Life On Campus

Episode 7

Betty and her friend Edith rushed into their room
gleefully. “Girlie, you are too much.” edith said
hugging her
friend. “You show her say you no be Igbo girl wey
dem born
and train in yoruba land for nothing” Edith was
praising her.
Betty laughed.
“Have you ever seen me dance before?” she asked
Edith. “Omo, you sabi dance? Edith was laughing
too. “Hey! Play this song…errm, is it gaga crazy?
That one
the guy was saying ‘sugar cane no be
bamboo’..you
gerrit?” Betty was removing her jacket. “We are
really going crazy!” Edith replied searching
for the song in her phone. They both started
dancing, celebrating victory.
Betty’s
phone rang.
“Who is it again!” she hissed “Who is it?” “Who
else? Emeka now! ” Betty threw the phone and
it fell on the bed. “Hello?” Edith picked the call
“Hello? Baby…” “She’s not the one, she can’t talk
to you now! Call her
later” Edith snapped ending the call. “Go and learn
how to beg properly” she hissed.
Betty was still dancing and humming “who is in
the
garden, a little fine, can I come and see her? No
no no
no” Edith laughed smacking her buttocks. “Don’t
reduce the size o” Betty warned her playfully,
before slumping into bed.

---

Jay-Jay was kneeling down before his father
Chief
Robert Ezigbo. The whole place was tensed.
“jacobs! What has come over you? You- a cultist?
Unbelievable!” Robert yelled at his son. “what
happened to the godly upbringing I gave you?
You know how much reputation I have in this
society?” Reputation my foot! I like what I’m
doing, leave me
alone- Jay-Jay wanted to snap. “I’m sorry dad.”
he said in a low voice “shut up! Now listen, no
more schooling for you!
You’re going to work in my company at
Zimbabwe! I’ve
made arrangements, you’re leaving next
week!”Robert
yelled before walking into his room.
Jay-Jay gasped, the first thought he had was
Betty,
he can’t leave her, not while G-gal is still alive.
Exams was fast approaching, all the serious
students
are getting excited, while the dull ones are getting
nervous. Betty was sitting with Emeka (they’ve
reconciled) and
Edith in the Library, they were studying with keen
interest.
She soon got bored;
“I’m tired” she sighed. “me too” Edith whispered
while Emeka grunted. “and famished too” Edith
added. “Lets go to the coke village, we can come
back here
later” Betty suggested. “You guys go, I wanna
finish solving this physics.”
Emeka told them. They both left hurriedly
because the Libarian was
looking at them. Betty sipped her juice.
“Girlie, I’ve been watching you for some time now,
you seem withdrawn, always looking distant, wats
up
friend, or is it the exams?” Edith asked biting at
her
chicken. “hmm” betty smiled “come Betty! I asked
a question and you just smiled?”
Edith queried “I’m fine” Betty’s voice was low. “I
know that, but you aint fine in there” Edith
pointed
towards her heart “Its just that..I…its Jay-Jay”
betty told her. “Whats with Jay-Jay ?” “He said
he’s gonna be away for just two weeks, but
its almost a month now, no trace of him, no calls,
no
texts…and worst of all Exams is just two weeks
away.”
Betty explained looking down at her food “don’t
worry, he’s gonna be fine, He would be back
soon, okay, Jay-Jay can take care of himself”
Edith
was trying to cheer her up. “Okay” Betty sighed.
“Cheer up jor, eat up fast, Emeka is waiting!” Edith
told her with a smile.
Betty managed a low laugh.

---

Jay-Jay was pacing to and fro in his room. He
was
deep in thoughts. He has locked himself up in his
room since last night, not even his father’s
persistent
knockings made him open the door.
Rubbish! He drew a sharp breathe, what was his
father thinking anyway? Zimbabwe of all
countries!
His fingers ran through his hair roughly. For
once, he
regretted being a Robert’s family member. He
wondered what could be going on with Betty,
Tiger called this morning to say she is alright, but
even still…
He is not satisfied The person who told his father
he is a cultist will
surely pay for this! For the first time he wished
he had a mother. He had
never known her, neither did his dad tell him
about
her. He resigned never to ask about her, cos he
thought she’d be dead. A sharp knock interrupted
his thoughts… What the heck is this man looking
for again! He
groaned. He moved away from the door
determined not to
open it. His dad should just leave him alone!
“Jacob please open the door” Robert pleaded. Jay-
Jay inserted his fingers into ears. “Biko, open the
door.” Robert pleaded again. “What is it?” Jay-Jay
glared at his father, opening the
door slightly. “Can I come in?” “Why?” “We need to
talk.” Mr Robert looked sober.
Jay-Jay opened the door wider letting his father
in. “Sit down” Robert said quitely sitting on an
arm chair. Jay-Jay didn’t sit down, he rested his
back on the wall
instead, folding arms across his chest. “I said
sit…” “I don’t wanna sit!” he cut his father short.
“If you don’t sit,then we won’t talk” Robert sighed
“That means you aint ready to talk” “Jacob do you
realize you’re talking to your father?”
Robert’s voice was rising. “yes I do.” “Jacobs
what has come over you?” Robert yelled. “Nothing
at all!” Robert gasped. He shook his head gently
“Linda!” he
muttered under his breathe. “What?” Jay-Jay
couldn’t help asking. “Your mother, you sound
just like her, stubborn and
unruly” Robert said gently. Jay-Jay was shocked,
his mother?! “Jacob, you are just like your mum!
She ran away
when you were just one year old, I haven’t seen
her, I
came back to Nigeria cos of her, but can’t find
her.”
He said painfully. “Jacob, you are my only son…”
he continued.
“I want the best for you. Ever since your mum left
me,
I’ve set my hope on you, my life is strapped on
you…” his voice became shaky. Jay-Jay melted
within, he sighed. “Jacob please, don’t let me
down.” Jay-Jay squatted beside his father.
“Dad I love you, you know that, I won’t hurt you…”
“You already did, you joined a cult!” “Okay dad,
let’s strike a deal, you’l let me go back to
school and I’ll shun cultism.” He said placing an
arm
round his father. “I want your happiness, you’re
going back to school
tomorrow, please amend your ways” Roberts said
quitely. “Love you dad” Jay-Jay hugged his father.
“Love you son” Robert hugged him tightly. “So
dad, tomorrow right?” he sounded excited.
“Yea, promise me you’ll look for your mother”
Robert
smiled faintly. “Yea” Jay-Jay cared less. “Come let
me show you her picture…” Robert stood
up.
Jay-Jay followed him, Oh yes! Tomorrow he’l be
in
school.