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The following week was interesting as i was able to integrate well with the family, My Uncle took me to the Army Command College in iyana-ipaja for registration. I passed the physical tests and the blood tests came back with good results. But i did not perform well in the cognitive tests so i was registered to start at Senior class two instead of three which means i will not be sitting for the final senior secondary school examination next year. My Uncle expected that i will be angry but i was not, i accepted it as fate. I am a realist, i failed the cognitive test so why should i complained.

Nike poked fun at me when we got home that she had thought, she have no one to teach now as she had thought we will sit for the examination together. Life moves on quickly and we resumed School in September. Nike attends a posh private secondary school on Mobolaji bank-Anthony way in Ikeja, while Jide and Tolu attend a faith-based private school in Yaba. They go to school using the school bus but my uncle's driver drops me at school every morning.

On my first day, i was taken to the principal officer of the school and then the teacher in charge of my class, i was also shown around the important places, like the assembly ground, the Library, the Science laboratories, Geography laboratories and the kitchen. On entering the classroom, i quickly scanned through the size of the room, it is about 20f x 30f, with two doors and six windows. Two airconditioners mounted just above two windows. The class teacher introduced me to other students and asked them to do the same.The first week at school was very difficult as i tried to fit into the class system and order, trying to blend without attracting attention to myself. I was the tallest and oldest in class so i decide to sit at the back so that i will not block height-challenged students from seeing the teacher.

One tiny girl that usually sit at the middle of the glass approached me, gosh you are so tall, aren't you?
I smiled at her and answered. height is relative, my mother would say no one is tall or short, it depends on the reference point. She laughed as she introduced herself as Tina. Tina introduced me to Laura and Kiki, the only twin sisters in the whole school.

I found out learning here is different from back in Iseyin, great effort is put into the teaching and making sure we understand each topic. Apart from that there are a lot of physical activities, each student belongs to a platoon coordinated by the platoon leader who is either a teacher or one of the SS3 students. I belong platoon 7, we have our physical training on Wednesdays, we usually start off with jogging on the pitch for 5 rounds. then we will have our stretches, followed by the parade and finally practice parade with music. I have enrolled to learn to play the tuba and cello.

I did not know i could be liked as my fellow classmate like me, actually it was not without a cause, i saved them having to jog around the pitch under a mid-day sun. That fateful day, we came back from lunch break. The English teacher came in and started off as usual.
Who can give me two antonyms for an abomination? The whole class went silent.
Mr Abubakir - Give me two antonyms for abomination? or you all will do five rounds on the pitch this afternoon.
Linda - something you are not supposed to do.
Olu - something that is forbidden.
Ejoor - Hideous acts.
Mr Abubakir - No, you are all wrong. Buckle up your shoes, shall we go
Me - Taboo,
Mr Abubakir - who said that, who said that.
So i raised my hands,
Mr Abubakir- oh the new student, can you repeat it
Me - Taboo.
Mr Abubakir - do you want to attempt the second word
Me - I am not sure, but maybe sacrilege.
Mr Abubakir- ok the new boy has saved you, so i need you to check up on those words abomination, sacrilege, and taboo in the dictionary and write it 100 times in your notebook before my next class. Then he delved into the topic of the day.
So since that day, i became the darling of the class.

Two sets of professionals that i respect more at this trying moment in history are the teachers and writers/content creators.

Teachers, because i have to do a bit of teaching at home, after two hours, the children will ask if they can go for a break. Break for what?

Writers/ content creators, with this project that i have started i now know it is not easy to recreate thoughts into words and vivid images. Back in the school days, i and my colleagues labelled some writers as hungry authors, but i know better now.

# A LITTLE DIGRESSION.

Some of the nurses know me already so i did not have any problem approaching them to ask for the reverend sister. I was told she was in the labor ward at the moment, i told myself that i will wait, i have to talk to a sane person. I waited for three hours before i could see her. She was not surprised to see me, she offered me a cup of tea as usual, which i declined. She pat me on the head and said Jagamu, what is eating you up.
Me - Maami, want to send me to Lagos to stay with my Uncle.
Sis Olisa - She clapped her hands and said ' thank you, Lord'. When are you leaving?
Me - I do not want to go, i do not think i can go.
Sis Olisa - Why is that?
Me - I have never lived apart or away from my mother. I do not know what it will be like.
Sis Olisa - Now let me tell you something, what you feel now is normal, it is fear of the unknown. Leaving a comfort zone is never easy but for you to become greater than what you are now, you have to always defy that fear and launch outside of your comfort zone. What do you have in this town, that you do not want to leave behind?
When i was going into the convent, i have everything a young girl could possibly wish for. My parents were well-to-do, i have a business of my own, a house was given to me by father, had gone through at least three rich boyfriends, i have exhausted three international passports all at age 20. But when the need for inner peace became unbearable and the need to become greater than the path i have chosen, it was not an easy decision but i am happy that i chose this path that enables me to attend to the need of another person. I am no longer living to assuage my selfish needs but helping others at their hours of need, it brings so much satisfaction to me now than jumping at the next available flight to the farthest holiday destinations. Jagamu, what i am telling you is this, there is so much more that you can do with your life than what you have in this town, the whole world is your stage so step up. She stood up patted my back, i do not know if i can hug a reverend sister, so i just prostrated and left, she stood at the door watching me as i left. I went back to my house and wept bitterly, i now understand that i have to leave.

Few days later, my Uncle sent a car to bring me to Lagos, it was a clean Nissan Bluebird. A day before my departure, i have said farewell to Remi, we both shed tears as i hugged her. Not knowing what to say, i told her not to forget me and to always follow her dreams and passions. I wrote my Uncle's house address on her palm. I released her and started going, i stopped after ten feet from her, then she rushed back to hug me again. We hugged tightly like never before, i could feel her heart pounding on my chest. Blood was welling into my head and all part of my body. I moved my head a little so that i can look into her eyes but she wouldn't let me, she buried her head on my chest. I moved my hands over hair, then neck. She made a little sound. Then a familiar voice jolted us back into reality that we were outside her house. Remi, come back here. her mother hollered from inside the house. She let go and ran inside her house.
I went to check Abdol, he is the only one that stayed with me, the other two brutes left when it became obvious that i will be going to Lagos. We exchanged pleasantries and started reminiscing about years past and our friendship. He said he is considering going to stay with his Aunt in Ibadan too. The hardest farewell was with Maami and Tinuke, my sister. Maami had a long ancestral chants and blessings. In the end, i prostrated then hugged her, with some drops of tears i told her, i am going to make her proud. Tinuke clung to me like a twine.

The driver was to take me straight to Gowon Estate where my Uncle lives so he said as if Gowon Estate is the next street, he is not very good at small talks, he told me as we were driving out of the town but that i can ask questions, he will answer as much as he can. With that open license to ask, i kept asking all sorts of questions. He woke me up when we got to Ojoo in Ibadan, i asked him if he will be driving through UCH. He answered - we will be driving through Iwo road intersection then joining Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He told me he used to be a tout at the popular Iwo road Inter-state Bus park. He ran away from his family in Osogbo, when his father did not allow him to join a theater group. He came to Ibadan with a friend. They rented a room with their little savings from hawking oranges in the traffic. He parted ways with his friend over a girl that they met in the traffic market. He said he slept in the park for two months until one night when the park was attacked by a rival bus park management group in abid to take over the park. He joined in the fight to retain the park for the present chairman of the park though he was injured in the fracas, the boss rushed him to a private hospital. His straight face but tender demeanor endeared him to one of the hospital's staff who told him that he could help him to join the army recruitment if he wants. He jumped at the offer and he was successful in the recruitment.
We got to Berger and then Dopemu, he got over Dopemu bridge using Agege road passed in front of the massive La Roche, the chemical company. Soon we were at Gowon Estate where my uncle lives with his family. The house is magnificent, a duplex painted with a mix of white, green, and brown. The gate opened to us automatically. Uncle Dekunle was in the balcony upstairs waiving at us. I stepped out of the car and looked around, i could not believe myself that this is going to be my house now.
My cousins Jide and Tolu jumped down from the staircase to greet and help me in unloading my luggage. Jide was 14 years old and Tolu was11, we have met once when Uncle Dekinle brought them to Iseyin. Nike the oldest was 16, She stood aloof watching from afar, she waved her hand at me as her own welcome greetings.

I went upstairs to greet my Uncle. He was beaming with joy smiling from ear to ear. I am happy with the reception i am getting. Jide showed me to my room. The interior is painted in white, it has a double bed and a large wardrobe with full size mirror attached to one of the doors and at one angle, there is a reading table and chair, there is an adjoining bathroom to complete the ensuite status.
Tolu was still bringing my luggage into the room when i remembered that some of the luggage belongs to their mother. Maami has prepared some rare vegetables, locust bean, and palm-oil for her. I told Jide and tolu to take the two bags containing palm oil and vegetables to the kitchen pending the time their mom would come back. My sister-in-law is a nurse and has gone for the Afternoon Shift. The two boys told me that there is no place in the kitchen. I wanted to snap at them, what do they mean, there is no place. Is it because the bag is a little dirty.
They saw the look on my face, Jide said truly there is no place to put the bags in the kitchen, that they would put it in the store. As we were unloading my other bags, Nike burst into the room without knocking, Jide accosted her.
Jide - Hey, this is boys' room now ok. you need to knock before you enter.
Nike - Ok, boys in boys only room, when you are done, playing and goofing around with loads and luggage, come downstairs.
Tolu - Ok boss.
Nike - Jagamu, that inludes you.
Jide - do you realize that is the first time you are speaking to him.
Nike - My words are gold, i do not waste them. so she left the room.
The boys said she thinks she is a diva, ordering everyone around, that she seems threatened when she sees new people.
Me - can you let her know that i am not here to disrupt whatever she has going, so no need to feel threatened, and please go downstairs, she seems to need you to do something. I will join you.
The boys chuckled, saying she does not need anyone, she only came to pass a message that she call the shot in the house.
Jide - Do not mind her bro, she is the resident evil and principal principality, in this house. Since mom is not always around, she sees herself as the de-facto leader.
We all laugh out loud as the boys left, the boys like me since the first time they were brought to the village, they were walking around the houses on the street, when they were stopped by some touts coming from the motor park, the touts wanted to harass and get money out of them seeing they were new and seems well to do. One passerby told them to leave the boys alone or they will have to face Patako esin, on hearing that the touts fled. That incident left a lasting impression on my cousins and they never forgot that.
I finished unpacking the loads and arranging my clothes, i was so refreshed after enjoying a cold shower before I joined them downstairs,
Me - Nike i am here, what do you have for us.
Nike - Sit down.
Me - Looking at the boys giggling, i sat down.
Nike - Welcome to Lagos, how was your journey.
Me - Hectic but here we are, the driver tried. How long has he been here working with the family?
Nike - (Ignoring my question), i called you to come downstairs so that my brothers can give you proper orientation. But to start with, that room that you are now is one of my rooms. I will need it in the dry season, It is the coldest room in this house because of its wide windows and its angulation to the wind. So be sure you are moving out to another room when the time comes. Jide can you show him around the house, except my room.
Me - Ok maami.
Everyone burst into waves of laughter.

Sliss:
Apology accepted
Welcome back

Thanks.

My apologies to my readers, i did not intend to have this long break from the thread but i have been very busy at work with no time to think or write.
I will start to update it now that i have some time off.

Chapter two loading....... less than 30hours.

My uncle came out of the house after his discussion with Maami, he told me to enter the vehicle, so we drove to the evil chiefs house. I imagined how the chief will be beaten and humiliated. Luckily he was around as we could see his haggard Peugeot 505 evolution packed at the front of his house. The driver packed sideways with the Chief's car. My Uncle held my hand as we got out of the vehicle. Only a few people have sparkling clean green colored Peugeot 504 SR in my town, So the chief was already at his house door as we got down from the car, staring at us and the car. He held his gaze on my Uncle's face, He could not make out the face. We approached him, I was trying to match the pace of my uncle.

When we got to about 15 feet from where he was, My Uncle greeted him.

How are you today Sir?

Very well thank you. The chief replied. I was surprised to hear him speak in the English language.

I am Adekunle Onleowo, Jagamu's uncle. Can we have a few words with you? If you do not mind.

Chief; about what, I need to know.

Uncle Adekunle; Well, if you oblige us to sit, we will let you know. We come in peace. I thought within myself, what peace, just draw him out and give him strong slap to the face.

Ok you can come over here, if you do not mind. I want to sit under the tree for some fresh air myself. The chief called one of his children to bring chairs for everyone.

My Uncle apologized for not notifying him of our visit earlier, that he came to the village and heard some things that he felt he should clarify with the Chief before he goes back to Lagos.
I was disappointed, I had thought my uncle would come to threaten, beat him up or at least point finger in his face and dare him to get near the land again, how can he be so gentlemanly about the issue. Most people understand one language and that is violence.

Uncle Adelunle; I was informed you are interested in buying some plots lands, especially Jagamu's mom's land.

Chief; Yes, Yes. I am interested, I need to build another warehouse for my produce business. I will pay, I will pay. Money is not a problem.

Uncle Adekunle; well Sir, I came to inform you to drop that thought.

Chief; what do you mean, do you know who I am.

Uncle Adekunle; continuing in a calm voice, that very land is not for sale sir, and I wish you could take this in good faith and look elsewhere. Thank you so much for your time, he said as he beckoned on me to stand up.

We left him as he was ranting, you do not know who I am and what I can do to you, I can call the DPO to arrest all of you just now. My uncle stopped and looked back at him. But did not say a word. The soldiers who have been standing by the car all this while wanted to go to the Chief but my Uncle wave them back.

We got in the car, I was fuming with anger. why did he not introduce himself as Captain Adekunle, or why did he not beat him up or allow his boys to man-handle him, that would have created the fear in the Chief. I guess my Uncle understood my thought as he asked me.
Are you thinking, why I did not show my Identity,
I said yes, he would have respected you better, looking away from him. Thinking to myself, no wonder his brother was killed and he could not do anything about it.
He smiled and said, one day you will have real power, you will do well to remember not to rub it in people's face. When we got home, I went straight to my room and lock the door. He stayed for some time discussing with Maami before he left, he came to knock on my door but i did not bother to answer him. About two hours later, i heard 7 gun shots from the direction of his house. My Uncle's house is at the entrance of the town, one of the few Duplex houses. Whenever he is around in the house, each night he fires seven gun-shot in the air to announce his presence and also warn would-be attackers and burglars.
Maami noticed my mood as I was going into the room so she did not bother me with anything that night, but the following morning, she knocked to wake me very early again, She said my Uncle told her that Chief would not disturb her again for the land and that it seems I did not like the way he handled it. I told Maami that it does not matter how I felt, I just wanted the issue to be dealt with once and for all. Truly when the daybreak, Chief came with some of his boys to remove the sign-post that he has erected on the plot of land. I was happy for the first time since yesterday. I fetched ten buckets of water for Maami before I sat down to eat Ogi and Akara. As I was eating Maami drop the bombshell on me.
Maami; Jagamu onleowo
Me; Maami, what did I do this time.
Maami; you did not do anything, but what you will do with what I am about to tell you.
Me; I dropped my spoon and looked at her face beaming with joy.
Maami; Uncle Dekunle said, you can come to Lagos to stay with his family as from the next session.
I stood up from my meal and shouted, why Maami, why. I cannot leave you Maami. Leaving you in this town. It is not possible.
Maami; What happened, is it not this town I have been leaving in before I gave birth to you, nothing will happen to me and your sister. You need to go away from this town so that you will not have regrets later. I have always told you, you are meant to be more than what this town can offer you.
Me; I am not ready to go, i moved away from her because tears were welling in my eyes, i do not want her to see my tears.
Maami; Jagamu, it is not now, you have two months to prepare for the movement. If you go, it will make life easier for me and you sister, i will have just two mouths to feed instead of three.
I left my food and jetted outside, i have to see Remi and discuss it with her. How can i leave Remi in the town?.
Remi has gone for extra-mural classes, her mother informed me. I thought within myself, the session just finished why is she still attending classes.
The sun has started shining, my head started to hurt because of so many thought raging in my head. I have to talk to someone. I went to Wakili's house, i met my friends playing football made by melting many cellophane bags together, the pitch was made by drawing lines on the sand.. I called them aside and informed them. Liadi said he had thought that after our secondary school, we will be in the motor park selling tickets to the transporters making money for the government and ourselves and with time we will establish other parks where we will be the managers, the other two agreed and said they would not want me to leave. I told them to continue playing, i can not deal with their level of thought right now. i sat down beside the fake football pitch. I remembered Rev-Sis Olisa-chukwu at the health center, without saying goodbye, i made my way to the health center.

Two days later, a green Peugeot 504 car pulled off into our house, there he was, my uncle, he got out from the back seat when the soldier that drove him opened the door for him. He was wearing a simple polo shirt and jeans trouser none the less very sharp and charming, Maami said he is a replica of my dad. I ran towards him and prostrated, he waited for me to get up then he shook my hand said how are you sir, my head was blown away, I went blank, did not know what to say. So I just grinned.
Maami heard his voice and came out also. She knelt to greet him while he got her by the shoulders and brought her back to her feet. We all went inside the house, except for the two soldiers that accompanied him. He hunkered onto the sofa while I hurried to get him water. Thank you he said as, I put the glass of water down. I pretended like I do not know about his mission. I sat down beside him but he said I should excuse him, he would like to discuss some important things with my mum. I walked out of the room and closed the door, so that I could stay behind the door and eavesdrop on their discussion. I guess he understood my intention, He called me back to open the door and go outside to stay with the boys in the car.
Earlier that morning, my mother woke me up that she wanted to talk with me. She thanked me for some good behavior displayed during the last academic year. A year ago, She had made me promised her to stop fighting on the street no matter the provocation. At the end of the penultimate session, there was an incident with some haughty Lagos boys that came to our village to write WAEC, my school was one of the WAEC special centers. We do have special candidates from Lagos, Abuja, kano and Portharcourt.
After the WAEC examinations, there was general jubilation of finally leaving secondary school, the boys numbering about 10, attempted to rape other students along one of the footpaths leading to the schools. My friends and I got the information and mobilized to the location, we overpowered the Lagos boys and freed the girls who have had their pants torn off, brassier taken off but fortunately none of them were penetrated. Some of the boys had fractures and head injury from the beating, their parents took them to the health center while some were taken to Ibadan because of the fractures. Two of them that were not seriously injured, mobilized some thugs from Saki in the following week, but I have been given the information that there was going to be an attack but no one knows the time or place. On the fateful day my group was playing games of snooker with some boys from the other school at our favorite hang-out place, Hang-over barbing salon when the Peugeot 504 station wagon pulled up. The thugs jumped out with different types of knives and machete. Wakili was the closest to the salon door so he reacted quickly and lock the door, it was a glass door and easy to break down but it gave us time to get away using the back door. We came out to them on the other side of the street, they were taken back by our quick regrouping. I came forward and told them to leave before it is too late, they grouped around the station wagon, not yielding. Wakili brought out three used tires and we started a bonfire to block the road, the smoke covered their sight and did not see us as we disappeared into the adjoining houses only to resurface from their back, now they have to fight or drive through the bonfire on the other side. We had just sticks with us while they have different weapons, suddenly there were gunshots into the air and tear gas thrown from behind them. The police have arrived and saved them, eight of twelve of them were arrested. We fled the scene but the police knew my house, they came for me later that night.
Maami was shedding tears like a sponge, my sister was rolling on the floor when they were taking me away. The following morning, one of the girls that was almost raped came to the station with Remi. She explained what happened to the Investigative officer, who was calm enough to listen to them but told them told to go as there was nothing he could do to release me, saying the parent of one of the boys that were injured in the previous fight is a Permanent Secretary in Lagos. Remilekun and the girl later went to one of the chiefs, who relayed the true story to the King. Then, The king sent an emissary to the divisional police officer to see him in the palace. The king called the commissioner of police in the presence of the divisional police officer and the case was dropped.
I was released that evening, I went home to freshen up. Maami and Remi took me to see the chief to greet him and the following day, we went to the palace to see the king, he was happy to see me and commended me and my group for saving those girls from being raped. That night Maami made me promise her that I will never fight on the street again which I did. So this morning, she commended me for keeping my promise for a year, she said she is working on something that will make the following year a better one for us.

crossfm:
The fear of soldiers in Nigeria is the beginning of wisdom.I will give anything not to be is the shoes of that chief.
This episode is very short.

Thanks i am working on it, there will be an update today.

oluwatosin070:
@Op, Biko comma continue this story.... O make sense baje

Thanks, i post an update today.

Smartmed:
sir come and finish this episode oo i cant wait to read how jagamu's millitary uncle dealt with the chief

I will update it today. thanks.