Joyce

The five-star general

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 Mr. Doris is sitting in his office. He dials a number via the table phone.

“Hello, I want to see you in my office now,” Mr. Doris said.

“Okay! Five-star general,” a voice said.

“Good,” Mr. Doris said and hangs up the phone call.

Few minutes later

“(knocks) can I come in?” militant Isaiah said.

“Yes,” Mr. Doris said authoritatively.

“(Enters and salutes) You sent for me five-star general,” militant Isaiah said.

“Yes militant. Sit down!” Mr. Doris said.

“Okay sir,” militant Isaiah said and sat down.

“(Coughs) we have a mission in Nigeria,” Mr. Doris started.

“A mission?” militant Isaiah said perplexed.

“Yes. I have been perturbed these days over a conversation I had with my daughter, Betty,” Mr. Doris said.

“I won’t mind you tell me sir,” militant Isaiah said.

“Okay. I can confide in you as a senior officer. Betty once told me about her friend in Nigeria whose father was killed by his co-workers,” Mr. Doris said.

“What? Can this be true?” militant Isaiah said.

“We have no evidence but our job as officers is to create one. What do you think?” Mr. Doris said.

“You are right sir,” militant Isaiah said.

“Good. I want you to assemble some capable and trustworthy officers. We shall be heading to Nigeria in a week’s time to apprehend the culprits,” Mr. Doris said.

“But we are not Nigerian armed force. I don’t think we can have impact in Nigeria,” militant Isaiah said.

“Don’t say that Mr. Isaiah. Besides, I have a good friend who is also an army officer in Nigeria. We will hire his. How about that?” Mr. Doris said.

“That is a nice idea five-star general. I believe we shall make impact,” militant Isaiah said.

“Good. You are now talking like the soldier you are. I don’t have any other thing to say. Assemble capable and trustworthy officers for the task ahead and disseminate the information to them,” Mr. Doris said.

“Okay five-star general. Will you be going with us?” militant Isaiah said.

“Yes. Obey my last command! You may leave now,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Salutes) okay, five-star star general,” militant Isaiah said and walked away.

**********

“Hello, officers, militant Isaiah said.

“(salute) Yes, militant,” the other army officers said.

“We are about to undertake a task,” militant Isaiah said.

“A task?” the army officers chorused.

“Yes. The five-star general called me hitherto to his office. He said we shall be leaving United States of America for Nigeria,” militant Isaiah said.

“Nigeria?” the army officers said.

“Yes. You all know the five-star general's daughter, Betty,” militant Isaiah said.

“Yes, we do,” the army officers said.

“She has a Nigerian friend whose dad was killed by his colleagues in his place of work,” militant Isaiah said.

“How sure are you officer?” militant Gilbert said in American English.

“We shall bring the culprits to book. That’s our fundamental work as army officers,” militant Isaiah said.

“Okay, militant Isaiah,” the army officers said.

“Good. I chose the five of you among the majority, because I trust your braveness. Myself, you all and the five-star general will be heading to Nigeria by next week’s time,” militant Isaiah said.

“We are set, militant Isaiah,” the army officer said.

“Good. You may return to your duty posts now,” militant Isaiah said.

“(Salute) okay, militant Isaiah,” the army officer said and walked away.

At five-star general’s office.

“(Knocks) can I come in?” militant Isaiah said.

“I am busy now but you can come in,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Enters and salutes) I have selected five officers,” militant Isaiah said.

“Very fast? That is very good. I hope militant Gilbert is included?” Mr. Doris said.

“Yes, the lead officer is included,” militant Isaiah said.

“Good. You can go now,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Salutes) okay sir,” militant Isaiah said and walked away.

At Mr. Doris’ home

“Welcome Dad,” Mark said and collected Mr. Doris’ portfolio.

“My wonderful son, how are you today?” Mr. Doris said and sat down.

“I am fine dad. Hope you had a nice stay at work?” Mark said looking at his father’s tired face.

“Yes, I had a nice day. Hope you learned very well in school today?” Mr. Doris said.

“Yes, dad. Mum, dad is back,” Mark said and walked away with Mr. Doris’ portfolio.

“Darling, I am coming,” Mrs. Doris said from the kitchen.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Walks to the sitting room) welcome darling,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Thanks honey,” Mr. Doris said.

“You look worn out. Let me get you a cup of cold water,” Mrs. Doris said and walked to the refrigerator.

“(Collects a cup of cold water) thank you honey,” Mr. Doris said and sipped the water hastily.

“I can see you are famished. The food will be ready soon,” Mrs. Doris said sitting close to Mr. Doris.

“I am hungry honey,” Mr. Doris said.

“I will get you your food soon. How was work today?” Mrs. Doris said.

“We thank God honey. Didn’t you go to work today,” Mr. Doris said.

“I told you hitherto that I am scheduled for this night,” Mrs. Doris said.

“(Smiles) you and this your nursing profession. So, you will leave only me on the bed this night. Isn’t it?” Mr. Doris said sadly.

“I am sorry Dr. I will come home very early tomorrow,” Mrs. Doris said.

“You better tell your boss that he should allow you have time for your family members,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Smiles) I don’t want to loose my job. At least I have been at home since morning,” Mrs. Doris said and looked at Mr. Doris' face.

“I have been away from home since morning,” Mrs. Doris said.

“One of these days, I will absent myself from work for a week or so,” Mrs. Doris said.

“I will love that. I won’t go to work either,” Mr. Doris.

“Then we shall both be fired,” Mrs. Doris said and laughed.

“You and who? Remember I am the five-star general,” Mr. Doris said.

“Nobody dares the law,” Mrs. Doris said and they both laughed.

“Please, go and check the food on the fire before you kill me with laughter. The hunger is getting intense,” Mr. Doris said.

“Alright darling. I will be back in a jiffy,” Mrs. Doris said and left for the kitchen.

“(Picks a phone call) hello, beautiful Betty, Mr. Doris

“What’s up dad?” Betty said.

“I am good, and you?” Mr. Doris said.

“I am not bad here. Dad, I need some money for courses registration,” Betty said.

“Courses registration? I thought you have saved your spot from the outset of the term, right?” Mr. Doris said.

“Dad, new courses have been introduced, so I need to register for them,” Betty said.

“Okay Dr. How much do you need?” Mr. Doris said.

“Four hundred dollars dad,” Betty said.

“That is a huge amount of money,” Mr. Doris said.

“It isn’t dad. Besides, I need to buy more foodstuffs,” Betty said.

“I will do anything for my angel. I will make a transfer to your account through online banking in a jiffy,” Mr. Doris said.

“That is my dad. I love you,” Betty said.

“I love you too. Lest I forget, we shall be heading to Nigeria in a week’s time,” Mr. Doris said.

“Really? For what dad?” Betty said.

“Why don’t you guess?” Mr. Doris said.

“Save me the stress dad, you know I am not good at guessing, Betty said.

“We shall be going to Nigeria to apprehend the culprits that killed Joyce's father,” Mr. Doris said.

“Wow!! I am thrilled. Thank you for all you do dad,” Betty said.

“Don’t mention Dr. I will keep you posted with the turn out of things,” Mr. Doris said.

“I won’t mind dad. Hope mum and Mark are faring well?” Betty said.

“Yeah, they are. Just that mum has been keeping me lonely these days, Mr. Doris said.

“I don’t get you dad,” Betty said.

“Your mummy is too engrossed to her work that she doesn’t have time for me and Mark any longer,” Mr. Doris said and Mrs. Doris cuts in.

“Don’t mind your dad, Betty. I remain the subtle me. Your dad is just being jealous,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Is that mum's voice?” Betty said.

“(Collects the mobile phone from Mr. Doris) Yes, Betty,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Mum, I don’t like what you are doing to dad and Mark,” Betty said.

“I told you hitherto not to listen to your dad's supposed complain. Your dad wants to be reckoned with the family’s breadwinner and he knows he can’t do it alone,” Mrs. Doris said and everyone laughed.

“Alright mum. How are you doing?” Betty said.

“I am fine Dr, and you?” Mrs. Doris said.

“I am also fine mum,” Betty said.

“Take good care of yourself,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Okay mum. Send my regards to Mark and tell Dad not to forget what he promised me,” Betty said.

“What?” Mrs. Doris said.

“Never mind mum,” Betty said and laughed.

“You are not serious. Well, I will extend your regards to your brother. Goodbye,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Goodbye mum,” Betty said and dropped the phone call.

“Give me my phone,” Mr. Doris said.

“(Gives Mr. Doris his phone) you better stop this your slander,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Slander? You are not serious,” Mr. Doris said and laughed.

“Joke apart darling,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Don’t darling me,” Mr. Doris said and the duo laughed.

“The food is ready. Let’s go and dine,” Mrs. Doris said.

“What did you cook?” Mr. Doris said.

“Your favorite, beans and bread,” Mrs. Doris said.

“Wow!! Let’s go and munch,” Mr. Doris said and raised Mrs. Doris up.

“Okay darling,” Mrs. Doris said and they walked to the dinning table.