this wonderful lifetime opportunity on the platform of your wedding. You guys were too brave to have taken the risk on me at a crucial, once in a lifetime event like this. What if i messed up?! Thank God i didn't............i wish both of you a great life together and hope you beat mums record Sarah by having 9 children” the crowd laughed and the couple cut the cake afterwards. All the while his father sat quiet. The cake was served and he ate it but kept his comment to himself.

 Junior kept a distance from his father because he didn’t know how he was going to react. While everyone danced, he hung out with the kids because he was still single, he didn’t notice his father walking towards him until he heard his voice “son” he looked up from where he knelt down buckling his niece’s shoe and saw his folks. He got up quickly and wanted to walk away in order to avoid a scene. It was his sister’s day and he was going to do whatever it takes to make sure it ended a happy day. “Son” his father stopped him from leaving “good job” he looked at his dad surprised “I am serious good job. I am proud of you son” still unsure how to react from hearing his father’s approving remark he tried to hide his smile but he couldn’t, tears welled up his eyes too and he said “thanks dad, always wanted to hear that from you”

“You know I am willing to diversify the business to incorporate your restaurant” his father said Stanley stared at his dad dazed but happy “but first you must complete your education boy” “yes dad I am willing to do whatever it takes” Stanley senior stretched out his hand and said “deal” junior shook and hands and said “deal”. The two hugged unaware that they had everyone’s approving attention on them.