Two weeks later.
Ever since Dawson agreed to help prepare Candida for her GCE exams, every morning at eleven, Candida, with a pack of books by her side could be seen walking across the lawn to the Corridon’s flat. With Dawson’s effort, she has improved her studying methods and have mastered most of the topics they have discussed. She had excelled in her quizzes and tests. On one occasion, after writing a test, he had asked her how she found it. Her answer was; ‘oh, the questions weren’t bad. In fact, the test was as easy as taking the morning tea’. And they had laughed over it. But what she said was really true for she got an A in that test.
Now looking back at what she had accomplished in the past weeks, she was now more certain that she will excel in the coming examination and she considered the improvement a credit to Dawson’s pedagogy. Dawson had been particularly kind and patient with her, explaining every difficult aspect of topics repeatedly when she fails to grasp what was being taught. He broke down most of the topics and practically demonstrated tests and experiments to make them easier for her and she had benefited greatly from it. To make the lectures more interesting, he had taken pains to collect specimens of plants and animals to facilitate easier understanding of the materials studied. Further, she had found Dawson very considerate, always ready to answer every question she asked.
Apart from the moments they shared together learning in the library, they also played together both in the library, on the beach sitting opposite each other and when they played tennis. All these times, they discovered a lot of things about each other. She had found a part of him interesting-his habit of reading novels and telling stories about what he had read and experienced. To Candida, his own bulk of experience is enough to fill a library. But for Candida who have read so little, she has little to tell and feels embarrassed. Dawson, nevertheless was interested in what she had to say. They gave him a new experience and tranquility of mind he had never experience before, particularly the stories and legends she often relate. And as the days go by, he discovered that there was something about this girl that makes her protected, natural and distant from anybody, Although his mother has disapproved of the relationship, he had assured her that she need not worry about anything if she thinks this contact might jeopardize his relationship with Justina.
But now sitting opposite each other in the library discussing together, Dawson found Candida a new person entirely. He wondered what was it about her that fascinated him, and although this worried him, he went on with the study.
‘I guess that’s about all we can take today, resting his back on the chair. ‘Tomorrow we will try and finish this topic. You know this is a very wide topic and you can only understand it if we discuss it step by step rather than rush it up.
‘That’s okay, I understand; can I have this part of the note? She asked taking up the pile of notes on the desk.
‘You can have the moon’, Dawson nearly said, but a thought quickly came to his mind. ‘Of course; he said instead; ‘You can have them all if you wish and go through them.
‘Oh! I’m grateful. Thank you very much; she replied excitedly. ‘I don’t know what I’d done without your help. I’d be in a bad spot.
‘You don’t have to be in a bad spot with me. Never mind, you need my help and you’re having it and as long as you are happy that’s okay with me’.
‘But you’re nice. Dawson, will you go for a swim in the evening? She asked standing up, from her chair.
"Why, sure, you know I never miss a day going to swim in the river. It has become a part of me."
‘We will see then, bye bye; she said and made across the desk to the door, opened it then stepped outside and shut the door after herself.
Dawson could hear her falling footsteps as they faded out. He remained silent for a while, then looked at the wall clock. It was two-fifteen and nodding to himself that there was still time before his parents return from their various destinations, got up and with his hands in his pockets went to the window. He had been looking out of the window for sometimes now with his mind carried away to the fictitious world when the library door opened. He swung round with a start. It was Hendrick.
‘Dawson, Mama is back’, she said.
‘So early’, exclaimed Dawson, surprised that his mother has returned from work.
‘What of Avwerosuor?’ he asked. ‘She’s with Mama in the sitting room; and then happily showing a new pant that their mother had bought for him said; ‘see, Mama bought this for me from the town’
‘Hmm, it’s beautiful and it fits you, isn’t it? Did you thank Mom for it?"
‘Yes’.
‘Okay, let’s go together to the sitting room,’ he said and taking him by the hand they went out of the room. They found their mother admiring her new hairdo from one side to another.
‘Mama, you are so early today’, put in Dawson. ‘I thought you said it will be four-thirty before you return from the store’.
‘Yes, but I discovered I had to do certain things before your father return from the office. So after staying sometime I locked up the store and went to the saloon and on my way back I bought this pants Hendrick has been showing you. How’s everything in the estate. Anybody called?
‘Everything is fine and nobody came except Candida who you know usually come here for her studies. Infact, it’s not long she left’, he concluded.
His mother gave him a curious stare but said nothing. She knew the appearance of that beautiful girl in the estate poses a serious problem. Dawson himself knew that his mother would be jealous for the sake of Justina and he told himself that before long, this would lead to quarrelling and exchange of malicious innuendos. Knowing her mind and what she might likely say, he quickly changed the topic.
‘Mama, I’d wanted to go to town but I don’t have sufficient money to make it. Could you give me some. I won’t waste time. I am sure to be back by four-thirty or precisely five.
Mrs. Corridon impulsively opened her purse and handed him a one thousand naira note.
‘Migwo’, he greeted in the traditional way. Later he went into his room to change. He dug out a pair of blue jeans and a thick yellow T shirt that fitted him like a glue. Then humming a song to himself, he walked along the street road constructed between the lawns toward the road where he caught a taxi to the town. At Hotel De Eldorando, he stopped the driver and stepped out. He wanted to visit Daniel whose apartment was opposite the hotel across the road. They had known each other when in high school and both of them had graduated at the same time but because of the unemployment toil in the country, both of them had remained jobless. And for the meantime, Daniel is residing with his brother. Dawson walked majestically to the house and listened carefully before he knocked. Soft music was drifting from the room and Dawson at once knew that his friend would be at home.
Daniel himself answered the door. ‘Oh, it’s you. Come in’. ‘Hi’, he said as he raised his hand for a handshake. He stepped aside to let him in and then gently closed the door.
‘It’s been a hell of a time since we saw last’, Dawson remarked. ‘How is your brother?’
‘He’s gone to work, but he is fine’. Dawson let out a whale of breath and finally sat down. Although the room was small, it was well furnished. While Dawson was entertaining himself with the photo album on the centre table, his friend went out. He came back shortly carrying two bottles of ice cold beer which he set on the table. He brought out two drinking glasses, and served the drinks. Both men helped themselves to their glasses, touched glasses and drank. While they drank, they discussed many things from the current political situation in the country, to the investment world, arts and culture. As both men were also interested in sports, it took a prominent part of the discussion. By the time they finished their discussion, it was already time for Dawson to be back at the estate. ‘Well, I’ve had a very wonderful time today, said Dawson as he stood up. ‘And thanks for the drink.
‘Ah, don’t mention. What’s there to thank in a bottle of beer. It can’t even drown a fly’.
They took the side walk to the road and stood outside the Hotel Eldorando.
‘What about that job appointment you had. Have you been called for interview yet?' asked Dawson.
‘Not a hope to say the truth. They keep telling me to come tomorrow. I don’t blame them, because that is what they say to a beggar, and tomorrow never ends. Well, you know as well as I do that nowadays job don’t grow on trees. But then, I am already tired of sitting at home. It’s just that I can’t help it'.
‘To say one is tired is an understatement’, echoes Dawson. ‘Tired is not the word for it. I’m more than sick with everything, and a change of scene would do me good’.
‘I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you I would be traveling out for the weekend’. My brother has written me to check him out at Kano for possible job appointments. Anyway, the letter is not decisive, so I should be back by Monday evening hopefully.’
‘Okay’.
‘Highson estate’, Dawson hailed to a taxi cab. It slowed down and Dawson climbed in after saying goodbye his friend. The taxi went off like a shot leaving behind a trail of smoke. It finally disappeared in the corner.
Dawson stepped into the estate some minutes to five o clock. He saw his mother was busy in the kitchen while the children were playing in the garden like kittens in a straw berry path. He went into his room and changed into his swimming outfit. As there was still some time , he just lay down on the divan. Before long he was fast asleep.