The Burning Wick

Chapter 5. Hunger Has No Shame

One airy Saturday morning. The sun rose high like fine wine in the tail of ember juice. Smouldering sounds of birds carrying hope from night to light over the city escape as the trees below stare in surprise at the surrounding hills of Enugu that holds aesthetics of houses from falling and reminding the eyes of something of old treasure in its chest. Johnson was already at work in the busy suburb of Coal Camp where he learnt to fix auto breaks and auto gear. Dressed in an oil soaked white turned brown without small mercy that is signatory to traditional mechanics, he greeted Chibike his fellow apprentice with a sparing hand shake with tips of the fingers touching each other to suggest a shake not so firm. “Chibi borbor! That man's Lexus yesterday gave us a hell of a trouble, so you know his brake pads are all completely worn out? I hope he has bought a set of new brake pads so that would lessen our stress today because he is fond of making us look like a novice at our work as if he could fix it all by himself before bringing that car to our workshop.” Said Johnson.

Chibike holding a wheel spanner in his left hand nodded in unison and replied, “Honestly that man trouble no be here, have you forgotten the trouble he once gave us with his truck he once brought here the other time, he is always talking as if we are the agent of darkness from his village fashioned against him, if we don't sweat and stress our brain he is not happy.. Maybe it is because he read engineering in the University so he feels he can use that to intimidate us here.” That man does not have small joy for us at all.” Johnson replied, “That man eenh! him supposed be lawyer o, even our boss Oga Wasiu dey use style style avoid his too much talk, as Oga don see say he pass him power.” Chibike gently tapped Johnson on the shoulder with a look to beckon him to come closer to avoid eavesdroppers, so he could whisper secrets to him in excitement, Johnson leaned forward with his ears. With one hand covering Chibike’s mouth at Johnson ears, Chibike whispered, Nna ehnn, do you know Oga Wasiu has gotten #245,000 from this man so far in the space of just four days? Even me self got #25,000 naira so far when we went to buy the materials needed with Oga Wasiu.” Immediately Johnson pulled back his head in shock with his mouth wide open and eyes lit bright to contest the sunlight brightness.

With his hands covering his mouth, Johnson replied, “What about my own share?” Chibike gave a soft treacherous low chuckle with his hand on his chin and replied with soft low voice, “Oga Wasiu said he will give you 35k because you did most of the work and sweating, so relax.” With a look of urgency and seriousness, Johnson insisted, “No na, even if na 7k, I need something from your share because there is no guarantee Oga Wasiu will give me that money. If he eventually gives me, I will pay you back with 5k.” Immediately the joke ceased and Chibike looked back at Johnson with one side of the eye, and snapped, “What kind of mathematics is that? Young Modulus or Laws of diminishing return? How can you give me 5k back despite I told you your share is 35k?” Chibike quizzed suspiciously. Johnson returned the seriousness with a playful smile and soft eyed look with a path on Chibike’s shoulder and replied, “Oya I will give you your 7k back I was only teasing you to know your reaction.” Immediately a smile returned on Chibike's face, and he asked, “When do you need it? “Now now now,” said Johnson. Immediately Chibike with a tap on Johnson's shoulder, told him to avoid prying eyes, “Come let's go inside the shop,”

Both with a sense of seriousness went inside the Shop and Chibike dipped his hand in his pocket to bring out a bulk of dirty and oil stained mix of #200 naira notes and a few #500 naira notes. With his dirty hands going to his mouth touching the tip of his tongue for saliva and then to the money repeatedly, he counted the money with shrewdness to be sure he didn't get short changed by Johnson, “One thousand.. Two thousand… Three thousand… Four thousand… Five Thousand.. Six Thousand.. Seven Thousand. That is it, take, but don't forget to give me once Oga Wasiu settles you,” Said Chibike. With a smiling face, Johnson collected the money and patted him on the shoulder in assurance. “Don't worry Chi borbor, you will get it once Oga Wasiu settles me, You know how we do our things na” said Johnson.

They both dismissed but as they went outside, Johnson noticed something strange. He saw Angela on the bench in the next shop as she happened to be the sales girl to Arinze the mechanic in the next shop who also sells motor parts with her hands covering her face as if it was a sight of pain visible and loud but without a word. Johnson quizzed her, “Angela what is the matter? You don't look good today at all, hope all is well,"said Johnson. “Yes I am not fine. Just that, I am hungry and don't have money to eat coupled with the fact that I am on my monthly flow this morning so I am very weak.” Said Angela

Like as if something pierced Johnson's heart, The sting was sharp but lingered taking Johnson back on reflection when his entire family used to battle with the talk of what to eat as if it was a News Headline in the neighborhood. Johnson thought to himself, definitely, hunger has no shame, hunger has no name, hunger has no tribe, hunger no religion, hunger has no status but only leaves behind despair and devastation and a tomorrow that may never come. After a few minutes of thoughtful and reflective escapism, Johnson brought out #2,000 naira from the money he had just collected from Chibike and gave it to Angela. “Take this two thousand naira, use it to get something for yourself to eat and be sure to get drugs to make yourself feel better.” After that, Johnson felt lighter and better, as if he had just wrestled himself out of a house of cobweb, shaming hunger is a price he is ready to pay any time he finds it on sight whenever it tries to raise its boastful stings.

Johnson quickly dashed to Join Chibike at the spot to give him a hand. Both were sitting on the bare floor at the care wheel, the look on Chibike's face was suspicious. Chibike smiled at Johnson but it was a suspicious one. As if he were to ask a question on a low voice but confused and paused midway with a spanner held in front of his nose, he asked, Johnson, “Guy, hope you are not putting eye on that fried fish Johnson, because I don't understand your motive at Oga Arinze’s shop this morning,” Taaaar! Come off it,” Johnson snapped, “You will not understand” Johnson replied, “Then make me Understand.” Chibike replied in a low voice. “Hmmmm” Johnson sighed, “It's a personal matter,” Johnson insisted. Chibike pressed, “Guy tell me na.” “Has hunger ever disgraced you before? If you have ever suffered in the hands of hunger you would understand what I have just gone there to do,” replied Johnson.” as if “Chibike was lost and confused, he pressed again possibly to unsettle Johnson and make him come out plain. “Ok are you telling me now that you went inside that place, because of your hunger for fried fish?” Said Chibike.

With more seriousness, Johnson opened up in clarity, “That lady was hungry and needed money to get drugs so I went in there to help because I have been in her shoes many times before when what to eat was always the topic of the day and a headline news.” replied Johnson, With a sorry and patronizing look on Chibike's face, he replied, “I am sorry my brother. Na so life be my brother, but you see this ember month for us go stew well well.”

They both smiled and laughed off the tense atmosphere and went about their routine activities.

Such is the bearing of the burning wick. It burns once more, and again, it burns.