The unstoppable Achiever - Episode 1

 

She screamed...

"Papy"

"Papy, I'm home , with a visitor."

Papy , I say I'm home, where are you. She screamed excitedly 

A man in his late fifties appeared with eye glasses holding a bunch of  newspapers in his hands. He looked at Sandra and the visitor quizzingly.

" Papy this is my friend  Sammy . A renowned and world-class  artist from Nigeria."

"Sammy , this is my father, Dr Stevens" . Sandra made the introduction.

"Good evening Sir'  Sammy greeted him politely

"Yea, welcome and how are you" 

His voice was an echo , a Hulk Hogan,  deep American accent. Was he a Nollywood star or a wrestling superstar, I wouldn't know.  Old though, but his six pack sprouted, bulging out from his light green sleeveless polo shirt. With a long stride and wide swinging arm, he stared at me...Hmmm,I wouldn't want to dare this man. I said within me.

"Great , thanks Sir" I answered from a distance in case...

Dr Steven, Sandra's father was a very interesting personality , who spent most of his youthful time in Nigeria and always excited to see someone from there.

Dr Steven  said, "Mr Sammy, I have been in your country, living and working there for a long time .You people are an interesting bunch."

"Is that so?"  Sammy quizzed. 

Seriously  ,Sammy made a mistake quizzing him. He has stirred the honeycomb and is unaware of the stinging bees.

"Yes of course, Mr Sammy"

   Oh God I hope he is not taking it out on me if anyone  has hurt him back then in Nigeria

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-unstoppable-achiever

. What did I walk into?  ..like they normally say back home...Let me maintain !  

( be a good boy) ,  Sammy reasoned within himself.

Dr Steven started pouring.

"I know Lagos , Kaduna, Calabar , Sokoto and Enugu very well. I've been to a dozen other suburbs" 

Ok Sir, Sammy said

"Have you attended the Okungun fishing festival before". ( he meant Argungu fishing and dance festival in Kebbi state, North western Nigeria) and I wasn't in any mode to correct him so as not to lengthen the discussion. Sammy soliloquizes.

Silence...

 I was thinking how to end this interrogation as I was tired after the exhibition, so I decided to give very short answers.

" No sir." Sammy answered simply

" That means you don't even know where they are held."

"Ok have you been to Tinapa in Calabar, Oh! what a lovely place. Have you?"

" No Sir," Sammy answered. 

"Really a Nigerian and you don't know most of these places"?

 Dr Steven stopped to open a page of his newspaper.

I thanked God that was rhetoric not to be answered , so I thought , and heaved a sigh of relief thinking that was all .

"I am boring you, right?" Dr. Steven asked after hearing me heaved. 

"No sir, I was just thinking of the  exhibition". I lied, well not really ,Why not, the exhibition l came from Nigeria,  probably might offer me an angel to go back with and that might be the reason posterity brought me to sit in this big mansion. I mentally thought.

"How was the exhibition," Dr Steven  asked .

" It was fine sir" 

"Ok , Mr Sammy , do you know how to cook Edikang ikong soup, do you?" Dr Steven resumes.

" No sir"  Sammy answered with a yawn,  feeling tired, hungry and sleepy.

 Mr Steven frowned and sat erect. "That was my favourite soup in Nigeria.  So which part of the country are you from"

" Eastern part, Sir '' Sammy said, "and you don't know edikang Ikong?". Dr Steven queried as if everyone in Nigeria must know all the soup.

" Sir, I didn't grow up in the east". Sammy explained.

"Hmmm, I see". Mr Steven said and stood up to answer a call.

After the call…

"You see Mr Sammy, I had to interrogate you to know who you are before I allowed you into my house or near my only daughter. We are a disciplined bunch here and don't tolerate nonsense . I'm sure she must have briefed you. We don't take no for an answer when we set our goals to achieve something."

He paused , and continue, 

"Especially as this concerns my only daughter, I've got to know you,  I must scrutinise whoever she walks with."

" Thank you Sir, I hope I passed the scrutiny," Sammy said lightly 

Both of us laughed as Sandra came out  to invite us to the table.