Emeka, The Writer and The SSO

Chapter Seven

I won't start this new session by telling you what happened between me and the Fitness official, or the happenings that went on within The Box. Partly because I am a firm believer of letting sleeping dogs lie, only if the dog really wants to sleep, else I'd rather put it down before it did me. The other reason why is because I do not wish to talk about it. I'd rather it remained in the deepest darkest parts of my mind until it merely disappeared, and I'm not one to be an enemy of progress, especially when the one whose progress I am halting is mine.

But all that is beside the point and in the past and the story needs to move on, but in order for you to understand what's coming I need to go back few steps.

I stormed into my home the night after my faithful encounter with my Outdoors and Fitness official and our fated meeting in the Box, tired and exhausted, both physically and mentally - the effects of my time in the box hadn't even began to wear off, even after more than three hours. I collapsed into my bed, my anger suffocating me more than the pillow my face was currently planted in. I tried to take in deep breaths, attempts that were stiffled by the pillow, and gave rise to frustration. My brain was almost overwhelmed by the anger and frustration in my heart, and it would have been if it wasn't for the soft ring of the notification on my phone drawing my attention from what had gone on during the day.

I flipped my phone over and it was The Writer. I opened the phone and we talked for a while, at least until I was supposed to get ready to head over to the SSO. I didn't want to go today but I couldn't support myself without them so I had to go. I rode the taxi in silence, despite the driver's attempt to start up a conversation.

I exited the taxi and walked towards the SSO building, ignoring the screeching of tires behind me, as the driver drove away recklessly. I pushed open the door to the building and I could feel the atmosphere had changed. Way too many people mulled around in the lobby, doing mostly unimportant things, opening bags, closing them, rechecking items in their bags.

Shocked, I took a step back, then another and another and another, until the entire room was within my field of vision and the piece that tied everything together. A banner hung from the roof of the building withblack letters that read,

Welcome to the start of Wilderness Weekdays!!
Please enjoy your outings and maintain constant safety precautions

I hated Wilderness Weekdays, because it was then that we were forced to go out on journeys to the 'wilderness', and it always left me sore at the end of the day. I hated the SSO for implementing such a thing but I couldn't loathe the SSO anymore than I did or else I would have, and besides that was not my goal today. I walked towards the desk. I looked at the guy sitting behind the front desk nonchalantly tapping his phone. He was completely oblivious to everything going on around him, absorbed in the world contained within the phone. I tapped on the black painted wooden table in an attempt to get his attention. He tapped away, like he was the only person in the room, like the discordant noise around him was non existent. I coughed loudly into the crook of my elbow until finally he pried his eyes away from the screen and looked at me.

His gaze was filled with amusement and a hint of a smile played on his lips.

"Yes," he said the amusement lacing his voice,"How may I help you?"

I cleared my throat before answering. "I would like to speak with the local SSO head, uh... Mr. Esua." The title of local head always reminded me of village chiefs and not of the Chief manager of the SSO.

The guy rolled his chair around in the space behind the desk tapping on unseen screens his amused smile never leaving his lips yet never showing itself fully. The chair rolled to a stop before me, its back facing me as the guy tapped away on something again. The chair swivelled and the guy turned to face me. With a quick slide of his hand he dropped whatever device he was holding onto the side and emptied his hands.

"I'm sorry Mr..."

"Emeka," I filled it in for him.

"Emeka, my sincerest apologies but it is the start of the Outdoor and Fitness practical season and Mr. Esua won't be free for a couple of weeks. So your matter would have to wait."

I considered it for a while before I spoke next. "What if," I began,"I told you it was a matter of extreme importance?"

He tapped on some hidden screens for a while before he raised his eyes to meet mine.

"At most you can meet him by the end of next week."

I didn't wait for him to finish speaking, I prodded him again testing how soon I could speak with Mr. Esua.

"What if it involved this season's vital official?"

He tapped some more into the unseen screen.

"You could see him by the end of the week."

"And what if I told you that if this information leaks out it would severely hurt the reputation of the SSO?"

I don't know whether I was expecting his facial expression to change but it didn't, the same amused expression was still plastered on his face, with the only difference being the fact that it was a little bit more unrestrained. A laughter shone in his eyes yet his expression didn't change.

"Could you see him this afternoon?" He asked me after another round of tapping.

"Yes, yes, thank you very much." I turned away and left, satisfied with myself. I could feel my revenge around the corner and I had gotten as close as possible to today in Esua's schedule, two of which were accomplishments even for mere middle SOs like me.

I walked the distance left between me and the elevator smiling happily, ignoring the noise of the people getting ready to head out to the wilderness, the clicks and clacks of some shoes, then I rode with my happiness upto to the Middle SO level.

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