Chapter 17: Chapter 17

As a father of three, Valor sat with his children around him. He realized how far he had made progress. He asked his daughter “Edidiong, what do you want to be in the future? She replied, “I want to be a Doctor “He also asked his first son and He replied, “Daddy I want to be a Banker.” Valor asked why?” “So that I will be counting money.” Valor and the rest of the neighbor burst into serious laughter for some minutes. His neighbor was an elderly man that lived with his wife and nephew whose father was unable to give him a quality education. The elderly man also asked his nephew “Ade, what do you want to be in the future?” he replied, “uncle, I want to be a politician and become president.” Valor asked him “is that your dream? “He replied “yes” “then you have to study hard.” Valor also asked his last son and he replied, “An Engineer” and he said, “that’s my boy.” Valor and the neighbor gave the children advice on how to make their dream come true.

It was in the afternoon that Valor heard the young boy shouting “uncle! uncle! “While his uncle was also shouting. “I’ll kill you today! I will kill you today!” Valor reduced the volume of his radio and he dropped it on the table to go and see what was going on. He met his neighbor pursuing the young nephew with a matchet. Valor ran after them to get the matchet. He shouted “Please sir don’t kill the boy. “The small boy ran into Valor’s veranda while Valor held his uncle to get the matchet. Valor asked the man. “What’s the problem, why do you want to flog that boy?” he was still struggling to flog the boy. Valor had made sure his neighbor’s hands did not reach the boy, not even to slap him until he received vital information, being aware that children not living with parents are sometimes maltreated. He persuaded him to talk. “You see this boy, I cannot allow a person living under my roof, receiving full training from me to end up or participate in nonsense. “Valor asked “what type of nonsense?” with a loud voice, he replied.” is it not this boy that wants to be a politician and become a president, and I was so happy, I never knew this boy is a thief. After all I have done for him, he had the boldness to put his hands into my trouser and remove money, ₦20. Valor is it that I am training a thief to become the president of my country and will be sitting down there stealing people’s money. Just allow me to deal with him.

Valor commanded the boy to get on his knees, for having the boldness to steal your uncle’s money. The boy was terrified and obedient to Valor’s tremendous voice as a soldier. Valor brought a cane for his uncle instead of the matchet, that very moment the Boy Ade received the flogging of his life.

***

Victor was sent on an errand, but he kept his father waiting. Valor stood up to see him coming with nothing except the money. Valor asked, “where is the coffee I sent for.” he replied, “I didn’t see it to buy.” “but the woman at the roadside has it. I bought one from her yesterday when I was coming back from work. Valor easily noticed the change in his face, so he asked, “what happened.” “Daddy, I didn’t do anything, I mistakenly gave her money on the left hand and she refused to sell it to me then she started abusing me. After he explained he moved back because he may receive an unexpected slap from his father. Now give me the money, the Boy was afraid “I said give me the money.” He put the money into Valor’s hands and withdrew himself, Valor called him by the name “Victor.” “yes Daddy.” “never give somebody money from the left hand again, is that clear.” yes, daddy he answered.

The Brigade vehicle was outside waiting for Valor. The driver gave a waking sound from the Cyrene for him to recognize. He told his son to bring his bag and torchlight while the sister should bring his riffle, Victor went inside the house while Valor ties the lace of his boot. They brought the gun, bag, and torchlight and escorted him to the vehicle. Edidiong was a girl full of pride. Whenever she meets the soldier, she will greet them in military terms by saying “shun sir” then she salutes and stamps her feet. The soldier at the passenger’s seat removed his hand to shake her. she is always very happy to shake him making her proud in front of the neighbors and friends outside the street.

While they drove out to the junction, Valor stopped to talk to the woman that refused to sell coffee to his son. “I sent my son here to buy coffee so that I can take it before leaving for work, but you refused to sell it to him.” “your son, that boy, he must be an idiot, I am not his mate for him to give money from the left hand.” Valor interfered “wait! wait! wait, I thought you were supposed to correct him and then sell for him before you start laying curses on that small Boy, even in my presence you still call him idiot, you or him who is the idiot that cannot correct a child and now I am going to work without my coffee, never you try the nonsense with me or my family again. She was speechless when he heard Valor’s voice so loud that another soldier came down from the van to her place, she started begging “Officer, I am sorry, don’t be vexed.” The other soldier that came down did not know what happened, but he threatened the woman the more, “next time you try that nonsense we will deal with you so that you know how to behave, Valor left the shop as well as his colleagues.”

Inside the van once again Valor sat quietly and looked furious trying to recover his normal mood, his colleague asked what went wrong. He explained, after the explanation, he said “I don’t know what’s wrong with the left hand as if God had commanded us to be using only our right hand, his colleague also commented, “you also see that when nonsense belief is passed to another generation it becomes a problem, you see my right leg when I got injured while playing football, I began playing with my left leg till I became accustomed to it. When I recovered fully from the injury, then my football skills became invincible, I can now play with both legs and at both wings.” Valor looked at him with a smile and said I would love to play with you,” to which he replied, “you can’t imagine how good I am, I will dribble you until you become frustrated.” Valor did not want to argue with him, so he looked away to the roadside.