The “Sweetest” Sin

What Others Said About This Novel Paradoxical in title and ironical in plot, the novel, The Sweetest Sin bears out useful lessons on the dynamics and complexity of modern society. There is on one hand the picture of a society that has gone berserk with the frenzy of moral perversion; there is on the other, the symbol of a generation whose moral depravity serves as the code of its entanglement and self-destruction. Full of suspense, humor and satire, the novel is, undoubtedly, one of the latest campaign tools against parental neglect of sex education, sexual exploitation, abortion, deceit and ignorance; and all classes of readers- parents, teachers, students, politicians, and the clergy- would certainly glean a lesson from its contents. -Peter Okpeh (M.A.English) Dept. of English & Literary Studies, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State. Ben apportions every sinner a reward. From crude Philomena to sophisticated trickster, Felicita, the rewarder visits all. Picture of a society with its decadence and deterrents. Ben starts well, ends finer. - Teryila Orhembega English Language instructor, Kano. Sincerely, this book is very interesting, mind throbbing and filled with great lesson. This should be every mother’s first sex education article! Great work Benjamin. - Mrs. Jonathan Hassana Mother and Educationist, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

The “Sweetest” Sin by Benjamin Iorfa Wende

Copyright 2014 Benjamin Iorfa Wende License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to the vendor of your choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dedication To you with Love.

1 Chapter One “You have sudden gonorrhea?” Christopher asked. The question startled John, who turned just as Christopher sneaked into the room through the open door. John surveyed him uneasily as if to say, ‘what are you doing here?’ John’s room was a perfect secondary school boy’s room: a bed, just taller than the usual six-spring bed, heightened by the perfectly laid blocks hidden under a neatly arranged sheet-away from prying eyes. A chair and a locker stood near the door with a rubber carpet which spanned the floor, hiding all the rough spots. There was also a standing fan which he inherited from one of his numerous ‘sugar-mummies’. The walls were painted cream and a double layered lavender blue curtain screened off everything that would appear uninviting. The entire room therefore took on the appearance of moderate decency. There was netting for a curtain at the window, something he used as a spy glass on unsuspecting passers-by. John, an orphan, once lived in an orphanage until he was three. A family adopted him to be their son. Before disaster struck, young John saw a very exciting life ahead of him then. His fortune never lasted as he had adversity dressed in ugly red and served hot to him by the forces of circumstances. His foster parents were brutally murdered right before his eyes by unknown gunmen. This incident had left a scar on him, in his formative years when people of his age were being treated to the good things of life. Since then, John’s perception to life veered towards the proximity of crime.

2 Another family took him in and told him that they were his long lost parents. He never asked any question why they had to abandon him for that long in life to suffer; he simply tagged along. John never knew when he was born. When he was a teenager, he once saw their neighbor celebrate a birthday for their son, Kerry, who happened to be his friend. Kerry’s birthday instigated him to ask his supposed parents when his birthday was supposed to come up. His parents, looking for a way of reducing their expenses, told him he was born on 25th December. John lived in Lagos until he had grown to be ten, when he lost his parents again. He had lived in Lagos when the city’s border never welcoming, but rather told its visitors where they were - THIS IS LAGOS. He seemed to have bad luck for parents. He grew up as a comedian and this made everyone around him to laugh whenever he was in their company. John was a blend of contradictions. He was happy and hypocritical, quiet and destructive, calm and callous, humbled and stubborn, caring and wicked, generous and demanding. He loved sports, especially soccer, and listened to music 24/7. His superstars were Tupac, DMX, Ja-Rule and Eminem whom he chose among a host of others because of their ‘‘power tussle’’ songs. His love for this set of stars was reflected on the walls of his room, which was adorned with pictures of rap and soccer stars. His attire was always sportsman-like, with his shuttle bag and earpiece which fed him assorted hip-hop raps. John, was as clever as he was a crook, a subtle and cunning fellow, who knew how to get what he wanted, where to get it and anyhow he felt he could get it. He had ganged up with the area boys in Lagos and led friends and guys of other gangs into cell. He derived pleasure helping ladies and then asking them for a quickie. Walking with his trousers lower than his waist was a habit. He had already put many girls in the family way. He made friends with people because they were

3 close to his targets. He had once escaped from his house in Lagos through the backyard window of a one story- building because of the fear of the police, and ran into a woman, who mistakenly poured pepper water on his body. Christopher had entered when John was busy plotting his evil mission. “My season has come again, another summer for extra-mural lessons. What a time! A time to set traps. A time the young ones show off because of the liberty to dress in mufti. A time characterized by influx of all kinds of characters. Only God can tell what students gain educationally, from this kind of lessons. However, I think it is better than nothing since our regular school teachers are not willing to give us the best, obviously as a grudge against poor remuneration. I have also set my trap! This time I must not miss my target. I must get her this time in this Sodom and Gomorrah.” That was what John had barely finished saying when Christopher entered his room. “Oh! It’s you, Chris. You scared me! I meant 'Sodom and Gomorrah’ and not ‘sudden gonorrhea.” “What about it?” “Don’t bother yourself about it, my friend. And what are you doing creeping in on me like that?” “John, which girl are you targeting this summer?” Christopher went on as if he didn’t hear John’s last question. He understood how John usually covered up his dubiety. Christopher was one among the many friends of John who knew him very well and could anticipate what he was up to. He seemed to have the knack for knowing everything going on around John. He was a guy that related with people freely. He was a talebearer, back-stabber and a gossip.. He believed he could save people by gathering information around the school. He once figured out the information about some girls

4 planning to way-lay Fatima and told her, which eventually brought him close to Fatima. He believed the “catch them young” cliché, so he volunteered a “protect them young” idealist. Christopher was everything to everyone in order to gain their favor. He happened to be the youngest of the male children in his family, older than only his younger sister. He spent so much of his time playing with his younger sister and her friends that he sometimes forgot that he was a boy. This…