WAZOBIA: A Tale of Two worlds

Twenty Two

We were at Onitsha; which meant a few minutes from now we'd be home.

Images of black cars with 'FBI' written on them and suited American agents and officers surrounding my house with villagers wondering what the hell was going on crowded my imagination. Then I shoved it away. This was not Crime and Justice; that was too far fetched and movie like.

I was still bothered anyway. I had the right to be.

I bought two loaves of Onitsha bread, even though I knew there would be bread at home. It just felt traditional to bring something back home; though it would've made more sense to buy what I knew wasn't in the house, but I was too disturbed to carry out such a thought process

"We go reach soon" Jioke said.

Someone who didn't know we were just journeying back home would think we'd just come back from a loved one's funeral or that we lost someone on the way.
Asides Joke's mapping and a few calls I received, there was nothing but the humming of the AC and muffled outside noises to be heard.

We came to a clear area and met, what was it, our fourth batch of police officers. Hopefully last...hopefully.

He stepped onto the road and waved the baton to the side where two other cars were parked.

My heart sped.

"Oga, your documents, sharp sharp"

I whispered to an invisible somebody to tell me that these were not the thuggish officers; or SARS. Okay, they weren't SARS, at least it didn't say so on their uniforms.

I'd already bribed a few officers on the way but neither took me much money so I was left with more than enough bribe bait.

He scanned the papers unsatisfactorily, and as usual, found something to say.

"These ones are not original oh"

"How do you mean?" I said, annoyed.

"Ah, I said it's not original and you're asking me questions," he replied me, intimidated.

"But officer, the papers are recent oh, I just do am last  month, na original I give you" Jioke said graciously.

"Are you teaching me my job? I said these are not original, this is fake, give me the original one. In fact, open the car let me search, the both of you are disturbing my peace"

"No," I interjected as Jioke tried to unlock the doors in fright.
"Jioke, don't open them"

"Are you okay?" The officer just spat in my face.

I cleared my throat silently.
"Officer, these papers are original, give them back please, you have seen them" I was too angry to even try bribery just so he could leave us alone.

"Ah, you dey craze? I said open the door! I look like your mate?" He barked.

"That's not a problem officer, but can we have our documents?"

Jioke stared at me nervously, I could sense his desire for the ground to just swallow him immediately.

The officer looked at me and then stormed off dangerously to meet his counterparts.

"Move Jioke," I said, looking back.

He hesitated, "madam-"

"Move!"

The car immediately started and he sped off; leaving the officers behind.

My eyes were on the front mirror, static, I even turned it to face my side wholly; I didn't want Jioke to take a look and then get nervous and slow down.