Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 25
I later took a commercial motor cycle to the
barracks to spend some time with Ayo the
Barber, it was a Saturday and he did not go
for lectures. I sat there and listened to the
barracks gossips as customers came in and
left. I was flipping the pages of a newspaper
but my mind was somewhere else. I have
waited for over a year without a head way
to my being recalled into the Army. How
much longer do I have to wait? What would
I be doing while waiting? I thought of going
back to Abakaliki but I know Amaka would
not like the idea so instantly I made up my
mind on what to do as I wait to hear from
the Army.
On Monday morning I went to withdraw
twenty thousand naira from my account and
I went straight to Nnewi market in Anambra
state to buy a fairly used Motor cycle. I
bought a Yamaha 125 series with a very
sound engine and good frame. I got it
serviced there and rode it all the way to
Enugu.
The next day I chartered a Pick up Van and
went to my Unit to see the quarter master
and together we went to the store to collect
my property. The R.S.M came around as we
were loading the van with my Luggage, I did
not greet him, he went around the Van
looking it over and inspecting the goods we
were putting inside, he used his swagger
stick to hit severally at the van making as
unpleasant noise, he then came behind me
as I bent to lift a Chair into the Van and he
poked my butt with his swagger stick. I
stood up and turned to face him.
Criminal! He snarled
I gave him a cold and hard stare and he
turned and left saying Get out! Get out of
here with your stolen property!
I continued with lifting my luggage into the
van.
On Wednesday I sorted out my documents
and went to the institute of management
and technology (I.M.T) Enugu and purchased
a form into the preliminary department to
study business administration. (PREBAM) I
submitted the form and the next day I
started lectures with the students while I
wait for the admission list to be published
before I could pay my school fees and do my
registration, however the first semester
exam was in a month’s time.
I also went to the office of the West Africa
examination council W.A.E.C and purchased
the General certificate of education form
(G.C.E) the examination would be written in
November through December.
My age had been reduced by two as evident
in my sworn affidavit so by the time I would
graduate in 2002 or 2003 as the case may
be, I will still be eligible to go for the
compulsory national youth service Corp as I
will still be officially below thirty years of
age.
After one month of buying the Bike and
running around for School activities, I was
short of cash, I needed money to fuel my
Bike, I needed money to buy hand outs and
text books at school, and I needed to buy
books in preparation for the G.C.E
examination. I also needed to feed and buy
school clothes. With all of these expenses
before me, I had no choice than to start
using my Bike for commercial purpose,
commercial Cyclist are called Okada Riders in
Enugu, so I became an Okada man at
weekends and after School hours on week
days, I was lucky I bought a good Bike so I
was not having problems with the engine
like some other Okada men. It was fun
conveying People to their destinations for
money, my knowledge of the geography of
the state broadened and I was my own
boss.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
On a Saturday in September I drove tom
Abakaliki to visit mama and her new baby.
She delivered a baby girl in July, a carbon
copy of mama but with long limbs and
hands like the father, they say she will be a
tall girl when she grows, she was named
Abosede because she was born on a
Sunday, she was named Ekundayo which
means from sorrow to joy and her father’s
name was Michael kayode Ayeni.
My Folks have fully settled down in Abakaliki
and they have lots of friends and well
wishers both at work and at church. Baba
Miko had bought a lot of tools and
equipment for his Carpentry and furniture
works, he has paid the part payment for a
Shop but the present tenant was yet to
vacate the place since he still has three
months to the rent expiry. Baba Miko was a
seasoned Brick layer as well as carpenter
back in the Village though he was poor and
I marveled at the transformation in the life
of the two, it is true that if two people are
meant for each other, everything they do
together always flourish because all their
elements will work together in harmony and
whatever they venture into will prosper.
I told them what I have passed through
since our last meeting till date. They
encouraged me with words and mama said
she feels my case needs spiritual
intervention, she said we should take the
R.S.M up in prayers and fast for three days
waking up at every 12.00PM to pray and
commit my case to God to fight my battle for
me. We all agreed to start the fasting and
prayers on Monday but I did not do it, I
forgot about it the moment I climbed my
Bike en-route Enugu on Monday Morning.
I came back to Enugu to face a very tight
schedule, Examination was around the
corner, I had outstanding quizzes and
assignments to tidy up and submit. I had to
read for my Prelim examinations as well as
my G.C.E. I still hustled with my Okada at
night and on weekends, but I was not
deterred, I was used to hard life, a man has
got to be a man!
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