REUBEN Episode 6 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
… At first, I became sc@red when I saw him, totally forgetting the fact that Melvin was a former gang member.
“Melvino!” I let out all of a sudden as soon as I remembered he had retired.
“Sparrow the G!” He hailed with a smile, crossing over from the other side of the road.
I rushed to him and held him very close to my chest in a very tight hug.
“What are you doing here in Enugu?” He quizzed running his eyes through my body after we hugged.
“Wait, I hope you guys don’t have any assignment in my town here” He added.
“Not at all man. But, please let’s go to a hidden bar or a restaurant to chill out first. I hope you know a good one?” I asked looking back.
“In this town? If I know anyone?” He quizzed with a giggle.
“Hidden restaurant or bar? You look very restless. Are you ok?” He quizzed locking stares with me.
“It’s a long story guy. Just take me to one”
“Ok, ok, let’s go” He said pulling one of my arms.
“Guy you really have changed. You look pale and have lost so much weight. Are you sure you’re ok health wise? ” I asked walking side by side with him.
“Nothing is wrong with me man. Ever since I left the gang and returned to my hometown here, I have had no serious job to do but menial jobs. It’s hard for someone like me who had once had a taste of a good life to cope with this new way of life. But to me, it’s better than carrying guπs, doing dirty things with women, sm0ke, drink and all sorts” He said while still on our way and then I nodded.
We arrived at a bar and we ordered for whatever we wanted but I was still restless.
“I just hope that this guy will not reveal my location to the gang members” I said to myself sipping from the glass cup of beer, as I sat before him.
Well, after like two hours of narrating my ordeal to him, he suggested I come stay instead in his place and that it was a better hideout than a h0tel and I obliged.
We arrived later in this face me I face you house, with all rooms facing each other and a very long passage. He unlocked his door and ushered me into this blue painted single room with a red bulb, and a poster of 2p@c and Dav!do on the wall on one corner.
“Sit, make yourself comfortable ” He said pointing towards a white plastic chair.
I sat, and he asked me what I wanted to eat but I told him I was ok.
We gisted for hours and then I sat on the bed beside him and we continued the gists till we both slept off.
We later woke up around 5 :30 pm and he took me to a nearby restaurant, and then told me it was jointly owned by his landlord and his wife. The restaurant had different plastic tables in it with about four chairs surrounding each. There were some men like five of them in their 60’s sitted by the corner of the restaurant with one of them wearing a papa’s cap and holding a newspaper, and wearing this glasses that sat comfortably on his nose. We didn’t even know what their topic of discussion was, but they sat their discussing at the top of their voices like people planning something.
“Good day Sirs”.Melvin greeted and then I bowed as soon as they looked at us.
“That’s our landlord, the one wearing a papa’s cap” He whispered to me.
But, I kept staring at the one wearing a papa’s cap, he looked very much like someone I knew from somewhere.
“Oga, what do we offer you sir?” A young lady quizzed, interrupting my attention.
“Armm… I immediately said, looking back and forth.
“Are you ok?” Melvin asked, looking at me.
“Yes, I’m fine” I replied, and then turned to the awaiting lady.
“Just rice, with a little beans would do”
“Ok sir” She said.
We were served, and were eating when a woman walked out from the inner room of the restaurant.
“Shade, if you like don’t do the dishes before I return” She said shouting, raising the curtain hung at the entrance of the room to see the face of whom she was talking to.
As soon as she turned and approached us cos the exit door was just behind me, I paused all of a sudden while my spoon fell from my hand and landed on the floor. Lo and behold, it was my mother.
I stood up immediately, I was shocked.
“Will she still be able to recognise me? The once gentle boy now looking like one who fought face to face with a be@st, with scars all over my body, and with each scar having it’s own meaning? I hope she doesn’t. And if she does, that means w@r…”
#OpraDre REUBEN Episode REUBEN Episode REUBEN Episode REUBEN Episode REUBEN Episode REUBEN E REUBEN E REUBEN E
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