January 11
2008
Okonkwo Street
In Front Of The Egba House.
A black Nissan Pathfinder gently came to a stop opposite a black gate.
The driver's side door opened gently and a handsome dark-skinned man in a simple white T-shirt and blue trousers stepped out before moving towards the gate and bringing out a bunch of keys from his pocket with the practiced ease of someone who had done this for a long time.
That man was no other than Chikodi who,after opening the gate turned around with a smile at his beautiful wife and son who as in the backseat of the car.
A few minutes later the car was parked inside the house premises and chikodi turned off the ignition before stepping out once more to close and secure the gate behind them.
Kelechi opened the car door and stepped out body weary from the long journey back. They just came back from the father's village.
They travelled on the 26th of December and were just coming back today spending a total of two weeks and a few days there.
Not that he hated it no but he was just tired due to the long journey.
His father was from Umuwereike village in Nkwerre Local government.
They always visited his father's village at the end of the year mainly after Christmas or sometimes before Christmas.
Though there are times when they visited his mother's side which was a small place within owerri.
Kelechi's mother saw his behavior from within the car and chuckled lightly.
Even with his tiredness Kelechi never forgot the manners his mother instilled in him. He walked over to the mother's side of the car and gently opened the door for her.
"Thank you nwam." Chioma said with a warm smile at her son as she came down.
"You're welcome mummy." Kelechi replied in a polite sweet tone as he gently closed the door behind her.
It was as that moment that Chikodi came back from the gate and move to the front door to open it.
A few minutes later everyone was resting inside. There was light available and the fans were turned on along with some of the lights.
They arrived mid-afternoon and were all feeling tired.
Kelechi was in his room with the windows opened though protected by a steel protector and net.
His parents were downstairs,his father leaning back on the couch while his mother laid down face up on his laps.
And off they all went to sleep.
Later in the early evening...
Everyone was awake and moving around. The light was still available, though Chikodi had his emergency fuel reserves in a rubber can placed at a corner in the backyard.
*RING! RING! RING!
Came the ringing of one of the parent's Nokia flip phones.
After checking,it was the father's so Chikodi picked up his still ringing phone from the small table in front of the couch facing the TV.
He checked the ID and immediately showed a warm smile on his face. He immediately answered.
"Hello! Chikodi my very good man hwfr?!" Kelechi's deep male and happy voice came through the speaker.
Kelechi rested comfortably on the couch,phone placed on his ear and a smile on his face.
Chimo was currently in the kitchen and Kelechi was helping her out.
"Happy new Year onye ojo." Chikodi said , voice barely concealing laughter.
"Hmm...onye ojo bah? No problem.
"Yes nau. If you no wicked who come carry that title?" Chikodi was smiling widely now.
"Ahh! Mee?! Wicked kee?" Kelechi exclaimed with mock anger then made a show of snapping his finger in a mock threatening manner.
"Hmmm...rara oo!"
"Hahahaha."
"This man ehh...hahaha."
The two men were laughing now.
"I still have some days left under leave so I want to check up on you and everyone and also know when the new year meet up will be possible." Kelechi started saying after they both stopped laughing.
Kelechi was a top doctor in a hospital while his wife was a bank manager overseeing a branch.
"Una don come back?"
"Yes we came back some days ago." Kelechi replied.
"Okay. We just came back today so let's try meeting up in two day time." Chikodi said.
"Alright then. There's no issue on this side."
"Good.Same here."
"Greet everyone for me." Kelechi said.
"No problem.Same here oo especially that my beautiful daughter-in-law." Chikodi said with a laugh.
"I no blame you sha,na when you get daughter first you go understand my pain and concerns." Kelechi said with mock anger.
"Maybe and then again maybe not." Kelechi said with a small smile on his face.
"Daddy! Food is ready!" Kelechi said excitedly as he came into the sitting room some minutes later after the two men finished speaking.
"Your Uncle Kelechi said I should greet you for him." Chikodi said with a smile while getting up.
At the mention of his namesake's name Kelechi's eyes instantly brighten more.
"Uncle Kelechi called?!" He asked excitedly.
"Yes he did. Some minutes ago."
"That's too bad, I wanted to wish him a happy new year." Kelechi said with a now sad face.
"Don't worry. We'll be seeing them sometime soon." Chikodi said patting his son's small shoulder.
"Really?!" Kelechi's eyes brightened once more.
"Really."
"Yay! Let's go before mummy will get angry." Kelechi said and started hurriedly moving ahead of his dad to head to the dining room.
"You're right." Chikodi followed behind his visibly excited son and thought more on the days to come.
And like that the two walked out of the room,one big and one small to join the currently waiting wife/mother who was still setting plates down on the table as well as the food.
With that the evening went by peacefully.
2 Days later...
7:30 am.
The morning air was still chilly but carried a natural sweetness and the sunlight shone down blessings everything it touched with its glory.
Everyone was already awake.