WHERE IS SOTI?

                                     

 “Soti ! Soti !!” wait for me.

Inetimi screamed at the top of his voice as his older brother left grandpa’s hut, heading for Kiri - Layout, to see Weni, his best friend and partner in offensive related activities.

Soti will never listen to his mother, aunty Tare and grandpa who continuously tell him to keep his distance from Weni.

Maybe, Soti is trying to boycott the farming with us.

Grandpa and aunty Tare had already sorted out the tools for which we were taking to the farm. These tools includes, hoes, machetes, baskets and paddles, because we are crossing over the Forcados River.

Soti was heading for the community playground in Kiri - Layout, which is about 3km from my grandfather’s hut.

Inetimi overheard Soti and Weni discussing something but he never paid attention to details so he couldn’t get the purpose of the meeting, he only heard about the venue, but there was no way he will tell his mum because he loved his brother so much and avoided anything that will cause harm to him.

He thought he was saving his brother from been thrashed, but he never knew there was more danger ahead.

Visiting Buru-ama right from my childhood was a thing of fun. It was the best childhood memories I had. I enjoyed the taste of the Forcados River, flowing past Buru - ama. The colour is like that of Nutri - C. or Lipton tea, but ours was natural. Sometimes, we waited for faeces to flow past before fetching water to drink.

Soti and Inetimi were the only children from my aunty, Tare. Her husband fled when Inetimi was only three years, and ever since, grandpa had always looked out for the three of them.

Soti was just a replica of Mr Egbelegbele, his absconded father with hardened heart.

“Today, me flog am for Soti”, when cry for him eyes, so me stop. Granpa said

(Today, I will flog Soti until he shed tears)

Grandpa doesn’t speak English and his pidgin was not clear. Often times, he speaks our native dialect. Listening to grandpa speak the native language was an advantage to us, because it was easy for us to understand and speak our language.

The sun was scorching as the time was approaching nine o’clock in the morning. I, grandpa, aunty Tare and Inetimi set out around thirteen minutes to the hour of nine for the Forcados River to board the boat. I was in possession of a small paddle, so was Inetimi but the difference was, he carried a basket in addition, while I carried one hoe and a machete.

Arriving the river bank, Inetimi had to bail the water from the canoe, then we boarded.

Holiday was always fun in Buru-ama. The journey from the garden city to my village was not even as exciting as my stay in Buru - ama. Grandpa had so much to offer.

The wisdom of the elders can never be overlooked, I said to myself as I turned back and stared at grandpa’s grey hair in my seated position.

The canoe had five seats and grandpa was sitting at the back extreme of the canoe, while I sat in front of him. Aunty Tare was sitting at the front of the canoe with Inetimi behind her. The seat between myself and Inetimi was empty. Had soti joined us, he would have occupied the seat.

As we began paddling from the bank, two speed boats sped past us. The men were putting on different clothes with white scarfs. Arms and ammunitions were also sighted. These were signs that the Banga boys were in town.

Paddling on the Forcados River, faeces were floating with water hyacinth escorting them, occasionally, we saw fishes but we were net-less to help carry the fishes home for pepper soup.

We arrived the other side of the Forcados River, checked the farm, weed the unwanted grasses around the crops and made our way back home around ten minutes after the hour of two in the afternoon.

(Three girls whispering) - I talk am, I talk am, that boy go follow.

“Who were they referring to?”

I asked Inetimi.

The moment the girls turned and saw grandpa, shock waves held them.

Grandpa charged them,

“wetin talk una talk, come here Ebi, wetin you talk am for?”

Then she responded,

“papa na soti, e don follow Banga boys.”

Grandpa didn’t say anything further, he only signalled us to proceed.

Kpo ! kpra !! kpa ! kpa !! kpa ! – The Banga boys were announcing there exit with gunshots in the air from Buru - ama as we were about to cross the tarred road dividing the river banks from the town. They never shoot at natives, their main purpose was to recruit boys to fight for something they desire.

Soti had it all planned out. We sighted him and Weni behind their van with other recruits, sitting at the edges of the van. He was now tying a white scarf. Soti never loved college, he wanted to be powerful and dreaded. There he was, beginning his dream.

My holiday was coming to an end as schools were fast approaching………………………………………

Look out for the next episode.