CLARION'S CALL

It's exactly 9 O'clock on a Monday morning, Solape a tall, dark skinned, slightly built 25years old is heavily asleep in his one-room student apartment. The room is littered with cloths hanging all over the place, which must have resulted from his indecision on what choice of cloth to wear to last night's party. He still has his shoes on even in his sleep. Sunday night happens to be a birthday 'bash' organized by his friend Umaru Bello.

Umaru Bello is a spoit Hausa boy who happens to the only son of a wealthy politician, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, popularly referred to as AbuBello. Umaru has on countless times been arrested by the police for his misconducts but have always gotten bail even on issues that is enough to send any poor man to jail.

On one side of Solape's bed is a reading table and chair, on the table are some text books well arranged but dusty, a sign that it has been long any of them have been read. On the right side of the wall is a big wall paper with pictures of footballers on it, the Chelsea FC precisely. On the other side of the wall are small inscriptions Solape had written long ago and are almost wearing off, some of them read thus, "life na jeje, take am suffery". "soldier goes, soldier comes, barrack remains". " I am Solape, world most flexing dude" and many others.
His phone rings out from his pocket with Davido's 'AYE' song as its ring tone, the phone's vibration wakes him, he picks the call without checking who the caller is, and speaks to the phone with his eyes still closed, "Hello" he says. At the other end of the call is Clarion Adaeze Michael, his girlfriend. Clarion mumbles her words in between tears and sobs,"baby I am finished, it has happened, my life is ruined". She rushes her words and ends the call before Solape could utter a word.

He jumps up as he hears the faint voice of his always enthusiastic girlfriend, his two eyes are now clearly opened with terror, he tries calling Clarion again on phone but her phone is now switched off. Many thoughts ran through his mind, as he trembles on his feet, "what have I done to myself" "my life is ruined" "Solape, what have you gotten yourself into", he asks himself. "What will I do now" "who do I call" "how did it happen" "I have always been extra careful" "what will I tell my father" "how do I even confront him" "I am not ready for this". He moves to and fro restlessly inside his room, "how do I face mother after her constant advice",  "remember the son of whom you are and don't mingle with bad company" mother would always say."How will daddy take this after his several warnings of not marrying from any other tribe. God, Clarion is pregnant! he exclaimed. "Are we going to abort it?" "what if something bad happens in the process". All these and many more run through Solape's mind.

He undresses, wraps his towel around his waist ,picks up his sponge case and heads towards the bathroom with a bucket of water.Outside the bathroom are four other people waiting for their turn to have a bath, Solape joins them. Someone among them shouts at the person inside the bathroom "Oga, wetin self, abeg do quick comot na, abi you be fish?". Eventually, Solape enters the bathroom, as soon as he closes his eyes to begin his bath, he began to see the images of Clarion with a bulging stomach smiling at him, he became terrified, he pours the entire water on himself and hurries to his room. He dresses quickly and dashes out.

Outside the house, he waves a bike man to a stop,and they head towards Clarion's place. On their way,a pregnant woman almost run into them as she tries to pull her 5 years old son away from the road, this terrifies Solape the more. Clarion's residence which normally does not take more than 10 minutes ride away from Solape's, seems to be taking eternity to reach this very day. Eventually, the bike stops in front of small bungalow, which have "The Queen's Villa" written on it, Clarion's residence. He quickly pays the man the agreed amount. As he enters the corridor leading to her room, he hears an ongoing discussion coming from inside the first room, Mama Tokya, a Benue woman, Clarion's neighbor had just 'put to bed' after having seven children already, another neighbor has come to greet her and was praying for the 'bundle of joy'.

 Solape stood shooked and frightened, he thought within himself  "where on earth, does one run to, to avoid these melodrama of pregnancy and babies" another thought came to him without letting the initial settle,"Solape, you are a soon to be father".  He quickly run towards Clarion's door, opens it and rushed in without knocking or any formalities, as he enters, Clarion a 23 years old light skinned beautiful lady rushes towards him in tears, hugging him tight, he cuddles her and takes her to the bed where they sit, he tries to calm her.After much compelling, Clarion finally 'let out the cat'. "I am finished, baby I missed Dr.Usman's test" she utters,"and what else" Solape asks looking expectant, confused and pale, "and he doesn't give make up tests" responded Clarion. Solape shouted "God!" and sighs heavily, a sign of ease on his face, pulls her closer to comfort her. "Everything will be fine" he says.

============================To be continued======================

Got this from a storyteller (he gave the permission to share) and I decide to share with you guyz. let me briefly introduce him in his own words.


I am a writer, director, actor, producer and photographer. Basically, I tell stories with the camera, follow me on Instagram @seunthestoryteller to explore the photography side of me.
Thank you, My name is  Seun Afolabi and I am a storyteller.