EPISODE SIX

The Ajayi's Residence...

Knock-Knock-Knock!

“Mrs. Ajayi, please open up!” Mrs Kamsin, their next-door neighbor yelled.

“Hello Mrs. Kamsin, what brings you here this afternoon?” Mrs Ajayi asked as she opened the door to receive her neighbour. “Please I need a huge favour from you. Can Tochi and Sammy come stay here for some few hours? I have to get to the hospital to see a family friend and also run a quick errand for her at her house……she has no one to help her. I don’t want to be driving the children everywhere; my husband is away on a business trip and today is my maid’s day off so I was wondering if…”

“Yes, you can bring them here,” Mrs. Ajayi interrupted, “It’s not a problem at all, what are we neighbours for?”

“Oh thank you so much, I owe you on this one,” she yelled as she ran up the stairs back to her apartment.

“Hey guys, Tochi and Sammy will be staying here while their mum runs a quick errand for someone. I need you to be good and hospitable while they are here,” Mrs. Ajayi explained to the kids, whose eyes were glued to the T.V.

“Oh, guess they’re here already,” she whispered to the kids and walked briskly towards the door. 

“Welcome darlings!” she smiled as the two teenage kids walked into their house. 

Tochi was a fifteen-year-old, older than his brother with three good years. Tochi immediately walked towards Bimbo, embracing her. He was just a year older than Bimbo. While Tochi and Bimbo went into the room to converse, Sammy stayed with Kemi and Kunle in the living room. They were watching a movie so everyone had their eyes all glued to the TV. Suddenly, there was a power cut. “I’m sure they’re going to take 15 minutes looking for the power source.”

“Exactly!” All three seemed to enjoy the movie.

There was a huge silence in the living room. Kemi’s mum had gone to her room while they were watching TV; she could still hear Bimbo and Tochi’s voice from the room catching up; they were really having a good time. Kemi turned to face Kunle, who was already fast asleep. “This boy,” she muttered to herself.

“What did you say?” Sammy’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Oh no-nothing”, she stuttered. For some reason, she felt shy being around Sammy. He was two years older than her, slightly taller, intelligent and confident. He dressed well too and had a good physique.

“So tell me something I don’t already know about you?” Sammy interrupted Kemi’s thoughts again.

“Well, I’m not sure there’s anything I would want you to know that you don’t know already know… oh, yes…I would be starting college in your school next year!” Kemi cried with excitement.

“Really? That would be cool, means I would be seeing you more.” Sammy chuckled.

“What can I offer you?” Kemi inquired thoughtfully.

“A bottle of coke please!” Sammy responded with a smile.

He had a cute smile too; she forgot that part as she walked towards the kitchen. Kemi came back into the living room with a two bottles of Coke™ and Fanta™, along with her lunch box. Lifting the side stool beside the sofa and positioning it in front of Sammy, she placed the drinks and her lunch box on the stool.

“What do you have in there?” Sammy asked, pointing at the lunch box. “Oh! That’s my favorite lunch box and I have some cookies in there. I like to use it even when I am not in school,” Kemi responded, admiring her lunchbox.

“Do you want some cookies?” she asked.

“Yes I do, thank you”, he responded.

“You know you won’t need this precious lunchbox of yours once you get into my school, right?” Sammy asked after they had both finished the cookies.

“Really? Why would you say that? I would still love to take lunch to school,” Kemi questioned.

“Well, College is for big boys and big girls, nobody goes around with a lunch box; besides, you get to eat lunch in my school.” Sammy responded.

“Are you serious? Tell me more please!” Kemi pleaded for more details.“Okay, I’ll tell you,” Sammy chuckled. 

“During lunch break, we have a dining area where everyone in the college gathers. There are usually three meal options, everyone files out in a single line, picks up plates and walks towards their preferred meals. There’s usually someone on the other side to dish out some of the food into your plate…you know the way buffets usually look like? Have you even been to a buffet before?” Sammy asked Kemi.

“Well, not in real life but I’ve seen in the movies so yes, I have an idea. I’m not that dumb you know?” Kemi responded with a frown on her face. “Ha-ha, I was just teasing, nothing serious,” Sammy guffawed.

Kemi’s mother walked in on Sammy and Kemi having a good laugh.

“You guys are really enjoying each other’s company,” she said as she walked towards the kitchen.

Only then did Kemi realize that Sammy had been in their house for about four hours. 

It was already evening and they would be preparing for dinner soon. Chatting with Sammy was much more fun than Kemi thought; she had been enjoying their time together so much that she didn’t realize how much time they had spent. The next day was Sunday and she would need to iron her dress ahead of tomorrow.

“Sammy, I need to be excused for a while so I can iron my dress for church tomorrow. I promise not to be long so I can join you again.” Kemi asked.

“You should have asked, I can help you. Go bring your dress and tell me where the iron is. Maybe I should even teach you,” Sammy teased, tittering.

“Very funny!” Kemi responded.

Knock-Knock!

“Kemi’s mum, I’m back!” Mrs. Kamsin’s voice echoed from behind the door. She had been gone for about five hours.

“Welcome, hope everything is alright with your friend?” Mrs Ajayi inquired.

“Oh yes, she is responding to treatment at the hospital, I encountered a lot of traffic on my way to pick up her things in her house and also on my way back here. I’m so tired.” Mrs. Kamsin explained as she sat on one of the dining chairs.

“Tochi! Samuel! Let’s head home. Thank you so much Mrs. Ajayi for accommodating us, hope they didn’t cause any trouble while they were here? She further asked.

“No, not at all, we both know they are well behaved. I was just about to get some snacks for them when you knocked,” Mrs Ajayi replied as Tochi and Sammy walked towards the dining area to welcome their mother.

Mrs. Ajayi insisted they all had some fruit salad before leaving so everyone gathered on the table to have some fruit salad; only Kunle was missing in the action because he was still sleeping. The Kamsins were ready to take their leave after enjoying the wholesome snack.

Kemi remained on her seat at the dining table, thinking about her time with Sammy. She couldn’t help but remember that part of her not needing her lunchbox once in college. Hmmm….So there’s free lunch at Russell College or it must have been added to the school fees, that’s why mummy says it’s a bit high, Kemi thought. 

College must be really different from what I’ve been used to….guess I will be learning a lot in Russell College after all, Kemi smiled.

To be continued…