Life's Symphony: A Short Story 1
The ringing phone brought him back
to reality. He looked at the time on the wall and it told him that he had gone
for twenty five minutes! He got up and ambled his way to his bed to pick the phone
which was ringing for the second time. He looked at the screen; it was Funmi,
his fiancée. But can he call her his fiancée? With all this hullaballoo that is
greeting their relationship. ''Whatever it takes,'' he thought, ''Funmi will be
mine.'' He picked the call.
''Salam Alaykum dear,'' Funmi said
''Are you still sleeping?''
''Wa alaykum Salam, I have been awake a long while ago jare. I was just not near the phone, that was why it rang out the first time you called.'' He answered.
''Okay then. I called to inform you that I will be going out today and won't be able to come to your place as said.'' Funmi dropped.
His expression changed from that of a smile and took on a grimmer form.
''Kilode?'' he queried
''Ibo lo n lo? Why today Funmi? All through the week we had been busy at the office and never had time for each other. Eni ti a tun raaye, you are going out again. Tomorrow is the first Sunday of the month, we shall be at a programme, so when do I get to see my fiancée and have a heart to heart tête-à-tête with her? Oga o'' he poured out sadly.
''Ma binu sweetheart mi. It was not my fault now. I didn't want to go but I had to for both of us.'' She pleaded.
''What do you mean by 'for both of us'?'' he asked again smelling rat.
''It's our M. D.'' She said her tone changing drastically from pleading to that of anguish. ''He said I have to accompany him to a luncheon at Eko Hotels''.
''When I said I am busy at home today, he just told me that I should tell you that we can both expect our jobs to be terminated on Monday morning.'' She let out almost crying. He sighed. He didn't know what else to say. But he said:
''Okay love, just be careful as usual. We will weather this storm through. So ti gbo? I trust you sha. Try to have fun and don't forget that I love you.''
''I love you too Ola. In Shaa Allaah, we will have a way soonest.'' She said before ending the call.
Ola sat on the floor of his room after the call and went back to where he came from before the call- oblivion. He was lost in thought. He thought of a lot of things. Why he? He queried. What did he do to deserve this from the God he had and is conscientiously serving? Why is his company's M. D his foe? How will he get out of this unscathed without losing his first and only love?
''God, why now? Wa ko mi moose o,'' he said aloud coming back to the present...
''Salam Alaykum dear,'' Funmi said
''Are you still sleeping?''
''Wa alaykum Salam, I have been awake a long while ago jare. I was just not near the phone, that was why it rang out the first time you called.'' He answered.
''Okay then. I called to inform you that I will be going out today and won't be able to come to your place as said.'' Funmi dropped.
His expression changed from that of a smile and took on a grimmer form.
''Kilode?'' he queried
''Ibo lo n lo? Why today Funmi? All through the week we had been busy at the office and never had time for each other. Eni ti a tun raaye, you are going out again. Tomorrow is the first Sunday of the month, we shall be at a programme, so when do I get to see my fiancée and have a heart to heart tête-à-tête with her? Oga o'' he poured out sadly.
''Ma binu sweetheart mi. It was not my fault now. I didn't want to go but I had to for both of us.'' She pleaded.
''What do you mean by 'for both of us'?'' he asked again smelling rat.
''It's our M. D.'' She said her tone changing drastically from pleading to that of anguish. ''He said I have to accompany him to a luncheon at Eko Hotels''.
''When I said I am busy at home today, he just told me that I should tell you that we can both expect our jobs to be terminated on Monday morning.'' She let out almost crying. He sighed. He didn't know what else to say. But he said:
''Okay love, just be careful as usual. We will weather this storm through. So ti gbo? I trust you sha. Try to have fun and don't forget that I love you.''
''I love you too Ola. In Shaa Allaah, we will have a way soonest.'' She said before ending the call.
Ola sat on the floor of his room after the call and went back to where he came from before the call- oblivion. He was lost in thought. He thought of a lot of things. Why he? He queried. What did he do to deserve this from the God he had and is conscientiously serving? Why is his company's M. D his foe? How will he get out of this unscathed without losing his first and only love?
''God, why now? Wa ko mi moose o,'' he said aloud coming back to the present...
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 2
Ola's journey in life had been
everything but smooth. He had grown up in a family of six, two parents and four
siblings. He is the first child and son of Mr and Mrs Adeona. His father had
been a civil servant before he was laid off by one of the numerous military governments
in Nigeria. Since the lay off, things moved from good to bad and then worse for
the family. His father had resorted to business which went awry. His mother
sold little things with which they kept body and soul together. So, when they
moved from a four bedroom flat to a room and parlour in a face me I face you
building in one of the town's suburbs, his life was to change from the little
butter boy to a rural rugged boy.
If God makes you bald, He will surely compensate you with a beard. Such was Ola's case. What his parents lacked in wealth, their children had in brilliance and obedience. They were contented with whatever their parents, especially their mother could offer them. Their father on his part is mostly AWOL from home. So, all or most of what Ola had in his brain were updated by his mum.
At school, he minded his business and was even made the head boy in his primary school. He was the cynosure of his teachers' eyes. He won many laurels for his school but he had a flaw, even till date,
he hates Mathematics. Give him figures, and he will be there till eternity! He is just too weak in it.
The trend followed him to his secondary school, Remo Secondary School, Sagamu. He was a day student because his mother could not afford the high hostel fee. Hence, he would trek the long distance to school and when the purse allows, he had the luxury of taking public transport.
Such was Ola's background and growing up. It was ingrained in his brain that he can not have anything except education. His mother helped him by buying his textbooks, Maths and English. Nothing other than his books was his priority.
But his life was to change one day...
If God makes you bald, He will surely compensate you with a beard. Such was Ola's case. What his parents lacked in wealth, their children had in brilliance and obedience. They were contented with whatever their parents, especially their mother could offer them. Their father on his part is mostly AWOL from home. So, all or most of what Ola had in his brain were updated by his mum.
At school, he minded his business and was even made the head boy in his primary school. He was the cynosure of his teachers' eyes. He won many laurels for his school but he had a flaw, even till date,
he hates Mathematics. Give him figures, and he will be there till eternity! He is just too weak in it.
The trend followed him to his secondary school, Remo Secondary School, Sagamu. He was a day student because his mother could not afford the high hostel fee. Hence, he would trek the long distance to school and when the purse allows, he had the luxury of taking public transport.
Such was Ola's background and growing up. It was ingrained in his brain that he can not have anything except education. His mother helped him by buying his textbooks, Maths and English. Nothing other than his books was his priority.
But his life was to change one day...
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 3.
''Life changing events never alert
you before they carry out their activities,'' a colleague once said. This was
the case with Ola.
All along, he had always been around girls but had not for once given a thought to them until that day. Why? His mother's words. They kept ringing in his ears, brain and mind. She had said to him almost on a daily basis that ''you should face your studies o. You know that we are struggling to make ends meet. Don't go near any girl for she will get pregnant o and if that happens, your education and hers will stop and you will suffer the child o. So ti gbo? (Have you heard?)''
Hence he lived in dread of the opposite sex until he was in J. S. S three when he learnt about reproduction in school. All day long he thought about what the teacher had said in class, linking it to things he could notice in himself and even his mum! To back it up, the Social Studies teacher came in the second day to teach a topic Ola knew well, The Family, but that day, the teacher made it so practical that he went into the science part of it. Ola left the school that day a changed man. Then he understood what the bad boys in his class, Tunde and Biola, had always been doing with those girls who are willing. There and then, his dread for girls evaporated!
Ola then made up his mind to have his own girlfriend but that which he would not touch down below. Only just to call her mine, he thought to himself. He began to attract the girls who had always been there just that he didn't notice them. He was always around them now. If he wasn't in his class, he will be in another class in the midst of girls. So, that started the journey for him but there was no confidence to take it further than the platonic levels he found himself with them.
Ola couldn't talk to them, and he had no male friends to help him. The ones he had only were there because he taught them and they copied him in assignments. They were bullies who bullied him into
submission because his bane was that he was the shortest boy in the class, even in his whole set. He was so short that even juniors mistake him for a junior. It was bad for him. But fate always has a way of changing things for him....
All along, he had always been around girls but had not for once given a thought to them until that day. Why? His mother's words. They kept ringing in his ears, brain and mind. She had said to him almost on a daily basis that ''you should face your studies o. You know that we are struggling to make ends meet. Don't go near any girl for she will get pregnant o and if that happens, your education and hers will stop and you will suffer the child o. So ti gbo? (Have you heard?)''
Hence he lived in dread of the opposite sex until he was in J. S. S three when he learnt about reproduction in school. All day long he thought about what the teacher had said in class, linking it to things he could notice in himself and even his mum! To back it up, the Social Studies teacher came in the second day to teach a topic Ola knew well, The Family, but that day, the teacher made it so practical that he went into the science part of it. Ola left the school that day a changed man. Then he understood what the bad boys in his class, Tunde and Biola, had always been doing with those girls who are willing. There and then, his dread for girls evaporated!
Ola then made up his mind to have his own girlfriend but that which he would not touch down below. Only just to call her mine, he thought to himself. He began to attract the girls who had always been there just that he didn't notice them. He was always around them now. If he wasn't in his class, he will be in another class in the midst of girls. So, that started the journey for him but there was no confidence to take it further than the platonic levels he found himself with them.
Ola couldn't talk to them, and he had no male friends to help him. The ones he had only were there because he taught them and they copied him in assignments. They were bullies who bullied him into
submission because his bane was that he was the shortest boy in the class, even in his whole set. He was so short that even juniors mistake him for a junior. It was bad for him. But fate always has a way of changing things for him....
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 4
''All stand! Greet'' thundered the
class captain.
''Good Morning sir, you are welcome to the Arts class sir, God bless you sir,'' chorused his class mates.
Ola was sitting in front of the class. His disadvantaged height was the cause but it also benefitted him in more ways than one, though, when it came to the time of cane rainfall, he receives it the worst because the teachers' energy is always at the fullest bar and starts with him.
He had looked forward to this day when he will start wearing the much coveted trousers which literally mean he was a BIG BOY! Immediately after his junior WAEC, he had known he wanted to be in the Arts
because he loved reading and also because he knew he would fail Maths. Hence, the science class is out. Commercial is also out because he cannot face the rigours of financial accounting, calculating the money he won't see or handle! Tu fia kwa! He thought.
So, here he was in the Arts Class! All through his journey to school from home as the bus snaked its way to school slowly but surely, he had been fantasizing about who and what it will take to prosper in the arts. He had toyed with different professions in the arts. He had thought of being a lawyer, an educationist, an actor, a writer, and even a professional debater! If anything like that exists...
He had also looked forward to having what he didn’t have in the juniors, a girlfriend. At the thought of this, he had grinned then frowned. He thought of how to approach the girl, the money he would spend, the girl's response and lots more.
''I am Mr Frimpong, your Literature in English teacher. Many of you would have heard about me from your senior ones. I don't have room for mediocrity in my class. If you can't cope, then you can leave. And luckily for you, you can't pass through the arts without this subject. So you just have to co operate with me. Am I clear?'' The teacher said, bringing Ola back to the class from his thoughts.
''Any question before I continue?'' Mr Frimpong offered.
Hands shot up. He pointed to a girl seated in the middle rows.
''Your name and question.''
''My name is Adetutu. Sir what is the meaning of Mediocrity?'' the girl said before sitting.
Her voice was what captured Ola's attention and he wondered whether she had been in the school since their J. S. S One days. He thought to himself, 'this will be my girlfriend.'
''Good Morning sir, you are welcome to the Arts class sir, God bless you sir,'' chorused his class mates.
Ola was sitting in front of the class. His disadvantaged height was the cause but it also benefitted him in more ways than one, though, when it came to the time of cane rainfall, he receives it the worst because the teachers' energy is always at the fullest bar and starts with him.
He had looked forward to this day when he will start wearing the much coveted trousers which literally mean he was a BIG BOY! Immediately after his junior WAEC, he had known he wanted to be in the Arts
because he loved reading and also because he knew he would fail Maths. Hence, the science class is out. Commercial is also out because he cannot face the rigours of financial accounting, calculating the money he won't see or handle! Tu fia kwa! He thought.
So, here he was in the Arts Class! All through his journey to school from home as the bus snaked its way to school slowly but surely, he had been fantasizing about who and what it will take to prosper in the arts. He had toyed with different professions in the arts. He had thought of being a lawyer, an educationist, an actor, a writer, and even a professional debater! If anything like that exists...
He had also looked forward to having what he didn’t have in the juniors, a girlfriend. At the thought of this, he had grinned then frowned. He thought of how to approach the girl, the money he would spend, the girl's response and lots more.
''I am Mr Frimpong, your Literature in English teacher. Many of you would have heard about me from your senior ones. I don't have room for mediocrity in my class. If you can't cope, then you can leave. And luckily for you, you can't pass through the arts without this subject. So you just have to co operate with me. Am I clear?'' The teacher said, bringing Ola back to the class from his thoughts.
''Any question before I continue?'' Mr Frimpong offered.
Hands shot up. He pointed to a girl seated in the middle rows.
''Your name and question.''
''My name is Adetutu. Sir what is the meaning of Mediocrity?'' the girl said before sitting.
Her voice was what captured Ola's attention and he wondered whether she had been in the school since their J. S. S One days. He thought to himself, 'this will be my girlfriend.'
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 5
''Who can answer that question among
all of you?'' Mr. Frimpong diverted Tutu's question to the class floor.
Ola knew the answer because he had been reading a lot of books and had even started reading the dictionary! The only thing he lacks is confidence in a new class. Only a few of his class mates in J. S. S Three A were in the arts class with him. Tunde and Biola, his pestilential bullies and friends were among the few. Others were faces he had seen only once or twice.
But something spurred him to raise his hand. It was the desire to create a first and lasting impression on the minds of those who are new to him, the teacher and especially, his would be girlfriend, Tutu! His hand shot into the air...
He looked around the class and found that he was the only one raising his hand. Ol boy, this people will give me a run for my money o! He thought.
Then, ''So no other person can answer this question? Okay, we shall see! Short boy! Your name and answer. Fast!'' Mr. Frimpong spat out.
Ola was jittery, but he opened his mouth and luckily for him, he found his voice.
''Sir, Mediocrity means something of low quality. Or the act of performing poorly. It is gotten from the word Mediocre.'' Ola said and made to sit when he heard...
''Your name, or are you nameless?'' That was Mr. Frimpong again.
Ola thought he was wrong because the look on the teacher's face can cause forced labour to a nine month pregnant woman!
Hence, he shakily said:
''Sorry sir! My names are Adeona Olaoluwa Ibrahim.''
''Sit down Ola'', Mr. Frimpong eased his tension, yet his heart was pounding furiously.
Then he heard yet again:
''Clap for him. He got it right. And I hope you have learnt that. That shows he has been reading and studying.'' Mr. Frimpong praised him.
The class rang with the clap and Ola could feel himself in the ninth cloud, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then he heard, ''Obe Kote! Obe Kote!!'' There are only a few people who knew him by that nickname, it's only people in J. S. S Three A that called the name. He looked back to see his bully friends, Tunde and Biola, grinning from ear to ear like one who just won a jackpot.
The name came from the butcher's knife he had brought to school in his junior days for grass cutting since his mother couldn't afford to buy him a new student type cutlass. The name had stuck ever since.
Class was over and he had become a star. Everybody became his friends, especially the girls. He knew it would happen; they were around him just for his brain.
He went for break and came back to the class to find a note waiting for him...
Ola knew the answer because he had been reading a lot of books and had even started reading the dictionary! The only thing he lacks is confidence in a new class. Only a few of his class mates in J. S. S Three A were in the arts class with him. Tunde and Biola, his pestilential bullies and friends were among the few. Others were faces he had seen only once or twice.
But something spurred him to raise his hand. It was the desire to create a first and lasting impression on the minds of those who are new to him, the teacher and especially, his would be girlfriend, Tutu! His hand shot into the air...
He looked around the class and found that he was the only one raising his hand. Ol boy, this people will give me a run for my money o! He thought.
Then, ''So no other person can answer this question? Okay, we shall see! Short boy! Your name and answer. Fast!'' Mr. Frimpong spat out.
Ola was jittery, but he opened his mouth and luckily for him, he found his voice.
''Sir, Mediocrity means something of low quality. Or the act of performing poorly. It is gotten from the word Mediocre.'' Ola said and made to sit when he heard...
''Your name, or are you nameless?'' That was Mr. Frimpong again.
Ola thought he was wrong because the look on the teacher's face can cause forced labour to a nine month pregnant woman!
Hence, he shakily said:
''Sorry sir! My names are Adeona Olaoluwa Ibrahim.''
''Sit down Ola'', Mr. Frimpong eased his tension, yet his heart was pounding furiously.
Then he heard yet again:
''Clap for him. He got it right. And I hope you have learnt that. That shows he has been reading and studying.'' Mr. Frimpong praised him.
The class rang with the clap and Ola could feel himself in the ninth cloud, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then he heard, ''Obe Kote! Obe Kote!!'' There are only a few people who knew him by that nickname, it's only people in J. S. S Three A that called the name. He looked back to see his bully friends, Tunde and Biola, grinning from ear to ear like one who just won a jackpot.
The name came from the butcher's knife he had brought to school in his junior days for grass cutting since his mother couldn't afford to buy him a new student type cutlass. The name had stuck ever since.
Class was over and he had become a star. Everybody became his friends, especially the girls. He knew it would happen; they were around him just for his brain.
He went for break and came back to the class to find a note waiting for him...
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 6
The break time bell rang and
everybody trooped out to do their businesses. Some to eat, some to gamble and
others to play. Ola was not left out. He left the class, though he had no Kobo
in his pockets since his mum only gave him Five Naira for his morning
transport, which he had spent on same. He decided to go to the school playfield
to watch those playing football. There he saw some of his mates who knew of his
goal keeping prowess and they called on him to come and keep for them. He
joined them and kept out ferocious shots to the best of his ability.
Game over, he was given five Naira.'What for?' he queried.
'It is betting jare, abi o fe ni ko mu wa (or don't you want it?)' said Ismaila, a boy he knew in J. S. S Three B.
He collected the cash and pocketed it. That will serve another purpose. 'Thank You o Baba God', he muttered under his breath.
He was too tired to stand for long, so, with the remaining strength in his short body, he staggered to his class.
In the class were those who had returned earlier or those who didn't go out at all and those who had sent the juniors one food item or the other. The class was a mumble and jumble of different sounds and noises.
In spite of the noise, Ola decided to rest a little before the next subject they had. His own way of resting is quite odd. Rather than sleep or just sit idly, Ola had his rest by either reading anything readable or copying notes. He can read in any condition and still understand.
He dug his hand into his whitish yellow second hand bag which had been housing his books since J. S. S One and brought out Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. As the book slides out of the bag, a folded piece of paper fell out of it!
Ola was puzzled. Which paper is this? The paper was different from those that his books were made from. He bent and picked it up. He opened it and read its content.
This was what was written in it:
Hi Obe Kote, (fish knife) [Ola's nickname] I know you will be surprised that I called you that. My ears are very good at picking things and sorry, hope you don't mind my calling you that henceforth?
I just want to tell you that I wish that we could be friends. By friends, I mean study mates cos I have heard that you are very brainy and you proved it today with that display in the Lit. class. I also heard that you aint good at Maths. I hope I can help you with that. I just don't know why I didn't come across you even for a second in our junior school days. No qualms, people meet somehow, and we have met. I hope you will accept this offer of friendship from a well meaning heart. Waiting for your reply.
Adetutu.
N. B. You might need to know it cos I already know yours. I am Jeje Adetutu.
He heaved a huge sigh of relief of relief after reading the note. He just saw part of his dream come to pass. Who is he to reject the hand of friendship? A girl who he was still thinking about how to talk to. A girl who he was still thinking of seeking professional advise from Tunde and Biola to 'psyche' her up. Ol boy, Ibi ti a fe gbin obi si, Obi ti wu nibe bayii o! (the place we want to plant kolanut, it's already germinating there). He thought and smiled as he scanned the whole class with his eyes seeking to see her face. But she wasn't in the class.
Ola just wondered when she had put the note in his bag and who were those that told her about him?
Those are inconsequential; he said as he closed the book and tore a piece of paper to write his reply to the note that had just made his day...
Game over, he was given five Naira.'What for?' he queried.
'It is betting jare, abi o fe ni ko mu wa (or don't you want it?)' said Ismaila, a boy he knew in J. S. S Three B.
He collected the cash and pocketed it. That will serve another purpose. 'Thank You o Baba God', he muttered under his breath.
He was too tired to stand for long, so, with the remaining strength in his short body, he staggered to his class.
In the class were those who had returned earlier or those who didn't go out at all and those who had sent the juniors one food item or the other. The class was a mumble and jumble of different sounds and noises.
In spite of the noise, Ola decided to rest a little before the next subject they had. His own way of resting is quite odd. Rather than sleep or just sit idly, Ola had his rest by either reading anything readable or copying notes. He can read in any condition and still understand.
He dug his hand into his whitish yellow second hand bag which had been housing his books since J. S. S One and brought out Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. As the book slides out of the bag, a folded piece of paper fell out of it!
Ola was puzzled. Which paper is this? The paper was different from those that his books were made from. He bent and picked it up. He opened it and read its content.
This was what was written in it:
Hi Obe Kote, (fish knife) [Ola's nickname] I know you will be surprised that I called you that. My ears are very good at picking things and sorry, hope you don't mind my calling you that henceforth?
I just want to tell you that I wish that we could be friends. By friends, I mean study mates cos I have heard that you are very brainy and you proved it today with that display in the Lit. class. I also heard that you aint good at Maths. I hope I can help you with that. I just don't know why I didn't come across you even for a second in our junior school days. No qualms, people meet somehow, and we have met. I hope you will accept this offer of friendship from a well meaning heart. Waiting for your reply.
Adetutu.
N. B. You might need to know it cos I already know yours. I am Jeje Adetutu.
He heaved a huge sigh of relief of relief after reading the note. He just saw part of his dream come to pass. Who is he to reject the hand of friendship? A girl who he was still thinking about how to talk to. A girl who he was still thinking of seeking professional advise from Tunde and Biola to 'psyche' her up. Ol boy, Ibi ti a fe gbin obi si, Obi ti wu nibe bayii o! (the place we want to plant kolanut, it's already germinating there). He thought and smiled as he scanned the whole class with his eyes seeking to see her face. But she wasn't in the class.
Ola just wondered when she had put the note in his bag and who were those that told her about him?
Those are inconsequential; he said as he closed the book and tore a piece of paper to write his reply to the note that had just made his day...
Life's Symphony: A Short Story 7
'When the good man aims to reform
the societal ills, carefulness should be his watchword, else, he ends up being
the duster to clean up the mess...'' Yoruba Proverb...
Ola picked up his pen to write his reply. He had never in his life written such, so what to write is somehow beyond him.
The girl to whom he is about to write to belongs to a well known family in the Sagamu metropolis, the Jeje family. They lived in the Ayegbami axes of the town which co incidentally is the axis where
Ola's maternal grand parents lived and also his own parents rented the room and parlour in which they presently lived. The only difference is the streets.
The Ayegbami axis is made up of nine streets; hence each street is used to identify which of the Ayegbamis you are headed to.
The thought that he is about to become a friend to one of the progenies of the Jeje family highly honoured him and made him happy. He was dancing Makossa internally, although, he was and is still a poor dancer.
His pen touched the paper and started scribbling. After about five minutes of non stop pen pushing, he read what he had written:
Hi Cool Crown, (Adetutu)
I saw your note and all I can say is that I am flattered by your proposal. Do not look at my unscrupulous and idiosyncratic handwriting. I know it's below standard to your own cursive style, it wasn't my fault, my teacher in pry school failed to beat me enough to change it. I am glad that you found me worthy of friendship, albeit, studymateship. And I hope this will last for a long while as we both help ourselves to the pinnacle of success, which is to pass our WAEC with distinctions.
I also marvel at the extent to which you went to find out about this short and block headed boy. Thanks.
I live in Idera street part of Ayegbami, so I hope we can head home together and thus start our talks from there. Hope you don't mind. See you after classes.
Olaoluwa Ibrahim Adeona
a.k.a. Obe Kote.
He folded it and put it in his English Language textbook for onward passage to the receiver who by then was on her seat.
''Please, help me pass this book to Tutu.'' he said to the nearest person to him. And thus it was passed till it reached Tutu who
collected the book and smiled when she saw the name on it.
She stylishly removed the note and sent back the text to its source. As she was about to read the note, the next teacher walked in...
Ola picked up his pen to write his reply. He had never in his life written such, so what to write is somehow beyond him.
The girl to whom he is about to write to belongs to a well known family in the Sagamu metropolis, the Jeje family. They lived in the Ayegbami axes of the town which co incidentally is the axis where
Ola's maternal grand parents lived and also his own parents rented the room and parlour in which they presently lived. The only difference is the streets.
The Ayegbami axis is made up of nine streets; hence each street is used to identify which of the Ayegbamis you are headed to.
The thought that he is about to become a friend to one of the progenies of the Jeje family highly honoured him and made him happy. He was dancing Makossa internally, although, he was and is still a poor dancer.
His pen touched the paper and started scribbling. After about five minutes of non stop pen pushing, he read what he had written:
Hi Cool Crown, (Adetutu)
I saw your note and all I can say is that I am flattered by your proposal. Do not look at my unscrupulous and idiosyncratic handwriting. I know it's below standard to your own cursive style, it wasn't my fault, my teacher in pry school failed to beat me enough to change it. I am glad that you found me worthy of friendship, albeit, studymateship. And I hope this will last for a long while as we both help ourselves to the pinnacle of success, which is to pass our WAEC with distinctions.
I also marvel at the extent to which you went to find out about this short and block headed boy. Thanks.
I live in Idera street part of Ayegbami, so I hope we can head home together and thus start our talks from there. Hope you don't mind. See you after classes.
Olaoluwa Ibrahim Adeona
a.k.a. Obe Kote.
He folded it and put it in his English Language textbook for onward passage to the receiver who by then was on her seat.
''Please, help me pass this book to Tutu.'' he said to the nearest person to him. And thus it was passed till it reached Tutu who
collected the book and smiled when she saw the name on it.
She stylishly removed the note and sent back the text to its source. As she was about to read the note, the next teacher walked in...
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