Thorns In My Boot - S01 E08

Story 2 years ago

Thorns In My Boot - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

Our money was finally paid in the Month of May,

I was paid nine Months allowance used in Zaria

depot plus five months arrears as a serving

Soldier. All the money amounted to twenty

thousand naira! In 1991 twenty thousand naira

was like twenty million naira today and I really

felt like a millionaire back then. In all of my life, I

had never thought of owning such amount of

money.

I furnished my house sparsely. I bought a giant

sized six by six inches mattress, I bought green

rug Carpet for the two rooms and placed my

mattress on the Rug. I did not make a bed, I

bought a medium range electronic set and a

twenty one inches coloured Television. My Dad

never owned a television or any electronic

gadget till he died; even the transistor radio he

carried about was given to him by a debtor who

could not pay for the palm wine my dad supplied

him during new yam festival. So I felt so

accomplished when I opened my door and beheld

my transformed two room apartment, with every

property owned by me. My Mother needs to see

this.

I went to Ogete main Market and bought some

clothes and Shoes. I bought some Ankara fabric

and jewelries for Mama; I bought her hand bags

and Shoes too. When I slept at night on my Giant

sized mattress, I went to heaven and woke after

nine o’clock in the morning when everyone had

gone to work. Of course when I got to work at

after ten o’clock I was relieved of my Beret, my

belt and shoes and marched straight to the

Guard room! The only question my RSM asked

me was: You dey sick? To which I answered No

Sir! March him to the guard room! He ordered

the Korofo marshal, the quarter master drilled

me to the guard room with his swagger stick

cursing and insulting me as if I had issues with

him before now. Common move! Oya! Frog jump!

Frog jump! He commanded while jabbing me with

his stick. silly boy! Idiot! When small money enter

una hand, na so una go de do any how! He poked

me harder with his stick even though I was

obeying his commands and frog jumping to the

guard room.

The RSM did not tell him to punish me, he was

simply told to march me to the guard room but

immediately the RSM was out of sight, he

resorted to punishing me.

Yeye boy! He continued: you don go drink, Bleep

ashawo forget yourself! No worry, no be this

barracks you dey? That your money go soon

finish! Oya pull that your wrist watch give me! So

you don go buy ‘shine shine’ watch ko? Idiot boy!

Barger! Oya commot that chain wey dey your

neck! You be woman? silly boy!

In all of the rants I did not utter a word, I knew

better, I was released later that night and I went

home to freshen up before reporting for night

guard duty at the house of my CO.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

We played the semi final match against the 244

Recce Battalion of Awkwunanaw and we

defeated them on a penalty shoot out , I scored

the last and winning penalty shot and I was

raised shoulder high at the end of the match.

Sergeant Korofo carried me on his shoulder and

ran round the barracks while our supporters and

team mate ran after him singing and jubilating.

We later settled down and the CB mess for

drinks and entertainment.

Chike came around when we were rounding up at

the mess and called me out for a chat.

Congratulations Ojo! He said

Thank you Oga Chike! I replied

The Car don ready o! Na you I dey wait now! He

announced;

You mean am? I asked: which kind of car? How

much:

Na Peugeot 504GR and na eight thousand naira:

he said.

Haba Chike! He too cost nah! I no get eight

thousand naira I beg. I replied.

So na how much you want to pay? He asked

I can’t pay more than Five thousand naira, and I

need to see the Motor first, I said.

Oya follow me! He said as he turned and walked

briskly towards the tarred road where cars are

parked, I followed behind in excitement.

He pointed at a navy blue coloured 504 saloon

car and dangled the keys before me, we entered

the Car and he started the engine and revved it.

The engine sound was superb and the interior

very neat and smooth. He said the Car does not

have a factory fitted air condition but it can be

installed if I care, who cares? I asked him. I love

the Car instantly and I agreed to buy it if he is

willing. He accepted my offer and the next day I

paid him in full and I became the proud owner of

a Peugeot 504 GR saloon Car! And that was how

I bought trouble with my money!