Astray In Love

Episode 4

Lecture and training begins with immediate effect but this time around, not as a recruit but as soldier. Learning continues day by day, always putting in my best in everything as the best student will be determined at the end of the course. All this while, i called my mum only when am less busy and when i felt like talking to her including my twin brother. I did not permit anyone to call me at his or her own time because i might be in class or probably be engaged in one or two things. I continue like this for one month and two weeks. In the third week of the second month, it was announced that we are going to have a course break.

Having course break simply means we will be given passes to travled to our destination of choice for a period of 7 days. By the time we come back, we will round up with the remaining one month and pass out. When the issue of pass came up i was very happy because it an opportunity for me to see my family after about 8 months that i have left them. I decide to make it a surprise to them as I’m not going to inform anybody about my coming home. It was on Tuesday, the week we will be given passes, they brought forms for everyone to fill with a column indicating our place traveled intended. Here comes Friday, our passes are ready, i left Kaduna that very day and arrived at lagos the next day. I proceeded to sango that morning and everybody was surprise to see me, to them it looks like a king has just arrived. My mum was very happy on seeing me, i hugged her and she started crying, my twin brother was a little bit afraid of me, we all laughed while we moved into the sitting room where they all welcomed me. Did my dad just laugh and welcomed me? i greeted him but it wasn’t coming from my mind. I was still angry about the fact that he did not contributed anything as a father to my success. After i spent two days at home i wasn’t happy and comfortable with my dad as i always feel like giving him frog jump or forward roll anytime i set my eyes on him. My mum kept persuading me that i should forgive and forget but i told her i will only forgive but i will never forget. He wasn’t even ashamed of himself, he boasted up and down that he has a child that he’s a soldier. He wanted me to visit some of his friends and his boss but i turned him down, making him to realized his worst mistake ever of not been caring and not taking is due responsibilities as a father on me and the rest of his children. The next day i pay a surprise visit to bode, he was very happy to the extent that he called all his friend ask them to touch him if they will not die within a tinkle of an eye, we all laugh together. I asked him to dressed up so that we can at least have go out and have fun. All this while, i was putting on my camouflage up and down as i was proud of who i had becomed. We entered a relaxing cool spot where pepper soup and beer are been sold, i ordered plates of pepper soup and beers for all of them, bode was surprise and at the same time afraid of who is going to pay the bill, i told him to calm down that the bill is on me.

We then enjoyed ourself, it was all fun when all my friends are drinking beer but a soldier is drinking Coke. I paid the bill and we all left the place for our various home. On going home, i gave bode the sum of 15,000 Naira just to compensate the effort and help he rendered when i needed him back then before i left for training. He was so happy, he was thanking me and i told him if not for God and for him, i wouldn’t have been where i am today. We departed along the road when he got to the junction to his house and i also left for my house.