Our writing - inspired by Chapter 1

'Survivors' by Chavon

Yinka had woken up at as early as usual and had started to get ready for school. He walked through a bunch of paw paw trees to get the bus to school. That morning it was a cool, sunny day.

The bus started to get packed and crowded - and really hot. Yinka got off the yellow bus and decided to walk the rest of the way, until… Suddenly… PE KIT!

Yinka ran all the way back to his compound on Victoria Island. He ran faster than the wind can blow. He was sprinting as fast as a spotted cheetah sprinting along the Niger Delta.

Bode, old as grey, opens the gate for young Yinka. Just then, as his mum is walking to work at the family therapy office, two big shots explode in the air leaving behind a pool of rain. Mama is gone.

A few minutes later it was like the whole world was crowding round to see the tragedy that had happened, and the loss for the little boy.

Yinka could not move. He was as stiff as a stone and in shock a lot to let any of his emotions out.

A few hours later his dad came running to the hospital panting out of breath. Soon Dr Okocha came out with the bad news. Yinka was still in shock. It was the funeral that came neat. Everyone from the family was there and all their friends as well. Uncle Tosin, Aunty Ade, Mama Segum, Mr Seun (their next door neighbour) and a whole load of other people. The next day he knew his life would never be the same again.

'Survivors' by Nahid

Okocha woke up. It was 4am and he was still quite sleepy. ‘Oh no. I’m not going to beat the traffic’ he wailed. He flew out of bed like an eagle and sped around the compound, getting ready for school. It was going to be very busy in traffic so he thought he would walk it rather than taking the single deck yellow buses. He bolted through Victoria Island, as fast as he could but there were so many people he could hardly get through. As he tried to pass a huge, bulky man, he was worried he’d forgotten something. But what could it have been?

He had his homework, packed lunch and school bag. Then he remembered…

Okocha turned round and sped through Kuti avenue. He clumsily collided into a woman selling oranges and lemons, then a few older boys, the ‘area boys’.

‘Oi!’ shouted one. Okocha carried on sprinting with the area boys not far behind him. He raced on and on until he saw the newly oiled, black gate which Yinka was guarding. His mum saw him coming and as Yinka opened the gate, she leapt out and yelled ‘Okocha. I don’t believe you forgot to take your brother! He’s been here for an hour now!’

He slowly walked towards the gate, in no hurry now. He frantically glanced behind him, hoping that the area boys didn’t follow him. His mum stood by Yinka with her hands on her hips. Angry.

All of a sudden, two thumping bangs tear through the cool morning air. Everything happens so quickly. First two bangs, then two screams and finally a roar from dad and screeching car tyres. The whole street stops what they are doing and head towards the pool of blood near Okocha’s compound. Mum and Yinka lie on the floor motionless. The white uniform, covered in scarlet red. Okocha can’t believe it and is stiff; horrified at what has happened. His feet lie stuck to the floor like the roots of a tree and his body wooden like a trunk. Who has done this terrible deed? Who is evil enough to kill the most precious thing in Okocha’s life? Why?

He thought of too many things at once and had a feeling that he was responsible. After all, it was him who forgot his brother.

Minutes passed and he felt more and more guilty. He could hear sirens and see more people. But what could he do? Where was he to go? He was not going to be safe in Lagos anymore, no chance.

'Survivors' by Gizem

After a few seconds the whole world was around mamma’s dead body and Yinka. The neighbours… The guard Tosin… all the helpers in the house… and the doctor… Papa? Where was he? He didn’t come. There was a car behind, everyone turned around. Papa was there he ran towards the girl and then looked at mama. One tear drop went down Papa’s eye.

Mamma was gone forever, forever - only a few seconds for the day to finish for ever. The darkness was going to always be with them- never, ever leaving them.