Americana’s Diary VII: Not Too Late
“But this I guessed is not what you want to tell me about him” Bodmas said, taking the cup of wine to his mouth, and I was swallowing the pie in my mouth, but my mind transiently was not with them, I remembered what Dee raised with Bodmas of the need to help us, help me, see if his sister, Shade is yet single or not, if she is single and would not mind me, I would verily love that, I thought within me as Dee replied Bodmas
“No, my friend, this is not what I want to tell you about him”, Dee said
“Then what is it? What happened to him? Or what is the news about him? What do you want me to know about him?” Bodmas inquired
“Don’t be too hasty, there is a proverb by our fathers that says, “you are going to Oyo town and you are in a hurry, were you told that the King is going out” ….
“Uhm. Proverbial master”, Interrupting him, I said
“Okay oh. I am no longer in a hurry, so please let me know what happened”, Bodmas said
Adjusting himself on the chair, clearing his throat, he said, “He called me few months back, saying he wanted to see me, I was even afraid because I thought something bad has happened, the intonation of his call was somehow that day, I pressed him to say it on the phone but he insisted that he needs to see me that he does not want to say it over the phone. I cannot but agree with him on the phone and asked him for where we would meet” using his handkerchief to clear his face, he continued, “he asked if he can come and meet me in my office, but I told him that I won’t be able to discuss issues at that point in time because of my tight schedule and told him what of if I should come over to his place after the day’s work? He declined the offer, saying he wants a neutral place…
“Why?” Bodmas interrupting asked.
“Well he told me when we met that he wanted a neutral place because he was the one looking for something and the ideal thing for him to do is to come to my place, but he would not know if I am in town or may have traveled that was why he called in the first instance”
“Okay, what does he want? That requires such urgency?” Bodmas inquired again.
“We met at High Crown Help Services Snacks and Confectionery Shop around my place. He bought something for us to keep while we sat discussing. He said he had to make the call look frightening because if he did not, I may not want to attach much importance to his phone call…”
“Have you done something like that to him before?” I asked him, looking at his lips
“The exact same question I asked him when he said that, that has he called me before and I did not attach importance to his calls?” Dee replied me and continued “but he said no, that however, some of his business friends when he calls them, they usually do not attach importance to it, and since he has studied their acts, he has transferred it to all, whenever he is calling anyone he will make it look serious so that the person would have no reason to hesitate or delay seeing him.
“Uhm. Experience is the best teacher you know” Bodmas said
“Well, I told him that he should learn to differentiate friends from friends, and he agreed that I am right and apologized if I am annoyed. Apology accepted, I told him, why do you ask me here, when I suppose to be at the lawn tennis court?” I asked him
Bodmas father and his friends were enjoying themselves where they are, faintly we are hearing their voice as they were talking there while Dee continued “What he says may surprise you”, he said
“What did he say?” Bodmas asked
“He asked me of what he needs to do to get back into academics. I was like “ha”, astonished and had to ask him again if I am hearing him well. And he replied that I heard him well. What then could necessitate this I asked?” Dee said. He replied that it has been in his mind to be an Accountant since when he was a child. When we were in the school he said that thought has been in him and he has been working towards that, but when parents demands forced his hand, he was thinking end has come and that his children would eventually continue with that, but he was grossly mistaken because the thought has not left him despite the fact that he has left academics, no not ever, he concluded.
“Uhm, this is interesting you know”, I said while Dee continued
“I told him that I remember that he used to say that he wants to become an Accountant when we were in the school, when others are oscillating between different careers, he has been focused on being an accountant I said to him, “but do you think is the right course of action for you to take now?” I asked him, knowing full well that his first children, the twins now would be nearing the completion of their secondary school
He replied that he knows that they were almost done with their secondary school and that it was because he has been thinking about them that was why he has not taken steps earlier before now, but the more he delayed, the more he discovered that he has an increasing urge of returning to school which he can no longer suppressed. Having satisfied my parents yearnings, at least they have seen their son’s children and if not that my twins are disciplined type, I think the male, Taiwo would have even come home with a lady, I took their mother home around that age, but, my twins have been taking a new path, they said the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) in their school is really assisting them, and that they have decided to be worshipping the Lord in truth and would not want to be like me and their mother…”
“Uhm mm” Bodmas said as he continues
“You know it was not as if I was wayward then, I do hope you can remember?” Shabado asked me, Dee said
“Very well” Dee replied him
“But it is just that I do not join the fellowship then like you people did”, Shabado added
“I remember. I know” Dee responded, while I nodded my head
“So, my twins and their junior ones are more dedicated to the things of God at their tender age than I was then, as such they brought no one home as spouse although they have male and female friends in the school and in the church”, Shabado said
“That is good of them, friends that one has in faith are good ones, if they can maintain themselves, they are those who will assist themselves later in life” Dee said he told him that, adding that, “Do you know that Yinka, our friend when we were in the school was the one who linked up Victor with one of the Senators of the republic? Shabado shook his head, replying that he did not know. “Oh! I do not think many people know the story”, Dee continued and asked him that, “do you know that Victor graduated from the University as a medical doctor? He replied that he knew that and that he was invited for his induction, but he could not make it because he traveled to go and buy some goods that day. Dee said “I am glad you know that, after his graduation and he wanted to do his residency, what is called Masters studies in their field, he could not get a space and for about 5 years he was doing series of examinations and interviews to get a space but all to no avail. One day I told Yinka about Victor’s plight, he told me that he was not aware that he was facing a situation like that, that he will help me contact a Senator that he met in the plane while returning to America to see if he can be of help.
“Wow!” Shabado exclaimed sitting right on the seat he was, while I continue to share my story with him of how good it is to have very good friends
“Yinka indeed talked with the man and told him about our friend Victor. The senator told Yinka to reach out to Victor to go to his office in his local government, that he has left a message with the staff there. Yinka relay the message to Victor and he did not hesitate to go to the senator’s office, when he got to the Senator’s office, he was given a letter to go and give one of the Chief Medical Director of a Federal Hospitals and that was how he started his residency without writing another examination. Victor is about to round off there now, becoming a consultant in his chosen field. That is how good friends are, that is part of what can be enjoyed from good friends and good relationship”, Dee said he conclusively said unto Shabado
“Well, I do not think I also know about this story”, I said unto Dee
“Neither do I, though Yinka and I used to see in the States, but he never makes mention of such to me, not even by accident”, Bodmas said unto us
“Well maybe he sees that it is of no need mentioning that to you, you know. Good friends will always say “that does not matter”. They hardly broadcast what they have done for their friends you know. That is their nature, thinking what are friends’ for?”, Dee replied us.
“I know. If it is me too, I don’t think I will talk about it”, Bodmas said.
Then you should not be surprised that he did not tell you about this. Some will actually transform their friends life, if the person is a business man, they would offer him or her the needed assistance without hesitation, I know a lady in my area whose friend when they were together in College of Education traveled out immediately, they finished from the school. The lady got there, and I think she started another school, nursing training, after finishing the training she got employed and her life changed. When she came home and saw that her friend was managing a small business, she gave her ₤4,000:00 when this money was changed to our currency it becomes something substantial that was how the life of the lady changed, she soon changed her business name to “Friendship Pays Business Venture”
“Uhm mm?” Bodmas said.
“Yes oh! Good friends are wonderful to have but it is just that they are few and how would one know who will be one’s good friend and who will not be?”
“Uhm. That is it. How will one know. Some friends have wrecked their friends businesses, when they were left to be overseeing the business. I remember a story of shared with us by one of us in America of how he sent money home to his friend to help him build house here, the man kept on collecting money from our friend but he did not do anything, not even a foundation stone was laid. He however will be sending fake picture to our friend in the States. One day, he asked his junior one at home to go and see the place, and his friend took him to the picture he was sending to our friend but unknown to him that his brother knows the owner of the building. He hid his intentions from him and told his brother that the man has duped him and told him the owner of the building whom this man also knows. This kind of person would not believe there is a good friend anywhere because of his experience”, Bodmas enthused.
“Well, that is true, I have also heard of such stories, but I used to think it cannot be true”, I replied Bodmas
“Uhm, you think along that line because of a pure mind that you have, because you cannot do that, and when you hear that people are doing that, you will not want to believe. That used to happen to me too, and I have discovered that when one sees people talking like that, we will always think it is a story but when we see it happening, then we will pray that the movie stopped quickly. Such is life my friends, there are good and bad friends”, Bodmas said
“May God help us to be good friends to our friends and partners” I said, Dee could you please continue with what you are saying?
“Thank you. I know told Shabado, that I hope his children’s friends would be wonderful ones to them. Shabado said “amen”. He was elated to hear the story, saying “he was happy for Victor oh, “man knows man is the issue of the world.” He continued, by saying that he has decided that he needs to satisfy his heart’s desire about furthering his education that he would need my advice on how to go about it. “I want to know how I can pursue this dream of mine at this age”, Shabado finally said
“Since you have made up your mind to do that,” Dee said he started saying to Shabado, “I think what you need to do for a start is going to a lesson, get yourself enrolled in a lesson. And in fact if you would not consider what I want to say a bitter pill, I will say you should consider going back to a secondary school to register. Whichever secondary school you get yourself enrolled in, you will be taught like others, “your children”. You will be a matured student amongst them. This will put you on your toes always. One thing that will help you in achieving this, is you will have to forget your status.”
“I was initially thinking of studying myself at home and sometimes coming to you to put me through some things” Shabado said, adding that “he knows someone who studied at home like that and he makes it”.
“In as much as that is good Daddy Twins” Dee started, “I want you to know that it may not work for you, this is because we are talking about 15 years of leaving the scene, and since you wish to pursue a different career now, this is different from someone who just want to do external O Level examinations but who is not interested in pursuing a career afterwards or someone who wants to pursue a career that is not too strong that may be advised, but if you actually wanted to master what you have in mind doing, I in strong terms admonish you to get enroll in a school.
“Uhm mm”, Shabado replied.
“Oh yes. Apart from this, I want you to know that human beings are different from each other. I do not want you to place yourself side by side with the person you said, what worked for him may not work for you. But what will surely work is returning to school, it will work for all who knows what they are doing. Thanks to God now that there are private schools here and there unlike during our days that majority of the schools are government owned. If you can go back to school, may be get registered at a school a bit far from your house such that you will be returning home on weekends I think it would be of immense assistance because at that place you will give that academics full concentration and since it is you who is sponsoring yourself now, you know what you are aiming at, nothing would distract you like those youths because now at this age of theirs’ they would be exhibiting youthful exuberance, but you do not need that again, you have passed that stage, remember the words of the elders, “it is when we are young that we enjoy being young, you won’t enjoy acting like a young person when you have passed the stage”, I told him
“Uhm, I am getting you. I am seeing a sense in what you are saying” Shabado replied
“This road that you want to tread is not difficult and it is. It is not difficult if you sincerely wanted to give it all it takes, it is difficult if you think you can eat your cake and yet have it” I concluded.
“I understand you. If I may ask, “my friend” do you have any school in mind? This is because I am prepared to give it all it takes, I have talked this over and over with Yaby baby, my wife, and she said since this has been in my heart, she cannot but support this aspiration of mine, in fact she was the one who suggested that I should contact any one amongst those whom we finished secondary school together to offer me their professional advice on this, those whom we know has further their academics and are in the education system” Shabado said, “when no one was readily coming to our mind, we kept it to ourselves and keep digging. However, she returned from market about 3 weeks ago and she said she meets you in the market square, having talked a while she said she asked you of where you are working, and you told him that you are now a lecturer in The Polytechnic. She said she did not know whether to fly home after meeting with you in the market that day, because she was full of joy that at last respite has come to our minds’ search. She started shouting “darling, honey, my love” immediately she got back home that day. “What happened? I asked her, can’t you be patient until you put those things you have gone to the market to buy where they should be? What is the urgency? I queried her. Perspiring she pulled my hand to a seat, saying I should guess what could make her behave like that. I told her that if she is not ready to talk straight that I have some things I want to do. You know women now? Shabado asked me, Dee said. “Honey, please try and guess” Shabado said Yaby baby pleaded with him. Shabado said he told her that he will not guess more than once. She said Yaby baby said, she was okay with that.
“Love from the cradle. Lovers’ corner. Love from the school. They have not left that stage?” Bodmas asked.
“Uhm. When one finds a true lover, your love for each other will be renewed everyday”, I said.
“Uhm mm. I am glad that they are still much in love at their stage”. Bodmas said
“Me too. Glad for them”, I respond to Bodmas saying, adding, “let me guess what will happen.
“Okay. Try it” Dee replied
“Shabado guessed and he was wrong, forcing Yaby baby to tell him what happened”, I enthused.
Dee said, “As if you were there. He guessed wrongly. He said “Yaby baby said “Oh no darling, why could you miss the important thing that concerns you? “Concern me?” Shabado queried her. She said yes, could you please tell me, he pleaded with Yaby baby and it was then she said she has gotten for me what we have been having sleepless nights on. Then I remember that we were looking for someone who will put me through, and she told me that she came across you in the market square and that you discussed at length, that you are now working with Polytechnic. After telling me those she gave me your phone number unknown to her that I also have it. I called you immediately that day, but it was saying user busy. I had to wait till the following day to call you” Shabado concluded.
“Uhm mn” Dee said unto Shabado.
“We have tabled our cards properly and by God’s grace, I know I will make it”
“Amen” Dee said
“Please tell me a school that will be of assistance”, Shabado finally asked
“I will have to make some calls to some friends, whatever I agreed at, I will let you know” Dee told him and he was elated to hear that. Dee said after this, we shifted our discussions to another thing that day”
“What happened afterwards?” Segun asked
“I make contacts with one of my friends, a proprietor in a town outside the state capital, having explained everything to him, he said he will give him a trial, but that before that is done, I should tell him to read some JSS 3 books that he will assess him using a JSS 3 syllabus and that if he succeeds that, he will put him in SS1 or something” Dee replied
“Has that phase been successfully completed?” Bodmas asked
“Oh yes, it has. Our friend is now a student in the school, he is now a SS2 student and according to my friend, he will get him enrolled for the forthcoming O Level examination let me put it in his words, “your friend is actually trying” and he does not see any reason to stop him from making attempts at the forthcoming examinations, because he is convinced by his performances that he will make all the required papers for the career he wants to pursue” Dee said
“I think that is good of him…”
“Oh, yea it is” I added, “I have not been aware of this”
“Oh, that is true”, Dee said, “we hardly have time to discuss at length whenever we see you know”
“Oh yea, that is true”, I replied.
“That is good of him, his case is rare you know” Bodmas said.
“That is true, many people even if they have it in mind to pursue their dreams will be looking for machineries to help them write their O Level examinations”, I said
“Those who prefer machinery to write their exams for them, will after wards secure admission with machinery results and on getting to university or polytechnic or any institution of higher learning would again be using machineries to sit and write their exams for them” Dee added
“That is serious! That is why academics in the country has lost its values and little addition could those people who have certificates add unto the economic growth of the nation, this is why our country is still millionth of miles backward in advancements as compared to other countries, even amongst those who got independence about the same time or within the same decade” Bodmas added
“Do you know the most sickening part of it all to me?”
“No, we do not” Bodmas replied
“It is that it is those with such certificates as this that will be employed into the Local government, State and Federal establishments in the country, while those who worked hard for their certificates have no place to work, with some being forced outside the country as well as some doing what they are not trained for” I replied
“It is that worrisome” Bodmas said
“They are the kind of people who will aspire to be governors, senators and so on in our land. Since these people have money to vie for such positions in the land, they will win their elections. After winning they will be given several portfolios and would be controlling us with their half or no knowledge in those areas. It is therefore not surprising that they soon afterwards started living below what the populace expected of them in that oval position. They will approve, what someone who actually studied well for his or her O Level subjects cannot approve at their so called cabinet meetings” Dee said
“Uhm mm” Bodmas said
“The value placed on certificates in our land has made everyone to go all out for it, people lie at all cost do so many dubious things to see that they possess certificates so as to secure positions that they ought not to get to, it is that disturbing” Dee said
“Uhm mm. May God intervene in Jesus name”
“Amen o” We all said
“But, in all honesty, the step taken by Shabado needs to be applauded” Bodmas stated
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