Did you read the first part of this story? If no, please, do so to enable you flow with my train of taught.
“I expected my uncle, Anselm,” continued Ifeanyi, “to call his wife to order, on his return from work, but that wasn’t the case. I expected him to intervene maturely and handle the matter reasonably, but didn’t happen, too. Instead, he re-echoed his wife’s decision of sending me away for no just cause.”
In defence of his action, Anselm said to Ifeanyi: “My wife says she does not want you again in this house. “When I pleaded with her to allow you more time, so that you can find an alternative accommodation, she refused bluntly, saying I should choose between allowing you to stay and asking her to leave. In order to avoid her trouble, I would advise you to look for a place to stay temporarily until you get your own house.”
“Have you told my mother about it?” Ifeanyi asked Anselm politely. “And again, uncle, where do you want me to go, especially now that I’m yet to secure a job?”
“Why not ask some of your friends,” suggested Anselm, “to accommodate you until when you’ll be able to rent your own accommodation?”
“Let him go and sleep anywhere he likes,” interrupted Chikodi, who was secretly eavesdropping to the discussion between her husband and Ifeanyi. “If he fails to leave this house by tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure he leaves by force.”
Without waiting for a forceful ejection, Ifeanyi gathered his few personal belongings that night and left his uncle’s house early in the morning of the following day. He did so in utter frustration and confusion.
“As I was leaving my uncle’s house aimlessly that morning,” recalled Ifeanyi, “I quickly remembered an uncompleted building on the street behind my uncle’s street, and decided to check it out.
“I got in there and checked into one of the rooms, without anybody challenging my presence. Since nobody queried my mission to the place, I decided to make there my new home until my condition improved.
“While riding in a commercial bus one morning, a few weeks later, I met a girl named Favour. She lived on the same street as my uncle. We used to see each other every day, but we never talked to each other. Both of us were on the same seat, heading from Shibiri to Okokomaiko.”
As their journey progressed, Favour turned and smiled at Ifeanyi, and thereafter, initiated a conversation between the two of them. Below is an excerpt of the dialogue between them.
Favour: Where have you been all these days? Did you travel?
Ifeanyi: No, I didn’t travel, except that I’m no longer with my uncle.
Favour: Why? Is anything wrong?
Ifeanyi: Yes. It’s a long story, anyway.
Favour: [Looking inquisitive] Tell me the long story. I want to hear it.
Favour: [After listening to Ifeanyi’s long story] “Where are you now?”
Ifeanyi: At that uncompleted building behind your street.
Favour: [Feeling sympathetic] God forbids! Are you serious? Why not ask one of your friends to accommodate you for a while instead of you taking the risk of living in an uncompleted building like a criminal or a lunatic?
Ifeanyi: My sister, Favour, I don’t have any friend that lives alone. The two friends I have live with their parents.
Favour: No, no, no, no. How long would you continue to live in such a dehumanizing environment like a mad person? Don’t you know anything can happen while you’re there? For example, some criminals might decide to come and attack you there. Again, and on a more serious note, don’t you know that the people living around there might hold you responsible if anything like stealing takes place around that neighbourhood and the real thieves are not apprehended?”
Ifeanyi: I understand all that you’ve just said, but what can I do in the absence of no help? I believe in God and I know that one day, at His own appointed time, He’ll come to my rescue. His time is always the best and it is He and He alone who drives away the flies that attack the cow that has no tail.
Favour: I like your faith in God, but how long would you continue to live on hope? Anyway, assuming you see somebody who’s prepared to assist you with some money, how long do you think it will take you to find an accommodation, say, a single room apartment?
Ifeanyi: I can’t say exactly how long it would take until I have inquired from an estate agent.
Favour: How soon can you do that? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? When exactly?
Ifeanyi: I’ll try by tomorrow.
Favour: Please, do. Just endeavour to see the estate agent tomorrow, and find out how soon it would take him to do secure an accommodation for you. As soon as he’s able to find one, please, let me know. Whenever you want to reach me concerning it, please, leave a message for me with that lady that owns that the hair salon that is on my street.”
As they were about to depart at Okokomaiko Bus-stop, to their different directions, Favour opened her purse and brought out some money, which she offered Ifeanyi, and saying: “It is part of the money my father gave me to go and pay into his account at the bank, but have it to help yourself for some time.
…to be continued next week
