Forever Series Book1 Snippet 1

“Holiday is coming. No more morning bell. No more teachers’ whip. No…” She sang as she continued with her daily house chores relishing the euphoria of freedom and peace of mind associated with the holidays – no early morning rising at 5.30 a.m. to do morning functions, no brain tasking assignments, no rib cracking field works. When the mother, Mrs. Ann Ama called out to her, “Amanda, Amanda listen to the news or radio jingle, they just announced summer holiday Camp for teenagers and young adult of school age.”

“Hip hip hooray!” Amanda exclaimed, raising her hands in appreciation.

She wrote down the date and venue. Amanda was really ready and looking forward to the bonfire, singing competition, games and the new friends she will make.

The Summer Holiday Camp was organized by UNICEF - United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the UN children's agency that works for the protection and survival of children around the world.

“That makes it very interesting,” the Mother concurred. “Amanda, opportunities for international Scholarships abound so you must attend.”

“Mum you can trust your daughter. Whose blood runs in my veins? Of course the blue blood of a royal life and winner.”

Seeing her mother’s countenance she retracted, “Your blood or dad’s or both, a united front.”

“Do you have a dad?” the mother retorted banging her hands on the table in front of her.

“Mum you should understand me. I do not mean to offend you, sweet mother – o,” she said with expression and emphasis.

“I suffered under rain and sun to raise all of you, all alone, I mean all with the help of God. I saw your siblings under painful circumstances die in my hands. Where was he?” Almost to teardrops now that turned to anger. “Please do not mention that name here again in this house,” as she walked away banging the door behind her. Outside with an air of breeze over her as if calling her senses back, she realized that self-interest and being self-absorbed is denying the kid her right.

The husband had eloped with his student lover to start another life and abandoned them to their fate. He never came back and never once asked about his daughter Amanda who was about a year old. Amanda was abused by other kids as a child without a father and many other humiliations she had to go through in school. They say things like, “Everybody should answer their father’s name.” during special occasions where parents were invited. Amanda will have no father to stand for her, only her mother. They were ejected from their residence as they could not afford the rent. In the open cold Amanda fell sick and was hospitalized. She escaped death by the whiskers unlike her siblings. So you should appreciate the mother’s anger and frustrations.

The Holiday Camp held at kilometer ten, along Lagos Ibadan expressway, at the military owned base, more like a military camp. Everything was regimented and security was so tight because of the menace of kidnappers of late.

Camp activities involved indoor and outdoor activities, most of which included canoeing, hiking, bonfire etc. New activities were being introduced like camp for performing arts, music, magic, computer programing and programs for special needs children. Educational, athletics and cultural development was the primary purpose of this summer. One of the outdoor was a trip to the lakeside.

The counselors or cabin leaders have a manageable size of campers for purposes of group activities. Each group surrounds their bonfire telling folk stories, singing or even cooking. One of the groups that strayed into the nearby bush set the place on fire. This caused great damage as some other groups in the swamp area were cut off. The way back was all on fire. But for the rescue team that saved the day it would have been a total disaster.

Lucy and Amanda met at the camp but during the lake visit they decided to explore the waterside during the free time. They went too far beyond the swamp away from other campers. It became frightening when they seem lost and could not trace their way back. As they blamed each other for suggesting or not suggesting the venture, Amanda the guiltiest party thought of a way out.

"Let us call the camp security chief."

"How will that be as we don’t have their numbers?" Lucy replied apparently in anger banging her foot on the ground repeatedly.

 "There are phone numbers on our camper’s jack file given to us."

She reached her purse for her phone but there were no signals to call for help. It now dawn on them that they have bigger problem at hand. Their anxiety heightened when the tide started returning. In a bid to find their way they got further away from the direction of the camp. Lucy the feeble minded one was now sweating and panicky. Amanda though afraid never showed it but being a strong willed person put up a bold pretentious face.

"This way will surely take us home. Cheer up Lucy. We are here for adventure," trying to encourage Lucy.

The salt water or tide ebbs. The water has returned fully and they were cut off from the mainland. The water rises to its highest level, reaching high tide. Sea level falls over several hours, revealing the intertidal zone. Their only savior now, a short water plant they climbed hoping for salvation. Anxiety was killing them now as movement of sea creatures and dangerous reptiles were noticeable. Lucy depended hundred percent on Amanda's faith and instructions.

It was during the roll call later that it was reported that Amanda and Lucy were missing from the camp. No one saw any trace of them or saw anything.

A search team with helicopter, sniffer dogs and divers were dispatched. They used searchlight in trying to locate the lost kids. They were able to identify their life jackets, overcoat and some items they took for the trip but no trace of them. The divers went into the adjoining river, ransacked the nooks and corners but no trace of them.

“What are the names of the kids?” the police officer inquired.

“Lucy Ama and Amanda Ama,” the Camp chief security officer answered.

“Oh, they are sisters?”

“Not at all. It is just coincidence – one of those things.”

“That is interesting. Let me know any new discoveries. We will get in touch if any new developments,” as the police officer moved out with his men.

A possible kidnap for ransom was not ruled out. For quite some time in this locality kidnaping for ransom or hijack for purposes of safe passage escape by robbers has been going on. How could they have escaped the tight security at the Camp? It is impossible. The only loophole could be that the students followed a bait or a sell out from an inside security shortfall. But all scrutiny from the closed-circuit television cameras exonerated the security men and their outfit. The trip outside the Camp for hiking, canoeing and exploration of the waterside presented another option. The first suspicion was the boat of the fishermen seen from a distance from the campers. The company that owned the fishing trawler was identified and the police paid them a visit and interrogated the captain of the said trawler.

"Officer I don't know what you are saying. I closed work at the usual time and I saw no kid or kids. What will such kids anyway be doing by the river side by the said time?" the trawler man complained. "We only catch fish and not school kids."

The fear is that they could have drowned. The police also interrogated the organizers, counselors and the camp commandant without finding any clue of a foul play.

The worry of the parents who were contacted could be seen in their reactions. Lucy's father boiling questioned, "Tell me why the security was not beefed up - a big organization like UNICEF - why in the world fall short of your name? I left my daughter in your custody and this is what you tell me. I will sue you but will that even bring back my daughter," he mumbled.

"Please sir we are doing everything possible to bring back your daughter. We have called in the local police and if need be we will involve Interpol. We never experienced this flaw before," the UNICEF Summer Holiday supervisor pleaded.

Mr. Ama, Lucy's father left to meet his wife who has been called back from a business trip. Lucy's mother being a marketing supervisor of a beverage company travels outside the state for marketing purposes when the need arises. This was one of such trips to the North. For Amanda's mother who did not see Lucy's father when she got there, it was all tears.

"She is my only friend and consolation. They have taken all I have. I thought yours to be a respected organization. I allowed her to gain bigger prospects, viable opportunities and international openings and not to be kidnapped, drown or sold out," she wept profusely almost staggering. "Who is in charge? Tell me. What did you do to my daughter?"

"Madam, I am sorry. We are on top of the matter. Bear with us, we will find..."

"On top of what? This is the second day…."

"Before the camp runs out we will find them."

The thought was that they could have been trapped in one of the creeks or in the village on the other side of the river. The search team were about giving up, concluding them dead when the Unicef director or supervisor requested to contact Interpol.

The invitation of the local police did not yield any positive result.For More