KHADIJAH ALIYU — Afro-Net 2054

Your Dad was the first to be rescued! **** ***** Silence. The room only smells the cologne of burnt wires caused by the electric cables that were malformed when making the usual experimentation. As usual, there was no positive result. You sat by the table with your eyes scrutinizing the bundle of wires that seemed teasing you in their own way. This time, with your hands on your chins as you divulge into the world of thoughts. Everything culminates into nothingness and so were your wild thoughts. This was the 87th time, since you began the experimentation and what you got differs from what you expected. It was shameful or so you thought. Maybe, just scared of how people would remark your effort and how sure you were of those who would laugh at you with such echo that will pinch the deepest part of your eardrum. Most people, your mother included, considered your effort of inventing an electromagnetic wave that can be used to automatically recharge phone, laptop and any other devices that uses battery through a special network as hogwash. It should be designed as you programmed to have some invincible censors that would dictate any form of device within it service outreach and gauge the battery proximity. This you believed will be the most commendable progress brought to the global world by an African child. A thought which has not been realized by the Europeans or probably not in existence as a possible thought on anyone’s mind. “Aunch!” you exclaimed. You stood up immediately with your cowboy cap falling on the table as you screeched your left hand only to notice a mosquito, busy consuming your blood. You gave it a tap and soon, it escaped. You followed it as it moved in different directions; your hands’ clapping like that was the applause every mosquito deserves at first sight. If only this was how people would tease you, then for sure—you were already making fun of yourself. You went back and sat on the same table, avoiding the chair which you ignored for knowing how disgusting it would make a screechy sound. Isn’t that annoying, too? You stared at the tangled mess of wares and circuits before you. Knowing very well that you were almost done but not close. You’ve gathered many electrical appliances and study a lot of engineering books and theories to program the system; yet, it gives fewer advantages. Though it helps in various ways that enable you know more of computer coding system. You could’ve use the programming knowledge you got to start fraudulent just like the other youth who has become masters in scamming people, as well as, stealing their money. They tagged themselves as ‘Yahoo Boys’. You could’ve join the queue but no; you are Kyauta which translate to Gift in Hausa. “You are a gift to the global world…” you remembered your late grandma said. You’ve already solved the efficiency level of the system where you gauged the minimization of energy loss during the transmission and had also mitigated the electromagnetic interference with other devices. This has spearheaded the whole programming system in the process. In addition, you’ve successfully design the geometric coil with resonance frequency that will enhance energy transfer. The only how-to-do-idea you lost was how well you could connect it with Minna as the first stage where devices’ users within the city would benefit. A single answer to that was in nowhere made recognizable in all the theories you’ve read for over five years. “Broda… mummy said that you should come out to go get daddy before he got drunk and lost his way, home” a tiny voice banged your door. It was for Naja; your immediate sister who has already grown into an average lady. “Ehn. What business do I have to do with him getting drunk?” you questioned with angry tone that have you confirmed how effectively it sent compound of fear into her blood. She managed to breathe hard and spoke again. “No, brother! Remember, it is few minutes to 12; O’clock and then it will be 2054; the New Year”. You looked into the system adapter with your eyes on the small timing machine on it where you observed that it was 11:47pm, already. That reminds you that it was few minutes to the year 2054. You started this project in 2049 and so it would be 5 years long in few minutes. “Shikenan”, alright! You finally said and walked out of the room to join her. She was dressed in a flowering atampa around her chest and gyale which covered her hair. There were some slight sounds that vibrate from her mouth which indicated that she was chewing gulli-suwa a milked ball made in the northern Nigeria. You set out with her by your side as you walked the street to the city’s sacred beer parlor where it was believed that some prominent people in the community could be found there. Rumors walks everywhere but what do people has to do with that? Isn’t everybody having his or her own god? You walked a little distance and so there were lights thrown up to the sky; it was disco-light burning with light like magnesium. There were screams everywhere from the neighborhood. It was New Year; the year 2054 has clocked. Mummy’s concern about that was not new or strange; what frightened her this time was knowing how cultist would be on patrol to get rid of any possible person for their ritual. These have been some menaces that occur during celebrations. Unfortunately, Daddy was no there and nowhere to be found. You asked about him from people and there was no positive response. You searched all possible places and he was not there. You called and reported this to Mummy who insisted that you searched again. You search and he was nowhere. Finally, she resolved that you should come back home with full assurance that he was safe and few mantras that resonate with her voice. As you walked back home, a thought downed on you: what if I invade Minna existing infrastructures, like the traffic lights, street lights and some possible road signals? You heard the thought sprang up to your mind and so you made your mind to do that. You went home immediately and got into your room which has now become a new form of laboratory. You hooped on your Omatek system and hacked into the Road Management Agency where you got a quite number of street lights and some possible satellites facilities connected to buildings. You prototyped the IC code with your system adapter and then it was green. You walked outside to make the 89th test with your phone and from 20 meters away from the street-light your phone’s screen popped up and started charging. The rate has become 10 percent per minutes. As you go closer; it increases to 14, 17, 21, 30, and 50 per minutes. You jumped with joy that almost got you fell on the ground. “Hey—who is there?” You heard a voice asked from a little distance and so you took up to your heeps. They're local community security officers; mostly refered to as 'Yan-Banga' in Hausa. You've for a very long time become addicted to the fear of getting to their hands. They are very wicked! As you rushed home, happiness and joy enveloped you. Infact, you couldn’t sleep, throughout the night. The next day, you woke up with bad news. Your dad didn’t go to the bar last night but rather the illegal gold mining spot. As they were busy digging the ground an earthquake happened. The ground trembled and shook the makeshift tunnel of the miners. They all scrambled for safety but they were blocked by the stones that fall on them. Your daddy, included. You rushed there and met people with the Special Response Units and aids bodies but they had nothing to do. Some of the victims were able to contact their families and the main problem experienced was how phone’s batteries were draining. Mummy tried calling Daddy’s line, it ringed like forever and then he picked. “Hello. Kana jina?” your mum inquired if he can hear her with urgency in her voice and he replied with almost panicked voice. “Yes. But my battery will be dead soon. Please, we need utmost…” he couldn’t finish the words and his phone went dead. Mom screamed in loud voice with some screeching sound that reminds you of something. AFRO-NET DEVICE; the already name you gave to your technological adapter. Khadijah Aliyu is a Nigerian teen poet with a tenacious passion for art and performance poetry. She's new to the world but determined to pursue beyond the stars.