SWEET OLEANDER

CHAPTER 8. MINEN

"She rushed in, picked up a bag or  two, and rushed out. She said she had to give her friend something and she would be back soon. "
"Which friend?"Mr Travis Ojong asked
She didn't say," Bachot replied. Mr Travis Ojong heaved and shrugged his shoulders before he disappeared behind the curtain into the passage.
      The two men sat to drink some palm wine while they watched football.
     Mr Travis Ojong had returned with Ogar, who had two kegs of 12 litre of palm wine in his hands. Mr Travis Ojong had selected the biggest of the bushmeats amongst the three displayed at  the bushbar for sale.
"Ha, this match that just ended reminds me of our performance last year. It was epic," Bachot began.
"I agree oo, Emenike dey bam, that is ehn the guy finish work"(Emenike is a great footballer, he played excellently, " Mr Travis Ojong replied.
"That is what helped us score the goal nor"
"Especially after it seemed like we were about to lose it all," Mr Travis Ojong  pulled a toothpick from the container and began to pick his teeth. Ogar sat in a corner, munching his own meal. He had downed one cup of palmwine already. The more reason why his uncle insisted on buying the fresh one, not the fermented one.
"That made me so proud that night," Mr Travis Ojong said.
"Truly we proved we were Africa's giants"
"You are not far from the truth, Bachot, you are not far from it at all,"
"Speaking of which, I wonder what the outcome of this year's match would be,"Bachot said, scratching his head.
"Well, it depends on if players chosen to represent us are well grounded and talented," replied Mr Travis Ojong as he washed his hands with the water Ogar had brought for them.
"Speaking of talent, I don't quite agree with that statement."
"Why?"
" What would you say about those who were skilled footballers back in their youthful days but don't practice football as a profession  but are outstanding in other fields where they happen to be at?"
"Well, you have a point there, you know,"
"Of course I do. Some people love it nor as a lifetime career but as a leisure activity."
"Hmmn"
"Yeah, I think in fact that I am speaking about us both now, you know. Back then, if you score more goals, I clear your portion. "  Both men roared with laughter.
Bachot recalled. Ogar was conversant with that story of how both friends used to challenge themselves, and the one who gets defeated at football would help the other clear the grass he is apportioned to clear in his father's farm.
"Reminds me of you and I that year na, our football skills ehn .."
"Ah, Bachot, no be lie oh, you be Agahowa, na me be that oo"
" those guys from the neighbouring community"
"Yes, them."
"We commence by noon even when we are sent on errands and remember the errands by evening."
"Ah, you remember so well,"
"My mother would be fuming waiting at the door for me and if I am so lucky and it is  pounded yam and soup we are to have for dinner, I would be greeted with my boiled yams in the pot, not pounded yet. I would also have to pound the extra yam  in the pot, especially on days when we have guests and because our family is large for others to eat and be satisfied.
     Ogar cleared the plates and took them into the kitchen in the house. He felt thankful he didn't have to the  back once more. Who knows what he might see there this night anyway? The sight of the dead snake flashed in his memory, and the way his aunt toyed with it and teased him as well. He looked forward to the next morning and hot akara(baked beans) that he would most likely eat alongside some ogi (akamu) (processed corn meal).
     He returned to the parlour. Bachot coughed and nearly choked as the two men conversed.
"Easy Bachot, Ogar's uncle said. Ogar rushed to hand the cup of water thay sat in from tbif his father to him. He  took a few gulps down and thanked him.
"In my case, my sisters might be chattering in the room, it's even Minen's voice I hear the most you know she can be loud?" Bachot laughed and nodded in agreement.
"Then I will male a sound like pssst so my parents don't find out it's me and plead with her to open the back door for me. She will then negotiate either my boiled pears and corn or cocoa seeds, two meals she knows I like . What would I do nor, in order to get in I have to give in and keep to my word even though almost everything I still get caught" Mr Travis Ojong said.
The two men roared with laughter.
"Boyhood," they said in unison.
Silence fell upon the sitting room for a moment, and then the two men exchanged confused glances, while Bachot consulted his wristwatch, his friend stood up and paced the room before he picked up his phone and peeped out the window.
"Where is Minen?"Mr Travis Ojong asked as he tapped the screen of his phone with his fingers gently.
"It's been about two hours since she told me she had to deliver something to her friend" Bachot replied.
"It is unlike her. I wonder why she would behave in such a manner, "Mr Travis Ojong mumbled with his phone placed by his left ear. He dialed her number several times all to no avail. He excused himself and got into the room for a few minutes.
      The day had aged, and the moon seemed to have awoken from its slumber as its break light spread over the skies. Ogar sat in the parlour, staring at the ceiling. His uncle walked back into the living room.
"Any luck?" Bachot asked his friend.
"None oh, the number is switched off"
"Haa, the same response I got when I called. What can be the problem, maybe her phone battery died?" Bachot wondered.
"Even if it did, Minen is not the type to keep late nights," Mr Travis Ojong thundered, beads of sweat formed an alliance on his forehead.
Mr Travis Ojong looked at his phone again,  " someone with an unknown ID caller is calling me"