Dami raced to Uncle T's house. When she got there, she banged the door with both hands to show the urgency of the attention she needed. There was a huge silence in the house, and some seconds later, Uncle T's voice asked, "who is that?". "Uncle T. It is me. Me." Dami shouted. "You who" Uncle T asked. "It is me. Mrs. Adejumo" Dami replied. "Mrs. Adejumo?" Uncle T asked himself out of surprise. "What do you want?" He asked her. "Please, open the door, I need to see you." She shouted again, as she banged the door alongside. "OK. Just wait, let me get the keys" Uncle T said. His words were followed by some fast movements that also involved the carrying of one thing or the other. It was obvious that Uncle T was not expecting such an August visitor at all, and was not prepared for it. The movements were accompanied by whispers that showed it was not only Uncle T that was in the room. "I'm coming oooooo...Just a minute." Uncle T said from inside. "OK. Just be fast" Dami replied. Eventually, Dami could hear the keys opening the door in front of her, and the several locks that were opened made Dami wondered why Uncle T decided to lock his door that much. But, she had no right to ask, afterall, they were no longer family friends that they used to be.
"How may I help you ma?" Uncle T asked, still standing by the door as if obstructing her from entering his house. Dami did not reply. She simply kept quiet. "Oh ! Please, come in" Uncle T said, as if just coming to his senses. He opened the door wider as he ushered her in. The room was a little different from what it was the last time Dami came there. There was only one chair at the end of the sitting room, while the dinning table was lacking all the cutleries that used to be on it. Even the table cloth was nowhere to be found, as well as a painting that boldly carried the quote, "forgive your enemies, but don't forget their names". The first time Dami visited him in the house, she asked him what the expression meant. "it's encouraging forgiveness." Uncle T explained. "How?" Dami wondered. "you can't understand." Uncle T replied. Dami did not bother saying any other word about the painting, but in her mind, she found it quite contradictory. A table was placed in the centre of the sitting room, with two chairs facing each other. The table was void of any important item, but, from the position of the few items there, it showed that some items were packed in a hurry. "When did he start having plastic chairs?" Dami asked herself. She remembered the house was well-organized than this the last time she came, and except he was travelling, Dami would not believe any other explanation he tells her, and she also, was not ready to ask any question, except to face what she came to discuss with him. Although, it felt odd and insane for her to come to Uncle T as a confidant, but since she received the first call from The One, her sense of right and wrong was tempered with. "What is it you want to see me for?" Uncle T asked, without offering her a seat, eventhough the room was filled with more plastic chairs than with sofa which used to be in the room. "Dami did not reply immediately, instead, she made a move to sit on one of the plastic chairs. "Please, have your seat." Uncle T said, coming back to his senses. He was sweating profusely, and Dami knew he was hiding something. Beside the chair she sat were travelling bags, a direct indication that Uncle T was travelling. "You didn't go to work today?" Dami asked him as she sat. "Yes. I'm on leave. I applied for a week leave, and it started three days ago" Uncle T explained. "Oh...I see." Dami replied. Uncle T worked as a gateman in the same company where Jude worked. When Uncle T moved into the neighbourhood, he was working with a production company, and it was some weeks after he moved in that he was sacked because of constant late coming. That was the story, the way he narrated it to Dami after he became a family friend to the Adejumos. Dami felt sorry for him, and she pleaded with her husband to help Uncle T get a job. Jude was a little reluctant at first. "We barely know him, and I'm sure you can't vouch for him" Jude told her then. But, she was bent on them helping him. "How can a full grown man like him be jobless. I wonder what our government is doing in Aso Rock." She replied. Jude did not bother to say any other word, because he knew she wasn't seeing his point. When the post of a gateman was vacant two weeks after, Jude made sure Uncle T got the job. "I hope your husband and the other delegates have arrived Abuja for the meeting?" Uncle T asked. "Well, they..." Dami wanted to say before something crossed her mind. "I thought you said you were on leave for some days now?" Dami asked. "Yes." Uncle T replied with all confidence. "How then did you know my husband was among the delegate for the meeting?" Dami asked. Almost immediately, a lady walked into the sitting room from one of the rooms. She was putting on a night gown when it was way past midday. "T, how far?" The lady asked, acting as if she did not see Dami. "Meet Franca" Uncle T said, pointing to the lady. The look on the lady's face showed that Uncle T had given her a name she didn't like. "Meet my boss' wife. She lives just opposite us here." Uncle T said, pointing to Dami. "It's nice..." Dami wanted to say. "Me too" The lady interrupted her, as she went back into the room. "So, what brought you here?" Uncle T asked. "Hmmmm...I...I...was...I..wanted" Dami stammared. She was destabilized by what she saw at the door that leads to the kitchen. She saw two chairs backing each other, and some pieces of rope on the floor. She also saw what looked like a drop of blood on the floor. It was then she remembered that the picture sent to her by The One has exactly the same background as the walls at the entrance to the kitchen in Uncle T's house. Her heart almost leaped out of her chest as it started beating thrice above normal without her consent. There was a rustling sound from the kitchen. "Pricillia, please, go and check the kitchen. Don't allow those rats to finish my foodstuf." Uncle T said to the lady who was in one of the rooms, and this time around, he called her a different name. The lady came out, and walked towards the kitchen. Dami was sure that the sound she heard was louder to have been caused by rat. "So, why are you here?" Uncle T asked again. Before she could reply, the lady called for Uncle T's attention. "Excuse me please. I'll be back." Uncle T said, as he headed towards the kitchen. Dami did not even think twice. Infact, her legs carried her faster than her body, and she raced out of the house. As she got home, she opened the front door, and rushed inside. But, she ran into the arms of a strong masculine body. It was the boots she saw first, which were black and well-laced. Jude would never put on shoes like that. Infact, he disliked shoes with lace. Even the chest she ran into was way different from that of her husband. She didn't need a prophet to tell her that was not Jude, except if a miracle had happened that changed his mini potbelly into a semi six packs. She slowly lifted her head to see who it was.
(c) 2016. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
It's not compulsory I say something at the end of every episode. Or, is it? Especially when you already know what to do - keep your fingers crossed until I bring the next episode to your doorstep (but not today oooo). Lolzzzz...
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OFMAT AUSTUS NWANNE
Inspirational Speaker/Media Consultant,
Swift24 Multimedia Services.
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