By Adeniyi Taiwo Kunnu
The need to have a solution surpasses his concern for the misfits on Misfit Avenue. The street was unusually crowded with several persons gathered in different spots. A number of football viewing centers are on both sides of the road, while gambling spots equally adorn every available spot. Babylon may not have been this way, even Las Vegas operates her several industries of voluntary losses with a sense of finesse. Young boys in their early teens have gambling tickets in their hands, laughing in the hope of quick money for which they have no need. The link road was to Jagaban Street, where Evelyn lived was not different. A woman quickly washed her baby bum, wiped her hand dry off her wrapper and went straight to sell fried bean cake for a man who looks tired of waiting, rather than irritated by the unhygienic manner in which a food vendor practices her trade. It was truly another reality than specter of those who occupy the pitiable wrung of society’s ladder. A ladder they may never climb up from, painfully, never.
His visit to Evelyn was unlike that to Suraj. He could not call to confirm if she was at home or not, but left his visitation to fate, believing that a higher hand will help him meet her at home. The call may have been possible, but the phone battery went flat as the entire Aso Area was in stark darkness throughout the night and has been so for the past days. He was close to her house when a shout attracted his attention. A man and a woman who appears to be his wife were dragging an adolescent either way. She was cursing him, while the man, who obviously appears stronger would not let go of the child. From words traded, she said he left without saying a word six years ago, only to re-appear and desirous of an automatic ticket to their lives. She would rather die fighting than allow a man who caused her a most harrowing experience to be an inch close to them. When the man who had been silent eventually spoke, he said the woman’s family treated like a scumbag because he was jobless and now that he has the wherewithal to take care of his daughter he must have her or both of them. Their child bore the brunt of the pull, as she continued shouting her mother’s name to no avail.
The troubles of family life are so much that at times remaining unattached helps one’s sanity. One marries a woman only to be spited by her family just because fortunes changed. A supposed happily forever wedding suddenly turns into a brewery of unconscionable acts, where I replaces we and us dies a quick death as soon as me shrugs it off.It is a reminder of a case that came up for hearing sometime ago, I had gone with a friend to a magistrate court and for the first time I saw that home movies are far below in entertainment than the live drama at the law court. The plaintiff is wife to the defendant, though a very wealthy illiterate, he supported her through the first and second degrees, while also assisting his wife’s younger brother through university and Law School.
Ironically,it was his wife’s male sibling that represented her in court. She prayed that the court dissolved her union and grants her ownership of two of his five properties. The defendant on the other brought documents to prove, that he built the houses she was asking for before they got married and as such she was not entitled to what she did not work for. The adjournment to the case put paid to my knowing the verdict, but the Judge’s parting shot was that it sounded ridiculous, for a woman to suddenly realize that her husband’s illiteracy was the cancer affecting her social status. This is one of the many dramas of marriage with its attendant encumbrances.
The time was five in the evening and Evelyn’s place was in sight. His hope was that he met her, got what he wanted and returned. The fast food joint on the other side of Jagaban Street reminded him of his bowel movement occasioned by hunger. He increased his pace a bit, getting some encouragement from the superstition of hitting his right foot against a stone. This meant she was in, thus, real hope of an evening meal and guaranteed attendance to work the next day. He exchanged pleasantries with those at the entrance warmly, but their response only added to the fact that they were not familiar faces. It was rather cold response from them. He could hear them whispering but for all he cared, Evelyn would be the respite to help him out of his predicament.
He almost puked when the door was gently pushed open. This could not be the Helen he saw three months ago. He knew she was not a physically perfect person, but Helen had managed her sickle Cell problems well. He forgot every bit of what brought him and sat confused than in need. She was raised by her guardian, because her parents believed that being sickly meant one was suffering from some water spirits. An aged family member could not stand the ill-treatment and brought her to the city after one of her visits to the village. Mama Lagos was at least a little enlightened and had to enquire from health workers what her ailment was. It was at this point that she knew what had been disturbing the innocent ten year old. Mama Lagos was not perfect, but she sure left her imprints of love on her before she passed on. The room she occupies was mama Lagos’ but became hers after her benefactor was buried. Life was not kind to such good people she always thought. Why would she not have a child even if no man could see her as good enough for a wife? Her life was an endless wait for a suitor who never came and maybe her overt conservative lifestyle shooed the prospects off.
She looked too sickly to be left alone by herself and the person who needed help now became the helper. He wanted to ask why no one has been called in to help; why she did not deem it okay to send a message or put a call through. These questions would just remain un-answered because her life appeared to be ebbing off. She could not breathe well, her back ached and Infact, all the signs of genetic disorder appear to be taking its toll on her. He knew all about Sickle Cell Anemia, but has not been privy to its real impact. It is a fact that the frequent and severe infection is as a result of an abnormal form of hemoglobin, known as Hemoglobin S. This deformed hemoglobin fails in its function of transporting oxygen consistently to the cells. It is sure to affect Evelyn, who hails from the South Western part of the country, but those who are from the Middle East and India are also prone to this ailment. As a matter of fact up to twelve percent of African Americans are also affected by this genetic disorder.
He was able to get Evelyn to the hospital and felt a huge relief that he could save a life. His hunger has abated by the time he got her to the hospital, while worries about the money he was yet to find seem to be of little concern. The doctor immediately placed her on a medication that he could not understand, but he was less disturbed so far he saw an almost immediate change from the person he brought in a while ago. Could Sickle be cured? There are still no known permanent remedies, but he is aware of the extract from Sorghum known as Sorghum Bi-colour, an extract from the sheath of this Sorghum plant which works wonders. It was a research he knew the Brunswick Laboratory in the United States carried out and it has recorded immense successes in Nigeria. It was first tested on rats injected with Trypanosomiasis – a microscopic organism that lives in the blood of some vertebrates – but later became these rats were better after Sodium Bi-colour was introduced as remedy. This was at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, before being sent to the laboratory in the United States for confirmatory reasons.
He returned home at six thirty, leaving Evelyn in the care of the nurses and the only human being with a heart of flesh from her compound. Janet happens to be the only confidant that Evelyn has, but was away on official duties for two weeks and did not know all that had happened. They were at an NGO forum on an island, and as such the inability to keep their communication going. She was however grateful that a friend was there when another friend needed her most. The law of positive reciprocity appears to be on a journey. Maybe to the Himalayas or Kalahari Desert, because if not, why has it not happened that help would come his way? He had overlooked the five hundred naira debt owed him by Suraju, while also seeing that a friend is kept alive. At least he deserved some reprieve from his troubles. There are some people who do not merit this type of situation. He hardly ever takes what does not belong to him, and if the situation permitted, he would render help to the needy. The condition he was in could not be fathomed. How can somebody be suffering like this? Just how a human being could be living this way is unthinkable.
Aso Villa was never an area he wanted to live in. He was raised in an area not much better than Esugbayi, but not as worse as his current abode. Ajegunle was known as where the rundown of society lived, but that could be told to the winds because the area has accounted for many of Nigeria’s great footballers. It is an area where people know they needed to hussle daily or stay hungry. The industriousness by people in this area is positively challenging. Local politics could be interesting; where a certain Oluwa family believes that their lineage has the eternal joker to sit on the chairmanship podium at every election. Ajeromi Ifelodun local government also boasts of the eminent Ojora and the colossus Okoya families, who are also not left out of the race. Power swings like pendulum amongst these families, but the Oluwa family seems to have perfected the art of returning. The distasteful part of their being in office is that, they leave the area where their family houses are and go to tar roads in another locality under their auspices. Even if what they were doing was to ensure that it did not appear that they were practicing nepotism, the disservice to their primary area is extreme. Honour completely eludes them at home and this remains an issue they have to grapple with until the bad blood is cured.
