They gathered and sat on the bench. This time, without their cousin who obviously was somewhere in the neighborhood. As usual, they envisaged the imminent exit of their uncle for his evening walk (only God knows where he goes those evenings), waited patiently and after the uncle had left the house, started their innocent little evening discussion...
September 1998, 4:35 PM
"Na wa o!" exclaimed Joe
"Wetin happen again?" asked Pat
"As I see grandma wear that her usual hunger strike cloth ehh, I just know say food no go dey today be that o! answered Joe.
A grin forms on Pat's face to the response of Joe but the grimace of little Gift was disheartening to the least. The hunger was beginning to tell on her.
"I just wish say na Lagos we dey sef. Person go fit know how to get small money take buy biscuits chop" said Emma. Continue...
At the mention of 'Lagos', Gift's face lightened up. Being the last born, she had always known Lagos to be a better place than their present location. Even at the age of less than five, she knew their mum (laid to rest few months back) would not allow hunger deal with her children that way.
"You know wetin I dey imagine?" asked Joe, seeking to gain their attention. "Make e bi say uncle go just come one evening, tell us make we just pack our cloths put for bag and follow am quick quick say we dey go Lagos. Make e bi say our Pastor tell am make e bring us come Lagos the next day"
At this, Gift was so excited and she shouted "Lagos!". "But my cloth dirty o!"
They continued their chat in the normal pidgin English. What can not be ventured if their uncle was present in the room. They just wanted to chat free that evening and obviously, everyone was elated at the reality of going back to Lagos to continue life since nothing exciting/adventurous was in the offing for them being where they were.
Pat, turning to Gift who was complaining of her dirty cloths said, " So hungry no catch you again abi? You come dey take style tell me say make I no forget wash your cloths tomorrow wia be Saturday."
With this, little Gift headed straight for the room letting out little chuckles as Pat stretched out at her for a spank.
The siblings chatted a little more before heading for their room. Emma still on bed, wondered what their elder sibling would be doing now since he left for Lagos a few months after the burial.
November 1998. 4:16 PM
"Oya! Pack your cloths and arrange them in your bags and follow me quickly! We are going to Lagos. Your Pastor says I should bring you all to Lagos. Don't keep me waiting o!"
Joe sprang out of bed. Definitely he recognized his uncle's voice and it was getting nearer from the parlor. The joy of Pat knew no bounds. Emma was shocked at first but had to obey his strict uncle before he descended on him the vicious way. Heaven was set loose as the siblings were running about every nook and cranny checking for belongings. It was something they never thought of happening. They were simply happy!
May 2014. 16:20 PM
Joe is typing this on his computer...
Romans 4:17
"...and calls those things which do not exist as though they did”
Malachi 3:16
"Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence..."
This non fiction was originally written by John Bassey
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