HE DID THIS FOR LOVE by Lucky Lebari.

Glued to the TV set, were the eyes of Mr Marcos and his family of six, reading the lips of their president. Their ears were busy resonating with the sound waves that seem to harmonize perfectly with the rhythmic movement of his lips as his head was buried deeply in the papers, dishing out its contents. Even their one-year old toddler sat still, gawping at the same direction with others.

They had resolved not to spare any jot of His Excellency’s word from eluding them. Like a fallen ceramics from the top of a cliff was the imaginary sound of a shattered hope. Rather than hearing a relax of the bi-week old lockdown, the president announced without remorse, a rematch of it till forth-night.

The family of Marcos had gone through the four walls of hell living from hand to mouth for the past few days. Zero-one-zero became their feeding code. It is stamped; hunger would forever dog itsfootsteps for the next two weeks.

While trying to resuscitate hope, he decided to go against the stay-at-home order.  Unfortunately, his efforts were inevitably futile. The same customers who patronized him were also ill-affected. What is the fate of Mr Marcos and his family? Could there be a light at the end of his tunnel? Or perhaps, his tunnel had no end.

On getting back home, his eyes couldn't believe what his brain was interpreting. His children were defiantly devouring a plate of food well positioned in their middle. He could remember vividly that there was not even a water to drink not to talk of food. Without noticing the presence of a stranger in the gloomy room, he decided to reach out for the spoon.

Moments after he had navigated down a few spoons of the meal into his bowels, his attention was drawn to an unnoticed figure. It was Mr Robson, his next-door neighbor who he had been at loggerheads with for quite some time. Mr Robson was a good and generous man but only God knows what transpired the day he had a fight with him. Everyone knew Mr Marcos was the guilty one. No doubt, he was the brain behind the good tidings in the house of Mr Marcus’domain that fateful day.

Moved with curiosity and sobriety, his voice already vibrating, accompanied with tearful eyes, Mr Marcos asked; "why did you do this? I offended you." Mr Robson replied, "I did it for the sake of love. I have been washing my hands, using the nose mask, avoiding hand shake and staying at home. But there is one thing I needed also to do regardless of what may have happened before this difficult time; it is to show a little bit of love and kindness."

ABOUT THE WRITER 

Name: LUCKY, Lebari

Institution attended: University of Port Harcourt

Course of study: Computer science

State of origin: Rivers