Thorns In My Boot - S01 E29

Story 2 years ago

Thorns In My Boot - S01 E29

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 29

I went to the state marriage registry with

our passport photographs and necessary

documents to start the process of legally

registering our marriage.

I paid one hundred thousand naira into

Amaka’s account then I went to NITEL phone

booth to call her Office in Abuja, she was not

on seat so I told the receiver that I would

call back by 4.00PM and when I did, she

answered the call. I then told her about my

visit to Abakaliki and the latest development

with Baba Dayo and his wife, mama. She

was just screaming out her joy on the

phone while I was laughing at my own end

to the chagrin of other intending phone

users queued behind me, when I laughed

and looked at their faces I saw anger, as if

my laughter was bad for their health. But I

ignored them, it was my turn to phone and

it was my money burning.

I told her to use the money paid into her

account to buy Baby things, she knew what

she would need as she is the woman.

Though she will be due in October, I did not

want to risk keeping the money till then so

that I do not spend it on frivolities. She was

happy and when Amaka is happy, my world

seemed to be complete. I told her to contact

her father and tell him that we would be

coming for her hand in a month’s time. That

would be July. She screamed and I laughed

louder at my end. One of the guys queued

behind me lost his patience and started

complaining that I was wasting their time.

Another guy told him to be patient that

when it gets to his turn he can afford to use

the whole day on the phone. By the time I

hung back the phone, the two men were at

each other’s throat. I left them and went my

way.

I was enjoying School; I instantly became

popular in my department. I had some

factors to my credit though. I had a bike that

I ride to School, so I was mobile and I could

give anyone a lift free of charge even

though my course mates knew I was an

Okada man in the evenings. I had some

change to throw around and this endeared

some students to me, some are parasitic

and others saprophytic. They also thought I

was a Soldier and as such some wanted my

friendship because of protection from the

School Man ‘o’ war boys, these Guys were in

charge of school internal security and were

feared by Students but the Man ‘o’ War Boys

had respect for me especially when I

declined to join them. The Man ‘o’ war

presidents were always serving military men

in school.

Another very important factor was my

academic prowess, all we were being taught

in year one I had already done as a prelim

student in I.M.T so I was naturally ahead of

the students and I was being booked by

different groups for extra lessons. And

finally because I was older than most of the

other students I got the highest number of

votes when we were told to nominate

candidates into the position of Course

representative. I had accepted the position

before I knew what I got myself into.

I was the conduit between the Lecturers

and Students, I had to be present at school

daily and early because I ensured that

lecturers are called in for their lectures in

case they forget, I sold text books for

lecturers and collect cash from students.

Some Students that missed some

assignments and quizzes come to me to

help them beg the lecturers for a reset of

the assignment or quiz. After examination

the students also come to me to help settle

lecturers. After a very tiresome day at school,

I still engaged myself in my Okada business

at night, I retire home early in the morning

only to wake up at 5.30AM and prepare for

School again.

The best nights for Okada business were at

weekend when many people flock into town

for social functions. They lodge in several

hotels and the night girls knows which hotel

had the most guests so they migrate to such

hotel to ply their trade at night so it was

important that the Okada riders know

which hotel has the most crowd or which

hotel is hosting a show at night. On nights

when any of the campuses in the City is

organizing any show in a hotel, I carry two

girls or a couple at once instead of one

person per ride to the venue. On such nights

I do not sleep, because students at I.M.T or

U.N.E.C hostels troop out continuously all

night to such show and as early as

4.00AM,they begin to disperse in their

numbers back to their hostels so I have got

to be there to make my money.

I cannot forget the night a girl hired me for

the whole night from 8.00PM till dawn. I

carried her to five different hotels to meet

five different Clients with whom she spent at

least two hours each. I simply waited at the

Bar drinking my Gulder on her bill. At the

end of the day, around 5.30AM she came out

from her last Clients room and met me down

stairs at the Bar then she went into the

Ladies and spent about ten minutes. When

she re emerged I did not recognize her

again, it was when she beckoned at me that

I recognized her, she had changed her

clothing into a casual long skirt and lose

blouse and wore a scarf on her head, she

then held a Bible in her hand, it was a

Saturday morning and she naturally looked

like someone who had gone for a night vigil

on Friday night.

I followed her outside to my Bike after she

paid for my beer and paid me our agreed

fare and I drove her to the home of an

innocent gentle man that was her fiancé,

she got down and knocked at the gate of

the house, the Owner, a handsome

gentleman opened the gate and welcomed

her, she told the man that she was yet to

settle me, he asked her the amount and she

told him, they went inside together while

she told me to wait and she winked at me

while I smiled; the man came out and gave

me the extra fare and I went home to

ponder over the night.

I did this transaction a couple of times

afterwards with the same lady until I heard

from my fellow Night riders that she had

married the man and they have both

relocated to Abuja.

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

Our court wedding took place quietly.

Amaka had four of her friends in attendance

and as witnesses while I had Ayo the Barber

to sign as my witness and three other

classmates as attendees, after the registry

we all went to Den’s cook for refreshment.

In July, all roads led to Awka to meet my

prospective in-law.

Baba Dayo and Mama came with friends; the

friends hired a sixteen Seats Toyota Hiace

bus to convey them while others joined

Baba Dayo in his new silver coloured Toyota

Path finder and mama’s ox blood coloured

Toyota Carina E with full options was driven

by Oga Luke Umahi. We stormed Awka and

from Awka we were directed to go to

Amaka’s home town in Unubi as her father

had gone home to receive us with his

kinsmen. What I thought would be a brief

affair turned the opposite.

My parents were more prepared than I had

thought. Baba Dayo told Amaka’s Kinsmen

that he wants to break protocols and go

home with his wife same day. Every item

that was written on the traditional marriage

list was paid for in cash! The bride price

was not negotiated as they expected from

us but was paid in cash!

The news went viral that some Yoruba

people were doing wonders at Barrister

Dike’s compound and before we knew it,

the compound was full. Some Yoruba youth

Corp members serving at Unubi community

got to know that we were Yorubas, they

organized all other Corp members from

Ekwulumini, Osumenyi and Uga Villages

close to Unubi, they all came in their

Uniforms to support me, Baba Dayo gave

them some money to entertain themselves,

they bought some gallons of palm wine and

some crates of Legend extra stout and

before we knew what was happening the

Corp members brought out drums and

started Kegites gyration at one end of the

compound while the popular Theresa

Onuoha Egedege traditional dancers were

performing at centre stage. Some youths

were sent out to Onitsha Gariki market to

buy two Cows and two Rams.

When the Truck came in with the Animals,

there was uproar in the compound. The

Animals were slaughtered and shared

amongst the kinsmen accordingly while

meat and food were also served to everyone

that came; there was liquor in abundance as

every liquor store in the village sold out their

Stock. What was supposed to be a quiet visit

was turned into a party that lasted till the

early hours of the next day. The Villagers

were saying it was very evident what their

brothers that have travelled to the west said

about ndi Yoruba and Parties, they said they

wished more Yoruba would come for their

Sisters, I laughed when I heard it, these

People did not understand.

Amaka’s father later cornered me at the

Corridor as I was going to meet Amaka in

her late mother’s room, he knew I had been

avoiding him; he held me by the shoulder

and pulled me closer to himself; Stop

avoiding me Boy! He said; you have done

well and I am proud of you! Let your past be

in the past so that you can move on in life,

right?

I said, yes sir!

Well done Boy! He said again; I am proud of

you! You and your people have impressed

me; you have brought honour to me in this

community! Your marriage will go down in

the history of this Village as the best! You

pulled all the neighboring Villages to my

Compound! They will take the news back to

their Communities. I like that! Thank you my

Boy! Thank you! He patted my back and he

went to his room, I guess back to his books

I later told Amaka about my encounter with

her father and she expressed her gratitude

to me and my family, she said she thank God

for everything that we have been through

together, she said her traditional wedding

will go down in history as a big and unusual

feat that took place in the Village. The

glamour added by the Corp member’s

performance was awesome and will remain

in peoples memory for long, the village had

never experienced a traditional marriage

that ran from Saturday to Sunday morning

and left the entire Village known drunkards

in stupor.

We left for Enugu on Sunday with our Wife

and one of her nieces that would be staying

with us; we told her family that she will

return to continue her school until Amaka

puts to Bed. My Parents drove with us to my

house while Oga Luke and others drove

straight to Abakaliki

When Baba Dayo saw my apartment, he

opined that I moved into a three bedroom

apartment, I told him I live alone for now as

Amaka still works in Abuja; he called Amaka

to join in our discussion and Amaka also

said it would be a waste of money since I

live alone, then Baba Dayo surprised us all;

So why can’t you leave Abuja and come to

join your husband in Enugu here? He asked.

Amaka and I laughed

You mean her Job abi? He asked

Yes nah Baba! You know she works in

Abuja; I said.

Is she not working for someone? He asked

Yes Sir! She works with Gani Chambers and

you know that! And me I am still in School! I

said.

Okay! He said; as my daughter in-law, I am

commanding you to start preparing for your

resignation immediately you return to

Abuja! I want you to come home to your

husband and start your own chambers! I

want you to open an Amaka Dike Ojo

Chambers in Enugu; you have worked here

before so it is not a strange place for you to

start on your own, in fact all your previous

Clients will be transferred to your own

Company!

Ha! Was all I kept saying while Amaka was

just looking at Baba as if he was chanting

some strange incantation.

Baba continued; I will foot the bill! It is

money that it will cost me, not my blood, and

by the grace of God today, I am capable; he

said beating his chest. I cannot describe my

reaction on paper, I can only say that while

Amaka was crying on her knees with Arms

stretched high up, Mama and Dayo my little

sister were dancing around Baba Dayo and

thanking him. Hmm, Amaka Dike Ojo

Chambers! Good God!