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Abule Aderibigbe was pitched by forefathers who were deep in the spirit ways and were visionary in their dealings. They would seek the aid of the gods even for and on things irrelevant during their sacred timeline unlike Ade's, the first son of Jogunomi. Jogunomi was the last of the forefathers in ethics. He was deep in the old ways and that was why he was wickedly in powers during his days at abule Aderibigbe. There were many rumours and tit-bits as to how his death happened. Some said he did not die but decided to rest among the dirt for some time as he could go into the earth to rest and come back to the surface to tell the tales of the underworld.
Ade had returned from farm and from haunting animals in the forest. After days of walking and working, he was tired. His wife, Morenike was with him on the mat. It would not show on his face though due to his squeezed-up countenance he naturally had. Whenever he left, he left not just for one but the either –to farm and to hunt. He liked it being an ambidextrous figure consistently and liked boasting about that. Whenever he was to be distinguished in their community, as there were many Ade's there, he preferred the tag, it is the Ade, ‘the great farmer and the brave hunter’.
He sighed harshly and said “Our king is not worth it. I know it. You know it. Everybody knows it. But I don’t know why those close to the gods have joined in this pretentious behaviour. Iyawo, I saw something I should not have seen days ago. I saw them together the day I left. I was jus…” Someone knocked at their ante.
“Good morning… Good morning… It is me, Bankole your friend” remarked Bankole from outside.
It was early in the morning when the sun was just getting ready to waddle his abode and come to spread his blissing ministries of rays upon their heads to return for his sister to come comely to calm. Everyone who had it in mind to go an work on their respective farmland was already leaving to reach their farms on time and return in time. Bankole was also on his way to the farm with his family alongside. He told them to continue to go ahead of them to join them after having few words with Ade, his closest friend.
“O, my dear friend... you don’t need to mention your name, even my dogs know your voice well. So... why wouldn’t I?” responded Ade boldly. “Ooooooo… thank you o my good friend” said Bankole.
His wife had already left to open the door so that he might enter. Ade was still seated with his muscular legs crossed with his gawky back relaxed against the clayed wall. His head was jabbed up and was as well as relaxed against the wall thrown backwards and was biting the side of his mouth.
“Good morning my good wife” said Bankole politely as she opened the door to him to come in.
"Good morning sir! How is family? How is my friend doing?” enquired Morenike
“Everyone is fine o; they are on their way to the farm. I sent them ahead and I am to catch up with them before long. You know, it will be improper and uncultured of me to pass through here and not stop by to greet my friend knowing he had arrived” reacted Bankole.
“O, that is good of you 'the husband of my friend!'" There was brief pause... "Thanks, for, the, love… Hmmmm!” said Morenike with somber expression clouding her beautiful face.
“What is wrong? Is everything fine?” inquired Bankole.
“Since he came back, he had been behaving awkwardly. And he whenever he is doing that, something bad is likely to happen next which would be authored by him” responded Morenike
“Alright, be at peace. He is a great man and he is my friend. He will sure ace through” said Bankole.
“Thank you! May our gods be with you… He is at the passage expecting you show up” said Morenike and he left for the backyard to quickly fetch some cold palm wine roasted meet to take along for his family at farm.
“Alright!”
He walked fastidiously through the dark passage as there was no form of light to lit up the passage. At the end of the first turn, there was another passage straight up to his right and there was light there. He was able to walk faster than he did in the first.
Ade’s leg was no more crossed, his head was no positioned as it was and his back was no more against the wall. He was already on the mat with his gawky back up and forehead on the mat.
“Ade, my good friend there you are…” said Bankole jovially as he was almost where the mat was.
On getting to the mat, seeing him resting on the mat that way puzzled him. He felt people do not sleep like that, not even kids who wet the mats do that.
Still puzzled, he said "abomination, this is awkward: too askew." He thought to turn him appropriately. As he touched his body, he was already as cold as Ajewole's nose and was already as stiffened like damned shoot.
“Yeh, Ade!” he said, calmly as he knelt and tried to turn him completely to his face
“Yehhhhhhhh… yeh…yeh… who could do this?”
Morenike ran around from the backyard with manic speed to see what had happened… as she overheard Bankole. On getting to the scene she screamed “Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh…” and passed out. Bankole was then between Scylla and Chabdis.
Jodekss
To be continued...
