Chapter Ten
Mr. Ajigbotinu had just finished eating, getting up to the wash basin slightly to the side of the table on a squared three legged stool, with an oval shaped hole he washed his hands and dried them with the cotton napkin next to the basin. Olumide followed suit and they both got up heading toward the door and the petrol station. He went into the little kiosk next to the petrol station and paid, handing the attendant 4 shillings and receiving 50 pence in return. He came out with attendant who filled the car with petrol ‘oga, the attendant called out to him thank you. Please come here to buy petrol another time, said the attendant.
Mr. Ajigbotinu responded, ‘thank you, could you check the tire, we shall be on the road for another 3 hours, the attendant went into the kiosk and returned with a blanket of water a sponge and miniature electric compressor attached with a rubber hose, he set the equipment down beside the car, groping first at the front drivers side tire, then dipping the sponge in water he squeezed it on the tire slowly watching for any signs of air bubble, he repeated the process on all tires then he asked Mr. Ajigbotinu, ‘Oga please move forward a little, starting the car Mr. Ajigbotinu moved forward less that an inch.
The attendant followed the same process for the four tires, then when he was certain there was no air bubbles, he declared ‘there is no leak sir’. I will now give the tire some air’. He plugged up the compressor and a loud shriek came from the a relatively small machine, he carefully filled each tire with even amounts of air, using the compressors air gauge and looking at his wrist watch, to fill the tire with even amounts of air, each taking no more than 60 seconds. Then turning off the compressor and retrieving the air cable to the cable hook on the compressor, he appeared proud of his work. Mr. Ajigbotinu said, ‘How much will it be for the air? ‘ten pence’, he replied, Mr. Ajig gave up 13 pence and said will be going now, thank you’.
The traffic was light and brisk as Mr. Ajigbotinu drove slowly into the traffic heading north east towards Ibadan/ Ilesha. The car settled into a rhythmic flow as Mr. Ajigbotinu deftly switched gears, moving through the hills sometimes narrow winding curves, surrounded by tall trees, tall shrubs, fast moving clouds and the beaming sun bearing down on them like a giant flood light sometimes receding behind the clouds who seem to be telling the sun ‘we got to go’, covering over the sun as if to place it’s hands over his face and the sun saying not just yet, let’s have another look. This dialogue between the sun and the clouds seemed endless after a while Olumide seemed to feel his eyes burning, He blinked rapidly and closing his eyes for a few seconds he opened them and refocused on the road. They sped past a road sign reading ‘Ipetu Ijesha, 145 kilometers. Olumide looked relieved to see how close they were to getting home. Soon the traffic became heavy, some trucks, most of them14 wheelers and commercial vans, some with passengers and lots of sedans. Soon he saw local roads veering off the right and left, a glimpse here and there of a house, people were beginning to make dinner.
He saw a biker ride into a side street, a young boy on a bicycle followed by a man and a woman ridding across the dirt filled bumpy side road, parallel to the highway. For a while they were in his sight, then gradually receded into the back ground. Finally they arrived at Ipetu. Olumide sat up looking at familiar sites, neighbor’s houses, friends, the local grocer on to his right, the drug store on the two story building, the meat store and the open market on his left. As Mr. Ajigbotinu gradually made the right turn into Niimo Street and turned left onto the front yard, Olumide very tired, his legs stiff, his spirit was bland, funny he did not feel sad or down, Just Bland. He swung open the door and got out, stretched his legs, taking his time to look around, with the available daylight, not so much had changed; the street was perhaps a little cleaner.
Some children stopped briefly to glance at them, another rode his bicycle past as though they never existed telling the other kid ‘kilonwo, je ka lo! (What are you starring at? Let’s go!) Olumide reached for the car’s boot (trunk) as Mr. Ajigbotinu withdrew the keys and picked up one of the luggage’s and began unpacking. Olumide could not wait to get in bed, though his bed had not been slept in for more than 6 months he was fast asleep as soon as he laid down.
Olumide woke up to something he believed was loud noise, he kept his eyes closed, not wanting to disturb his sweet slumber, he listened, it was not a noise, it sounded like thunderous clapping, so rapid and broad it covered the entire rooftop, it was the rain. He snuggled back into his blanket and enjoyed the peaceful noise for a while and went back to sleep. Again he opened his eyes and his eyes ached, this time he felt warm, quiet, and very lonely.
That seemed odd; he did not see any reason to feel lonely in-fact he remembered feeling lighthearted and relieved to be back on familiar places. Yet he felt no reason to linger in bed, so he planted his feet on the ground and looked around, the sun was coming up and flooded his room with so much light he wondered if he was a little closer to it than he was yesterday. With his head in his hands he deliberated the two previous days, his trip from Lagos, to the events of the last six months and that large envelope. He raised his head off his hands sat up and quickly his mind was flooded with questions unanswered. He pulled his blanket around his shoulders and walked to the bathroom.
He spattered some cold water on his face that always woke him up, and refreshed him at the same time. He went towards his father’s bedroom knocked and went in, there was Mr. Ajigbotinu still laying down, but looked up with a smile as Olumide came to his bedside, ‘You are up’, he said, ‘yes sir’, said Olumide ‘father, I wanted to make some thing to eat, but I don’t know what you want. ‘Mr. Ajigbotinu said, ‘dodo pelu-ogi. (meaning fried plantain with cassava mill porridge) I think we have enough for now’ did you sleep well? ‘yes father
Said Olumide, and after breakfast can I look at that envelop from the police officer? ‘Oh yes he said, ‘I promised to let you read the contents of the envelop, I will let you read it after you eat this morning’. Satisfied with his fathers response, Olumide stepped back into the hallway and soon the aroma and the sizzle of crispy plantain in red palm oil was filling the kitchen and the adjoining rooms. He served breakfast. Cassava Mill is cassava root parboiled, sun dried and grinded to a powdery pulp and soaked in the same fashion of oatmeal or custard.
Olumide served breakfast. Cassava mill is cassava root parboiled, sun dried, finely grinded and boiled with a few spices and sugar and served in the same fashion as oatmeal, along with plantain deep fried in red palm oil, so crispy it is never enough. A simple meal yet very enjoyable, and Mr. Ogunbeshin said ‘I am glad you are home Olumide, you have a natural talent, you are not afraid of the kitchen’, ‘I guess mother taught me well’. replied Olumide; Mr. Ogunbeshin grew silent and said ‘I guess she did’. He promptly changed the discussion promptly saying ‘here’, Mr. Ogunbeshin, handed Olumide a large brown envelop, Olumide recognizing it was the envelop from the police chiefs office, sat down and took out its contents, a single foolscap white paper and began to read rapidly silently.
In the matter of…. (It began), the long single sheet of paper contained the conclusion of the police chiefs department, regarding the juveniles in their custody.
Olumide read the report quickly, stopping briefly here and there to digest what he read and get a proper comprehension of the report. Then he started reading again this time very slowly, ‘the child being referred to here is a juvenile, and is under 18yrs of age, is a first time offender and should be released into his father’s custody. the girl accomplice in the drinking party are children of the very top echelon of the cities rulers, after the arrest, the girl’s parents were found to be going through a difficult domestic situation. The wife of the police chief had a long standing affair with a respectable business man, and the business man’s wife was also found to be having multiple affairs with top officials in government and business circles. Because of such high level of personalities involved, and the involvement of teenagers, the police commissioner is requesting the entire case be treated with utmost confidentiality while the police department addresses the issues of bad publicity amongst the police department and government.
These young men and women should be helped to stabilize their life. If the parents will sign their release forms they should be given every assistance they need, they are free to go!
Signature: Full Name: Date:
Signature: Full Name: Date:
