Fiction: A Fresher’s Con Story

“Mummy, he said you should send the money to his account asap”, John told his mother over the phone.

John is a newly admitted medical student of LAUTECH. He is quite anxious as the tuition fee payment deadline was fast approaching. He had no relative or friends before coming to school. He just loved LAUTECH because of the institution’s achievements and good facilities.

The only family John had managed to have on campus was his school church members. John had difficulties with many of the registration. One of the difficulties John had was paying his tuition fee. He was just about to ask his pastor for help, then he saw a message on the church WhatsApp group.

“We know many 100 level students have difficulty making payment for tuition fee and the rest. Kindly send a D.M. so we help you make such payment”, the message read.

John felt relieved, The need to meet the pastor has been removed.

‘Are you sure about this person?’ John’s mom asked, skeptical that he was sending his school fees to a third person.
“Yes ma! He s from my church na”, John replied.
“Alright o, I have sent it”. His mother said, confirming that she had sent his full tuition to the account Bro. Pelumi indicated.

“Ahan, why is Bro Pelumi not picking my call bayii? His phone is switched off sef, maybe he is using Adenike light”. Electricity in Adenike is notorious. It could stay of for days and go off for weeks.

Five days passed and still, Bro Pelumi was unreachable.

“Boya you should goan see your pastor oo. Shebi the Pelumi attends same church with you” , J ohn’s mom said furiously. Her instincts had suspected a foul play from the onset, but she was willing to trust her son’s decision.

Later that day, John visited his pastor at home to explain all that had happened.
” Pelumi ke? since this church started it is only one Pelumi we know of, and even that Pelumi I am talking about graduated 15 years ago” , the pastor said.

John suddenly felt tired and neausated. Beads of sweat covered his skin as he tried to control the tears about to force their way out his eyes.
“Yee! I’ve been duped o”, John cried out. He thought about how to deliver the news to his mother, and just then, his mother called to ask how his visit to the pastor’s place went.

The pastor spoke on his behalf, and the church promised to help with half of the fee.
John was very grateful.

Since that day, John no be John again.