The Sad Ending of Collins: How two packs of spaghetti cost life, thwarted dreams
He told his mother that he would be graduating in July. He was going to be the first graduate in the little family.
His poor father had sold out a good number of goats just to make up for his tuition fees.
The last time he came home, he had requested 30k and his father had to run around. He went through thick and thin to raise the money for his beloved son with whom he was well pleased.
He returned to campus with the money but a friend in need had learnt that he had some money and had begged him to lend him 25k. Another friend had persuaded him to lend their guy the money. The debtor had promised to repay him within two weeks. That was in fact, what had prompted him to release the money.
Two weeks slowly dragged like snails but it did exhaust without the repayment. He waited a few days but his friend was yet to pay him. He had to remind him but he kept telling him long stories. He had to give him some more time because of their relationship but the money that was needed had almost passed on.
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He didn’t know what else to do. His foodstuff had finished. He was out of gas. A few other things needed to keep an undergraduate in the green had run out too. He later went to Albert the second friend who had persuaded him to lend the other friend the 25k. He complained to Albert but was advised to remain patient as the cashless economy had affected everyone.
As he was completely broke, he asked Albert to assist him with some money but was rather told the same story of a cashless economy.
This dude emaciated within a couple of weeks. A full grown-up had unkempt hair and a beard and kept losing weight every two days. There were no longer available menial jobs. The little business he used to do was also washed up…
Meanwhile, Mama Ebuka was popularly known for her involuntary generosity. She owned a shop by the roadside. She was generous in the sense that students always picked up her things. At a time she would be attending to customers outside and someone would simply pick one or two things from what the streets call shop extension. This was the reason customers always flooded her shop.
Our humble creditor got knowledge of this and decided to go play his own game. He could pick something valuable. He got to the shop which looked busy as usual. After taking a shufti across the whole place, his keys dropped from his hand and he bent to pick them up. As he heightened up, two packets of spaghetti went with his hand into his jogger’s pocket. The pocket was large enough to swallow a goat. Another quick one: he stowed away a couple of Maggi cubes and salt. He looked around, his chest felt heavy. He was breathing fast. He was looking into the eyes of an officer in mufti.
That was it. He tried grinning at him but that didn’t work on the officer because the owner of the shop was his mistress. Yes, mama, Ebuka was his mistress. Exactly what the Bible would call concubine!
He dropped all his fingers had picked but that didn’t solve the puzzle of jams he was into. He pleaded but wasn’t pitied. If the officer had listened to him, things wouldn’t have gone out of control. But their voices had attracted the attention of Mama Ebuka. Mama Ebuka had been pained by the number of items that were always missing. Every day is for the thief, one day for the owner! Everything was heaped on him. So, it’s been him all the while.
They beat him like he wasn’t born of a woman. Like he was an animal! They stripped him naked and paraded him around the streets. The officer couldn’t do much as the mob was beyond his control. He should have at least been arrested. Later in the evening, he was burnt up.
That was how a four-year University dream was thwarted. His parents had been waiting for that great day. Their happiest day! All their sacrifices had been dashed into the mud.
An only son had been blown off like candlelight.
Should I say rest in peace Collins or Gnash in wrath?
While he was being beaten, people who knew him were asking why he didn’t beg them for money or food. Who said he hadn’t gone to people for help? These same people who had turned him down…
This is why I try to help people the little way I can. No matter what, you shouldn’t have tried it, Collins. Now you’ve gone to be seen no more. Ah! If anyone runs to you for help, try to help in every way possible.
Source: Non-fiction, parade. com/Victor SN Okeworo
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