A Mother- Her Heart

By Dr. Sunny Oby Maduka

The greatest gift to humanity is having a Mother who will lead her children into greatness through living a life of honesty and dignity even in the face of problems. A Mother- Her Heart reveals the mystery of a woman who stood not only as a wife but as a solid rock towards making her only son, John, a light in the midst of the present Dark Age

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Jan 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482825411

Dr. Sunny Oby Maduka

Dr Sunny Oby Maduka born on the 10th October, 1962, having his root from Umunnekwu Agbo in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, Nigeria, is the Author of ‘The Whispering Voice’; currently being screenplay for Hollywood Movie, ‘My Nation My Agony’; Collection of Illuminatory Poems; Tears For Love and The Surviving Twins. He has also recently released his Nollywood Movies titled ‘Blood Communion, Seasons 1 & 2 and Blood Butchers, Seasons 1 & 2’{Downloadable through YouTube- just add Nigeria Movie after the title}. He is looking for sponsorship to produce a Television Drama Series titled ‘The Tenant’. He is presently working on two life illuminating Manuscripts titled: ‘The Vulturist And The State Of Emergency’ and ‘Words On The Marble’ { A Collection Of Personal Reflexive Experience Quotes} He is a versatile resource person and has presented papers on the current economic and political issues affecting Nigeria and Africa with global perspective. A scholar and a PhD degree holder in Transportation and Industrial Studies, from University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; after obtaining MBA, M.Sc and B.Sc Degrees from Olabisi Onabanjo University and University of Lagos respectively. He is currently working with Nigerian Ports Authority as an Auditor and Compliance Officer. He is married to Priscilla Swanta from Zongo-Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria and they are both blessed with four wonderful daughters- Amarachi, Kelechi, Chimdi and Tochi. Website: www.madukasunny.com Facebook: Sunny Oby Maduka Twitter@MadukaSunnyOby Emails: [e-mail] or [e-mail] Tel: [phone]

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Copyright © 2016 by Sunny Maduka.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version, Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

www.partridgepublishing.com/africa

CONTENTS

Preface

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Take Away

Tribute To My Dear Mother

Chapter 1   Life Lessons

Chapter 2   MY Beautiful Mother

Chapter 3   MY Father’s Clip

Chapter 4   Sharing and Pains

Chapter 5   Where Is My Mother?

Chapter 6   Near Slip

Chapter 7   The Other Sides

Chapter 8   Survival Search

Chapter 9   My Permit

Chapter 10   The First Seed

Chapter 11   The Starting Point

Chapter 12   Actions

Chapter 13   It Can’t Be True

Chapter 14   My Tale

Chapter 15   Slumbering

Chapter 16   The Decision

Chapter 17   Confusions

Chapter 18   Where am I?

Chapter 19   Decency

Chapter 20   Ade’s Journey

Chapter 21   The Openings

Chapter 22   Introduction

Chapter 23   Adoption Offset

Chapter 24   An Additional Brother

Chapter 25   The Switch

Chapter 26   One Feeling

Chapter 27   Contentment

Chapter 28   Vision Alert

Chapter 29   My Dream

Chapter 30   The Determinant

Chapter 31   Home Again

Chapter 32   A Mother- Her Heart

Chapter 33   A New Beginning

The Whispering Voice Book {Hollywood Treatment}

PREFACE

An encounter with the literary works of Dr. Sunny Oby Maduka, a prolific writer, accountant and marine expert is indeed a rare privilege. In most of his books, he has consistently displayed a kind of unique skill and talents that has outstandingly placed him above others in no small measure.

Author of The Whispering Voice; My Nation My Agony; Collection Of Illuminatory Poems; The Surviving Twins; Tears For Love among others, Maduka, an erudite researcher has given to his world a futurist manual that has proven beyond doubt, his iconic entitlement of invaluable memorabilia.

In his latest book, A Mother- Her Heart, the author creatively used his prowess to emphasise the benefits of good parenthood; forgiveness; hard-work; good neighbourhood; sincerity and Godliness.

The protagonist in the book, a rare mother like Alice, in biblical injunction, will remain a sample of typical virtuous woman.

She teaches her only son, John how to live rightly with God and man. She frowns from any form of activities that would stain her credibility even in the ocean of abject poverty. Contrary to advice from friends like Mama Fred to look for young man who would render a helping hand to her financial challenges, her vow not to mess up till death having married as a virgin would not allow her change her decision because of bread.

Though, she sells wares and enjoys her early days in marriage, unfortunately, when the husband was forcefully retired, she faces the other side of the coin. Her shop was locked up since she could no longer pay her bills. She ended up selling kolanut and alligator pepper to take care of John.

Mazi Ibe, facing the miserable world of responsibilities with fear of how to survive, gives way to drunkenness. He would also serve Alice with beating regularly, at times to coma whenever he is dead drunk. He became an insult and nuisance to the community.

John was taught how to be contended with whatever he has. He was warned to sacrifice all to God and never to put trust in any man.

Even at 10, John would do all manner of jobs to assist the mother who has turned to be the bread winner of the family.

When Alice was almost at the point of death, there was need to raise money to pay up her hospital bill. Ibe took John to his junior brother, Uncle Uche to beg for money. Unfortunately, Uche chose to make John his house boy, to be paying the sum of ten thousand naira monthly. Though Ibe agreed because of the desperate memory of becoming a widower so soon, a holy anger befalls him on his way out of Uche’s house. He returned the money and left with John to face their world of uncertainty.

Uche’s wife could be more humane as she tries to disabuse Ibe’s mind about her husband’s reckless behaviour.

An encounter that John had with Boss when he went for junk job redefined his destiny to accomplishment. Ade, who was the paying officer, was almost being thrown out of the company because Boss discovered that he short-paid John even on the day John had been asked never to come to work again because of his tender age.

John preached to Boss on forgiveness and eventually he concurred.

Boss, who had also been a victim of staggered home traced John for his ingenuity. Boss voluntarily agreed to be adopted by Alice, having discovered her to be a woman with a Mother’s Heart.

Though it was not as easy because of the hard principles of Alice, but Boss eventually captured the essence of Alice and they later became one indivisible family.

Boss agreed to sponsor John abroad to fulfil his dream because he had vowed to become a pilot from infant.

John excelled abroad and became a hot cake among the white. He won to himself the first pilot to fly the latest mechanized aircraft. John became the citizen of America. His home coming was a celebration of harmony.

His father that has abandoned the family for years eventually came back home. Ibe narrated how he was arrested by the police with gangsters from the beer parlour where he went to have a good time when his ailing wife was languishing on hospital bed.

By dint of luck, Ibe was released when the state governor came on inspection of the prison yard.

With all these, Ibe found favour before Alice. She forgives her husband and it became a new beginning afterward.

Boss was also happily married with twins.

The book has a good narrative. The story plot is very coherent with charming language. The characters are thorough and the message is convincing.

The creativity in Maduka and his imaginative acumen deserves accomplished celebration within the literati.

The book is a must-read to every heart that desire excellence in marriage, business and other relationship.

Our world is made richer with the recent work of this great writer. Maduka, a wordsmith and seasoned writer is one of the few accomplished creative writers that needs to be exploited and celebrated.

Yemi Adebisi

Literary/Arts Editor, Daily Independent, Lagos

DEDICATION

This book like others before now or upcoming ones are fully God’s induced inspirations and insights for His mandate fulfilment. I am privileged and I dedicate this book back to the Giver of knowledge and wisdom.

Secondly, I have the pleasure to dedicate, ‘A Mother- Her Heart’ to all virtuous Mothers who toiled day and night to ensure that humanity still exists with credibility and uprightness. You are rare and in rareness, you are the last hope for humanity sensibility and character moulding at this time when obscenity is destroying the decency in mankind.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I want to appreciate my immediate and distant family members. I am indeed grateful to God Almighty whose inspirational downloads inspired this work, ‘A MOTHER - HER HEART’ and other of my previous and upcoming works.

I must not forget my friends and colleagues who are part of my earthly journeying processes and have in one way or the other assisted in the propagation of the fulfilment of God’s purpose in my life. I am blessed with a family in my wife, Priscilla Swanta, my wonderful children, Amarachi, Kelechi, Chimdi, Tochi and Ekop.

I can’t forget great people who added value to the making of this work. Phina Ebele Chima and Yemi Adebisi; God will reward you for the kind of love you have shown to me in the journey of ensuring that I stand in the path of greatness and Godliness. I am not forgetting the entire staff and officers of Nigerian Ports Authority. The entire members of Seasons of life {Life Development Centre}, Lagos State, Life Impact Kingdom Community, Calabar, Cross River State and the entire Congress Wbn, especially, all Kingdom Community Network across the globe. I appreciate Early Height College and Early Beginners Group of Schools, Lagos, Next Strategic Level {NSL} Private Schools, Abuja, Baptist Mission Schools, Nigeria, Holmes Viu Properties Ltd, Umunnekwu Agbo Community School, Isuikwuato High School, Abia State, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State and University of Calabar, Cross River State.

To every friend and fan, I am saying, thank you and may God bless you abundantly and activate your own purposes for the edification of humanity. Together, let’s champion ethical values and Godliness anchored on forgiveness in whatever assignment God has called us to accomplish.

TAKE AWAY

10. It is hard to find a good wife,

Because she is worth more than rubies.

11. Her husband trusts her completely.

With her, he has everything he needs.

12. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.

26. She speaks wise words

and teaches others to be kind.

28. Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her

30. Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the LORD should be praised.

Proverbs 31v10-{New Century Version}

TRIBUTE TO MY DEAR MOTHER-

{Eunice Oruji Maduka Nee Ibegbu}

Could it be real?

That I will see my first Love no more

Whose cuddling reared my being?

Like the cradle of existence as she was

I wouldn’t have been

Without that early smile of assurance

The sleepless nights,

She bore me with happiness

And my cries,

She reciprocate with joyous ballads.

Oh Mother, when the sounds of gunshots

Pierced the air with careless freedom,

And bullets went all directions

As the Nigeria/Biafra war raged,

You covered us with your arms.

Like the hen

Shielding her chicks from the hawk

You stood in front praying for our survival

And then came a heavy down pour,

You remained resolute for our survival

With your back turned as shelter.

I remembered the day

When there was nothing to eat,

As we cried, I can feel your internal groaning

But you braved all with songs of our heroes past,

As we clanged to our stomachs,

A clay pot full of water on the fire

With hope, we cried smiling until we all slept

Then with heavy heart, the empty pot,

Was removed from the fire

Our heads positioned to comfortable sleeping

Till the next day.

Mother, I will miss your motherly care

You are just the dual live of my existence

Because in you, I saw both sexes

Boldly, challenging every odds of life.

You are and will remain my courageous Mother

You took the pain and molded us, your children

With the core values of life’s processes

And anchored me to be honest;

Live a life of uprightness, Integrity

And love to all humanity.

My Mother,

My dearest Mother

And if there is another life

Then let me call the Creator

To avail me MY glowing glorious Mother.

Died in honour, remembered as a virtuous mother,

Rest in perfect peace my dearest Mother.

{Curled from ‘Collection Of Illuminatory Poems’ By Dr. Maduka, Sunny Oby, 2013}.

The greatest gift to humanity is having a Mother who will lead her children into greatness through living a life of honesty and dignity even in the face of problems. ‘A Mother- Her Heart’ reveals the mystery of a woman who stood not only as a wife but as a solid rock towards making her only son, John, a light in the midst of the present Dark Age

*Once the presence of Light is deliberately lighted, darkness will not only give way but clarity of sight to purpose will be activated*

CHAPTER ONE

Life Lessons

‘Every step in the earth has a footprint of lessons’

I am sorry Fred. Please I never pushed you down intentionally I apologized as I was helping Fred to dust off the dirt on his shirt. Fred stood up and without a word he started walking towards their house. I looked at Fred dejectedly; a feeling of guilt came over me as I watch my best friend walk out on me.

Fred…Please…I am really sorry. I pleaded in a raised voice. But Fred didn’t look back. I stood there rooted and gradually, I felt the drops of tears on my cheeks.

John…John…John… My mother’s voice echoed and I started running down to my house, cleaning my tears with my bare hands.

Where is Fred? My mother asked as I ran towards her.

He has gone home

Ah! Ah.., I have dished your food together. I hope there is nothing amiss?

When I did not answer, my mother looked at me all over and asked with a motherly voice.

John what happened?

We were playing and I mistakenly tackled him from behind and he fell down

What kind of play?

I was transfixed as my mother had warned us to desist from rough plays. But she is my mother who abhorred lies. My mother will not beat you if you are honest no matter what your offence is. But on the contrary, any lie will be a nightmare to you. So it pays to tell the truth all times.

What kind of play? She repeated calmly but this time with a harsh tone.

Wrestling mama. I answered, my face looking down in guilt. She regarded me and feigned as if she didn’t hear me.

What did you say?

My voice was choked and I started crying.

I am sorry mama. I won’t do it again

Is that a promise?

Yes mama. I assured, nodding in affirmation.

She embraced me and we started to the door.

Mama, Fred was angry with me to the extent that he ignored all my pleadings

But you are sincere in your apologies?

Yes mama. I responded, clinging to my mother’s right hand.

Don’t worry, he will accept your pleas by tomorrow

Are you sure mama? I