CHAPTER TWO: HOUSE ON FIRE

(Note: this is an excerpt from chapter two of HURRICANE WOMAN)

Even Rosa, Abeke's daughter was fighting her own personal war in school over her mother's ambition.

Rosa's current class teacher had once described her as a bright and spirited teenager full of life, opinionated and highly focused though very selfless and kindly too. Despite her zest for life, her own life had been quiet enough until her mom shot into prominence through her decision to run for the nation's highest office.

Suddenly, Rosa found herself thrust into the tumultuous world of politics. As national excitement and anticipation filled the air, she found out that among her fellow students, opinions were sharply divided about her mom. And there were those in her school who sought to tarnish her mother's image and disparage her ambition as well.

Chuka Anthony and Kunle Pedro were the two boys who became the vanguard of resistance within the school walls. They were classmates of Rosa and their fathers were prominent figures in the ruling party. Because of this, they viewed Rosa's mom's candidacy as a threat to their family's influence. Fuelled by an irrational hatred and a fierce loyalty to their families' interest, they embarked on a campaign of mockery and intimidation.

What made things more bizarre was the fact that Chuka was Rosa's half brother. While he was a legitimate son of Jerome Anthony, she was his rejected daughter from his failed marriage to Abeke, her mother. Both of them knew about the bad blood between their parents but each of them vindicated their parent and told different versions of the truth about the events that resulted in their separation.

The two boys began their campaign by subtly spreading false and harmful rumours. Like toxic smoke, injurious gossip which casted doubts on Rosa's mom's integrity and qualifications spread from classroom to classroom and from hostel to hostel. Most of those rumours were offshoots of the malicious stories already making waves about Abeke Anthony in the media. The boys added exaggerations that sought to completely tarnish Abeke's image. Rosa was initially unaware of those whispers but eventually, she began to feel the deadly impact of the unfounded allegations. Many students distanced themselves from her. Even some of her closest friends stylishly withdrew from her because they didn't want to be associated with the daughter of a woman who was supposedly a whore and who tried to murder her own husband. Of course these were just two of the most popular allegations. Girls spoke in whispers when Rosa was around and boys pointed accusing fingers at her like she had committed an unpardonable sin.

Rosa had become tainted goods in her own school and the boys responsible for her woes celebrated the confusion they had unleashed. They taunted her openly and called her names. They laughed at her mom's campaign and relished in her discomfort. They kept stoking the embers of slander and had a good laugh each time they observed fellow students hushing their conversations and giving Rosa sidelong glances whenever she passed by

They took their battle to the next level by using the  social media to continue their attacks. They unleashed a barrage of derogatory posts, painting Rosa's mom as unfit for the presidency. Unfortunately, they had a large following on social media most of whom were mere drones eager to please the two boys. Memes and crafted images that mocked Abeke Anthony and that sought to undermine her reputation flooded the students' chatroom and other online platforms. Whenever Rosa scrolled through the chats, she was horrified to stumble on a world of mindless hatred that festered and was fuelled by Chuka and Kunle"s campaign of falsehood. And the mindless antipathy towards her mother was growing in leaps and bounds everyday.

The boys couldn't have orchestrated a more effective form of personal torment. Rosa found herself isolated. People whispered and laughed as she navigated lonely corridors. Her detractors had successfully turned her to a stranger among her friends. The loneliness she felt was crushing in its weight. Yet, she was defiant and proud of her mother's aspirations. It wasn't the first time she had been mercilessly maligned and rejected. Even her own father had once thrown her out of his life after calling her a bastard.

Only one student stood with Rosa. His name was Mide and he refused to be intimidated by the public opinion of his fellow students.

"Aren't you afraid of having your image tainted by associating with me?" She asked him one day?"

"Oh, to the blazes with the whole lot of them." He scoffed with an impudent smile. "They're such a bunch of fools. Too naive. They don't know where they're going yet. So I guess it's easy for some idiots to lead them astray."

"Don't you also believe that my mom is a whore?"

"And so what?" He queried. "I mean, what's that got to do with you as a person? You're beautiful, smart, intelligent and so kind." He shrugged. "Even if your mom were a whore which I believe is nothing but a lie, let whoever is without sin among them and their parents throw the first stone."

She smiled. "Thank you, Mide, you're a real friend."

He waved her away. "No need to thank me. Not everyone is daft. This will soon blow over. What amazes me is how people allow ignorant fools to brainwash them."

"You are taking a big risk going against public opinion, Mide." She told him.

"Nah, I'm just taking a big stand against the tyranny of the majority." He corrected her.

Rosa's two detractors in the meantime were escalating their bullying. They took it to the next level by peddling the arguments that a woman doesn't have what it takes to lead the nation. This became a keg of gunpowder that exploded into a fiery debate among the students. The disagreement sharply divided the student body in two. On one hand were those who sided with Chuka and Kunle. They were mostly boys. But they were the minority. The other group was made up of boys and girls who sincerely believed that a woman could effectively govern the nation.

The disagreement served as an eye-opener for many of the students. They turned against Chuka and Kunle. They began to refer to them and their supporters as outdated. The two boys suddenly lost relevance as they were confronted for being narrow-minded in their beliefs. They had a hard time facing the constant barrage of comments questioning their derogatory opinion about the female gender's ability to rule.

Rosa jumped into the fray and challenged her mother's detractors to dare face her in a public debate. She confronted the boys and questioned their baseless attacks. She used the opportunity to emphasize the strength and character of her mother. Rosa's impassioned defense resonated with many in the school, leading to a shift in sentiment.

The harsh and unending criticism of Chuka and Kunle by a certain section of the male students and the trolls of virtually the entire female student population online and offline eventually proved to be too much for the two boys. They had to drop their campaign against Abekeola Anthony.

The school remained divided over Abeke Anthony's presidential ambition but Chuka and Kunle became laughing stock. They were forced to take a little of their own bitter medicine as they became outcasts in their school commune. Slowly, many of Rosa's former friends began to drift back into her life. But she would never count them as true friends again.

She was happy to survive the storm though it took a huge emotional toll on her. She was glad that despite the brutal challenges, her mom pressed on with her campaign, undeterred by the attempts to drag her down. She had the deep seated belief that just as the relentless bullying in her school backfired at last, her mom's opposers would eventually end up failing in their bid to stop her. She knew her mom very well. She was sure that the mudslinging and unfair tactics of the ruling party and her dad would only fuel Abeke's determination to defeat conventional belief and strengthen her determination to lead her nation. Every morning and evening, Rosa would kneel down and pray. "Dear God, please help my mom win the upcoming elections. Keep her safe from wicked people and send her helpers. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."

The tide began to turn, not just within the school but also in the broader community. People rallied behind Rosa's mom, recognizing the unfair media attacks on her personality for what they were – desperate attempts to sidestep issues and divert people's attention by a panicky political class desperate to cling to power through blackmail and deception.

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Dear dad,

Every boy needs a daddy and I am no exception. Even though you're my father, you’re more of a runaway dad. You're never there for me or my brother when we need you. You’re hardly home, but each time you come home, we're in dread for our lives. Mom is never happy whenever you're home for all you do is make her cry. Sometimes I think that God is deliberately punishing the entire family for giving us a father like you. I plead with you to rise to the occasion and make the necessary adjustments before it's too late for all of us.

your disappointed son

Chiji

Jerome sat in his quiet study, the forcefulness of his son's letter pressing on his heart as a heavy burden. His anger boiled over and he crumpled the letter in his hands into a ball.

He strode from his room and went looking for the writer. He found Chiji in his room playing chess with Chuka his junior brother. At their father's command, Chuka got up and departed from the room in a hurry. Chiji saw the fury on his father's dark visage and stepped backwards like a man expecting to be attacked.

"Who the hell wrote this letter?" The man thundered.

"I did." The son acknowledged, an edge of resentment in his voice.

A surge of anger simmered within Jerome. "What is the meaning of this?" He waved the letter in the air. Chiji looked up, his eyes wide with fear.

His father's voice was like a sledgehammer resounding against his ears. "You dare to undermine me? You're challenging my style of fatherhood?" Jerome's voice rose, the echoes of his anger resonating through the room.

"I'm..I'm sorry dad. It's just that you left me no choice." Chiji stammered as he attempted to explain his feelings. "Dad, I just... I needed you to know how I feel, how we feel." His words faltered under the intensity of Jerome's gaze.

Jerome's resentment, flared. "You think you'd be a better father if you were in my position? You've become my judge now? You're too good and I'm too bad to be your daddy now?" He scoffed. "I provide for this family. I work hard to give you everything you have. And this is how you repay me? With accusations and disrespect?"

"No, that's not what I meant Dad, I..."

Jerome shook his head reproachfully and cut off his son's attempt to explain. "You're a big disappointment. You've always been too soft; sentimental like a woman. Can't you be like your junior brother for once?" He sighed in frustration. The room became a battleground, the air thick with tension.

Chiji's eyes misted over like he was about to cry. He bit his lips as his father attacked him with cruel critism.

Jerome threw the crumpled letter on the floor and stormed out of the room.

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Amina, Chiji's mother went to have a talk with her husband over the issue later that night. He was in his own separate bedroom staring into space and still sulking over the letter. She cautiously approached, holding the crumpled letter in her hands.

"Jerome, Chiji is hurting." She called, her voice hesitant with fear, yet she was determined to make her point. "He lacked the boldness to express his feelings in your presence. So he poured his heart out into this letter. He just wanted your attention and your affection." She extended the letter towards him, a plea for empathy in her eyes.

Jerome's eyes blazed with supressed fury. "You're the worst mother I've ever seen, Amina." He spat. "Now I know who's been poisoning my own son's mind against me."

"I swear, I haven't encouraged him to do anything against your authority."

"Save your breath, woman," He hissed. "and let me be."

Amina looked pained by his words. She desperately searched for the right words to explain to her husband what he failed to understand. "He's your son. He's hurting and you need to do something before you lose him finally."

"I provide for my family. I work my butts off to make them comfortable." He shook his head. "Instead of a thank you, what do I get? Sentimental complaints from a fool of a son who wants me to become his nanny?" He hissed in disgust.

Amina sat beside him on the bed, determined to plead her son's case. "Can't you see your son isn't asking merely for a provider but for a father, Jerome. He wants emotional interaction with you his father. And that's how it should be."

Jerome's smile was a jeer and it hurt her. "This case is a dead horse, Amina. Stop flogging it. If your son wants a different father, let him find one. I won't allow either you or him to turn me into what I am not."

"Please, why won't you listen to reason?" She was in tears.

Jerome remained unmoved. "You and your rebellious son can't hold me to ransom." He declared. "Both of you are mistaken if you think you can dictate to me the terms of my own existence."

The following morning, Jerome relocated from his house and wouldn't be back for a while....

If you enjoyed this teaser, you can get the complete book, HURRICANE WOMAN by Akinlolu Olowookere from amazon.com