For Blood And Country

February 21, 2014 - FOLAKEMI

"It's time, Folakemi. Aren't you ready?" I looked up from my computer. Doyin was standing there with her bag on her arm. I checked the time, it was 6:10pm.

"Sorry, let me just round up." I said saving my work on the computer.

"I waited ten minutes to see if you would round up before I would come to drag you. But it's the same thing every time. Only God knows what you are always doing." Doyin long-time friend, temporary roommate and colleague at Limelight Media said.

"Do quick, young lady." Doyin was frowning at me, feigning anger. She had been annoyed since I told her about my transfer request to Jos. Her annoyance was genuine at first but it passed after a while but she still pretended to be angry most times.

I smiled now and said, "Take it easy. I still have to go and give the supervisor this write up. If you can't wait here, go and wait in the car." I said putting my laptop in my bag and bringing out the car keys. She snatched it from me and stormed off. I snickered and waited for her regular funny display. When she reached the entrance she looked back and stuck out her tongue, then stormed out. I shook my head and headed to my supervisor's office at the start of a hallway where the conference rooms were. I knocked and entered, he was on the phone and signalled for me to hold on. He listened for a few more seconds, said okay sir, thank you, and then hung up. His bag was on the table and he was standing.

"I have the report you asked for, sir."

He collected it and scanned through.

"This isn't due till Monday, Folakemi."

"Yes sir, but I finished with it already and I didn't see any point taking it home with me for the weekend."

"Hmm." He said and put in a manila folder. "Always on time, that's good."

"One more thing, sir." I said and he looked up. "Any response yet?"

"About what? Oh! The transfer. No, not yet but I'm sure it should come any time from now."

"Okay. Thank you, sir."

"Have a great weekend and have some fun. You deserve that much." He called after me as I left his office.

***********

My phone rang as I entered my apartment. It was a two-bedroom flat I share with Doyin. I moved in with her a month ago when I moved out of my parent's house and I thought I wouldn't have to stay there for long and my transfer would have been approved. I checked to see who was calling. It was my mom so I silenced it and went into my bedroom. I dropped my bag on the bed and I went into the bathroom, turned on the tap and splashed water on my face. Then I heard my phone ring again. It was my mom again so I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Folakemi, it's me, your mother."

"I know, mom. Good evening ma."

"How have you been?"

"Fine ma, and you?"

"Worried sick, Folakemi! You haven't returned any of my calls in like a month." My mom said, sounding worried.

"It's just three weeks, mom, and I already told you I'm always very busy with work."

"What kind of work doesn't allow you call your own mother? Ehn, Folake? Abi it's not the same job you've been doing before you left home?"

"Mom please, I can't do this right now---"

"You can't talk to me right now? God knows I raised you right and I don't deserve what you are doing to me." She paused then pleaded, "Just come back home, Folakemi."

"Mom, we've talked about this countless times, it's not happening. I'm old enough to live on my own and that's what I'm doing – living on my own."

At that moment another call came in on my phone and I had to say goodbye to my mom.

Answering the new call, I heard a familiar voice.

"Will you open the door for me or just keep me out here?"

Surprised, I went to the door and unlocked it to find my uncle standing there, grinning,

"Uncle Tade! What are you doing here?"

"Wow, what a pleasant way to greet your favourite uncle."

"I'm sorry, good evening. I was just surprised to see you; please come in. When did you get back and how did you find me?"

"I asked your friend nicely." He said nodding at Doyin who just walked into the tiny sitting room" Although Doyin didn't approve of my transfer I didn't think she would call my uncle. "I told her I was paying you a surprise visit", he said grinning. "I didn't want to knock in case I wasn't at the right apartment, which was why I called."

"Please sit down, what can I get you?" I asked.

"Just water, thanks dear."

I left to get the water and he and Doyin started talking. I got a bottled water from the mini fridge and went back to the sitting room. I set it down on a stool and sat on an opposite sofa facing him and Doyin.

"It's really nice to see you, uncle Tade. When did you get back?" I asked.

"I got back last Tuesday and I headed to your place to pay you a visit. To my surprise, my sister told me you packed out over a month ago. Now I'm not offended that you did that, I'm just offended you would do something that big without telling me. I thought we were like this," he said interlocking his index fingers.

"We are, Uncle. you know you're my favourite uncle." I cajoled. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Everything actually happened so fast and I've been focusing on settling down, I didn't have time to call you."

Doyin smirked and I shot her a look.

"Well, doesn't look like you've done much of that, from what I've heard." I looked down at my hands. "How are you?" He asked softly.

"I'll be okay uncle; I just need more time."

"Listen dear, I understand you are doing what you need to do, but you shouldn't leave things that way with your folks. Go home to say hi… or at least call your father-"

"I'm not calling him, uncle. If he wants to talk, he'll call me. Do you know he hasn't called once since I left home, not once? And the things he said…"

"I've heard the summarized version from your brother, Tope. You know your father can be irrational sometimes but I'm sure he wishes he could take back those words." "Well, he can't and if he is stubborn, then I am my father's child."

I was serving in Abuja in 2011 when the UN building was bombed and it was the most horrific thing I had ever witnessed, but to my surprise, by the time I saw it on the news, it was made to look like child's play and that was when I realised how much the media was burying and watering down the real news.

Uncle Tade sighed, "I mean, what was so wrong in wanting to do what I love, what I'm passionate about." I said heatedly, "After all, it's my life and if I want to spend it exposing the lies of the media and giving the people the truth they deserve, then who is he to tell me I would come back home after I've failed?"

"I'm not advocating for him, dear. I'm only saying it for your own good, trust me."

"I'm sorry uncle, but I'm not going." I said.

Uncle Tade sat back in his chair, "You may claim you're your father's child, but you are definitely as stubborn as your mother." He said.