CAMARADERIE TROUBLES

TEN PREVIOUS YEARS..

Here's how Solomon met his friends - the very first ones he grew up with. But the turnout wasn't good.

It shone so bright in the hot afternoon at Shagbo and its environs. The hot winds of the harmattan made sure it dried up mucus or any form of lubrication from every nostril, leaving it dried up. This made the owner wear a frowny look. How about the intensity of its sunshine? It struck every head. The ‘head owner’ must either find a shade or be ready to groan in the agony of migraines or frequent headaches.The nights were cold as anything else. Touch the great Shagbo River at night, it’s warm. Warm enough to prepare hot tea in the cold nights. Land and sea breeze was a recognized practical example of convection currents in nature.

The five-boy band was seen at their usual hideout; the bush. It was surrounded with large chumps of rocks, scattered trees and little shrubs. This was the cool atmosphere they considered as a place that helps them get inspiration during rehearsals. They were very popular and cos of it, they had to limit their presence in public places. Their major hideout was under the big baobab where the chirping of birds and chattering of monkeys was less heard. This allowed them focus on the rhythm of music.

One of them was Ikena, shortenened IK, the lead singer. He played no instruments, just his angelic voice. He was best known for his expansive four-octave vocal range and whistle register. He sang with high pitches and was never off key or beat. His beauty was divine, curly long hair, light-skinned, he also had a pointed nose on a cute face. He was a wonderful thing to behold. What did you expect? These traits drew much attention to the band. They gained wide audience in which most of them were the ‘awwwn awwwn’ girls who came to watch IK perform just to crush and express their unending lusts for him.

Chinua was the bass-guitarist. His rough unkempt beards gave him a matured look. A look that made a young youth seem like a man in his fifty’s. He had a persuasive mouth, a mouth sweet enough to convince and change what you believe. Even the most stubborn critic abi philosopher would bow to the words of Chinua and honor the relevance in what he says even when he was wrong. This guy was just like Adolf Hitler. “He would have been a great lawyer” his mama says, but Chinua would never believe that ‘shit’. He believed in the expression of his mastery on the thick strings of the bass guitar.

Everything Chinua said made sense to people even when it was trash. This made him attractive and special. He could give a client sound reasons why he should hire their band at a higher bid and huge sum for a performance. How about the day there was a land dispute at the Igwe’s palace involving the band and a rich chief Madu? Chinua made Igwe believe Madu was a thief and a charlatan who wanted to steal an acre off the band’s land which was beside his. Like charmed words, Igwe believed Chinua, seized the whole hectares of land that belonged to Madu and gave it to them additionally. Madu left the village angrily and threatened revenge!

Odogwu was a sanguine in the group. His talkative nature aided his performance in the stand-up comedy he does few minutes before the band perform at a concert. As the name implied ‘warrior’, he was a warrior in talking too much. He was very insultive. Whether make sense or not, you’d always see him talking, contributing his view and shallow understanding in every discussion. He was involved in one intense argument or the other, making some senseless comparisons. Yoruba’s called him ‘Gbeborun’ or ‘Solo Makinde iyawo dejo’ cos he usually engaged in gossip, his type sleep-talks at night. Never release your secrets to him unless you are prepared for it to be aired to all and sundry of Shagbo and neighboring villages. He was the drummer.

“In the multitude of words, iniquity is not lacking” so he knew when to use his tongue. The rhythm that comes from the sound when he played the keys was therapeutic.It could give life and

big dreams, selfish desires and lusts. The lust of the eyes,

ears". Judas overheard everything and seized up the situation to cause confusion between the two intimate friends to a point they almost had a terrible separation. "IK, you think I don't know you are into this? I already know what you do in secret when nobody watches you". He said boastfully to IK who was already feeling embarrassed. "Oh you thought you have a friend? You called your worst enemy your

to confide in. I never knew you were worse than Odogwu. So you had to spill the bean uhn?? Why would you be so wicked to let out what I deeply trusted you upon. I'm disappointed Solomon! So disappointed, and I don't think you can ever ever gain this trust you betrayed in my heart again" Solomon tried all

Right from then, IK started breeding and expressing bitterness toward poor Solomon.

CHAPTER 10

doctor called Myocardial Infarction (Heart attack). He had been rushed to the state hospital some days ago. We both decided to go pay Vicar a visit on his sick bed. Sandra and I had become close friends. Oh, you thought I didn't tell her about my clowny misfortunes? I did! You wouldn't believe it, after telling her, her love for

state. Sandra never felt different, sadness was written all over her. He was admitted to WARD 24 where he would wait for a Coronary Bypass Surgery. We both had to stay with him till he was going to be operated upon. I slept on the bare floor at nights while Sandra slept on a mat. We were sometimes lucky, we

****

"Where is Ikena?" Judas

imagine this son of a bitch not coming for music rehearsals? I told you all, he has grown wings and he feels he's

people remember the last party performance we had?" Odogwu cut in. "This guy was the only one people sprayed money. Damn, I was busy drumming, sweating profusely giving him back-up and so were the rest of you playing your different instruments with every energy only for

"Girls lurked around him like flies. As if we were bunch of ugly fools, none of them came near the rest of us. They avoided us like a plague.