Chapter Three
The air was crisp, the suns radiance shone clearly forcing some persons to shield their eyes. Julius decided to try his newly discovered train route and walked backwards in the opposite direction from his lodging. After walking about two blocks he found the sign to the stairs down to the underground train. He almost missed the bold pink stripes of the line. He switched trains at oxford and was at Edgeware a few minutes before 9 am. Julius appeared as excited and happy to Susan as she did, they walked hand in hand down the stairs of the underground station avoiding recent arrivals struggling to get up the stairs and out into the warm and busy street above the ground.
The lush black and grey stripes of the tralcen line pulled out of a seemingly dark oblivion roaring towards them from the dark tunnel,, it abruptly stopped sweeping the wind into their faces, they made their way into their seats as the train gradually gathered speed and left behind the once crowded boarding platforms now an almost empty station.
The train stopped at Hilton gate long enough for Julius and Susan to get out onto the opposite platform. They waited a few minutes and got onto tralcent line train headed for shepherd’s bush, its bold red and cream colors almost glimmered as it caught a tiny ray of sunlight and the quickly hissed away in a blazing speed. In less than 15 minutes they had gotten to Sheppard bush. The loud hissing sound of metal forced to a stop and suddenly was replaced by voices and rapid footsteps, all at the same. They, both Julius and Susan got off the train into the quiet brisk morning.
Leo, in his cheerful mood opened the door at the first sound of the doorbell ‘this lovely lady must be Susan, I have heard so much about you, please come in’. Susan stepped into a room uncharacteristically spacious, elegantly furnished and uncluttered. She stretched out her hands and said, ‘it is my pleasure to meet you, Mr. Walhalli’, ‘Glad to meet you’, Leo said ‘please have a seat, my wife is getting ready, she should be out soon’. “Once again thanks for inviting us’, Julius said taking his seat, Happy to have you with us this weekend’.
Leo spoke a little about himself after inquiring about Susan’s college and work, commending her for such self-discipline he said. ‘ it is not quite simple is it, schooling under such demands is proof that you are determined and disciplined, I really admire your resolute spirit’.
Earlier that morning, Julius woke up to a gentle cold draft he stared at the ceiling and imagined it glided across the ceiling and gently lifted the curtains. With his eyes partially opened, he sat up and reached for his bedside clock; it said 5.40am he laid back for another 10minutes and followed the same routine twice. The second time, he placed his feet on the carpeted floor, he let his feet sit there for a moment relishing the soft feel on the sole of his feet, he went into the bathroom turning on the sower and withdrawing his hand in shock at the freezing water, he figured that the other knob would be for the hot water, and turned it on, he got in the shower and found he had no wash cloth;
He stepped out again and got a wash-cloth from the tall closet at the entrance of the bathroom, he stepped back into the shower and washed thinking he could not possibly stay for more than 5 days, even if he wanted, it would be far away from work or it would be too expensive. He was shaven and dressed at 7.30 am, he felt clean, fresh, and upbeat, if he going to the concert at 11 he wanted to be able to discuss his work plans with Leo Walhalli before going into the concert. He called Susan and told her he would there at 8.30, he locked the door and headed downstairs to eat his complimentary breakfast.
He ate and looked at the misty sky, not quite grey, but a continuous little droplet of water rapid enough and meshed together so that it seemed like a blanket descending in quick succession unknown to Julius he was getting his first taste of the most unpredictable weather pattern on earth. He watched briefly as coat collars were pulled up and as hats were adjusted, some umbrellas went up, he got up and pulled up his coat collar and walked rapidly into the busy street, heading towards the transit stop. Susan waited at the transit stop heals pushed up forward, knees slightly raised, as the big double decker pulled to a slow stop; Julius stood at his window and seeing Susan waived motioning her to come aboard.
The slightly damp cold air was beginning to thin when they arrived at the Walhalli’s residence.
Leo turned slightly towards Julius and volunteered some information about himself. He was a Management Science professional, recently he has been in extensive work for some European corporation investing in west Africans ocean transportation and in building a sizeable parts factory for a computer manufacturer’. You could see the sparkle in his eyes, the deliberate power in his voice when he spoke of reorganization, planning phases, implementation and effective execution, insistence on quality and delivering real benefits to the ordinary person’. Julius admired and commented on ‘his love for and dedication to work’.
Leo paused in mid-sentence turning to Julius in a totally unrelated idea with a mischievous smile, ‘do you suppose that the pastor is or will be upset with you for skipping church today Julius smiled and said ‘why should he, I paid a decent donation last week and the week before, I don’t suppose he will miss me is If am not there’. Leo chuckled and held Julius gaze trying to figure out the extent of his seriousness, ‘then retorted, you really think the pastor is primarily concerned about your money? Julius nodded his response, and added “the pastor is high maintenance, he can’t be allowed to suffer’.
Leo raised both his hands as if to say ‘now wait a minute’ gazing towards Susan and back at Julius he opened his mouth but dropped his hands as Medinna Walhalli came into the living room, a loosely fitting pantsuit, a silk scarf pinned across her long sleeve blouse.
Her jet-black hair carefully braided, and it ends held together neatly at the base of her neck. She stopped briefly gazing at Susan, ‘Susan is it? Julius has spoken so highly of you every time he has mentioned your name, I am Medinna, it’s nice to meet you’. “I am truly honored to meet you Mrs. Walhalli, I appreciate that you and Mr. Walhalli have invited us to the showing’. ‘Hi Medinna’, said Julius, ‘the color suits you well’, ‘thank you Julius, nice to see you again’. ‘I am almost ready honey, it’s your turn to get ready’, she returned to her room.
As she left Julius said ‘Now I was about to say, before our guest showed up, referring to Medinna Walhalli, drawing a Chuckle from Leo, what do you think Leo’, Leo blinked, moistened his lips, and took a sip, setting down the glass and said in such a steady monotone voice as though he had thought about the matter in great detail all his adult life, ‘I think some things cannot be changed, I agree, the pastor should not be made to suffer, but certainly the pew members should suffer’, raising his voice amidst loud complaints, and things may never change’.
He was cut off by a surprisingly loud outburst of laughter from both Julius and Susan who until now was quietly listening. Medinna came out at the sound of all three people laughing with such hysteria, and asked ‘what’s the matter honey’, waving his hands to say no problems Leo was joined by the other two in the room to say “Nothing”.
Leo carefully drove through the never ending pool of traffic, approaching the casterbury underground train station he made a left turn on waterbay’s road, he glanced at his watch ‘we should be there before the first curtain’, he said glancing at the rear-view mirror as he spoke to his wife sitting beside him, he turned left at the first light and right at the intersection of Yarton and Lendercar, slowly merging with a fast moving traffic, he made another right turn and slowed as they came to a ramp leading to a parking structure; road signs showed ‘theater parking’ in big bold white lettering on aqua background.
Another sign pointed ‘first floor, an arrow directed ‘second floor parking’, he drove into the ramp and slowly turned into one of empty slots. A brightly lit door ahead had a sign saying playing at noon ‘London philharmonic orchestra, with special appearance by Orville and Jada theatre group.
The curtain opens with a dialogue, a young woman in the chief’s armory, self-exiled in the suburbs of ivory coast. The chief army general from the southwestern region of Nigeria, self-exiled because of imminent escalation in the regions struggle for self-assertion…
In a heated debate with a group of young men, one of them a slender, lanky man, standing, chest out, feet firmly planted, worn out shiny boots, a short sheer shirt, showing under his waist high open overcoat; pants fitting snugly on him, his hair shiny under the flooded stage lights, ‘The young woman speaking adamantly, surveying the faces of the men looking at her intently, listening and looking as if to say ‘what could our perky little sister possibly have to say’.
She said forcefully ‘it is only a war to decide how much autonomy should we as a people have!
Replied the young man ‘even if this skirmish were to go on for much longer, it will boil down to nothing! We are a reasonable people; we know when something has gone far enough, and things will go to the way it was’. A chorus of objections and agreements surged among their friends. ‘It can never be the way it was! Objected one, and another said ‘are you really looking forward to things remaining as they were? Said another. a young woman said emphatically “Jobi’, turning slightly towards the last objector, ‘I for one do not want things to go the way it was, I do not want to return home as it is, neither do I think things will go back to the way it was, how can it?
People become more alert with every passing year, with every disappointment, with every new leadership installation, No, it will not become what it was! Moving slowly from behind the group up to Jobi, who made the infuriating comment and the young man with whom Jobi had been addressing the small crowd: moving slowly past both men, one on his right and the other on his left. ‘Ilupo’, wearing a long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbow, pants, baggy, clean and starched, made of linen cotton.
Belt, prominently holding up his pants, shirts tucked in with a flat soled striped brown shoes laced with thin dark brown shoe lace, a black analogue watch spackled as he raised his hands as if to request an audience;
The play lasted almost 3 hours, with an intermission of about 35 minutes, the drive home was more relaxed, much like sitting or standing to cup of coffee, tea or brandy after a full course of steak dinner or something similar. The show was indeed worth savoring.
Leo pulled up a few yards from the transit stop, and turned off the engine. Julius asked Leo for his contact at the job agency, as he sat waiting for the double decker to pull up to the transit stop, Leo wrote a name, address, and phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Julius. Both Julius and Susan said goodbye to Leo and Medinna, got out of the car into the warm afternoon, taking a spot behind the growing queue as Leo waived and drove off.
Julius turned towards Susan holding her hands and saying, “I enjoyed every moment I spent with you, thanks for agreeing to come with me to the theatre, I am looking forward to my interview on Monday”. Susan in her quiet character, said “I am so glad, I agreed to come with you, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I like your friends also”. Her voice sounded quietly strong, and distinct as she continued, I hope you are able to start work pretty soon”. She looked out into the road and said, “here it come s”, referring to the double decker, Julius dug in his pocket for some coins as the bus came to a halt, and Julius and Susan got in paid and took a seat. Susan Placed her hands in Julius lap and said “I have to get ready for school, I have to complete laundry, I have to call my parents, I call them Sunday nights and my favorite series “ Saturn Density” is on tonight from 9.30 to 10.30,
Julius listening intently said, “You have a whole lot to do, I dare not derail this great momentum!” he concluded with a hint of sarcastic humor.
As he walked home to the guest house he began to think of room and board $15.00 a day is not going to be sustainable. He kept that thought constantly in him through the day and the following. as he reached the front desk, he remembered he promised never to buy dinner at his guest house, he walked out again and decided on the fish and chips – chips was Irish Potatoes sliced in chunky long cubes with a slight touch of salt deep fried, with the resulting product golden and crispy outside but soft and thoroughly cooked inside, it simply melted in your mouth’, with a bottle of Fanta and returned to his room to eat his dinner.
He took out his shoes and face towel, the small tub of Vaseline he got for his hair and stuck his forefinger in it and spread a little of it on his face towel. Applying the Vaseline with swift back and forth movement onto the surface of his shoes, smooth even strokes in equal and even amounts; when the shoe was thinly covered in glistening oil, he took the second pair and followed exactly the same process. When he was done, he set the pair down close to his bed, in the morning the self-adapted polish would be dry and he would shine it with dry towel, the only available cotton, the effect would be as though he had paid a professional to polish his shoes.
A useful trick he had learned from his grandfather. He set his bedside clock to 5.45am and pulled the blanket over himself. On the second alarm, Julius jumped out of bed, placing his feet firmly on the floor, rubbing his heavy eyelids as though it would help him become more alert. He looked at the clock again it was almost six am, he showered and was dressed in less than 30 minutes. He picked up his shoes and a face towel, swiping it back and forth quickly and evenly until it glistened. He looked himself over in the full-length mirror in his bathroom, he seemed to like what he saw.
He immediately started reviewing what questions would be asked of him, as he climbed the stairs to get to the dining room. A waiter was rolling the food trolley out of the kitchen, breakfast had been served. He sat at his regular spot, by the window across from the street where he had a clear view. He ate breakfast and left. Standing in the slowly forming queue he waited patiently. Right on time came the Double Decker, with its bright red colors, as it lumbered to a halt, its doors opened, and Julius paid and got his in his seat.
This was a different group some were dressed in suits and hats, men, women, girls, and young men, some with newspapers, some with novels, there was very little or no chatter. It was early morning workday in London. The small queue filled in and the double decker moved along. He arrived at the transit stop for surface rail and stepped onto the platform as the train was beginning to fill up and got in to find a seat. He discovered that surface rail was just as fast as the bus even faster. By the time the train arrived at Northampton he had almost 30 minutes to spare.
His map appeared accurate enough as he was able to find Thames and castle staffing very quickly. He looked at the address in his hand written note, it was directly in front of him, across from the station. He felt relieved and walked to the front desk to ask for suite 435, the smartly dressed young man pointed towards the elevator and said ‘fourth floor to your right, theirs a sign on the door”
Julius got off the elevator and turned right, taking a few steps in a brightly lit lobby, the bold big lettered sign said Thames and Castle Employment. He pushed the door forward and walked directly towards the receptionist or secretary behind a paneled of executive chairs. The young man behind the desk along with an even younger woman, slender about 5ft 11inch with oval shaped glasses, he looked up at him as he approached and said in a clear crisp voice “welcome to Thames and Castle Employment’
What will you do if you were asked to start work tomorrow? “I doubt they’ll require me start immediately, but I am ready, if they want an immediate start. I have enough for transportation, lunch for at least a week, and by then I should have a pay check”.
Said Julius “If I wanted to read some newspapers, what do you recommend I read? “I am not biased to any newspaper, but I think The Chronicle, or The Times are good picks”. Replied Susan, then she added, “we are getting to my stop’, as she pressed firmly on the “stop request button”. Julius got up to allow her slide out of the row, then he got up and they hugged briefly, and she got off the bus. “Call me! She called out and waived.
Julius glanced at his watch and out through the window, there was that deceptive pattern again, it was almost 4.30pm, but today the suns brightness shone so well one would think, it was between noon and 1:00pm…. He was beginning to learn to simply look at his wrist, and not up at the sky or the horizon to determine time. This was not the open desert or was it the dense forest, this was totally different. He looked at the name in his note from Leo, it read Thames and Castle Employment, 16-W, Northampton SW Phone # 216-866-6011. He tucked the note back into his wallet and began thinking of what he should wear to his interview. He must wear a clean shirt, clean polished shoes, he must make sure there were no creases on his suit he must be on time! He looked at his route map, and got off his seat promptly, went to the front of the bus and asked “what is the best route if I need to get to Northampton in southwest? He thought for a moment and picked up a route map, pointing to his current location and the route that would take him to his desired location.
The bus driver looked up briefly saying ‘not more than 20minutes’ He said thank you and picked out two additional route maps along with the map for Northampton/Southampton, Evansville/Hammersmith maps and went back to his seat. The bus gradually pulled to a stop, just as his hands lifted off the stop request button, he got off the bus, waving thanks you to the bus driver, who nodded and drove off.
