AJEGUNLE: The Tale From The Ghetto (By Fikfaknuel) Season 1

Season 7 years ago

AJEGUNLE: The Tale From The Ghetto (By Fikfaknuel) Season 1

The stench which emerged from the gutter did little to discourage the boys, who were playing an unfriendly game of dice. They staked #50 naira each and put the almost-destroyed naira notes on the ground, holding it together to the Earth with a stone so big, it almost covered the money. The streets they chose to perpetrate this unofficial olympic sport 'Adetola Lane' was secluded, quiet, and people rarely passed. It was common knowledge that this was so, and the boys, all whom should be between the ages of 16-19 trekked long distances, to arrive at Adetola.

"Ogun mama, double six" one of them said, clenching his fist in jubilatory fashion

"Ode, you no see say na two-face?" another one of the three said

"Leave am, him dey jump like sey na today hin start dis parole" the third one said mockingly

He should be the oldest, the one who said nothing as Moji was being cheated. It was a two-face but the number 6 came out clearly than 1 and he knew that he was supposed to have won. He relaxed his back on the wall, and brought out a stick of jedi, a thin cigarette, the poor man's replacement of an actual cigarette. His eyes were red as a failing heart, and his face was decorated with lengthy scars, drawn by bottles, and other weapons. It was obvious he had engaged in many fights, rumor has it he has seen Papi's face. He was in the middle of puffing the Jedi stick out of existence, as the novice was still looking confused. He refused to continue the game and sat at the ground crying.

Moji felt a hand touch him from behind, but he was too distraught to turn, to ascertain who paid him a little bit of attention. It might be one of these 'busy body' people that lived here. He didn't turn about, until he was slapped heavily, his skin turning red like a colored pork, his attention had surely been bought. He stood up in obvious anger, turning to see who it was that was playing this joke on him. He met a set of discolored yellow teeth which shone in curious, naughty stupidity. He wished to slap them off and do the mouth a huge favor.

"Wetin come happen, that you slapped me?" He asked, with an arm outstretched, as if begging for money. His question jumped in between Pidgin and English.

The grin on the intruder's mouth increased, as he felt that this teeth might just cover the entirety of the person's face. He, Saliu, the intruder, knew that this one was a 'malo', a newcomer into the happenings of the streets. And so, he knew he'd be easy to influence.

"Why you sidan like who miss road? You wise sef?"

Moji looked at him, trying to figure out the sense in what he said. But, the intruder intruded his thoughts and spoke again

"You know know sey if dis pipu for dis street see you, dem fit ring olokpa, sey you dun die, or you wan die, or you wan thief sef"

The young one now recognized him. He was one of the gamblers, but he rarely spoke then. Why the sudden show of concern? He heard a voice inside him,telling him that this guy means well. He extended his hand for an handshake, but the mean-looking fellow hugged him instead in a rather rough manner, his body suprisingly smelling of strong perfume, but the potency of the perfume couldn't and wouldn't eclipse the reek and ugly smell that escaped from his mouth when he spoke, it smelt like alcohol, jedi and some other things Moji knew not.

"No mind doz boys, na dem way be dat" he said, taking a puff, into his third Jedi stick. He didn't tell Moji that the boys would come back to him, offering small sachets of liquor and a couple sticks of cigarette, a reward for keeping quiet.

"Oh, you sabi the miscreants?"

"Yes, I dey see dem once once" Saliu replied

He then signalled Moji to come closer, after feeling he had established a little trust between them. Moji obeyed the order of the fat hand.

As Moji stood with him, backs against the wall, absolute quiet,as Saliu chewed, sU-Cked, and puffed what Moji counted, wrongly, as his fourth stick. It was the fifth. He threw the cigarette to the ground, and stamped on it, at the same time reaching for something in his pocket. Moji saw it, it was wrapped in a newspaper, and was small. It was the size of a fried #50 meat.

Moji wondered what it was.