FAMILY PROBLEMS AGAIN

GODFREY JUSTICE

On a trip, I met Lucy (not her real name) a typical young Fulani of twelve but based in Lagos who had lost her way. Zaria to be precise on a visit to Ahmadu Bello University; she looked devastated as if she had  lost focus, shedding tears in search of something I never knew about. I quickly approached the young lad whom I pitied so much, hey girl! What are you doing here by this time of the night?  Without much ado she narrated her ordeals to me as tears continued to trickle down cheeks, she had lost her elder cousin, her cell phone, their luggage, and everything thing in their possession. Lucy and her cousin were going for a matriculation ceremony in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. What a coincidence!

Her impeccable English marveled me as she spoke “am so happy I have somebody now whom I can speak to, I have been in a state of incommunicado for hours, and nobody seems to understand English language here. Right now I don’t know where I am, I don’t have a cell phone to contact anybody. Please I just need you to help me get back to Lagos, my parents will be worried and they must have tried to reach me I presume”, Lucy lamented.

Her predicaments will impede my long anticipated stay in Zaria I soliloquized. We went together for the ceremony, eventually returned back to Lagos. I quickly recalled that age is just a period of years you have spent on the earth and never a yardstick to having wisdom. We had a pleasing moment as the car traveled on 140 kilometers per hour, we discussed salient issues. She disclosed to me her origin and the mother being the major impediment in the family. My mother has been a torn on the flesh of my daddy, she said. I marveled and never had an iota of doubt over every comment she uttered.

In the long run, I took her to the parents; they did everything in a bid to reward me of the amble role I had played but I was never a party to that. This hospitality and kind gesture I exhibited had earned me a good relationship with Mr. Peter John (not his real name), the father to Lucy. He had continually confided in me personal issues which I cited abnormal. Anyway, I just needed to play along with him to save the relationship from going into extinction. I have been playing an advisory role on his personal issues whenever he needs it. He had never hesitated in seeking my opinion whenever he needs them. I gradually became his personal adviser in various matters. Mr. Peter will always bombard me with marital issues which I despised, because I never linked meddling in family issues. This had prompted me to continually carry out extensive research on relationship. It is never expected of me to be adamant and short of ideas whenever he brings up issues pertaining to his marital life.      

 It was a cozy afternoon on a Saturday when my cell phone rang countless number of times but I never bothered to pick up the call. My nervous systems were all at task thinking of what will happen the next day, I never wanted any distractions but my conscience will never allow me to be at rest having declined to answer the call.  Having a nap on Saturday is an addiction having passed through rigorous and strenuous exercises during the week. I decided to check who the caller was; it was Mr. Peter John. Oops! I exclaimed. I quickly imagined, for Mr. Peter John to call me more than three times, it means that it’s means that my attention is urgently needed. It was as if I had committed the most heinous crimes on earth not to have picked up the call.

I summoned courage to answer the call having brainstormed a convincing excuse to give him. Hello good afternoon Mr. Peter John am really sorry for not picking up your calls, I have been sleeping I said, he told me to be in his house in the next fifteen minutes. From my residence to his house is about thirty minute’s drive that is if there is no traffic jam. How on earth could it be possible for me to be there in the next fifteen minutes? Luckily there was no traffic, I got to his residence, and it looked as if it was a deserted area, and the gate was widely open as if it’s no longer the popular estate within the metropolis I use to know. Anxiety immediately filled my body; I went to straight to his inner chambers only to see the media itinerant expert over the years as he claimed, an inveterate money spinner shading tears. Immediately he set his eyes on me, he gained confidence on the other hand I consoled him. Mr. Peter what is it this time? I asked. 

Mr. Peter, a strict and principled man whom I uphold in high esteem was transfixed to the ground for several minutes before he could disclose to me. My curiosity increased in geometric progressions as he persisted on staying on the ground. I was just interested in knowing the bone of contention. He finally got up and said “my wife had molested one of my clients in the office in the name of infidelity; this lady in question is one of my clients. As if that was not enough, she had the kamikaze to connive with thugs to steal away my new model jeep which I bought just a month ago”.  “How come you know about that”, I asked. “One of the thugs came to me this morning unveiling the negative development to me. You have been my personal adviser, I must appreciate that. I have never declined your advice. I need your counseling like never before. Be it as it may, you must never give me a counsel that will be to the detriment of my wife wellbeing because I love her”, Mr. Peter disclosed. I told him I will get back to him in 48 hours.