THE TWELVE-season 3,episode 8

                                                         

                                                                 RWANDA

                  The next morning at about ten, Zodiac took one of the orphan girls in the camp who could fairly speak English to give her a tour around the area.  Her name was Shorsha, a young beautiful brown girl of sixteen who had lived like an orphan since she was seven. She told her story to zodiac as they went around strolling.

“How did you become an orphan?” Zodiac asked.

“My parents died when I was seven,” she replied with no pain of the past.

“Oh, were you actually there, did you experience it?”

“I was, saw them put under six feet right before my eyes,”

Zodiac looked at her, strange kid, she thought, she narrated the story like something she had heard from a passerby.

“So what killed them?”

“They both got infected with HIV/AIDS,”

“How,”

“My mother was born with it,”

“She gave it to your dad; they got married and had you?” Zodiac was continuously stricken by what she was hearing.

“Yes but I didn’t get infected.”

Zodiac took a deep breath, which was a slight relief.

“You were spared, God spared you….. Wow,” Zodiac smiled at her.

“I was but I ended up being an orphan. Lost my parents in two months,”

Zodiac started seeing the pain of the past arising in her but Shorsha quickly brushed it away when she saw her friend Lydia washing clothes in front of her small hurt.

“Hello Lydia,” She waved her with a broad smile and totally forgot Zodiac rushing to meet her. Zodiac took herself to meet them as they exchanged words in their dialect.

“Hello,” Zodiac announced herself.

“Hello,” Lydia replied, she was friendly. “Who is she?”  She asked Shorsha.

“Her name is Zodiac,” She held Zodiac’s shoulder like they were best of friends. “You don’t know her from that famous group we use to watch on the street?”

“Yes I remember,” She jumped in excitement. “Spice,”

“Yes it is spice but we are now twelve,”

That didn’t matter to her, she knew of spice and she was sticking to it.

“My name is Lydia and you inspire me a lot, because of you I learnt how to sing.”

“Oh really, you sing?”

“Yeah she does,” Shorsha replied. “Like an angel,”

“I’m so happy to have finally meet you, where are the others, please can I see them?”

“You will be able to see them I promise you but not right now because they didn’t come with me, I’m here with my other partner…….”

“Ken,” Shorsha interrupted. “They are no longer spice but the twelve. We didn’t know that right?”

“Yeah maybe the news skipped us. I have three sisters and we will like to visit you please,”

“Wow of course we will love that. We live at the camp with Shorsha.”

“When I’m done with what I’m doing we will visit…..”

“Sure,”

“I’m taking her on a small stroll, we come back soon.”

“Okay,” she giggled. Lydia felt like heaven had visited her as they both left, she continued washing and wished she could be faster in doing the laundry than she was.

                                                                       ZIMBABWE

             “Are you alright?” Shania asked Larry as she walked into the room, he was reading one of the books they brought to get them inspired. News of their coming had spread across that area and some of the children had come to see for themselves. Even though they didn’t recognize them as the twelve, they got attracted to them by their color and how different they look.

“I’m fine,” Larry replied. “Has the children left?”

“No, still there with Paco and the rest,”

“I’m trying to get something from this book,”

“How to fulfill purpose,” she read the book cover. “You want to know how to fulfill this purpose?”

“Yes Shania, how do we go about it?” he looked at her.

“I guess that is one mistake we all made.” She sat beside him on the bed. “We should have planned on how to go about this.”

“We didn’t make short term goals. For example we have a goal to reach every month, we only have six months and we don’t even have a clue on how to start.”

“I don’t know, just from the little walk we had yesterday I realized that hunger is strangling so many people to dead, poverty is like a disease, children are hopeless and we can’t just go preaching of a promise land if we can’t relate to them.”

“You find it hard to relate to them?” Larry asked.

“Honestly,” Shania looked at him. “I do, it is going to be a process for me. I have compassion for them but their atmosphere and their presence……..”

“Disgust you,”

“Don’t make it sound that way,”

“No Shania it’s not your fault, I completely understand.”

“You grew up amongst people like this all your life, though I’m an orphan I grew up differently and getting use to them will be an acquired thing for me,”

“You know what will help?” Larry asked.

“No,” she shook her head.

“You want my advice,”

“Of course I do,” Shania craved for it.

“Put yourself in their shoes, what will you do if someone had to look at you the way you look at them, how would you have loved to be treated if you were in their place?” Larry stood up and kept the book. “I’ll be outside.” He left. Though he made it easy for Shania, she still felt horrible. She never knew how difficult the mission will be until now and she wasn’t the only one feeling that way, all the other girls and some of their assistants. The life in Africa was tough for them and they easily got irritated by the things they saw each time they went out on the streets, even at their lodging places, things were never the way they were use to and the boys bared with them hoping that with time, they will be able to close their eyes from the things that easily irritated them and focused on the real reason for why they came.

                                                                    

THE TWELVE-Season 3,episode 7

In Rwanda, Ken and Zodiac lived with their assistants in a camp like Michael and Shelly. They were accepted into the camp by the owner Wangshari who treated with respect and ordered his few staffs to feed them well. But they noticed that their English was not being understood by the people around them and most of people were Islam. In Rwanda, some of the elderly people were educated but the children could barely speak in a language Ken and his team could understand. They had one dominant religion, Islamism. It was only in Rwanda that some of the people recognized Ken and Zodiac as the twelve.

In Sudan, Cindy and her team had succeeded in convincing Samar to let them stay in his house for the time they were going to spend in Sudan. Samar was an old bachelor who didn’t marry for his own reasons, he had a three room flat which he inherited from his late parents, they opted to pay him every month and equally to take care of their feeding and other needs. Cindy was sitting on the step outside the dusty yard, feeling worried about something. Maxwell met her outside.

“What’s going on?” Maxwell asked.

“I’m worried,” she said.

“What about,” he sat.

“Can’t get in touch with the others,”

“Yeah, couldn’t sleep well last night just thinking about it.”

“I wonder how they are doing right now, were they welcomed well.”

“We just have to keep trying. I’m sure they are also trying and worried about us.”

She took a deep breath. “What are we going to do in Sudan?”

“We can’t know until we’ve gone around and see the people, get to know them a little.”

“I’m glad you are here, you know a whole lot of African culture.”

“Yeah but not on all African countries, we just need to get acquainted with the place and the people, know their needs and know how to serve them.”

“Can we do that today?” she asked.

“We can do that right now. It’s the dry season here and the sun is usually hot.”

“You mean we can’t walk in it?”

“Just preparing your mind, wear something long to avoid burns. I will get the others.”

“Please get me something long,”

“Okay,” Maxwell went inside.

Back in New York, Jan was resting in her apartment with the joy of being a part of the lives of the people she had always dreamed of. She had left them couple of mails awaiting their reply with great anticipation that they are doing fine. She had a long swim that afternoon and was now resting on a white arm chair beside the pool. She was most surprised when she heard the voice of a man she had come to despise. She opened her eyes to see Randy standing next to her.

“Randy,” She called as she sat up.

“I just greeted.” He smiled.

“What are you doing here?” she became defensive.

She saw him smile, his cheeks widen and then he laughed.

“Get out of my house,”

“Not so fast Jan,”

“Randy I won’t hesitate to call the cops on you,”

“And what will be my crime, visiting an ex employee?”

“What do you want?” she didn’t shout but her voice was firm.

“I didn’t come to kill you as punishment for what you did so don’t be scared.”

“You know maybe I’m scared, I’m terrified. If you can threaten kids with a gun what’s to stop you from killing me? Is it worthy Randy, for me to just welcome you into my house, you want me to run and hug you, pour you a glass of champagne and celebrate your freedom?”

“You are glad I lost everything right? So you finally became a loving mother to the twelve,”

“I’m glad they got to trust me, not at your favor,”

Randy looked into her eyes, she was beautiful but nothing compared to what he had to do with her.

“It’s not yet over Jan because Randy is not completely fallen. I came to ask you to come back and let’s work together; I forgive you for the betrayal.”

“Sorry Randy, I’m already hired.”

“Who hired you?”

“None of your business so get out of my house now,”

Randy looked at her again and said. “We will see,” then he left. Jan knew he was up to no good, she immediately thought of meeting Chris to warn him about Randy.

Duncan was with Chris in his house; they had settled their differences and were more like brothers now. They shared coffee together.

“I met Randy the other day,” Duncan said sipping his coffee slowly.

“You did what?” Chris dropped his cup.

“I know shouldn’t have gone there but he helped me at least get to where I am today, if he never took me in I might never had met the twelve.”

“Yeah but we now know who he truly is so we have to keep a distant relationship with Randy, very distant one.”

“I know,”

Jan walked in on them, she looked terrified and provoked.

“Jan, are you okay?” Chris asked as she sat down.

“You look like someone was chasing you,”

“He came to my house,” she said.

“Who did?” Chris asked.

“Randy,”

“What? They both exclaimed.

“What did he want?” Duncan asked. “Did he come to hurt you because of what you did to him?”

“No, he came to ask me to work with him,”

“And what is he planning to do, what kind of work?” Chris asked.

“I don’t know but I sensed something very fishy about him. Randy is planning something bad again.”

“He said he was going to sell the company and pursue his dream.” Duncan said.

“What is he dream?” Jan asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

“I remember him telling me he wants to get his hands on the twelve’s treasure, he thinks the twelve has a hidden treasure somewhere.”

“Is that why he went after them that night?” Duncan asked.

“Yeah, maybe he was thinking that’s where they hid the treasure.” Chris replied. “I hope this is not the dream he was talking about,”

“We need to keep an eye on Randy,” Jan said.

“I will do that, don’t worry about it.” Duncan said and sipped his coffee.

“You sure,” Chris looked at him.

“Yeah, I won’t want him trying to hurt the twelve again.”

Jan felt relaxed. “Can I get a cup?”

“Yeah sure, go serve yourself,” Chris told her. “You are no stranger to this house are you?”

“I know my way around,” she smiled, stood up and headed for the kitchen.

THE TWELVE- Chapter 3, episode 6

                 The morning began for Zed and Maul joining the mourning of the dead. In the house where thy lodged in three children had just died out of meningitis, the parents of the children with some other neighbors mourned for them. Maul and Zed and their assistants sat for the mourning for a while then they went back into the house they had rented from the parents of the deceased.

“What a welcome we’ve had.” Maul said as they all sat down.

“The people barely understand English,”

“One major need, we have to find an interpreter.” Zed said.

“They equally believe in so many false gods,” Kevin said.

“Yeah,” Zed agreed. “The African man believes in the rituals of their fore fathers. Not all though, but in places like this where civilization is like a loaf of bread we can’t expect much.”

“Everything about this place scares me,” Marshal said.

“You will get use to and when you do, it will just be like New Jersey to you.” Maul encouraged them even though she was also scared.

While in Zimbabwe, Larry and Shania got a place to stay in one of the villages where they had street children and orphans. It was a fairly nice place built with planks but could accommodate them and their assistants for six months. They found the people friendly though their English was not fluent and they lacked education.  That morning as they tried to get themselves acquainted to the situation two black children walked in with food tied with leaves in a basket.

“We cook this food for eating,” one of them said.

“Okay,” Larry smiled at them. “Thank you,”

“Thank you very much,” Shania and the other children smiled at them.

“Anything more you need, we be outside.” The other said, dropped the basket and they left.

“I’ll give it a taste,” One of the children said reaching out for the basket.

“Let’s pray first,” Shania said. “Lord, bless the food as we eat. In Jesus name amen,”

“Amen,”

He brought out one of the leaves and opened it and the sight of it they felt like puking.

“Are you sure you want to taste that?” Larry asked.

One of the boys, Paco went straight to the spoon, picked it up and took a taste of it.

“How is it?” Larry asked twisting his face.

“Pounded starchy rice, bitter herbs and a slice of…… snake I think.”

“Urgh……..” they fought with the vomit that was rising up their throats.

“Disgusting,” Paco dropped the food.

“I spent a lot of time eating trash,” Larry said. “But I never ate anything this gross,”

“What do we do now?” Ruby one of the girls asked. “We can’t just give back the food like that,”

“Maybe we should just eat it or we might never get use to,” Miguel suggested.

“What did you say?” Paco looked him. “Maybe you don’t know how horrible this thing taste; it’s a mixture of organic acid.”

“Paco don’t say that, this might be their meal they served us”. Soledad said. “Don’t insult it because you don’t like it.”

“I’m sorry,” Paco said.

“Why don’t we just go out and take a walk,” Soledad said. She was eighteen. “Maybe we might find a place to eat something we are use to eating.”

“Nice idea,” Larry said. “About the food, I will take care of what to tell the children about us not being able to eat it.” He looked at the food again and imagined himself eating it then he shook as if he woke up from a bad dream. They allowed the food there and left.

In Liberia Ben and Lindsay had a very nice place to stay as compared to the others just like the crew in Kenya. They lived amongst other people who respected them for their color and their personality. After breakfast, they confessed to one another that they loved the food. Ben and Lindsay were a match of perfectionist, they were very observant and took majority of the things happening around them very seriously.

“Annabel,” Lindsay called out to one of the assistants. “What are your observations so far?”

“Knowing that Liberia is the smallest and poorest place in Africa,” She replied. “I realize they lack education and it’s difficult for them to understand English and that will be a major problem for us.”

“Annabel, Daniel, Barbra and Marc,” Lindsay said. “I will like you guys to be very watchful, we are going to grab any little opportunity we have so as to make friends with the street children here. It is a good thing they don’t know who we are as the twelve and so we can be as normal as possible.”

“Yah,” Ben said. “Keep reading all the books we brought, we have to study the place very well so we are not fooled or exploited by anybody.  Even if they don’t know who we are, they at least know we are some rich kids who came to have a good time here so they will try to exploit us if we play dump.”

“Thanks Ben,” Daniel said. “For the heads up,”

“Lindsay, did you try calling again?” Ben asked.

“It is not working and it’s frustrating me, I wonder how they are.”

“We will just keep trying till we get to them. Let’s go out for a little stroll, see if we can make some friends.” As Ben said, they all stood up and went for the walk.

THE TWELVE- Chapter 3, episode 5

The plain carrying the people to Sudan landed safely at the airport. It was few minutes past two when Cindy, Maxwell and their assistance left the airport. They paid an airport driver to bring them to a nearby village of which they arrived late in the evening. They didn’t know exactly where they were going but they hoped to find a house in which they can ask for shelter till they are able to mortgage a house for the six months they will be leaving there. As they rode through the lonely path, they spotted a gathering of some young people beside a fire and there was a house behind them with lights on.

“Can you leave us here?” Maxwell asked.

“Do you know this place?” the driver asked.

“We are new here,” Cindy replied. “And we need a place to stay for the night.”

“I should take you to a hotel,” the driver stopped the car, turned at looked at them. “What are you kids doing here?”

They thought their identity was finally recognized by someone.

“Do you know us?” Maxwell asked.

“No, I’m asking because you look like some rich kids who are lost, where are your parents?”

“We came on our own and we are not lost,” Maxwell told him.

“Strange,” The driver shook his head. “You might not even know who those people are, they can be very bad boys and girls who have gathered there to smoke and drink. This part of Sudan has a lot of street children who have gone wild and if they see you rich kids they will fall on you and might even steal all you have……. Kidnap is very possible in this area.”

The kids got a little scared.

“Is there any hotel around here?”

“None that I know of but in the city where we left,”

“That’s another four hour drive,”

“Yes,” the driver told them. “Not safe anyways, I brought you here because I live around here and I was coming to close,”

The driver looked at them; he was not a Muslim but a typical Sudanese citizen. He recognized the sudden gaze of frustration that rested on their faces.

“I can bring you to my house for the night,” He said. “Not a very big place but it can accommodate you, and then tomorrow we can head back for the city.”

Fresh hope was restored back to the children as they smiled at the man.

“Thank you sir,” Cindy said. “We will be grateful.”

The driver started the car and reversed it back to their formal direction.

“What’s your name please,” One of the children asked.

“Samar,” he answered and they registered it in their minds and sat quiet.

The other groups had arrived their destinations earlier, for Michael and Shelly; they were welcomed into a camp of orphans where they had been located to by the escort driver they asked from at the airport. The owner of the camp knew who they were and every major step they had taken in life as the spice and as the twelve. He was very pleased to have them and he knew their presence will be of great help to orphans. He offered them a room that could accommodate them all.

THE TWELVE- Chapter 3, episode 4

Moments later, Moscow and his team showed up. They spoke their last goodbye words and words of encouragement to the team as a whole while waiting for boarding time, Lennon equally had his chance to apologize again to the girls for what he did. He promised not to ever leave them again and that he will be right there with them all through the way. Duncan made an appearance as well except for Jakes and his men. He parked his car outside and was heading to meet the others inside when he heard his phone ring; he stopped at a corner to answer it.

“Hello,”

“Duncan, where are you?”

The voice was very familiar but he asked. “Who am I speaking with?”

“Stop messing around Duncan,” He got tensed on the phone. “You know very well that this is Randy.”

“Alright Randy,” Duncan chuckled. “Don’t bounce out please, I was just being careful.”

“Where are you?”

“Am at the airport saying goodbye to my beloved twelve,”

“Where are they going?” he wondered.

“Missions for the children’s world their vision is so big.”

“I don’t get it, missions to where?”

“Africa,”

“Again,”

“I can see Jakes freed you,”

“He played the smart guy didn’t he?”

“Randy are you scared now? That everybody knows you were the real devil,”

“I heard there was reconciliation and I want to be a part of it. The question is will you let me?”

Before Duncan could answer that, he heard the announcement for boarding time.

“I’ve got to go Randy, I will come see you so we talk more,” he immediately dropped the phone and rush in to find the twelve. They were already going to board their different planes but he was swift to catch them.

“Sorry I’m late,” He said breathing.

“We didn’t think you will come,” Zodiac said.

“I couldn’t miss this for anything, not even for a grand concert,”

The twelve smiled. Moscow and the rest just watched while the other kids said their final goodbyes to their parents and guidance.

“I will miss you guys so much,” Duncan said and he was sincere. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me and I promise you I won’t abuse this second chance you gave me,”

“God gave you a second chance Duncan,” Ken said. “Not us and the best thing you can do now for yourself is to go and asked him what he wants you to do with it.”

Duncan nodded. “That’s what I will miss about you guys, those graceful words.”

“We will miss you too,” Ben said. “It was an amazing experience working with you.”

“Same here, you mind if I hug you?”

Of course they didn’t mind if he hugged them. Duncan opened the way for the hugs, after him Jan came and so the line went on till finally Lennon hugged them goodbye.

“You guys be careful,” Lennon said. “Boys, take care of my girls okay,”

The boys nodded.

“Africa is a very hostile place, especially the zones you are going to. We won’t stop praying for you and I will be in Botswana to await your glorious return.”

Time was gradually running out and it was time for the twelve’s finally goodbye to each other.

“So this is goodbye?” Shelly said.

They felt like crying again and the others watched tearfully.

“We shouldn’t think about it too much or it might really hurt. We love each other very much, and we are going to miss each other no doubt but what will happen when we meet again? We should always remember that, we should love and care for one another, always be in one agreement before you take any step, don’t judge one another’s actions by quarrelling but be forgiving. We will communicate body, mind, soul and spirit. When you wake up every morning go down on your knees as a team and pray before you start doing anything. If you find love, go the extra mile but don’t defile yourself and break your strength.” Michael said he stretched forth his right hand. “One spirit,”

“One heart, one faith and one love…” the twelve all joined their hands together with tears in their eyes they hugged each other goodbye and it was time for them to get into their different planes with their assistance. There was much sorrow in hearts and tears on the faces of those who watched them leave. Few minutes later they were all in and their planes took off at different times but in the same hour. The twelve was gone, gone to live the life of their dreams.

                When Duncan left the airport, he went to see Randy at the Rolex center. He didn’t see much of the workers but there two reporters loitering on the sidewalk beside Randy’s locked office. He was surprised; everything had changed just within few months. They followed one of the workers to coffee room and demanded to see Randy; she refused and asked them to leave. They refused and repeated their demand, Duncan heard the commotion in the coffee in the coffee room and was confused but when Randy heard it in his locked office, he relaxed and let her fight with them. From his office window he watched a crew set up by the door getting into the building. He smiled and felt a wonderful surge of dirty fame. He could see himself on the evening news walking briskly, stern, business-like across the street followed by reporters begging for dialogue but getting no comments and this was just his wish. Imagine his rule over the children’s world, cameras everywhere, reporters yelling questions at him, front page stories perhaps magazine covers.

              Moments later Duncan interrupted the argument in the coffee room and warmly greeted the reporters but the female worker was surprised to see him and she disappeared into the dressing room.

“Could you answer some questions?” one of them asked.

“No,” he replied politely. “I have to meet with Randy Rolex,”

“Just a couple of questions,”

“No, but Randy will be out soon to attend to you. I have to see him first,”

Duncan walked to the locked door and the reporters followed him.

“Where is Randy?”

“In his office,”

“Why is he hiding from us?”

“He has his own purpose,”

“Thank you,” they reporters said and left. Duncan shook his head. He slowly brought out a key from his pocket and opened the door. When he walked in Randy was not surprised.

“When will you stop risking your life over nothing Randy?”

“Sooner, I haven’t decided.”He sat down.

“What do you plan on doing with your life?” Duncan took a seat.

Randy laughed. “Listen to me boy, I thought so and I’ve already considered whether I should sell my soul to some devil or not. As you know, it is completely within my discretion and I’ll never allow myself to be toasted like some kid,” he paused. “On second thought, I won’t be selling my soul to the devil like I did before because my will is more in control now.”

Duncan smiled, looked at Randy and digested what he said. “A hard will I can tell,”

“Yes,”

“Good enough, but on who do you plan on excising that will power?”

“They already asked for it.” Randy replied. “And I will give it to them.”

“Who are they if I may ask?”

“Too bad little boy, you shouldn’t ask too much.”

“Chris and Jan are not coming back to this company Randy, and I might decide to look elsewhere too,”

“Fair enough, why don’t you just quit like the others? I mean there’s nothing, what exactly will you be doing here? Besides you succeeded at the hand of the twelve not me,”

“Then what will you be doing?”

“Sell my inheritance and pursue my dreams, just like the twelve is doing.”

“And what if you lose the pursuit of this dream?”

“It will be a drawing card,”

“Embarrassed?” Duncan felt sorry for his pride.

“A little, it’s hard to start all over again when the knows you are trouble,”

“It will be worse if you don’t change,” Duncan stood up. “Thanks Randy,”

“Thanks?”

“For being so blunt,”

“I gave you opportunity,”

“Thanks for that too, hope you find a better life.”

“Oh I have found a better life.” Randy assured him and Duncan left.