Episode 1 (How it all started)

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In the heart of the city,

Our people lie in wait,

For the coming out of the light,

Yet, it seems to me like we will continue

In our earnest waiting for the Sun of the day

To come out unto us.

Even the hardworking, diligent man cannot get out,

To till the farm, & finish up the work started yesterday,

The lazy man is now the king of his bed,

With the Sun’s darkness a perfect excuse

For his laziness.

Come out dear Sun, and ameliorate our heavy groaning.

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      “Where is this good for nothing child called Taiye?” dad asked coming into the general sitting room from upstairs. I could not say where exactly he was coming from, because our rooms were all upstairs, and he might have checked out Ty in his room before coming downstairs. I did not even have the slightest idea of where the big head could be, so I hoped he would not ask me.

        As dad proceeded into the sitting room, I pretended to be engrossed with what I was watching on my laptop, and even adjusted my earpiece, just to make a clear statement that I did not hear all he had said, and would say shortly. Even though the scene I was watching was in no way connected with anything funny, I burst out laughing, and dad turned to me, noticing me for the first time since entering the sitting room.

        “Kenny, where is Taiye?” he asked directly. Though I heard what he said quite clearly, I just pretended on. I did not still feel like talking with dad yet. But dad was not in the mood to notice my countenance, and stood over my face, and asked the question all over, this time with a more authoritative and autocratic tone.

         “Kehinde, where is your twin brother, Taiye?” he asked stone-facedly. Now, I knew that my little game was over and I needed to answer if I wanted to keep the smooth face I had now. I removed the earpiece in my ears, and answered dad in a mumbled, “I don’t know where he is, but he could probably be in his room dad”, I replied slowly, visibly irritated, and not hiding it for dad’s notice.

          Dad stood up straight, giving me breathing space at last, and went over to the laundry. I just did not know what dad wanted Ty for, and that made it quite difficult to just blurt out any negative answer to him. Taiye himself must have gone out by now, because by this time of the day, it was very rare to find him at home. Virtually everyone at home now knew that Taiye’s itinerary did not involve us at home at this time of the day.

          Ever since the results of our screening examinations into the University was released, and Taiye was one of the highest scoring candidates, he had become uncontrollable by all with the exception of course of daddy who would not take nonsense, and mummy at any time when she insisted strongly on her words, and stood her grounds. If I were the elder of both of us, I would have shown him the effect of seniority, but he was my elder brother, even though it just by a meager sixty-nine and half minutes.

          It wasn’t like my results were not also good, Infact, it was among the best ten, but his’ was probably ranked among the top three. This probably put pride in his head, and made him begin to feel pompous towards almost everyone in the house. This was not even as bad as the reckless way with which he began to spend, and to say he was being encouraged by Mum to do it all the more. Everything Taiye did was always the right and correct thing. Infact, I was already getting tired of this long holiday to resumption, and I wished our admission list would be out today, and we would be asked to resume next week, but all are just my wish, and it could never come true at this critical moment because even those already in school had not yet done their final exams.

          In anycase, I tried Taiye’s phone number once more, for the umpteenth time already, and it rang. “What?” was the sharp retort the imp could give me.

“Where are you bighead, daddy has been ranting your name all over the house since God knows when, and no one seems to know where you are?” I replied, trying to overlook the tone of his voice, and the anger welling inside of me.

          “I’m actually at a friend’s”, he replied, this time in a more cool and calm tone.”What did he even want me for self?” he asked, that silly tone creeping into his voice again.

“I don’t know, neither do I intend to ask”.”But please try and call dad and tell him where you are at, because he would still come back to me if you don’t call him soon”.”And if you can’t call daddy, then call mummy and let her help you tell dad”, I advised him genuinely.

          Few seconds later, he hung up, and I heard dad’s phone ring. Within a few seconds, dad’s voice could be heard miles away, as he sounded visibly angry at something Taiye had done. I tried to listen in to the conversation, but I was so lost. Dad’s communication by now had reduced to hmm’s and ok’s. After Taiye had finished whatever sermon he was preaching to daddy, dad told him point blank, “Be in this house in the next 2 hours, or else …..” and he hung the call. I quickly repositioned myself, and faced my laptop and tried to concentrate on my film.

          I soon lost interest in the movie as soon as I returned to it. From the tone and manner dad concluded his call with Taiye, I knew that we were in for a rough noon and night-time in the house. I really wished Toye was at home during this period. She is the only one who could talk dad out of an argument, keep mum from flaring up at probably me or Ty, and put me, Bibi, and Ty in our right senses. In summary, she is the peacemaker, (Yoruba translation means atole = bed wetter) of this house.

          Unfortunately, she was currently in Vietnam, on a training course from her office, Reflux Oil Nig. Ltd, a multinational oil company based here in Lagos. I thought of calling her on Skype, but dropped the idea. By this time over there in Vietnam, she would be fast asleep, and Toye did not find it interesting being woken up from her sleep. Checking the time for clarity and accuracy, I discovered that the time was not on my side; 3pm and lunch was not yet served.

          I got to the kitchen, and checked the roaster of lunch, for Thursday, and discovered that lunch for today was beans and fried plantains.

“Eww! I exclaimed spontaneously. “Of all foods to eat today, why must it be beans?” I asked inside of me. I detested beans with a passion, and everyone in the house knew it. My very next best alternative at the moment was to either cook noodles, or take snacks and fruit juice. I was so irritated that I just barged out of the kitchen, not caring to look ahead and notice dad coming my way with a glass cup and tray of wine in hand. I almost bumped into him, if not for his swift movement out of my way.

          “Hello? What were you saying?” dad said into the phone.”Yes, I am the one speaking”, he replied after listening for a few seconds.”Yes, that is my car you are talking about, and it was taken out by my son this morning”. “What?” dad suddenly exclaimed.

          “Where?, When?, How?” dad asked the caller, confusing me all the more. Mum was already down with us, looking alert and confused, just like I was. I could not even concentrate on anything. Definitely, Taiye was in the midst of what was happening, and I could not decipher it. I tried to reach him through his phone number, but it said it was switched off. By now, dad had dropped his call, and was looking morose.

          Everyone began to question dad; what was wrong?, where was the car?, where was Taiye?, hope all was well?, Even as we all threw these barrage of questions at him, he just continued to look awe-struck.

What could have gone wrong? Where was Taiye, and did daddy not say he drove a car out? No wonder he sounded mad at him when he called.

Find out what happens next in Episode 2 (More Troubles Ahead)

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