“Abokina, yaya ne? I no know say rain I don stop?”
Siji jerked with a start, the man was smiling down at him, exposing his goro stained teeth.
“Oh! Sorry aboki, I just say make I use your chair siddon small as rain dey fall”
“ba masala abokina, no frovlem, but rain I don stop and night I don dey do, zan fara aiki”
“ok, thank you” Siji stepped out of the shade.
The rain had not exactly stopped but it had reduced to drizzles. He backed his bag and crossed the highway, got a bus in front of the school gate “e mu shanji 5 naira yin dani ooo, mio fe wahala” bellowed the driver. Siji checked his wristwatch as they drove down road 1, it was 4:30pm already, he must have been under that shade for an hour or so. The driver refused to go to the halls of residence so Siji had to drop at the first bus stop and walked down to Awo hall. It was a long walk but it was better than giving one of those okada men 20 naira. Or should he even go to New buka first, he thought as he walked down the tarred road. Pago and the boys would be there, he was tired but a little fun wouldn’t hurt, would it? He was so deep in thought that he didn’t see the Mercede-Benz until it was too late. The vehicle ran into the ditch in the middle of the road and splashed the water on Siji, within a few seconds he was drenched, he looked up angrily to at least curse at the oblivious driver but what he saw froze the words on his tongue. Looking back at him from the rear glass was the most beautiful girl he had ever set his eyes on; she was looking at him in horror, then apologetically, the way she was looking at him made his heart to melt, his anger was forgotten in a jiffy. He couldn’t help but smiled at her, and she smiled back, then they both started laughing. She had the most beautiful smile. She mouthed “sorry” as the vehicle turned the corner and he lost sight of her. He stood at the spot for what seemed like an eternity before he could continue walking again.
“well, that’s it Siji, the decision has been made for you, you can’t go to New buka like this, can you?”
he turned towards Awo while thinking about the pretty girl at the back of the Benz. She was a butty no doubt, just as Pago. He wasn't interested in the butty, he is a guy who knows his place but he just could not keep her off his mind as he trudged towards Awo.
***
Siji jerked with a start, the man was smiling down at him, exposing his goro stained teeth.
“Oh! Sorry aboki, I just say make I use your chair siddon small as rain dey fall”
“ba masala abokina, no frovlem, but rain I don stop and night I don dey do, zan fara aiki”
“ok, thank you” Siji stepped out of the shade.
The rain had not exactly stopped but it had reduced to drizzles. He backed his bag and crossed the highway, got a bus in front of the school gate “e mu shanji 5 naira yin dani ooo, mio fe wahala” bellowed the driver. Siji checked his wristwatch as they drove down road 1, it was 4:30pm already, he must have been under that shade for an hour or so. The driver refused to go to the halls of residence so Siji had to drop at the first bus stop and walked down to Awo hall. It was a long walk but it was better than giving one of those okada men 20 naira. Or should he even go to New buka first, he thought as he walked down the tarred road. Pago and the boys would be there, he was tired but a little fun wouldn’t hurt, would it? He was so deep in thought that he didn’t see the Mercede-Benz until it was too late. The vehicle ran into the ditch in the middle of the road and splashed the water on Siji, within a few seconds he was drenched, he looked up angrily to at least curse at the oblivious driver but what he saw froze the words on his tongue. Looking back at him from the rear glass was the most beautiful girl he had ever set his eyes on; she was looking at him in horror, then apologetically, the way she was looking at him made his heart to melt, his anger was forgotten in a jiffy. He couldn’t help but smiled at her, and she smiled back, then they both started laughing. She had the most beautiful smile. She mouthed “sorry” as the vehicle turned the corner and he lost sight of her. He stood at the spot for what seemed like an eternity before he could continue walking again.
“well, that’s it Siji, the decision has been made for you, you can’t go to New buka like this, can you?”
he turned towards Awo while thinking about the pretty girl at the back of the Benz. She was a butty no doubt, just as Pago. He wasn't interested in the butty, he is a guy who knows his place but he just could not keep her off his mind as he trudged towards Awo.
***
The Benz pulled up in front of Mozambique hall and Ese and her mum came down.
"Are you sure about this dear?" Her mother asked again when she saw the hall.
She nodded, even though she wasn't so sure .The sight before her was not attractive at all, it was a large compound with several long blocks, and it looked unkempt to her. The lawn was not well cut like the one in her high school. The line for spreading laundry was full and some clothes were spread on the grass to dry. They were directed to the porter's office by one of the security men stationed at the hall's entrance. The office was sparsely furnished with just a shelf filled with tattered books, a table and two chairs for visitors, a third chair which was across the table was occupied by a slim woman smiling and staring at them behind glasses that seemed too big for her face.
"Good afternoon madam, how may I help you?" She asked as she stood
"You must be the porter"
"Yes, I am, and you must be the mother of this pretty young lady. You are welcome to Mozambique hall, if you'll just hand me her papers I'll show you to her room and bed space"
"Wait a minute ma'am" said Ese's mum "I'm Barrister Osaruwense and my daughter here is Ese Osarunwense"
Ese rolled her eyes -trust my mum to flaunt her profession at any given opportunity- and like now it always had the desired effect, people easily felt intimidated when they hear "Barrister" Ese wondered what would happen when her mum became a SAN, it means people would shit in their pants whenever she introduced herself.
The porter regarded them with renewed respect
"Y....yo...you're wel...come ma'am" she stuttered
"Is this the only hall of residence there is? Are there no others? That are at least a little more fitting to live in?" The Barrister asked
"Actually, there are three more halls for female students but they are a little different from this, except that they are storeys. And Mozambique Hall is specially reserved for freshmen female students just as Angola is reserved for freshmen male students" she collected Ese's papers from the barrister and compared it with a large register on her desk "you have been allocated bed space 5, lower bunk in room 7 block K" she rose up and made for the door "if you'd please follow me"
as they followed her Ese wondered - bed space 5?- does that mean she will be in a room with 4 other girls? She had always had a room to her self, she had thought she would just be sharing a room with at most a couple of girls. 5 is a crowd. Little did she know.......
As soon as the porter showed mother and daughter the space, she left them, Ambrose brought her things and they started unpacking.
"Are you sure you still want to go through with this? Her mother asked her again
Ese almost gave in but the I-told-you-so look on the barrister's face strengthened her resolve. Since other girls are surviving in this condition, she would, she thought to herself
Aloud she said "yes mum, I am sure, don't worry too much about me"
Her mum gave her the I-know-you-will-change-your-mind-soon smile and said "it's my duty to worry to much about you, you are my baby"
"I know mummy, but I'll be fine"
"Okay, if you insist, my very pretty yet very stubborn girl"
The barrister stayed for a couple of hours then reluctantly stood up to leave, it's a long way to Benin, and she didn't like traveling at night. Ese saw her mother to the car and waved teary eyed at the car as Ambrose drove off, she walked back to her room cleaning her eyes
"Pele omo mummy, mummy's pet, you better soji yourself sharp sharp, o ti ri nkankan"
The voice startled her, the owner of the voice was a short and plain looking girl, she was with her friends and her friends were laughing at what she said,
Ese didn't understand Yoruba but she knew she was referring to her and she got the gist of what she said.
"Don't take Funke too seriously, she is just doing aro" one of the girls said as she walked up to her giving her a gap-toothed smile, she stretched out her hand "My name is Tejumola but you can call me Teju for short" she smiled at Ese with big eyeballs that Ese almost lost herself in her eyes. Teju is what one would describe as voluptuous, she wasn't actually pretty but she was attractive, her bosoms were full and rounded and seem to be threatening to bust out of her tight fitting top, she also had great hips and an okay face. Though they were same height, Ese felt slightly intimidated by her. Ese was definitely prettier but when it came to the assets she ranked very low compared to Teju. Her boobs weren't small but she wasn't busty either and the curves on her hips were slight and not so pronounced. Ese could imagine the kind of effect Teju would draw from the opposite sex.
When it seemed as if the pretty girl she was talking to wasn't going to reveal her name, Teju asked "what's your name?"
"Sorry, pardon my manners, I kinda have a lot on my mind. I'm Ese, and please what did you mean by aro?"
All the girls laughed again "don't mind them" Teju said, laughing too "Aro is a Yoruba slang used on this campus, it really has no direct meaning in English. Let's just say it means to jest, kid, banter or act in a funny way and not expecting to be taken seriously. Aro is actually a psychiatric home in Ogun state"
"Oh! Now I get"
"Where are you from Ese, you aren't from around here, are you?
"No, I am from Benin"
"Oh!Omo Benin, I know you are a freshman, I'm a freshman too, but I have always visited Ife even while I was still in high school. I have a brother who is in his penultimate year and a sister who is a sophomore, so am used to happenings around, you are in block K right? I saw you and your mum coming out of it"
"Yes, room 7"
"Waoh! That's my room too, which space?"
"5"
"I am in 8"
"Jesus! Do you mean 8 people sleep in that room?"
"Actually, it's 12"
"Really? Oh! That's more than a crowd, how do you guys survive?"
"We just do, you will too, don't worry, it'd be fun I promise, what course were you admitted for?"
"Economics. You?"
"International Relations. Let's go to the room and I will help you settle in..." Both ladies hand in hand walked towards block K.
"Are you sure about this dear?" Her mother asked again when she saw the hall.
She nodded, even though she wasn't so sure .The sight before her was not attractive at all, it was a large compound with several long blocks, and it looked unkempt to her. The lawn was not well cut like the one in her high school. The line for spreading laundry was full and some clothes were spread on the grass to dry. They were directed to the porter's office by one of the security men stationed at the hall's entrance. The office was sparsely furnished with just a shelf filled with tattered books, a table and two chairs for visitors, a third chair which was across the table was occupied by a slim woman smiling and staring at them behind glasses that seemed too big for her face.
"Good afternoon madam, how may I help you?" She asked as she stood
"You must be the porter"
"Yes, I am, and you must be the mother of this pretty young lady. You are welcome to Mozambique hall, if you'll just hand me her papers I'll show you to her room and bed space"
"Wait a minute ma'am" said Ese's mum "I'm Barrister Osaruwense and my daughter here is Ese Osarunwense"
Ese rolled her eyes -trust my mum to flaunt her profession at any given opportunity- and like now it always had the desired effect, people easily felt intimidated when they hear "Barrister" Ese wondered what would happen when her mum became a SAN, it means people would shit in their pants whenever she introduced herself.
The porter regarded them with renewed respect
"Y....yo...you're wel...come ma'am" she stuttered
"Is this the only hall of residence there is? Are there no others? That are at least a little more fitting to live in?" The Barrister asked
"Actually, there are three more halls for female students but they are a little different from this, except that they are storeys. And Mozambique Hall is specially reserved for freshmen female students just as Angola is reserved for freshmen male students" she collected Ese's papers from the barrister and compared it with a large register on her desk "you have been allocated bed space 5, lower bunk in room 7 block K" she rose up and made for the door "if you'd please follow me"
as they followed her Ese wondered - bed space 5?- does that mean she will be in a room with 4 other girls? She had always had a room to her self, she had thought she would just be sharing a room with at most a couple of girls. 5 is a crowd. Little did she know.......
As soon as the porter showed mother and daughter the space, she left them, Ambrose brought her things and they started unpacking.
"Are you sure you still want to go through with this? Her mother asked her again
Ese almost gave in but the I-told-you-so look on the barrister's face strengthened her resolve. Since other girls are surviving in this condition, she would, she thought to herself
Aloud she said "yes mum, I am sure, don't worry too much about me"
Her mum gave her the I-know-you-will-change-your-mind-soon smile and said "it's my duty to worry to much about you, you are my baby"
"I know mummy, but I'll be fine"
"Okay, if you insist, my very pretty yet very stubborn girl"
The barrister stayed for a couple of hours then reluctantly stood up to leave, it's a long way to Benin, and she didn't like traveling at night. Ese saw her mother to the car and waved teary eyed at the car as Ambrose drove off, she walked back to her room cleaning her eyes
"Pele omo mummy, mummy's pet, you better soji yourself sharp sharp, o ti ri nkankan"
The voice startled her, the owner of the voice was a short and plain looking girl, she was with her friends and her friends were laughing at what she said,
Ese didn't understand Yoruba but she knew she was referring to her and she got the gist of what she said.
"Don't take Funke too seriously, she is just doing aro" one of the girls said as she walked up to her giving her a gap-toothed smile, she stretched out her hand "My name is Tejumola but you can call me Teju for short" she smiled at Ese with big eyeballs that Ese almost lost herself in her eyes. Teju is what one would describe as voluptuous, she wasn't actually pretty but she was attractive, her bosoms were full and rounded and seem to be threatening to bust out of her tight fitting top, she also had great hips and an okay face. Though they were same height, Ese felt slightly intimidated by her. Ese was definitely prettier but when it came to the assets she ranked very low compared to Teju. Her boobs weren't small but she wasn't busty either and the curves on her hips were slight and not so pronounced. Ese could imagine the kind of effect Teju would draw from the opposite sex.
When it seemed as if the pretty girl she was talking to wasn't going to reveal her name, Teju asked "what's your name?"
"Sorry, pardon my manners, I kinda have a lot on my mind. I'm Ese, and please what did you mean by aro?"
All the girls laughed again "don't mind them" Teju said, laughing too "Aro is a Yoruba slang used on this campus, it really has no direct meaning in English. Let's just say it means to jest, kid, banter or act in a funny way and not expecting to be taken seriously. Aro is actually a psychiatric home in Ogun state"
"Oh! Now I get"
"Where are you from Ese, you aren't from around here, are you?
"No, I am from Benin"
"Oh!Omo Benin, I know you are a freshman, I'm a freshman too, but I have always visited Ife even while I was still in high school. I have a brother who is in his penultimate year and a sister who is a sophomore, so am used to happenings around, you are in block K right? I saw you and your mum coming out of it"
"Yes, room 7"
"Waoh! That's my room too, which space?"
"5"
"I am in 8"
"Jesus! Do you mean 8 people sleep in that room?"
"Actually, it's 12"
"Really? Oh! That's more than a crowd, how do you guys survive?"
"We just do, you will too, don't worry, it'd be fun I promise, what course were you admitted for?"
"Economics. You?"
"International Relations. Let's go to the room and I will help you settle in..." Both ladies hand in hand walked towards block K.
About the author.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.
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