(Episode 9)
Christmas in November –
Iya loja’s phone rang she was in the boutique checking the record book of her sales personals,
Iya Loja: “Gideon, calling Bilikisu for me!” Bilikisu showed up,
Bilikisu: “See me here, ma!”
Iya Loja: “Why is accounting not balancing here?” she pointed at a book with drawn lines. It was the sales book. Bilikisu stuttered, “Shey you ‘haff loss your foice ni? Talki!”
Bilikisu: “urhm, ehm…” she scratched her head.
Iya Loja: “ shey kraw-kraw e doing ni? Okay o! Gidi, remofing five thousand naira dat loss from her salary!” Bilikisu knelt and was begging,
Bilkisu: “Mummy, ejoor! I no go do em again!”
Iya Loja: “Ah, shey you re miss road today? You no know your mummy again? Shey you ‘er lucky that I didn’t arresting you or sacking you! Bili I haff tolding you tiefing is no good! Wo! leaf my side before I changing my mind!” Bilikisu fled.
Donald rushed in,
Donald: “Good afternoon Iya!” panting.
Iya Loja turned,
Iya Loja: “Donaldi, what’s doing you? Skief iyaff reash airport?”
Donald: “Yes,ma! But there’s a problem?”
Iya holds her heart,
Iya Loja: “Hah, what happening?”
Donald: “Amos came to the house that Angela is missing!”
Iya Loja: “Ah! Angela e daughter?” Donald nodded, “is she no di one that carry belle?” Donald nodded, “Missing ke?”
Donald: “Yes,ma! She left for school and since then she hasn’t returned”
Iya Loja: “where Amosu?”
Donald: “He just left for station. He came to give situation report!”
Iya Loja: “You know dia?” he nodded, “Let’s go!”
….
Amos and his wife arrived at the station, she was sobbing. Innocent had told him he was at the checkpoint in some far away village. They met three police officers at the counter, two men and a woman, somewhat robust.
Female officer was later identified as Ladi yelled at Amos’s wife,
Ladi: “Who you be? Here resemble morturary?” Amos turned to his wife, who covered her mouth,
Amos whispered,
Amos: “I don tell you na. hol’ yourself!” faced the officers resting on the counter,
The tallest among the officers, the man known as Stevo, asked,
Stevo: “Ehen, can we help you?”
Amos: “ I bi Innocent broad!”
The shortest among them, the third officer, Gambo was Innocent’s enemy. Everyone at the station knew of their hatred for each other even the DPO. It was a girl that caused their quarrel. They were both married but had the habits of keeping numerous girlfriends outside. Titi was her name. it was Gambo was in love with her but instead of approaching her himself he sent Innocent with gifts and Innocent made it look like they were his gifts. Whenever Gambo asked him of feedback he fed the poor man with lies. By the time, Gambo would realize Titi was already pregnant for Innocent. Innocent sent away his wife and Titi moved in. “Police officers no live better life,”Iya Loja would always say.
Gambo adjusted his cap,
Gambo: “Ehen, wetin come happen?” he gave a stern look. Amos knew there was trouble,
Amos sighed,
Amos: “Ah, well I came to inform you that my daughter is missing!” his wife burst into tears,
Ladi: “Hey, Madam! You better leave here if u no go behave yourself!” she held her mouth.
Stevo: “Wetin be her name?”
Amos: “Angela!”
Gambo opened a torn paged brown paper exercise book and held the biro as if he was with a shovel,
Gambo: “Angela Who?”
Amos confused,
Amos: “Angela Amos!”
Gambo: “no shout for my ear, beg! Wetin bi your relationship with her?”
The question was befuddling, Amos thought, what was his relationship with Angela? After he had told them she was daughter.
Amos: “Ah! I just told you now!”
They exchanged glances among themselves.
Stevo and Ladi: “Do you know where you’re my friend?” they chorused.
Amos quickly apologized.
Amos: “I’m sorry!”
They asked him all sorts of irrelevant question and he was patient enough to answer even though it looked like his patience was wearing out.
….
Comfort’s former boss was in her house, sipping from a glass and whispering angrily to herself,
Boss: “that little riff raff had the effrontery to come to my office in front of my guests to insult the living day out of me, eh?” heaved, “No rat crosses my path and goes unhurt! Not after she made me look stupid in front of my business associates!” vexed she threw the cup, it went straight to a framed glass, and they clashed and crashed to the ground, “I’ll crush her to the ground!” she yelled.
….
John got home and met a rancour at his place,
John: “Na wetin dey happen?” he jumped with his disabled leg in the middle of the women who were tearing at each other. It was Margaret and his wife, Jacinta.
Jacinta: “Tell dis ashewo kobo-kobo maik e pack leave dis house now ooo!”
Margret: “Na your mama and all your generation be ashewo kobo kobo!” They flung their hands in the air but John stood his ground even though most of the slaps landed on him.
John: “Wetin dey worry una na?” they were both screaming on top of their voices
Margret: “Ijoit!”
Jacinta: “Bascard!”
Margret: “You dey gongolo cigar!”
John: “Maggi,wetin carry you come na? I no tell you say I go come see you for house?”
Magret: “You dey mad,John! So you gimme belle you no wan take responsibliy?”
Jacinta: “John I no blame you! Shey you see wetin dis ur folo folo dey cause abi?”
They charged at him as he ran away crippling.
…
Jane was busy trying Felix number but it was switched off. Jake was beside her. It had gotten dark already,
Jake: “mum why do you look worried?”
Jane: “Your dad’s number is switched off! Since morning!”
Jake: “Maybe he has gone drinking again,” he raised the little shoulders.
Jane: “Oh,Jake, who told you dad drinks?”
Jake: “I heard the argument you had with him when he came home the other day staggering!”
They had a bang on the door. It was seven thirty! Jane and Jake looked at each other,
Jane: “Who is that?” she heard voices, “again?” she said as she opened the door and she saw Amos, wife and two policemen a girl of Angela’s age was with them, “Why are you here again? My husband is inno…” she kept quiet when she saw that the girl looked quite different.
Stevo: “Madam, where’s your husband?”
Jane: “he isn’t home?” Amos wife was busy crying.
Gambo: “Hope you aren’t hiding him?”
Jane bemused,
Jane: “Hiding? What for?”
Mrs Jones having heard the noise came out,
Mrs. Jones: “Mummy Jay, what’s happening?”
Jane whispered to her,
Gambo: “Madam we don’t have time to waste. You husband is a prime suspect in the disappearance of Angela! You’d have to follow us to station”
Mrs. Jones insisted they leave her but they assured that she was just going to write a statement that is all. Jane turned to Mrs. Jones,
Jane: “Lemme follow them. I’m sure my husband is innocent. Help take Jake to your house. I’ll be back soon!”
Immediately they got to the station she was bundle into the cell,
Ladi: “Bastard you and your husband must return that girl. Evil woman!”
