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olusegundare · 6 years

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AMERICANA’S DIARY XIX-XXIII

AMERICANA'S DIARY XIX: AGED FRIEND'S MISDEMEANOUR

“Okay”, as Bodmas stands up, walked to the door, opening the

door, while Sẹgẹ locks the door. We walked to the car, opened the car’s doors

and we started going, heading towards the east….

“This road has not been tarred before I left this state”,

Bodmas said as he continued driving

“Oh yes, I think it was tarred 7 years ago”, Sẹgẹ said

“I have left the state then, and I have even left the

country then”, Bodmas said

“But, I think you left the country about 5 years ago…”

Bodmas interrupting Sẹgẹ , “Nope. No, not at all. At the

initial when I left, I left about 10 years ago, then, I was on a contract terms

with some companies up there, then, I was like being on the air almost always,

shuttling between the country and the States to represent her here and to get

more information up there…”

Sẹgẹ coming in said, “I do not think I was aware of your emigration until half a decade ago, even

then, what I heard was that you were still unsettled and would not want your

number to be given to just anyone…”

“Oh yea, initially when I moved out, my mummy said I should limit

the giving of my contacts to people, because “gbogbo ‘lizard’ lo da inu de ilẹ,

a o si mọ eleyi ti inu nrun lara wọn”, and I do not want her miffed, so I had

to tell people not to give out my numbers to just anyone, if anyone asks of me

they should just reply that I am fine…”

“Oh yea, I understand. You know our parents are protecting

us. They would not want any evil to betide us, what we sometimes consider

insiginificant, they would read into it, and most of the times what they use to

tell us usually come out true, it is only very few ones that do not come out

right”, Sẹgẹ said

“Yes, I know, I quite agree. I did not argue with her when

she said that, despite the fact that I know and everyone in my house also knows

that my friends are very limited, they are countable, those who know my house

out of my friends are about four outside you and Dee”, Bodmas said as he

negotiated a huge crater on the road, thus holding back his words.

“Gently oh”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Thanks… Despite this fact, yet, I abide by her words and

instructed people not to give people my number and if anyone comes asking they

should just tell them that I am not around. To corroborate your words that

sometimes our parents could be prophetic in their utterances, do you know that

what my mother said about my former fiancée came to pass?”

“Are you serious?” Sẹgẹ

asked

“Oh yes. When my former fiancée Ìgbayilọla and I visited my

family before I travelled out do you know that my mum said, she doubts if

Ìgbayilọla would marry me…”

“Hen, hen”, Sege said

“I asked her for what she saw before saying that but she

would not say, she just said, she does not look like someone who will marry

me”, Bodmas said

“And what she said came to pass”, Sege said.

“Oh yes. She broke up with me”, Bodmas said.

“Thank God, you are not the one who called it off with her,

because assuming you were, people would have said it was because you have seen

a scadinavian or something that you are dating there”, Sege said.

“I know. That is what people will say”

“Hmn mn”, Sege said

“Just as you have said, our parents are like shield round

us, often times through their words they will give us a route of escape from

the enemies and the evil ones. And as she said no one was given my contacts

until I gave Dee my number through the email address, because before I left we

used to talk on my previous email account it was through email that I gave him

my number because I have lost all the numbers of friends when I left the

country” Bodmas said

“Uhmn. When I finished serving the country, I visited your

house but, there was no one at home that day, later I saw Tee around the Post

office area and before we could have indepth discussion he secured a taxi and

left, but what he managed to tell me was that you are no longer around, you

have travelled. Since he said that I did not bother myself going to your house

again. Afterwards, my movements become restricted because I started to build my

business due to this and the fact that my Sundays have always been a busy one,

to try and see Tee again became a problem, until I left the town”, Sẹgẹ said,

as he continued “and I do not think I really have your email account after

graduation”

“Nope. Not at all. I do not have your email account then.

This I think was largely due to the fact that everyone of us has been trying to

do something with our certificates with all of us scattered all over the

country. Since, this mobile network is for the rich but not for low class

persons then, majority of us usually have faith that everyone would be fine

wherever they are as well as trying to find his or her feet in his or her

chosen discipline”, Bodmas replied.

“I know”, Sẹgẹ said, adding that “and when majority of us

went to the cybercafés then, whatever we want to do at the cybercafé would have

been planned and anything short of that would hardly be entertained so that the

bought time would not lapse before we finished what we were at the place for.

What could only give room for other things on the net would be when one goes

for night browsing”

“I doubt if I ever do night browsing”, Bodmas said.

“Neither do I, there was one time like that, that my junior

brother wants us to go for night browsing, but we heard that some cultists were

on rampage and that put the intents on hold”, Sẹgẹ said.

“I have never for once like night browsing”, Bodmas said,

continuing he said, “I only got Dee’s email account per chance too, this is

because there was a time that I came around for an interview, before travelling

out of the country, he was also at the interview centre and that was how and

where we met and exchanged our email account to be updating each other on the

outcome of the interview, and in case we see any vacancy. Unfortunately for

both of us, none of us was employed at the firm and fortunate for us because we

have each other’s contact. It was through this email account that I updated him

about my developments very much later”, Bodmas said.

“I see. I did not come across Dee until after he secured

employment with the institution. After he secured employment, he came around to

my business centre, he wanted to print one of his PhD works at a computer

centre close by my shop, that was when we see, exchanged our phone numbers, in

fact then, I have just secured a Sagem product and got a line, assuming we had

met earlier, maybe, I would not have had his number…”

“But you could still have had it, you would just write it

down”, Bodmas said wisely

“Yes that is true ‘sha’. It was after this, at least once a

month we shall talk, if not through phone it will come through text”, Sẹgẹ

said, and continued,”I got this”, Sẹgẹ showing Bodmas the phone as he continued

“android phone last month, it was a fall-out of my ministration at the church I

was invited to, one lady said, God has laid it on her heart to give me”

“Uhmn. Thanks to God that God could still be laying things

in some people’s hearts”, Bodmas said.

“Abi o. having got

that, I have also been on social media and thus it was easy for Dee to brief me

about you as well as some few colleagues”, Sẹgẹ said

Their car has reached the junction, “where do I trafficated

to?” Bodmas asked.

“Trafficat to the right”, Sẹgẹ said, using his right hand to

show what he means.

“Okay oh. Is this not the way that leads to the state

capital’s new Water Dam?” Bodmas asked.

“Oh yes, but you know that the road to the dam is off the

main road, it is the main road that we will be following until we get to its terminus,

where it links with the road that leads outside the state’s capital, we will

turn left when we get there, looking as we are going into the heart of the town

before we link the road that leads to the institution”, Sẹgẹ said

“I see”, Bodmas said, as he drives on

“That road helps us to avoid hold-ups that we will likely

encounter if we take the other route”, Sẹgẹ said.

“There was a day when Dee and I was chatting and he narrated

what happened between you and Lee when you were in the States”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Oh yea, I was the one who briefed him. It happened when I

was still working with those companies. Before I left the country, I have

gotten Lee’s email account and we have been talking and when I got to the

states we continued our discussions and sometimes will even talk on phone”,

Bodmas honks his car horn to warn a lady and a guy who are majestically walking

while crossing the road, “look at these people as they are walking on the

highway?” Bodmas said as if Sẹgẹ was not seeing them

“Ẹ má mà dá wọn lohun,

that is how they will defiantly be walking when they see a vehicle

coming, meanwhile when they see cattle coming they will flee”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Alakoba ti kì í kágò mà ni wọn”, Bodmas said, removing his

leg from the accelerator, the car slows down a bit, giving them room to leave

the road as he continued, “whenever one is driving one needs to be

extra-careful because some will be acting as if they are under curses”

“And who can tell, may be they are actually under some

spells”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Wọn a rìn síwájú ti nwọn ba nwa ẹniti wọn a kóbá”, Bodmas

said

“Abi o”, Sẹgẹ said.

“So Lee and I used to talk frequently then. Then one day the

management of the company I was working with as a contract staff decided to

send me to the state where he resides for a work, and I phoned our friend that

I will be in his state on so and so date to so and so date so that we would see

and chat after about 20 years of separation. I used to inform him of my moves.

When I eventually got to the state he lives I called to inform him that I am

now in the state he resides in. After the call subsequent calls he did not

answer it again. Then I said to myself, what has come over Lee, does he think I

want to be a burden on him? Afterall, the company has booked the hotel I will

stay at, with feeding allowances for each day, in fact I do have extra money on

me from my daily feeding allowances, and if anything, assuming we see, I am the

one who will ‘breathe on him’. Since then, I just ignored him…”

“That is good”, Sẹgẹ said

“Foo, our friend in Ireland later briefed me that Lee send

message to him that he received my voice messages, that was how I knew that

what he did was deliberate”, Bodmas said

“Don’t mind them, I don’t know what usually come over them.

When I also got to the state that I relocated to, I was staying with one of our

friends, A.J. do you still remember him?” Sẹgẹ asked

“Quite well, I remember him”, Bodmas said

“A.J. said when he secured employment with one of the

Federal Institutions in the state, because he is now a lecturer there, he said

what comes to his mind was living with one of the Christian brethren there, but

on phoning them, what they said was that he was one of the 419 people who was

out to dupe them. He said he was highly disappointed” Sẹgẹ said

“Before I travelled out, such happened to me too, then, I

travelled to Ondo state and I have gotten Kenny’s phone from Foo before, so

when I got to Ondo state, I called Kenny, introducing myself to him, but what

he said was that he did not think he has ever come across such name before…”

“Uhmn mn?” Sẹgẹ said interjectingly

“Since then, I am no longer blasé about what our people do

again”, Bodmas said.

“Ki Eledumare ‘sha’

ma se rere fun gbogbo wa”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Amin o. seeing one

another after a long time of separation is a thing of joy to me, through that,

something good may crop up so I believe, because no one can tell you may know

someone who will be of assistance to me and so may I”, Bodmas said

“That is true. Some do not know that, or may be they know

but they think they have arrived and do not need others assistance again”, Sẹgẹ

said.

“That is why many of them are not making appreciable

progress. I met a guy whom we lived in the same room together one day in Osun

state capital before I travel out and what would have taken me hours to achieve,

he sorted it out for me within minutes”, Bodmas said.

“That is the joy there”, Sẹgẹ said as the car moves on….

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“That is the joy there”, Sẹgẹ said as the car moves on….,

traficatting to the North again, moved for about 1000 metres and then

traficated to the East again,

“Did you remember this place?” Bodmas asked Sẹgẹ

“I know this place”, Sẹgẹ replied.

“I know you know this place, after all you are my pilot

today, that is not what I mean…”

“Okay what do you mean?” Sẹgẹinteruptingly asking

“What I am saying is do you remember this place when we were

in Secondary school, when FOO said we should follow him to his house or were

you not one of us then?” Bodmas asked

“Oh, yes, I remember, we were three excluding FOO that day,

I recollect vividly”, Sẹgẹ replied.

“Look at the transformation here. Then, who could tell that

this place will look like this? This is a great change”, Bodmas said

“The development of this area is quite stunning. And the

rapid development is linked with the incessant religious crises that use to

happen within the town then. The crisis between Christians and Muslims, that

was what forced many immigrants to this area, they moved away from where their

properties would be easily damaged and destroyed without ‘no’ government

curbing them…”

“I see”, Bodmas said interjectingly

“That is why this area has great advancements even more than

our areas because people still feel that those of us living at those areas are

prone to attacks” Sẹgẹ said

“Uhmn mn”, Bodmas said, continuing, “this junction then is

full of bushes, one could hardly see people in this area particularly in the

afternoon, school children would be afraid when going home alone through this

place then”

“I remember. I know we were walking-running or

running-walking that day. Sometimes afterwards when I wanted to visit FOO, I

think that was during our long term break, we coincidentally met at the market

square, and I asked him the safest time to pay him a visit, his reply was if I

would be coming, I would take some kind of route that leads outside the town,

that place I was not so familiar with…”

“Was it the exit he took us through after knowing his house

then?” Bodmas asked

“Oh yes, that road that we will have to cross a stream like

this, and you know that end is not straight forward like this route”, Sẹgẹ said

“I know” Bodmas said

“When he said that, I know I cannot visit him, what I just

say was that I would try, but I know I will not visit him, ‘ọmọ tí kò ni òbí kì

í légbò lẹhin…’”

Bodmas completes the Yoruba proverb, “nitori tó bá ni egbò lẹhin

kò si ẹniti yio ba fí I”

“Abi o. So that was why I could not pay him a visit”,

Sẹgẹ said

“All those routes too by now would have become motorable or

something…”

“That place is within the houses. You know our people now,

everyone who buys a land would not want to leave space for others, so that

place, vehicles cannot pass there oh, it is for the pedestrians alone” Sẹgẹ said

“What of the stream?” Bodmas asked

“The stream is still there, but it is not as big as before,

I think greenhouse effect has its toil on it…”

“Uhmn”, Bodmas said

“And now they have constructed a pedestrian bridge on it”, Sẹgẹ

said.

“Okay. At least people would walk across to the other street

through that”, Bodmas said

“Yes oh” Sẹgẹ replied.

As their car gets to the roundabout. Here, their car would

turn right again, that is the straight road leading to the campus. There are

much of activities here than before which Bodmas cannot but talked about

although there are certain much of muchness features around. After driving for

about 500 metres from the roundabout, Bodmas said,

“These people may likely be students”

“Oh yeah. Particularly those with some books by their

sides”, Sẹgẹ said.

“People still ‘dey’ struggle to board bus to campus here

like during our days”, Bodmas said

“To put a vehicle on the road is not easy, not during this

meltdown of a thing. Those who are even doing transportation business complain

because things are not easy too for them”, Sẹgẹ said

“That is it. Things are not easy generally. And for some who

are making it, because many are complaining that things are not easy, they will

also be complaining I don’t know why they are doing that”, Bodmas said

“Ọgbọn ni aráiyé ndá si, awọn Yoruba wipe, bí isu ẹni bá ta

nse là nda ọwọ bò ó jẹ”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Uhmn. No one knows who is really who. No one knows who is

envying someone, and who may want to attack the person spiritually” Bodmas

said.

“That is it. That is why our people are difficult. That is

why some people used to tell lies about their status” Bodmas slowed down,

parked beside some people, and hooted his horn, rolling down the windows, “is

anything the matter?” Sẹgẹ asked looking surprised

“Everything is fine. I see that these guys are students and

I feel like carrying some students into the campus”, the guys walked to us,

windows are down now

“Okay” Sẹgẹ said

“Are you going to the campus?” Bodmas asked

The tallest among the three looked at the other two before

answering, “Yes sir” when he saw that there are no signs of doubt on the faces

of others

“If you don’t mind, we can give you a ride to the place”,

Bodmas said

“Alright sir, thank you sir”, he said on behalf of others as

he took some steps back to open the back door, he found it yet locked as Bodmas

said,

"Leave the car knob”, Bodmas said

“Wọn ni ki o fi silẹ”, the smallest echoed it to him,

“Okay sir. Sorry sir”, he replied.

When he left the knob, Bodmas presssed the central lock as

the knocks sounded “pra” and the doors were unlocked.

“You may now open it”, Bodmas said. The guy opened the door

and they entered the car, closed the door gently and the doors were locked

again “pra”, it sounded as Bodmas puts the car back on the road again while the

students started saying in turns, “Thank you sir”, one said, “Ẹ se sir”, the

second one said “Thanks sir”, the third person’s words. Their words were

uttered in centiseconds’ time frame from one another, but because it was not

the same tone that is why it could be deciphered

“Jesu seun”, Bodmas replied as we continued our discussion

“So everyone lies now because no one can realy say who is

who”, Sẹgẹ finally said.

“Aiye totó, aiye akamọra, ọmọ araiye le, ọmọ araiye yio pe

igbá ni ọgbun, wọn a pe ọgbun nígbá”, Bodmas said

“That is how the worldly people are. When we were young, we

used to think what our parents are saying are lies but now that we get to that

position we now know better. You can see that these guys that we want to help

too were skeptical about coming into this car, that is how deplorable the

situation of the world is, no one can be trusted. When one sees anyone riding a

posh car, they should not be envied because we do not know who is who. They may

be “adultnappers” as one of my friends said, that we do not have kidnappers

again but ‘adultnappers”, “oldnappers”, “priestnappers”, just to make money”, Sẹgẹ

enthused. The students smiled

“The quest for money is high now, we are in the end time,

the dangerous time, that is why we all need to move close to God, being sure of

our salvation”, Bodmas said

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“The quest for money is high now, we are in the end time,

the dangerous time, that is why we all need to move close to God, being sure of

our salvation”, Bodmas said

“Oh yes. The time draws nigh now than the previous times”, Sẹgẹ

said, pulling down the visor to prevent the rays of sunlight from entering his

eyes, then continued, “quite appaling now that our professors of faith are not

dishing out the Word as expected unto this generation”

“It really disheartening for some of us who have heard the

raw Word before this present day’s modernized Gospel”, Bodmas said as he slowed

down when he gets to a junction

“That is it oh. And it is these kinds of people that the

youths want and celebrate, they are those who they will call for their revivals

and seminars, but for ‘old fashioned believers like us, no one will celebrate

us, even sometimes when you are being invited to a place you will be cautioned

on the type of words to say”, Sẹgẹ said.

“None the less, we would not give up. It is our

responsibility now like before to help the people know the original from the

counterfeit”, Bodmas said, pedaling the accelerator because the junction has

been cleared, as Bodmas and Sẹgẹ who sits beside him at the front seats are

discussing, those students on the passangers seats are also talking in hushed

tones, one of them said, “like I said before, when you remember “òjò fẹ rọ”, you will remember “tocopherol”, and the

functions of this vitamin you will just add”, another one said, when we

remember “Fadékẹ”, we should remember immediately that that is Fat soluble vitamins”,

“oh yea, yea the other said and the vitamins are A, D, E and K”, he enthused.

They were on these mind stirring recalls when Bodmas said

“I heard that you have started your examinations”

“Yes sir”, the one sitting in the middle answered.

“Okay. How has it been thus far? Bodmas asked.

“We will be writing our first paper today sir”, he replied.

“Oh! I see. I hope you are damn ready to slaughter the

paper”, Bodmas asked

Smiles. “We will try our best sir”, He replied.

“Alright. May the good Lord crown your efforts with

brilliant successes in Jesus name”, Bodmas prayed

“Amen”, they chorused

“Exams are like that all over, even in America, students are

students and sometimes”, Bodmas said, as he slowed down again, the car has

gotten to the main gate to the institution, “it will seem as if one has not

prepare at all for the examination, despite the fact that one has been reading

all this while doing all the tutorials, all the assignments and all what not…”

“Bó se rí nìyẹn o, ‘àgbà wá búra bi èwe ko se ọ ri’”, Sẹgẹ

added

“That is just it, we were once like you, as students of this

institution”, Bodmas said.

“All that one needed in any examination at all is not to

entertain fear. One must have confidence in himself, when one has confidence,

the examination is half a success”, one of them makes a sound with his palate

and tongue coming together, as Sẹgẹ continues while Bodmas slowly follows the

vehicles in front, the security personnels are checking the vehicles, “while

the half comes from what one will put down, but when one starts entertaining

fear, even the very questions or topics so to say that one is acquainted with

one will forget in the examination hall”

Bodmas asked a question, “Please do you know what the

problem is?”

The tallest replied, “sir, the security in the institution

has been beefed up since the 8th world terrorists has gone haywire”

“You mean the Boko Haram people?” Sẹgẹ queried, looking

back.

“Yes sir”, the guy responded and the tall one took it up

from where he stopped

“The institution’s authorities do now want to leave anything

to chances so they have asked the security personels to be checking everyone

and vehicles that want to enter the campus, they will look at the identity

cards of the persons and also look at the students dressings, if students…”

“Whao! But why the dressing?” Bodmas asked.

“The authorities believed the way some of us, students,

dress is nothing to write home about and that such way of dressing is one of

the factors igniting the commiting of atrocities on campus”, the tall guy

enthused.

“Uhmn! But assuming someone is without his or her identity

card won’t the person be permitted to enter the campus?” Bodmas asked.

“Except the person knows a lecturer or an officer on campus

such a person would not be allowed to enter the campus oh”, Tall said

“Assuming the person comes from another state, may be a

fresh graduate of this institution and who is yet to secure an appointment, as

such no identity cards on him or her, and maybe the person wants to process

his/her transcript, would the person not be allowed?” Bodmas asked again to

ascertain what Tall is saying

“The person will not be allowed in sir”, Tall enthused.

“But I don’t think that is fair in the country where one

will register for a national identity card and would not be able to get the

identity card until five or more years. There has to be some concessions for such

people” Sẹgẹ enthused

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“But I don’t think that is fair in the country where one

will register for a national identity card and would not be able to get the

identity card until five or more years. There has to be some concessions for

such people” Sẹgẹ enthused

Taller cleared his throat and said, “May be if the concerned

person talked to the security privately, may be they would give him or her some

concessions or something”

“They ought to do that, because for someone to come all the

way from a very far place and now gets here to be denied entrance into the

school, that would not augur well”, Bodmas said,

“And if the person does not have extra money on him, or may

be the person even borrowed money to come down to the school that would be a

problem, you know, not even considering the risk of life of coming to the

place”, Sẹgẹ said

“The problem with some of the security people is that they

follow to letters instructions except on few occasions when they will apply

wisdom, they would want to be strict and would likely deny such people entrance

into the institution”, Bodmas said as he continues to follow the vehicle before

him

“Sometimes some of those security people cannot be blamed,

‘you know’, no one knows who is who among those entering and leaving, sometimes

people can set them up and those who set them up would be the exact same people

who will go and report them to the authorities, ‘láíyé tí kò sisẹ lode yi, ki

isẹ ti eniyan tun nse tún bọ lọwọ rẹ’”, Sẹgẹ said

“Ó lágbára jàre”, Bodmas said as the security cleared the

vehicle before our car, he releases his leg from the break, the car moved to

where the security personnels are, rolling down the windows,

“Good morning sirs”, Security 1 greets us

“Good morning sir”, Bodmas replied.

“Please can I see your identity cards?”, Security 1 asked.

Bodmas placed his leg on the brake now, as he brings out his international

passport for his identification, while Sẹgẹ brings out his National Identity

card and the students start to show their identity cards as hanged across their

necks…. After looking at our identity cards, he signaled to his partners to

allow us in, what was used to barricade the gate was removed, as Security 1

said, “thank you sir, you can now go”

“You are welcome”, Bodmas said, as he removes his leg from

the brake, placing it on the acceleration pedal and the car moved. “Going out

with one’s identity card is good because you cannot tell when the law

enforcement agencies can ask for it”, Bodmas enthused

“That is it. In the years past no one pays attention to

something like this, we walk freely and enter any where without fear”, Sẹgẹ

said.

“Things have drastically changed now, not with the wave of

the killings here and there every now and then”, Bodmas said.

“I still hope the country’s leaderships do something about

the issue of the identity cards it is important, it will help a lot in doing so

many things”, Sẹgẹ said

“They need to work on it. The world has left the stage at

which years would be taken before an identity card would be issued to those who

have registered”, Bodmas said

“All these, our people know, ‘sebi’ they used to travel out

regularly, but no one knows what the problem is with getting things done in the

country”, Sẹgẹ said

“Our problems have been the ones we have known before,

employing those who are not competent to handle some things based on lineage,

some who know how to do it are lazy and except they are pushed they will not

act, when some would not even come to offices, they have selected days of

coming to offices leaving a vacuum when such things like these are in place, it

means they need to be credited for even doing it in years because it ought to

take decade before getting it done” Bodmas said as we all laughed. “Such things

like this would not happen in the States where they know the importance of

something like this”

“Only God would save us”, Sẹgẹ said. We are now approaching

the round-about inside the campus

“Where are we heading to?” Bodmas asked

“We take right, then take road 3, that is where Dee’s

department is moved to now”, Sẹgẹ said.

“Is that the route you are going?” Bodmas asked the

students.

“No sir”, they chorused, while the Tallest said,

“After the round-about pull over for us to alight sir”

“Okay”, Bodmas said, moved a bit and parked “wishing you the

very best in your exams today oh” as he unlocked the doors centrally while the

student by the door opened the door and they go down one after the other,

closed the door behind them, “thank you sirs”, Tallest said again, “you are

welcome”, replied Bodmas as he puts the car back on the road. We got to the

department of our friend, find a parking space and parked at the parking lot.

Got out of the car, as Bodmas locked the car and we walked to the department’s

lobby where we met some security personnel. He asked us of our mission, and we

told him that we want to see Dr. Dee. On hearing Doctor Dee he directed us to a

woman, the receptionist.

“Weldone ma. Please we want to see Doctor Dee”, Bodmas said

“Se Ọga si wà ni ọfisi sha?”, She asked no one but herself,

she was looking at an opened hardcover note before her, then, raised her head up, looking at us,

asked us a question, “do you know his office sirs?” Bodmas facing Sẹgẹ, to

ascertain whether Sẹgẹ knows Dee’s office or not, but Sẹgẹ shook his head, and

said, “No ma, we do not know his office”

“Okay sirs. Give me a minute please, as she was about to

close the hardcover note opened before her, one of the office clerks walked in,

“madam, ẹ o tilẹ bere mi loni, mo wa bá a nyin jà ni o” she said.

“Má binu, kí o tó bámi jà, kọkọ bá mi mún awọn àlejò ọgá lọ

sí ọfisi wọn”, Madame Receptionist said

“Ọgá wo nibẹ, Ọgá?” Clerical Officer asked

“Doctor Dee”, Madame Receptionist replied her, and

continued, “nigbati o ba ti mu wọn dé bẹ tán ko wá gba kúérì rẹ”, she said to

the Clerical officer while Clerical Officer laughed, replying her, “à ì tètè mú

olè, olè nmú olóko ni ọrọ nyin o ọga”, without waiting for madame

Receptionists, she turned to us, “follow me sirs”, before she said this, madame

Receptionist said to us “please follow her sirs, she will usher you to Doctor

Dee’s office”, “Thank you ma”, Bodmas said, but she hardly hear what he said as

she has started replying the clerical officer, “à bọ wá bá lọrọ rẹ, sá à mún àwọn

àlejò ọgá lọ ná”,

“You are welcome sirs”, Madame Receptionist replied us as we

followed the Clerical officer who is ahead of us by few centimeters…

Watch out for AMERICANA'S DIARY XXIII: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE

CREDIT

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XXIII: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

…“You are welcome sirs”, Madame Receptionist replied us as

we followed the Clerical officer who is ahead of us by few centimeters…

“If Ọgá is not in his

office, you will have to phone him sir, because I think the students are having

his paper to day” Clerical officer said, as she slows down a bit on our way to

Doctor Dee’s office walk, “becareful there sirs” she added pointing us to

something on the way, “a ò mọdí ti àwọn ‘works department’ kò se tí ì wá ‘fix’

kinní yi lati ọjọ yi”, Clerical staff talks to no one among us except herself

“Thank you ma”, Bodmas replied

“I pray he is in the office”, Sẹgẹ said

“Even if he is not, the sure thing is that he is in the

school, we shall find him out”, Bodmas said

We keep walking as we get to our friend’s office, boldly

inscribed on his door is “Doctor Dee”. The clerical officer, halt her walk a

while, this is his office sir. Taking a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling

loudly, as if afraid, then knocks the door.

A thin and sonorous voice from within was heard, “who is

there?”

“Ọgá, it is me”, Clerical officer replied.

“The door is not locked, open”, the voice replied again

Then she turned the knob of the door opening the door, takes

a step in, turned to us, “you may come is sirs, he is around”

“Àwọn wo lo lọ chartered wá bámi?”, Dee replied, adding, “I

do hope I am safe?”.

“Sé a ‘safe’ o ma’am?”, the thin and sonorous voice also

asked the Clerical Staff

“Awọn alágbára ni o Ọgá”,

turning to pidgin and jovial grammar, “dem say dem wan get expo ‘bipur’

di paper ‘starting’, an mi tells dem say no bi mi dey kary di keys to una

‘ofising’ again but dem no gree, na dia pressure na im make mi ‘brings’ dem

hia, Ọgá”, developing an abnormal

panting suddenly as if she was under some pressures before she entered the

office, ”you may not be totally safe”, she finally added.

“Iwọ lo mọ wàhálà ‘pressure’ tó subú lù ẹ”, Dee said without

moving from where he is sitted, “you”, talking to the sonorous and thin voice

that replied to the knock on the door to his office earlier, “ensure that you

arrange those answer scripts according to their numbers as printed out from the

computer, I do not want those students to play on my intelligence today, I do

not want any mix up”, Dee enthused

“Yes sir”, she replied

“Wò ó mi ò ti rí ààyè àwàdà lãrọ yi”, Dee said to the Clerical staff

“I am not joking Ọgá”,

the Clerical staff replied Dee, and turned to us, “you can see that Ọgá is

busy”. As she said this, Dee looked up.

“Oh it is you? You are welcome, Sẹgẹ, Bodmas”, pushing the

seat back a bit, stands up walked to where we are, embraced us. “Please you may

take your seats”, Dee said, drawing out seats for us to sit on, punching the

Clerical Officer on her shoulder

“Ow! Ọgá, it Is painful oh”, Clerical Officer rubbing the

shoulder with his right hand

“Oh! Is it? I thought you do not want to leave the road for

me ‘ni’”, Dee said

“You can now see that I am not joking Ọga”, Clerical staff

said

“Oh thank you. I can see that”, Dee replied, as he walks

back to where he was initially arranging some papers, “What are you doing now?”

Dee asked her

“I have just brought some people to you sir”, She replied.

“If you are less busy may be you will assist our supervision

today”, Dee said, as he pulls his chair to sit on it

The Clerical Staff opening the door a little, standing at

the entrance, then said, “Ọgá, I cannot answer that yet sir, but if I am I

shall come over. Which Hall are you using?” Clerical staff asked

“The newly constructed hall”, the Sonorous thin voice

replied

“Exams lẹ fẹ fi Baptist hall yẹn”, Clerical staff said

“Àbí o?” The Sonorous voice replied while Ọgá is busy with

writing some things onto a plain sheet of paper

“I will what I can see to that sir, but that has nothing to

do with my bounty that I want to come for when you are less busy Ọgá”, She

responded

“Mo ti gbọ Màdámú, ‘bounty’ Ọlọrun yio jẹ ki a kún ojú òsùnwọn

ibiti ẹ fi wá sí”, Dee said.

“Ẹ wá assist mi o”, Sonorous voice said

“I shall see to it”, she replied the lass and turning to Ọgá

Dee, “Ẹ má bo ore Ọlọrun mọra Ọgá”, Clerical staff said as she opens the door

wide and said without waiting for a reply again, “mo sa mbọ o Ọgá, nigbati ilẹ

bá rọjú diẹ”, she said on a word of finality and closed the door behind her

“Ẹyin ọrẹ, ẹ kãbọ jàre, bi madam se ma nse nìyẹn. I hope it

did not take you time before locating this new place?” Dee asked us

“No, not at all”, Sẹgẹ replied.

“Have you been here since the relocation?” Dee asked Sẹgẹ

“No, I have not, but from your description, it is not

difficult locating this place”, Sẹgẹ replied.

“Oh, I see. Lest I forget, lady T, these are my childhood

friends, Bodmas, an Americana and Evangelist Sẹgẹ, also a business tycoon”,

adding, ” interestingly all of us graduated from this University too” as lady T

stopped what she was doing looking at where we are sitted, before she could say

any thing, Dee said, “Ẹyin Ọrẹ, this is lady Tóyìn, she is a masters student

here, she is through with her course works left with the submission of her

project works, which I supervised, she has been a good student to me”

“Good morning sirs”, lady T said genuflecting

“Good morning dear” Bodmas and Sẹgẹ chorused as Bodmas

added, “How is everything?”

“Fine sir. Thanks” as lady T continued with what she was

doing

“When is the paper starting?” Sẹgẹ asked

“We hope to start 12:00 hours”, Dee replied

“How many hours paper?” Bodmas asked

“It is a 120 minutes paper”, Dee replied, asking, “what is

it by the time now?”

Bodmas checking his wristwatch, “it is 10:55 hours”, he said

“Okay. We are yet within the time frame, because I want to

be at the centre 11:30 hours to check in the students, the first paper would

end 11:00 hours”, Dee said.

“Okay. How is wife and the baby?” Bodmas asked.

“They are fine, thank you” Dee replied

“Everyone asks me to greet you, wọn ni ẹ kú ìdìde àná”, Bodmas said

“Oh, we are the ones who ought to greet you that thanks for

yesterday’s hospitality”, Dee said, turning to lady T, “how far? Hope you are

almost done with it?”

“Yes sir”, lady T replied

“By the time I get home yesterday, I can barely taste a

thing again, my wife was not happy, she said I ought to have call her so that

she would not prepare my own meal…”,

Interupting Dee, “no one loves laboring on preparing food

that would not be eaten by people one has prepared it for”, Sẹgẹ said

“It is usually painful you know”, Bodmas said

“Actually, Irrespective of what I take outside, I usually

ensure that I will still take something at home”, Dee said

“When I was with my uncle in Lagos, that was when I know

that wives like their hubbies to take their foods any attempt by my uncle not to take his wife’s meal always generate

problems at home then”, Bodmas said.

Watch out for

AMERICANA'S DIARY XXIV: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

TRANSLATION OF DIFFICULT WORDS

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XIX: AGED FRIEND'S MISDEMEANOUR

“gbogbo ‘lizard’ lo

da inu de ilẹ, a o si mọ eleyi ti inu nrun lara wọn”, (means all the lizard

crawls but we don’t know the one that has stomach ache among them (Yoruba

proverb which has the meaning that human beings’ mind/heart is deep as the

bible says in Jeremiah 17:9

“Abi o. (means exactly)

“Ẹ má mà dá wọn lohun, (means don’t mind them)

“Alakoba ti kì í kágò mà ni wọn”, (means someone who

implicates or causes trouble would neither greet nor notify before doing that)

“Wọn a rìn síwájú ti nwọn ba nwa ẹniti wọn a kóbá”, (means

they will walk ahead if they are looking for someone they will implicate)

Bodmas said

“Abi o”, (means exactly)

“Ki Eledumare ‘sha’

ma se rere fun gbogbo wa”, (means May the Almighty just keep doing good to

all of us)

“Amin o. (means Amen oh)

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XX: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

‘ọmọ tí kò ni òbí kì í légbò lẹhin…’” (means a child that

has no parents does not have sore on his/her back (It’s a proverb)

“nitori tó bá ni egbò

lẹhin kò si ẹniti yio ba fí I” (means because if he has sore at his back, no

one would treat it for the child) (It is a proverb warning someone who is

neither rich nor have important person to becareful lest he runs into trobles

because if the person does, there would not be anyone to assist/deliver the

person)

“Abi o. (means Exactly or That is it)

“Ọgbọn ni aráiyé ndá si, awọn Yoruba wipe, bí isu ẹni bá ta

nse là nda ọwọ bò ó jẹ”, (means people apply wisdom to everything as the

Yoruba proverb that says, when one harvests big yam, one will cover part of it

when eating it) This proverb means when one is having progress in all that one

is doing one should be careful because the people of the world are dangerous)

“Wọn ni ki o fi silẹ”, (means he asks you to leave it/the

knob

“Ẹ se sir”, (means thank you sir)

“Jesu seun”, (means Thank you Jesus

“Aiye totó, aiye akamọra, ọmọ araiye le, ọmọ araiye yio pe

igbá ni ọgbun, wọn a pe ọgbun nígbá”, (means I salute the world (that is the

wicked people of the world), the wicked ones cannot be bought when see, the wicked

ones are dangerous, they will call the ditch a calabash and they will call

calabash a ditch)

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XXI: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

“òjò fẹ rọ”, (means it wants to rain

“Bó se rí nìyẹn o, ‘àgbà wá búra bi èwe ko se ọ ri’”, (means

that is how it is oh, old people were once youths)

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XXII: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

‘láíyé tí kò sisẹ

lode yi, ki isẹ ti eniyan tun nse tún bọ lọwọ rẹ’”, (means at this present

dispensation that there is joblessness everywhere, for someone to lose one’s

job)

“Ó lágbára jàre”, (means it is just serios

“Se Ọga si wà ni ọfisi sha?”, (means is the master/chief

in his office?)

“madam, ẹ o tilẹ bere

mi loni, mo wa bá a nyin jà ni o” (means madam you do not even bother to ask

about me today, I have come to fight with you)

“Má binu, kí o tó bámi jà, kọkọ bá mi mún awọn àlejò ọgá lọ

sí ọfisi wọn”, (means, don’t be annoyed with me, before you fight with me,

help me to usher the master’s visitors to his office)

“Ọgá wo nibẹ, Ọgá?” (means which one out of all the

masters?)

“nigbati o ba ti mu wọn

dé bẹ tán ko wá gba kúérì rẹ”, (means after taken them to his office come

and get your prepared query with me)

“à ì tètè mú olè, olè

nmú olóko ni ọrọ nyin o ọga”, (means before a thief could be apprehended he

has tagged the owner of the farm as the thief) (it is a proverb meaning the

person that needs to be queried/disciplined/arrested is querying and discipling

people)

“à bọ wá bá lọrọ rẹ, sá à mún àwọn àlejò ọgá lọ ná”, (means

I don’t have time for you now until when you return here that I will have time

for you, just take the master’s visitors to his office first) “

AMERICANA'S

DIARY XXIII: OUR PARENTS’ DESERVE CREDIT

Ọgá (means master)

“a ò mọdí ti àwọn

‘works department’ kò se tí ì wá ‘fix’ kinní yi lati ọjọ yi”, (means we do

not know the why the people of the works department have not come and fix this

uptil now)

“Àwọn wo lo lọ chartered wá bámi?”, (means who are those

you have chattered to my place/office today?)

“Sé a ‘safe’ o ma’am?”, (means Are we safe ma’am?)

“Awọn alágbára ni o Ọgá”, (means they are the powerful

ones my master) turning to pidgin and jovial grammar, “dem say dem wan get

expo ‘bipur’ di paper ‘starting’, an mi tells dem say no bi mi dey kary di keys

to una ‘ofising’ again but dem no gree, na dia pressure na im make mi ‘brings’

dem hia, Ọgá”, (means they said they want to see the questions that will be

set before the examination starts and I told them that I don’t have the keys to

your office bet they are not satisfied with what I said, it because they are

pressurizing me that I have decided to bring them to you in your office sir)

“Iwọ lo mọ wàhálà ‘pressure’ tó subú lù ẹ”, (means it is

only you who knows the pressure you are under)

“Wò ó mi ò ti rí ààyè

àwàdà lãrọ yi”, (means I do not have time for jokes this morning

“Exams lẹ fẹ fi

Baptist hall yẹn”, (means you want to Baptist the hall with examination

(that implies that the hall has not been used bu anyone before this time)

“Àbí o?” (Exactly)

“Mo ti gbọ Màdámú, ‘bounty’ Ọlọrun yio jẹ ki a kún ojú òsùnwọn

ibiti ẹ fi wá sí”, (means I havea heard what you said madam, may God bless

us to be able to fulfil our obligations)

“Ẹ wá assist mi o”, (means please come and assist me oh)

“Ẹ má bo ore Ọlọrun mọra

Ọgá”, (means, don’t hide God’s blessings master)

“mo sa mbọ o Ọgá, nigbati ilẹ bá rọjú diẹ”, (means all

the same, I will still come and get what you have for me when you are less busy

“Ẹyin ọrẹ, ẹ kãbọ jàre, bi madam se ma nse nìyẹn. (means

friends, welcome, that is how madam used to do)

“Ẹyin Ọrẹ, (means Friends)

“Everyone asks me to greet you, wọn ni ẹ kú ìdìde àná”, (means

they said thanks for yesterday’s visitation)

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