The Call-up letter.

                                   

                CHAPTER ONE

           A cold sweat broke out of my forehead as I gazed at the letter in my hands. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, though the prominent thought in my mind was my mother's reaction when I got home; of a truth, the letter bore bittersweet news for me, though I could be certain that for my mother, it would be too bitter a pill for her to swallow.  

            My mother would never support the instruction which the letter bore; she would fight it with every fibre of her being, of that, I was so sure. I was rather despondent, and found that I became oblivious to the happenings around me. Earlier on, I had watched as fellow corpers around me either jubilated or wailed out in despair as they read their call-up letters which signified their area of postings.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked up to see my best friend, Seyi, smiling happily. 

"Guy, how far now?" he asked lightly as he took in my cloudy face. "Why are you looking this moody?" he probed further as he hovered over me.

"My man, I don't even know what to make of this my letter," I muttered as I allowed the letter to dangle in my hands.

"What do you mean?" Seyi asked and he took on an air of seriousness as he sat beside me on the pavement where I was.

I held my bowed head in my arms in a dejected manner. I really didn't see a way around this one. 

"Talk to me, Chike," my friend's voice took on an urgency to it and I looked up and stared at him bleakly. 

"This won't work," I said simply as I shook my head.

"What won't work?" Seyi queried, starring at me as if I was uttering gibberish. "What are you really talking about, Chike?" He rarely called me by my given name; having grown up together, we were used to addressing each other by our personalised nicknames, peculiar to both of us alone.

In answer to his probing, I merely thrust my call-up letter to him, and he snatched it from my hand and read through it hurridely. He heaved an audible sigh of relief when he read through the letter.

"So?" he asked expectantly as he handed back the letter to me. "What about the letter? I'm really lost here, man. Talk to me!" he ordered.

I stared him in the face as I said tiredly, "Mum will never agree!" 

"And why won't she?" Seyi asked in amazement.

I pursed my lips as I turned fully to face him. "You mean you've forgotten so soon?!" I said accusingly as I looked at him, a frown already forming on my face. How could Seyi, of all people, have forgotten?! It was just a little over two years!

"No, friend," was my friend's sober reply. He placed a hand firmly on my shoulder. "A man has got to be a man, Chike!"

"Meaning what?!" I heaved his hand off my shoulder and wiped my face with a palm. "How could you behave this way, Seyi?! You of all..."

"I have not behaved anyhow, Chike," he defended. "You see," and he placed his arm once more on my shoulder as he continued, "I'm sorry you had to go through that unpleasant ordeal. Yet, you must continue with your life, my friend," he finished solemnly.

"Easy for you to say this, Kene! Mum will never allow me to go there!" I protested further, trying to validate my argument.

"And you? What do you want?" my friend asked quietly. 

I was caught unawares as I could only stare back at him. In truth, I didn't know what I wanted; whether to serve, or not to serve in the particular area where I had been posted.

"Analyse it well," my friend advised, seizing the opportunity of my momentary confusion to hit me with the bitter truth. "It's all about you, man, not your mum." There was a note of finality in his low voice as he spoke.

But Seyi did not leave me on my own that day; he took me to the school cafeteria and ordered some soft drinks for us. That was when he showed me his own call-up letter; I was both amazed and ashamed. "I believe God knows what He's doing," Seyi said rather quietly. 

              "We're on the same boat, my friend," he said softly as he showed me his call-up letter; he had been posted to the same region but a neighbouring state, Kaduna. I looked at him; he was not disturbed, he was excited, all smiles as he told me confidently, "So, you see, there's nothing to be afraid of; times have changed, okay?"

I looked at him, and he must have seen the doubt still so conspicuosly plastered on my face, for he chuckled kindly as he reached out and patted my shoulder. 

 Corps members have been serving there every year and have been passing out in peace with recognitions and awards," he said most assuringly.   

 Cant you see that it isnt only you that is posted to the region?" he continued. He took a sip of his drink before he looked earnestly at me as he continued,  "We will all serve there in peace and return in peace. Ive been to the north severally and I have a brother who served there and he is alive and still works there till today. So relax, there is nothing to be afraid of," he gave me a wide grin as he tried to allay my fears.

 People from that region are not exactly what you think; they are humans  like you. Its only that they have the good, the bad and the ugly people, just like we do in our region here. They have feelings, they are friendly, accommodating and hospitable just as we are, he pressed further. His last statement made me stare at him but he didnt mind my staring at him.

 Just dont judge them with what happened to your brother; it must be the ugly ones among them who knew no better. If they had known any better, they would have acted better, Seyi said. 

 All we need to do is to keep their sacred things sacred, respect their beliefs, traditions and religion. No one can turn down love; even the devil craves to be loved. I have been there; they are not what you think they are. You will see for yourself when you get there, he cheered me up. I wasn't moved by what he was saying but at least I was able to squeeze out a smile.

 As Seyi was still trying to allay my fears and worries, one of my coursemates and good friends, Nneka, entered the cafeteria almost in a festive mood. Seyi immediately drew her attention to where we were sitting. She literally floated to where we sat.

"Ah, you're here!" she enthused happily as she sat between us. "I've looked all over for you!" she said as she laughed gaily. "Enhen...so you want to cut me out of this celebration, not so?!" she accused us lightly.

"Not so," Seyi quickly countered and then signalled for a drink to be brought for her. 

"And, what's making you so happy?" I did my best to keep out the sarcasm in my voice but it was no use. Nneka felt my negative vibe instantly.

"What's with you, Chicks? Why the sourness?" she asked in surprise. I guessed in her excitement about her posting, she hadn't noticed my grumpy look, hence, her calling me "Chicks," her special nickname for me.

"He's not happy with his posting," Seyi offered as a means of explanation.

Nneka raised an eyebrow as she asked, "And where was he posted?" 

"Kano!" I muttered with every bitterness I could muster.

            "Ah, I was posted to Kano too!" she replied joyously and to my shame. I became challenged by Nnekas comportment and the way she saw her posting. 

 I needed no other encouragement as she began to ask me when I would be leaving for the orientation camp so that we could go together. We fixed the eve of the opening date of the orientation camp, which was a Monday. We agreed to discuss further arrangements over the phone. She bade us good bye and left. Seyi and I finished our drinks and left for our various homes to break the news of our National Youth Service postings to our respective families.

 My only headache now was my mother. What her reaction would be when I broke the news that it is the same state where her first son had been violently killed that I was now being posted to for my National Youth Service; me, her only surviving son! The mere mention of the State was sure to remind her of the entire trauma she went through. 

         I was suddenly thrust back as memories of my childhood flooded into my mind, taking me way back.