A girl's mind [chapter twelve]

News came into the college that Chop-pay had survived the gruesome attack on him but would be crippled for life.Then rumours filtered in that members of the cult that mauled him,on hearing he was alive,were planning fresh attack on Chop-pay in the clinic.The young man was whisked away by concerned relatives to an undisclosed location.1

The NCE examinations terminated in the middle of the second week of July and the NCE students after the football match between them and the IJMB students left the college for their individual homes for the two-month-long vacation.The third week of July witnessed the IJMB students taking theirs.And just like the NCE examinations,the maggot of examination malpractice wriggled embarrassingly in the rotten fabric of the cheats.2

The long years of military dictatorship where quantity was valued over quality and merit cowered at the glare of nepotism,the get-rich-quick syndrome permeated the national psyche and education had the seizures.In a society where wealth is celebrated and nobody cares how you make it - countrymen and women fall over themselves to make wealth.And the teachers from primary to tertiary institutions soon found out that that reward awaiting them in heaven could easily be garnered here too and they blissfully decided to do so.3

Instead of textbooks,they devise what is called handouts and sell copies of these every new academic session to every new student.If you fail to buy your copy,you are bluntly told,forget about passing your examination no matter what you think you wrote!Then sundry settlements are made from time to time,like submitting your test paper with a certain sum,before you can ever think of making your marks.And if you are ever ready to pass your external examinations there were certain teachers on standby and with your money,passing your examinations was a foregone conclusion.And parents who could have demanded something better knew how the society works and during examinations were only asking their wards how much it would cost to pocket the examiners so they [the wards] could get their grades or points.4

Eddy witnessed a typical case of examination malpractice in broad daylight.A young IJMB student living in the compound to the left of Eddy's had his eldest brother who was in the university come around to take his examinations for him after he had negotiated a deal with a lecturer who had his toes in the IJMB programme.Not that it was surprising.Cheating in examinations wears a familiar cloak nationwide and has a long history too.Press people were hounding these products of cheating at the top echelons of governance.The Lower House of the National Assembly had to boot out recently such specimen and it was no other person than the 'Honourable' Speaker himself!5

Eddy and Titi sweated over their examinations and this Thursday afternoon of the second week of August rested their pens.As they left the college premises and moved to the highway,impatient hostelers lined both sides of it with their luggage awaiting vehicles that could convey them to their different destinations.Then it occurred to Eddy that some of these students here he was seeing for the very last time - they might never meet again in this life.Deep in His mind he wished them journey mercies to whichever angle of the earth they all called home.6

*        *          *7

It was Friday and the night was dark,windy and cold.Everybody,absolutely everybody - the villagers and the remnant students - were all indoors and hugging their sleeping spaces.But Eddy and Titi, apprehensive of the separation tomorrow would bring,sat close on the bench in the veranda chatting their souls out.8

All day long was for Titi washing and packing with her room-mates as they had all planned to leave the village very early the next day.And this night it was natural she got as close as she could to her boyfriend.Of course,everyone knows no matter how sweet the parting song is it leaves a throbbing ache as well.How do you fight the loneliness of the days ahead until the reunion?This fact bothered the minds of these two love-birds.9

'Would you come to Calabar?'Titi asked.10

'If you want me to.But how do we handle your mum?'Eddy voiced his greatest concern.11

'Oh,my God!'Titi exclaimed.'I hope I did not at any time give you the impression my mum is a monster!She's only protective of her eldest daughter so an ugly accident wouldn't happen twice.I'm going twenty and old enough to have a boy-friend.Mum has deep trust in me and any picture I paint of you is what she'd take.And you've not been disappointing so far.'12

'Yea!'Eddy reacted happily.'Such glowing compliment for me!'He hooked his arm round her.13

'But that's no permission to get naughty,'Titi reprimanded in jest,laughing.14

'And what if?'Eddy said.15

'Then you better not show your beautiful face where my mum is because your score-card would read nil and there would be the worst remark you can ever think of on it as well,'Titi forewarned.16

'Okay,I'd behave,'Eddy said,his fingers caressing her side.17

'And I can tell you're sure behaving!'Titi mocked and they both laughed.Then she added:'And importantly,when you come don't forget the name is Ekamma.Mum calls me that.If it doesn't work quickly,ask of 'Mma Nurse'.My mum is the only hospital worker in the entire block.'18

Titi's real name was Tina Titus Etekamba but because of the many Tina's in the IJMB programme,Miss Etekamba was identified simply by her acronym.19

'I'd sure come,'Eddy said.20

'When?'21

'Soon.'22

'How soon?'23

'Before I leave for home.'24

'When are you leaving for home?'25

'I can't tell but soon.'26

Silence reigned.Titi knew something but did not feel like airing it.27

Certainly,Eddy was not going back to his home-town,Ikot Ekpene,nor was he visiting his sister in the city in a hurry.He had a deal with Dave:he was expecting him tomorrow evening in the village from the jungle which he had entered soon after returning from campus three weeks ago to forage for bush mangoes.It was the bush mango season and evidence abounded in the village.The producers of ogbono,the extract from the core of this fruit,were hard at work and the buyers were milling around buying.Eddy wanted to experience the jungle first-hand.He longed to sleep and wake up and walk round the jungle and know life as it is lived there.But he did not want to cloud Titi's mind with too many fears so he refused to tell her that.28

'I'd miss you,'Eddy broke the silence,his hand seeking Titi's and interlocking their fingers.'Never been close to any girl like this before in my life and never met any girl with a mind as yours too.I aspire to love you for all time.'29

Titi remained silent still.30

And Eddy got stupid suddenly:'If I have the money,would you marry me and on your birthday?'he blurted out.31

'Sometimes,I think poets are mad!'Titi said,giggling.'And if you don't have...'32

'I sure must have!Eddy said.'Education is the master-key to unlocking the door to wealth and every truly educated person is a potential rich individual and I'm not exempted.Then to really move into wealth one has to set one's mind to it...'33

'Do you know the legion of educated persons that are wallowing in penury this very minute?'Titi intercepted,asking.34

'Education is not having a long chain of degrees and true wealth is broader than property and money we narrow it to.Education is the flexibility you acquire in harnessing your knowledge in such a way positive results are yielded.You and your talents and the education you've got in honing them to achieve positive results become the wealth,true wealth.The mansions,the state-of-the-art cars and chunks of money in the banks are the by-products of this wealth.Papers would not get you a single thing if you have nothing in your head to back them up - except if only you want to defraud and steal and there's also a terrible price you'd pay for these.If there's any truly educated person who is poor at this minute,the next second don't be surprised to see him or her up - education has a built-in bounce.Unless he or she chooses to,no educated person is poor - though he maybe down [I repeat the word 'down'] in the meantime,'Eddy ended.35

Silence reigned again.36

Then Eddy nudged Titi in the side and said:'What's the answer to my question?'37

'And what was the question?'Titi asked.38

Eddy smiled in the dark.'Would girls ever hear the question once?'he said and repeated:'Would you marry me and on your birthday?'39

'I thought the tradition is to kneel down and propose?'Titi said mischievously.40

'No,I don't want to,'Eddy reacted and stood up.Then he brought Titi to her feet too,holding her hands.'Most men who do that - with the way they ill-treat their spouse later - seem to me to be saying to the woman:"as I kneel to get you you'd kneel the rest of your life to keep me'!I have no intention of turning my spouse to a slave!'41

The greatly amused Titi again said:'Okay,eel,always wriggling yourself out of every tight corner.Don't I also merit a flower and a ring over a candle-lit dinner?'42

'The greatest flower I can give you right now,'Eddy said,'is your birthday;the greatest ring my soul and the greatest candle-lit dinner is our wedding.'43

'And we are still waiting!'Titi said excitedly.'Take me to the altar,poet!I'd marry you for your words!'44

Spontaneously,they hugged and kissed - a lingering confirmation kiss of an unending affection.Then came the wind raging - the turbulence chasing,with great difficulty,the elated twosome back to their rooms.45

*           *            *46

As the cathedral bell rang for the first time this drab Saturday morning,dewdrops ticking away on leaves outside,Eddy and Vincent woke up.And so were Titi and her room-mates.Surely,there would be a long wait to board vehicles to leave the village in the daytime.So this clique had planned to leave very early before the influx of departing students to the bus-stop later in the day.47

With the wicks of their lanterns up and the rooms flooded with bright light,they busied round their rooms putting final touches to their preparations to leave.Then they bathed.48

It seemed everyone had a sibling or cousin that was coming into the college next academic session to do one programme or the other.Most of the departing students booked their rooms for those coming and apart from their wear,left behind all the other belongings.49

Vincent,Titi and her room-mates - all clad in jeans - appeared on the veranda with just their bags.Then Titi held to her fiance's hand and drew him back to his room.There they clung together - thinking of their eventual parting.50

'I'd miss you,'Eddy said.'But I'd always be there with you in spirit.'51

Titi said nothing.52

'I love you,'Eddy said again,'and you have a permanent place in the deepest part of my soul.'53

'You'd visit me...soon?'Titi's voice quavered.54

'Yes,'Eddy said.55

'I'd be expecting you.It's clear you're not going home with us because you're going back into the jungle with Dave.I know I can't change the way you think but take care and always remember I love you.'56

They kissed and that moment came they had to let go of each other.As they separated,she tried hiding it but failed - Eddy saw in the light of the lantern a tear stealing down Titi's cheek.She bravely walked out and he followed closely behind,staring at her colourful scarf - thinking.Then he gently shut the door.57

THE END.58

-GODWIN S. U. INYANG59

LAGOS,NIGERIA.60

26TH JULY,2004.61