Hey guys, I'm so sorry for not updating for a long time (hope it wasn't too long). I wasn't feeling too well and had to take care of my health first.

So guys, here's a new chapter and this is dedicated to just_tory try check out her book SOUR CREAM.

Enjoy.

                    ~°~°~°~°~

            °Jeremiah's POV°

Dami stayed the night at my place, so we could journey to Uyai's place with Just one car. The morning came flashing by and we both decided to use Dami's car as a means of transportation.

Mum most especially was the one shocked when she noticed Dami and I at the dinner table around five in the morning, eating breakfast. Uyai's place seemed to be far and we needed to get there on time.

We finally got to the street Uyai texted me about. It happened to be a dusty less busy street. Dami decided to get down from the back seat, so he could ask questions to anyone seen wandering on the road.

We both noticed a crippled on the save side of the road. We knew better not to ask him, but Dami thought otherwise. He began to move towards the little boy, as if drawn to him.

"Hey," Dami squat in front of the younger boy. "What's your name?"

I knew why he was drawn to the boy. The little boy happened to share the same problem with his elder sister, before they found a solution. Just like Dami's sister, the little boy's left hand was missing.

"Gabriel," The little boy replied shakily.

Dami pointed at the boy's missing arm. "If you don't mind me asking," The little boy looked up in a confused manner. "What happened?"

The realization hit Gabriel's face, as he stare down at his missing arm. "I got shot, badly."

Dami turned to look at me, before looking back at Gabriel. "So sorry. What about your parents?"

"Don't have one," The boy's eyes began to water.

"Then where do you stay?" Dami voiced out almost immediately.

"At a hut not too far," The boy pointed to the right. Dami and I looked at that direction. Though we couldn't see any hut, we nodded our head.

"You're living alone? No relative, nothing?" Gabriel shook his head instead of voicing out his response. "How old are you?"

"Twelve," He said softly. Dami got up with a frustrated sigh. He then dragged me away from the boy, so we could talk privately.

"He's only twelve?" Dami was still stunned. "The little guy needs help."

"I know," I stared at the boy for a second or two.

"But there's nothing we can do about his crippled state. Not at the age of twelve at least." His voice held pity on the boy's missing arm.

"Why?" I asked. I knew it was possible to help the boy out.

"Have you forgotten?" He tapped me at the side of my head, then I knew what he was getting at.

"Jeremiah, to fit him with a prosthesis would cost about this much." He spread his arms a little bit. "But that isn't the problem. I'm sure my dad would give me the money or help out himself."

Dami pointed at Gabriel. "But Gabriel is only twelve years old. His body will keep growing until he's seventeen or maybe eighteen. He probably will outgrow the prosthesis every few months. I'm just thinking financially, it's not practical."

Dami was an intelligent boy with a very big heart. And that was the reason he got the title of being my best friend. No, my brother.

"If it means a lot to you to help him, I could help out too." I smiled at him. "Besides, we've got two types of prosthesis. The my-o-electric, which is a state-of-the-art, and a cable-operated handlike glove." I looked at Gabriel. "That would fit Gabriel quite well."

Dami moved over to him, brought out his wallet and placed a three thousand naira note in it. Then smiled at Gabriel. "In a few days I'll come get you. No more begging on the streets, okay?"

Gabriel grasped the paper note and squeezed it tightly, just in case Dami changes his mind and decided to take his money back. I laughed at the thought of that, then handed the boy an extra two thousand to make it five.

"Would I be your brother?" Dami stared at me a bit bewildered. None of us where actually thinking at that direction.

Nonetheless, Dami placed his hands on the boy's head and ruffled his outgrown hair. "Only if my parents agrees to adopt you."

I had to glanced at my wrist watch, cause it seemed we were spending much time with Gabriel.

"Hey brah," I tapped Dami. "We have to go."

"Hey," Dami got the attention of Gabriel. "Do you know a mummy Uyai?"

"Mama Uyai," The boy nodded frantically.

Dami laughed at how cute the boy was acting. "Can you take us there?"

The boy got up in respond and lifted his tin filled with money, with his only available hand. I helped by getting him into Dami's car, and letting him sit inbetween the both of us.

"Is this yours?" The boy asked, looking at the interior of the car.

"Yeah," Dami nodded. "You like it?"

"Looks almost like mine." Gabriel replied. I stared at him with furrowed brows but decided to ignore it.

                      ~°~°~°~°~

The driver drove using Gabriel's direction. We finally came in contact with a non painted house, and a woman sitting right outside with a younger girl, as they picked beans on an iron round tray.

We climbed down from the car except Dami's designated driver, then moved towards the confused looking woman.

"Ah, Gabriel." The woman smiled once she saw a familiar face. "How are you and..... Who are this people?"

The younger girl tapped whom I presumed must be her mother. "Mma, they are fine o."

"Will you shut up?!" The woman scolded and Dami and I, shared a look.

"How was today Gabriel? Hope say you see money." Gabriel nodded at the woman's question.

"These two were looking for you." Gabriel pointed at Dami and myself. "This is mama Uyai."

"Mama Idara, stupid boy." The woman snapped for no good reason. "How many times will I correct you? You this cripple!"

The boy moved closer to Dami out of fright, hiding behind him.

"Once a rich boy, always a rich boy. Doesn't matter if you're now poor and crippled." The woman commented bitterly.

"He was rich?" Dami asked, but not in a shocked tone. I guessed he must have sensed it the very minute Gabriel opened his mouth to speak.

The woman nodded nonetheless. "His parents died under the hands of deadly armed men, while he found his way here to survive. He doesn't know he's no longer in his mansion. That stupid rich sense is still in his head."

"And why do you dislike the name Uyai so much?" I asked curiously. "Thought she was your daughter."

"That girl can never be my daughter. I've got only one and that's Idara." The younger girl began to bat her lashes at both Dami and myself.

"And I'm here doing all the work," Idara couldn't help but complain.

"So how did she get into your home?" I slyly asked. "Kidnapped her from a hospital?"

The woman stared at me in utmost dismay. "God no, I'm not that heartless. Bought her from a man."

What surprised me wasn't the fact that she bought an unknown baby from someone. What surprised me was the fact that she answered my questions without even asking who I was in the first place.

She began to pick the beans with her daughter as she mumbled, "Don't even know where the man is." Still picking the beans, she eventually stopped and reality hit her. "Wait a minute, who are you both?"

"We're no one," I said without hesitation. "You should learn not to spill things out without interrogating."

"Come on Gabriel," My hands patted Dami, and the three of us walked back into the car, leaving a confused woman and daughter behind.

"How could she answer our every questions without first asking who we were?" Dami said in a surprised tone once inside the car.

"It's her lost, at least it went to our favour." I replied.

"So is this a close case?" Dami asked, his voice low and serious.

Uyai never wanted to know who stole her when she was an infant, and finding the man who stole her from her family would be anything but possible. Plus, she seemed happy being with her biological parents, so why go against her wish?

I nodded my head as I watched the scenery go by. "Yes."

Till next time

Words : 1568

Much love

X
Eddy