A Saint in Disguise 1

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   Kamsi was a 400L student of the University of Calabar studying Theatre Arts. She had everything going for her - a lovely family, smooth sailing academics, and beauty to crown it all. She was about 5ft tall and had this hour glass figure that gave her an elegant physique. Her brown eyes was the most conspicuous of all her features as it did well to highlight her face, her lustrous lips, and the two mounds of succulent flesh on her chest always made the male folk drool whenever they caught sight of her. Even though she had all these going for her, her humility which endeared a lot of people to her crowned it all.
   The bottom fell out when her father died in a car crash only 11 months ago. Her dreams became shattered. He, of course, was the bread winner of the family and even though he wouldn't be described as 'wealthy' he struggled to make his family comfortable. Her mother's meagre salary as a government  primary school teacher and the proceeds she got from the kiosk she set up outside the house did little or to cater adequately for every family need. By now, in-laws had deserted her and all she could do was hope, pray, and exercise faith while her daughter had a strong determination to lighten the burden on her mother's shoulders.
   Back in school, Kamsi confided in her close friend and ally, Esomo. Unlike Kamsi, Esomo was a radical who often got herself entangled in one form of trouble or the other. She could easily pass for 'plain Jane' - she had no outstandingly great physical qualities and no very bad qualities either. Little wonder everybody's preference to Kamsi judging on the grounds of attitude, intelligence, and physical qualities. Just like Kamsi, Esomo was also a 400L Theatre Arts student. She had no parents but a few distant relatives who never really cared. Her horrifying childhood experiences and the 'unloving' home she came from could account for her hostility towards people. Despite her inadequacies, she fulfilled all the responsibilities a friend ought to fulfil towards another.

   That fateful day, as Kamsi strolled back from school, several thoughts swarmed her mind and the hot afternoon sun didn't make it any better. Her financial responsibilities weighed her down, there were several bills to settle at school and she thought phoning her mother back home in Umuahia was totally out of the question. As she pondered over this, she just made up her mind to ask Esomo to help her out- even if it would be the last, though she never really fancied the methods through which Esomo got her monies. With that mental note already taken, she hurried her pace and within a few minutes she was home.

"Where are you off to under this scorching sun dressed like this?" Kamsi who was perplexed asked Esomo who was gaily dressed as one going for a ball or some red carpet event. She sank into the 4x6 mattress awaiting a reply from her friend who busied herself with her make up.

"Am I not talking to a human being again or have you suddenly turn to some dead piece of wood?". Kamsi growing rather impatient asked the umpteenth time.

"I know say you na amebo, but anyhow shaa I'll let you know only if you promise not to begin your holier -than- thou bulls hit this afternoon because i'm just not in the mood".
She said this while giving Kamsi a very long stern look...




READ 'A SAINT IN DISGUISE 2' HERE