An Endless Ode From This Grateful Heart
You lit up our hearts and faces. Now, come bask in your light.
Does sunset sometimes look like the sun is coming up?
Do you know what a faithful love is like?
You're crying; you say you've burned yourself.
But can you think of anyone who's not hazy with smoke?
~ Rumi (1207 - 1273)
If ever a phone call or message brought healing and wholeness, yours was it.
And right in time.
On that day, I've been having recurring headaches throughout the previous three nights.
I've already gobbled down several doses of pain relief tablets in quick succession. Yet, there was no abatement to the raging cacophony of invisible drummers in my head.
Last night, I told your Sister B, "Look, tomorrow morning, you must drive me to the medical lab for tests. I must find out why my health was taking a downturn. I must be unstuck from home when another hustling opportunity comes up."
"OK, let tomorrow come. But Bobby can drive you there."
"No, I don't want Bobby to drive me. You're the one to drive me to that lab."
We usually do medical lab tests before buying drugs to treat the frequent bouts of malaria and typhoid. With the ever-rising cost of living, money is tight and most of whatever cash comes in goes into our hard and grueling hand-to-mouth subsistence.
Pharmacy shops were ubiquitous and always within walking distance away from every home. But we always go for medical lab tests before purchasing any medicine. That has been our best approach to avoiding โkilling me softlyโ self-medication.
Our pockets and wallets are shallow and perenially thinned out. Going for lab tests before buying medicines has been our long-time recourse for warding off doctors and health bills. Thus far, this approach has worked well. Many Nigerians follow this same tried and tested health amendment route. Consequently, business has been booming for the expanding array of pharmacists and medicine stores that line most of our cityโs streets.
The only other thriving business is groceries and food marketing. For years, our country has been struggling under a tortuous economy. Nevertheless, under this hand-to-mouth economy, man must wack (eat).
Your health comes first, closely followed by your belly.
Thank God.
Located 2 kilometers away, the lab is in a "badly-roaded" section of our town. Because of the bad road, you are better served going on foot instead of driving or being driven. My quivering limbs decided for me. I dared not trek. Your Sister B will drive me there. I only pity the old car. It must bear with the rough and cratered driveway one more time.
โI donโt even know why the owner of that lab seems to prefer housing his business in hard-to-reach uninviting spots.โ But, my rants wonโt change anything.
I was still unmoved by her solicitous "Why not let Bobby drive you there?"
"No, you are the one to do it o". Now edging me on, she smiled, "Well l will just drive the car as close to the lab as possible. You will have to trek the remaining distance to the lab from wherever we stop.โ I nodded in agreement with her plan.
By this time, the invisible thumpers in my brain have stepped up their beats. Crawling out of our netted bed in resignation I braced up for the compulsory visit to the medical lab.
It was then your bank alert message came in!
One-quarter grand has been credited to my beleaguered famished account!
These past several months, all the money that ever entered that account has been in a piecemeal fashion. I barely had any contact with the bucks lodged there. The paltry amount gets tokenized away in no time. No thanks to ever pressing past and present outstanding expenses and bills.
Just a week ago, I returned from a two-night job trip to an oilwell location in Imo State. On one of those two nights, I had to sit bent double with my head on my knees throughout the night. For my hassles, I came home with N20,000. I was expecting N40,000.
My cup wasnโt running over yet, but it was more half-full than half-empty.
Gratitude is my preferred state of mind. I choose to stay there.
I checked my account again. Indeed I was one whole quarter grand richer. "See, this is what Bro E has sent to us o." She sighed in relief and gratitude. "Praise God."
And then speechless. I followed her into our sitting room.
Morning chores over, I called her again. "Sweetie, look, I'm no longer feeling the headache again o. The nagging pain seems to be fading away. I don't think, I'll be needing any lab tests again."
Her face beamed out as she chuckled, "Are you sure it is not money-sickness that has been worrying you?"
Morning chores over, I called her again. "Sweetie, look, I'm no longer feeling the headache again o. The nagging pain seems to be fading away. I don't think, I'll be needing any lab tests again."
Her face beamed out as she chuckled, "Are you sure it is not money-sickness that has been worrying you?"
She was right on target. I've tried to shrug off the pressing oncoming school fees season. Demands on our scarce cash will be hot and hard at our heels in the next two to three weeks. First, for the one in the secondary school (SS2) and then for the cadet engineer at UST.
My brother, that was how the headache vamoosed. And since then it hasn't returned. Just like that, my headache disappeared. The tormenting drummers in my skull have taken their vacation.
You see, we can't thank you enough. We'll be forever grateful. The God of heaven, whom you've been serving from your youth will keep bearing you on eagle's wings. May His mercies and favors be forever multiplied upon you and your lovely family as well as your brothers and sisters. In Jesusโ name. Amen.
I recalled your concerns a couple of times after you left. I enjoyed and I'll always cherish our brief grand tour of your Umuahia town while you were around.
Forever memorable.
I must tell you also, now, I feel connected to, and also a part of your extended family. Iโve even called some of them since you left.
After all that I saw you expended at home, I must confess that it was an "overdo" that you could still reach out to us the way you did - so much.
Things are not easy anywhere. The large, caring, loving, and sacrificial heart you have for others (especially me) is uncommon. Yes, we cannot thank you enough. And we'll be forever grateful.
Indeed, the money as originally requested was to finance her business. Now, the school fees season is in. The purchasing power of our naira is ever-frittering away. We couldn't commit all the money to the business as you would naturally expect. Forgive my unavoidable re-purposing of your allocated funds.
Do understand that I'm not trying to border you with another request for more money. No. At least, not right away. It is just our way of being accountable to our beloved benefactor.
The attached pictures will give you an idea of the business she is into. The purchasing power of our naira is constantly attriting away. As a result, our financial input into the business can barely buy 4 or 5 bags of rice (at current retail prices). Our naira is constantly racing towards zero value. The only plus is that the store is ours.
Her business partner, Sister E is my friend, Brother Kโs wife. She extends her gratitude for the money you gave to her kids while you were here. Her little boy and girl call us grandpa and grandma.
By the day, inflation continues to trend upwards and dig ravenously deeper into our lean pockets. None of your fellow Nigerians has been spared this downturn.
"Isn't that speculation? Aren't we hoarding โฆ ?" To this, the enterprising woman, Sister E, had a ready and convincing answer "Grandpa, the way prices of foodstuffs are skyrocketing every day, the per bag price of rice may go as high as N100,000 by December o." (Presently, rice sells for N50,000 or N52,000.).
Hearing her innate seemingly resilient business acumen left me speechless.
Out of the 100 bags, in the store, 10 are for Sister E. Exposing her business insights, "Whether we speculate, hoard or do otherwise, the prices will go up by December. If I (we) can stock up now, by Christmas time, we will surely make a good profit on any money invested "
With her infectious optimism still switched ON, she was soon out of the compound. Her office (market stall) is a walking distance away at the roadside market near the petrol station.
With a growing fleet of over 12 land rigs, the Indian company is the biggest oil drilling company in Nigeria. I was with them last week. They are still holding on to the money owed to my foreign partner in Russia.
The business started before the Russia - Ukraine war broke out. In the aftermath of this raging disaster, SWIFT bank transfers to and from Russia were blocked. At the current exchange rate, if the money due me from that agency deal has gotten through to us, we will have more than enough for the boysโ school fees through the university. But here we are, exposed and vulnerable.
Daily we are hanging on to hope.
And faith.
I don't know where I would have been by now if I had borrowed money (over N30 million) to execute that business. That company personnel feels no scruples wiping me and my company out of existence. And all these setbacks from them even though we've always played fair and straight with them in all our previous deals.
Nevertheless, we are not giving up, I can't afford litigation. I've written to them again and again. I will still write and possibly involve some government agencies in my quest for redress.
Last July, I signed a one-year consulting contract with a Nigerian company. The money averaged out at N120,000 per month.
Almost all the money has been spent on erasing our backlog of mounting bills. It ought to be at least 3 times that amount, but here, it's a sellers' market. The company calls me when I'm needed. Presently, my call-out times average 4 to 8 days per month. The owner of this new company was a former manager at the last company I worked for. That was over eight years ago. I must confess, he offered me a good deal. I hope to make good use of it.
Itโs not yet Uhuru, at least a half-full cup of meal is better than an empty one.
I'm still making contacts and hustling out for more such consulting opportunities.
I've been chirping away at my shining candy bar these past dozens of minutes. The time was 10:40 a.m. Suddenly, my grandkids knocked at my door. Their tweets rang out in unison, "Grandpa come and eat your food."
"I should come and eat my food?"
"Yes"
"OK. Thank you. I'm coming out right now."
Delay is dangerous you will say.
Back in the dining room, I washed my hands and sat at the set table.
Teasingly I sing song my invitation.
"I'm going to eat my food, any person that wants to share with me is invited. I'm going to eat my foodโฆ โฆ "
Not long afterward, my little angel took me at my words."Grandpa, I want some bread."
"Go and wash your hands first."
Now back at the table, I chunked out some portion of the unsliced bread. Gladly munching and relishing her morsel, she shined her lovely eyes at me every now and then. Knowing her unexpressed desire, I asked, "Do you want some eggs?"
"Yeess." She reached out for some of my omelets and retired to her seat. Satiated. Her brother joined me for his portion.
Their hardworking mum had prepared a delicious meal of beans pottage. They preferred to not eat or not eat enough of their breakfast.
Reminiscences. It has been over forty years since my grandpa's demise. Brother and sister reminded me of how I and my siblings used to run upstairs to get more morsel from our old man.
Sister B has been out of town. Three days ago, she traveled to Abua Odual LGA via (Bayelsa State) for our church's women's conference. Yesterday, I told Bobby, go and bring your mummy for me o. To which he smiled in reply "Don't worry, mummy will soon be back."
Out-of-network coverage is out of reach. But this morning, she woke me up via a borrowed line. Her Glo and 9mobile lines had no network where she was.
"Tell them to release you to come back home quickly. Today or tomorrow?"
"I don't know when, but I will tell them."
My brother, you are in order. Join us as the laughter continues. The smile has not faded away. Yes. After all, you were the one that catalyzed it on us.
Amen.
Afterword
Thanks for picking up your phone when we called. All the more, thank you for answering before we called.
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