SWEET OLEANDER

CHAPTER 6

"Brother, good evening"
No response. Instead, Mr Travis inspected the figure from his head to his feet. The figure scratched his head and adjusted his shirt.
"Er.. er I thought I could see Minenabori and greet you too, "the figure said. Mr Travis Ojong maintained a stern look.
"How is farm work and life, general?"the figure continued.
"Manyo, what do you want here, I thought you were at Agbokim?"
"Ah, no brother, no oo."
"Why do you have a pair of shades on that an attempt to keep the sun which has already set off your face?" Mr Travis Ojong quizzed
Ogar bit his tongue as he struggled not to laugh.
"ER.. ER.. brother, I have Apollo oo and cold. It is one of the reasons I returned to Ikom the Ekparabong "
"You have apollo?"
Manyo nodded like he was oblivious to Mr Travis Ojong's countenance.
"So if you are on the highway and you have a cold, you will turn around and come straight to Ikom"
"I also came to see Minenabori, you know it's been a while since---"
Manyo stood like a statue staring at the dwarf fence that encompassed the Ojong estate.
"Let me warn you, Minenabori is my sister, and I will not condone any hanky panky you want to play. Secondly I don't want to sight you with her, besides she is not in the right composure to see you."
"B.. but brother.. but .. but.."
"As you can see I'm on my way out"
"Okay brother, but you see"
"No buts I need you to leave right away" Mr Travis Ojong demanded. Manyo lowered his glasses and looked at Mr Travis Ojong"s face astonished.
"B.. brother.. brother its not like that nor.. chai.."
"Don't brother me eh, what part of leave right away don't you understand?"
Manyo refused to challenge Mr Travis Ojong. Who would dare challenge a man who would hunt alone but bring at least two games home? He reportedly killed a lion during one of his hunting adventures. He has refused to display its skin in his sitting room.
"I didn't do any wrong to Minen oo, it was that girl, that lady that is always..."
"Who said anything about that, Manyo?"
Manyo took brisk steps away from him. Shoulders slumped, his head bowed, he snailed a way like a child who had a full diaper.
"Ogar let's go so as not to miss palm wine and bushmeat," Mr Travis Ojong trotted down the lane and  Ogar followed closely behind. Ogar took a last glancre at his aunty and her lover.  Manyo cocked his shoulders as Minenabori approached him. Minen laughed and tapped him playfully.
How on earth did shappy even after the incident between, herself Manyo and the other lady. Ogar smiled for a brief period.
"Ouch" Ogar cried as soon as he hit his leg against a stone.
"What is the matter?" Mr Travis Ojong inquired.
"Uncle I hit my lay against a stone"
"Really? What were you looking at" Mr Travis quizzed. "I told you to watch whether there was a stone or not, but instead your attention was elsewhere", he scolded.
Ogar said nothing, he bit his tongue as he groaned because he knew better than to express pain. Who wanted to be seen as a wimp anyway? Definitely not him.
"O wish, one of the things that brought me out is this bushmeat oo, but some joints don't have maybe because of the government to campaign about abstinence" Mr Travis Ojong said. Ogar nodded in agreement. On the road from Ikom to Ekparabong Ogar noticed very few people selling by the roadside market and bushmeat was not
Ebola virus was believed to originate from monkies and it ravaged dozens of areas.
People carried hand sanitisers and this was another reason why Mr Travis Ojong was unhappy with his sister. "These are times when people maintain safe distances from other people, especially when that person's status is unknown. Then why is your own different.", he had said to her
     They arrived at the palm wine joint, and tasty meat dosed the atmosphere. His mouth watered in admiration as he inhaled the aroma. At last, his imagination would be materialised. He watched his uncle pull out the linning from the sides of his trouser.
"Eyei, this is unlike me oo. How manage now, I forgot my wallet at home Ogar."
Mr Travis Ojong sighed in disappointment. Ogar felt deprived. his tummy rumbled, but he hoped Mr Travis Ojong will return to purchase the palm wine and bush meat oo.
After all his appetite had been set on fire. The duo returned back in the direction of home. Mr Travis Ojong walked as one who had hot coals beneath his feet, Ogar struggled to keep up. He found himself behind his un le a couple of times despite his efforts. Ogar knew all that was in the bid to salvage the time they lost while they took a futile trip to the Palm wine joint.

"Minen"Bachot called out
"Yes brother" Minen appeared from the kitchen where she sulked as she waited from her brother to leave so she can breath.
"Sit"
"Okay brother" She sat still sulking, she stared at the wall opposite her.
"You see, your brother is right. A man knows who he wants from a woman and he can decide whether or not he is ready to settle with her within a few months of their meeting. Now tell me , how long have you known this youngman?"
"Brother hmmm. It's not todayoo. Its not even been a year "
"Cheii"
" But brother he saw me through school"
"So I learnt. He paid some part of your fees pr he sponsored it in entirety?"
"That Semester eh.  had it been he hadn't brought the money ehn.. I will... I will still be in school"
"I know he helped I know but was he the one who saw you through school?"
" Noo ooh, it was brother ooh"
"T.O?"
"Yes, brother Travis and sometimes brother Nkim used to send me money too and sister Beji"
Bachot nodded. He and his wife were rounding up at the higher Institution at the time.
"Then I suggest you listen.... " were the last words Minen heard Bachot say. The rest of the time it was his lips moving while that  sonorous voice lipped her favourite love song, word for word.
     Haa, the second stanza?"she looked at Bachot. "Brother please I want to check the chickens and the groans. I killed a snake earlier on so maybe there are more"
"What? You did?"
"Yes brother" , she nodded rather impatiently.
"Okay. But think about all I have just told you"
" I will brother. Thank you so much for the advice", she bowed her head and exited his presence.