Savior – Olawale Ogidan
So, that day, around 3pm, I was craving for mango.
I don’t know why, But I felt like having it.
I thought of how I could get it without stressing myself, but going through the stress of a long journey to the market would be inconvenient for me, so I would rather take a shortcut to satisfy my want.
And then, I remembered that there was an alternative in the bush behind my house.
“Uh uh! There is a mango tree in that farm now. Make I go there abeg!” I reached a conclusion after a long contemplation.
The place where I resided back then was an underdeveloped site with little number of occupants in the territory.
Mostly, the vacant lands in multiple acres were being used by farmers for plantations.
Without much thoughts, I pulled my head straight towards the farmland where I had targeted to pluck the mangoes.
I pounced roughly along the zigzagged road which it’s both sides were covered by grasses.
After walking for about 7 minutes into the thick bush to get what drove me there, I finally found the robust tree standing tall, with dozens of ripe mangoes being clipped to the branches.
Sighting the three from a short distance away, I felt the happiness in me.
“God save you. I thought I won’t see a fruit hanging on you, I would have cursed you like Jesus did to that foolish tree in the Bible,” I taunted, pointing my finger at the tree.
I approached the tree charismatically like I owned the farm. Even though, I was going there without the permission of the owner.
I looked sideways to be sure that the farm owner was not around.
“Oh! Look at my mangoes ripe and healthy!”
I spoke with confidence as I pulled off my shoes and started mounting the tree.
I got myself on the tree; a leg firmly placed on a strong branch for support, the other leg was raised a bit higher and twisted across another branch, and then, I stopped climbing further after I reached the point that could make my hand long enough to pluck the fruits.
I started tearing the mangoes apart with my teeth as I plucked them.
I’ve eaten seven of them on that tree before it occurred to me that it was time to go back home.
“Home calls! I’m now satisfied!” I caressed my belly as I pulled myself backward to descend from the tree.
After I gestured a leg down into descension, the unexpected happened!
I heard the footsteps pouncing heavily on the fallen dried leaves.
I panicked as the steps approached further.
“I’m dead! That wicked farm owner is coming. Papa fire! Heh! He will kill me today!” I murmured under a shattered tone accompanied by lost of hope.
I suspended the descension and moved a bit higher on the tree to seek cover from the swinging leaves.
I peeped through from the leaves that covered me, only to discover that the footsteps were not from Papa fire, the owner.
I saw that young lady, running under panic and she looked really exhausted. She was panting heavily and needed aide.
“But what’s chasing her?” I asked rhetorically.
Under curiosity, I looked farther behind her and I saw two hefty men running tactically like hunters chasing the buffalo.
The two of them were half naked.
They were covered by wrappers from the thighs to their knees. They were poised with scary looks.
“She must not escape! You go that way, I will take this way!! “
One of them commanded as they split ways on the run to capture the lady.But it seemed they’ve lost her track.
I needed no one to tell me that the men meant nothing friendly for her.
“Oh no! I need to help this lady,” I concluded and descended from the tree rapidly.
I ran on the tip of my toes towards the direction she followed. Within some moments, I found her where she was taking an emergency rest and she was inhaling the air heavily.
As I approached her silently, I hurriedly covered her mouth with my palm to prevent her from making a sound.
“Haa!!”
I was the one who screamed out instead of her, after she struck my palm with her magnetic teeth.
“Ha!!” I groaned again, in pain…
I dropped from the mango tree hurriedly to help the lady
As I approached her silently, from behind and I hurriedly covered her mouth with my palm to prevent her from making a sound.
I was the one who screamed out instead of her, after she struck my palm with her magnetic teeth.
“Ha!!” I groaned again, in pain.
It appeared hilarious, but it was painful to me.
I felt the pain to the narrow of my bone. But I applied more pressure on her mouth to prevent any noise from her.
Damn! The more I applied pressure, the higher she tightened her teeth against my palm.
The more I prevented her from making sounds, the extreme groaning I made myself.
At that point, I realized that the savior himself needed to be saved.
I could not endure it anymore, unless I wished the bad guys to find us. So, I tried to let my palm out of her mouth but she would not let it go.
“ha! I don jam agbako!”
I stiffened my hand, wildly opened my palm to form a hard texture. In that way, I was able to force my hand out.
But the scar her teeth left on me was like a mark gotten from a battle with the lion.
I felt offended and wanted to hit her.
“No! I’m supposed to be a savior,” I thought silently and withdrew my impending attack.
“Please don’t kill me!!” She pleaded as she turned around with tensed motions.
“Shhh!” I signalled with my finger crossed on my lips.
I looked closely at her, just to find out that she was Chioma, a girl I wooed the previous day.
I got possessed by anger.
“Chioma!” I called furiously.
“Wale!” She called my name with distressed tone.
“Please help me!” She begged me under shattered voice.
“No be you I toast yesterday and you say I too short?” I got enraged more.
“Untop that you even wanted to detach my palm from my hand just now!”
I hissed..
“I’m sorry I’m too short to save you o..”
I turned back and wanted to leave her to face her fate alone. I hoped she would just hold my hand and go on her knees to accept my proposal with a ‘plead’.
But then, the worst happened. I heard the voice from the left side,
“Skiddo, baba said we need one male and one female right?” The voice asked.
“Yes baddo!” Another replied.
“The gods must have made it possible,” a third voice rejoiced.
I looked around and discovered that we’ve been surrounded by four gigantic men.
“Kapaijumarijupako,”
I looked defeated and fell on my knees.
“Am I going to die because of mangoes or because of a woman? It is finished” I surrendered.
The four men encircled and approached us fiercely. I thought that was the end of the acclaimed heroism I wanted to play, but the unpredicted happened.
“Ta ta ta… “
I heard the shots while the four men took to the hills with fear.
They vanished.
I looked around and found Papa fire, aiming in the air with his locally made gun ‘bajinatu’
I should appreciate Papa fire for saving me but my crush, Chioma is now seeing him as the main hero instead of me
Olawale Ogidan
