I Live by the Gun

By Joy Agwu

Edward is a successful family man who has built a happy life around him. Tragedy strikes however, when he is gunned down one day by violent criminals. He leaves behind a widow and two young children, who continue to enjoy the support of Edward’s wider family circle after his death. They are also supported by Edward’s close friend, Mr Adams and his family.

Turmoil enters the ranks when Edward’s older brother, Robert, citing local traditions, announces his intention to take Edward’s place, by moving into the family home of his late brother. Robert’s own family, from whom he is estranged, oppose his bid. His father also strongly warns against this course, “Lest tragedy and pestilence befall you.” He further advises Robert that, “Any tradition that does not add value to our lives has to be thrown away.”

In I Live by the Gun, Joy C. Agwu explores the theme of conflict that arises when traditional hierarchies are confronted by the demands for modernisation. It can be read as an affirmation of human rights and individual autonomy in particular. The burden of ‘culture and traditions’, when invoked in an anachronistic manner, weigh most heavily on women and children, often serving as a pretext to impose conditions of servitude upon already disadvantaged people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joy Agwu
• Release date: Jan 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310894268

Joy Agwu

Joy C. Agwu is a Nigerian-born author who lives in Ireland. Her writing reflects a pre-occupation with themes of family, faith, community, spirituality, psychological well-being. For more information about Joy’s work, including new and forthcoming titles, please visit her official website at www.JoyAgwu.com

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I Live by the Gun

by

Joy C. Agwu

Copyright © Joy C. Agwu, 2014

The author has asserted her moral rights

Published by The Manuscript Publisher at Smashwords, 2013

ISBN:

This title has also been published as a printed edition in paperback on Create Space (2014) and is available to buy through most online retailers. ISBN: 978-1494453251

Typesetting, page layout, cover design and e-book conversion by DocumentsandManuscripts.com

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I Live by the Gun

Copyright © Joy C. Agwu, 2014

The right of Joy C. Agwu to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the copyright, design and patents acts pertaining.

All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this work may be made without written permission from the author.

No paragraph of this work may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission of the author or in accordance with the provisions of the copyright acts pertaining.

This work is made available subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the author’s prior consent.

Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this work may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claim for damages.

About the Author

Joy C. Agwu is a Nigerian-born author who lives in Ireland. Her writing reflects a pre-occupation with themes of family, faith, community, spirituality, psychological well-being.

For more information about Joy’s work, including new and forthcoming titles, please visit her official website at - www.JoyAgwu.com

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

About this Book

Also by Joy C. Agwu

Chapter One

Edward was a very generous man. He had two children, Tom and Jessica, or Jessie as she was often called. When Tom was a little boy, he was full of ambition and imagination. Their family was a happy one until after the death of their father.

Tom’s father was a very hard working and caring man who ran his own business and his wife was a very good woman, a teacher by profession. They had a very close family friend by the name Mr Adams, who was a police commissioner and who also had two children.

One day, Tom woke up early in the morning and told his father that he dreamed that he was a pilot. His father told him that it was only a dream but Tom argued that it was not just a dream, that it was a good sign that he is going to be a pilot when he grew up.

It is from dreams that people see something that comes true, Tom argued. Tom had always been inclined to ask too many questions, and argue too much.

Tom’s father was tired of Tom’s numerous questions, so he said to Tom Yes, people do dream dreams and sometimes their dreams do come true, I agree with you, but little children do dream many dreams and their dreams do change overtime. I wonder whether your dream is going to change somewhere down the road, since you are only four years old, because you are going to have many dreams as the years go by.

No, said Tom. People don’t sometimes dream dreams that come true; dreams do come true every time, argued the obstinate Tom.

You just think dreams do come true all the time but they do not. On the other hand, I think we have to know the difference between imagination and dreams before we go further with our discussion, because it is very important for us to know the difference between the two, so that we don’t mistake one for the other, Edward, his father suggested.

Oh! Yes, yes, yes, said Tom. So tell me dad, what is the difference between dreams and imagination?

Tom, his father replied, The difference between dream and imagination, is that dreams can be described as a series of images, ideas and emotions occurring involuntarily to the mind in certain stages of sleep. Tom, everything that is happening while you are sleeping is not subject to conscious control or conscious willing. Every activity taking place inside you, while you are sleeping, is unintentional. Imagination is the formation of mental image or concept, of that which is not real or present.

Edward continued, "Again, Tom, what we are talking about here is the mental faculty permitting visionary and creative thought. Those ideas and thoughts are unrealistic. Once you did tell me that you had a feeling that you developed wings and flew like a bird, and you later said you were joking, that was your imagination. Again two days ago you told me that Eddie Murphy was going to give you his gun to shoot a criminal; that was your imagination because you do not know Eddie Murphy, neither have you met him, you only see him in movies. That was an unrealistic thought, idea or notion. Sometimes we imagine things that will never be throughout our lifetime, but it is good for us to be imaginative; I mean have creative ideas. Again sometimes, dreams do come true and some people have the gift of prophetic dreams. Some people call it clairvoyance. I just wonder whether I have answered your question.

Oh yes Dad, you have, you have. I now know the difference between dreams and imagination, shouted the happy Tom.

Tom had a very happy home. He was the first child of his parents. His sister Jessica was the exact opposite of Tom. She talked sparingly. Tom’s parents loved and cared for their children very well. Tom and his sister liked introducing their parents to anyone who came to their house, no matter how many times; even their father’s childhood friend whom they had known since they were born. Tom in particular had a habit of telling everybody that his father and mother were his best friends.

Mr Adams was Edward's best friend but Tom always said to Mr Adams, whenever he came to their house, even if he came there twice a day or more, This is my father, Edward. He is my best friend. Then he would turn to his mother and say, This is my mother, she is my best friend and I love my sister as you know.

Mr Adams was used to Tom’s behaviour, so as soon as he arrived at their house, the first thing he would do is to ask Tom a question; because if Tom asked first, it would be like a never-ending series.

Mr Adams and Edward were childhood friends. They saw themselves more like brothers than friends. Indeed many people did think that they were brothers, because they were always seen together. The only thing that separated them was their work, because they had different professions. Edward was an accountant while Mr Adams was a police commissioner.

Their relationship affected the two families, to the extent that the children of both families were not aware that the two men, Edward and Mr Adams, were not brothers. The children of Mr Adams referred to the children of Edward as cousins. When Tom was six years old, he was taken to the village to see his grandparents, during Christmas celebration. All members of Edward’s family were present: his mother, his father and his only brother and his own children.

At night, when they were at the dinner table, Tom asked his mother why Uncle Adams was not there. Mr Adams told Tom that he was not travelling with them to the village before the family left for the village, to avoid Tom’s never-ending questions. Tom’s mother pretended as if she did not hear Tom’s question, but Tom repeated the question and held his mother’s hand, saying, Mom is it that, you did not hear my question? Or do you not want to answer my question? Tell me I want to know, Tom continued.

Tom, Tom’s sister called and said, Uncle Adams cannot come. Have you forgotten that he is a police commissioner? Police people are very busy people, because they have too much work to do, just like the army officers, Jessica, Tom’s little sister reminded Tom.

Yes, Jessie must be right: it is true Uncle Adams is busy. He has to stay in Lagos and continue his work, Tom’s mother answered.

Moreover, if there is any crime somewhere, Uncle Adams must be there to shoot the criminals with his gun, Tom suggested.

Tom, nobody commits crime when it is getting close to Christmas Day, because everybody is busy with Christmas shopping. So how can someone go stealing, even on the Christmas Eve? Jessica asked.

I just wonder, said their mom, while their grandparents laughed.

Edward was outside, in front of their house talking to one of their neighbours. Tom went outside and called him to come and join them at the table. As Edward was trying to eat, Tom demanded to know why he spent a long time talking to their neighbour.

Tom, I have not seen that man for many years. He lives in Port Harcourt while I live in Lagos, so this is the first time we are meeting each other after many years. That was the reason why I spent a long time outside talking to him, he replied.

Why didn’t he come into the house and sit down? Did he not know that we are here? Or does he not like me and Jessie? Tom asked.

Tom, he does like you and your sister, but he was in a hurry, he wanted to go and see his friend and he said he is going to come in tomorrow, with Christmas gift, Tom’s father explained.

Okay, but if he was in a hurry, why were you out there with him for a long time? Tom asked.

Yes, he was out there with me for a long time because if he came in, he might not have been able to talk to me, because you might have had many questions for him, Edward replied.

Is he going to come with his children, Dad? Tom asked.

I’m not sure. Perhaps he may like to come with his children, if his children want to come with him.

Alright Dad, do you know his children, and did they come with him from the city?

Tom, I do know his children but I do not know whether his children came with him, because I did not ask him whether his children came with him, but I did tell him that your mother, your sister, you and I arrived together. Any other question Tom? asked Tom’s father.

Tom’s grandfather, who had been enjoying the conversation, told Tom to eat; that he was going to show him the neighbour’s house so that he could find out for himself whether he brought his children.

Are you going with us Dad? Tom asked his father.

No Tom, Jessie will go with you, Edward responded.

Tom looked into his father’s plate and discovered that his father has not even started eating, so he asked, Dad, why are you not eating? I have almost finished my food, see. Tom showed his father his plate saying, My plate is almost empty.

Tom I am going to eat my food only if you let me. You have been asking a lot of questions, so how do you want me to be eating and talking at the same time? Edward replied.

Well Dad, I was talking and eating, you can do the same if you want.

But I don’t want to, Tom’s father said.

Tom was about to ask another question but his mother told him to go with her to the kitchen, since he had finished eating, so that his father could eat. Tom went to the kitchen with his mother.

Tom was helping his mother in the kitchen but not without argument about why she brought him to the kitchen. His mother tried to ignore him but she couldn’t, because Tom was a child full of determination and his mother knew pretty well that Tom would continue disturbing her until he gets an answer from her. So, she explained to him that it is a very bad habit for anyone to talk while he or she is eating. But that explanation did not go down well with Tom, so he told his mother that he always sees people talking while they are eating, even on the television. Tom’s mother was caught in the middle, so she asked Tom to sit down. She sat beside him, holding his hand.

Tom laughed and said, I’m listening mom, you know I always listen.

Tom, his mother addressed him, there is what is called table manners, she continued. I taught you that before and part of those table manners is that you must not talk while you are eating your dinner, because you can choke from the food while you are talking. It happens most times when people are talking while they eat and, on your own side Tom, you don’t stop talking at the dining table, even you talk with your mouth full sometimes.

Tom promised his mother that he would never talk again whenever he is eating his dinner. Tom was going to ask his mother another question before his father’s only brother walked into the kitchen.

He said hello to Tom but Tom looked at him and went away to meet his father in the living room. Tom’s mother felt embarrassed, so when Tom’s uncle left, she went to the living room to correct Tom. In the process, she told Tom’s father what Tom had done to his uncle in the kitchen.

Before she could finish talking, Tom stood up in anger saying, He is not my uncle, Uncle Adams is my uncle, Tom shouted three times and left. He then went to his grandparents, who had been playing with his younger sister, Jessica.

Tom’s mom called Tom’s father and told him that they have to explain to their children that Mr Adams is just their family friend and not their Uncle.

Tom’s father took a deep breath and asked his wife, But will that stop Tom from hating my brother? Tom started this when he was only two years old. Then I thought he would grow out of it, but it is getting worse. What do I do? Tom hates my brother with passion and Robert is my older brother and my only brother. What makes him hate my brother?

I think we had better go and meet them with their granny. Maybe Tom might even be pleased to hear from the two grandparents, because children do listen to grandparents more than their parents most times, especially on issues of this nature, Tom’s mother suggested.

Tom’s parents went to meet Tom and Jessica in their grandparents’ room. As soon as they went in, Tom stood up and said to his father, I hope you have not come to tell me about that man, I don’t want to discuss him.

"No Tom, I have not come to tell you about my