Long after Dawson had retired to his room he was still awake. He just couldn’t sleep. The memory of the story Candida had told him kept haunting and coming back to him persistently. He was restless and his palms felt moist from the sweat coming out of his body. He kept seeing her sitting on the sandy beach beside him, her lips moving as she told him the story. As he lay on his bed, he would roll from one end to the other anytime he remembered any special conversation that has passed between them. And tomorrow, he told himself, she would come again for her lessons. The mere thought of it sends his heartbeats racing faster. He was still fighting with his thoughts when he suddenly remember that Justina would be coming tomorrow. His mother had said over dinner that Justina would be coming to the Estate to spend her leave which will start tomorrow. She said she hoped that all necessary arrangement would be made this time and that before the leave was over, their marriage would take place. How happy she would be to have Justina as a daughter-in-law. Justina, she had continued, was a simple girl, with good looks and quite educated. True, Justina has a personality and appearance that would attract the opposite sex at first sight. Her mother is apparently rich with a good family background and reputation. Her father had died when she was sixteen leaving her mother a considerable amount of money and property. That was when she was in class four. After her secondary education she was admitted into the polytechnic where she studied secretarial studies. A few weeks after her OND graduation, she had secured a job as a secretary to one of the Managers of a Departmental store. Now she would be coming to Highson Estate to spend her leave. Dawson knew it was his mother’s idea that Justina spend her leave at the Estate, and he knew his mother too well to argue about it. Well, he told himself it was even time he prove to himself whether he was really in love with Justina for them to marry. Her two weeks stay with them in the estate would be enough to prove that.
How Justina had come into his life was his mother’s making. Mrs. Corridon had invited Justina Edeamrigho to a weekend party at the Corridon’s cottage, where she had introduced her as one of her regular customer and friend in the office. She had said Justina often came to her shop to buy typing and duplicating sheets, and who many a time had made use of her photostat services. Because of that she had wanted her to meet the family. She was sure her son, Dawson, would take a fancy at her and in this, she was right.
Soon, after the first meeting, Justina had continued to come to the Estate on weekends and her relationship with Dawson had grown as a result. His mother had helped to achieve that. Obviously, Justina seems to have fallen whole heartedly for Dawson. But Dawson had recently discovered that the type of affection he has felt for Justina could be love at first sight, a mere infatuation usually felt by all persons during the transition stage of life from childhood to adult life, and not the type of love bestowed by true nature on man to love the woman of his heart. Well, she will come tomorrow, he thought, and till then, it is better to leave things at that.
Dawson woke up late the following morning. He yawned, went to the window and opened it. A flood of light came in as soon as he drew back the curtains. Still in his sleeping garments, he went into the parlor. When he entered the sitting room, he saw his mother putting finishing touches of make ups to her face. Daddy has gone to work and the children had left for school.
‘Mama migwo', he greeted in the traditional way.
‘Vrendo, vwo vrenre, she replied, and after applying a lipstick to her mouth, she continued, ‘Dawson, I want you to keep the house in order and see that nothing goes wrong with the present arrangements and decorations. And don’t allow either hendrick or Avwarosuor to enter into Justina’s room.
Dawson sat on the settee, while he listened to all these. Having said bye, bye to his mother, he watched her walk across the lawn to the road where she would catch a taxi. He heaved a sigh of relief, got up and went up to the corner of the floor where their sound system was installed and slotted in one of the Blues cassette he has just recorded from town and went back into his room. While the music was filtering through the whole house, Dawson undressed himself, wrapped a bathing towel round his waist, and went into the bathroom. After a long cold shower, he returned to his room, slipped on a blue tight jeans and an ash-coloured sweater and walked bare footed to the kitchen for his food. He came back almost immediately carrying a plate of rice which he set down on the dinning table. He opened the adjacent refrigerator and brought out a bottle of ice water, poured out a glass and started to eat heartily. As soon as he finished his breakfast, he retired into his room, took a Biology textbook and lying full length on the bed, he started to read what he would teach Candida that day.
He has not been reading for more than ten minutes when he heard a creaking and opening of the back door and footsteps coming up the passage. ‘That would be Candida’ he thought. He was right, for when he said come in to a knock on his bedroom door, he saw Candida as she peeped in.
‘Come in’, he said the second time.
‘Good morning, how is the day?’ he said
‘Good morning’ she said as she advanced slowly into the room. Dawson surveyed her as he struggled out of bed. She was wearing a well ironed purple skirt and an orange coloured blouse that fitted her like a glue. A golden chain placed around her waist acted as the belt.
‘Hey you are looking like an angel’, he said jocularly, but his expression and look meant exactly what he said. Embarrassed, she said ‘thank you’, and smiled at him. That smile was enough to send Dawson’s heart beating against his ribs. Somehow, the smile embarrassed him. At that moment, he looked into her eyes and saw a flicker of light that has never being there before. Suddenly, the urge to seize her in his arms and kiss those long eye lashes nearly over empowered him. He diverted his gaze, flushed and muttered something to himself.
‘Please, let’s go to the library’, he said as both of them turned toward the door.
They were barely five minutes in the library when the front door bell started to ring violently. They both glanced at each other.
‘Who could that be?’ he muttered.
He got to his feet, and went into the parlour. By the time he got to the sitting room, the bell had stop ringing. The cassette was still playing. The bell has just started to ring again when he opened the door. It was Justina.
Dawson was taken aback by the sudden appearance. The fact is he has been expecting her today, but not in the morning . After the initial shock, he said;
‘Hello, this is a big surprise’, and stood aside to let her in. He helped her with one of the travelling bag she was carrying, and led the way across the sitting room to the spare room that has been specially prepared for her arrival. He set down the bag and stood aside to let her do the same with the other bag she was carrying. Then slowly, she moved towards him, sliding her arms around his neck, her full breasts hard against his chest, and her lovely mouth raised to be kissed. Dawson, seeing the desire in her eyes slide his arms around her waist and they were soon engrossed in a fierce kiss that left them breathless. Later, he disentangle her hands from his neck and sat down on the edge of the dressing table.
‘You surprised me’, he said, ‘I didn’t expect you will come in the morning!’
‘Yes, I wanted to surprise you. Besides I have nothing to do till the evening when I’m supposed to come so I thought it best to come in the morning. Well, are you not pleased to see me?. From now till the evening we will relax and enjoy ourselves and you can tell me what you want us to do during the two weeks. I have been looking forward to this hour!.
‘Yeah, later. Come and meet Candida. She is in the library,' Justina coloured but said nothing. A pang of jealousy ran through her body as they went into the library. Candida who had been sitting down when they entered the room got up, and greeted. Dawson introduced them.
‘Candida, this is Justina, my fiancée', he said, and to Justina he said.
‘I want you to meet Candida the daughter of Chief Oyibo, one of the neighbors living in this estate. Both girls exchanges glances but it was only Candida that said. 'I’m pleased to meet you; you are welcome!' Justina said nothing. She only nodded in her direction and sat down on a stool near the window. The room was suddenly very quiet. No one talked. Only the sound of the music playing on the cassette penetrated the still atmosphere. Later Dawson said to Candida.
‘I am very sorry that we cannot continue with our lecture today and may be for the next few days. Justina intends to stay with us for sometime, but I’ll be around just in case you need anything'.
‘That is alright’, she replied, 'you don’t have to apologize for anything.You have been of great help to me'. Then, promising to see them again she packed her books and left the room. After she was gone, Dawson started to pack away the books they had used. It was sometime before either of them spoke and Justina was the first to speak.
‘What was she doing here?’
‘Who! Oh Candida, she has been coming here to receive lessons on Biology. She enrolled for the forth coming GCE and because of our relationship with her family, her brother begged me to coach her.
‘I see’, she said giving him a reproachful look. Dawson turned to look at her.
‘Justina, you don’t have to be jealous of Candida. There is nothing between us. Even Mama knows that she usually comes here. I don’t want you to start thinking of this.' With that, nothing was further said on the subject. However, Justina was determined to tell Mama about this incident and to ban the girl from further acquaintance with Dawson. Having finished packing the books and with nothing more of important to do in the library, they went to the sitting room. The cassette player has stopped playing and Dawson went and turned the other side of the cassette. When he turned around, he found Justina sitting on the settee. He went up and sat beside her.
‘What have you planned for us during the two weeks?, she asked
‘Plenty’, he smiled.
‘Fortunately for us, a lot of things are happening in town. Oby Onyocha is playing at the Traverna Night Club tonight. There will be plenty of fun there. We will be there. There is also the Royal Recreation centre which I want us to visit. Have you been there before?
No!
‘Besides that, there are lot of places I want us to visit. We will need the car. I am sure, Daddy and Mama will not mind us using it. In addition, if there is time, we shall go on a full day visit to a fishing village some forty kilometers away from here. According to the guide book, it is a very good tourist spot. Also existing in the village is a comfortable hotel well fitted with a barbeque and a porch extending from the beach into the ocean. It is also said that a person can have an infinite view of the Atlantic ocean from the extended verandah. How would you like to be there. It sounds fantastic. Isn’t it?
‘Of course! It sounds incredible!
‘These and many other places which you would want us to go awaits us during the two weeks. So you can see that it is really going to be two weeks of fun.
Having finished telling her about his plan for the two weeks period, Dawson glanced sideways at Justina.
‘Now, tell me about yourself. What have you been doing with yourself? How are tricks in the world of typing and taking endless instructions?
What can a girl do with herself? Nothing.
'You know that because of the nature of my work, I come home late at times and retire quietly to bed. But on weekend I visit my mother and do all the necessary shopping. On some occasions and that’s very rare, I follow my girlfriends to their parties'.
‘At any rate, said Dawson, ‘I am sure you have been enjoying yourself’. He glanced at the wall clock. It was 1:45pm. He got up, went to the window and drew back the curtains. The weather was still and the estate was as quiet as a grave yard.
There is still some time before Mama return from town’. he said as he turned simultaneously from the window. How about taking a stroll around the garden. We could pluck some vegetables and ripe tomatoes for dinner. Mama would need them. As they were about going out, Hendrick ran in with Avwarosuor. Dawson who knows every bit of the ground took a circuitous route which took them a long time to get round the garden. This suited Dawson who always wanted either to perambulate or peregrinate.
After wandering around the garden and taking along with them what they wanted, they finally sat down on a slightly raised platform made of planks under the shade of a tangerine growing at the edge of the garden. From where they sat, they could see a lot of the estate and hear the waves of the river lashing against the sandy beach which was possible if the wind is in the right direction.
They must have spent more than two hours sitting under the tree, for when Hendrick came running down the path, it was to tell them that their mother has returned from the shop. As a rule. Mrs. Corridon never came home earlier than Four-thirty unless she wants to see her beauticians or shop on her way home. And as her business was florishing very well, she came home late most times. As for Mr. Corridon, there was nothing like recreation and holidays, he was always tied up in the office and when at home, business dates, endless phone calls and unfinished work carried from the office always keep him busy. At dinner time, he never talks excessively, but he is nevertheless positively humorous.
Dawson handed the vegetables they have plucked to Hendrick and taking Justina by the hand, they followed the boy back to the house.
They met Sarah Corridon emerging from her room. She had changed her clothes into domestic wears. She grinned when she saw Justina.
‘Huh, she remarked.
‘How are you?’
‘Fine Ma'am’ Justina replied
‘You sure look fine’. How is your mother? It has been a long time since I last saw her.'
‘She is fine; she sent you her greetings.'
While his mother was talking to Justina Dawson went to the refrigerator and took out two bottles of Fanta and a bottle of coke which he set down on the centre table. He brought out three glasses and started opening the bottles. His mother shook her head to indicate that she would not take any thing and proceeded to the kitchen to prepare the evening dish.
‘What shall we drink to? Dawson asked. She chuckled. Then raising his glass he said;
‘To the future’ he said
As long as it last’ she added
While they were drinking, Dawson switch on the TV. One of the film of the serials, ‘the Beach Combers’ was being played.
Mr. Corridon was not at home early enough for the dinner. Dawson had planned to use the car for the show, but as his father did not return from the office on time, they took public transport. Immediately after dinner, Dawson had gone into his room and changed into a brand new ash coloured pair of trousers and a light blue 100% polyester long sleeves shirt.
Justina had seized this opportunity of Dawson’s absence to tell Mrs. Corridon about the girl she had seen with Dawson in the library. Sarah Corridon who was always on the side of the girl was slightly annoyed and promised to talk to Candida when she sees her. Mrs. Corridon has since sensed the danger of Candida’s closeness to Dawson. She had even talked to Dawson about it, but he had told her not to worry about her. Justina, who wore a black coat on top of a white long-sleeve blouse well tucked into a black skirt sat beside Dawson at the back of the cab. The dash-board clock showed 7:35pm as they drove through the main street of Dashuum Avenue. This was one of the busiest streets in Warri and people of all kinds could be seen walking in all direction on this warm evening. Bulky and beefy looking men wearing heavy boots with bags hanging down their shoulders walk briskly on either side of the road. Dawson’s eyes picked up the neon lights indicating the Eldorado hotels as the taxi took the curve that would finally take them to the Warri-Sapele road. He pointed at it to Justina as they drove past it. The Hotel seems deserted from the few cars parked outside. It’s still early for the night rush. Some minutes later, they stopped at a traffic light that linked Dashuum Avenue to the Warri-Sapele road. Across the junction, Dawson caught sight of a huge American as he stepped out of a photographic studio and hailed to a taxi cab that slowed down to a halt with a squealing noise. The driver let in the clutch, put the lever into gear and moved on. At the Traverna club, Dawson paid off the driver and step into the warm brightly lit night. The entrance of the hotel was packed full with people struggling to get tickets, but luckily for them he had taken their tickets two days earlier. Beside the club was Sammy’s – a small kiosk where assorted drinks and items were sold. With Justina following him they went into it and asked for three canned beer and two canned coke. Outside the lobby of the hotel, they saw Augustine Oyibo and his sister Candida.
Augustine waved when he saw Dawson coming..
‘Hi, there’s you’, he said. ‘You don’t miss much of the fun in town, Do you?
‘Well, I gotta get along with the tide!’
'How is job been?'
'Been working very hard. I don’t see much of you these days. Well, you’re giving yourself a break now.'
‘Okay, you can say that again; Augustine returned while his gaze came to rest on Justina.
‘Hello, How do you do?
‘How do you do’ she returned. The two girls greeted. Dawson stole a glance at Candida. She was smartly dressed and her long hair carefully tucked behind and tied with a scarlet scarf. She had on a pink dazzling silk blouse, a fairly tight yellowish green wool skirt that set off her features. Her long shapely legs tapers on from the skirt and disappears into a well curved black shoes. Held between her hands with a glittering chain was a black small hand bag. The sight of this girl always put him in a blank spot and there’s something about her that keep gnawing at him. Dawson snapped off his eyes at they finish greeting and holding Justina by the hand led the way into the theatre. The four of them sat on the same row where they had a good view of the stage. The noise in the hall was deafening and the heat unbearable, as the theatre was packed full.
The show did not take-off until 8:30pm because most of the air-conditioners were not functioning as a result of eddy currents. But as soon as the situation was restored, the noise gradually died down and the atmosphere became more comfortable.
Meanwhile, as preparations were being made for the artiste to appear, music filtered from the back stage. Music artistes like Jersuin Jackson’s ‘I think it’s love’, Madonna, Lionne Richie, the kool & the Gang latest ‘Fresh', sister sledge tracks, and other popular funk music like ‘I’ll never lie to you’ thrilled the audience.
At exactly 8:35pm, lights flashed up on the stage. Drums and other musical instruments producing a blended sound, greeted the arrival of Nigerian’s famous artiste ‘Oby Onyoha’. As the noise died down the floor manager came forward and introduced the artiste.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you that beautiful and courageous young singer who is here tonight to give you the most sensational and supersonic sounds from the music world. Your satisfaction is what she guarantees. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Obi Onyoha’. Once more the scene was filled with cries and happy outbursts. A round of applause that rocked the whole house went round the theatre as the musician walked briskly to the front of the stage with a microphone in her hand. She waved joyously at the crowd, clapped and bowed to the audience full of smiles. When the noise finally died down, the artiste spoke to the audience.
‘Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s a great pleasure being here in Warri tonight for this kind of party. I’m deeply grateful to you all for the turnout tonight. I love you all and I assure you, you will never regret having come to the show. Satisfaction is fully guaranteed. And so, ladies and gentlemen, without further waste of time let the fun begins’, Waaooh’, she shouted as music reverberated into life from the stage.
And boy ‘can she sing! From where they sat, the four of them watched everything with interest. When the singing was in full swing, Dawson opened two canned beer and handed one to Augustine. He also opened two canned coke. He gave one to Justina and the other to Candida.
‘Thank you very much’, greeted Candida.
They drank.
She sang on and on, track after track and in between the tracks, shouts of applause and clapping of hands heighten the occasion. Obi Onyoha thrilled the audience until the early hours of two o’clock when the show finally close. Dawson and his friend Augustine together with the girls left immediately after the concert. He tossed the empty cans of the drinks into a waste bin at the foot of the row. It was tough getting a taxi to Highson Estate that morning, but as they were four in number, the managed to get one. At the gate of the Estate, they said a bye bye and departed. It was already 3:00 am when Dawson had his back on his bed.