STORY 1
MUMBO JUMBO
EPISODE 1
Musa left home in a very sad mood that Friday morning. The
way that led to school was long, busy and muddy. He had no option than to trek
all the way. He didn’t taste breakfast that morning because there was nothing
to eat at home. His mother, who has been a widow for 18 years, after the death
of his father, pleaded with him to go to school on empty stomach. Considering
the long distance and brain-tasking class works, he would have refused, but for
the fact that he would be having some class tests that day. Moreso, he was moved
with pity for the poor woman who always shed tears at the slightest of issues.
His mother sold bread and butter at the nearest bus stop. She came back home empty handed the day
before after state government officials came to seize all her goods for
selling by the road side. All her pleas fell on deaf years. They even attempted
to drag her to their nearby office, but passers-by rescued her from the tight grip of
the overzealous officials. She was consoled as she walked back home barefooted.
It was when she got home that she realized her purse was missing. She ran back,
but the scene was as empty as a grave yard. She almost collapsed.
Regrettably, Musa’s mother never stopped cursing the day she
met her husband. He died just two weeks after they had their only child –Musa.
He died due to head injury sustained in an auto accident. The husband was a taxi
driver and comes home very late in the night. Sometimes he gets drunk and
vomits all over their cage-like, one room apartment. Despite all her advice and
warning, the man didn’t turn a new leaf and eventually met his untimely death
when he was drunk-driving and speedily ran into an oncoming firewood-laden
truck. After much incessant head bleeding, he died three days later in a
government hospital.
As Musa continued his seemingly unending journey to school,
he felt dizzy and weak. He cursed the worms in his stomach as he crossed to the
other side of the road. He was so hungry that he didn’t see a group of people
watching dog fight in sheer ecstasy. He dragged his foot like a sun-scorched
soldier lost in the desert. His uniform was old, tattered with countless
patches and rough stitches. He has lost counts of the number of times his mother kept promising to
buy him a new one. As a secondary school student, shyness took over his
manliness when communicating with female classmates. Though he was handsome,
tall, dark and slim, he had neither friends nor enemies.
As the sun began to take shape, Musa decided to urinate
near a mango tree. As he moved closer to the tree, he saw two middle-aged men,
drinking ogogoro (dry gin) and
talking carelessly. They were sitting on a long bench very close to a black Infinity
jeep. Musa was angry and frowned at them because he was surprised to see
elderly men drinking so early in the morning. He saw it as a sign of gross
irresponsibility and waste of manpower. They were so occupied in their discussion
that they didn’t even notice Musa who was close, but not too close to them.
Musa discovered that there was another man inside the jeep. He was well dressed
and had a sunshade on. Judging by his appearance, he was a wealthy and
well-to-do personality. He was about to unzip his brown shorts when he overheard
the men’s discussion.
MAN A: (Pouring more ogogoro inside his cup) This life is too sweet. I will enjoy
myself to the fullest! I feel like the luckiest man on earth with this driving
job.
MAN B: (laughs hysterically) I will kill
myself anyday you leave this your job because I don’t think there is any other
enjoyment greater than this! To drive a blind billionaire is the best job in
town (both engage in lengthy laughter).
.......to be continued.
