Chapter 2

Turn of event

There was a knock on the door.

Bimpe was oblivious of the knock. She was fast asleep. 

The knock came through again. This time, it was louder and with more intensity and a voice called out from behind the door. “Hey, wake up you sleepy head.” Bang,  bang!

Bimpe turned in her bed to face the door. Her eyes were still heavy but she could see the shadow that trailed under the door. Bang, bang!

She hurried out of bed as quickly as she could. “Who is there?” she called out with a husky sleepy voice.

“Bimps, its me jhoor.” The voice at the door replied.

 “Moji?”

“Yeah, open the door.”

She pulled on the knob and turned the key to let her friend in.

“Good Lord, you mean you are still sleeping at this time of the day. Do you know what time it is?”

“I don’t care what time it is. All I know is, I was having a sweet dream till you brought over your noisy self...” 

Bimpe went over to her bed and began to pull her blanket over.

“Really?”

“Hmmm.”

 “I wanted to check on you. I have not seen you for the past three days and your phone always registered user was not available at the moment. I was worried so I decided to check you myself.”

“I’m so sorry… It’s just that I want to be alone for sometime. I just don't want to be bothered.”

Moji looked at her friend, her head cocked to the side.

“I can see; your hair is tangled, your face is rough. Look at your room. Things are all over the place. You look like Shrek's cousin and your room looks like a tornado passed by, to say the least.”

“I was expecting you to say that.” Bimpe turned under the covers away from her friends prying eyes.

Moji helped herself on Bimpe’s small couch. “I don’t know how long you will continue to sulk over this issue. Baby, get a grip of yourself and move on. I am sure, wherever that Bode guy is, he must be having fun. While you are here sulking like your world just ended.”

“Moji please do not make it any worse than it already is… Can we talk about something else…? Please?"

“Bimps, the truth is bitter and hurts but it still must be spoken. It hurts me to see you like this, let alone as a result of one guy who is out there nonchalant. You see babe, life gives…”

“Please Moji, spare me. I’m done with your preaching.” Bimpe cut her friend.

“I want to help anyway I can. You are one of the good friends I have and I’m not going to loose you to one riffraff guy.”

“If you really want to help me, turn back the hands of time to when that idiot asked me out.”

“That’s impossible.”

“So lets leave me to be me right now, ok?”

“Whatever…” Moji shrugged and continued, “My aunt came from Dubai three days ago and she brought goodies. She asked after you. I told her you were a little under the weather. She gave me this shoe and bags to give you.” 

Bimpe’s eye lighted up a little when she was handed the pair of brown shoes and bag.

“This is lovely. Did you help me thank her very well?”

“Yes, I tried but maybe you’d do it better yourself.”

“I’d call her. Waow! This is so nice.” Bimpe pushed the covers aside as she got down from her bed to try on the shoes.

They were perfect match for her feet size. She strolled her little room. Looking at her mirror as she walked.  

“I love this.” She finally said.

All the while, her friend was starring at her with a smile circling her face. “I’m glad I can see your beautiful smile again.”

 “You know coincidentally, I got this brown shirt two weeks ago... where did I put it again?”

Bimpe went pulling out clothes from her closet. In a couple of minutes the floor was filled with clothes.

“Where did I keep this shirt again?” She went back to her bag and started to empty its contents and the she suddenly stopped. “Okay, I remember where I kept it. I kept it in that bag over there.” She started towards the bag.

“You know if you had taken just a few seconds to think first before you went on this brown shirt rampage, we would have less clothes to arrange back in your bag.”

“Whate’er.” She slurred her words.

“Instead of you to beg me to assist you in packing your clothes, you are fronting. I would leave you to your mess.”

“Common Moji, don’t do this to me...” She chuckled.

 “I will help you on one condition.”

“And what might that be?”

“You would follow me to the market afterwards?”

“Hmmm. Let me think about it.”

“What’s there to think about?”

“I have not taken my bath as you can see. My hair is rough. My nail polish is a mess and I am not in the mood for any outside rounds right now.”

“I will help you with your hair and your nail polish. You go and take your bath while I try to tidy all this mess you have made here.”

“Moji, you are an angel. I see what you are trying to do and it is working.” She smiled.

 “Really?”

“Yeah, it is. And I hope I can make this up to you sometime.”

“How about taking that bath first. That’s a starter.”

“I don’t know what to wear?”

“You go on to the bathroom. I’d pick out something as well.”

“Okay, I’m off to scrub a whole lot of dirt outta my body. You better swallow a chill pill.”

“I’ve taken a dozen already. Just go and clean up.”

“You know I should have said you are not looking bad at all. Aunty abi?”

“Yes o. That aunt is something else.”

Bimpe walked out of the room to take her bath while Moji started to pick up clothes that were lying all over the room floor. There was a smile of satisfaction on Moji’s face. She was getting better at this; encouraging people.

Moji picked out a navy blue t-shirt and a black slim pant for Bimpe. She took her time to clean the room carefully. She wanted to surprise her friend when she came in after her bath.

Bimpe walked into the room with a pink towel tied around her. Her face was washed white. Her hair was clean as well. She had washed it too.

“Lord, you did all this!” she exclaimed, looking round at her room.

“Yeah, why?” Moji replied tugging at the bedsheet.

“Is this my room? Or have I mistakenly entered someone else’s room?”

 “Yeah, I picked this navy blue t-shirt and this slim black pant.”

“Not bad.”

“I like them on you.”

“You are good. Moji, you are good. First, you got me out of bed, got me to take my bath, then you got me to wash my hair and now you are having me go shopping with you?”

“That’s what friends are for.”

"Honestly, I'm glad you came. I could not get myself to call you but I was silently praying that you would show up. And here you are."

*   *   *

He looked out the window at the sea as the bus taxied the third mainland bridge. He imagined himself jumping out of the bus and then jumping overboard. Francis was the most frustrated man on the planet right now. He could hear two ladies talking and laughing behind him. He wanted to turn round and throw a blow on each of their faces.

He could remember the words that have taunted him all these years, Mr Iteru, you are a very skilled man but we need someone with more experience. You can’t beat experience with skill unfortunate.

Where was he supposed to get experience when no one would employ him? This country is such a mess. There are no jobs for people like him. He was going back to his room of dark brown walls where he had cried himself to sleep many times. His pastor even advised him to fast and pray. He had fasted. He had prayed. He had gone for deliverance. He had done everything he knew he could. But what was wrong? Why was it so difficult to get a job?

He unknotted his tie and pulled it out of the collars. He looked around the bus hoping there was no one who could read him.

There was an old woman sitting close to him, sleeping. She had no care in the world. She was old and nothing could bother her anymore. He thought. He could see the outline of years on her face. Stretch marks outline every crevice on her small face. Then it hit him; he was growing old too. And the days were fast becoming years and the years were telling on him. He looked out the window again. His eyes were welling up. How he wished he could end this misery today. What did he do to God that He had to make him go through this kind of pain? He made up his mind that he would go home, warm the beans his mother prepared last night. Eat and just sleep. Maybe go out later in the evening and get drunk. What’s the point in keeping this good life when there’s nothing good about it? He would get himself drunk tonight. Maybe even smoke a joint. An habit he had picked up from a friend a long time ago.

Whatever it took, he would do. He just wanted to loose himself. Enough is enough.

The bus stopped because a passenger was going to alight. It was the same old woman sitting close to him. He watched her as she carefully made her way out of the bus. She was in no hurry. The bus conductor was certainly pissed off at the old woman’s nonchalant demeanor. 

 “Mama, come down quick na. Which one come be all this one now?”

“You no see say na old woman she be? Wetin dey worry you sef?” Francis retorted in anger.

“Oga mind your business o.” The bus conductor replied.

The whole bus joined in. Everyone had something to say. Throwing curses at the bus conductor. The driver was begging for people to be calm while also scolding his bus conductor for such a repulsive behavior.

Francis wondered why this world was so filled with very unfair people. Why do people have to be nasty all the time?

The ladies behind him continued their conversation. They were lost in their own world. They have nothing to worry about. Maybe they had everything working right for them. He thought.

*   *   *

“Paul, I am so confused.”

“It's obvious. What is wrong?” Paul asked.

“I am in love with two women. And I do not know which one is the right one for me.”

“Hmmm. Really?”

“Yeah man. I need to decide soon. The thought of losing both of them if they find out the truth, is giving me sleepless night.”

“Yeah, right. I thought players don't worry about things like that?”

“Paul, how long would a player play. Every player retires at one time. And my retirement time has come.”

“That’s really good to know. So what exactly, is the problem?”

“You’ve got time? Its not something we can discuss during this short break.”

“What about after work?”

“You have to go home to your wife now. You have not been home for two days now. I can imagine how she feels.”

“My brother, she ‘s been understanding about it. But you know women now. Always seeking attention.”

 “I don’t blame her. You also need to reduce the stress you put yourself through everyday…”

“Do I look stressed to you?”

“Paul, we’ve been working together for how many years now?”

“Eight?”

“Eight years. I know you too well. Pappy, you work or overwork yourself a lot. I’m sure someone is paying for it at home.”

“Hey shut up there. Who told you that?”

“I know but because you are young does not mean you should take yourself through all of this stress everyday. “

“You know the stress that comes with been an architect na.”

 “Like we civil engineers don’t have our own share. I’m just saying you need to learn to relax more. It would tell on your body sooner or later,”

“I will. I promise. The way you are talking is scaring me.”

“There’s no doubt you are the best at what you do but you know this body we have,” Wole said pointing to his hand, “ requires rest. You know, it is reported that heart attacks and strokes are common during the early morning hours. This fact may be explained by the way sleep interacts with the blood vessels. Lack of sleep has been associated with the worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all irsk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 9 hours sleep each night. I also read somewhere that the increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body, also creating more risk for heart-related conditions, as well as cancer and diabetes. Inflammation is said to be one of the causes of deterioration of your body as you age.”

“Woow! An Engineer turned Doctor. What an irony?”

 “I read that from one of those magazines somewhere when I was at Bola’s house the other day. You know she is this health conscious kind of person.”

“You must be a good reader then?”

“Don’t joke with me. I’m a vast guy.”

“Yeah. I see.”

“But seriously Paul, you are becoming a concern and everybody seems to be talking about it. We do not want you stressed out when we need you the most. You are an asset to us at City Makers.”

“You mean that? People are talking about me like that?”

“Yeah. Even Mr. Venson mentioned how your work ethics has been monstrous at one of our meetings the other day.”

 “Now I see.”

“You know what I think?”

“What?”

“Take a month’s leave and go spend it with your family. You need it badly. Have you looked at your face in the mirror lately?”

“Nope. Why?”

“You have stress line on your face and eye bags.”

“Then it's really bad.”

“Pappy, take my advice. Go get you that leave and make Patience happy.” There was a smile on his face.

 “Yeah I will. You did not even ask how the BlueLane job went?”

“I do not have to ask. The gist is everywhere. I have a feeling you are getting a promotion soon. Mr. Williams is very excited about how you pulled that one. I knew you could pull it off.”

“It's God my brother. I thank God for grace. Boy, I need to be on my way home.” Paul said looking at his wristwatch.

“You need to. I could drive you home if you do not mind so we could catch up on the thingy.”

“What thingy?”

“My two women dilemma, remember?”

“Yeah, that’s cool. That means you’d have to pick me up at my house tomorrow.”

“No problem.”

 “Give me a minute. Let me put off the light in my office.”

“Take your time. It’s a long drive home brother. We are going to sit in traffic for an hour or more.”

“Lagos life. Sometimes I wish we could go to Abuja. Traffic is very light there.”

“But Lagos is where the market and money is.”

Paul walked out of Wole’s office calling back, “That’s what everyone thinks. But Abuja is where the money is going. We need to plan to meet it there.”

“Talking like an Architect.”

*   *   *

“Lord, look at the traffic!”  Paul exclaimed.

“I warned you.” Wole replied.

“You know most times I usually do not leave this early.”

“Yeah, sure. That’s why you do not notice it.”

“The life of an Architect, huh?”

“No, to put it better; the life of Pappy the Architect.”

“Why don’t you switch lane. It seems the last lane is moving faster.”

“Its getting there that’s the issue. People usually lose their common sense when they hit the road. It's so pathetic.”

“So what was it again you wanted us to discuss. We might as well get started if this traffic is anything to go by…”

Wole eased his Toyota Camry, pushing on the breaks gently. Then he adjusted the gear. The car halted behind a Black Range Rover Sport with faintly tinted glass.

“Well, how do I start… em…”

“Start where it all started.”
“That’s going to be a long story.”

“Well then, choose the most appropriate place to start.”

“Its all lot to get around. I’ve been thinking deep lately. I need to make a very important decision in my life but its difficult… I…“

“Now I see where this is going… sorry to cut you. Please continue.”

“I was saying I have two women in my life now and I love both of them.” He paused, then continued, “Its hard to decide who is the right one. Both of them have everything any man would want.”

“Like?”

“You know… confident, independent, good style, panache, professional and damn right sexy. I had to add that even though you might think it sounds lame.”

“No. That’s fine. So what exactly is the confusion here?”

“You know they have all any man can ever want in a woman.”

“How long have you been dating them?

“I met Bola sometime in November last year and Fatima was like January.”

“O-k. So we are talking say an average of six months on both of them?”

“Yeah. Roughly six months.” Wole eased the car again this time it took longer before he had to hit the brakes again. The black Range Rover was taking a turn. Paul could see two ladies inside the car. One was at the wheels and the other at the passenger’s seat.

“You can imagine what ladies drive these days.” Wole said nodding in the direction of the car mimicking Paul’s line of sight.

“Yeah, it’s amazing. You know gone are the days when you saw a lady driving such cars and you assumed it belonged to her husband." Wole continued.

Paul was looking in the direction of the car as it made a turn to join traffic on the other lane. "One day, I will buy that car for my wife…"

"Yes you will. I believe"

The car ahead moved. This time it was a Blue Toyota Yaris. The car eased forward a little and stopped. Wole followed suit.

 “I had this friend in the University. His name was Nelson. Nelson Ojemba. This guy was good at wooing girls. It doesn’t matter who she was, she would eventually fall for him. He was tall and charming to be honest -- a ladies man to the letter. If you hear him speak to a lady, you will pray he doesn't come in contact with your sister. He always said, he had one gift and that was simply, loving women. And even though a lot of ladies knew him for whom he was, they still fell for him. So whenever he came back after his usual Friday rendezvous, we had a lot to talk about. I mean, this guy was so bad that on many occasions, he would ask me to dare him. He would say, "Paul, I can make that girl fall in love with me in two days." Or he would say, "I have not set my eyes on a girl that hasn't fallen for my smooth ways before." I knew that  he was exaggerating but you can't take it

away from Nelson. He was that good. In fact, we use to call him James Bond back then. I picked up a couple of things from him.

I met this girl at NYSC camp. Her name was Ayomide -- very damn right gorgeous chick.  A lot of guys were after her as usual but instead of going to her directly, I walked my way into her friends. I started getting close to her friends. You know. I would say hello sometimes to her without giving her so much attention. I will focus rather on her friends. You know. Take them for lunch. Spend time chatting with them playing with them. Her friends got use to me. I will just greet her casually. I guess she must have been thinking why her friends got so much of my attention but she wasn't getting as much. And it worked."

"Amazing!" Wole looked at his friend with surprise on his face.

Paul smiled. The car ahead moved again. Wole followed. 

"So when she realized her friends were really into me, the ice began to melt. Anyway, long story short, she eventually went out with me. ”

A smile crossed Wole's face has he eased the engine back to life. The traffic was beginning to lighten up.  The car ahead of them moved.

"If i did not hear this from you, i would not believe you have dated any other lady but your wife"

"Why?" Paul asked.

"You are too much of a responsible guy. Honestly, you strike me as a guy who hardly had time for frivolities. Guys like us look up to guys like you."

Paul smiled, "I've not gotten to the interesting part yet. "

The traffic light indicated a clear. Wole pushed on the gas. The car reeved forward. Suddenly, Wole pushed hard on the brakes. The tires screeched hard on the tarred road. The traffic light turned red almost immediately. They could see a smile cross the face of the traffic control officer.

“Phew! That was close. I did not realize how close I was…”

“Thank God. I almost jumped out of my skin.”

They both laughed. The traffic officer was pointing his finger in their direction waving it side to side. He probably was trying to tell them how lucky they were.

"Someone just lost his weekend because we were lucky" Paul remarked looking in the direction of the traffic officer.

"Yeah. That was awfully close. I don't even have that kind of money to give now. My car would just have been impounded, ruining my weekend."

"Thank God."

"Yeah. So back to you Paul…"

"Yeah. We dated all through our service year. And then I met Patience…" Paul fumbled with his wedding ring.

Wole looked with amazement at his friend, "Now, this is getting interesting"

“About seven to eight months when I came back to Lagos. Clifford Brothers Engineering employed me. We had an end of the year celebration one time. I invited Ayomide but she had other engagements. So I went alone. At the party, some of my colleagues came with female friends and you know how it is, this introduces this and that introduces that and somewhere along the line Patience and I were introduced. At first I didn’t see her as a big deal as she didn’t make this big impact on me. For me, if you were not as hot as Ayo, then you were not worth my time.

Anyway, after a long time of chilling and sipping my drink,  I thought to myself, would I not have fun because Ayo wasn’t here? So I got up and went into the dance floor…” Paul paused and starred at his friend who said, “This is turning to a very long thing. Hit the nail on the head, abeg.” 

*   *   *

“Here is your letter of employment Mr. Iteru. Congratulations again” A young lady in a black suit with a rather broad smile said. She had a white envelope in her hand.

“Thank you” Francis received the envelope. He was dumbfounded. he had a emotional tussle. Whether he should laugh or cry? He controlled himself. The lady noticed his expression and smiled again.

"You are welcome to BlueLane Consulting, Mr Iteru. Congratulations."

He managed to smile back, containing the rather overwhelming excitement that was going on inside. "Thank you very much," he finally said.

Francis walked out of the office. He jumped up many times screaming as he did so. He could see people around staring at him like he had lost it. But he had no care in the world for that. Let them look. He thought to himself, they do not understand. I do not blame them. If they know half of what I have been through, they would rejoice with me.

He started panting from the impromptu exercise he had just exerted himself to. Thank you Lord, he muttered to himself.

He walked to the cyber café down the road; there was spring in his steps. The place he had often visited in search for jobs on the Internet. He wanted to look at the letter. He could not wait to get home. He imagined the smile on his mother’s face when he gave her the good news. Mama would be very happy. I can imagine her excitement. His joy was boundless.

After he had gained a seat in the cyber café, he careful opened the envelope and inside it was the gold mine wrapped into folds. He pulled it out and opened it.

He took in a deep breath and cautiously opened the folds.

He devoured the contents carefully. Meticulously reading every word.

He could not take off his eyes from the line that said, ‘You are to resume on the 3^rd of April 2012 as the Client Onboarding Executive…’After all these years he thought. This must be a reward. He read through the letter the fifth time before folding it and returning it into the envelope. He looked at his wristwatch. It was 4:37pm.

“Frank. Frank. Frank…” A voice called out.

Francis could hear the voice but it did not sound like anything he could see. He sensed the sound was in his head. Then he felt the tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see his mother carrying a plate of rice and stew. His small room of filled with the aroma of the food.

“Frank, wake up. Come chop.”

He cleaned his face with the back of his hands. Then for a moment he paused while his mother placed the food close to his bedside.

“This kind sleep wey you dey sleep sef e tire me oo. I don dey call you since, you no gree wake up. No dey sleep like that abeg. Na young man you be.” She called back as she left the room.

He was still in shock. Then it hit him; he had been dreaming all along.

It was just a dream. It was a dream. Just a dream? Why all this?

He leaned back on his bed. “God, what have I done wrong to deserve this type of punishment? Why are you punishing me? What did I do? What did I do? What kind of life is this anyway? I have tried and tried. But God why? Is it not enough that I don’t have a job? Why are You making me suffer?”

Tears rolled down the corner of his face. He stuffed his face into his pillow and his emotions took the best of him.

“Who did I offend? Why is it so difficult?” He sobbed.

His grandmother walked in. “Frank. Frank, you don dey cry again?”

Francis adjusted himself. He cleaned his face with the back of his hands. “No mama. I no dey cry.”

“Na me you dey lie for? The food wey I carry come give you don cold finish. My pikin chop abeg. No cry. God go do am one day…” She tried to console him.

“Mama, which time God wan do am? I don tire mama. Na me suppose dey take care of you but na you dey take care of me. Mama no be so e suppose be.. Mama no be so.”

“My pikin, na true you talk no be so e suppose be.”

She helped herself to his small bedroom chair.

“See Frank, I no complain and I know say one day God go answer our prayer. E dey pain me as I dey see you so. E dey pain me well well. If you don begin work now, you go help me I go expand my restaurant. Me I believe say na this year e go happen.” She said with her two hands on her head.

“Mama, I don pray tire. Wetin I never do? I don go interview I don tire. I don fast I don tire. I don browse I don tire. Mama, which day God go look my side help me. See all my mates don dey marry now.”

His mother sighed. “My pikin, for this life, everybody get im own destiny. Because your mate don dey marry no mean say you no go marry your own. The thing be say everybody time different. See me now. When your papa waka leave me, I suffer well well to send you and your sister go school. You know now. But see my restaurant now, e dey feed me and you and your sister. Your sister dey ask me for money, I thank God say I see money give am. All those people wey dey take me laugh that time say na me be bad woman. Them talk say na me pursue my husband. See all of them they come beg me for money now. Na so my pikin. No take another person life take judge your own. God na Him know how Him take dey do Him things. But eh… why you no go back to that place where you dey work before?”

“Mama I no fit go back there. How much dem dey pay? Mama if you see the kind work wey I dey do for there? Na me dey attend to customer. Na me dey help oga type him documents. Na me dey arrange transport for staff wey need travel. Mama I no fit go back there.”

“You know say at least small better pass nothing.”

“No mama. For that company nothing better pass. Na nearly all the money i dey take do transport. ”

His mother crossed her hands. She was staring at her feet. Then she stood up. “I pray say make God help me find you better work. No dey cry again Frank. If to say your baba dey now, at least him for talk to one of him friend for custom. You for see at least something to do. The thing dey pain me well well if I dey see you, e go be like say make I dey cry. But no worry. God go do am. You make sure say you dey try your own best.”

She went to his food and uncovered it. “See the thing don cold finish.” She gave the food to him. “Chop am now before e cold finish.”

“Mama, thank you. God know say I go take care of you.”

“Me sef I know say you go take care of me and your sister. We dey pray for you. No worry your sef. Just continue to dey pray. You don go browse today?”

“Mama I no go today.”

“Why?”

“I wan rest.”

“Abi na money you no get?”

“Mama, I get money. I just wan use today rest.”

“Ok rest small so you go fit go for evening when sun don go down finish.”

“Yes.”

She walked out of the room.

Francis stared at the food. He wondered how much his mother put into feeding him everyday. She never complains. Not in the past five years he had returned from youth service. He had promised himself that when he gets his first salary, he would spend it all for her and his sister. He could not imagine what life would have been without a mother like her.

He looked out the window and could see the sun sitting across the horizon. Slowly disappearing into the western clouds. He shifted his gaze back to his meal and started to eat.

 

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CHAPTER 3 Coming Soon

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