Writing competition "133" based on my digital image. Now you are the author of "A place in wonderland"

At mid-noon the sun was still on, drips of sweat like bead dropped continuously from his forehead. Tony wriggled his wrist in the old fashioned style to get the sleeves off his shirt off.

4:30pm ! he muttered under his breath... This was the third bolt driver declining a ride, frowning his face in disappointment, maybe these were all SIGNS, signs that he was making the biggest mistake of his life.

The suburbs of Ijate were not the safest, so Tony held firmly to his 'Ghana-must go' bag.
There were said to be robbery and all sorts of unlawful activities even during the day. The area was now a dreaded zone, an obverse of the glory the area held in high esteem 10 years ago, a camping ground for hoodlums popularly known as 'agbero
boys'.

A flashy Honda Corolla beeping swerved by, and tony smiled with mixed feelings; of sadness and of hope.
This was the car he had planned to buy at the 5th year of working for Pines Limited Company, but now things have changed, his plans shattered.
He had to make this costly sacrifice, he had to be there for his family; Riri, Ryan and Rena, so Riri said repeatedly whenever they spoke on phone... the last horn was the last conversation they had wmHhhhh
When Riri was pregnant for their first baby, Tony decided to honour his wife by naming all their kids by her initials.

Another beep, but this time from Tony's phone, finally!! a rider.
He heaved a sigh of relief, and hastily jumped into the tricycle pushing his luggage with him.

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AFORE

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Things started to get out of hand when Rena got so ill and there was no sufficient funds to get her admitted into the state government hospital for proper medical care and attention... That was when Tony realized that his family has been living in bondage.
He had to find a better source of income.
Tendum plc has been owning for two months and kept up with its promises and assurances to pay up once the investors increased, but it seemed as though that was not forth coming.
Tony started job hunting, he surfed the popular app LinkedIn and after months of trying, he got his way with Pines Limited Company, juicy offer, but the problem was that it was far north, far far away...

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FORE

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Vrumm, vrumm, vruuuuuuuum —sounds from the tricycle echoed stopping the engine once more, the bad roads along Ijate made it difficult for vehicles to make it through effortlessly without hiccups or its likes.
Tony felt nostalgic, two years of leaving this town and it felt like forever, the memories still lingered and Tony let out a loud laugh, it began to feel good to be home, he thought.

As the tricycle came to a halt, the rider helped Tony pull out luggage and rode off.

Tony stood facing his home and stood still, unable to move, frozen, to his utmost self surprise, tears streamed down his cheeks, the liquid demarcating at the apex of his upper cheek bone to form several lines aligning with his face wrinkles.

Tony realized he has missed this place called home, his family!
Everything slowly began to make sense, he felt a pang of guilt, not the wrong way, he took care of his family even in his absence, sending allowance and making sure they lacked nothing, but something was still missing ...HIS PRESENCE, alas! He felt grateful to be home, damn the consequences!!!

He was received with warm arms from his wife Riri, Ryan his boy and Rena his pumpkin as he would call her.
Riri had become so fragile, he hugged her some more planting kisses on her forehead, Ryan had grown so big and tall, the video calls didn't do justice, Rena was growing round and beautiful, they were all so elated to have him back, and couldn't wait for the pounded yam and Efo riro to be ready before giving him lots of stories about happenings, Tony couldn't control his emotions and kept listening, his body shaking from the thunderous laughter he let out intermittently, it felt soooo good
Indeed a happy place... A PLACE IN WONDERLAND.