My OKADA Man

            Credit: Thetrent

I was my father's able right hand man. That was in my primary and secondary school days, anyway. His Provision store and Bar was virtually my room, kitchen, parlour and everything. I spent most of my childhood days under his care (never as if mum wasn't close, I was Daddy's son). When I was preparing for common entrance examination, he swore to make sure that I attended a boarding school. It wasn't a cheerful gift by the way; he had expected me to say no because little boys in our neighborhood cried each time their parents declared that they would be going to boardinghouse. Sending you to a boarding school is more like a deterrence. It was almost synonymous with punishment, because when you go to boardinghouse, you're totally disconnected with the love that flows in the street. And those who went to boardinghouse narrated their horror experiences, ranging from seniors bullying you to a a compulsory morning devotion and the worst, drinking a hot tasteless water in place of tea. You could imagine the precariousness that flew through our memories then.

In my own case, I knew what I wanted from birth, I truly would love to be in boarding school. I would want to be alone and have independence. I could remember that the most interesting thing I wishes then is to have my own bunch of keys, nicely fixed to a rope that look spiral (more like a dog chain), and buckled it together with the belt. I wished to see it dangle on my waist. Imagine the euphoric feeling and desire of an eleven year old boy. I remember with nostalgia the day I left house.

 It did work for me; father couldn't find a reason to say no because I destroyed any channel that could produce a truncating story. Even before my placement slip came out, I was already announcing to every parents related to my father and mother, that I would be going to a boarding school. I even told them how my father boasted of selling his lands to make sure I get the best education. I even told them that my mother promised to sell her jewelry to buy me two uniform and print my initial on them.
I intentionally did that. If he had deviated from sending me to boarding school, his friends would mock a hell out him.😂 I totally left him with no option. Never as if he didn't want the best for me; yet leaving a child who knows virtually everything about his business won't be easy.

At first, he didn't send me to the school of my dream. I hoped for Okongwu memorial grammar school Nnewi and he took me to Special Science school, Azigbo. There, I was the only jss 1 student in the entire boardinghouse and I didn't bother. My father's reason of sending me to the school was because of it's nearness and lawlessness.😂😂😂 Imagine a school without fence, a free world and disguise ghetto.

He is free to send okada man to come and pick me for weekend, anytime he wished. It was a free world.

And I really liked it, money would be entering my pause on weekly basis. I really saw that as an opportunity.

"Oliiii" he would call me with his voice sounding so lovely on my Guidance's phone. "I will be going to Enugu for the meeting. You know....(bla bla bla). Will you come and look after shop..."

"Yes...send okada to come and pick me" I won't even allow him to finish. "For the meeting" as if he had informed me earlier.

"Thank so much, my boy. That's why I'm proud of you" he would say often.

I had a particular Okada he pay #800 each time he picked him up from school.

On Monday morning, he would come to shop and carry me. Going back cost #900.
Every Friday #800, every Monday #900. I kept gambling with thoughts. I had a suspicion base character then, I always suspect.

The okada man would often come to my school on Thursday and encourage me go home for weekend.

Imagine!

This okada man must be overgrazing in another man's farm. My papa money oh! If not, he wouldn't be treating me with so much adore. He would often buy Mineral and meat pie for me oh😂🙆‍♂.

I only receive #1500 as pocket money and to me, it was poor because I was saving to buy a phone.

One good Wednesday, something entered my head or may be boardinghouse hunger. It confused me and I thought it was Friday. My leave day😂😂, a day I waits on, just the same way civil servants does once it's close to end of the month.

(We only eat twice a day, and sometimes there would be no cooking for one full week. May something like that boarding house never be your potion in jesus name. Amen. I saw hell there😂😂😂. Real jungle).

I waited for my Okadaman to come and pick me but he didn't show up. My eyes were turning round; my mouth didn't touch red oil for three days. And my tea and milk, finished under a day😂😂😂. And as I street boy, I shamelessly lived on school cashew trees, waiting earnestly for my leave day.

I sluggishly trekked to the Bustop. I didn't see my Okadaman. So I had to use another. When we arrived daddy's shop, he paid the Okadaman #400 at his own request.

What? The other man is over collecting?

"Is today Friday?" He asked and tears began to flush down. I recovered after I had collected the mango he had on his hands and narrated my hungry story.

"After this term you're coming out". He said and arranged Pepper soup and agidi for me before he rushed out to buy food.

I went back the same day and it only cost me #350.

Imagine!

After much critical evaluations, I decided to change the game to my favour. I would only tell father if the Okadaman refuse to my requests. Las las, we two will lose.

On that hot afternoon, he came with Pepsi and bread. I finished everything and he asked me to enter.

"Brother what you're doing is not good oh. From Azigbo to Adazi is #300 and you collect #800 from my father. Coming back is #350 but you charge #900. Is it good? What if I tell my father now?"

"That's not true" he tried to convince me but I didn't agree with him. We later decided on a deal.

He would collect #800, take #400 and give me #400. If he collect #900, I have #450.

"Where did you learnt this kind of mentality from, this small boy?" he asked angrily and I was calm. Fear caught me oh. I thought he would pounce on me.

"Oya I will be giving you 200 plus Pepsi...."

"Mba! No! May be it's time we change okada man" I said (how I managed to say that, remains a mystery) and began to trek to the Bustop. He noticed I was serious and agreed.

💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽

On Fridays, he would first place #400 on my palm before I enter his bike. If he tell me to wait till we reach shop, I would refuse.

(I had told father to be giving me #900; I will be doing the payment my self)

On Mondays, immediately I climb down from the bike, he receive his agreed share.

I knew what I did was sin, but I actually needed the money then.

We continued that way, till my parents changed school for me. (Almost 1 year)

The funny thing, happened yesterday. I was traveling from nnewi to Nsukka. By coincidence, the Okadaman was the Bus drivers. We couldn't greet each other, but laughed for long. We hugged and he touched my head.

"Onye ochi" he said

"Armed robber" I jokingly called him.

"Hope you've left such behavior"

"Hahaha, I should be the one asking you this"

We laughed and hugged again.

At least we are progressing. I'm a grown up and he now own a Bus.

In this long race Dear, I will be counting on you for we all know that success is sacrosanct.


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