Act I, Scene V
1290 Words
(School dismissal)
(All the students were leaving for their various houses and traveling in cliques. Eric was with less company as he walked home with his friend Philip. A tall lanky, long faced but of attractive standard, a small but sizable black spot far left of his right cheek, fair complexion, radiant skin. His hair is slightly bushy but curled. He's dressed appropriately unlike Eric. An introvert to top all of it)
Philip: I heard about your performance at the school auditorium. Is it true?
Eric: (grins immediately) Ehen na. Weren't you there?
Philip: No
Eric: Oh I see… Well I always have been telling you that my prime time is yet to come. All I hope for, or I'm sure of is to be among the contingents shortlisted for the D Day size. I just know it.
Philip: Well good luck to what you just said. Is it possible if I could…. (pause) Don't worry, forget…
Eric: (concerned) You were saying something? Could you repeat that?
Philip: (exhales) well, I don't know, but guy, I'm not too sure about what I wanted to say…
Eric: Is it private? (moves closer) Okay, talk. I'm listening now.
Philip: (deeply exhales) Will it be okay if I join?
Eric: There ain't no problem with that (pause) Nothing to be bothered about. Sir Clement owes it to me for lighting his dim talent hunt: my performance was so fire than the original… still worried I might get sued for it. (Looks at Philip who smiled at him) and I’m sure he still want to bait more flies.
Philip: (pulls out) If you put it that way …
Eric: (realizes) No, it's a really good competition. What I meant was my performance attracted (interrupted)
Philip: I know
Eric: So will you play with that trumpet? Because we both know you sound like with that voice.
Philip: (curtly) Yes, whatever. It's called a saxophone and it doesn't matter how I sound like (flustered) just forget it. (attempts to walk away)
Eric: (apologetic and reaches out) Look I'm sorry. (pat his back) See, I didn't mean it that way. You may not be some cool singer or crooner Forget what I said about your voice. You're the only guy I know in this school that plays jazzy tunes. I bet you could wow the crowd with those sexy jazzy tunes of yours. (Removes his hand and begins gesturing) You can always find a way to make up for your vocal ‘inconvenience’ You could go up the stage and play your flute
Philip: (interrupts) saxophone.
Eric: (stutters) Oh yeah. That. You could play your saxophone like (pretends holding a saxophone with his hand and scats for a brief moment)
Voice: Omor Eric, why you dey? mumu yourself for road.
(Both of them turn to see a boy approaching them. Also of a tall height but of dark complexion. His hair is shaved partly by the sides leaving the top bushy. His uniform is also style but not in an absurd manner like Eric)
Phillip: (waves) What's up Jared,
Eric: (stretches his hand for a bump) Yo. Where do you even come from?
Jared: (bumps fist with him and grips his palm) I just dey as how una dey mumu for road but sha na everyday thing. I hear say you sing for hall. Na Nigerian song?
Eric: (grins) No, it's ‘Falling by Trevor Daniel’
Jared: (disappointed, releases grip) Your thing just dey vex me. Which one be falling? Couldn't you sing some Nigerian songs?
Eric: Speak correct English. You're still in uniform and not even far from school
Jared: (nonchalant) Abeg rest. School don close. You no be teacher
Eric: (pats his back) Well next time, I'll try some Nigerian drills, songs. I might remember Wizkid songs
Jared: (slightly annoyed) Is it why you want to break my back?
Eric: Sorry (rubs his back)
Jared: (throws his hand away) You rough eh. Don't you know you are dirtying me.
Eric: (taunts) Who are you looking good for? All your girls have left
Jared: (wipes his face) Shut up. Which one you carry. (Hisses) So, um, how can I join that thing you guys are doing?
Eric: You too?
Jared: Who else? Abi the whole school don join?
Eric: (stares at Philip) It's just coincidental that two people I know just expressed interest in my….. let's say you both got inspired by me.
Jared: God forbid , you can never inspire me…
Eric: Wow, you managed a first correct sentence. I'm really a motivation
Jared: Moltivate who? I also hear say they wanted to trash you wotowoto but your trousers tore.
Philip: (interjects) So are there any slots for instrumentalists?
Eric: (relaxes) That simple, you know. You just waltz in, do what you gotta do then you probably be taking in, See easy.
Jared: (taunts) you sure? You sure say they even accept you. You sure say na song you sing or na beg you beg.
Eric: (vexed) You are dead (removes his bag and charges at him)
(Jared exclaims and runs. They run towards a bend. Eric gains up on Jared and flings his bag at him but he was swayed by the weight. The bag misses and falls in failure which backfires on Eric as he stumbles on the bag and falls. He recovers and stands up, finding no one in sight in spite of being a clear view)
Eric: (flustered and starts cleaning himself) He's lucky.
(Phillip approaching him, panting of an earlier sprint)
Philip: (pants) Never mind him though I'm still wondering what the school management will say when I arrive with a case and he brings his keyboard (draws a long breath and regains proper composure) Any information on rehearsals.
Eric: (of less enthusiasm and concentration) Yeah. Weekdays. I didn't catch info that much (pause and notice something) What…. (He starts walking while Philip follows him. They walk across the road and keep a distance as they approach a condoned transformer) ..is that?
(He points at a charred bicycle as the seat was burnt: the rest of were in indelible black dents)
Philip: (indifferent). What about it? It's not that I can do anything about it (Pause) An accident obviously happened here (makes the sign of cross) no chance of surviving this.
Eric: (concerned) How?
Philip: (points at a tampered mesh) There was a collusion. Whoever died must have come in contact (Tilts head to a sign inscribed: ‘DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE’ )
Eric: (concerned and dejected) How could someone (looks at Philip) This is serious,This is so sad.
Philip: (looks away and sees a tyre prints straying abruptly from the lane) Death is inevitable. There's no shield against such a phenomenon incurred or not this phenomenon is incurred based on house one. There's the reality or possibility of living, the ambitions, desires for long, although some are incurred by abandoning such or the despair of lack of achievement. It's like a net invisible to the fish, you're bound to get caught)
Eric: (yelling) What is wrong with you? Philip? How are you so calm in this situation, not to mention this useless comments of yours? Someone might have died and you talk on like this is a trivial matter, or is it because you're not inflicted by this loss?
Philip: I'm not (looks at Eric) How about you? How are you inflicted?
Eric: What is effing wrong you! (Turns away and rubs his face with his hand, while the other placed on his waist, turns back and stares at Philip) In fact (sighs) You know what? I'm going home.
(He walks away constantly throwing stares everywhere, as if paranoid. He breaks into a job before he sprints out of sight)
- Writer
