The Pen and the Sword were best of friends and they lived in Hazel Hilly Town, somewhere close to the hills of Enugu. One day they got into a huge argument as to which of them were greater. It got so heated that friends decided to put it to rest in a simple contest to test their strength. They were given 24 hours to prepare.

While the Sword trained endlessly, the Pen lay down by the beach reading books upon books while sipping her favorite drink, ‘Blue Ink no sugars.’ It was delicious!
It was assumed that the pen was having a jolly good time because while she studied, the Sword practiced for hours on end slicing through everything in her path, and bystanders ahhhed! and oooh! in admiration of her skills. The pen looked up and simply smiled. She smiled and then she sighed because no one oooh! and ahhed! for her. That didn’t stop her tho. She kept on.
However, the Curious Sword Lady wondered what Busy Pen Lady was up to. Trying to act all care free, she walked away from from her admirers towards the lonely Pen. She intended finding out what she was up by all means.
‘Hey Busy Bee, What are you up to?’ asked Sword Lady.
‘Oh! you’ll see’ replied Pen Lady confidently and quickly returned to her writing. In no time she was engrossed in her work. She finished soon enough and went to take a power nap.
Curious Sword became Fearful Sword because all she had planned for the contest she had almost put everything on display in the midst of all the praises. Fear gave way to tears as tears gave way to anger. Sword was furious! She had always won. She could not afford to loose. Haba! At least not to a common pen, she thought in disgust.
Pacing. She came up with a plan. She decided to trick the pen into giving up all she worked on. Oh! and if that didn’t work then she would take it, maybe just for a few hours she thought. No one had to know. She grinned mischievously as she walked over to her glamorous tent where everything was beautifully designed in Gold, and sparkly Ruby Red stones. She loved her tent. It was gorgeous. It would break her heart to be away even for a day. That’s why she could not afford to loose because she have to give up her tent for a whole month to Lady Pen if she lost. And everybody knows Lady Pen’s place wasn’t all that.

She shuddered!
Lady Pen had just finished organising her books and speech for the evening. She had set up table for the contest. She had even hurried to the post office to drop a neatly handwritten letter to the Chief of Hazel Hilly. He was like they say, the Boss of the Hill. His name was Peter but everyone called him Stone because he was just and firm and noble. And also because he was the right person make sure Sword doesn’t take this friendly competition too far.
Meanwhile, Sword who was up to no good was busy sneaking into Pen tent. Everything in Pen’s tent was just two colors white and royal blue. Sword was a Diva. She would go nuts if she had to live there for whole month. Pen was too prim and proper abeg!. Every item had a box. Argh! She stopped as she recalled why she was in Pen’s tent. She quickly checked in one or two boxes but she could not find any of the books she saw her rival read all day long.
She had to think fast, the contest was a moment away. ‘Where would I put a book if I thought like Pen? Hmmm!’ She hoped someone or worse still Lady Pen won’t catch her red handed. In panic, she searched round once more time then gave up. Hurriedly leaving the room, she mistakenly bumped into a an object. It was well hidden behind her curtain. This might just be it. She smiled as she quickly took the contents of box. Yes! She was so sure.
The good people of Hazel Hilly were gathered in anticipation of the contest between the Pen and the Sword. The Red Cross team, already present were punctual as usual and set in case of any injuries, The Chief Of Hilly, Stone was seated with some of his staff as they all chatter in high spirits before the event.
It was always breezy on the hills and the air smelt fresh and sweet. The aroma of good cooking filled the air as Madame Kenny took it upon herself to serve good dishes at most Hilly occasions. It was all Based on a Logistics as she always said jokingly but everyone knew she was being paid very well. They certainly didn’t mind because all her dishes were always nice and hot and tasty and spicy! Yummy! Yum!
They gave thanks to God as they opened the floor and set the ball rolling. The Sword was the first to perform. She wowed the crowd with her shiny smile as she performed various eye opening acrobatic feats swing and flying across with ease. When she was done, she was given a standing ovation as the crowd cheered her on. After the crowd was calmed. It was time for Lady Pen to perform. Deep silence fell on Hazel Hilly as the they all wondered the same thing, ‘Could Lady Pen ever top this performance?’
Lady Pen walked to the podium with her equipments and books. Sword held her breathe as she knew, oh she knew the havoc she had caused. Poor innocent Pen? Does she stand a chance against the conniving Sword? Will simple minded Lady Pen be able to overcome this? Watch this space to get the concluding part of The Pen and the Sword.

FUN FACT

This story was written in April 2017, a year before the birth of Hazel Oils. 

By Ndali Primrose Modebe -Daly Moore (Medium)
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The Pen and the Sword