Hesitantly,
“Okay. Deal.” I said with closed teeth,
forcing a smile to make him feel relaxed…
Relaxed?
Yeah. Relaxed to himself, as he kept on nodding, though a bit slow but as steadily as he could to maintain his glance fixated on mine like he was searching for doubt in my perturbed, yet relaxed eyeballs.
Because what I’m going to do is relaxed in my mind too.
If there’s one thing I am a whiz at;
It is ‘Reticence’.
Of course, no one will be demonstrative of it,
If they got a hostile motive, but then this is nothing connected with hostility this time because it is not going to be in respect of my safety either. But relatively speaking, it sure entails treachery.
** Hours ago **
After several slaps concession from Ali; Mallam Kyari and his ruthless overbearing son in their religious attires, just reverting from the mosque,
“Alright, you stand up now but don’t do it again”.
“And you Ryker, when are you going to turn a new leaf, getting into trouble every time and now this? He insinuated, standing with his hands akimbo.
You know your mother should never hear about this… Huh!”
Mallam threatened, his right gnarly index finger pointed to the ground.
I dusted my knees containing my feeling of exasperation, of course, I knew that.
I just hope Mom never realizes this incident, as it will surely sadden her and she would probably scream out her lungs:
“You’re growing worse each day Ryker, why would you choose to leap from the frying pan into the fire? C’mon your father will never be proud of this oozing corrupted confidence of yours. Think! Ryker, think! And set a good example for your younger ones.” Those words my ears have grown accustomed to within the period of the last five years.
Even though, she will come to understand what transpired this time around.
But trust me a lot is bound to happen before then!
I might even be sent to bed without supper, as a penalty. (Yes, do not squeeze your nose yet, mom’s supper providence means a lot, to a pathetically broke sixteen-year-old traumatized poor boy; with a distastefully horrendous tendency towards an anti-socialism disposition).
But trust me, that’s the least of my worries right now.
The last thing I would hope for is the opening of new chasms that would rekindle my terrific pasts, as I much I’d love to keep the memories and retain the energy.
I never want to be that awful pugnacious hellion I switched to, in the course of masking a broken boy anymore, fortified himself with uncalled-for toughness.
But turns out I was causing mom to grieve and the world hates me but not only for that. No, I don’t think so…
Now, this whole involvement is proving incomprehensible, this whole scene.
I wore a sinless look,
“I am really sorry Mallam” I mumbled, holding my palms together, hoping my expression convey the contrite message to his nonjudgmental and tolerant side of the heart,
“I have never done this before not even once, my friend tricked me into it”
and that’s the truth. “He said he already talked to you about it and you permitted him”
I piped up,
stretching my hands sideways in a manner that should portray my innocence.
His eyes shot up in bewilderment.
“Look at you, kid, if I had; wouldn’t my gate be opened in expectation of your… delinquent visit?” He queried with a tone of dismay.
“Well, I never give it a thought. Guess nobody does head out of their home, with no reliable form of security. Perhaps a closed door at least…”
“As you can see, I’m too old for incessant rants. But with a fatherly reproach I shall announce this; know well who you associate yourself with for this will be your last warning next time I will deal with you personally”, he added.
Smiling, and he smiled back,
Trust me he wouldn’t want to smile right back if he knew what was playing through my mind for those words sounded like funny whining: I was like, ‘and what is this grumpy old man gonna do to me?’
But in an instant the smile vanquished as he continued, “I will be setting trap on my farm onward, and anyone caught on my property in this act will be dealt with accordingly. Be warned, lest you fall.”