The security men, who were guarding the white coloured four storey building, had pity on him. Ike lay there under the sun for nearly an hour. The security men became worried and pleaded with him to go.
Ike’s father was a retired civil servant. He had not been paid his monthly pension of fifteen thousand naira for three years. His mother, a civil servant had not been paid her salary for thirteen months. His younger sister had dropped out of university where she was studying medicine as there was no money to sustain her education.
“Sweetheart, the way you talked to him is very good. I thought you would have wasted your time with a tout.”
“Am I crazy? I am in politics to ensure that my family gets the best life can offer. Every other person can go to hell,” Chief Samuel said as he kissed his wife.
Cynthia giggled and leaned on her husband. “Remember, I will need a million dollars for my trip to the United States.”
“When will you be going?” Chief Samuel asked.
“Next week. I will go with Adamma and her husband.”
“Can you put it off ’till next month? I want to use this month’s allocation from the Federal Government to pay those hungry civil servants a month’s salary.”
“Honey, please, pay them next month. I can’t afford to postpone my trip.”
“It’s ok…”
Cynthia’s phone rang. “Hello, my sweet daughter, how are you and your husband?”
“We’re already at the airport in Abuja. We’ll be home in two hours,” Adamma said.
“Wow! I can’t wait to see you, my daughter. Your dad will send a vehicle to bring you from the airport. I will be waiting for you. Bye,” Cynthia said happily.
Adamma and her husband had lived in the United States of America for five years. They had come to Nigeria two weeks ago. They stayed at the most expensive hotel in the capital city. They’d decided to come home and spend a night with their parents before they returned to America.
Meanwhile, Ike trekked home and saw people gathered in their two-room apartment. His heart sank into his shoes. His mother was lying on the floor wailing, while her sister and one of their neighbours tried to console her.
“What is it, Mama?” Ike asked as he ran past his mother to the bedroom, where his father was lying. It was locked. He turned around and looked at her sister, who nodded her head. Ike slumped into one of their dilapidated sofas and burst into tears.
Before long the news spread that Ike had lost his dad. His kinsmen came together and contributed money for his burial. The deceased, when alive had said loud and clear that he should be buried the day he died. He did not want his family to go into debt because of his burial. Thus, he was buried that day.
By Delight Caesar
Email address: joemoveon@yahoo.com
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