==MY LIFE ON CAMPUS== EPISODE 70 I moved closer to her, then sat on the bed. “Mummy.” I called, tapping her by the arm. She didn’t move a muscle. I angrily shoved her to the bed and shouted, “mummy!” She sprang up like an employee late for work. “Ha! Banji, it’s you.” She said, breathing loudly. “You got me scared.” “Scared? I got you scared?” I asked, with a tiny smile on my face. “Agreed but you almost got me dead.” She smiled and hugged me. “I understand. I can’t die now.” She said, with my chin resting on her shoulder. “I still have a responsibility, you.” “Thank you mummy.” I said and smiled. I let go of her, went out of the house and brought in my luggage. “How are you feeling?” I said as I placed my bag in a suitable corner in the room. “I’m fine just that I have no money to pay for the rent of this house.” She said with her head bowed in sorrow. “The rent has expired and old soldier had sent me a notice.” “Notice?!” I yelled. “Yes, he came yesterday.” “Isn’t he aware you aren’t fine enough to work?” I angrily asked. “He is but do we have any choice?” She replied with a cloud of pity looming around her. “How much is the money?” “Fifty thousand naira.” She replied. “Only?” I boastfully asked. “Is that what you call only?” She asked. “Yes, only but where is it?” “I’m coming.” I said as I walked towards the door to leave the house. “Where are you going?” She asked. “I would be back.” I said and forged out. I boarded a motorcycle to the nearest ATM to withdraw some money. I did within minutes, then boarded the same motorcycle to Old Soldier’s house. I alighted and paid the motorcyclist a fortune, I was rich enough not to feel its effect on me. I walked to the door and I was welcomed by Sheri, who was elegantly dressed and about leaving the house. I hissed and frowned at her, she paid me back with my coin and left. I knocked on the door but I got no response. I knocked again. “Yes, come in.” A bass voice sounded from within, no doubt, it was Old Soldier. I went in. Yes, I was right. “Good afternoon sir.” I boldly greeted, bowing my head. “Hey Banji, ahn ahn when did you return?” He asked. “Just now.” “Have you gone home?” “Yes, I have.” I answered him almost immediately. He cleared his throat. “Banji, you didn’t do well o.” He said, adjusting himself on the couch, then placed away the newspaper he was reading. “You abadoned your mother in the hospital, knowing fully well that...” “Sir sir please I’m not here for that and perhaps my mother is cool with me.” I interrupted as I dipped my hand into my pocket, brought out a pile of money, spat a little on my fingers and started counting. “What’s the money for?” He asked. I deliberately deafened up to what he said, concentrating on the money I counted. “Forty eight, forty nine, fifty.” I mumbled. “Are you deaf?” He furiously asked. “I said what’s the money for?” I frowned, stretched the money to him, which I thought he would reject because I didn’t reply his question but I was wrong, he grabbed it like a tout and smiled. I paused, standing at akimbo and watched him count the money. “Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen.” He counted loudly with a smile on his face, then he looked at me as he kept counting. “Banji, what’s this money for? Forty four, forty five, ehn? Forty nine, fifty, ehn Banji, what for?” “That’s the money for our house rent.” I said, turned around and walked towards the door. He stood. “Was it your mother that sent you?” I turned around. “Sir, you have your money, so who sent me shouldn’t be your problem.” I said, opened the door and left. “Are you talking to me like that?” He yelled loudly, then he came out but he was too late because I was already on a motorcycle. “When I was in the barrack...” I hissed as the motorcyclist zoomed off. Who had the time to listen to his super story? I almost said. I got home in no time, settled my bill, then went in to put a smile on my mother’s face for the time been. How time flies, I had spent three days and two nights with my mother out of the one week break the school gave the students. The ASUU strike that glued our behind at home for five months in my level two second semester, disorganized the school calendar. The school’s way of regulating the calendar was to shorten our break. My mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner, the last dinner before I proceed to the Martin’s residence. I sat in the parlor watching a soap opera, the undercover agent. The soap starred with actors like Ransford Appiah, Koom Saviour and Princess Ruth Dolapo. The producer of the soap, Chikere pictures and Disney go head to head with their style of production. My concentration was totally consumed by the television program, that I didn’t notice my mother standing beside me. “Baaaaaannnnnji.” She said, hitting me slightly with her elbow. “O ti feran TV ju,” which means, ‘you like television alot.’ I gazed at her and smiled. “Mummy, you nko?” I said and we both laughed. She laid her hand on a stool and drew it closer, then sat on it. “Banji, your father’s people have sent the date for his burial o.” “When?” I said, interested. “Next month.” She said. “On the tenth.” “Ok ma.” I said. “Just be strong for me and I know daddy’s eyes would always watch out for us.” “Amen. You too be strong for me because you are all I have.” She said. I smiled. “Ok mum.” “Ehn ehn, so have you called Mr Martin that you’re coming tomorrow morning?” “Muuuuummmmmy, I don’t need to tell him, that’s how close we are.” “Ehn ehn?” “Yes O.” I said and smiled. She raised her hands and looked up. “God I thank you Ooooo. Ehn ehn?” She said, then held firmly her head. “Thank you, thank you.” “It’s God mum, it’s God.” Ring! Ring!! My phone rang. I picked up as my mother exited to the kitchen. “Hello?” “Hello.” A feminine voice hit my eardrum. “Please, is this Banji?” “Yes, this is Ban...” I was saying when I heard a disconnetion tone. Almost immediately, my phone rang again. TO BE CONTINUED...
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 03:21:51 +0000
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