I slept off while thinking of Anabelle, Daniel and my sister. When I woke up, it was about 2:45pm so I went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Uncle Sam wasnβt back yet so instead of dishing out his food immediately, I dished out just mine and got back to my room. After eating and washing my plate, I decided to read since the last time I opened my books was Friday evening. Junior WAEC was coming up and I wouldnβt say I was very prepared but I was ready. I read for about three hours taking little breaks until I got really tired and bored. I was so tempted to call uncle Sam and ask when he would be returning but I just couldnβt. He was probably busy and I didnβt want to disturb so I went out to the street for a stroll.
I walked all the way to the end of the street and turned around to head back home. As I was walking back home, I felt like I was been watched which made me so uncomfortable. I looked back and saw a car slowly driven behind me. I kept walking like I hadnβt noticed until the car pulled up beside me. I stopped and looked to my right where the car had stopped. I saw that I didnβt know the man who was behind the wheels so I started walking and even picked up my pace when I saw the car still following me. I got confused and really scared as to why I was being followed.
On getting to the gate, I told the gateman to lock the gates as I was being followed by someone that I didnβt know and he obeyed immediately. But as I was heading to the door of the house, I heard a car horn. I thought about the man in the car that I had just seen but I also remembered that uncle Sam wasnβt back yet. I stood at the front door of the house watching Muhammad, the gateman go out of the gate. At that point, I knew it wasnβt uncle Sam because he easily recognized when it was uncle Sam. I still stood there waiting and watching for what was going to happen next.
Finally, Muhammad came in and opened the gates for the car to come in. My heart began to beat faster when I saw it was the same car that was following me. I thought Muhammad was crazy to have let the man inside until I saw what happened next. The man parked, got down from his car and went over to meet Muhammad who was still closing the gates. Then, Muhammad bowed, greeting him and hailingg him. He kept shouting βoga ogaβ and I couldnβt understand. Then I heard him say βLong time, ogaβ and my nerves were calm. I guessed he must be a friend of uncle Sam. They greeted each other and I saw him give some naira notes to Muhammad.
When they were done chatting, I saw him heading to the door. By this time I already locked it and pretended like I hadnβt been watching from the door. He pressed the bell and I immediately left the corner where I had been peeping through the window. I let him press the bell one more time before I went over to open the door. I donβt know why Muhammad didnβt tell him that uncle Sam wasnβt around.
βGood evening sirβ I said, when I opened the door.
βGood evening, fine lady.β he replied.
He looked young just like uncle Sam, if not a bit younger. He had a nice outfit on with a breathtaking cologne. I stood there waiting for him to say something.
βIs Sam around?β he asked but before I could reply, he continued.
βMy apologies, My name is Femi, I am Samβs friend.β he said, stretching his hands out for a handshake.
I shook him and replied him with;
βHe isnβt around. He went out since morning and isnβt back yet.β
βOh! Wow! and do you know when he would be back?β
I shook my head and he looked really disappointed.
βIβm sorry.β I said to him, I donβt know why.
βThatβs fine. Itβs not your fault. I wanted to surprise him as I havenβt seen him in a while but I guess I was in for a surprise instead. Where would Sam go on a Sunday? Crazy man.β
βWould you like to wait?β I offered, since we had been standing at the door for about five minutes.
βOkay, Iβll see if I can wait.β he said and I opened the door wider for him to come in.
As he sat down, I put on the television and dropped the remote beside him and then asked what he would like to drink.
βIβd have five bottles of beer. Ha ha! Just kidding. Iβll just have water, thanksβ
I donβt know if he found himself to be funny or charming but that was just annoying, I thought to myself. I went in and out of the kitchen, returning with a bottle of water and a glass cup placed in a serving tray. I set it down on the table and served him the water.
βThank you, fine lady.β he said and I just faked a smile.
I didnβt even find it flattering. As I was about to head back to the kitchen, he called me and asked to keep him company. I was very nervous and didnβt want to stay but I wanted to be nice to the guest so I sat on the couch opposite him. He looked at me weirdly for a while before he started with his questions. He asked a few random questions before asking who Sam was to me. I told him he was my uncle and he looked very surprised.
He hadnβt completed the question asking how old I was when I asked to be excused. I lied that I had left something on the fire. Why didnβt I think of that in the first place? I donβt know why. I was feeling really uncomfortable around him and I needed to leave his sight. Not long after I was sitting on the kitchen stool trying to get hold of myself, I heard him say,βHello? Hello? Young lady?β. I knew he was calling me as I hadnβt mentioned my name yet so I stood up and went into the sitting room to meet him. He was on his feet and saying he had to leave so I escorted him to the door. But before he left, he asked for my name and I replied βMesonma.β
To be continuedβ¦..
*********
