AGAINST THE ODDS - Episode 4: A glimmer of Hope

“Young man, I have good news for you!” The cop said as he pulled a seat. “The foolish boys who broke into the shops at the market have been arrested! So you are a free man!”
Mawufemor tried to force a smile, but his broken jaw wouldn’t let him.

 “So what was the point beating the poor boy up?”, said the young doctor who had been eavesdropping all the while.

 “Doc, we told you we never do that.” One of the officers said. “It is just a name-smearing agenda that some criminals in society are deciding to champion against the police, but it will never stand!” The other officer added to the effort of the other.

 “But why are you asking such questions?”
 “Ah well,” the medic said. “No special reasons, though. It is just inquiring minds that want to know!”
 The policemen acted like they had been trained to ignore irritating persons. They left with their suspect in a rush, just as they had come in.

 At the station, there was such chaos. The two mutilated criminals were in a cell weeping from the numerous cuts and open wounds they received from the obvious. And assembled at the station was a mob of outraged market women, both those whose goods had been stolen and those who had come to guarantee that their colleagues get justice. Inquisitive observers and curious journalists with their paparazzi were also present at the incident. The station had requested assistance from Regional Headquarters to manage the gathering and prevent a tragedy.

 Among those who had gathered were those who awaited Mawufemor's arrival. With the assistance of the womenfolk, word of his wrongful conviction and subsequent mistreatment by the police had gone across the town and beyond. Radio and television are overrated when it comes to delivering news, especially when it's juicy gossip. Just give it to one woman, and by the end of the day, the entire township may have heard about it.

 “Agooo! Make way! Make way!!” As the police truck carrying Mawufemor arrived at the station, a couple of officers screamed at the awaiting throng. Despite the commands of the black-clad men with rifles, the crowd poured in to see Mawufemor, the town's new hero. The two police escorts had adequately briefed Mawufemor on the demeanour to adopt when they arrived at the station, having already learned about the circumstances at the station. He was to put on a smile and thank the police for rapidly apprehending the perpetrators of the crime, not forgetting to emphasize the kind care he had received from the police, particularly after he had passed out from weariness in the cells. He was warned against answering any additional questions from the intrusive press.

 As directed, Mawufemor carried out his obligations as an actor on a stage. The cops were pleased with him, but the press was appropriately suspicious. How do you explain such a contrast: a person with a swollen and bruised face smiling and asserting that everything is fine? Hell no! That individual has obviously been battered to a pulp! But the police didn't care since, according to the inspector, "they were doing their job, and the law permits them to use a little force in the line of duty!"

 Finally, Mawufemor saw her benefactor face to face. She was shedding tears of contrition and appealing to Mawufemor to forgive her. Thankfully, all of their stuff was recovered from the goons, except for Mawufemor's backpack containing his goods and savings! Mawufemor instantly forgave the sobbing woman and her companions for the injustice they had committed against him, but he refused to return to the market with them.

 “So where are you going to be staying now?” The In-Charge asked.
 “You do not have to be concerned about that!" From among the dense crowd, a well-known baritone voice blared. He was the general overseer of one of Ho township's flourishing churches.
 "He'll reside with me. The Lord directed me through a vision when I was praying last night to come to the station and bring him home!" The minister said in a booming voice typical of modern-day charismatics.

 The In-Charge answered, "Very well then. Gentleman, you may accompany him if you wish!”
 Mawufemor nodded in agreement, and after a few more minutes of delay at the police station, the minister drove Mawufemor to his new residence on the outskirts of town. They were greeted by the pastor's lovely wife and twenty-year-old daughter.

 The seedy-looking Mawufemor was shown to his own room and bed—the first time he had ever had such in his entire life! Now that he realized that everything that had transpired over the previous few days had been for his own good, he was extremely grateful. He felt that his life was now a blank page, waiting for God to fill with His love. He also got the impression that his life was an empty stage, waiting for the play to begin.

 His life has surely taken a turn for the better.

 But, had it?
 TO BE CONTINUED