Crooked Lizard

By Refinars

The book is about Richard and Roland who were twins. They were inseparable and loved each other so much.  Richard who was the senior was an excellent orator while Roland was a rare sportsman and more practically oriented. Roland had a golden heart but Richard was sinister than a rattlesnake.

A tussle arose between them when a championship was introduced in the neighbourhood games. At first they ganged up to fight and would beat up all the other contestants and even Ebube; the indomitable boy. But as time went on Richards’ allegiance to his brother waned and that was because his brother Roland would always emerge as the champion and chairman. But Richard also coveted the position and therefore secretly schemed to destroy his brother. He plotted to destabilize the championship but as was unable to succeed he orchestrated a more sinister design through which he made their parents to hate and abuse his brother.

But the traumatized Roland saw the truth and bowed in to his brother’s will in order to follow his own chosen path. Through this path, he was rewarded handsomely when he won the best pupil of their school. He was catapulted above his peers as he got admitted into one of the best and renowned colleges in their country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ugoagu Nwachukwu
• Release date: Jun 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781536565812

Refinars

    Ugoagu Nwachukwu is from Nigeria, West Africa. He is a graduate of National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja and this is his first published book.

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my love and Lord Jesus Christ.

Acknowledgement

My profound appreciation goes to my heavenly father, the almighty God and to all who contributed towards the production of this book.

I have to start with Miss Philomena Ali who helped in typing the manuscript, Prof Ifeanyi Ezeaku and Mr Amos Nduka for their professional help and advice. Also of immense help are Dr John and Mrs Ngozi Nneke and then my adorable brother; Mr Samuel, wao! you are one in a million. Others are Mr Chukwuka Uzoukwu, Mr Emma and  Mrs Nkechinyere Ugwuanyi, Mrs Blessing Ifionu and Mr uche Onyeagba.

I am ever grateful to Mr Anayo Anagor  (Uwamalife),Mr Jonathan (Okwuanasoanya), and Mrs Pauline Uzoigwe, Mr Chukwujekwu Morah(Olive), Mr Pius Umeano, Mr Ben Chidi Nweke, Mr Ifeanyi Obilike, Dr Uche Ugwoke, Mr Tim Anolue, and Mr Tim Ezekwo.

I also appreciate Venerable Innocent and Mrs Mabel Udechukwu, Rev Sam Ifemkpa, Rev Arinze Odinye and Mr Chidi Chigbo.

Space is not enough to contain the names of those who had been of unforgetable blessing to me but all my prayer is that God almighty will abundantly bless and protect you all in Jesus name, amen.

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Forward

‘’Crooked Lizard Life’’ in Ugoagu Nwachukwu’s book is a work presented to the youths, particularly, those in their ages of future-life-building.He started his book in a poetic style;’’Stones and sticks flew and struck against the walls of the four bedroom bungalow house. ... The lizard was killed instantly the moment it touched the ground’’. What caused the jubilation and the ‘monkey dance’ formed the title of this book.

When a lizard lives a crooked life, what becomes the life of a human who is naturally cunning? You can imagine the situation.

Going through the eleven chapters of this book; one will discover the imagination  of the author and how he graphically presented each chapter and how and why he adopts a lizard to showcase what he was trying to impress on man, and not only the youth  but also the adults who live a crooked life. It is a story which brings out some hidden pranks in people who lived a lazy and indolent life, who at the same time wants to ’shine’ above every other person through a crooked life.

It is said that ‘’all days are for the thief but one day is for the owner of the house’’. It is a lesson for the crooked in our world. The joy and happiness he was gaining from his parents became sour while his other brother who was disliked by their parents later gained the admiration of the school and their parents.

This book is therefore, an attempt by the author to discourage our young ones who are building their future from crooked(corrupt) practices and build in them sincerity and honesty which can build in man a lasting happiness. He ended his work with an ethical maxim, ‘’He who laughs last laughs best’’. Do you want to laugh best? If yes, do not be like the ‘’Crooked Lizard’’ who laughed best at the beginning but cried at last.

I recommend this book to all students and those who think that their future is important in their lives.

Prof Ifeanyi .O. Ezeaku

Dept of Philosophy and Religion

Paul University, Awka.

- 1-  The First Do Not Always Win

Stones and sticks flew and struck against the wall of the four bedroom bungalow house. The red agama lizard that inclined at the centre of the right wall of the bungalow house tried to escape. It ran towards the front of the house but was blocked. It retreated towards the back of the house amidst more splashes and shots. Richard who had stationed himself towards the back of the house struck and brought it down with a hard stroke. The lizard was killed instantly, the moment it touched the ground. The children jubilated and danced the monkey dance.

I told you, I told you, that this is a crooked lizard. No crooked lizard ever escapes from me. They always fail. They always die! boasted Richard.

But his brother Roland did not believe it and protested. It’s not a crooked lizard. It’s just because we were able to corner it.

The other children argued and were divided between the twin brothers. They still debated as they left and searched for another lizard. They soon found one, lying near the top of a fence at a neighbouring compound. They started to categorize it. It was a full grown female Lizard.

This is a wary lizard shouted Richard from a distance and his supporters affirmed.

No. It is not shouted Roland. It’s because you see that it is far from being captured. It is far away from danger. Before we’ll reach there it’ll escape.

They haggled but the voice of Richard’s group subdued the others. They stalked towards the lizard but at the first strike it escaped over the fence. Richard and his cliques danced and danced and did acrobatics.

I said it, I said it. I am the man. I just killed a crooked