Emeka, The Writer and The SSO

Chapter Nine

We had fallen out many years ago, and if I were to be more precise, I would say eleven years ago. We were both fresh out of Early SO and we're eager to make it to the top. And it wasn't just Esua, even myself was very eager to reach the Late SO.

We worked towards our goal together, supporting each other, pushing ourselves to strive harder. We tore through every quota like a strongman would have torn through wet tissue paper, we were unstoppable. That is until we met Effizzy.

Effizzy was like his name, extra. He was as flamboyant as he was ambitious not afraid to resort to underhanded tactics to get what he wanted. It also didn't help that a lot of his family members were in the Late SO, taking up spaces of officials and Local Heads in the South Zonal Region of Nigeria.

We all met at a sub-discipline of Outdoors and Fitness, History and Culture. We had just finished another quota that had been handed out and as usual we were the first to check it in. I still don't understand what led Effizzy to come up to us that day, and I never will. Effizzy passed away shortly after my friendship with Esua broke up.

"You're Emeka and Esua right?" He had asked us that day. He wore a black suit with a matching tie and shoes and a white shirt. His body was arched forward and his left shoulder pointed downwards. He walked with a noticeable limp. Yet despite this he had an un-understandable charm which attracted people to him, coupled with his handsome face and connections he had in the SSO, he was practically at the top of the Middle SO social ladder.

Seeing he had directed the question at us Esua nodded, I merely looked up. I had a nose for trouble and usually I try to avoid it but sometimes one had to forge ahead despite the dangers. This, unfortunately, was not one of those moments, but Esua thought it was.

"Ehen, what do you want?" He retorted.

"Good, good, good," Effizzy said to himself smiling, "I have only one thing to say to you. Stay in your lane, if not..." He let the statement hang then he turned around and left.

This of course annoyed Esua 5o no end. He was a firm hater of proud and pompous people, and though he was practically the same type of person, he made it his life's journey to put such people in their place. He soon became consumed with fighting Effizzy, using every opportunity to be near him, always finding a reason to start an argument, leaving all the work for me.

Esua and I usually spent a lot of time in the Back Gardens of the SSO to consider how to deal with the quotas we had been given and although because of Esua's 'righteous' anger we were spending less and less time in the Back Gardens, every once in a while we managed to sit together to talk. It was during such a time that we fell out.

Esua sat opposite me animatedly narrating his most recent tussle with  Effizzy and I sat on the opposite side finishing the quotas given to 'us'.

"And then Effi," he said using a nickname he commonly used for Effizzy. "Then Effi," he repeated although not as enthusiastic. Slowing down some more he said with a lower voice, "Effi he..." He stopped mid sentence and looked at me.

"Wetin?" He barked.

"Nothing, continue your story, I'm listening," I said sarcastically.

"Why you dey look me like that?"

"Like how?"

"Like I did something wrong."

"Hey! Esua, so you even know?"

"Know what?"

"That you're doing something wrong."

"What do you mean by that?" He said, his voice borderline shouting.

"You'll not come and do your share of the work. You're there picking fights with people that know where they are going." The spite was evident in my voice. "See, you better come and do your work because I'm not going to do it."

"Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean by that? Ehn? No, Emeka tell me. I'm trying to show that young man the way and you're here saying that I'm picking fight with people that know where they are going. See, Emeka," he pointed his fingers at my face, "Let me not..."

I cut him off, "Are you hearing yourself? You want to show him the way?" I scoffed. "Who do you want to show the way? Ehn? No, infact, what way do you want to show him? You that if it weren't for me you would have already started failing three disciplines. See, let me tell you something, leave Effizzy alone and stop coming here to throw around empty threats and putting that your dirty finger in my face." I smacked his hand out of my face.

"Emeka, you?" He exclaimed. "You that has been a dundee since Early SO? You?" He pointed his finger at me again. My anger simmered. "Infact I'm sure that if it wasn't for your parents paying your way..."

I exploded. My hand didn't allow him to finish that statement, landing my palm square on his cheek. His face pivoted violently, like a leaf would have done in a strong wind.

"Emeka, me? You slapped me?" He was shocked, his facial expression blank as he was unable to reconcile what just happened to the argument we were having earlier.

"Yes! And I will do it again. I will tolerate whatever nonsense you say about me but  don't you dare bring my parents into this." My palm was hot and itchy.

"Emeka," he said absent mindedly, "You slapped me?" He ended it a tone higher.

I looked at him with a heart full of disdain. The anger in me slithered around, ready to rear its head and slap Esua again should the need arise. It was unfortunate that the incoming footsteps saved him.