[Story] Life as a corper (Episode 1 – 50)

Mr RockSeptember 19, 2016

Life as a corper

Episode 16

“so it means i still have lots of chances with chinwe?” i curiously asked with a smile,

“hmmmm what a question, i already have told you all you need to know, just figure out the rest yourself” she replied with a smile. I shrugged and asked no further question.

Later in the evening {4:55pm}, i strolled out to buy airtime{recharge card} when i ran into Amara as she bought roasted corn across the street.

“big girl” i greeted with a smile,

“thank God i saw you at last” she muttered as she held my hand.

“do you want to buy corn for me?” i asked jokinly,

“you can take one if you want” she replied with a smile,

“thank’s ooo” i muttered and made to walk away, but she held me strongly which made stop and stare curiously at her.

“was Olivia with you this afternoon?” she seriously asked without mincing words, while i stared at her with surprise and confusion as i equally tried desperately to read her expression which really was very blank.

“ummhh is she missing?” i asked, so as to make her further reveal her intention or the reason she was asking such question.

Answering a question with another question is very common and popular among we Nigerians, and its also a very effective tool or defence mechanism used especially when you deem a question outrageous, hard to answer or in order to buy more time and think properly.

“she isn’t missing, i just only want to know where she went this afternoon” she explained as she pleaded with her eyes,

“okay she was with me” i finally answered quietly, but it seemed my answer surprised or shocked her, and her expression instantly changed.

“bi.tch.” i heard her curse faintly, leaving a curious look on my face, but i quickly hid it and managed to smile polietly,

“okay dear let me go and buy airtime” i said with a smile before walking away…..

Truly we guys can never understand girls nor learn all their behaviours no matter how hard we try and Amara’s behaviour that fateful sunday left me with deep thoughts all through the rest of that day.

Monday afternoon i found myself in Chinwe’s room, where her roomate kept throwing provoking glances at me, as Chinwe curiously insisted on knowing what brought me back to Owerri…..

My phone soon rang and it was Olivia calling me……

“please dear can you help me with airtime” i heard her plead soon after i answered her phone-call, while chinwe’s curious eyes rested on me….

Episode 17

“no problem” was all i could mutter without giving up my cover.

“what do you mean by no problem?” a confused Olivia asked over the phone, but instead of replying, i ended the phone call, smiled at chinwe, before gently tucking my mobile phone inside my trouser pocket.

“seems like something came up in school, i will soon be leaving, the caller is my coursemate” i explained innocently, but before Chinwe could mutter anything, my phone rang again, making me curse inwardly.

I reluctantly brought out my phone again, and heaved a sigh of relief when i saw it was my mother calling,

“try and meet Pa Micheal this evening in the village, it seems like some greedy folks already has initiated their land- grabbing scheme” she said to me while my mind flew.

Even though i expected such thing to happen, i never thought it could manifest so soon, {couple of weeks after dad’s burial}, moreover we really do not have much lands which kind of infuriated me. However my heart also flew because i really didn’t have the nerve, nor appetite to confront greedy land grabbers, but as the first son of the family, it truly is my duty.

“what’s the problem?” chinwe curiously asked as she saw the miserable look on my face,

“land-grabbers dear, i have to rush home fast” i explained,

“hmmm so soon?, would you like me to accompany you?” she offered humbly,

“no dear, thank’s i think it’s men’s affair” i replied with a forced smile,

“you/ man kwa??” she playfully sneered,

“anyway just be careful, remember it’s their opportunity to get at you with their evil plans, and remember to stop-by in school before going” she advised.

“thanks dear” i replied gratefully before leaving with a heavy heart.

Land-grabbing isn’t really a new nor strange thing in Igbo land, and it simply means the situation whereby a villager, neighbour, friend or outsider tries to lay claim over a piece of land which he or she has no ownership right. Most times it’s really brothers or friends who knew each other very well that often tries such affair especially when the original owner isn’t available to defend his property or when a weak resistance is expected.

Being the first son of my family, i really was well educated by my dad which really made my heart strong, but however i equally knew it really won’t be enough because the crook already must have bought most of the living elders, one way or the other….

My thoughts kept me company as i drove to my village that afternoon, i soon passed my compound {village house} and stopped in front of Pa micheal’s compound, even though my mind instantly rebuked me because i forgot to buy a bottle of local gin, hot drink or even wine, which to some folks may appear disrespectful…

Episode 18

Pa Micheal was really very happy to see me, and welcomed me like a son which truly calmed my nerves and made me a bit comfortable,

“Onyia’s eldest son Francis presented a case yesterday to the elders, asking them to intervene in respect of the land behind Eze’s compound which has been under your family’s control for decades” he slowly explained,

“according to him, his late father used the land to borrow money from your dad during the {biafran} war and he now wants to reclaim it” he added while i listened carefully,

“but why didn’t he approach us first before tabling it outside?” i curiously asked,

“oh yes, he claimed he did approach your dad before his death but he refused to honour his request” Pa micheal answered while i scratched my head uneasily,

“Pa you very well know the land is my dad’s only inheritance and share, i also heard you were among his brother’s who were present when the lands where shared, why didn’t you explain to the elders kwanu??” i asked calmly,

“i tried but it’s not in my place, the elders still insisted on seeing you or your mum in order for them to fix the date when the issue will be resolved” he explained, while i nodded sadly. My phone rang that moment interrupting us momentarily, It was Olivia calling again…

I angrily switched off my phone without answering it, while the Old man stared at me with a weak but gentle smile on his face,

“but Papa, my mum and i really don’t have the time for such cases, i want to meet and have a little chat with Francis this evening” i muttered quietly, while his expression suddenly changed as if i said something outrageous,

“don’t talk like that son, first talk to your mum, i believe it’s important to heed the elder’s call” he advised. I smiled inwardly because the old man probably thought we still were in 19th or 20th century when elders do have unlimited power.

“okay sir, i will talk to my mum just like you advised and then get back to you” i replied as i stood to leave,

“okay do take care and be careful” he advised as i left.

I drove straight to Francis compound without second thought nor fear and headed straight to a newly carved modern triangular structure which he erected after destroying his father’s old “Obi”{a sitting room mostly built in front of the main house for recieving guests, though it’s no longer popular}…

He was with two guys who were equally his agemates, eating dog meat with palm wine when i walked in on them, he showed no surprise when he saw me, instead called his first son to bring one more cup for him….

I just watched them with disgust as i summoned more courage and rehearsed all i intended to tell him,

“nna taste this palmwine, it’s the best in the whole clan” he soon polietly offered a glass of palmwine, instantly breaking my thoughts with a sweet smile which masked his evil ambition…

Episode 19

As some of my friends were in various Nysc orientation camps doing one thing or the other, i was in my hometown because of an impromptu land dispute.

“don’t be rude, accept the palmwine being offered to you nah” his friends urged me,

“no thanks i don’t drink palmwine” i polietly declined, while they stared at each other extremely surprised,

“hmmm you be woman oo” one of them muttered, the other shrugged, shook his head and stared at me,

“you are missing alot” he said with a smile, i just folded my hands and returned his smile.

“what of dog meat, hope you will eat?” Francis offered almost immediately,

“no thanks, i came for a very important issue which can’t really wait” i explained, while he nodded and listened,

“it’s about my land behind Eze’s compound, i heard you are trying to claim it” i muttered gently as i studied him like a wild cat,

“oh is that why you came? Nna! the case it’s already in the elders hand, lets wait till they summon us before discussing it, moreover you are too young for such issues where is your mum?” he added and asked, as if i was but a boy, which really provoked me,

“MAZI i also came to warn you to stop prying your eyes into something that dosen’t belong to you, my mum and i are not appearing before elders neither am i dragging anything with you, just try me and see whether you will not spend most part of your miserable life in jail, and the rest of your poor income going to court. I’m really not using that land for anything, but dare step your leg into it and prepare selling all your properties fighting for it, you know i can afford taking this case to the highest level, but how about you? can you afford it??” i barked and stood up, while his friends stared at each other, embarrassed and surprised,

“taa kwuche ónúgi,{close your mouth} who are you?” he stood up and fired back. I just smiled and left him totally satisfied with myself, because i knew i left him uttery confused and shaken. Moreover no one really do like Nigerian court {issues} nor police case, which i knew really frightened him….

I drove back straight to Owerri that evening without even stopping at my family home, and when i finally switched on my mobile phone as i got to orji{some kilometers away from owerri main town}, Olivia’s text message greeted me.

“just ordinary airtime and you switched off your phone, thanks all the same, i have seen the kind of person you are” it read, making me snap instantly….

I really was in a very bitter mood after reading her text message that i felt like hitting her violently,

“where are you?” i asked, when she finally answered my phone call as it rang for the seventh time,

“at home” she replied,

“wait for me in front of that small shop where we met for the first time” i said calmly,

“okay” she replied

when i got to the spot, i waited extra fifteen minutes before she showed up. My temper was at boiling stage, when we finally met……

Episode 20

Olivia advanced with a drawn face and angry look, obviously with the hope that i would beg or try to apologize. But that moment i really was beyond caring.

she finally got to my side, with a careless good evening which she threw at me. I ignored her greeting, reached for my wallet, brought out five hundred Naira and gave to her without muttering a single sentence, which really shocked her. However her face instantly coloured with immense surprise and astonishment when i turned, opened my car and got into the driver’s side.

“what’s the meaning of this?” she finally asked with burning eyes. I nodded switched on my engine and drove away rudely without caring about my manners. I do know my behaviour that evening was like that of a beast, but sometimes we all do behave like one, especially in extreme situations…

“what did you just do??, did i send you to threaten Francis?? What is wrong with you? You have killed me” mum poured out to me over the phone as soon as i got into my cousin’s sitting room, making my heart leap a hundred times over. My cousin just sat in his couch and watched me with a dry smile on his face. With the way he looked at me that moment i knew mum already must have reported my behaviour to him.

“mum calm down” i pleaded,

“shut up you si.lly boy, did you know what you just did? Francis is already threatening fire and brimestone in the village, infact i regret sending you home” she muttered and ended the call.

“nawa for you oo, who gave you the morale to pull such stunt in the village?” he asked as soon as mum ended the phone-call,

“didn’t anyone teach you never to under estimate your enemy or opponent??” he further asked, while i sat beside him wearily.

“don’t you know that some village guys do see themselves as deities?? Moreover you compromised your safety by going to his house. The earth you stood on or the chair you sat when you went there is enough for him to do something terrible to you” he lectured,

“he dare not, i know the God i serve” i muttered in defense, which made him laugh passionately,

“sharrap, when last did you go to church?” he asked. I shrugged and said nothing, but just that moment my phone rang again and it was mum.

“i just spoke to uncle Peter, try and meet him in his office early tomorrow morning, isi ökpùkpù{bone head}” she ordered. I smiled and accepted…

I really was unable to sleep that night as my mind raced towards many directions. Truly i thought i did the right thing by confronting Francis and was expecting “a pat”, but instead, my family thought i did everything wrong, thus making fear and regret jump into my heart,

“but how could i leave mum to fight such battles on her own?” i wondered sadly,

“probably francis was right i’m still a lad” i concluded sadly…

I woke up very late with strong headache the following day, only to see Benita in my room,

“you have a visitor waiting outside for you” she muttered and left, giving me no time to ask questions. I quickly freshened up, brushed and rushed to the gate where i was extremely surprised to see Olivia standing with a coloured face,

“what again” i asked myself with a deep breathe..