[View the story "Experimental Writing III " on Storify ]
Experimental Writing III
Storified by oluwa-is-involved · Wed, Mar 20 2013 18:01:53
Ona opens the space’s door, pushing it in. She steps in thinking about the traffic she had to endure. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She sees a 20-something lady swirls around on a chair, the only one in the space. Ona does a quick perusal of the space. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Ahem” Ona approaches the lady, letting the space’s door close on its own. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The oblivious occupant stops her swirling and stands with as much grace a swirling world can afford. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Tight blue jeans, a white tee depicting some Nigerian road signs and a weave walks towards Ona, stretches her hand. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I’m Nse. The guy here, I think his name was Dele, told me to wait for you.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Really? I guess you’re my tech guy. Where did the marine go to?” Ona says as she looks around once more. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Marine?” the tech girl says with wide eyes. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Dele, the guy you talked to. Where is he?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Oh! He said to tell you he has a life unlike you if you asked,” the tech girl says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona scowls and frowns down at the bearer of such opinion. “Are you done with the extraction?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I could only recover seven days’ worth of data,” the tech girl says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“And what popped up?” Ona raises her hands up, opens her palm and shakes two fingers. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The techie walks back to the chair she had been swirling on, grabs a tiny pile of paper, the laptop and phone. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She stops, returns the laptop and phone back to where she picked them from, and brings the pile of paper to Ona. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Dele said that this marked document is what you need most,” the techie says as she hands the pile of paper to Ona. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona rifles through the five pieces of paper. She then studies the messages in a careful and languid manner. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Not seeing what she likes, Ona says “can I have the phone please? Don’t worry, I’ll get it.” Ona gets the phone. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She scrolls through the call list – incoming and outgoing. Same, all from named contacts and nothing new. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She checks the messages but nothing there either. She looks up at the techie and says “you couldn’t retrieve anymore stuff?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“That’s all I could find. I’m sorry,” the techie says, scratching her hair. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The next day brings a beckon of breakthrough. Ona sits down with Valerie Peters, Dieko’s best friend, with her mum hanging around. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“When last did you hear from Dieko?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Two months ago,” the bubblegum chewing teenager says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“That right, you guys had a falling out. Could you tell me why?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Two bubblegum smack-popping later, Valerie says “nothing. We just grew apart.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ignoring the smacking sounds, Ona says “what’s the name of her boyfriend?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“She doesn’t have any. She never had interest in that kind of thing,” Valerie says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I see. Do you know anyone else I can talk to?” Ona says looking at Valerie’s mum. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The teenage girl shrugs. “You can talk to her classmates.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Thanks.” Ona pulls out a blank card, writes her contact info on it and passes it to the girl. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Contact me if you remember anything else.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Two hours later, the information she needs comes in a text message. ‘Makodo Hall, 4 p.m.’ #murewaoluwa-is-involved
It was all Ona needs. She calls the marine to get his behind to the space. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
30 mins later, he comes sauntering in white golf shorts and blue polo shirt. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Day off much,” Ona says as she appraises him. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“What was so important?” the marine says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona hands him her phone. He reads the text message. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“All right, let’s go.” He takes in the empty room. “What did you do with Nse? Hope you didn’t give the poor girl a scare?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“She was done. So, I sent her home. I don’t need her anymore.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine walks to his desk, opens up the last drawer and pops out his gun. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
He unloads it, checks the ammo and makes sure the safety is on. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona stares at him and his gun readiness process. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Oh ish, I hope you’re not planning to bring a gun and scare a poor little girl. Put it away. I don’t think we need it yet.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine ignores her as he looks for his holster. He lays it on the table. He digs for something else. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I’m serious, we don’t need ammunition. We’re just going to talk to a girl who wasn’t able to talk earlier,” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You can never be sure about these things,” the marine says he fishes out a DoubleTap tactical pocket pistol. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
He does the same gun safety checking routine and he pockets it. No bulge and nothing gives away its presence. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Let’s go,” the marine says as he leads the way out of the space. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Join me tomorrow for the continuation of the tweetstory. In the meantime, check http://bit.ly/ZC3neh for previous tweets. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
[View the story "Experimental Writing IV" on Storify ]
Experimental Writing IV
I have decided to only storify the #murewa tweetstory once a week. So, you'll be getting a week's recap next Sunday and the Sundays after that.
Storified by oluwa-is-involved · Sun, Mar 24 2013 07:18:08
The sun tells its tale as the two navigate their way to Makodo Hall. Ona scopes the environment, taking in the sights and routes. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Although one might have thought to find a building, Makodo Hall is actually a little resort. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Why call it a hall though,” Ona says as she processes the environment. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“The business started from just a little venue but expanded. The owner retained its initial brand name,” the marine says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I see,” Ona says, not really seeing. She checks her for the message as she steps into the compound. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“So where do we go?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
There are too many choices: an outdoor indie bar with a jazz band setting up and sound checking – #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona reminds herself that she is no longer in America with its age limit. The girl can be there –, #murewaoluwa-is-involved
there is also the garden with benches and nicely pruned lawn, the three storey long mansion-like building #murewaoluwa-is-involved
which Ona is sure hosts societies’celebrations, a sign for a movie theater and other things Ona couldn’t see at the moment. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona taps the call button, places the phone to her left ear, holds the phone for a while, looks at it and presses the end button. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She looks around once more, types a message and hits send. “I guess we wait.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Her phone rings. Ona picks it. She listens. “Okay.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She lowers the phone as the bubblegum smacking teenager of yesterday appears at Ona’s horizon. The teenager approaches. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Come with me,” she takes them to one of the benches on the lawn and sits on one side. Ona and the marine sit across from her. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I am sorry for dragging you here. But I couldn’t talk to you yesterday with my mum hanging about,” the teenager says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“That’s fine. I do understand. So, what is the information you have to share,” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The teenager looks furtively around and plays with her hands. “It’s fine. You’re safe. I promise,” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“No, it’s just that I promised not to tell. And the last time I did, it didn’t end well,” the girl says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Trust me, you’re safe. I wouldn’t break your confidence. I just want to find Dieko. Or don’t you want her to be found?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The girl reaches into her small hand purse, withdraws a folded paper and extends it. Ona collects it and unfolds it. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The scrawly handwriting gives away the age of the writer. She looks up and says “when did you get this?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Two months ago,” the teenager says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Two months ago?” Ona passes the note to the marine. “That’s when you had your falling out. It was because of this.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The girl nods and scratches her neck. “I was scared when I found it, I told and she never forgave me.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Who did you tell?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Dieko’s godmother. It’s not like I could easily see her mother to tell. She’s your mother, isn’t she?” the teenager says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“My mother, the president?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“No, Dieko’s godmother. I saw your picture in her house the one time we went visiting,” the girl says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You did. Yes, she is. And you told her. What did my mother say and do?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The teenage girl pouts her lower lip and wriggles her mouth to the right. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I don’t know but Dieko didn’t go away and she didn’t talk to me.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“This time, did she contact you to let you know her plans?” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The girl shakes her head right and left. “And I guess you didn’t tell your folks either.” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“No, I had promised Dieko not to tell. I only told your mum because I was sacred for her safety,” the girl says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You’re a real good friend. I hope you guys make up when I find her. Good friends are hard to find. Thanks.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona rises and the marine follows her. At the car, he says “what next?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“To go wring the neck of the woman who gave birth to me. She withheld important details as usual again!,” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She opens the car door and gets in. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I am sorry but you need an appointment before you can see the Senator,” a longtime bleached with colored spots woman says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She sits behind a desk, the guardian to senator Adikwe’s chamber. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
A desk phone, a desktop, a sign-in sheet, a pack of gum her weapon of choice. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I see,” Ona says. She turns round to the marine and smiles. (Oh no, she’s going to do something crazy) the marine thinks. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona turns to the secretary who she has never met before and says “but is the lovely senator in?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I see,” Ona says. “But don’t worry, I know my way around.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Like I said you, you need an appointment to see her,” the secretary says as her eyes blare and her nostrils rise at such question. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She makes her way around the guard post – the secretary’s desk, and makes her way to the senator’s office. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The secretary jumps and follows Ona, the wind bellowing her apparel whistling a tale of her annoyance at the disregard for protocol. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You can’t go in there, young lady. Where do you think you’re going?” the secretary catches up with Ona at the door. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona pushes the door open before the secretary can stop her. “In here,” she says as she steps in. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The empty office greets and taunts her. “I guess you were right. The senator is indeed not in, my bad.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona steps outside and closes the door behind her. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She flashes her most innocent smile, the twinkling in her eyes, the quick wink, the showing of the no-hole perfect white teeth. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The secretary, unappeased, huffs and shows her out towards the reception. Ona unrepentant accompanies the secretary back. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine stands at the secretary’s desk, eyes reproaching her. Ona flits her lips into a side smile. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The secretary hisses as she returns to her seat. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Please forgive her, she’s a jolly-just come. She still thinks she’s abroad,” The marine says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Shooo, is that why she has no respect. If I call the police for her, they will say I’m wicked now,” the secretary says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“No police. She’s alright, just a little preppy most times,” the marine says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator walks into the office, a black uniformed man and a girl in her late 20s carrying the senator’s belongings behind her. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“What’s this noise all about.” On seeing Ona, the senator says ... #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Ona, you always manage to cause turmoil wherever you go. You surely didn’t get that from me.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
To the receptionist, “It’s fine Mrs. Ikeji, I believe I have a few miniutes for my daughter.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator walks ahead to her office, the late 20s girl trailing behind her. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The uniformed man finds a comfortable seat in the lobby and makes himself comfortable. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The receptionist uses her eyes to convey her emotions, eyeing Ona with blazing eyes that cut through the dress to her birthday suit. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona ignores the jibe as she walks after her mum. She stops after a few step, turn back and tugs at the marine. “Come on!” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine looks over his left shoulder and walks with Ona into the senator’s office. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The late 20's girl walks out of the office as Ona and the marine walk in. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona doesn’t wait for permission. She makes her way to a seat. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine, on the other hand, stands stoically behind Ona until the senator waves him to a seat. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Before she permits him to sit, she rifles through the documents n letters on her table, digs into her bag and retrieves a portfolio. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She places it on her table, removes her red rimmed glasses, folded it and places it in a case and faces Ona and the marine. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You’re the guy everyone’s talking about,” the senator says as the marine takes his seat besides Ona. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine frowns, his forehead visibly wrinkled. “You’re the one who contains my irrational daughter, I guess.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine looks on with puppy eyes and ears. “don’t worry, I don’t expect you to answer that.” The senator turns to Ona. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Two visits in a week. Heavens must definitely be smiling on me. How can I help you, this time?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona places her right hand to her face, index and middle fingers resting on her chin as her ring and pinky rest below her lips. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She looks with a question. Stalling for a minute, daring her mother to continue and refusing to break eye contact. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Without breaking the said eye contact, she reaches into her side pocket for the folded paper and stretches it to the senator. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator retrieves the paper, picks up her glasses cases, removes the pair and wears them. She unfolds the note and reads. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She removes her glasses and places with alongside the note on top of the leather portfolio on her desk. “So?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona startles, licks her lips aggressively and looks around, balling her right fist together. She looks and slowly unfurls her grip. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
She turns to the marine and back to her mother. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“So? You’ve got to be kidding. At no point did you occur to you or your best friend to let me know that Dieko ran way, almost once.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Why should you arm your daughter and goddaughter with such information. What else did you keep from me?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator shrugs, looking at Ona bored. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“This letter is inconsequential. Her actions two months ago has no link to this case,” the senator says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Why not let me decide that?” Ona stands up and paces around. She stands still and faces her mum. “What happened to the baby?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Baby? There was no baby. Did anyone tell you there was a baby,” the senator enunciates each word as if she was talking to a child. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“The pregnancy, the reason she wanted to hide. No, let me wager a guess. You took it away. Fixing things' your specialty, isn’t it?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Do you mean if Dieko is still pregnant? No she isn’t. She lost the baby. It had nothing to do with me,” the senator says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I bet. So who’s the baby daddy? I asked you guys earlier and you said she didn’t and doesn’t have one – ” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“That’s because she doesn’t,” the senator does not allow Ona to complete her sentence. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“How then did she get pregnant? The Virgin Mary thing only happens once. Who’s the baby daddy?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“We don’t know. She didn’t know either –” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona turns to look at the marine, telepathing her surprise at this development. Dieko didn’t seem like that kind of girl. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
But what does she know. She hadn’t been exactly a saint herself when she was that young. Her mum rolls her eyes. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“She was raped on her way from a party. Before you ask, she snuck out, was alone and it was dark. We couldn’t do anything about it.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona faces her mum. “I see and where did you find her and how?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I checked the first place she likes, the Obadiaho Park. She usually goes there often. I checked this time. She wasn’t there.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Why? I thought you didn’t think she ran away?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I guess I was trying to –. I don’t know. It’s kind of the same with you. Whenever I remember, I go to the Suya Republic.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“She’s a lot like you, you know. Sometimes I blink and it seems like I peeled back some years.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator’s eyes get misty as she reminisces. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Then she does something else and I snap out of it. I remember it all. It’s funny how sometimes the mistakes are all you see.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona remains unfazed. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Is there anything else you are hiding? I really don’t want to come back to pull out information you’re hiding. It’s tiring!” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Your aunt and her husband are throwing a party for Chioma. She’s been called to bar. You should come.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator intertwines her fingers, using the thumbs to wipe her eyes. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona sits. Another family member going into the family business: law. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“I’m surprised. Did I stop being the disappointing daughter? I never gave you that honor of being called to the bar,” Ona says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“Our issues were more than you choosing the order over the law and you know it. Besides, aren’t you going stop punishing others?” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“You know, mother, it’s funny I didn’t hear no apology. Not now, not then.” Ona faces the marine. “I think we’re done. Let’s go.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona stands. The marine looks at the senator apologetically and stands up. “It was nice to meet you mam,” he says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The senator stands too. “It was nice to meet you.” #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona makes way to walk out of the room. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
“It wouldn’t hurt to attend. Should you change your mind, please let me know,” the senator says. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
Ona walks out without looking back. “Please take care of her,” the senator tells the marine. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
The marine nods. “I will.” And he walks. Out. #murewaoluwa-is-involved
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