Brain Bash

By Kouma Koffi Kpesse

The chance Pauline gets to add another job as Chief to her main Treasure job at Windsor Castle turns up rather exposing her carelessness. Even though Queen Adelaide has given her strict warning not to break the last sacred ceramic bowl, a bowl considered King William 4’s sole source of longevity, Pauline simply does. The king suddenly begins suffering from this incurable illness as a result, and is to die if Pauline does not bring back the stolen bowl which has been taken hostage several years back by a heavily armed notorious gang. To embark on this risky journey, Pauline hurriedly consults her former mate called Saied, the one she believes that possesses the powers needed to triumphantly return the stolen item intact to the royal palace for the king’s curing ceremony and makes a triumphant return to Windsor Castle.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caroling Pen Publishing
• Release date: Dec 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9791220874854

Book preview

BRAIN BASH

KPESSE KOFFI KOUMA

Brain Bash © KpesseKoffiKouma

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the presenters.

KpesseKoffiKouma asserts the moral right to be identified as author of this work.

Presentation by Caroling Pen Publishing.

Email us at: [e-mail]

Website: www.carolingpen.com

ISBN: 9798784372963

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Koffi is an emerging Togolese novelist. Even though he is a teacher in a private institution, he equally dedicates his life to creativity, an area where he dives into literature diversities by producing science fiction, psychological thrillers, African stories, horror and this fascinating young and adult with a blend of magical realism for his avid readership. Frankly speaking, Koffi, endowed with an extraordinary writing ability, is one of the unique talented Togolese novelists in the Diaspora to discover when it comes to producing interesting literature in English. At his leisure time, he likes watching birds at their sanctuaries.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The chance Pauline gets to add another job as Chief to her main Treasure job at Windsor Castle turns up rather exposing her carelessness. Even though Queen Adelaide has given her strict warning not to break the last sacred ceramic bowl, a bowl considered King William 4’s sole source of longevity, Pauline simply does. The king suddenly begins suffering from this incurable illness as a result, and is to die if Pauline does not bring back the stolen bowl which has been taken hostage several years back by a heavily armed notorious gang. To embark on this risky journey, Pauline hurriedly consults her former mate called Saied, the one she believes that possesses the powers needed to triumphantly return the stolen item intact to the royal palace for the king’s curing ceremony and makes a triumphant return to Windsor Castle.

To Sylvia, my adorable daughter. I thank you sincerely for your encouragement. And to Sophia and Serge as well.

CHAPTER ONE:

THE SECRET BIRTHDAY KEY

A few years before the beginning of the reign of King William IV and Queen Adelaide, a certain poor woman named Mrs Sandra Tramp gave birth to a pair of twins one foggy morning in London. Her babies were a male and a female and were both diagnosed at the very early stage of their lives with an unusual health condition the doctor called brain bash. This unusual health condition, according to Doctor Emilia Parker, head of children’s hospital in London where these twins were born, was, and I quote, Nothing serious. Only your wards will be victim of excessive shyness and fear. I think that is all.

Mrs Sandra Tramp named the male baby Paul and the female Pauline. Both children grew up together. But after their sixth birthday anniversaries which were held at Sir Harry Tramp’s house on 29th February that year, both Paul and Pauline fell seriously ill.

Little Pauline as lucky as the Queen of the Ethiopian Kingdom and as pretty as a newly bought picture from town, was now Mrs Sandra Tramp’s only joy and future hope. She miraculously survived the illness, but the boy died when he was only seven years old. Years passed and Pauline alone grew up steadily at her parents’ house. Pauline was blonde. She had long hair, blue eyes and an oval face. She was a very polite girl.

A few years later, Pauline was now in grade 6. As a school girl, her teacher loved her very much. However, her teacher bitterly complained about her problem associated with her doodling hands as a result of her brain bash condition. Pauline had two female close mates, though; those were Joyce and Francisca, and the only male mate she had was Saied. Joyce was slim and hairy and was the one that liked wearing her eyeglasses while Francisca was fat and tall and was the one that also liked wearing her sun-glasses on special occasions only. She hardly laughed even when her mates were entertained. As for Saied, her only close male mate, he liked having an empty smoking pipe hanging in a corner of his large mouth whenever he was out of his class. He always liked eating ripe fingers of banana his mother always bought for him. He also liked wearing a pair of black boots. He was always entertaining. He sometimes played the acoustic guitar his father had offered him some time back.

One windy Thursday afternoon, they had closed early from school and had discussed funny matters on their way home. So, as a sign of courtesy, her friends decided to accompany Pauline to her father’s house and rest together for some time.

My dear friends, are you sure you are spending much time at my house today? she asked, openly smiling.

Yes, we are, Pauline, answered Joyce, hugging her warmly.

They played and ate and sang and danced at Pauline’s house. After doing all these things, her friends decided to leave. The reason was that the time for Pauline’s mother to return from the market was drawing near.

We are leaving you now, Pauline, informed Francisca, unhappy, though.

Are you sure you are leaving now? asked Pauline, timidly picking her newly bought school bag from the floor.

Yes, we are, answered Joyce, also picking her bag from the ground. The reason is that you will be helping your mother home when she returns from the market. Moreover, it passed Midday long time ago and our parents too will be worried if they do not see us in the evening.

Bring me what you cook this evening tomorrow. Saied hugged her warmly.

I will, said back Pauline, also hugging her other mates. I know you like eating boiled cassava, Saied. But I do not know if you also like eating pounded yam with groundnut soup with fried chicken and crab. I am jealous when I am eating this delicious meal. But because you are requesting for this evening meal, I will not hesitate to bring you some tomorrow.

Are you sure of that, Pauline? coughed Saied.

Yes, I am very sure of that, answered Pauline. Will you eat it, Saied?

Yes, I sure I will if only if you will offer me my portion tomorrow secretly before we gather at assemble. I think that is all, Pauline.

I am sorry then, Saied, said Pauline, shaking her head in surprise. But I am sure the food will have got spoilt by tomorrow morning if I brought it.

Saied shook his head in disagreement with her. Pauline gazed at him.

Do not worry about that, Pauline, he insisted. Just do as I say. I believe if you happened to bring it, it will have heated itself by the time you reached the school premises and even remained steamy until break.

What do you mean by that, Saied? asked Pauline, totally puzzled. Can you explain that to me, I cannot understand you?

It will happen the way I say it, reassured Saied, laughing. Just believe me, my dear friend.

You amaze me, Saied. Pauline was confused.

It is my way of life, Pauline. Anyway, see you in school tomorrow then.

I will miss you, Saied! said Pauline back and let them leave her father’s house.

After the departure of her mates, Pauline sat lonely in her dirty room. She was relaxing when Mrs Sandra Tramp returned from the market. As usual she helped her at the kitchen until dinner was completely ready. She and her mother enjoyed their supper together at the dining-hall. The following day snow fell heavily so, Pauline did not attend classes that morning.

One sunny afternoon, Pauline was sitting lonely before the main door to her father’s house when a sudden thought came through her mind. She faced the cloudless sky and talked in her mind.

After that she went straight to her bedroom and rested.

The following day, snow fell heavily again, so Pauline and her mates were unable to meet after school. But two days later, the weather was very much better; there was sunshine, but it was all mild and enjoyable. Again Pauline had something important to ask Saied. She had been thinking about it sometimes back.

What will you offer me on my twelfth birthday, Saied? she asked, openly smiling.

I will offer you something secret and special you will never forget the rest of your life, my dear Pauline. You will get it only if you believe me from the bottom of your heart, Saied had laughed.

Is it going to be something I will keep in my room for months, or something I will eat just a day and forget about it, Saied?

No, Pauline, neither of those. It is going to be something secret you will need in a critical situation, Pauline. Saied gazed at her.

Pauline too laughed and Saied warmly hugged her once more.

You are funny, Saied, Pauline had teased.

But the Egyptian mate did not disclosed whatever he intended to offer her on her twelfth birthday party yet. Pauline was pleased that she began dreaming about the unknown gift Saied had promised to offer her on her 12th birthday celebration.

A week later, after school had closed, Pauline sat under the mango tree that stretched its branches over her father’s house and rested. A few minutes later, she came to the middle of their concession and waited impatiently for her mates Francisca, Joyce and more importantly Saied to come, but her friends all delayed. She could not understand the reason why her mates delayed coming to her house that sunny afternoon. So she sat lonely disappointed and observed the beauty of the sky.

She coughed twice and shook her head pitifully.

I turned twelve years old today, she muttered, sad. But Mummy said she is not going to offer me anything. This means that she is not going to offer me any birthday parcels until the day she gets money. She cried for a few minutes, went behind the house, sat on a wooden chair and went on. I have never been happy my entire life before. But I hope from today onwards that things will change for a better someday.

She stood up briskly and sat back quietly on the old wooden chair that had been placed at the back of the house and remained there again.

Later, she also waited for her mother to return from town. She dropped more tears and sat lonely there. She was thinking if her classmates were ever going to come or not. She was hopelessly sad. So she went to her room calmly and mourning. She sat on her rocking chair and rested impatiently. That day indeed was a sad day for her.

Pauline’s father was Sir Harry Tramp. He had returned earlier from the forest. But Pauline was not aware he was resting in his bedroom.

Sir Harry Tramp was a famous hunter. He was tall and very strong and was nicknamed Hercules for that matter.

Nobody in the entire United Kingdom ever dared him in anything he did either good or bad. While Mrs Sandra Tramp cherished Pauline very much, Sir Harry Tramp hated her in everything she did.

I hate that careless girl of mine, he muttered now at the back of his house that evening whilst manning his rifle. I do not know why she cannot hold any things carefully in her two hands. I am sure this is not as a result of her brain bash condition. I have never seen a little girl with such carelessness like this before. She has broken all the valuable items in this house. I wish she were not my biological daughter, for I intend to swap her for a common shoe lace at the market square. I say this for her acts do not resemble mine at all. So I am hosting no birthday party for her this evening. I have postponed it. That will take place in two weeks, instead of today. She is too careless and she is such a useless girl. Excessive shyness and fear my foot! That is why I hate her so much that I do not want her to live in this house of mine.

Sir Harry Tramp then burst into a wicked laughter until it was night totally while Pauline was very sad that night too. Her mother, too, was mournfully sad. She did not have supper. It was a pity to see her in that mood that time.

The following day, when Pauline went to school, Saied the Egyptian boy made her laugh during lunch at the school canteen.

Pauline’s other mates were closely following their chat.

You have already informed me this morning that you will be celebrating your birthday in two weeks, instead of yesterday. You said your Dad has postponed it. So do not try and inform me again, said Saied.

That is okay. But will you allow me to ask you once again what you intend to offer me on that day, Saied? And why have you not yet disclosed that to me up to now?

I am promising you a secret birthday key, Pauline. Saied was smiling.

A secret birthday key for me, Saied!

Yes, Pauline. Does this surprise you? In fact, you will need it when trying to open a door in an emergency situation at your father’s house. Just believe it and you will be happy.

You say I will need it when trying to open a door in a critical situation only at my father’s house? I cannot wait to see that secret birthday key. So quickly tell me the door and how that key looks like.

I will describe it and also tell you the door I was talking about. And I promise you will love it. Saied laughed Saied, went round the house twice and came back to his initial position more confident.

Pauline did not believe him. She too was only laughing, and doubting.

At closing Saied, Joyce and Francisca left the school premises very late. As for Pauline, she had already gone home lonely. The reason was that her mates were delaying. She did not understand the reason of their delay. She was more or less impatient to see them at her father’s house so that she could receive what Saied had promised her. The true reason of their delay was that Francisca, Joyce and Saied were searching for Francisca’s missing school bag in the school the time she left.

Back to the school premises, Joyce had something to say. I think someone might have hidden your school bag somewhere, Francisca, she assumed, openly shaking her head.

Your bag will surely be at the Headmaster’s office, Saied had assured her, leading his mates to the Headmaster’s office at once. You went with it when Sir Patrick Park called you his office after break.

It was a big surprise that Saied’s move brought happiness to his mates that hot time.

Truly speaking, they found the bag at Sir Park’s office.

An hour later, without wasting any time, the three friends finally left their school premises and went to Pauline’s house. As the three classmates approached Pauline’s house, Saied picked up a long, dry stick from the ground, broke it into a sizeable key level of about ten centimetres and smiled. All his classmates gazed at him as he addressed them and hoped to see a miracle occur live.

I promise I can change this dry stick into a metallic key, he pledged, openly beating his chest with his right hand.

You amaze me, said Francisca. Can you change wood into metal, Saied?

Are you a magician, Saied? asked Joyce.

Francisca could do nothing but laugh till they entered Pauline’s compound.

No, I am not, Saied had answered. Have you forgotten I made a brand new pair of glasses for Mrs Ella Woods some months back?

I believe you stole those glasses, Saied, teased Francisca.

When they entered Sir Harry Tramp’s compound, they met Pauline right before her father’s house. Pauline never thought her mates could ever visit her that evening. She was so excited to see her mates finally arrive at her father’s house at long last.

I am happy we are finally in Pauline’s house, said Joyce, calm.

Pauline was lonely sitting on the edge of the terrace. She had been wondering if Saied was ever going to surprise her or not with the gift he had promised her when he finally arrived. She looked into the sky and looked down back. As her mates appeared into the compound, Pauline rushed to them in joy. Her mates were surprised when they saw her. In fact, Pauline looked very worried the way she was mournfully sitting on the terrace when her mates entered her house.

Why did you delay, my dear mates? she asked and cleaned her face with her newly bought face-towel from town. What prevented you from coming to my house on time? I strongly believe that you had gone to Francisca’s house to enjoy some left over fried snails over there, hadn’t you?

Saied looked into the sky and looked down back again. I believe he had something on his mind to tell them.

He was planning what to do.

Sorry about that, Pauline, he apologized. We were actually chatting on our way coming to your house. Moreover, it also took us a couple of hours searching for Francisca’s missing school bag.

The other mates greeted Pauline and hugged her warmly.

How are you, Pauline, by the way? asked Francisca, shaking her head. Why are you so quiet, and mournful?

I am not fine today, Francisca, she responded.

Why, Pauline? asked Joyce, gazing at her. Did your father scold at you for returning late from school?

Pauline shook her head in a reply. She looked hopelessly sad.

I have since been waiting for Saied to come and offer me the birthday gift he has promised me. I thought you were not coming to my father’s house at all. Can’t you see how worried I am? she said.

Joyce first ignored the question.

Have you brought Pauline her special birthday gift? Joyce turned to Saied on her immediate right.

That is what I am about to do, answered Saied, sharp.

How are you going to do that, Saied, my only male mate?

I am going to do that by changing this stick into a metallic birthday key that is all. Saied had openly answered.

And I am sure and confident of what I am about to do for Pauline, my dear Francisca. You do not trust me, do you? Saied had laughed.

Francisca shook her