Story of a Survivor - Season 1 - Episode 15

5 years ago

Story of a Survivor - Season 1 - Episode 15

On a certain Sunday, I had taken a taxi cab to
our street at Abakpa just to catch a glimpse of
Junior. I went to the incomplete building
adjacent to our House and sat patiently
watching the gate to the House.

I waited for about two hours before I saw him
pushing a wheel barrow with water filled Jerri
cans down the street. He was unclad, wearing
just short Pants, battered Slippers and
sweating profusely. I waited for him to reach
the front of the incomplete building before I
called out to him. Junior! I called out.

He stopped and looked at me searchingly.

Chinedu how you dey? I asked. You don forget
me? I asked again as he strolled towards me
wiping off sweat from his forehead.

Your face be like face wey I sabi o! but I dey
try to remember the place wey I sabi you , he
said.

Na me you give Bread and Akara chop for here
that night, I said.

Yes o! He exclaimed. Na you give me ten naira
to take replace Nonso money that day! Thank
you Aunty! But na wetin you dey do here again
nah? You wan sleep? You don chop today so?

He asked with concern.

Na you I wan come see nah ! I said. I want to
come see the face of the Hero wey save me
from hunger that night.

He laughed and said Aunty I no know why you
allow hunger to worry you that day o! Because
you been get plenty money for Pocket.

Well you no understand, I said. So na where
you dey carry Water go nah?

Na sell I dey sell am o! He said. My People
don go village for holiday and dem no carry me go. Small food stuff dey for house but no soup, and dem no give me any money to take cook soup. Na so so Garri I dey drink since so I deyvgo hire this Wheel barrow to take sell water sobthat I go dey get money to buy anything wey I want chop until dem return.

I was about to speak when I remembered once again my dream. I relaxed and comported myself.

So how much you dey sell one Jerri can? I
asked.

Aunty na Fifty naira! You wan buy Water? Na
where your house dey sef? He asked.

No! No o! I no wan buy water, I just dey ask, I
dey live for inside Barracks I said.

Your Papa na Soja? He asked.

No junior! My Papa no be Soja but my Mama
been dey teach for Army day so Army give us
House for barracks, I explained.

As your Papa no be Soja, he dey follow una
live inside barracks too? He asked.

I could not hold back my tears crying as I
answered him.

No! Junior, My Papa don die tey tey!

Aunty sorry o! Na my question dey make you
cry? No vex I beg! He said.

As he approached me to rub my shoulder, I
grabbed him tight and cried over his shoulder
like I never did in my life. He was shocked and
scared by my action as I felt him stiffen, but I
guess he had seen worse fears in his life that
he stood resolute and offered to comfort me.

He embraced me lightly but assuring. Sorry!

He kept saying as he patted me on my back.
I thanked him and gave him a five hundred naira note before he left to continue his business.

help me to thank God I found my bornday mate today…