Coming Home

Chapter 2

The Obazees were more than delighted to receive this “august visitor” who was just like a long list brother.

That evening, while they sat in the living room, they discussed on a lot of topics; from the government to life issues. Also with them was Patience Obazee, Julius' wife. She had arrived some thirty minutes after her husband's arrival. She was more than delighted to receive Nathaniel as well. Earlier that day, she'd made the cook, Ada, prepare the best meal she could think of.

The Obazees had a nice house. This was evident from the rich looking furnitures, the expensive sofas, the overhead chandeliers, and mini bookshelves at strategic locations. The rooms carried heavy, rich smells that could make one salivate. Nathaniel never knew he would one day enter into a house like this. He'd always seen such in TVs.

He watched Julius and Patience carefully, they were so happy and comfortable. Julius owned an accounting firm while his wife had a big supermarket not too far from the house. It was no wonder they could erect such a big mansion for their parents in the village.

During dinner, Julius began.

“About the accommodation, you'll be staying here as long as you want. For a job, I already told you you'd be working under me.”

Nathaniel smiled and nodded his head. His eyes were lit with gratitude.

“So about the job you'd be working as, have you any qualifications?”

Nathaniel's face flushed with embarrassment. He had only succeeded in completing his secondary school. Nothing more. Because his family was financial restrained, he could not afford to further his education.

“Umm, not exactly. But I learn very quickly.”

“Oh, okay. That's not a problem.”

Sensing Nathaniel's discomfort, Julius didn't want to press more into the subject, so he turned to something different yet related.

“Do you have an ambition, a dream or something you wish you could one day attain?”

“Huhn?”

Nathaniel quickly picked up the juice cup to his mouth, giving him enough time to phrase a response.

“Of course, I had some dreams and ambitions, but, emm. . .I've got a family now. All those are bygones now.”

Julius chuckled slightly.

“Nathaniel, are you saying your family is what's keeping you from achieving your dreams?”

Scratching his head, Nathaniel dropped his spoon, gently.

“It's not the way you out it, Julius. I've got a pregnant wife and a five-year old daughter. Gold-digging are meant for youths. I didn't use my youth days well enough, my time has passed.”

Julius chuckled.

Nathaniel felt embarrassed.

“Tell me, buddy. How old are you?”

Getting more agitated, he calmly replied.

“I'm thirty-six.”

“And you feel you're too old to reach your goals, huhn?”

“. . .”

Julius continued.

“Look at me, Nat, I'm no younger than you. I'd be thirty-eight in two months' time. I struggled myself into the university. Ever since I left the village it's been grace all through. I did lots of meager jobs just to be able to work things out. . . .”

Julius told about how he'd been resilient with his goals. He'd never given up until he'd achieved what he wanted. He told about how his latter days in the university had been sponsored by a professor who was very fond of him.

Nathaniel shaked his head in awe as he listened to the other party.

Although, deep inside of Nathaniel, he told himself that none of those were relevant.

It was true that Julius successfully accomplished his goal of being an accountant with a second class upper. He had his BSc and was working for some higher certificates Nathaniel seemed to forget in a hurry. At 38, Julius was already a proud house owner. He had two cars of his own as well. He got married to a beautiful and successful entrepreneur, aside having an accounting firm which served as a source of income to over fifty employees.

In conclusion, he encouraged Nathaniel that he could achieve whatever he wished for if only he could put his mind to it.

After the long discussion, it was now it dawned on them both that Patience was no longer with them, and that it was already crossed midnight. Nathaniel's eyes were already feeling heavy and hot.

“Wow, it's crossed midnight. I'm sorry for keeping you till this time,” said Julius.

“Ah, you shouldn't be. We both lost track of time. Let's call it a day then.”

Nathaniel pulled himself from the couch he was sitting on, staggering under the drunkenness of of sleep.

Julius showed him his room, once again before heading for his.

Entering his room, Nathaniel's eyes skedaddled across the massive room. He smiled and shaked his head, shutting the door behind him.

“What a day!”

He jumped on the bed, childishly, then switched off the light from the switch over the pillow.

* * *

He boarded several vehicles and visited so many places, enthusiastically. It was the favour he'd received from Julius. The latter had given him a list of places he could visit for that week before starting work proper, the following week.

At the moment, Nathaniel was in a very crowded parking point. Bus conductors called out the various bus stops they were heading. He couldn't find anyone that led to Ikeja–Maryland, after waiting for nearly fifteen minutes.

He walked towards a shade where an old woman was seated, exhibiting candies and beverage drinks for sale.

“Excuse me, Ma'am,” he said politely.

The old woman raised her head and looked at him as though he was pointing a torch to her eyes.

“I was wondering where I could find a bus that leads to Ikeja–Maryland.”

“Ikeja–Maryland,” she repeated.

“Yes ma'am,” he affirmed.

She threw her index finger to the direction of the road and said, “You can't get it in this park, unless you can wait by the roadside there for those passing busses.”

He looked towards the direction she was pointing at and noticed about three people waiting for busses themselves. He nodded his head.

“Thank you very much, Ma'am, you've been truly helpful.”

“No wahala,” she replied, indifferently.

Vehicles moved to and fro on the road. He looked sideways but could not see any commercial busses. A teenage girl hawked past some snacks and drinks, well-balanced on her head. He beckoned her over.

She greeted him, slightly bending her knees, while cautious of the goods on her head. He helped her drop the tray of goods on a lopsided table by the roadside.

“What do you want to buy, Sir?”

His eyes strolled over the goods for a short moment, before he selected two “galas” (sausage rolls) and one Coca-Cola drink.

“How much are they worth?” he enquired.

She brought out a black cellophane bag and, dropping the items one by one, she began.

“The price for two ‘galas’ are one hundred naira — fifty naira each — while the drink itself is one hundred naira. So you're to pay a total of two hundred naira.”

Nathaniel smiled.

“You're a smart girl, I'm impressed. Here's three hundred naira; for the items I bought, and for impressing me.”

“Ah, thank you very much Sir!” the girl said, excitedly collecting the money notes.

He smirked and helped her replace the tray on her head.

Turning to the road again, he sighed as he saw a bus approaching, quickly flagging it down. Slowly, the bus stopped before him.

The bus conductor came down for him to enter. He had blood-coloured eyes and several scars on his body. He gestured for Nathaniel to get in, without even asking for his direction.

“I'm heading towards Ikeja–Maryland.”

The conductor nodded and said, “Enter.”

The bus was filled, save for a single seat in the second to the last row. He felt a chilly snake run down his spine as he placed his shoe on the hard surface of the bus and moved to the seat. There was a woman with a very long gown that fell below her knees on his left hand side. Her hair was tied with a black scarf. On his right hand side, there was a boy who, in Nathaniel's verdict, was about twenty to twenty-four years old. He had an MP3 headset covering both ears. He seemed to be playing a football game on his Android phone, only taking a quick, bizarre look at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel gently sat in-between the duo. The conductor flashed a smild at Nathaniel, sinisterly, then exchanged a quick knowing look with the driver.

“Weird,” thought Nathaniel. “Well, this won't deter my adventure, nevertheless. A long day ahead.”

And indeed, littles did he know that he would not be returning home any soon. An adventure he asked for, and adventure he would unravel.