Must Read: Life

7 years ago

Must Read: Life

And if We had not held you firm, you would have inclined towards them.’ Qur’an.

Ola packed his bag and baggage and said goodbye to the town of Ijebu Ode. The mini city that had been his home for the last for years. The town where he had learnt and achieved a lot. He had previously sent most of his belongings to his mother’s place. He had with him only those he would need at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos state.
Ola arrived home into the waiting and welcoming hands of his uncles and aunts. He had sorely missed them just as they had missed him. He rested a bit before devouring a sumptuous plate of Amala and Ewedu soup with a big chunk of beef. He stepped it down with a 1litre pack of Fumman Orange juice. Then he went for his nightly ritual, his stroll.

He walked the length of the street and missed his friend. He called Daniel and they talked about the need for early arrival at th camp the following day. He also called his mother and a few other friends of interest to him. He began the long stroll beck home.

As he approached his house, a saw a familiar figure in the darkness. He strained his eyes to identify the figure and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he recognised the person. It was Tope. She was talking with another girl who Ola did not know. He approached them and ”Good evening Tope.” he greeted. They both looked up to see the person who had just walked in on them. Tope recognised him and Ola could see the shock registered on her face. She recovered quickly.
”Good evening brother Ola.” she replied. Ola was stunned. Were his ears playing pranks on him? Tope had called him ‘brother Ola’. He couldn’t believe it as five year old memories were flooding his brain.
”How is everything and you?” he asked still trying to smart from the shock.
”Everything is fine, sir. I have missed you alot. Since you left for school, I had written JAMB twice and each time I failed. Then I knew that if you had been around, it would have been different. But my mum got a special centre for me this year and guess what, brother Ola.” Ola couldn’t guess as he was still finding it hard to register the transformation in Tope to warrant her change of attitude towards him. Her voice brought him out of his reverie.
”I passed it and the post UME. Now, I am an undergraduate of your school and I will be studying Mass Communication, your course!” she said gleefully. Ola was happy for her. At least she had taught him well.
”Make sure you see me tomorrow morning before I leave for camp. I will give you some names and numbers of some people in school.

They will help you. Just tell them you are my sister. Congratulations Tope. And be a good girl on campus.” he said as he turned to go. Tope dragged him back and said ”Congrats too on your first class sir. I hope to emulate you. You are a model to many of us around here. And you can bet I will be gentle on campus. Good night sir and have fun in camp.” She then gave him a full kiss on his lips. His first kiss ever! He left for home.

The Lagos State NYSC Orientation camp at Iyana Ipaja was a beehive of activities that Monday morning as graduates from all over the country came to answer the call of their fatherland. Ola got out of the taxi cab that brought him there. His aunt had insisted on a cab against the hustle of the Danfo. He had to get there early to register and do things before the rush. He paid the driver and got his things out of the cab. Then he called Daniel who was already in the camp and together, they went through the registration formalities. In less than four hours of their arrival, they were through with it and were taking their usual stroll around. They were now officially Corpers.

At the orientation camp, things happened, but not for both of them. They had no time for the ladies except a few who knew them from school.

Though they were in different platoons, they never left each other’s sight. They both worked at the Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS). They never partook in the parades, when it was time for the parade rehearsal, they were either in the hostel or in the OBS office. The Mammy market seriously missed them. But the mosque and chapel on camp never missed them for a day. They also played football for their platoons.

Both of them met in the final with Ola scoring the winning goal. They had fun in their own way.
Three weeks went swiftly and they were posted to their Places of Primary Assignment. Daniel was posted to an advertising agency, Florid Communications in Ikeja, while Ola was posted to a Public Relations outfit, Pellarry Communicatins, on the Lagos Island. They both lived in Oyingbo.

They worked assiduously for their firms and after their service, they were both retained with a handsome pay packet to take home after tax.
For Ola and his family, things were getting better. How better can it get?..