The King's reign- The Ink Well Prompt 80

It 6AM on the first working day of the week, the clouds were still unclear. The moon was still making its way back to its abode. The Ikesi community is a well known village which is ruled by a brilliant king. Who knows how to proffer solutions to problems. Even with solutions, problems keep rising .

'Somebody help, someone help. Help!!! Help!!'.This was the cry of Madam Oja, who left her dresses outside overnight without taking them back inside. Just stepping out early that morning to sweep her compound, found unknown someone making away with her dresses.

All effort of the king to put a stop to acts of pilfering has not yielded any positive effect.
After the morning cry of Madam Ojo, she went to the king's Palace and reported the incident to him. Just as she was about to leave the palace, she met three others coming with heavy hearts, pouring out their anger to each other while approaching to lament to the king how their property and foodstuff have all been taken away from them by these notorious village robbers.

When these reports became too much, the king called his cabinet members and they had a meeting on ways to put an end to this act. But the meeting ended but there was no solution.

Due to Ikesi being a rural area, the power holding company has abandoned them in darkness. Their only source of electricity was through the use of generators. It will be impossible to pass by a home in Ikesis without each home owning a Generator.

Due to the incessant stealing, each family handles their Generator with utmost care. They felt the safest way to protect their generators was to bring it into their corridor close to their doors and turn it on. With that act, they will be aware whenever anyone wants to temper or steal the generator.

Out of ignorance, the villagers started keeping their generator close to their doors. In a very secluded place where there is no enough air to carry away the carbon monoxide that comes out of the exhaust pipe. This carbon monoxide emitting from the generator was being inhaled by all households whenever they turned on their generators. Not knowing the deadly effect of carbon monoxide, after some months of consistent doing of this, the villagers started being sick.

Due to their poor educational background, no one knew they were the very cause of their one problem. Even with the illness caused by this carbon monoxide, this doesn't stop them from repeating the same act daily.

The community health center is nothing to write home about as it's not well equipped and the nurses and doctors are not well experienced to know the root cause of the illness.

It was the Christmas season when the king's son Eze returned to spend his festive holiday with his family. Eze is a medical doctor who went to further his education Abroad.

"Dad, I must say I feel so much at home. No place like home, the natural breeze, the melodious tunes of the birds and trees around that gives natural shelter'.

"Yes son, you are right. I'm the happiest person today because you are back safely to celebrate Christmas with your father". The king said.

The king narrated to his son how the villagers are suffering from one illness to the other with no remedy. Eze was having a night walk with his childhood friend Onu when his friend started narrating the story of all the happenings in the village.

He decided to see for himself, he walked into one home, only for him to see their generator sounding very close to their door with this door left ajar. He knocked at the door and the man of the house came out.

"Haa, my prince. It's a surprise to see you. Welcome my prince, to what do we owe this surprise visit to our house". Oga Sam asked.

" Oooh Mr Sam, I returned a few days back, I am only taking a tour round the village, then I decided to branch your house and see how you are faring". Prince Eze said.

"That's so amazing, we are lucky." Oga Sam said happily.

" Mr Sam, please am not here for this actually but since I have seen it, there is a need for me to correct you. Keeping a generator in a secluded place like this is not healthy at all. You are inhaling all the carbon monoxide it's emitting and this is poisonous. You need to keep it far from your windows and doors". The prince said.

" I never knew there is something like poison that comes out from the ordinary generator, ignorance is truly a disease. Thanks my prince but the problem is with these thieves,if we keep it outside now, they will steal it and money doesn't come by very easily to purchase a new one". Oga Sam said.

"When I get back to the Palace, I will discuss with my father, he's a clever king, he will proffer a solution to the issue". The prince said and departed with his friend.

The prince educated his father on the danger of what he saw at Mr Sam's house. With much knowledge on that, the king called a general meeting and informed the villagers that they should stop keeping their generators near their doors.

He told them that each member of the village that has a generator should be ready to build a small cage kind of house for the generator, the generator will be safe in the small house and the house will be far from their main building. This will help fight carbon monoxide intoxication until they have another means of electricity.

Source

The king with his influence consulted the government for community aid. The government provided solar panels which were installed in all homes for power generation. The Ikesi people were very happy as they could now live without inhaling carbon monoxide from their generator exhaust pipe.

The king hired huge hefty young men to be in charge of guarding the village from night till Dawn. This will help reprimand any thief easier. With the introduction of vigilantes, the Ikesi became a peaceful and happy community with no more incessant pilfering.