Chapter 13: The Headaches.

The following Monday, out of the blues, Dr. Dogonyaro called me to his office.

My heart hammered in my throat. What had I done wrong this time again?

When I entered, he told me to remain standing.

That isn't a good sign either.

He must have read my troubled expression. "Be at ease, Phood. I'm here to ask you to do something for me."

Wanting to make sure, I asked, "I'm I in any trouble Sir?"

"No." He reached into his wallet and removed a new hundred naira bill, held it up vertically gripping the edge of the bill at one of the short ends.

"What's that for Sir?" I asked

"An experiment. Hold out your thumb and forefinger like a crab pincher near the bottom edge of this naira bill"

I hesitated. What was this all about?

"This isn't a trick. I just want to see something"

Although I remained skeptical, I did as he asked and held out my thumb and finger

"I'm going to let go of my end of the bill," Dogonyaro said. "When I do so, see if you can catch it."

I Didn't think that to be much of a challenge. And it wasn't. As soon as I saw the bill falling, I pinched it.

Dogonyaro raised an eyebrow.

"I'll make it more challenging. This time hold your pincher near the

middle of the bill instead of the end."

I handed the bill back to him, and we repeated the test. I caught it with no problem. It Wasn't much of a game to me.

"One more time,"Dogonyaro said. "Hold your pincher directly under my fingers."

I shrugged and did as he asked. Dogonyaro held the bill in place for a long time, probably in an attempt to get me to relax my focus, but I wouldn't fall for it.

I concentrated. As soon as he released the bill, I caught it. I almost missed it though. But Snagged it at the very edge.

Dr. Dogonyaro took a step back. "Not one person in a thousand can do that."

"It's not that hard." I said.

"To you it's not. Also not one person in a hundred-thousand can catch flies mid-air," he continued.

"You watched me do that? with your cameras?"

He chuckled "I watch everything here, especially things that caught my interest."

" I held out the bill to give it back.

"Keep it," Dogonyaro said. "You earned it."

"Is that why didn't use a thousand bill instead?" I teased.

Dogonyaro didn't respond to that and regarded me for a few moments. "Everyone has a gift. Some people never find out what makes them unique. In your case, phood, your reflexes are your gift, and I just might know how we can leverage your gift"

We? Who was we? That word resurrected in my mind again. "I don't get it Sir. Do you want to train me to be a boxer?"

Dogonyaro rested his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "A boxer? No. I would never waste a talent like yours on something as trivial as boxing"

After a pause, he went on, "What I have in mind for you is much more lucrative than boxing."

Just then, his desk phone rang. He picked it up. "What is it?" He listened and shot a glance my way. "Yes, he happens to be with me in my office."

Boone listened some more and frowned. He handed me the receiver.

"Hello, this is Phood." I said into the receiver.

"Madam Ladidi on the line from Pluto Boarding Schools. I'm your brother's guidance counselor"

-What happened to Ayo?" My mind cut.

"He's fine, physically, but your brother suffered psycho-breakdown. At breakfast, he refused to eat, and when it was time for class, he became violent and threw his food and his chair. Ayo hurt another student with that chair. We had to take that boy to

the emergency room for quick stitches."

A Cement bag weight dropped into my stomach.

Madam Ladidi continued. "I know this is highly irregular. Ordinarily, I would contact a parent or guardian, but you're his only known relative."

"I'm glad you did ma. What can I do?"

She cleared her throat and paused as if organizing her thoughts. "I'm sure you can appreciate that we can't tolerate violence at our school."

I pulled the chair from Director's desk and sat, rested my forehead in my palm. "Let me talk to him Ma."

"I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment. We've confined Ayo to his room as a cell until tomorrow when the board

of directors will convene a disciplinary hearing"

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I made it known to Justice Bianca and she agreed to accompany me to the hearing. I was told to meet her at the lobby promptly at 8 AM when she dropped off Ebube.

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I greeted Ebube when he got out of the car.

"Hope you're ready for the English Literature exam?" I asked him.

I've been fretting about that exam all week and had been studying my ass off.

"Yeah, sure I'm ready," Ebube said and shuttler through the entrance door.

That was Ebube for you. When he focused on an objective, he took no time for greetings or pleasantries. Scarsely anything could distract him.

Ebube's stepmother buzzed down her Mercedes G-Wagon window. She loves driving herself. Seems like a hobby to her or a sort of self confidence, I'm not sure which.

"We need to get going if we're going to get to the school by nine."

I opened the door of the black tinted SUV and slid into a buttery soft, leather seat.

I noticed from the side mirror that a white Toyota Hilux van was behind us. Looks like she's got some escort today. Or maybe it has always been like but I've not noticed before.

Well, her personality deserves a special security detail. I wanted asking her but I reasoned against it, instead I commented:

"I'm surprised that a

busy person like you has the time to help me deal with a low life no profit situation like this."

Justice Bianca waited until she pulled onto the main highway before explaining. "Court is currently in recess, so I have a few weeks of free time."

When we got there, Madam Ladidi escorted us to a conference room.

Ayo sat there, a blank look on his face. When I greeted him, he turned his face away and didn't respond.

Not long after we got there, seven adults entered the room, four men and three women. They appeared surprised to see Justice Bianca and introduced themselves formally to her. Later, two police men joined in and stood by the door.

I don't remember their names, except for the guy who did most of talking.

His name was Mr. Alamesiya an advanced looking guy.

"Not every day we get to meet an Abuja Supreme Court justice" Alamesiya said. " Especially in Kaduna" while shaking Justice

Bianca's hand.

Mr. Alamesiya called the hearing to order and read the report aloud concerning Ayo's incident. It was just like Madam Ladidi had explained to me on phone.

For no apparent reason, my brother snapped and did a lot of damage in the dining hall.

After he finished the report, Alamesiya looked at Justice Bianca "If it were only a matter of property damage your Honour, we might be able to work something out easily.

Unfortunately, Ayo's assault on his fellowbstudent is not so easily dealt with. The young man needed four stitches above his right eye. An inch lower, and I hate to think what might have happened. And the boy he assaulted in question is the deputy Governor's youngest son"

Justice Bianca looked at my brother. "Is everything that Mr. Alamesiya just said true? Is that what actually Occurred?"

The entire time Ayo had stared at his hands resting on his lap. He didn't respond to the

question, didn't even blink. I nudged him and whispered,

"Ayo, it's you she's talking to."

He lifted his head and met my gaze, his face remained blank.

"What do you want?" He finally voiced.

"Answer Justice's question."

"Why the hell should i ?"

My frustration flared. It took everything I had to keep myself from yelling.

"Because you are in trouble. She

wants to help you."

Ayo wore a smirk. "You don't care what happens to me, so why should she care?"

"Of course, I care what happens to you. You are my brother."

Ayo's nostrils flared. "What a brother you are, leaving me in this damned place."

"Look, Ayo, it's time you start learning some responsibility. Like you just said, ľ'm not always gonna be here for you."

"It's Obvious," Ayo scoffed.

"So, grow up." I said

"You mean like you? You're the delinquent, not me." I was getting annoyed at this statement but I maintained my cool. I ran a hand over my head. How could I get through to him?

In a calm tone, I said, "We've been dealt a lousy hand in life, but a lot of kids have it worse. With people like Justice Bianca looking out for us, we have a chance to make something of ourselves in life.

We're lucky, Ayo, very lucky."

Ayo glared at me. "Lucky?" He sprang from his chair and shouted. "You might be the lucky one. I'll never be lucky again." Ayo kicked his chair against the wall. The policemen got up and ran for my brother. Tears dripped down my eyes.

"I'm burning in hell," Ayo shouted as they led him away. "Burning just like Mom burned."

Mr.Alamesiya closed the conference room door and cleared his throat.

"I see no need for further discussion. Do we all agree that there is nothing more we can do for that young man?"

"Wait." I raised my hand as if I were in class. "He'll calm down. I know he will."

Alamesiya crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The boy whom your brother assaulted has parents, he's not just an ordinary son of nobody, he's the son of the deputy govermor of this State, who threaten to sue the School unless we take drastic action."

" I will resolve that issue please" Justice Bianca Said.

"But if you kick him out, what will happen to him? He will be a beast out in the street!" I protested further.

"We have no family. Ayo has no place to go."

"In situations like this, Government family services will take over," Alamesiya said.

"You can't put Ayo into the foster care system,"I pleaded. "That would be like a death sentence for him."

"I'm sorry," Mr.Alamesiya said. "We have no choice but to expel him,"

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During the drive to my Academy's Apartment, Justice Bianca tried to

console me. "I will personally screen Ayo's potential foster parents. I'll make sure he gets

matched with the right people."

While she spoke, I leaned my head against the passenger side window. The air conditioning had

cooled the window pane. It felt good against my face.

Inside, I was terrified. Ayo was my only family. And now it seemed I was losing him. I wished there was something more I could do to

help my brother with whatever demons plagued him, but he had thrown away his best chance.

Justice Bianca kept talking. "What happened is not your fault. Don't let this drag you down too."

It didn't take long to get back to the academy. Justice Bianca dropped me at the front door. As I got out of the car, she leaned over and said, "By the way, Phood, happy nineteenth birthday"

Oh I had forgotten. Didn't feel like celebrating anyway.

I smiled a dry smile "thank you Ma"

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That afternoon, after classes, someone knocked at my door. I looked through the peephole and

recognized Ogechi. My heart skipped a beat.

If she was visiting it might take my mind off of Ayo for a while.

I opened and saw that she held a birthday cake.

I wonder why ones privacy fly like a wild fire in this Academy.

Yinka, Ibrahim, and Christiana stood off to the side.

"Happy Birthday," they all said in unison before pushing me into my apartment.

Yinka and Ibrahim carried a small cooler between them, one guy on each handle. They set it down and

flipped open the top.

Ibrahim reached in and handed

me a pack of Five Alive, condensation from the ice

dripped on my carpet.

"Here you go, boy."

"Cheers," Yinka said. He wore a silly cap that looks like bicycle seat.

I took a few gulps. Not bad. Alcohol was what I really need not citrus juice.

Christiana held a bottle of small staut to her cheek and winked at me.

"It's hot in here with all our bodies. You should crank up the AC."

I did.

I didn't have much furniture which didn't seem to bother anyone. They stood around talking to each

other and drinking. I had nothing in common with them. I didn't know what to say.

Glancing around, I noticed Ogechi sitting on my sofa. Actually, I couldn't help noticing her

wearing a short, red party dress. She looked hot.

She patted the cushion beside her.

I sat and sighed.

"You seem lost." She adjusted herself by pointing her knees toward me. I noticed are spotless tender laps.

"Lost," I said. Without knowing what next to say. She was right. I was lost. Lost in the thoughts of Ayo actually wandering what he's doing now.

"You Want to talk about it?"

I looked at the other three engaged in conversation as if I weren't even there.

"This hasn't been the

best of birthdays." I admit.

"Really?" Ogechi said. She giggled.

"The night is still young. Nice things may yet happen that will sooth your wounds."

Yinka must have overheard. He disengaged from his conversation with Ibrahim and Christiana and said,

"Stop teasing that young guy, Ogechi, he's not one of our

targets."

Target? A strange thing to say.

She held a hand to her chest. "Teasing? Me? What

makes you think I'm not serious?"

She downed the rest of her Smirnoff ice and waved the empty in the air.

Like an obedient servant, Yinka took the empty and exchanged it in the cooler for a fresh one.

He opened the crown with his tooth and handed it over to her.

Ogechi nudged me. "You're slacking behind, Phood. With your mood you need to switch to beer or something light like mine."

"I'm not a fan of beer"

" Just a little will not bite" she teased.

" No no no, don't even try to convince me."

She giggled "if you say so, sooth yourself."

"Now tell me, Phood, what would you like for your birthday?"

Before I could reply, Yinka said, "What does any nineteen-year-old boy want for his birthday?"

"You mean he's just nineteen?" Ogechi scoffed, got up, and walked away.

Christiana who hadn't said anything to me until now. She

pretended to pout.

"Aw, shucks, that leaves me out.

I left nineteen behind a couple years ago."

Ibrahim laughed. "Just a couple years ago, but anyway,

who's counting?"

Turning back to me, Christiana said, "Is it true then?"

"Is what true?" I asked.

"That you don't like older women?"

"I never said that." I defended.

Was she flirting with me too? What are this girl's up to?

Ogechi returned and handed me a slice of birthday cake on a white saucer "Joyeux anniversaire, mon amour. I took the liberty of cutting the cake. You don't mind, do you?"

I shook my head gently "I don't."

Christiana tried getting my attention back. She said,

"I made the cake for you."

Now I realise they were both competing for my attention, but I

couldn't take my eyes off of Ogechi as she passed out cake to the others.

The way she move her waist was killing. She endowed at the backside Then I remembered Christiana was talking to me. "Sorry. My mom told me that iť's rude to not pay attention to the person speaking to me. And thank you for making my cake. It's really nice."

Christiana waved it off. "T'm not offended. Ogechi's job is to get men to notice her. We call her weaponized seduction. So I could totally understand her effect on you"

I blushed.

Then she asked, "Seriously, Phood, if you could wish for anything, what would you want for your birthday?"

I didn't respond. My eyes were just fixed on hers.

She started playing with the ends of her hair while also fixing her eyes on mine too

"I know how overwhelmed you must feel right now." She said. "We've all been through what you're going through now"

"Then help me"I interrupted. "I have nobody to talk to. No family, other than a soul-lost brother,

no close friends other than Ebube. No body else!"

She stopped me by holding a finger to my lips, "shhhh. You have us. We are your posse now. That's why we decided to come here this evening to help you celebrate your birthday."

I thought about it. "T'm not stupid. That's not the only reason you're here. What do you guys want from

me?"

She ignored my question and took my hand. "Let's have some fun. Attention, everybody,"Christiana

called. "Time to play a birthday game. There are four of us, and Phood gets to ask each of us one

question. He has so many questions."

She's right. I million questions per hour if it's possible.

She rested a hand on my shoulder. "Me first. Ask me anything"

Only four questions out of a million of them.

"Who are you people?" I started.

Chtistiana's face lit up. "That's an easy one. We're TheNews."

"That's all you're going to tell me?"

"I answered your question, didn't I?"

They all laughed at my expense.

Turning to Yinka, I asked, "How many are you?"

Yinka removed his face cap and wave it in his front like a bow "We're four of us, your Honour, Can't you count?"

More laughter.

I mean how many total of TheNews are there both here and elsewhere?"

"Four of us, your Honour" Yinka Repeated flatly. "Although there used to be more of us but they over graduated." He raised his beer bottle. "To the others, may they rest in peace"

"Here, here," Ibrahim responded and clinked his beer bottle with Yinka. They drank.

The others? What had happened to them?

Instead, I asked, "What do you all

do?"

"We do what others can't," Ibrahim interjected suddenly. "And That's

three questions down and one to go."

Turning to Ogechi, I said, "You told me that you're a polyglot. Christiana tells me that you're also a trained seductress."

"My colleagues give me too much credit, for my extra talents" Ogechi

said.

Yinka handed me a glass of alcoholic red wine he just opened. I collected it without protesting. Ogechi gave me a dirty stare.

From that look, I can't tell if she was surprise or upset that I collected the alcohol I refuted from her afore.

Wine is different from beer.

I looked at the wine glass with suspicion and gulp a long drink.

"Ask me a question," Ogechi said

Could I get her to tell me about Ethiopia? "How far

from Kaduna do you guys travel? I mean Where do your assignments take you?"

Ogechi thought about it. She held both arms out fully extended in a dramatic gesture and said, "The whole Africa is our playground."

"Bravo,"Christiana said. "Good answer."

l'm glad she thought so. Her answer meant nothing to me. I took another good swallow of the

wine almost emptying the glass. My head became fuzzy instantly. And I knew instantly it was because I rushed the drink.

"Mo buachaill milis," Ogechi said while running a finger across my cheek. "My sweet boy."

These people were obviously playing with me, and I was getting buzzed enough so that I dropped my guard. I had suspicions about this bunch and decided to ask some harder questions. I faced

Yimka and his stupid face cap. "You ever kill anyone?"

Christiana said in a low tone, "Phood" she scold.

"It's all right," Yinka said. "I got this." He paused.

"Yes. I've killed a number of people."

My breath caught.

He smiled. "With kindness, it was necessary."

What a devil. What is necessary about taking human lives?

I set my wine glass on an end table. Didn't want anymore of their bloody drink and cake. My heart hammered, but I knew I wasn't going to chicken out. I was going to ask her.

Staring at Ogechi, her rosy freckled cheeks and long, perfect hair, I looked straight into her beautiful almost blue eyes.

"Were you at," I paused to take a breath, "...at the AU55 Summit in Ethiopia?"

Her Smirnoff bottle fell off her hand.

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