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APART FROM WOMEN hating, I had other attitudes which to you is bad but to me was the real life. One of these attitudes was basically with my friends. Once every leisure period, we all went out to a place we nicknamed 'de senior cafe; there we sat and drank all kinds of alcohol. We even smoked but me, I stopped smoking when my uncle, Jonas suffered from a lung problem which apparently led to his death and the doctor said the sickness was caused as a result of excessive smoking. As for me, I didn't want to die young. I wanted to grow, never marry, bachelor for life, have many clubs and organizations against women.

Another behavior I also liked so much was taking my rightful money from my dad by stealing. My dad normally gives me fifty naira only for my lunch everyday but that was no way enough for me. As a millionaires son, first son for that matter, I should be going to school with not less than two hundred naira everyday, even four hundred naira ain't much but my old man would just give me fifty naira which I saw as an insult. So whenever I had the opportunity, I would just take the money by force. As old as I was, I should have an account with one hundred thousand naira in it but take a look at me with a stingy father. I didn't even have an account. My friend Henry once said, 'when a domestic dog is not well fed, it turns wild.' That's truly true. Understand me, how can I be the son of a millionaire but always live like a son of a gardener? Come to think of it, if you were me, you would probably turn wild too. I had a friend, his name is James. His father is a mere bank manager but joke apart, the boy played fresh in my school more than I've ever done. Don't blame me for taking my rightful money.

My parents even with all the bad behavior I exhibited still loved me so much; they had done many things to make me change my behaviors but I didn't even feel like changing at all. My father had done it the hard way, my mom also had done it in a soft way but all seemed to me like a time wasting. Our pastor had called me to his office severally to talk to me but I really didn't care, he have also came to my house but it was of no use to me. My life was already filled with much more pleasant things and I didn't see their advices any useful.

My principal had talked to me too including some of my teachers to the extent that I began to wonder why they were all interested in my affairs alone. I was not the only one exhibiting the same attitude; even others with worsts behavior didn't even get the kind of advice I got from everyone.

My mother surprised me on my 17th birthday which was on Monday, the 5th day of April 1999. She called me downstairs and sat me down.

"Josh?" she called.

"Yes mom." I replied.

"You know you've grown, right?"

I smiled in doubt.

"Here," she said giving me a wrapped gift that looked like a box. "It's for you."

"What's this?" I asked curiously.

"Come on open it, you will like it."

I reluctantly opened it. "Ha!" I shouted as I sprang up.

"Happy birthday." she said.

Can you guess what was inside the box? It was a car key to a brand new Mercedes 230 E55, the latest. I quickly ran outside with the key and met the clean car parked neatly outside. I felt like I've been given the whole world. I only had a bicycle then but suddenly a car owner. I ran round the car in happiness and my mom came out. I ran to her and hugged her and did one of the things I've never done before, I pecked her.

"Thank you so much mom." I said happily.

"You're welcome son." She replied. "Can you drive?"

"Oh yeah."

My mom didn't know that I was secretly learning how to drive. I would even carry my father's Volvo to my friends parties in their absence.

After that pleasant surprise, my love for women grew to one percent and the love for my mom grew to 88 percent while the one for my father reduced to 53 percent.

You won't believe the kind of respect I started getting in my school when I started driving my car to school. Even some of my teachers would plead with me for a ride in my car and I would feel so honored to give them a ride. Do you even know that most of the teachers would just give me a score for what I didn't even merit. I would be surprised but I shouldn't be, it just normal; I mean, I'm the son of Peter Ike, the millionaire. I should have more than just their respect, I should have their love.

I enjoyed my new car for sometimes until my father confiscated it. He made me a promise and also a threat. He promised me a more better car if I change my ways and participate in the forthcoming state talent show which was hosted by him and other honorable people in my state. He hoped I participate in it and probably win it. He then threatened to confiscate all my belongings and to leave me to survive on my own, making me responsible for my well being and my education. I was expected to make a difference then and to prove I was his son.

I was disturbed with that; I wasn't even disturbed by the threat but disturbed rather because of the promise. I knew my father was just making up the threat as it was not the first time I've heard his threats. I was only interested in getting even if it was my present car back. It disturbed me for days until I began to forget about it. It didn't stop me from living my former life until one day. Henry called my name and I answered freely unaware of what would follow suite.

"How are you preparing for the talent show coming up in two months time?" Henry asked.

The statement 'talent show' struck me like a mighty lightning. I began to think of the word 'talent' and for some seconds, the word 'talent' became strange to me. I didn't know if it was because of fear but I was lost in thought of what I didn't know.

Henry's voice dragged me back to the world once more. "Did you hear what I just asked?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" I replied still confused.

"So how are you preparing for it?"

That question was more difficult to me than mathematics and physics questions. I didn't know what to reply with. Thanks to James who saved me from the WAEC questions.

"Hello guys!" James shouted as he came towards us with a girl.

"James whatsup?" Henry asked.

"Kul! Meet my babe Nkiru." James replied introducing the girl to us. I was still lost in the thought of what Henry asked a few minutes ago. It was when Nkiru stretched her hand towards me for a handshake after sharing pleasantries with Henry that I regained myself. I even forgot about the women hating vow and shakes her due to perplexity.

"I'm Joshua, Joshua Peters."

"Glad to meet you Joshua." The girl said smiling.

Even though discussion took over after the introduction, I was still lost in deep thought. I was not thinking of the promises again now, I rather thought of the threat. My father won't find it funny with me if I mess up. His dignity depends on my performance that day and if I mess up, it would just ruin his pride. Many important men including our governor would be present there. But what have I got to show? Sincerely speaking, there was nothing good about me. I was only good at drinking 75cl bottle of beer all at once without a break. I was also good at playing tricks like confusing my dad whenever he starts looking for his money stolen by me. I was also good in cartooning girls in a funny and insulting way with a crayon. But that was nothing. It was not presentable. It was then I remembered that I was really a good for nothing boy. There was nothing, I mean nothing good about me, nothing special just that I'm the first son of a millionaire.

Thinking of the talent show made me forgot of entering a cab. I trekked home thinking of my life. I was on the way when I came towards a man with a bible preaching. One thing he said caught my attention. It was a sentence made for me. "My dear," he said. "Never think you are not special, you are special, everyone is special. You can, I mean only you can bring out the gift in you that will make you special!!"

This got me straight in the heart. I sat on the half laid fence close to him to listen to him. Then I was moved to give the preacher the one hundred naira I was with. "God will bless you," he said as he receives it happily. "Your light shall shine, you shall prosper. You shall not lack, you shall be blessed with wisdom and God shall always protect you. In Jesus mighty name."

I replied him with an 'Amen' but sincerely speaking, all his prayers was of no use because the money I gave him was stolen from my father by me and I was sure God won't answer the prayers. But I already got what I needed from him and that was his motivational preaching. All his statements and teaching gave me a courage and faith in myself. I knew I could do it and I believed there was something to show.