SWEET OLEANDER

Chapter 16 Smoke

'Bekom this one you are groaning, hope you are alright?", Nkim turned to see his wife.
"My legs ache", came the reply
A chorus of "sorry" , came from allover the room.
"Hmmmn... it's so good to be home", Nkim munched the remaining corn in his hands, he sucked in the whole pear, still observing.
Bekom nodded
"You know what they say east or west, home is the best"
Bachot and Mr Travis Ojong nodded too. The two girls whispers in one another's  ears and giggled. They had finished eating and didn't want any more corn or pear.  They stepped put to explore the environs.
"Are the taps running now?",Nkim asked
"Well some pipes were brought to connect water a few weeks back", Bachot said
"And?"
"Since then ...ehm"
" No-one came back afterwards", Mr Travis Ojong completed.
"Ehen.   I expected you to say some thing about it not your friend Bachot. These days he is more like a visitors to Ekparabong " Nkim said
" Visitor?" , Bachot laughed.
"Yes, visitor" Nkim affirmed
"You come home and you are greeted. You show your people love and you are rewarded with a full boot"
Bachot laughed.
"So tell me Bachot how is my sister, Nenke?"
"Oh, Nenke is doing great "
"It's a struggle whenever I try to reach her"
"You know the nature of her job. She is very busy especially as she is on eof the senior medical consultants"
" And the children? All except Ogar of course"
" Oh they are well" Bachot's face warmed with a smile. It was wonderful to be in good graces with his elder brother-in-law who back in the days had sent friends to threaten him not to toy with his sister after threatening him in person many a times.
     Mr Travis Ojong attempted to intervened countless of times as did their immediate elder sister Beji. All to no avail. It stopped when he came to make his intentions known to their father and their father expressed his displeasure in Nkim's act when he learnt about it.
"I didn't want anyone one to toy with his heart as they did Beji's", was his reason.
" Ogar is growing like a maize plant on the farm. He isn't tall, he is long"
"Indeed he is growing fast, as is your son Takon" Bachot returned
" Of course. Preteen is a cruicial time thay grow so fast and you begin to look for the children you once held in your arms and carried on your laps" Nkim said "So I see business is doing fine"
"God has been faithful"Bachot replied
"Oh I take it you are trying to be modest. I hope you have plans to erect a structure here in Ikom?"
"I have given it a thought. I am yet to decide"
"Please make it quick for it is relevant" Nkim persuaded
"I agree with him", Mr Travis Ojong nodded.
" What about you, Travis? Are your children and wife  not back yet?" Nkim asked
No, they are not. We are expecting them to be here anytime now"
"She must be taking her time because of how long its been since she last visited her people"
"She..."
"I mean your wife, Ifiok"
"Oh yes", Mr Travis Ojong smiled sheepishly. He had told Bachot thaz she is the most beautiful woman he had set his eyes on in a long time. Beautiful in every ramification.
     Ifiok grew up in an army garrison where her uncle served as an officer. She and her brother Aniebiet looked after his children and in return he was her guardian and ensured they were  educated. Her parents had died when she was a child in a car accident with the rest of her siblings except Aniebiet.
"This one wey you dey smile like small pickin wey dem buy akara na your wife dey make you smile abi, lover boy?", Bachot teased.
Mr Travis Ojong said nothing.  His countenance changed into a straight face.  Bachot knew that was only a decoy.
     He looked at Mr Travis Ojong and recalled how he used to write him about her while he was serving in the military.
"I want to let her know how I feel but I wonder if she feels the same way. I wonder how she would react", he once wrote in a letter.
     Mr Travis Ojong was  a subordinate of her uncle's. Her uncle thought Mr Travis Ojong  was one of the finest and most intelligent officers, so he was fond of him and encouraged Mr Travis Ojong to visit the house often.
     Soon, Ifiok caught Mr Travis Ojong's interest. When she finished her ordinary national diploma he asked her hand. Her uncle insisted she finished her HND so she could at least get a suitable employment.
"That's is okay by me sir", Mr Travis Ojong replied. He had promised that whatever  it took to get Ifiok to his side, he would do it.
     A few years later they got married and despite being significantly older than Ifiok, they went everywhere together. Everyone knew that telling Mr Travis Ojong your secret meant you were telling his wife. Intending couples constantly looked up to them as an examplary couple in church.
Some married couple consulted them on issues bodering around marriage.
     Ifiok worked at Community Secondary  School Ekparabong . She often travelled to Okpm town to manage
     Aniebiet had lived with them for a few years before  moving out to his place. He decided to settle in Ekparabong  because the people were warm and accomdating. He was dating an Ekparabong  lady as well.
     Their oldest child concluded his secondary school leaving certificate  examinaton a few months ago. Mr Travis Ojong discussed the lads interest with him. He also asked him to speak with his mother, Ifiok. He would work at the mechanic workshop for the time being. Thazs where his interest lied.
"I prefer you make ya own descisions because as far as I know you're now a man. In two year's time you will take Jamb and study this in school".
     If Mr Travis Ojong was grateful for  being in the military because he most importantly, found his wife in the  time in the military.
As much as he wnjoyed the adventures, he promised to allow his children a chance to decide their career paths.
Their youngest  recently concluded his primary school education.
      Bekom's indifferent countenance had transformed into a frown.  Mr Travis Ojong studied her, perplexed.
"Why would this youngman run all the way here?" , she questioned as she pointed towards the entrance of the house.