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JAMB 2015 OFFICIAL RECOMMENDED BOOK
THE LAST DAYS AT FORCADOS HIGH SCHOOL - AH MOHAMMED
Chapter
1
It was early in the morning and
still dark when Jimi Solade woke up to some shaking him roughly. He groaned and
mumbled to himself, half asleep.
“Jimi!’ He jerked fully awake at the sound of that familiar voice. It was his
brother.
‘Wole!’ Jimi said in surprise.
Yes, it’s me,’ and his brother
smiled in a way that showed only his upper teeth.
‘Man! What…..?’ Jimi began. They looked at each other delighted.
‘No greeting, little bro? Wole smiled again.
‘Sorry, does anyone know you’re
here? Does Daddy….?’ Jimi did not complete the sentence; instead he embraced
his brother tightly. ‘I’ ve missed you!’
Wole was thinner. Jimi could feel it.
‘Mum knows I’M here,’ Wole said. He
too did not mention their father. Just then, the alarm clock sounded. It was
time for Jimi to get up and he released his brother.
‘Go on, get ready for school,’ Wole
said, stretching on the bed. ‘At least you seem happy to see me.’ He looked
round the room at the carelessly flung shirts, jeans and boxer shorts over the
chair, to the poster of the manchester united football team on the wall above
Jimi’s bed. A typical boy’s room. Another worn-out poster of Tupac Shakur was
pasted on the opposite wall.
‘I didn’t remove it even though it’s
an eyesore,’ Jimi said grinning. ‘ everything’s just as you left it.’
Wole squeezed Jimi’s arm lightly. He
picked up something from the bedside table beside Jimi’s music CDs, chemistry
and mathematics textbooks. ‘Man, this is some watch. Must have cost a mountain.
You always get all the nicest things, why….?’
‘Wole, don’t touch may watch?’
‘What’s your problem? Can’t I look at a watch?’
‘I’m sorry bro,’ Jimi muttered .
‘I’m glad to see you back ….really_ but, you know….’
‘my cute, spoilt little brother…. You grow taller every time I see you,’ Wole
got up walked towards the door. ‘ Don’t worry about the old bear. Better get
ready for school. Er_I took some cash from your drawer, hope you don’t mind.’
Sighing, Jimi plodded to the
bathroom. Trust his brother to always collect things, but he was happy he was
back. It was a new day and the beginning of his final year at school. Like his
brother, he was as tall and long-limbed as an athlete, though, unlike his
brother, he had dimples when he smiled. He was sixteen years old and he was
already sprouting a beard. He flexed his right arm noting that he had developed
muscles. Good.
He whistled as he took his shower, refusing to think about the morning’s
surprise. The reason why was a long story; too long to think about on a brand
new day.
As Jimi ate his breakfast of
moin-moin and brown pap, Wole sat on the sofa watching early morning cartoons
on television. Their mother was in the kitchen with Risikat, their house help.
It was like any other morning
–peaceful, almost as if Wole had never left. Then Mr Solade came out of his
bedroom, yawning, he was a tall and well-built man with a head shaved bald. He
wore a loose caftan over his bulging tummy.
‘Kemi…’ he began and then stopped short and rubbed his eyes, and rubbed them
again just to make sure.
‘Good morning, papa,’ Wole said and , as an afterthought prostrated himself. He
sounded as if he was enjoying himself.
‘what are you doing here?’ his father said in a strangled voice.
Mrs. Solade came running out of the
kitchen. ‘Good morning dear. Just relax and let me explain…..’
Jimi knew his father wouldn’t
listen.
‘What is this good-for-nothing doing
in my house?’ his father roared. ‘Didn’t I tell you never to set foot in here
again? Get out before I call the police!’
‘Kola!’ Mrs. Solade shouted _ if her
high, thin voice could be called a shout. ‘It’s too early in the morning for
this. And he is your son! You cannot treat him like this! You must not go on
like this!’ she knelt down.
‘It’s you!’ Mr. Solade turned on her. ‘ you spoiled the boy! He has brought
shame and disgrace on this family and you still beg for him. All your children
are bad!’
Jimi jumped down from the dining
table and knelt down too, beside his mother and brother. ‘ Papa, forgive him.’.
Mr. Solade stood still, his chest
heaving, and said very quietly, ‘you are not welcome here,’ and turned back to
his room. Mrs. Solade collapsed onto a chair, but when Wole stood up, he was
grinning widely.
‘You can laugh,’ his mother said. ‘It’s not funny. You saw how he reacted. We
shall have to see Uncle Kareem and maybe Uncle Sola. They will talk to him.’
He’s not a serious man,’ Wole said, grinning.
‘Ah, Wole!’ his mother protested.
‘He’s your father!’ Jimi picked up his schoolbag and slung it over his
shoulder. ‘You’ve not finished eating,’ his mother said anxiously.
‘I’m not hungry. Bro, stay col,’ He was annoyed as he turned for the door, but
he didn’t know exactly why.
Papa and his temper, Jimi thought. Outside the gate, he stood for a moment and
listened to his distant sounds of the buses and shouts of the bus
conductors on the main road. A cock crowed in the distance. Someone called his
name. it was his next-door neighbor and schoolmate, Ansa Izaegbegbe, running
towards him. A short, tin boy who hardly reached Jimi’s shoulders.
‘Heard you arrived back from your trip yesterday,’ Ansa said, slightly out of
breath. ‘was waitng for you.’
‘Hey Ansaboy! Sorry. My mind was somewhere else.’ Jimi smiled delightedly and
threw Ansa a friendly punch.
Ansa snorted noisily. ‘well, it’s nice to have you back.’
Chapter
2
Jimi and Ansa got to school just
before assembly was due to start. Jimi left to join the other prefects. Morning
assembly took place in the large hall that stood in the centre of the school
and students lined up according to their classes. The school band, looking
smart as always, had positioned itself in one corner and was already beating
drums softly in practice. A few teachers were waiting outside the hall,
ready to punish latecomers by asking them to kneel down.
At eight o’clock, Seyi Lawal, the head boy, stood up on the stage. He was fat
and smooth-cheeked from the holidays and with his hand on his chest, he smiled
with faint smugness. He loved his job.
‘Attention everybody!’ he called out. ‘The national Anthem.’ The school band
struck up the tune, drums beating, and the students raggedly joined in. the
juniors were eager and enthusiastic, the seniors uninterested.
All the students of Forcados high
school were excited to be back after the long, long summer break. The school
held an unofficial pride of place among all the other schools in the area; it
had the largest football field and the best layout. Bright purple and orange
bougainvillea had been carefully planted along the fences. The school building
were arranged in small one-and two-storey blocks, with rows of hibiscus plants
forming small hedges between each class. Others often said that forcados
students were ‘artificial,’ but the school took pride in the fact that it
always defected other schools in regional quizzes and sports.
After the national anthem and
assembly prayers, Mr Mallum, the principal, gave a brief talk welcoming
everyone. He was a small, wiry man with an odd accent, as if he spoke through
his nose. The students loved imitating him.
‘It’s a pleasure to have all of you back. It is very important, however, that
we face up to the responsibilities of this new term_ particularly our final
year students who have the west Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.
This is an important watershed….’
When assembly was over, the
students_ boys in white shirts black ties and black trousers, and girls in
black pinafores over white shirts _ crowded into hallways ad corridors of the
school, chatting. Some people greeted Ansa, but many more crowded around Jimi.
‘Jimi, where have you been
‘Missed you!’
‘Coachie’s annoyed!’
‘Party tonight…’
Jimi was soon lost in laughter and chatter. Forgotten, Ansa looked around
glumly. The first days of term were always the worst. Back to further maths and
physics, and everyone talking in the latest slang about what they’d been up to
and what new music was out, while he had nothing to say.
He saw that some students wore their ties in odd knots and had chains on their
trousers, showing off watches and shoes. American bling-bling. Some also
carried the latest Nokia or Samsung cell phones even though students weren’t
allowed to use phones. There were the same old people: the gorilla-like Okoro,
a miserable bully; Teacher Bade, whom students called ‘cane’ was always waiting
for the next hapless kid who would fall into his trap; the Rhymers_ a group of
five boys who composed hip-hop lyrics after school, hoping to become the next
Nigerian sensation; Eze, the bright spark who was in an unspoken contest with
Jimi over their chemistry results; and finally, gum-chewing Caro (Jimi’s Caro,
or the other way round), the Queen Bee with her perpetually disdainful
expression. Ansa counld never understand what his friend saw in her.
Jimi was the best student in chemistry and a whiz kid in other subjects. He had
won prizes and laurels for the school in science and debate competitions. He
was also the health perfect, the athletic club captain and the best footballer.
What’s more, all the girls thought he was good-looking. If there was anyone who
could be described as an all-rounder, it was Jimi Solade.
Some people have all the luck, thought Ansa, but Jimi was such a friendly,
likable person that people were hardly envious of him, it had always been like
that. For instance, Mama Silifat, who sold puff-puff and akara outside the
school premises, would always give Jimi the largest pieces, smiling and calling
him by his full name, Akinjimi, or omo mi (my child). Jimi had been Ansa’s hero
since primary school because he was good at so many things, while the only
thing Ansa knew how to do was paint, there had never been two friends who were
more different.
A plump girl with short plaits framing her round, gentle face came over. It was
Nene Ekpo. She lived on the same street as jimi and Ansa and she was one of
their oldest friends. Ansa was genuinely glad to see her. She had the sweetest
smile.
‘Hi Ansa!’ she said in her light, pretty voice, ‘Glad to see you. Look at Jims,
when did he get back?’
‘He came back yesterday.’
‘I could hear his voice from a distance, rowdy and full of fun as usual,’ said
Nene, laughing. ‘By the way, do you remember anyone called Efua? She’s a
relative of Mrs. Alli who lives on Balogun Street, not too far from us.’
Ansa wrinkled his forehead. ’No, I don’t.’
‘Neither do I _not very well. She was at our primary school for a while and
she’s coming here to join us.’
‘In SS3?.’
‘I think she had to leave her former school _ at least that’s what her aunt
told my mother. Her aunt asked me_ us rather _ to help her settle down and get
used to things. How were your holidays?
‘Oh, boring. But I did get the opportunity to go to an art workshop for one
week.’
‘Sounds like fun,’ she turned toward Jimi. ‘Jims! Hello!
After school, Jimi walked behind a
block of classrooms. It was empty there and closest to the back wall of the
school, several huge casuarina tress loomed there and, except for the
occasional rustling dove, All was quiet. Jimi put on his earphones and turned
on his ipod until loud hip-hop music filled his ears. They hadn’t done much
schoolwork today: he and the other prefects had to mobilize the students,
mostly juniors, to pick leaves and do other chores, and he now wanted to be
alone. It was rare for Jimi to be or want to be alone, but he had a lot
of things on his mind.
Wole had returned. There was a time when he and his brother had been very
close, standing together against the savage bullying of their oldest brother,
Femi, but Wole had changed. He had been expelled from two different schools and
kicked out of university for reasons Jimi didn’t fully understand. The last
time Wole had been home he had falsified his father’s signature and made away
with a lot of money. That was something Papa Solade could never forgive_ never.
He had been so furious when he discovered Jimi and Wole still saw each other
secretly that he had even sent Jimi away to Ibadan for the holidays. He said he
didn’t want Jimi under Wole’s bad influence.
Now, his father was increasingly in a bad mood, growling at everyone and
blaming Mrs. Solade for spoiling them _ as if Jimi had ever done anything bad:
not like Wole anyway. His mother too seemed tired and harasses all the time.
‘I’m just not feeling too good, it’s nothing to worry about, really,’ she’d
say. Jimi had decided nothing was going to bother him again. It was time for
school and he was going to keep on being the brightest student, getting the
best results in WAEC, while still partying, playing football and enjoying the
admiration of lots of girls.
A sudden movement startled him. It was the head boy, Seyi ‘Jims, we have a
prefect meeting with Mr Mallum now.’
As they got to the office, two
people came out. One of them was a middle-aged woman dressed in an expensive
iro and buba. Her gele was huge! The two boys had to bend their heads slightly
to avoid bumping it. She wore dark sunglasses and her mouth was tightly pursed
in a grim, forbidding manner. The other was a girl who was not wearing a school
uniform. It was a bit difficult to tell what she looked like because she had an
odd expression on her face, as if was going to be sick.
‘Who are they?’ Seyi asked Jimi.
Jimi shrugged, ‘Don’t know,’
Chapter3
The girl sat quietly in the rickety, jerky taxi.‘Ugh!’ her mother said irritably to the driver. “This car is so slow _and dirty as well.’ She turned to her daughter. ‘Efua, sit straight, you’re looking dead.’
Efua ignored her mother, knowing it would irritate her further.
‘Well, I trust we’ve found a place where even you will find it difficult to get into trouble,’ her mother said, eyes glittering.
The car stopped in front of a gray building. A small, found woman wearing gold wig and bright red lipstick was standing by the gate.
Funmi! The woman shrieked.
Her mother smiled. ‘Moni’ this is Efua.’ Efua’s anut embraced her. Efua stood a little stiffly, somewhat embarrassed at her aunt’s warmth. She smelt of a queer but not unpleasant mixture of strong perfume and oranges.
‘Such a long time. You remember me? You_’
‘All right,’ her mother interrupted, ‘I’II be off,’
‘So soon? You’re not getting down? My girl prepared egusi soup and_’
‘I have a plane to catch. I’ II write you a cheque. Efua, bye_bye and be a good girl. Don’t give aunty Moni any trouble.’
The taxi sped off and Efua helped her aunt to carry her bags inside. Her aunt kept chatting in a high_ pitched voice. ‘Forcados is a nice school. They always have excellent results ‘Forcsdos is a nice school. I told a few people you were coming.’
‘Remember Nene Ekpo? Her father is Pastor Ekpo and she’s such a sweet girl…..’
Later that day, as Efua was in her room unpacking, she heard her aunt calling shrilly, ‘Efua, come out and meet someone!’
Oh dear, Efua thought. She took a deep breath and went out. Nene and her mother had dropped by.
‘Nene, this is my niece Efua coker,’ aunt Moni said. ‘Efua, this is Mrs. Ekpo and her daughter Nene.’
Nene stared at Efua. She’d had a hazy memory of her and she had been expecting _ well, she wasn’t sure what she had been expecting_ but certainly not the girl standing in front of her.
Efua was tall and slender, with large eyes and long eyelashes. Her hair fell in tangled plaits across her shoulders. She had a delicate, mysterious beauty that made Nene think of a freshly blossoming flower. She certainly didn’t look like someone capable of being expelled.
Good afternoon,’ Efua greeted her visitors, curtseying a little. She had a surprisingly deep, almost masculine voice.
‘come here, you pretty child,’ Mrs. Ekpo sang out. ‘I hear you will be going to the same school as my daughter.’
‘Hello,’ Nene said, feeling a little awkward. ‘I don’t think you’ll remember me; I’m afraid I don’t much remember you.’
‘why don’t you both step outside and talk?’ Aunt Moni suggested.
The girls stepped out to the balcony.
‘I’m a commercial student,’ Nene began. ‘What class do you attend?’
‘Science.’
‘Oh, you’re a brainy one, wel’ I suppose it doesn’t matter whether we’re in different classes. Let me tell you a little about our school. Morning assembly starts by eight, so I’II come over at seven-thirty, if you like. You must plait your hair in the week’s style. I’II show you where I do min.’
‘I’d like that very much, thank you.’
‘So tell me about your former school. Girls only, wasn’t it? Forcados is mixed _ it may come as a shock.’
‘I hope not,’ said Efua. They both laughed, suddenly discovering they liked each other.
Nene continued, ‘do you remember two boys called Ansa and Jimi?’
Efua frowned, I think I do. Very troublesome boys, am I right?’
‘Only one of them was.’
They laughed again.
‘I you’II like it here,’ Nene said.
The next day, as the students stood in front of the hall laughing and talking just before assembly, Jimi joined the other prefects trying to organize everybody into lines.
‘No more chains on trousers or dangling earrings for the girls. There will be an inspection of fingernails and socks during assembly. Principal’s orders,’ he said. Then he noticed Nene standing with an unfamiliar girl.
Efua lung close to Nene. She felt queasy, the object of curious attention.
Jimi moved over to Ansa. ‘Who’s that girl, the one with Nene?’
‘Oh that must be the new girl she was telling me about yesterday,’ Ansa said.
‘A new students is joining us?’
‘Strange isn’t it? Nene said she once attended our primary school, so she might recognize us. Ef_ something, um_ yes, Efua.’
Efua. Jimi had never heard of her, but she looked rather nice_ not bright, though. She probably failed at her former school, well, Jimi Solade to the rescue.
Come on,’ he said half dragging Ansa. Let Nene introduce us,’ Ansa sighed,’ he knew Jimi very well.
‘Hello Nene,’ said Jimi
‘Efua, these are the boys I was telling you about, Jimi and Ansa,’ Nene said. ‘Boys, this is Efua Coker,’
Ansa murmured awkwardly,’ he always felt shy around girls. Jimi just stared, his mouth open a little, until Nene prodded him.
‘Jimi!’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ he said. He stretched to his full height, flashed his brightest Mr. Cool smile and extended his hand .
I’m Jimi Solade. Nice to meet you, although we’re supposed to have met before.’
Efua stared at him not taking his hand. I remember you she said frostily. You once put a dead lizard on my table.’
Oh,’ Jimi was flustered. ‘I don’t recall….’
‘yes _ but you were just kids,’ said Efua. She turned to Nene. ‘Can you show me round a bit?’
They both walked off, and Ansa decided he didn’t like her at all. Snooty! Just who did she think she was? Jimi still had that dazed expression on his face. At that moment, the bell rang.
After classes at the end of the day, Efua walked slowly to the principal’s office. It has not been a pleasant day.
In the first class, the teacher, Mr. Bade, came in and stopped short at the sight of her.
‘Who are you? He barked.
She stood up and said, ‘I’m Efua Coker sir, in her best lady-like manner, the way girls at her former school were taught to speak.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘What _excuse me sir, I don’t understand.’
Are you supposed to be in this class? A new student in SS3? ‘yes.’ He gave a snort and ignored her for the rest of the lesson.
Each teacher kept saying the same thing:
‘What is your name?’ and ‘you are new in a senior class?’ until she thought she would scream. The math’s teacher, a portly middle-aged woman added, ‘I suppose you know what being in this class is all about?’
They didn’t like her because new students didn’t normally come into school at the senior class. They thought she might lower their results. They must have thought she was a bird-brain who had managed to buy her way in.
What could she answer to that?
The students giggled or whispered and nudged each other. Now, she was supposed to meet the principal and she wasn’t looking forward to what he had to say.
Mr Mallum was seated behind his table pilled with bulky but neat files. He wore small glasses.
Miss Coker, you know why you are here? He began abruptly. Yes, because my mother gave this school an endowment, she said to himself.
‘it was difficult for us to accept you and register you for this final year, but we took some factors into consideration. You are a straight – A student and your former headmistress she had to expel you after you ran away from school,’
Efua bowed her head a little.
‘I find it difficult to believe an obviously intelligent young girl like you could……’
Efua knew where this conversation was going and decided to take drastic action.
Oh sir,’ she said quietly,
She tried to make her voice as meek as possible.
‘I’ m not a bad girl I’m really not. I was going through a rebellious phase. I promise you I’II never do anything to make you regret taking me here.’ She sniffed a little, hopping it sounded real.
The principal stared at Efua. There was something that was not quite right about her, but he could not decide what it was.
‘You are under probation for this term. We will be watching your marks closely to know if you can cope and you are to meet the guidance counselor once a week. Good luck in Forcados.’
Thank you,’ Efua said and went out.
Once outside, she dropped the meek act. She found shady spot beneath a mango tree and learned against the rough bark. The school grounds were deserted now and a small flock of grey and black pigeons strutted and fed on the grass not far from where she stood. Mr Mallum hadn’t been too bad, though she would never have thought he would speak to Mrs Obange, her her formal principals. She thought of Mrs Obangen a large woman with a gruff, friendly voice so different from thin, stuffy Mr Mallum. The principal hadn’t wanted to expel her:
‘What is wrong, Efua? Why did you run away?’ Mrs. Obange had asked after Efua had been brought back to the school. But Efua hadn’t been ready to open up.
‘You can tell me to leave if you want,’ she had relied, defiantly. Mrs Obange had flared up at that.
‘very well. If you want to leave, then leave you shall,’
She had got what she wanted, hadn’t she? She had left Abuja; she was away from her mother and stepfather, and all of them.
Suddenly, she couldn’t help thinking of her former school, St Catherine’s, an all-girls boarding school. She thought of all her friends and clubs, and the busy life she used to lead. At this moment, she thought, the girls would be on their way to the dining hall, forming a long row of blue in their school uniforms….
I was a fool, she thought. I only hurt myself. A tear trickled down her face and, suddenly overcome by regret, she burst into tears. The pigeons, startled by the noise, took to the air in a flurry of flapping wings.
Chapter 4
Jimi arrived home from school to find his father in a foul temper.
‘Good afternoon, papa.’ Jimi said, but he got no answer.
Mrs Solade whispered to him, looking harassed. ‘Daddy’s travelling later this afternoon and we’re looking for his case. What do you want to eat?’ Jimi had felt very hungry but now his appetite was gone. Anything,’ he said ad walked to his room. He lay on his bed staring at the faded Tupac poster. Wole wasn’t at home, but it seemed his father was always looking for an excuse to fly into one of his rages.
‘My briefcase,’ he heard his father snap. ‘Where is it? Not too difficult to guess since we have a thief back here. Only two weeks!’
A little while later when he heard his mother call, ‘Here it is. This is it isn’t it? Jimi came out of his room.
His father took the case and peered at it closely. ‘it would seem so,’
‘see,’ she smiled. All it needed was a little more careful searching.’
‘Please,’ he barked, ‘it’s all the same! That boy would have taken it if had seen it. Or maybe he did any you’re covering up for him,’
‘Don’t talk to her like that!’ Jimi couldn’t believe he had just said that.
Mr. Solade stared at him. What did you say?’ he asked, and raised his hand to swipe at him. Mrs. Solade grabbed his hand.
‘Kola please, he’s only a child, she said for a few moment his parents glared at each other breathing hard.
‘You see, all of them….bad!’ Mr. Solade said, and he took his bag and stomped out.
‘Bye_ bye,’ Jimi muttered under his breath and went back to his room.
A few moments later, Jimi stared outside through the window. He saw his parents talking earnestly in front of the house. As his father entered the car, his mother gently touched his cheek. Jimi wondered why.
Later that afternoon, Wole came into room. ‘the old lion has travelled,’ Wole said Hip-hop- hooray!’
In spite of himself jimi laughed, but sobered up quickly, Don’t let mum hear you’
‘Little bro,you’re too serious nowadays. I know you are a genius but you need to lighten up sometimes. Anything bothering you,talk to your bro. is it the chiks at school?let an old pro give you advice.
Jimi laughed again. Then he said thoughtfully, ‘There’s this new girl at school: she’s really pretty and, you know ………..
‘Ha Trust my bro,’ wole laughed. And jimi thought he looked more like his old self_ before the bad times.. He watched as wole changed his shirt.
‘Where are you going?’ jimi asked
‘Nowhere. Jims, can I get some cash?’
‘Not till you tell me where you’re going’
Wole hesitated, ‘okay. You can come wiyh me, but just keep your mouth shut and don’t ask questions.’
It sounded rather ominous, but this was a rare opportunity to spend time with his older brother, especially while he seemed to be in such a good mood. They set off that evening and eventually arrived at a dead end street with several uncompleted buildings
Presently, a man came out of one of the buildings, making furtive gestures with his hands
‘Wait here’, Wole said. He strolled nonchalantly towards the man. The man and wole spoke for for a little while in whispers.
There seemed to be a quick exchange__so quick no one would have noticed it_ between the man’s rapidly moving hands and wole’s.The man gave wole a thumbs_s up and disappeared back into the building. Then Wole walked back to jimi, stuffing a small nylon bag into his pocket
‘what was that?’ Jimi asked
‘forget it. Let’s go and have fun
They went to a bar. It was on the ground floor of a block of cramped, evil_ smelling apartments. The place was dark and crowded and Nigerian pop music was blasting from the speaker. Wole greeted a group of young men sitting at a table.
They were surrounded by bottles of star and Gulder beer, and squadron gin
‘Hey yo’ said wole, giving slapping handshakes all around
‘Who’s this? A rat_ faced young man snapped, glaring at Jimi
‘Relax, he’s my brother’
Jimi gave them all slipping handshakes too, trying to hide his nervousness. One of, them, a man with a street worn face and short, spiky dreadlock studied Jimi a moment before declaring, ‘hey _ a brother of wole’s is a brother of mine.
Drinks
Jimi wanted to say he didn’t drink, and then he thought of his father and how angry he would be if he could see him now. He sat down besides a man with bloodshot eyes who was staring vacantly into the space and accepted the beer.
‘Smoke?’ sad Rat_face, thrusting out a pack of cigarettes.
‘I don’t….. jimi began
Rat_face laughed loudly and jimi felt embarrassed. Wole half_ frowned at him,so he took a cigarette and joined in several rounds of drinks
‘Look at your bro, wole’, said one of the men. ‘he’s the man just like his brother
As they drank, jimi looked around the room and noticed something odd. Half_hidden in the dark corners of the bar, there were women standing with one leg thrust out,as if waiting for someone. Jimi assumed they were waitresses, until one woman saw him staring and fixed him with a sly gaze. He quickly averted his eyes, suddenly realizing who they were
The alchol, the sale smell of cigarette smoke, the strange coded conversation, the dim lighting and the continuous harsh beat of the loud music were starting to dull jimi’s brain.
Wole was talking earnestly with the dreadlocked guy, when Rat_face jumped up and left the table. When he returned, he brought out a small wrap of rolled paper and lit it.a sharp smell pierced the air. Jimi recognized it. It was a common smell among street boys in bus stops and busy areas in the late evenings.
Indian hemp
Suddenly, he felt sick. What was he doing here anyway? He got to his feet a little unsteadily
‘wole, I’m going out’, jimi said, but wole barely noticed him. He was outside when he saw a black minivian pull up in front of the bar and uniformed figures began jumping out. His heart started to thump
‘Who’s there?’A torch flashed his way. ‘Stop’
Jimi didn’t wait:he ran. He saw other figures running as well. His heart was beating loudly as he jumped onto the lone rickety bus still plying the road at this late hour and rode it until he got to the stop nearest his home
He was still trembling when he got home. Then he thought about Wole and felt ashamed for running away and leaving his brother like that
Wole came back after midnight.
‘Wole’ jimi jumped on his brother with relief
‘Relax, they found nothing on me. All they wanted was money’. He then went to where jimi’s hung and pulled out a packet.
‘What’s that?’ Jimi asked sharply. ‘What’s that doing in my pocket?
‘Nothing you need to know about’.
Jimi suddenly realized,. ‘You put that stuff in my jeans. What if the police had caught me?’
‘You weren’t caught.’
Jimi wanted to jump on his brother and smash him to pieces
‘You _ you smoke ‘
‘Cool it,’ wole laughed. ‘Not unless you want your mama to year. I’ll make it up to you. And he walked out
Jimi’s head was pounding and he wanted to throw up
Chapter 5
Efua sat writing on her bed, her
aunt had said it was surprising how she had made that room hers so quickly. A
little sanctuary. Fresh pink and white sheets on the bed and framed photograph
are on the table. Everything was always spick and span with the smell of air
freshener. She was writing in her diary.
Dear diary,
It’s been years since I’ve written.
I thought I’d outgrown you. I suppose I should be glad. I’m here, but nothing
can compare to st catherine’s. I’ can’t believe how much I miss everything and
everyone, even Hadiza. I’m going to get in touch with Dada and write a letter
of apology to principal obange. I’ll try to be happy here. It’s stupid really,
moping and feeling sorry for oneself.
Everybody was talking about Efua
Coker, the new girl. She was certainly a chick in the boy’s eyes, and she was
surprisingly bright, doing well in class tests. She hardly ever spoke to anyone
and she walked up and down with her nose in the air and a sour expression on
her face. The students had already given her a nickname: ‘the Witch.’
‘She thinks she’s better than everybody else,’ students whispered. ‘There’s
nothing special about her, though.’
Jimi always found himself glancing at her in class. She was gorgeous! If only
she’d pay him some attention.
Still, he was determined to be friendly.
‘Hi,’ he said one day after assembly.
She didn’t answer.
‘Hey, it’s polite to answer a greeting,’ he said.
She moved away a little, and then turned. ‘I believe I know what is polite and
not, and I answer who I want to answer to,’ she said icily, and walked off.
Jimi stared after her. People were right, she was nasty! How could she talk to
him like that? Did she know who he was?
The morning class was taken by Mr.
Vann who taught physics. ‘Can we cast our minds back to the principal of
conversation of liner momentum? What is momentum, by the way?’
The class was silent.
‘What? You mean to tell me you have no momentum?’ he said, smiling at his own
joke. ‘Solade, can you help us out?’
Jimi stood up. He liked moments like this.
‘Momentum is the product of a mass of a body and velocity and impulse, and
momentum changes as it goes down a slope he said.
‘Very good.’ Mr Vann wrote a problem on the blackboard and handed the chalk to
Jimi. ‘Calculate this.’
Jimi solve the problem on the blackboard with a flourish and gave the teacher a
mock bow.
Everyone burst out laughing including dry old Mr. Vann only Efua was not
laughing. What was so amusing? she wondered. He was just a pompous show off.
Jolly was a big boy, an art student.
He liked wearing chains on his trousers and trainers instead of sandals- when
he was sure he wouldn’t get caught.
Efua was standing outside the classroom when he strolled by. He stooped and
whistled.
‘Hi,’ he said and grinned, showing all his teeth.
She stared and mumbled something indifferently.
‘Yeah, I’m Jolly, funny name isn’t it? You, you’re fine! Could we be friends?’
She said nothing, hoping he would
just go away. He felt a little silly the way she kept staring at him.
‘You look like someone I knew during my holidays in America but…. But she
died.’
‘Sorry to hear that. Please excuse
me.’
‘where are you going?’
‘To the guidance counselor’s office.’ She immediately wished she hadn’t said
it.
‘I’ II walk you.’
‘It’s not necessary.’
‘You need guidance, I’II guide you,’ he said and he laughed, showing all his
teeth again. He kept chattering as they walked.
‘My holidays in the states, I have…..’
Efua had finally had enough. ‘Excuse
me, I’d rather walk alone,’
‘Hey,’ he called out grabbed her hand.
She whipped it away. ‘Get lost!’ she shouted.
‘Excuse me?’
‘You heard me.?
They stared at each other. She was breathing hard and had a harsh expression on
her face as she glared at him. Jolly turned away, turned back and turned away
again, feeling foolish.
‘I’II deal with you,’ he snarled as he walked off.
Nene joined Efua after school.
‘I heard what happened today between you and Jolly,’ she said. ‘Did you really
tell him to get lost?’
Efua signed. ‘He was pestering me, he grabbed my hand.’
‘What did he want?’
‘You know, what they all want.’
‘Oh’ dear. Efua, honey, and boys like Jolly_ they are mean and can get very
unpleasant. I don’t want to become the subject of spiteful gossip and mean
tricks.’
‘I don’t care,’ Efua said. ‘Nene, you’re a sweetheart to worry about me, but
I’II is fine. As they moved on, they passed Jimi and Caro taking… or rather
Caro was whispered furiously, sounding like a hissing snake. Nene thought Caro
was one of the most unpleasant people she ever known, which was a big thing
because she found it difficult to dislike anyone, but Jimi had been nuts about
Caro since he was class Two.
‘There he goes again,’ Nene said to herself. Then to Efua she said Jimi also
told me you are sort of nasty to him.’ She felt duty bound to add, ‘you know,
Efua, as a christain you are a Christian right?’
‘I wish everybody would just leave me alone!’ Efua cut her off, frustrated.
‘I’m here to mind my own business and read my books,’
Nene patted her friend’s braids
sympathetically. Perhaps she decided, this wasn’t the best time to talk about
Jesus to her.
‘Jimi, what’s the matter?’ Caro was
saying.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know. You’ve been acting differently, like you don’t know me.’ She
narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly.
‘You‘ve not changed, have you? Remember that girl from the peter Mary debating
team last term?’
‘I like that!’ Jimi shot back, learning away from her, ‘Remember that
university students?’
‘Don’t change the subject.’ Just then, Nene and Efua passed by. Jimi stared at
them. Caro followed his eyes.
‘Oh, they were right! It’s her now, isn’t it?’
Jimi turned to face her.
‘What?’
You’re horrible Jimi! A disgusting, hateful person. You think you’re the best
thing in the world, don’t you? Well, I’II show you.’ She stayed off.
Jimi stared after her. Girls! Who ‘Knew with them?
He jogged off to the field. Bayo and some other people were already there
playing football. He tugged off his shirt and joined them.
‘What took you so long?’ Bayo asked.
‘Nothing.’
He gave the football such a powerful kick that it went flying high into the
sky.
CHAPTER
6
The nanny at Mother’s Joy Nursery School had a sour
expression on her face when Nene Ekpo arrived to pick up her youngest brother
home after their dismissal.
‘Nene is a good girl’, everybody said. Even her teachers
at school and the people at her father’s church. Her father is a pastor. She
criticised herself about her beauty after staring at the mirror. Thus saying “I
wish I were pretty. I’m plain Jane!”.
Efua dropped by later that evening while Nene was in the
kitchen helping her mum. Later that night, Nene tried to lure her – Efua’s
attention to Jimi but however, regretted she (Nene) attempted so. In-as-much-as
she wants Efua to be friends with Jimi, she still liked Jimi but now tried to
put away such disturbing thought.
Chapter
7
About five weeks into the term, the vice principal introduced a young woman to
the science class. ‘This is Miss Agbenenovi. She is one of the new batches of
Youth Corpers serving in Lagos State this year. She will occasionally fill in
for Mr. Salami to teach English’.
The class stared at her in surprise. She was slim and very young looking – not
much older than some of the students. Her hair was cut very short and she wore
the NYSC uniform of white shirt, a pair of Khaki trouser and sand – coloured
boots.
‘Nice to meet you all. You can call me Miss Novi to make things easier!’ she
said.
The class had to gather in the assembly hall for an impromptu talk about the
Mid-Term Dinner. As students trooped out, someone bumped into Efua, making her
drop the books she was holding. It was Caro.
‘Oh excuse me’, said Efua.
‘Excuse you’, Caro sadi coldly and walked off with a group of girls, who
giggled as they went.
‘Don’t mind her,’ a girl beside Efua said, helping her to pick up the books.
‘She’s a horrible person. It’s because of you-know-who.’
‘Who?’
‘Jimi Solade. Heard he’s
sweet on you and she can’t stand it. So.’ She leaned forward in eager
conspiracy, ‘is it true?’
‘Of course not,’ Efua said with disgust.
It was hard enough trying to gain the acceptance of the teachers and pupil
here, and having the most popular girl in the school dislike her because of the
unwanted attentions of someone called Jimi Solade would not help matters.
‘Juveline Klumps,’ she said out loud.
‘What?’
‘Never mind. Thanks for helping me with my books. I’m Efua.’
I’m Joke.’
Pleased to meet you.’
They went to the hall together. It was already decorated in preparation for
Mid-Term Dinner with banners hanging on the walls and a glass chandelier
suspended from the ceiling. A big painting by Ansa was the central focus of the
decorations. The school choral group was gathered on stage forming a harmonious
chorus together with the beats of the drums. Nene was going to be the singing
lead in their cultural dance drama called Oluronbi, based on a folktale.
Her trilling voice could be heard above all of them.
Babalawo mo wa be be
Alu gbin! gbin!
Jimi seemed to be everywhere. It suddenly made Efua wish she were doing
something as well.
‘Nice painting,’ she said when she saw Ansa. Ansa stiffened because she had
never spoken to him before. He thought he should reply but he couldn’t think of
anything to say.
Jimi came over and said ‘Hello.’
’um,’ she said acidly.
‘Have I ever done anything to offend
you?’
‘I barely know you.’
‘Are you going to be at the dinner?’
‘What’s your business?’
‘It’s a question.’ This was going
badly for Jimi. ‘Look, why are you so prickly towards me? I’m a nice person.
Try me.’
Good for you,’ she snapped and
walked off.
Jimi made a shooting motion after
her, and Ansa giggled, ‘Jimi, she’s not human!’
‘Of course,’ Jimi said staring after
hr. Don’t worry, I’ll get her.’
Suddenly, they heard a loud thump
and people were shouting. It was a junior student who had fainted. A group of
students gathered around the boy and some pupils were already panicking.
‘Carry him! Pull him!’ someone
cried.
‘Stop! Move aside and give room for
air.’ It was the new corper. She pushed forward and knelt beside the boy. She
felt his neck.
They watched her tilt his head
upwards a little. Then she opened his mouth wide.
‘Hey, I need assistance,’ she told
the nearest boy. ‘Put your arms straight like this and press his chest there.
Press fifteen times and then I’ll breathe into his mouth.’
They repeated the motions a few
times until suddenly the boy spluttered. It was a beautiful moment.
‘Turn him over. Let’s carry him
quickly to the health centre. I think he has a heart condition. Be very careful
and hurry up.’ The teacher looked gloriously triumphant. Efua stared at her.
That Friday was the Mid-Term Dinner,
which the students always looked forward. Efua hadn’t wanted to come all, and
Nene didn’t enjoy dancing. She felt dancing to worldly music was not
Christ-like. However, Efua’s aunt wouldn’t hear of them staying home.
‘School dinners are lovely and you
have an opportunity to blend,’ she had said. She had even supervised their
dressing up.
‘Cheer up,’ Nene said to Efua.
‘You’re looking beautiful.’
Efua was wearing a cream dress and
she had dressed her hair so it fell in ringlets in a very attractive fashion.
She grimaced and said, ‘It’s a waste of time.’
Jimi was part of the organizing
committee, but his luck wasn’t with the ladies recently. The girl left him
alone; he was known to belong to Caro whom no one wanted to cross. He caught
sight of Efua when they came in. That someone so lovely could have such a
malignant spirit was beyond imagination. All the same, thought of Caro vanished
from his mind. She’s a witch, he thought, but what a witch!
‘Hey!’ The Dl’s voice boomed through
the microphone. ‘The party isn’t rocking! Grab your partner and feel the beat!
Boys stop slacking and girls stop fronting!’
Efua and Nene sat down at the table.
The first victim came forward. It was Jide, the smallest boy in class. He wore
suspenders with trousers. ‘Efua w-w-would you like to dance?’ he stammered.
‘No,’ she said without looking up.
He quickly slipped away, embarrassed.
‘Efua, that wasn’t very nice,’ said
Nene.
‘Too bad.’
Dancing soon began in earnest for
the impatient students. The teachers stood outside monitoring the event
discreetly. If they saw anything too forward, they’d come towards the pair and
say, ‘we don’t allow such thins!’
Efua kept hoping the time would go
quickly, but the party seemed interminable. She turned down everybody who asked
her to dance; finally she decided to go to the toilet. But getting there she
found a group of students gathered in front of the closed door giggling and
whispering. They straightened up when they saw her.
‘No space in there for now!’ one
called out.
She turned back and caught sight of
jolly. He made a rude sign at her, as if to say: You – I’ll get you.
She felt her blood beginning to
boil. Boy! She hated the whole lot of them.
When she returned to the party, she
saw Jide sitting glumly in a corner, looking small and harmless. On an impulse,
she turned on him.
‘Sorry Jide, I was rather rude
earlier. I wasn’t in a very good mood, but I’d like to dance with you if you
still want to.’
He looked up uncertainly. She gave
him dazzling smile and held out her hand, leading him to the dance floor. He
was shorter than her and he kept stepping on her feet, but she didn’t mind.
Jimi glared at them both. He
couldn’t believe it, Efua dancing with Jide of all people.
The more he thought about it the
angrier he became. Why was she with that pipsqueak? He strolled over to them.
‘Hi,’ he said, tapping Jide’s
shoulder. ‘Can you excuse me, please? Come on.’
Jide was unwilling to move.
‘Jimi, what are you doing?’ Efua
asked.
‘Stop!’ Jimi growled at the smaller
boy under his breath.
Jide scurried away.
‘What do you mean by that?’ Efua
said angrily.
‘You needed rescuing,’ he said.
‘You are a disgusting bully! How
dare you!’
‘You are a conceited, nasty…’ He
stopped. ‘Look, let’s just dance.’
‘No. I’m leaving! You can dance with
yourself!’
At that moment the waiter passed by
with a tray of drinks. Jimi accidentally bumped into him and the contents of
the glasses poured all over Efua.
‘You idiot!’ she shrieked.
Her dress was stained with orange,
black and red liquids and froth dripped from her right ear. Jimi wanted the
ground to swallow him up yet, terribly, he wanted to laugh.
Efua shrieked again and made for the
door in a half run. He moved towards her but she snapped, ‘Don’t come near me!’
She passed Caro who giggled and
said, ‘You look a mess. That was very unkind of Jimi,’ and people laughed.
Not too many people felt sorry for
her.
‘Sort of serves her right, acting
like she’s better than everybody…’
Outside, a full moon was shining
brightly and Efua was wondering how she was going to get home when a voice
spoke. ‘What is the matter?’ It was the new teacher, Miss Novi.
‘Some id…oh, I got drinks spilled on
me.’
As they walked, Efua felt suddenly
shy. ‘I want to tell you. Miss Novi, that what you did with the boy who fainted
was absolutely brilliant.’
She laughed. ‘it’s called
cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I was a volunteer with an NGO for three months
in Sierra Leone.’
Efua’s eyes opened very wide.
‘Really? Can you tell me all about it?’
‘Let’s get you cleaned up first.’
It wasn’t until much later, after
the dance was over and the students were leaving the hall laughing and
chattering that Efua stood up. She felt reluctant to end the interesting
conversation she was having with Miss Novi.
‘Oh, that was one of the most
touching things I ever heard. The things you did. There’s so much evil in this
world!’ Efua said.
‘You see, I’m interested in such
things,’ Efua continued, encouraging by Miss Novi’s smile. At my last school I
was editor of the magazine and we did some charity work. We called ourselves
Angels of mercy, but it’s nothing like what you’ve done.’
‘Ha,’ said Miss Novi. ‘Angels of
Mercy! You do have the face of an angel.’ Efua ducked her head shyly.
‘Listen, I belong to a group for the
support of women’s and children’s rights. Would you like to come along?’
‘Would I like it? I would love it!’
‘Well then, we’ll be seeing you
around. I’d better been going. You missed your party!’ Miss Novi went off.
Just then, Nene ran to meet her.
‘Efua, I was looking for you. I’m sorry about what happened. Jimi’s very sorry
too. What were you doing here?’
‘Talking to the new teacher,’ Efua
said. She sounded far away. ‘It was nothing really. It doesn’t matter.’
Chapter
8
The term was coming to a close, which meant exams and, more excitingly, the
inter-House Sports Tournament. There would be march past rehearsals and
football games and races between the four house: Tiger, Lion, Cheetah and
Leopard. Every day after classes. Their voices could be heard chanting:We don win o, we don win;
Tiger House, Tiger House na you be de one!
For Nene, end of term meant organizing the Carol Night with the music teacher and she was sitting in the cafeteria talking to Efua about it.
‘We don’t have enough male voices this year, as usual. Efua, would you like to sing? You have a very nice low voice. You could sing in the tenor section.’
‘I can’t sing.’
‘Please sweetie, for me.’
Efua laughed in her unexpectedly rich contralto. ‘I’m afraid I’ll be very busy.;
‘Busy?’
‘Yes. I’m in EGG. It’s a group designed for the advancement of women and children. I’m especially involved in a youth programme. Erdoo got me…’
‘Who’s ErDOO?’
‘Miss Novi.’
‘You call her Erdoo?’
‘Yes. I’ve been going to lots of meetings. We’re staging a protest on violence against women. And next week is the empowerment youth forum, and we’ve been visiting the orphanage.
Oh, and I’ve got a teens Against HIV meeting this evening and for the rest of this week.’
‘Gosh Efua, that’s really busy, but I’m glad you’ve found something that interests you.’
Efua laughed musically again.
She is glowing, Nene thought. She looks more beautiful than ever.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll sing for you,’ Efua said.
She stood up abruptly. ‘Excuse me.’
She left just as Jimi came over. He was wearing sleeveless cotton top and grass stuck to the sides of his legs.
‘Hi Nenes, we just won the basketball match. Up Tigers! I just saw the Witch here.’
‘Stop calling her that,’ Nene said. ‘Considering when you were little you tormented her with Lizards, and now you’re pouring drinks all over her and calling her names, I’m not surprised you don’t get along.’
‘Yeah, yeah. I know she left because of me. She just hates me.?
‘Efua’s sweet and nice if you get to know her.’
‘She can’t be like you,’ he muttered.
‘She went to girls-only school where things were very different and she’s not used to al the gra gra gra here.’
‘What’s that?’ He wanted to change the subject and pointed at the paper she was holding.
‘The carol list.’
‘Is Efua singing?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can I join the choir? You’re always looking for boys?
Nene was astonished. When did Jimi ever sing?
‘Jimi are you sure? You need to have a lot of commitment.’
‘Don’t worry – and I’ll help you find some more boys, if you like,’
Nene stood up, ‘Thanks jims, I’d appreciate it.’
The final day of the Inter-House Sports Tournament dawned bright and clear. Students wearing the coloured vests of their respective houses milled about eagerly discussing who would win the hundred metres race, which was the last event of the tournament. Would it be Jimi or Icheen? Parents and teachers sat under shaded tents in the stands. An eager hush settled over the crowd and eight boys were gathered on the start line, their faces stiff with concentration. Jimi could see Efua in the stands with a slight malicious sneer on her face, as it she could see his fear. A flush of anger rushed through him. Alright, he’d show her!
The blast rang out and the boys were off, running like antelopes. From the corner of his eye Jimi could see Icheen. He strained against the air until he felt he was moving against water. Move! Move! They crossed the finish line.
‘Great race for Tiger House!’ the microphone boomed. ‘Jimi Solade first, Icheen Igbo second…..’
‘He won!’ Nene said smiling.
‘He won,’ Efua said unenthusiastically. ‘I’m sure he’s feeling like a king now. The posturing peacock who panders to the gallery….’
‘Efua, please!’ Nene said putting her hands on her ears. ‘Not everyone can understand your English.’
Joke, who was standing with them, signed, ‘Oh, but he’s very nice_ and dishy too!’
The end-of-year Christmas concert took place in the hall with a large decorated Christmas tree. During the concert Jimi wore a Father Christmas cap on stage, which made everybody laugh, and he sang in the bass section of the choir. He had turned up for every rehearsal.
‘Master Solade, you have a very fine baritone,’ the music teacher had said, delighted. ‘where have you been hiding?’
Nene sang all the soprano solos and the group sounded so beautiful that no one could help but be touched. It was a lovely performance, everybody agreed. The music teacher felt like hugging them all.
For Efua, the term had gone very well indeed. The principal had openly commended her on her excellent results and, best of all, she had met Erdoo and they were doing things that mattered in the world, like helping the less fortunate, trying to make the world a better place. The only irritating thing had been that Jimi was in the choir.
‘What’s up, baby doll?’ he’d say every day.
‘For the last time, stop calling me baby doll!’
‘Miss coker,’ the music teacher always said pettishly, ‘can you please pay attention?’
Only Ansa was not happy, even though he had designed the murals on stage. He had failed his first term exams and dreaded what his mother would say. Probably: ‘No more painting for you, Ansa. How many times must I tell you…?’
Jimi came to take a bow one last time. He had won the best athlete’s trophy and a prize for the best exam result again, and all the girls were coming at him. The handsome schoolboy spread his arms wide and smiled. Everybody loves Jimi, the whole school seemed to be saying to him
Chapter
9
Whenever people said clichés like
the darkest part of the night is just before dawn, there were usually right,
but could that also need that the brightest days occurred before the darkest
night? It was something Jimi Solade would think about for many years afterwards.
These days of being a schoolboy in Forcados were bright: he won prizes, he was
popular, and the only bad thing was that a Efua Coker didn’t like him.
He didn’t spend much time spending time thinking about his family, then. Mother
was quite and gentle and always made sure he had good food to eat and that his
clothes were cleaned and ironed. Father grumbled inceasantly and Wole… was
simply Wole. He was now doing some sort of computer diploma course at an
institute, although he kept trying to see if their elder brother, Femi, who was
living in the U.K, would help him travel out or send some money to him. Femi
was just like Mr. Solade: he wanted nothing to do with Wole.
Through out the holidays, Jimi went out to parties with all his friends and had
a good time at the beach. Once they went out to night clubs for the fun of it;
nobody guessed they were under-age.
One night, just after New Year’s Day when his father was away for his job and
Wole was not at home, Jimi heard a pounding on his bedroom door. It was
Risikat, the house help.
‘Mummy has fainted,’ she said with terror in her eyes. ‘She was just standing
there, then she moved back and fell. Help us!’
He ran to the kitchen and saw his mother on the ground. One of her arms was
flung wide and she had a little cut on her forehead where she had hit the
cupboard. He suddenly realized how thin she was.
‘Mum, mum can you hear me?’ there was no answer. Risikat was staring at him, rolling
her frightened eyes. For a second he didn’t know what to do; he suddenly felt
sick, as if he was going to faint as well. Pulling himself together, he bent
close and felt her slight breath against his face. She was still alive. Thank
God! Jimi took a wet cloth from the house help and rubbed his mother’s
forehead, his heart racing.
After about five minutes, Mrs.
Solade woke up and Jimi and the house help helped her to the sitting room.
‘Mum, are you okay? What’s the
matter?’ Jimi asked.
‘I’m alright,’ she said weakly.
‘No Mum, you’re not. Have you been
ill?
There was something about the way
she refused to meet his gaze that made him uncomfortable. Jimi pressed until
she finally agreed to go to the hospital for a check-up. There, the doctor
spent a long time with her.
‘We’ll have to admit her,’ he said when he finally came out of the examination
room, ‘just for some tests.’
After an agonizing night, jimi went
back to the hospital the next day to find his mother sitting up in bed. The
ward she was in had two other beds in it, one of which was occupied by an
elderly woman who lay still, occasionally punctuating the air with noisy
gasping breaths. Jimi wasn’t sure if she was conscious or not. Jimi twisted his
nostrils a little at the peculiar antiseptic smell that hospitals always seemed
to have.
‘Are you feeling better, Mummy?’
‘Jimi,’ she said, ‘I want to tell you something.’
His heart stood still. Yet, she said nothing.
‘Mum, tell me. I’m not a child.’
‘I have cancer. Ovarian cancer.’
His throat went dry as he struggled to understand what she had just said.
“Th…that sounds bad…’ His voice
trailed off. Cancer! It meant people who became painfully thin with
hopeless-looking eyes and bald heads. It was something that happened to other
people, something that one read about in books or watched on television. How
long had she known? What was going to happen now?
It seemed suddenly darker inside the ward. The smells around him grew thicker;
he wanted to throw up. He glanced at the yellow-eyed woman on the other bed
breathing heavily with her bluish tongue hanging out. The world was suddenly
full of sickness and ugliness.
There was silence and then she said something he did not expect. ‘Your father,
he loves you both.’
Why did she say that? He wondered. ‘Dad?’
‘Yes he can’t help the way he gets
angry sometimes. He almost went bankrupt after what your did. I’m going to try
and pull through this and look after you all. I don’t want you to worry about
me.’
‘Worry?’
He sat on the bed and he suddenly
felt like crying. Tears filled his eyes in spite of himself. He hoped this was
a bad dream.
‘Don’t worry,’ she kept saying.
‘I’ll get through this. Don’t worry at all.’
*
Mr. Solade came back from his trip
the next day looking confused. Jimi had called at once, early the day before.
Uncle Kazeem was also around. ‘What’s happened?’ he growled at Jimi when he
arrived at the house. ‘She’s really ill,’ said Jimi. His father looked stunned,
and then recovered himself. ‘Where is that good-for-nothing brother of yours?’
He was around,’ Jimi said guardedly. Wole had arrived at the hospital the day
before. He had hung around for a short while muttering, ‘I hate hospitals,’
before disappearing again. They drove in silence to the hospital and Mr. Solade
spoke to the doctors. His mother kept asking him how things were going at home
Wole was. One would think she was not the sick one.
After a while, Mr. Solade said to Jimi, ‘let’s go.’
‘I’m not going yet.’
‘Don’t’ start with me.’
‘I’m not going. Papa! Please leave me alone,’ Jimi shouted.
They gazed at each other, for the
first time jimi understood how it felt to be like Wole ad defy his father. An
old fear of his father tugged at the back of his mind, but he was past caring.
‘Jimi,
obey your father,’ Mrs. Solade said. ‘Please.’
On the way to the car his father
said, ‘from not on I’ll keep an eye on you an that good-for –nothing brother of
yours. Both of you will have to deal with me.’ Then he muttered something
unintelligible.
Later In
the evening, Wole came back and received a furious tongue lashing, but that was
all, afterwards, he came to see jimi, looking sorry for one.
‘How’s she
doing?’ Wole asked
‘She’s
better than she was.’
Wole
twisted his hands in his pockets. ‘Damn, I feel so bad.
Has she
really got… You know?
‘Yes,’
Jimi’s voice was biter.
‘I’ never
even noticed anything
‘None
of us noticed.’
When Ansa heard that Mrs. Solade was
ill, he and his parents came to visit Mrs. solade the hospital. He sat with him
on a bench outside the ward. None joined them; she and her parents had also
come to offer their support.
‘I love
she gets better soon,’ Ansa said.
‘I’ll
be praying for her and all of you,’ Nene said and gave him a hug. ‘She’ll get
better, jimi. Just have faith,’
‘Yes, she will,’ Jimi’s heart was heavy as he said it.
Chapter
10
Second term had started. The
chemistry laboratory was filled with serious – faced students. One held up a
test tube filled with a green liquid. ‘Bingo!” he said. “Jims, this would
indicate ferrous iron woudn’t it?
‘Um …… it should, ‘Jimi replied absently.
Mr Edet, the chemistry teacher came to their table ‘How are you all doing?’
‘Just fine sir,’ they chorused.
‘Solade, you wait behind after lab.’
Jimi murmured a little. He looked round and saw Efua filling a burette,
eyebrows puckered in concentration. She looked up, their eyes met and she
quickly glanced away. He wondered why she had been staring.
After classes Mr Edet asked Jimi to help tidy up in the laboratory. He led the
way into the back room that was usually empty, but was now filled with microscopes,
burettes ad other new equipment.
‘Brand new stuff for your exams,’ said Mr Edet, rubbing his hands. ‘You
students don’t know how lucky you are.’
‘It’s good, sir,’ Jimi said politely.
Mr Edet stopped and peered at him short – sightedly. ‘Is anything wrong?’
‘N – Nothing sir.’
‘Good to hear that.’ He patted Jimi’s head paternally. ‘You can join the
technician – help him preserve and label the snake. Give him the key to the
cupboard where the formalin, is kept. It’s on that cabinet.’
‘Thank you sir, but I think I should
be getting home now,’
It was well past four and the
grounds were empty. He leaned against a wall and thought of his last visit to
the hospital and the silent drip-drip of the intravenous chemotherapy
line draining into his mother’s arm. She was in so much pain these days,
sometimes her eyes seemed to say, and ‘I want this to end ….’ He bent over and
vomited onto the grass. Then he went to the tap and washed his mouth and hands.
Efua came upon Jimi as he was wiping his hand with a handkerchief. She had
stayed behind too, helping Miss Novi plan a weekend campaign against child
hawking.
‘Do be careful,’ Miss Novi had said just before leaving. ‘I heard there was a
clash between some area boys this morning around here.’
‘I didn’t hear anything like that,’ Efua had said, ‘anyway, don’t worry.’ The
teacher had patted her cheek lightly and for a minute they’d gazed at each
other affectionately.
As Efua walked along, the air seemed sweeter and colours brighter. Until she
saw Jimi.
‘Oh,’ she said.
‘Oh …..’ he mumbled.
She had always thought Jimi was cocky and irritating but today there emmed
something helpless creatures, like baby birds. Why, she suddenly thought, he
looks like a child really. A poor little kid.
He stood up straight. ‘Excuse me.’
‘Wait,’ she said. ‘I don’t mean to pry, but Nene said your mum wasn’t feeling
too well. I hope she’s better now.’
“Thanks,’ he answered shortly.
They stood staring at each other a
little awkwardly. Then he said, ‘I’m going home, are you?’
And that was how they found themselves walking together towards the school
gate.
Efua was already regretting her impulse. She didn’t like walking with boys. Hope
he doesn’t start any nonsense again, she thought.
Meanwhile, Jimi was trying hard not to glace at her. She looked fresh and cool
– and fastidiously neat, as always. Her gentle perfume filled the air. Her
boobies were …. Shame on you Jimi, he thought, catching himself. Your
mother is in hospital and you’re having thoughts like that!
They turned down the street and she started to say something when they heard
gunshots. Suddenly the noise of people screaming and glass breaking filled the
air.
‘What’s that? Efua gripped Jimi’s hand in fear.
People were running helter-skelter and a tray of oranges rolled in the dust.
The young girl hawking them was wailing loudly, but nobody paid any attention
to her.
‘Area boys and the police are fighting,’ someone shouted. ‘If you love yourself
stay out of the way!’
Jimi and Efua joined a group and ran towards an uncompleted building.
‘We’d best stay here,’ Jimi said when they got inside. He noticed-almost
regretfully-that Efua had released his hands.
More people filled the street shouting and adding to the commotion, when Efua
said, ‘I know that boy!’
‘Who?’ Jimi asked. He saw she was pointing at a plump boy of about ten years
old who stood in the middle of the street staring blankly. He had a small,
squinty eyes and an oddly shaped head that seem too large for the body. ‘Is he
from the school for retard children?’
‘Children with learning disabilities,’ she corrected him primly and then
said with alarm, ‘He’s going to get hurt.’ She was moving forward.
‘Don’t tell me you’re going there. You can’t!’ Jimi called.
She looked at him in astonishment.
‘And who will; stop me?’
She ran out and cursing under his breath, Jimi followed her. The air was filled
with blinding smoke that stung their eyes. A policeman was beating a man lying
on the ground with the butt of his rifle. When the man raised his head, they
saw it was covered with blood.
Efua grabbed the boy’s hand and then someone pushed her from behind. She reeled
forward, almost falling into the nearby gutter, but Jimi caught her.
‘Run!’ he shouted, and they ran out of the smoke, pulling the boy along with
them. They kept running until they were far from the heat and noise of the
unrest.
She was trembling and Jimi had a small cut on his lip. The boy burst into
tears.
‘Look,’ jimi said, ‘If we stay here the trouble can come here. I know the owner
of the ice-cream bar. It’s not totally shut yet.
He’ll let us in.’
‘Lucky for us, ‘she gasped.
They banged on the burglar bars and a man peered through the glass
apprehensively. Samu, the owner, was a family friend of Jimi’s. His expression
changed when he saw them and he opened the bars. The place was air-conditioned
and had a television. ‘Jimi the Great! How are you? Always trouble in this
Lagos,’ he said. Then he lowered his voice, ‘And who’s this one now? It’s not
Caro and it’s not Dupe or …’
‘Stop it,’ Jimi almost blushed. ‘She’s just my classmate.’
‘That’s why you are looking so sheepish. I don’t blame you, though; she’s a
wow.’
Efua was seated with the boy, her arm round his shoulders. ‘I’m sorry,’ she
said.
‘You like doing crazy things. Crazy nice things.’ Jimi grinned. She undid the
band tying her hair. She hadn’t plaited it this week and it was long and thick
and fell across her shoulders.
‘I don’t. Bad things just always happen when you’re around.’
‘I’ll take that as a joke.’
They both laughed and she said, ‘It was terrible, but you were nice,’ almost
reluctantly.
‘Yes, I am nice. How did you get involved with him?’ Jimi pointed to the boy.
‘Through a charity visit I once helped with. It was lovely and I learned a lot
about children n like him and th way society sees them,’ she said in a serious
voice.
It sounded rather silly to Jimi, but the talk went on to things like safety on
the streets, school life, people, places and so on..
Once or twice they laughed. Jimi had never heard her laugh before this. The boy
also cheered up considerably, pointing at things and staring at the television.
Samu brought them free ice cream and winked at Jimi.
‘Why did you leave your school?’ Jimi asked.
‘I wanted to leave, now I regret it.’
‘Oh?’
‘I’ll tell you more about your time, not now.’
By the time the unrest finally died down, it was dark.
‘I think we should be going now. My aunt will be worried,’ Efua said. There’s
no one to worry about me, Jimi suddenly thought and felt downcast.
‘We have to drop him off,’ she said pointing at the little boy.
After thanking Samu, they took the
boy to his boarding school.
‘Bless you both,’ the instructor
said when they arrived with the child, ‘You are wonderful children.’
On their way home they chatted and
laughed. The streets seemed magically changed – like her. Colored lights
flashed from billboards with the words like: NAIJA 4 LIFE! WETIN DEY!. Trader
selling piles of oranges sat talking as paraffin lamps glowed like magic
candles on their trays. Cheerful music sounded from shops and restaurants. A
man with dreadlocks leaned against a wall and played a guitar softly as they
passed the park. Just opposite, a white garment church service was in full
swing with noisy, chanting prayers and stamping feet. A girl selling recharge
cards beside her stall danced to the music of popular pop star Timaya, which
was playing from a nearby shop. She shock, twisted and bent with such reckless
abandon that
Jimi and Efua stopped and laughed as
well, infected with pure fun. Except for the broken glass on the ground, it
seemed impossible that there had been trouble just that afternoon.
They stopped in front of her house. ‘Thanks for today,’ she said, smiling at
him. ‘You were, you know…. ‘She stopped as if she had said too much, smiled at
him and squeezed his hand a little. Jimi realized they had been holding hands
the whole time. ‘Goodnight.’ And she went inside.
Jimi continued towards his house.
The day seemed to have lasted forever. The sky was full of twinkling stars and
there was a full moon. He bounced along, sometimes jumping; sometimes breaking
into a run. A few people stared at him, wondering what this boy in a school
uniform jacket was all about. When he went to sleep that night there was a
half-smile on his face.
Chapter
11
‘Jimi, you’ve been missing football
practice.’ Bayo. Jimi’s friend, asked, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I’ve been busy.’
‘Okay. Hope you’re coming for Ck’s
bash tonight.’
‘Oh, I’d forgotten. Don’t think I’ll
be there.
‘Come on, when did you ever miss a
party? It’ll be great. There will be snooker and all the girls’ll be there.’
Jimi hesitated and said, Bayo, don’t
you think there’s more to life than just partying? Anyway, I want to study.’
Bayo looked at him in mock horror.
‘You of all people! You never need to study and you always come out tops.’
About then Efua and Nene passed,
smiling and saying hello as they walked by. Since the day of disturbances, he
and Efua had become friendlier. Sometimes, the four of them – he, Ansa, Nene
and Efua – went to the hospital together, and Efua – went to the hospital
together, and Nene always said a short prayer. It always made him feel much
better.
‘Jimi Striker! When did you and the
Witch start saying hello?’ Bayo laughed.
‘She’s not that bad really.’
‘Oh well, if you say so. See you at
practice.’
Jimi arrived practice late.
‘Solade, what’s the matter with
you?’ The football coach snarled.
‘I’m sorry sir,’ he said lamely.
‘We have important matches coming
up. I would kick you out of the team.’
‘I…’
‘Shut up. Get on tehe field!’
During practice he kept missing
passes. ‘Jims, what’s wrong with you?’ a teammate yelled in frustration.
‘Don’t know,’ he said, equally
frustrated.
‘Solade, you are playing like a
legless cockroach!’ the coach shouted from the sidelines.
‘Don’t mind him, he’s been going
home to eat mama’s food,’ another teammate said innocently. This was too much.
Jimi pounced on the boy and they rolled on the pitch, kicking and punching. The
others had to drag them away.
‘Solade, get out of here! Frog jump
out!’ shouted the coach. Jimi looked at the shocked faces of his teammates. He
knew they were all wondering about his erratic behavior, and he wanted to say
he was sorry. Instead, he ran off.
Mrs Solade died on Saturday morning. It had rained heavily the night before and
on his way to the hospital the city gutter were gurgling ominously. He was with
her when she stopped breathing. He shouted for the doctor and nurse and they
rushed in and p[ushed him out. Later, the doctor explained to his father that
they had done their best, but that the prognosis was very poor. His father put
an arm around Jimi’s shoulders and said, ‘We understand.’
‘We are very sorry,’ said the doctor.
Jimi was quiet, but it seemed as if he was watching everything from a distance.
Someone was shouting ‘Mummy! Mummy!’ Jimi wasn’t sure if It was him.
Their apartment had been full of
visitors since then. Uncle Kazeem, Aunt Memunat, Aunty Omotunde and a host of
other relatives that Jimi half knew. Their oldest brother Femi arrived from UK.
He was smaller than Jimi remembered and he enfolded him in a bear hug. Femi had
never done that before. Usually, he was dealing out blows for the slightest
thing. Once, when Jimi was small, Femi flung him down a staircase-by accident,
he claimed. Father had given Femi the beating of his life then. Now, Femi sat
in his expensive clothes and said, ‘I can’t believe this.’
Wole wandered in and out like a ghost. Jimi kept expecting his mother to come
and say something like, ‘Imagine them saying I was dead! What would you like to
eat?’ It would never happen.
She was buried in a private cementary and some of his school friends attended
the funeral. The coffin made scraping sounds as it was allowed into the grave
and he couldn’t see through the tears that blinded him.
He moved off to a deserted part of the cementery, wishing and praying it was
all a bad dream and he would wake up.
‘Please, God …..’ he choked. What could he say? He sank down to the ground.
He heard footsteps beside him. It was Efua.
‘I’m ….sorry,’ she said.
She stood for a little while, and then sat down beside him. ‘I don’t know….I’m
– I’m not close my mother, but I can see how much you loved yours,’ and she
went silent.
He clasped his hand over hers. She tightened her fingers over hisand they sat
quietly for what seemed like a long time, until Nene and Ansa came over.
‘Your dad is looking for you,’ Ansa said to Jimi. Efua jumped up when she heard
his voice and stared at her hands.
‘Thanks,’ Jimi said, and went back to his family.
Chapter
12
Shortly afterwards, Mr Solade told
his sons he was travelling out of the country. He said he was about to secure
an important financial deal and might be away for as long as five months.
‘Five months!’ Jimi gasped.
‘Yes, I promise you boys will be
fine. I’ll leave plenty of money for you and I’ll send you more regularly.’
Money, Money. That was all Jimi’s
father thought about.
‘Listen,’ Mr Solade said to Jimi,
almost gruffly, ‘I’m proud of you and I know you can look after that brother of
yours. I’m trying to save up for future education and give you boys the best.
Things have been tough recently. My dear wife now resting in heaven understood
that.’
What about me? Jimi wanted to shout. Responsible younger brother indeed.
At that moment Jimi almost hated him.
When he left, both brothers’ saw him
off at the airport. Jimi never taught he could miss hi father, but as Mr Solade
went through the departures gate. Jimi suddenly had the terrifying feeling he
might never come back.
‘Chin up, bro,’ Wole said when they
got back home, but Jimi slumped on the bed.
‘Bothe our parents are gone now,’
said Jimi
Wole brought up a wrap. ‘I have
something for you. A nice smoke. Are you in/’
‘What’s that?’
“Come on, let’s light up and take
it. All our worries will soon go,’
‘I….I don’t know……’
‘Come on, just this once. I have
your back. I’m your bro, not so?’
Wole went wild. Every day,
questionable visitors trooped in and out of the apartment and every weekend was
a party. He ran through his money like water.
‘The noise from that flat is just
too much,’ Mr. Izaegbegbe, Ansa’s father, grumbled to his wife one morning.
‘Poor boys,’ Ansa’s mother said.
‘That is what comes out of leaving your children all alone.
’ That day, she made it a point to
visit the boys.
‘Is everything all right?’ she asked
Jimi when she arrived.
’Yes, Ma.’
‘Listen darling, if you need
anything or you’re worried about anything just come and see me.’
After she left, Jimi tried to talk
to his brother
‘Wole, we can’t allow* those guys
here anymore.’
‘Why not? It’s my house as much as
yours.’
‘It’s too much. They mess up the
whole place.’
‘You sound like a old man. Relax and
take life easy, bro.’
Jimi looked around Wole’s room.
There are some brownish white powdes on a sheet of paper.
‘What’s that?’
Wole suddenly laughed. It was an
ugly laugh. ‘You don’t want to know,’
Jimi remembered smoking the wrap the
day their father left and the light-headed feeling he got afterwards. He’d said
he would never try it again. There was something in hi that always wanted to
try things, to take a dare.
‘I’m not a kid.’
‘You want something different?
Alright, fine by me.’ Wole closed the door.
Jimi’s heart beat loudly but he
moved forward.
‘Remove your watch and roll up your
sleeves. This will be the ultimate experience. Heroin.’
Heroin
Once a psychologist had come to
school to give a talk on the dangers of drug use. She had mentioned heroin.
‘One of the worst drug out there,’
the woman had said. She showed them a short film of a scrawny white man
writhing and gasping in the throes of heroin withdrawal. These things happened
in other countries, not in Jimi Solade’s room, not with his own brother.
Maybe there was something in those drugs that could make him forget reality. It
was a tempting thought.
An image of his mother’s face
floated into his head. She was alive and glowing.
‘No, Wole,’ he whispered. Wole
shrugged and laughed.
‘I didn’t think so,’ he said smugly
and left the room. How low he has sunk, ‘Jimi, you scored disgracefully
low in the last test. This has never happened before, what wrong?’
Jimi mumbled, ‘I’m sorry.’
It was difficult to think with his
brain feeling woolly. He just wanted to get through the day. Who could he talk
to about Wole? They’d all run to the police and he didn’t want to snitch his
brother. Besides, Wole had never mentioned the drugs again. In fact he had
stopped talking to Jimi altogether.
Nene and Efua cornered Jimi after
class.
‘Jimi, are you alright?’ Efua asked.
She was staring at him intently.
‘Fine,’ he said abruptly and he
quickly moved off. The way she looked at him uncomfortable.
The girls stopped to talk to Ansa
after school.
‘Don’t you think Jimi’s been looking
odd these last couple of days?’ Efua asked as they all walked home together.
‘Yes,’ Nene said.
‘Have you tried finding out what’s
wrong?’
‘No. Maybe he’s not feeling well,’
‘I’m worried too,’ Ansa said.
‘Why?’ Efua said sharply.
Ansa
hesitated before speaking.
‘He’s staying alone with his
brother,’
‘What about his brother?’
Ansa licked his lips and said
furtively, ‘Look, this is between you and me. Jimi would be very angry if I
told you, but his brother is – well, we suspect he sometimes sells drugs and …’
Ansa didn’t complete the sentence.
Nene gasped, but Efua said
angrily,’What a brother!’
‘Of course Jimi would never indulge
in anything like that, but he’s very keen on his brother and I know he’s worried.’
‘Jimi needs help,’ Efua said.
‘Me?’ Efua cocked her head and Nene
looked away.
‘We can go there tonight – its
Friday – and just talk to him,’
When they got to the Solades’
apartment that evening, the door was open The lights were dim and loud music was
blaring from an unseen stereo. There were people lounging about and dancing.
The three friends stood for a minute watching everyone.
‘I’m not sure about this,’ Nene
said.
‘Don’t worry, it will be all
alright,’ said Efua, straining her eyes. ‘Where is he?’
A boy comes over.
‘Hey baby, you care for a dance?’ he
asked Efua.
‘We’re looking for Jimi Solade,’
Efua said firmly.
He pointed. ‘Just over there,
sitting on the arm chair. He looks finished,’ he laughed.
They picked there way towards him.
‘Wake up!’ Ansa said, shaking him.
Jimi opened his eyes and leapt to his feet, looking around flustered and
confused.
‘Nene, Efua… what are you - ?’
‘You seem to be having a nice time,’
Nene said.
‘Oh…we….’ He rubbed his neck.
‘Let’s all go outside,’ Efua
suggested.
Outside, Nene started delicately.
‘Jims, we’ve been worried about you.’
He tried to smile, ‘There’s nothing
wrong. Want to join the party?’
‘What party? Lying on a chair
looking miserable?’ Efua snapped.
‘Hey,’ Jimi flared. ‘What do you
know about me?’
Nene quickly interrupted. ‘Jimi, we
want to tell you something. Please stop all this. We need you and we’re all
missing you. You can’t stay here being corrupted further. This isn’t you.’
‘You can stay me,’ Ansa said. ‘My
mother would love to have you around.’
‘Please,’ Efua said softly and moved
closer, her eyes bright. ‘Do it. Please.’ He felt his knees going weak.
‘Oh…..yes. Ok. I will…..’ What an
angel! Jimi thought.
Later that night, as Nene and Efua
walked home. Nene spoke up.
‘You seemed very concerned about
Jimi.’
‘He’s in a really bad way and he’s
all done.’
‘Listen Efua, I know you like doing
lots of good work but….’ Her voice traile away as if she was embarrassed.
‘What?’
‘Remember Jimi is a human being, not
one of your causes.’
Efua stopped. ‘That’s an unfair
thing to say.’
‘It wouldn’t be fair to him if
your’e just saying these things because you’re feeling sorry for him.’
‘Thank you very much,’ Efua said
coldly, and walked off.
Chapter
13
Two weeks later, the Forcados
football team was playing a friendly match against the nearby St Edmund’s
Comprehensive School and most of the students were gathered on the field to
cheer their team. Drums and yells followed every pass and dribble. Even though
he wasn’t playing. Jimi stood on the lines with a red bandana tied around his
head to support his fellow teammates. To everybody’s relief, he was more
himself these days.
‘He’s getting over his mum’s death,’
people said. At half time, he raced over to where Efua stood.
‘Glad you’re now a football fan,’ he
said. I wish I was playing!’
‘She laughed. Efua wanted to buy a
drink and Jimi went with her. Nene watched them go. She laughed. Efua wanted to
buy a drink and Jimi went with her. Nene watched them go. She and Efua had been
rather cool with each other since their little tiff. As soon as they were gone,
Nene Heard a voice sneers, ‘Mickey and Minnie Mouse! She acted as if she
couldn’t stand the sight of him!’ It was caro, she had been watching them too
and her face was a vicious mask.
Nene moved away from the other girl
and bumped into Ansa, who was holding a large square of canvas.
‘Hey Nens,’ Ansa greeted her. ‘Glad
to see Jim’s out of his slump.’
‘Is he okay staying with you?’
‘Yeah. He’s with us most nights and
he studies. He’s helping me too.’
‘Nice to hear that.’ She took the
canvas. ‘You’re painting again.’
She looked at the painting closely.
‘It’s Efua!’ she exclaimed in
surprise.
‘Don’t tell her yet,’ Ansa said
shyly, ‘I used to think she was a mean person until…… but she’s told me she
likes paintings and she encourages me.’
Nene said nothing as she returned
the painting to Ansa.
At the food kiosk, Jimi and Efua
fell talking.
‘You know what,’ Efua said, ‘I want
to be a doctor, because I think it would be nice to help people. I think I can
do it. What do you think?’
‘You’ll be a drop dead gorgeous
doctor,’ he said.
‘Is that all there is?’ she said
somewhat sadly. Why won’t you stop thinking about how I look? She
thought.
‘I know you can do it. Me? I don’t
think I could ever be a doctor.’
‘Why not? You’re smart enough.’ Jimi
remembered his mother in the hospital. Fat lot good the doctors did. He
thought bitterly. “How’s your brother doing? I know you don’t like talking
about it.’
It was strange how people changed
when you saw them differently, Jimi realized. At that moment some voices
floated from over the wall saying,
You can touch the sky
‘Cause you’re so fly
My love’s so high….
‘It’s
the Rhymers,’ Jimi laughed. “Their flow seems to be going strong today,’
‘Silly lyrics,’ she said, but she
laughed too.
That afternoon, Nene headed to
Efua’s house. She hated holding grudges, so she had decided she would go and
collect her biology textbook from Efua and reconcile with her. Efua was not at
home – she wasn’t back from the football match yet – but her aunt allowed her
to get the book from her room.
Mrs Alli hesitated a little and then
said, ‘Nene, Efua’s worrying me.’
‘Efua, why?’
‘She’s so busy with all her
activities, going here and there, it’s good, but she takes it so seriously.
She’s not Mother Teresa.’
Nene smiled. ‘I don’t think it’s
something to worry about.’
‘And she’s so close with that new
teacher,’ Efua’s aunt murmured.
‘Efua’s doing very well at school,
Ma,’ Nene said. ‘She scored the highest marks in our last biology test.’
‘I know,’ her aunt said, gloomily,
‘but its “Erdoo this” or “Miss Novi that” or women’s rights and whatever else
from morning till night. I wish she were more like other girls from age. I
don’t like it.’
‘I wouldn’t worry, Ma. Effua’s
different and she’s all right the way she is. I think I’ve offended her; could
you please tell her am sorry,’
‘No problem, dear. I suppose I
should be glad she’s settled and doing very well. Maybe it’s because I no
know book.’ She laughed a little.
Back I her room at home, Nene opened
her textbook and a small dark booklet dropped out. Curious, she opened it. It
was full of Efua’s handwriting. On a page there was some poetry:
I am a sorry flower
A damaged plant
I don’t know
where-
It stopped. It didn’t make much
sense. She turned to the next page.
Today I have fallen in love. Diary,
can you believe it? I thought I was frozen and love was silly figment of
foolish romance paperbacks. Does it matter who or what you fall in love with?
This something greater than love. It’s sublime. It’s ecstasy.
It was Efua’s diary! Nene closed it,
thinking she shouldn’t be reading it, but something drew her to it. Efua of all
people in love! Nene giggled to herself a little. Amazing!
A loose page peeked out and Nene
pulled it out. It was an attempt at a letter:
What? Nene was shaking.
It must be a mistake of sort.
She ha misinterpreted what she had read. It was call very innocent really.
Love. We hug. My Erdoo.
Efua and Miss Novi? That strange
corper with her jeans and short haircut? Could Efua really be a ----? No,
surely not.
She put the booklet back into the
book and closed her eyes.
It was rainy some the student
couldn’t go home straight away. Instead, they hung about talking, mostly about
tutorials and he upcoming examinations. Nene was standing in the corridor,
staring at the rain, deep in thought.
‘Hi, Nene.’ It was Jimi. ‘Kobo for
your thoughts.’
‘Hi,’ she said, trying to sound
bright.
‘Chin up. Where is your girlfriend,
Efua?’
‘I don’t know. She’s your classmate,
not mine.’ Since discovering the diary, Nene had avoided Efua, trying to think of
what to do.
‘She’s probably with her other
girlfriend, Miss Novi.’
Nene stiffened. ‘Very funny.’ She
noticed the rain had stopped. ‘jimi, I think I’ii be going now.’
‘Let’s go together. Shall we wait
for Efua?
He always manages to bring
everything back to Efua, she thought. Why do you like so much? What’s the
matter with you boys? Why? Why? She doesn’t even care about you.
Nene suddenly made up her mind.
‘Jimi, Efua is our friend right? And friends always help each other?’
‘Yes, you did with me.’
‘Well, I think Efua needs us know
and I’m going to show you something. you’re not to tell anybody. Please,
promise.’
‘I promise. What is it?
Nene wanted to say ‘swear it’ but
she knew people weren’t supposed to swear. ‘Okay, look at this.
She gave jimi the sheet that
contained the letter. He looked at bit for such a long time she said, ‘well?
How can we help her?
‘Help?’ He said in a strangled
voice. Jimi struggled to say more, and then stopped. Without another word, he
turned and walked away. Nene called out to him, but he didn’t wait for her.
Suddenly, she felt a little frightened.
Chapter
14
It was just before assembly and a
crowd had gathered in front of the senior classrooms. Pupils were chattering
excitedly, some whispering furiously, some laughing and shaking their heads.
Then, Efua walked through the school gates and there was a sudden hush. She
stopped, noticing that some students were pointing at her and making furtive
gestures. What could be the matter?’
Joke came running to meet her.
‘Efua, don’t you know what’s happened?’
‘What?’
‘Some students are saying some
things about….about you and Miss Novi! Some really terrible things about both
of you!’
Efua went still. Joke continued.
‘When I got to school this morning, the boys from the art class were laughing
and making rude jokes. Of course, I thought those boys were just fooling around
the way they usually do until I heard there’s a letter – supposedly written by
you – to that corper. I think that there’s a photocopy or something also. I
didn’t see it, though!’ Joke added hastily. She lowered her voice to a
horrified whisper. “They said you wrote that you were….lovers! That you kiss
and hug and – oh I don’t know what else to say! Caro today was just laughing
and laughing. I don’t believe any of it, of course.’
There was roaring in Efua’s ears.
She tried to talk normally but her voice came out in a quavering whisper, ‘Did
you say….. a letter?’ She stopped her heart pounding.
Joked stared at her for a moment. ‘I
don’t believe any of it,’ she said again, but this time it sounded as if she
was trying to convince herself. ‘Efua, I think you should stay away from class
today.’
The news had spread rapidly among
the senior students and embellishments had been added along the way. Efua Coker
and Miss Novi. It was the most deliciously horrifying thing to happen to
Forcados in a log time. It was there in Efua’s own handwriting.
‘Can you imagime? You can never
trust girls – only schools!’
‘No wonder she never looks at
boys….’
‘I knew there was something wrong
about her. Poor Jimi, I almost feel sorry for him.’
When Nene saw people reading the
letter she almost fainted. She immediately went in search of Jimi. ‘How could
you?’
‘It wasn’t …..’
‘Oh don’t lie. I showed you
something in private and you circulated it to the whole school. I never knew
you could be so monstrous!’ Then she waved her hands in the air. ‘God please
forgive me!’
There was such uproar among the
senior students that the principal was forced out of his office by the noise.
‘What’s the matter?’ Mr Mallum demanded
as he entered the nearest senior class.’We don’t really know, sir,’ the head
girl, Ada said. ‘It seems Efua Coker wrote a letter to the corper. I haven’t
seen it, but some boys in the art classnhave it, Let me go and get it from
them,’
When Mr Mallum saw the letter, which
appeared to be the original, he seized it at once and instructed the head boy
and head girl to bring any copies they could find to his office immediately.
Then, he sent for Efua Coker.
Efua was throwing up in the girls
toilet when Ada came looking for her.
Calm down, Efua, this isn’t the
worst thing that has happened to you. It
isn’t. It isn’t, she thought as she sat before Mr Mallum; Mrs Tanimoro, the
guidance councellor whose mouth was twisted in self-righteous horror; and the
vice principal.
Efua imagined what was going through
their minds. Oh immorality! Shocking! I always she was a bad girl! Bad girl…
‘Now, Coker, did you write this
letter?’ the principal asked.
Efua bent her head. ‘Yes, sir’
Mr Mallum shook his head. ‘I should
dismiss this, but some of the students are saying some damaging things and it
concerns a teacher. There are some things written that are, er, disquieting,
you understand?’
‘It’s not true sir, it’s not what it
seems. We are very fond of each other of course, but….’
‘Fond of each other?’ Mr Mallum’s
voice became colder. ‘Please explain yourself.’
Efua said nothing and the principal
sighed. ‘I think we need to send for your teacher. You stay here.’
When Miss Novi came, she hesitated
at the doorway. She seemed confused by the trio who sat in stony silence as
Efua stood in front of Mr Mallum’s desk.
‘Now Miss Agbenenovi, do you know
what is going on?’ the principal asked without premple.
‘No, not really,’ the corper said.
‘It appears you are the object of
affection of young Miss Coker here, She also claims you are “very fond of each
other” Can u please clarify that?’
The corper glanced at Efua before
speaking. ‘Efua Coker is interested in some of the extracurricular activities
which involve charity work. I introduced her to a few and she has been a ver
dedicated volunteer.’
‘I’m sure she is,’ the principal
said dryly. ‘What I mean is her er…er…,’ the principal scratched his head,
looking for the right words. Efua watched all of them as if it was a dream, her
head burning. ‘Has there been any improper relationship between the two of
you?’
The corper whipped her head up.
‘Absolutely not, sir!’ She was indignant.
‘Well, I have a letter here were she
writes of you in a …er… indiscreet manner. She writes that you …. Embrace each
other. This is a serious thing, Miss Agbenenovi, I know you will soon be
leaving for a new station for the remainder of your service year, but we take a
dim view of teachers embracing students. Do you do other things? I know young
women sometimes er – er wish to experiment … Have you…’
Efua gave a strangled shrick. ‘Sir,
it was nothing like that! They were just – thoughts!’
All eyes turned to the distraught
girl. Mrs Tanimoro shook her head disapprovingly.
The corper quickly spoke, ‘I’m – I’m
embarrassed, sir. I consider Efua Coker as a student, nothing more. She’s an
enthusiastic volunteer, but clearly confused and disturbed. She’s just a young
girl.’
The principal quickly turned to
Efua. ‘You may leave my office. You are excused from school for the rest of
today. I would like to see your mother and guardian as soon as possible.’
Efua came out of the office,
weeping. She stopped when she saw Jimi passing by on his way to class. ‘Jimi,’
she called, relieved. ‘Can you imagine what they’re saying about my letter? Why
do people think ----?
‘I don’t know what to think. You
wrote it,’ Jimi said, cutting her off.
‘Jimi,’ she said wearily, ‘you don’t
understand.’
‘I read the letter and then someone
stole it from me,’ he said. ‘Nene actually saw it first and she didn’t know
what to think either. The only thing I’m sorry about is that the whole schools
know.’
She went silent.
‘You….you hid your true self under a
façade,’ he said quietly.
‘And what if I did? What
business is it of yours?’ she said suddenly angry.
‘It’s none of my business! I hope
you two are happy,’ he said, just as angrily, and he turned to walk away. It
was cruel of him, he knew, but she had made a complete fool of him.
‘I’m proud to have known a person
like her!’ she called after him.
‘You and her, do you know what that
means?’ He stopped, but did not turn to look at her.
‘Yes, and I don’t care! She’s ten
times the person you or anyone else here could ever be.’
He winced at her words, but by the
time he turned to face her, she was gone.
Chapter
15
The next day Mr
Mallum gathered the senior students together. He told them he was shocked by
the whole episode but he was even more shocked by the students’ behavior. He
pointedout that Efua Coker was a fellow student who did not deserve to be
treated like an outcast and Miss Novi should have been respected as a teacher.
‘Your behavior has been shameful and
disgraceful,’ he said.
Nobody
stirred. They all bent their heads.
‘Now, Jolly Stephens, come
out!’
The matter was explained:
Jolly had been rummaging through Jimi’s locker, trying to find an assignment he
wanted to when he came across Efua’s letter. Out of a malicious desire to
humiliate. Efua, he had made photocopies of the letter and showed them to some
other boys.
‘Disgraceful behavior! How would you like everyone to know your personal
thoughts?’ said the principal. This will be the end of the matter.’
He proceeded to
have Jolly publicly flogged with ten strokes of the
cane.
Efua’s mother arrived at the
principal’s office with Efua and her aunt. They had met her at the airport and
driven straight down. No words had been exchanged.
‘Mr Mallum, I’m dreadfully sorry about the whole matter, ‘Mrs Coker began.
‘It has been a shock,’ he said. ‘Such a thing has never been reported in my
school before. I’m thankful that nothing-or at least there is no evidence that
anything-happened. I care about my school, and its reputation.’
‘I do apologize. And I know how stubborn my daughter can be.’ Mrs Coker gave
him a winning smile.’ Please just her stay to the end of term-that dreadful
corper must be at fault too. Thank goodness she’s been redeployed somewhere
else.’
Mr Mallum took a deep breath.
‘Now, madam, the corper has denied anything improper, though she admits they
were very friendly. I like to think she was simply the object of some misplaced
affection. However, I have cautioned her severely. I recommend that Efua take a
week off classes because a lot of unnecessary unpleasantness has occurred. We
will deliberate on the matter and then I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thank you sir and you know just last week my husband was talking about
donating new computers, to.’
Back home her mother raged, ‘This is the worst thing you have done! You
incorrigible…’
‘Funmi, do calm down,’ Efua’s aunt said nervously.
‘It isn’t true anyway,’ Efua cried. ‘At least not the way people think it is!’
‘When have you ever told the truth?’ her mother said.
Efua’s aunt was beginning to think that they were talking about something
entirely different.
When have you ever told the truth?’ her mother said.
Efua’s aunt was beginning to think that they were talking about something
entirely different.
Efua lifted her head defiantly and said, ‘I’ve always told the truth!’
‘Harlot! Sick child! What will you do to me next?’
Efua made a swaying motion in the doorway as if she was about to fall down. She
clutched the doorknob and then left the room, silently.
‘I have to go back,’ Efua’s mother said to her cousin. ‘Keep me informed of any
new developments.’
Efua stayed in her room for the rest of that day, and the next. Her aunt went
in to see her. ‘Efua dear, do eat something. The maid said you’re not eating
anything.’
Efua turned over in the bed and said nothing.
By the third day Efua’s aunt was terrified. ‘Efua, do you want to starve
yourself to death?’
God forbid, you shall eat,even if it’s by force.’
Efua’s head and bones ached and she kept drifting off to an uneasy sleep,
waking up troubled by nightmares. A hard-faced woman sat on the dressing table
beside the mirror wearing expensive jewellery and the latest lace material.
Just like her mother. It was her mother.
‘I’m not your mother,’ the woman said in her cold, hard voice. ‘Nobody can love
you. You are nothing.’
The sneering, purple lips receded amid the smell of strong, spicy perfume. In
its place was a horrifying masculine smell mixed with cigar smoke. Then, her
step father was murmuring through big teeth ‘Ahhh, Efua come along. Be a good
girl…’
She woke up trembling, feeling as if someone was shouting in her ear. They is
coming here and they will do bad things to you. Bad things you deserve.
She stood up, wobbling, and went out into the sitting room. It was late evening
and nobody was in the house. Her forehead was burning and her throat felt
cracked and parched. She didn’t know when she left the house, but soon she was
crossing the street. A thin scatter–haired girl in a damp t-shirt and jeans
weaving through the traffic.
She stopped and leaned against a street wall and sank down, feeling weak.
Scattered tins and pieces of rubbish littered the ground. The air was tainted
with the strong smell of urine and waste. A sudden screech startled her. She
jumped up.
A bedraggled cat crouched in front of her, the fur on its back standing on end.
The cat hissed and spat, its eyes glowing. She shrieked and stumbled away,
falling among the tins.
A voice spoke,’ ‘Who be dat?’
Efua looked up; it was among a woman. A woman bound up in rags with dirty hair
matted together. She was holding a burning tin lamp. A mad woman, Efua knew.
‘You,’ the woman said in a cracked voice. ‘Are you mu daughter?’
Efua tried to speak but she wasn’t sure. Who am i? Am I her
daughter?
‘Sit down, my daughter, sit,’ the woman crooned. ‘Sit down and I will take care
of you.’
Efua felt a shoulder of revulsion as the woman touched her face, her hand felt
scaly, like a lizard. The woman began to chant and mutter meaningless words and
Efua slowly drifted asleep.
When she woke up she found herself in a room surrounded by people in white and she
gasped.
‘She’s awake.’ It was her aunt’s voice. ‘Thank God! Efua you are in hospital.’
‘Thank God,’ another voice said.
‘Ah Efua,’ her aunt said, stroking her head. Don’t do this to me again. Thank
God you didn’t wander too far off. We found you misconscious on the streets of
Lagos! A young girl! You are safe now. Rest’
She understood that, but where was the old witch, the one who said she was her
mother? She could hear the doctor saying ‘severe malaria’ and she leaned back
against the pillows. It was good to be here, away from everybody. She wanted to
be somewhere safe.
Chapter
16
Nene felt thoroughly empty and
guilty. She couldn’t do anything, not even pray. She was silent while helping
her mother prepares dinner.
‘Nene, what is the matter?
It’s Efua she ill and unhappy and
its all my fault
‘Your fault?
‘Yes, I was trying to help her, at
least I said I was, but mother……I don’t know
Her mother dried her hands. Nene
talk to me
Nene’s voice went flat. I was
jealous of her she so attractive and boys always become silly over her. Jimi,
Ansa….. And she had help jimi so much. They seemed to talk of nothing but Efua
Efua…. I just thought “what’s so special about her? You know. I think that
because I was jealous I showed jimi the letter. Because I …. I think I wanted
him t see her for what she was and like her much less. Maybe because I …. I
wanted him just to look at me too can you imagine?
Her mother was silent.
‘I’m a mother, Nene sobbed. Can’t
you say anything?
Her mother sighed. What do you want
me to say? How do you feel now?
Terrible I did not know everybody
would see it. I miss her am so confused
You have to go and see her and
explain everything including your part
I can’t go and see her; Nene wailed.
If you are truly he friend you will
go and see her. I will buy something for you to take along came on
Efua sat up in the hospital bed; she
was feeling much better so people had sent gifts and cards. Ansa had designed a
special one shaped like a large bouquet of flowers. Her school friends from St.
Catherine had also sent a card, collectively signed with harts and kisses. How
did they know she was here? There was also a letter from her former principal
sending warm thoughts and wishing her the best in life.
She smiled sadly. What a mess she
had made of her life.
Hello Efua, a voice spoke. She
looked up; it was Nene
How are you? Nene came forward
smiling nervously. ‘I’ve missed you. Everybody had. I’ve baked you a cake. Did
you get ……
What do you want? Doesn’t it offends
your pue and gentle soul to be sitting beside me?
Efua I am really sorry. She sat on
the bed. I saw the letter by accident and showed Jimi did either.
‘Yes I know, you wanted to hep me
Efua looked away. I am a dreadful person I’m not fit to be beside someone like
you. So just go and lave me alone
Nene took a deep breath. I have a
confession to make I did it on purpose I showed Jimi the letter because I eas
jealous of you.
Efua raised her head astonished
jealous of what
Of you everything you are you can
see what sort of person I am not half as good as you because I pretended t
myself I was trying to help you. Efua I don’t care what people think you are I
love you as a sister and I will want to be your friend, if you have let me come
you ever find it n you heart to forgive me?
Efua said nothing and Nene
continued, feeling desolate I m very sorry and I understand if you hate me now,
but I will never give up on our friendship she stood up and twisted her hands
I am sorry Nene repeated. I will
come over to see you tomorrow. She turned to go
Nene, wait Efua said
Efua started talking in an
expressionless voice. My mother married my stepfather, when I was twelve she
said it would give us a better life after my father died. It wasn’t so bad at
first except for his son. He was a nasty, mean bully. Luckily he was away most
of the time’
Efua made a gulping sound,
shuddering. Ten when I was thirteen, he my stepfather became worse. He started
making immortal suggestions, but I pretended as if I did not understand what he
was saying. Sometimes, he grap me…. Touching me…. It was so sickening. Then he
came to my room one night and he made me do things to Him. He put his …. She
stopped.
Nene was wide-eyed with shock. Efua
continued. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone. He did it several times
last year, h came to my room again and then I knew I could not take it anymore
I fought back with a knife. He was badly hirt.
Nene was shaking her head with
horror. Efua was crying now. Nobody believed me and my mother called me a demon
possessed liar! She said I was trying to ruin her marriage. I don’t blame her.
I cannot forget. I get nightmares and I see him that why I stabbed him. She
sobbed. About Miss Novi she was just a nice, lovely friend. Nothing went on and
now she think I am a bad person. I always destroy people’s lives don’t you see.
It me. I am filthy. There must be something about me that makes men and boys
want to do things to me it me!
It was not your fault! Nene cried.
She held Efua and cried a little too.
Do you know what Efua?
People may fail you-did-but
God loves you, honestly he does. It may not be much, but I love you too. And
you know you are going to be a great person in spite of all you have been
through and once you have recovered…..
Efua shuddered.
I really cannot go back to
that school. You can. I will help you. I will be right there beside you.
She smiled and squeezed her hand. Efua sniffed and tried to smile as well. Nene
hugged her tightly. So let’s go and show them.
Chapter
17
Back in his home, Jimi lay on his
bed staring at the ceiling. The house was empty for once. It had become a
little difficult staying with Ana who was now finding fault with him over how
he had treated Efua.
Ansa I’ sorry I said those things to
her, but I though she liked the way you behaved, said Ansa.
Look at
her and how she acted when you had trouble with your brother. Ansa said risking
a punch. She was your friend, but were you ever her friend?
Jimi was stricken at Ansa’s word.
Nene was no longer talking to him and for the first time he could remember,
Ansa was not talking his side.
He started at the ceiling trying not
to think about her. What was she doing? How was she feeling? He kept trying to
push her out of his mind, but he face kept appearing. If he went to see her
what would she say?
‘Down with love; he muttered.
Then Wole came in. hey jimi… wha are
you doing here?
‘What do you mean? It’s my house as
much as yours
‘Oh well, great of you to finally
remember you have a bother Wole sat on the bed and Jimi studied him. For once
his brother was not smiling and he looked nervous and jerky
‘Wole, what wrong?
No answer. Jimi sat up. Wole, is it
the bad stuff? Told you……
‘No, not that jim, I’m in trouble.
Deep trouble.
What is it
Wole’s eyes were haunted. I need
money, lots of it.
‘What have you done this time?
I needed some cash so I helped some
guys to sell some things. I just did not sell enough.
What did you sell?
You know…..
You sold drugs? Did you run away
with their money?
You cannot judge me. Wole turned his
face and jimi saw that it was bruised and swollen.
Your face. What happened?
I came across some of the guys
today, said wole. They are not joking. Look jimi, my life could be in danger
Jimi’s blood ran cold and he felt
sick.
I’ll give yu all the money I have.
Maybe we could go and see uncle K?
No, wole said. Thing is. I might not
even be safe here tonight.
What about your father? Can’t thet
help?
‘Friend? His brother laughed grimly
and then yelped in pain.
Wole, what are you going to do? Jimi
said
‘I have to get away tonight, that’s
how bad things are.
Wole, you know I will do anyting for
yo, but will things stop there? Will you be okay?
‘fine, I will be fine. He gave jimi
a hug. Get some money for me and pack some of your shirst for me. And you
watch.
‘My watch?
Bor, I will make it up to you. I
swear it.
Lear when they were at the bus stop.
Jimi asked.
When will you be back?
As soon as I am somewhere safe I
will call you so you can help me get the rest of the money.
Dads or uncle K will give it
to you if you can tell a good lie. Okay? Wole said. I know I’ve been a total
creep and I don’t deserve you, but whatever is going to happen, just know I
never meant anything. I swear it you‘ll always be my little brother.
He hesitates. Bye; he added
quickly before walking into the darkness.
As he watched Wole go. Jimi had a
sudden memory of when the two of them were small and Wole was touching him how
to ride a bicycle or the first time.
I can’t, Jimi had sobbed after
falling off the bicycle for the fifth time. Yes you can. Wole had said. See I
can stand and cycle and you can too. I promise Jimi had. That was his Wole.
Whatever anyone said. It had always been both of them against the world.
That night, Jimi could not sleep. He
thought of his mother and badly wished she were here. Look after your brother,
she had said. But Jimi was the younger one and now he needed looking after
himself.
Chapter
18
Jimi heard the news when he got back
to school on Monday morning.
Jimi did you hear? Seyi, the head
boy said. The lab has been broken into! The new microscope and other stuff have
been stolen.
Jimi ran to the laboratory. Mr Edet
was there and so were the twp lab technicians. The chemistry teacher wrung his
hands. Jimi felt sorry for him and angry as well.
‘it was a clean job, done b someone
who had access to the key; one of the technicians was saying.
Mr Edet looked beaten. In spite of
all we’ve done! We lobbied so hard before we were able to raise funds for the
equipment. You were part of it. Jimi remember?
Running up and down from one office
to the other. I gave you the other key on Friday-when you students had the
after-class tutorial, didn’t?
Where is it?
‘in my hag Jimi opened his bag. He
could not find it. He rummaged frantically. He had put it there on Friday. He
searched but an ugly, cold feeling was rising inside him.
‘can’t……maybe it’s at home or
something.
The teacher observed him strangely.
You will have to get it as soon as possible today.
Yes sir.
Hat morning Efua returned to school,
with Nene walking close beside her. They ignored the buzz of gossip and I was
only jolly who bent his head and stumbled a little when he saw her. Nene was fiercely
protective all day.
‘just keep ignoring anybody who
tries to say anything nasty I’ll report anyone who harasses you to the
principal. She said.
Ansa came to meet them. Welcome
Efua, we all missed you!
“Thanks, she said and her eyes
moistened a little
During break Jimi went over to her.
Hello Efua, she raise her face to him and then turned back to her book.
I’,-gosh. Efua-I’m sorry.
She raised her face to him again and
said “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I ‘told you to go away ,please.
His ears burned as he walked away.
Passing a table, he head a malicious titter. It was caro sitting with her
group. He had completely forgotten there were mean people like Caro around.
Later, lost in his worries about the
missing key, Jimi bumped into Nene I’, sorry about everything please listen,
I’m sorry!
She sighed Let’s forgot it. It was
not your fault. It was mine’
‘How is she?’
‘She is okay’
‘I said terrible thing to he I’m
trying to apologize but she won’t
Jimi, I think the best thing is f
you say away from her for now. Best not to upset her.
I know I’m not her favorite person,
but if you could talk to her….’
‘I ii say something. But Jimi if you
upset her, I will be very angry. I’m not joking. She walked away with a
throwaway, ‘Hope things are going okay for you.’
But things were not. A sick gnawing
feeling kept biting the pit of his stomach. He skipped the rest of the day’s
classes and went home to search for the key. He could not find it. Even though
he almost tore the whole place down. Suddenly a strange though floated into his
mind. Wole. He killed the shameful though as once. Wole did not know anything
about the laboratory, or forcados for that matter. He sat down in the quiet of
his room and buried his face in his hands, trying to think of what to do.
The next day as Jimi arrived at
school, the principal sent foe him. Mr Mallum was standing with Mr. Edet, they
were not smiling.
‘The key, solade. You were the last
person to have it, weren’t you? Said Mr Mallum.
‘Yes sir, but I can’t find it. I
must have misplaced it and I take the blame….. The principal interrupted him.
‘Do you know who could have taken
it?
‘N-no.’
The principal looked at him for a
moment before he said ‘we ve caught the thieves.
Jimi fet relieved. Thieves ‘who?
Petty burglars?
I’m afraid not. A certain Wole
Solade and some other boys were trying to sell the equipment when the police
caught them.
He say he’s your brother. Jimi heart
sank to the bottom of his shoes. That’s not all. He claims you let him in,
showed him the equipment and masterminded the whole thing. We are going to the
police station.
It didn’t ake long for the news to
spread around the school. Jimi Solade, health prefect and school hero was being
questioned in the police station over missing laboratory equipment. The school
was struck dumb.
Chapter
19
Jimi lay slumped on his bed, but he
could not sleep. Is brain was filled with voice saying, this and that. He had
gone to the police statio. It was a filthy, rundown place with broken benches,
stinking of unwashed bodies and human waste, the kind of place that was sed to
house seedy criminals. He saw wole in a cell behind the counter staring bak at
him with a sick expression on his face. He tried to ignore the scruffy
policemen saying things like;
‘Hey, boy, is it true you and your
brother take gbana?
‘You did all that at your age.
‘Young boys of nowadays.
He had stayed there, on a bench by
the door, until the principal contacted their uncle and wole was granted bail.
When they had a private moment
together, just before Jimi left with uncle kazeem, wole had whispered, Jimi
just do this for me. I did not mean it. I did not know they were from
your school with your clean record your principal would pardon you. While they
will lock me up for years. Just say you did it and gave the items. The lawyer
can think up something. Please Jimi, my brother, beg your principal.
Do you want me locked up for years?
He knew what had happened. His
brother must have known it was Jami’s school. He had masterminded the whole
thing and stolen the key to get access to the lab. But had it been Wole’s
fault? Surely not. It was the fault of the drugs and the fact that their dad
did not care, wasn’t it?
And so he had said yes to the
police. It was true. He Jimi, had broken into the lab. The teachers were shocked.
Even the principal had believed him. Somehow him. Somehow it made things seem
much less terrible-or more.
‘Jimi solade, I’m expressing my
profound disappointment I’m applied; mr mallum said. You were one of my golden
students. You were a role model.
They decided not to press charges
against him and after much deliberation, allowed him to take his end-of-term
exams, but as a separate student, away from everyone else.
Everyone
whispered about him as he walked around like a pariah, carrying out the punishment
of cutting grass. He tried to ignore them and concentrate on his studies
instead.
‘Most of his friends avoided him,
except Ansa who came to see him at once. Jimi what happened?
‘I’ve heard what they re saying but
what really happened?
You heard what happened, he said
again. Ansa gulped Nene also came. I don’t want to believe it. I will be
praying for you she said sincerely.
He tought of Efua and how she must
have felt when everyone was gossiping about her. Now, here he was with the
mother gone, his father not around and everyone was gossiping about her. Now,
here he was with his mother gone, his father not around and everyone hating
him. At least his brother would be all right, so it was all worth it – wasn’t
it?
After the long awaited WAEC exams,
the senior students of Forcados were free to do what they wanted-all except
Jimi solade. He was banned from all social activities and he was going to have
to publicly apologize to the whole school.
‘That is the least you can do, Mr
Mallum had said.
I’m really sorry, sir; Jimi had said
‘Not as sorry as I am, he principal
had said sadly.
On that day, he made sure his school
uniform was very neat.
He had
already handed over his perfect’s badge. It was not a cold morning, but he felt
chilly. All the students were walking towards the all; he saw Efua and Nene
walking together
He hesitated and then went over to
them. Efua, Nene
‘Hello’ Nene was about to say more,
then she stopped and quietly excused herself leaving him alone with Efua.
‘Hello Efua; He said
‘Hello Jimi
He dad forgotten shout the
butterflies in his stomach
‘Efua, I know you think I’m getting
what I deserve now, but I’m just asking you not to have a bad impression of me.
I’m not the same person I was.
He wished he could express himself
better and that she would say something instead of starring at him as if he
were an alien. I’, really sorry and whatever it means to you. I did like you. I
really did
She opened her mouth as if she
wanted to say something. But then the teachers were calling and everyone was hurrying
into the hall, so he turned and walked away.
Efua joined Nene.
‘What did he say?
Efua looked straight ahead. He said
he was sorry about everything.
‘Poor Jimi.
‘I didn’t know hat to say. You
deserve it?
Efua. Nene sighed and patted her
hand.
‘Sorry but I’m not a nice person.
The teachers were seated on chairs
on stage. When the Jimi gripped the microphone. Five hundred bright-eyed
students starred back at him. His hands were sweating, but his voice, I’ve come
to apologize. I have no excuse, was wrong and I;m pleading….
When he finished he was surprised at
how calm he felt
‘Very good; the principal said. Now
I would plead with all of you to accept had apology. He has served and is
serving his punishment. And if nothing else, it shows courage.
Suddenly a voice spoke up, Excuse me
sir, can I say something?
It was Efua. The principal looked at
her nonplussed and then he nodded. There was already a hum rising, but she
walked up to the stage anyway.
What did she want to say? Jimi
wondered. Surely she did not want to add more salt to his wounds?
She glanced at him and then said in
her cool, deep voice it’s a good thing that the equipment was recovered and the
culprit or culprits were found. But sir, do you think this is right?
‘What do you mean? The principal asked,
frowning a little.
‘Well sir, here is your student, a
student whom you have known since e started junior secondary school. Who you
and the other teachers judged was worthy to be made a perfect in his final
year. Yet, when something like this happened. You did not wonder how it was
possible. You did not think that maybe there was a big mistake made somewhere?
Or even if he did do this terrible thing, did you been find out why?
‘Miss coker, the principal said
coldly; can you please get to the point?
There was a rising human among the
students in the hall. This was sounding interesting.
‘M question to you sir, is how well
do you know your students and how much do you really care about them? What is
more important to you: the lost equipment, the fine standards of your school,
or the students in your care? Your star student supposedly admitted to stealing
laboratory equipment, but why? What would make him do such thing? Has he ever
done something like that before? Efua’s voice rose. Why do you always want to
believe the worst about people? She stopped and panted a little. Then she went
on softly.
‘I’m sorry sir, but you don’t care
enough. It is easy to judge others and to cast stones. You are the teacher,
sir, someone who instruct people about how to do the right thing. So examine
yourself, what is the right thing in this case? Have you really acted out of
love for this boy? I challenged you to investigate the matter again. I
think you will then be able to see a victim.
The principal was stunned. Coker, I
don’t know what you hope to achieve. He may be your friend
Then Ansa stood up. Quiet, shy Ansa,
who had never spoken in public before. He shouted for the whole hall to hear,
it cannot be Jimi, it was his brother, he only taking the blame for him!
There was dead silence and then one
person started clapping and then another and another. Soon the whole school was
applauding.
Jimi stood with his mouth open,
starring at Efua. He couldn’t believe it. She looked at him for a moment full
in the face. He suddenly thought; you stood for me and I did not do that for yu
and his eyes filled up. And then all the pent-up emotion poured out and he was
crying unashamedly. He forgot to be collected and cool. He forget he was in
front of the whole school.
Solade to my office; the principle
said. I will see all of you in exactly an hour all that I have got
There was a long silent
Jimi? Mr mallum finally said. It was
the first he had ever addressed a student by his first name.
Yes?
I am sorry I was not perceptive
enough to see the truth; he turned to Wole. I’m going to drop all of the
charges against not because you deserve it, but because I am sorry for you.
When Jimi got back to school his it
was strangely empty, He met Nene and Ansa privately while mr Mallum addressed
the whole school again.
I did not deserve this from you;
said Jimi to his friends
Who deserves anything? Nene said,
mourning to herself.
‘it’s like grace God grace.
After they hugged each other, he
said with attempted nonchalance, where is Effua?
Er….. Nene said, she gone. She told
me that after that issue with Miss Novi, her mother made arrangement for her to
leave the country after she finished her exams. She must have come to school
specially for this.
‘She gone? He stood still. Shocked.
I am sorry Jimi, but at least you
will always remember what she did
She was magnificant’ Ansa said
dreamily. Jimi aren’t you the lucky one!
She did not change till the end, he
wanted to shout, but he kept quiet and they walked inside the hall
Chapter
20
It was
October and the results were out. The graduated students milled about the
school grounds, dressed in mufti. Some had come with their parents. Most people
in the year had perform brilliantly, particularly Jimi Solade. He had won a
scholarship to study electrical engineering. During the valedictory service
that had been held in July he had collected prize in chemistry, physics and
technical drawing. Nene had done well also; she was hoping to study
accountancy. Ansa, too, had made his papers.
‘I’ll study architecture, ‘he had announced happily when he got his results.
‘I’ll always be an artist.’
The principal had beamed at all of them saying, ‘I’m very proud of you all.’
Jimi was thinking about other
matters. He thought of the past year in which so much happened. What were the
things that really mattered? He wondered. Jimi, I’m proud of you, Mr.
Mallum had said. It was the same thing the principal always said. Same thing,
but a different Jimi now.
Shortly after she left, Efua had sent him a letter.
Dear Jimi,
Funny how I can be writing to you, but I hope everything turn out right. It may
not have been my business, but I couldn’t just sit there and let someone who
was innocent take the blame. I always believe you are innocent.
I’m doing okay here and I’m looking forward to getting into university to study
medicine.
The last days at Forcados High School could things have been different? I don’t
know. You remember what you said to me last that day? Well, I’m telling you I
feel just the same. But I believe people need to sort out things inside
themselves first, and I’m trying.
All the same, I want you to know that what you tried to do for your brother was
wonderful. Bravo! It was the sweetest thing. You’re going to be someone special
someday.
Efua
The sweetest thing! That was the kind of thing a girl would write. Would he
ever understand girls? He knew he’d probably never see her again, but he
would never stop thinking about her, especially that image of her angelic face
with her long hair flowing out beneath her school cap that night when they
walked home together, or that day when she sat with him at his mother’s
funeral. Yet, it hurts to say her name, to even think about her. Funny how someone
can make you feel both happy and sad at the same time, he thought.
Ansa came over. ‘What a year!’
‘Yes.’
And for no reason at all, they burst
out laughing.
‘Why are you laughing?’ Ansa said
between gulps.
‘Why are you laughing?’ said Jimi.
They laughed so hard that tears
started to fall. People started, wondered, and then smiled at the two
boys.
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