BOOK EXCERPT: TOM THE LITTLE MAN BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

 

Ton the Little Man by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

Chapter One - Hard Times

Tom wore a long face and trudged on. His trousers had faded and clothed with dust. Reaching the threshold, he inserted the key into the lock and embraced his house. He hissed and slammed the door behind him, for the evening was the worst day of his life. He had to work late again even though it was Christmas Eve. But now, at last, the hammer had fallen on him! As soon as he was indoors, Tom sank into his favorite chair. After a time, he sat up and drew his rickety table. The little man lit up the room and his face looked pale in the lamplight. Tom took the letter out of his pocket. He lowered his bifocals. He glanced above them at the letter and a deep melancholy settled over his spirit. The company had sacked Tom, and it was a bitter pill to swallow. "WHY ALWAYS ME?" he banged the table.

Tom had disposed of the letter when he heard a faint knock on the door. "Who's there?"

"It's I, Priscilla," her voice was as soft as the morning breeze.

Tom masked his anger with an exaggerated smile and opened the door. He said a friendly good evening to her. "I am sure you came to inquire why I did not attend the church service. My employer asked me to work extra hours…"

"Oh, I understand," the lady smiled as Tom led her into his humble home. Priscilla sat on a chair with her back to the wall. She placed her hands on her thighs and glanced at the little man. "I have good news for you." She revealed, "God told me you have lost your job. But He will use this setback to turn your life around."

A ray of hope flushed over Tom's suntanned face as he sat up and muttered, "Amen!"

She closed her eyes and faced the ceiling. Priscilla brought her hands together, making recitations as if she were praying to a powerful god. Then she paused and turned to Tom. She swallowed hard and said, "The Company downsized to reduce cost…"

"Yes. The manager told me they would downsize. But I never saw this coming," Tom nodded almost a million times. "I didn't plan for it. I am confused!"

"I understand," the prophetess said. "You can bounce back. I have a secret that will make you rich. Do you want to hear?"

"Yes, oh yes!" the little man answered. He straightened his chin and looked at her face.

"You have an eighteen-carat diamond ring you inherited from your father. It's wrapped up in a handkerchief in the right-hand corner of the third drawer. God said you are to get it and give it to me!"

Tom gasped and beat his chest. "Ah, my heirloom? I did not tell anyone about it. How did you know I have it under my roof?"

Priscilla laughed, "God told me now. It's the spirit. Do as he had said and you will be fine!"

The little man chewed his lower lips as he imagined his setback was temporary. He would live in luxury for the rest of his life if he turned the diamond over to Priscilla. Then he sat back and scratched his head. She was right about the diamond in the drawer. He gave this a try. Everything that she had said was true. As if he was under a spell, he rose to his feet and moved to the corner, and then returned to the table with the heirloom. Priscilla grabbed it and placed it in her pocket. "I like people who obey God," she smiled and hugged him. "If you need another hug, just ask," she heaved. "Follow me!"

"Where are we going?" Tom yawned and shifted his weight to one leg.

She rubbed her hands together. "I want to introduce you to a friend. If you have a little money, he knows how to multiply it many times over!"

Tom dreamed of the money. He said, "Thank you. I will be forever grateful, Priscilla."

Priscilla held his hand, and they walked out of the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two - Prophet Wusel

It was almost nightfall. They walked fast. After covering a suitable distance on foot, they took a bend that led to an old deserted street. They arrived at a building whose walls were crumbling. With a little push, the gate opened, and they went inside. The lady carried herself to the main building. Tom was a shadow of himself. He looked pale and drawn. He ran to catch up with the young feet of Priscilla.

She made their presence felt with a gentle knock on the door. Not long after, a man of great sartorial elegance opened the door. He smelled like a bar. "I thought you said we will see tomorrow?" he asked her.

"Yes," Priscilla cocked her head. "Things changed. I brought my friend."

"Good. Only change is constant, my dear," smiled the prophet. "Come on in." As he led them into the house, he glanced at the little man with the corner of his eye. "Your name is Tom!"

Their eyes met as Tom nodded. He paused. "Wait. How did you know my name? We have never met before."

"I am a prophet of God. There is nothing hidden under the sun," Wusel replied. He moved away. "I don't need to know you before I can say things about you," his voice echoed in the passage. Pricilla and Tom followed him.

As they got to the door that led to one room, the prophet paused. He turned to Tom, "My friend, a truckload of misfortune hangs from your neck like an Olympic medal! To be free, you will do yourself a lot of good if you cooperate with me."

"Yes, I lost my job!" Tom gasped. "I am not happy. I will do whatever you want me to do."

The prophet placed his hand on the doorknob. A long sigh left him. "Don't worry. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning," he commented. "If you agree to do what I ask of you, you will spend the rest of your life in complete happiness." He opened the door and went inside. Priscilla and Tom followed him. “Life is no bed of rose.” He threw his hands in the air. “You have to get out of bed and do something remarkable. People should look at you and marvel.”

As soon as prophet Wusel sank into a chair, he glanced up at Tom, "You are in a holy residence. You should be on your knees." He frowned as if the little man had committed a crime.

Tom fell to his knees. His head bowed. He brought his hands together as tears gathered in his eyes. "Please, help me. My life is in a mess!"

The prophet sat up. He flashed an exaggerated smile at Tom. He placed his hand which was as hard as the back of a turtle on his chin and fixed his gaze on the little man. His firm, square jaw made him looked like a troll. Then he turned to Priscilla, smiled and went back to Tom. "You will need to buy some items for prayers. By the time I am through, you will select jobs!" Wusel boasted. He sat back and smiled. He added, "Stand up. You can make yourself comfortable on that chair." Wusel pointed to the seat in front of him.

"What do I need to buy?" Tom asked as he sat down. His gazed fixed on the man.

Wusel leaned back in the chair. "Your case is peculiar. You need three things. A pig to stop your bad luck, a goat to fight off the evil spirits, and a sheep for good luck," the prophet said and sneezed. "After I perform the ritual, you will be rich! The world will know you!"

Pleased with what he heard, Tom scratched his head. "How much will that cost?"

"Ah," the prophet faced the ceiling and chewed his lower lip. "At least one hundred and fifty thousand will do it!"

The little man's countenance fell because that amount was what he had saved his entire life. "That's a vast sum," he commented. "Can't we cut corners and still achieve the same result, prophet?"

"NO!" the prophet shook his head. "Your problem is a mountain. You will be forever grateful to me after the prayers." Wusel closed his eyes and lowered his head, making recitations as if he were praying to a powerful god. Then he paused and raised his head. He flashed an exaggerated smile at Tom. "Your father died of cardiac arrest when you were a boy and your mother abandoned you in an orphanage…"

"You are right," Tom sat up and fixed his gaze on Wusel. He look stunned.

"You see. That is why you must obey God so that your father's misfortune won't hunt you down like a dog! You can run. But you cannot hide. It will find you out and cause you pain if you don't stop the nonsense."

Tom's heart of heart died within him. "I have always feared for my life. I will get the money as soon as possible. You said 150 grand?"

“Yes!” Wusel cocked his head.

“That is all right.”

"When are you providing the money? We want to know!" Priscilla cut in.

Tom glanced at his wristwatch. "The time is far spent," he remarked. "I will be here at first light tomorrow! Can I use my credit card?"

"No. We are going to the livestock market. Most of the traders are foreigners from Niger Republic. They don't have documentation. So they prefer to be paid in cash," Wusel told Tom.

"No problem. I will be here as soon as possible," Tom reiterated. He scratched his head.

"Good. Hope you can find your way from here?" asked the prophet.

"Yes," he answered.

"Ah. Good. I would have asked Priscilla to show you the way."

"There is no need," Tom said. He rose to his feet.

As he turned to go, the prophet stopped him.  "Hold on. God told me something. He said in three days, you will smile!"

"Amen!" Tom said and moved away.

Priscilla followed Tom out of the room. They moved to the gate. Once Tom was out of the compound, she secured the gate. Priscilla returned to Wusel who was waiting in the room. She fell on him and gave him a million embraces. "You are a top performer!" She kissed him. "The charm is working. The witch doctor knows his job. We will have to renew it every month."

"Sure. It's worth every dime we invested!" Wusel smiled.

"You are not doing badly as a prophet. You should act in Hollywood too."

"No, I will stick to this. Acting in Hollywood is not my life. I am better off a prophet. It takes a discerning spirit to know that I am false. People are not careful. They don’t check the details. All they want is result. So, I give them what they want. They run with it. They cannot wait to check if I am a good shepherd. As you know, a shepherd has a grave responsibility to tend and nurture the sheep in a loving attitude. But I came to steal, kill and destroy. Are you sure your victim will come tomorrow?"

"Of course, I am certain!" She brought out the eighteen-carat diamond ring Tom gave her. "This is our reward for today!"

"It's nice!" Wusel took it in his hands. He inspected the piece and nodded his head. Then his face broke into a gap-toothed smile. "How did you get this?"

"The charm worked wonders. It was in my pocket. I take it everywhere I go. As soon as I was outside his house, I put some of the powder on my lips. The monster possessed me. I entered his house and started talking. He thought it was God talking to him." She smiled, and they kissed. “It was the charm that was talking. My voice filled the room. I was Armageddon!”

Wusel smiled back. "You have learned this trade. Get the men ready. We must not allow Tom to slip off our hands! By the time we are done with him, we will take care of the guy from Tokyo!"

"Okay, I will get in touch with them immediately!" They kissed.

"I will marry you. I can't let you slip off my hands too. You are an important part of this business!" Wusel spoke. "We should stay together as a family. Don’t you think so? "

"All right," Priscilla kissed him. Her hand traveled from his neck to his chest.

His fingers caressed the back of her neck. She loved the gentle touch. They kissed on the chair for some time. She unbuttons his shirt. Her skirt dropped to the ground. Wusel carried her to the table. She leaned back. She wanted his body inside of her. Wusel unzipped his trousers and bruised her petals.