I am held bound by the wonderful experience my Ground Mother,Madam Iyono Ajogo bequeathed to me. A sound life nurtured by the way of nature. She is pragmatic,bold and down -to-earth. Instead of pampering as other grannies do. She was frank enough to tell me to always go with her to the farm to drink the down dew, as we were sneaking through the wet ears of grass by the farm paths at dawn. She was telling me, 'Fande' , the derogatory pronoun of Friday. I loved that sound as it echoes through all the fabrics of my being. All my marrow resound the tone like thunder claps. She always say "Land has a language, listen to understand." "Child," she said, "the land is a living, breathing entity. It has a rhythm, a heartbeat that we must learn to listen to and respect." Claws Of Time, is a simple narrative, from one of her various pre occupations, farming. She was a trader, a herbalist and she has indulged so many women in her clime. The tribe she cultivated. She was highly honoured and respected in the community. Through my granny, I was always full headed for every task. I began to see in the farm the interconnectedness of all things, how every creature and plant was inextricably linked, each one relying on the others for survival. She brightened my horizon of viewing things on a new pedestals. "This is a dung beetle," she said, holding it cupped in her palm. Making me see value in all things. She said,"It plays a crucial role in the health of our soil, breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the earth." This is my story of growing up under a firm granny, ain't I not lucky? She was a star. May her rest be blessed. Thank you, Mother Iyono Ajogo. © El-yadirf Adokauhil.
Chapter 1
I slinged my mini hoe, strapped across my neck with a denizen rope, and followed behind my aged Grand-Mom to the distant farm.
As we made our way, I excused myself to avoid my bowel by the side of the road.
There, I noticed a dung beetle rolling a large pile of past excrement; it was surprisingly big for its size. I was amazed and wondered at the sight.
Before I knew it, Mother had gone far ahead, and I moaned and moaned, trying to catch up.
Along the way, I saw what appeared to be monkey-looking rats, with stripe marks across their bodies.
And then, a long rope-like creature came chasing after them.
The creeping thing tried to catch the rat, and I took to my heels, moaning "Mother!" again and again.
The roads seemed to be swallowing each other, twisting and turning, with 'T' and 'Y' junctions leading to other farms.
You can't see a rabbit cross your path, as that would be an omen, nor a chameleon - there were so many such inconceivables along the way.
Eventually, I caught up with Mother, my steps heavy with exertion.
I gawf and inane-ly laughed, though she thought I would say a word.
I "shakara" her, expectantly, but a long silence ensued before we finally reached the farm.
As I aged along, I was full of questions - so many unanswered queries. I became dubious, and struggled to believe.
I swallowed the saliva of pains, beleaguered. Many things created stomach and nerve pains.
You never know how ignorance has breached - information is everything:
The earth's hauled and beaten
Pounded and dug
Sometimes blood spills
It quakes in tremors
The wound the earth bears,yet
It never stops to flow, her fruits keeps the world going
In her pain all creatures gain
The earth never one day exacerbates her integrity
Despite man's misuse of her bounties.
From this moment, I found solace in nature.
We attain our intricate vibrancy from the abode of nature and all that we are are lent to us.
Just free of charge, in the ethos of glory, also echoing our dependence on nature.
It's a fact, we live and move and have our being in nature. Nature is our home, our haven and our hell if we trample on its 'adder.'
Achadu, my maternal grandfather, did say one day, " live your life earnestly in the guidance of nature"
The old man used to invoke the power of thunder on thieves, if they refused to repent.
Such times, a sudden gathering of dark clouds, followed by drizzling mist.
Surprisingly, the sky would belge a lightning spark, it would deliver a thunderbolt on the culprit.
The culprit will be roasted like meat in dark ash. As always nasty to behold.
The farm became the best place to inundate the ability to be part of nature.
It seems western education was a distraction, because the ability to know who you are shelved.
A Tribute to manity is rare with all its triumphs and tribulations, has long been the subject of fascination and contemplation. From the earliest civilization to the modern era, mankind has consistently strived to unravel the mysteries of existence, leaving indelible marks on the tapestry of time.Within this profound context, we embark on a journey to pay homage to the essence of our being and celebrate the incredible achievements of humanity. Projecting Man as a symbol of the struggles, tribulation and the successes we have traversed in this existence..The pages are not limited to the many undulating steps to achieving our goals in pitfalls and rising, and suggestions to always stay our gaze to better humanity in greatness and capacity. In this little eBook titled “A Tribute To Man,” we delve into the very core of what makes us human. We explore the multifaceted aspects of our existence in a short narrative spurring us to strength with seductive headings; From our intellectual prowess and creative expressions to our resilience in the face of adversity. Through a collection of motivational stories, reflections and insights, we aim to capture the essence of our shared human experiences. © El-yadirf Adokauhil.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."