Must Read: The Thomas:

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Thomas:

When she was sure that the cabman had lost her, she stopped a bike and mounted it “Total garden is hundred naira” The bikeman said as he joined the road. “No problem. H ope you have five hundred naira change?” She asked.


She was not really in a mood to negatiate the price with the bikeman. Every commercial motorcyclist, motorist or whatever believed the notion that every child from a rich background or averagedly comforta ble home are foolish and won’t bother negotiating the price of goods or transport fare They would jump inside the cab at any given price. But the reverse is the case when it comes to Serena who was well known at the busstop for non stop negotiation. She w ould make sure she cuts at least twenty percent of the original price. She sometimes negotiates up from her pickup point to her destination, and most times, she would end up paying what she wanted to pay. Even though trying that with commercial bus conduc tors can lead to one’s injury. She just wanted to arrive at Staphanie’s house as quick as possible to know if everything is right because this is quite unlike her. Steph’s phone is always on, and she rarely missed her calls.

Even inside the church, she wou ld still answer her call As the bikeman sped on, Serena kept trying Stephanie’s number which still remained the way it had been and the automated voice of the network provider kept telling her the number she was trying to call was switched off. “Why are w e stopping?

Serena asked when the bike came to a halt. “Can’t you see the traffic light is on?” The bikeman replied angrily. Serena hissed angrily as she removed her phone to dial her friend’s number, hoping for a miracle, but got the shock of life when t he call couldn’t connect. Reason being that her battery has been exhausted. “Oya, dey go dey go. ” She nudged the bikeman who stepped on the gas and moved She knew she was acting somehow, she couldn’t even explain the reason behind that She was getting he rself all worked up over nothing. The fact that Stephanie’s phone was not connecting doesn’t mean something is wrong, it could be that she was in the same situation with her, battery exhaustion. But the Stephanie she knew would never for once run out of ba ttery. One, she was friends with everybody in her neighbourhood and that gives her the chance to enter any compound all in the name of charging her phone. Two, she was friends with every Saloon owners, because she makes her hair in everyone of them, becaus e she knew she would be allowed to charge if the need arises. Three, she had made friends with a few barbers in the neighbourhood as well as game centre owners where she occassionally put her phone to charge. Such was the kind of life that Stephanie lives which made her a sharp contrast to Serena. Only God knows what was wrong with Steph’s phone. “Drop me here.” Serena said to the bikeman who dutifully brought the bike to a halt. She paid and after collecting her change, walked into the estate gate. She j ust needed someone to keep her company, going back into that house would cause her a lot of problem psychologically. She was grateful to God when Stephanie’s mum told her, Steph was inside the house and she waited for her in the living room while she force d herself to watch the tv. “Hope you can understand what the man of God is saying?”

Stephanie’s mum asked. “Yes ma.” She replied even though she couldn’t understand a thing that has been said. “You see, the man has been speaking about the youths and their decision makings. I believe…” The elderly woman began when her own daughter cut her short. “Mum, she understands perfectly well “Are you with your senses at all?”

Stephanie’s mum flared up. The first time Serena was seeing her in that state. “Mum, I am okay. Girlfriend, lets go into my room.”

Stephanie called on her friend “You see the next time you try such with me, you’ll see what I’ll do for you. I have told you times without number that you shouldn’t cut me short when I am discussing with a visitor. ” “Where is the visitor?” Stephanie asked. She probably was joking with her mum, but the old lady wasn’t taking it lightly. “Mum, don’t mind her. Please we are sorry.” Serena pleaded with her friend’s mother before walking out of the living room. “You didn ‘t go to the tutorial today.

Why?” Serena asked as she took Stephanie’s charger and plugged her phone. “l was getting dressed when you arrived. But right now, i am not going anywhere.” Stephanie replied laughing The moment Serena’s phone came on, it start she realised it was her father. ed ringing, and on checking the caller, Serena was already shivering before she answered the call. Not because she feared that her father was home yet, because she knew her father was far away in Ikire, Osun state on the con struction of the IkireApomu road and the chances of her father having a change of plan is quite slim, and he couldn’t have been home yet, even if he was done for the day, he would definitely show up in his office and from there come home. The only option left was that, maybe her father didn’t travel afterallJ and has been in the office all day, and now he had reached home. “Hello dad.” She stammered “Hello, Serena Where are you?” His voice sounded cool and comfOrting which eased the tension within are. Af terall, he didn r t know if she was home or not
l am in Stephanie’s place, you know her, don’t you?” She replied. And invisible hand landed on her cheeks five consecutive times and she almost lost balance. “What are you doing in that witch’s place?” His v oice boomed “Are you there? Serena9″ She heard his cool voice talking once again. Afterall, she had imagined the whole slapping scenerio, no one could have slapped anybody throught the phone, The whitemen are yet to make such phones where you can have dir ect contact with the person you are calling. Is she really having a problem? Is she loosing her mind? Why would she imagine her father slapping her when he was not there with her? “Serena, are you there?” He asked gently. This time, more gentle than he had spoken the first time. Maybe he realised too that, he was going too hard on her. “Yes dad, am still here.” She replied pulling herself together. “Go into my room, you’ll see a plastic master card on my bedside drawer, help me dictate the pin numbers that you see on it” Her father explained. Serena couldn’t pretend that she didn’t hear him. “Okay sir, I’ll call you back.” She replied. “l called you. Just walk into my room and do what I asked you to do. I’ll wait.” Her father said authoritatively.

Serena di dn’t know when the phone slipped from her hand and came down crashing on the tiled floor “What’s the matter?” Stephanie asked. “l am in trouble.” Serena said as she quickly picked up her phone, put the back cover in place and slid it into the back pocket of her jean trouser. She looked around the room for something she didn’t put there and then she saw it, a sum of five hundred naira was lying on Stephanie’s reading table. She picked it up and rushed out of the room. “Serena, that’s my money. You purse is here.” Stephanie called after her. Serena ignored her and raced out of the house without even bothering to greet Steph’s mum. “Serena, even you laptop is here.” Stephanie called as she ran after her friend. By the time she got outside, Serena’s bike was ju st taking off. She returned into the house dejectedly, one,
because she had missed the chance of spending the whole afternoon gisting and gossiping with her friend, two she would have to either go to her tutorial centre or stay at home and end up watching live broadcasts from churches. “What’s wrong with your friend?” Her mother asked her immediately she walked into the house She ignored her mother and walked into her room. She knew she had offended her mum for that little action of hers and she would defi nitely pay for it. Three minutes later, she stepped into the living room with a bag hung on her back as she was dressed in a pink top and a black jean trouser and her hair packed to a ponytail. “Its better you return to that room of yours and drop your bag .” Her mother said. She knew it would come to this. She had offended her mum quite a number of times today alone, first she cut her mum short when she was talking in an offensive way, now she ignored her.


These are just way too much “Mum, I am off to less on.” She said. “There is no lesson today. Go in and drop your bag and immediately, you come and join me here. You need the word of God, you don’t talk to your parents like that.” Her mother replied. “Mum, please.” Stephanie pleaded.