It was early in the morning and still dark when Jimi Solade woke up to someone shaking him roughly. He groaned and mumbled to himself, half asleep.
'Jimi!' he jerked fully awake at the sound of that familiar voice. It was his brother.
'WOLE!' Jimi said in surprise.
'Yes , its me, and his brother smiled in a way that showed his upper teeth.
'Man!' What...? Jimi began. They looked at each other, delighted.
'No greetings little bro? Wole smiled again.
'Sorry, does anyone know that ypur here? Does Daddy...?
Jimi did not complete the sentence ; instead he embraced his brother tighly .'i HAVE MISSED YOU!
Wole was thinner. Jimi could feel it .
'Mum knows I'm here , wole said . He too did not mention their father. Just then, the alarm clock sounded. It as time for Jimi to get up and released his brother.
'Go on, get ready for school , wole said , stretching on the bed. 'At least you seem happy to see me ' . He looked round the room at the carelessly flung shirts, jeans and broker shorts over the chair, the poster of Manchester united football team on the wall above jimi's bed . A typical boy's room. Another worn out poster of Tupac Shakur was pasted on the opposite wall.
'I didn't remove it even thought its an eye score, Jimi said, grinning. Everything's jux as u left It'.
Wole squeezed jimi's arm lightly. He picked up something from the bedside table beside jimi's music CD s, chemistry and mathematics textbooks. 'Man this is some watch .Must have caused a mountain. You always get all the nicest things, why...?
'Wole, don't touch my watch.'
' What's your problem? Can't I look at a watch?
'I'm sorry bro, Jimi muttered. I'm glad to see you back __ really__ but, you know....'
'My cute , spoilt little brother... You grow taller everytime I see you'. Wole got up walk towards the door. 'Dont worry about the old bear. Better get ready for school. Emm .. I took some cash from your drawer , hope u don't mind? '
Sighing,Jimi plodded to the bathroom. Trust his brother to always collect things, buh he was happy he was back . It was a new day and the beginning of his final year at school . Like his brother ,he was tall and long limbed as an athlete, though
Unlike his brother he has dimples when he smiled. He was sixteen years old and he was already sprouting a beard . He flexed his right arm nothing that he had developed muscles good .
He whistled as he took his shower, refusing to think about the morning's surprise. The reason why was a long story ,too long to think Abt on a brand new dat
****
As Jimi ate his breakfast moi moi and brown pap, wole sat on the sofa watching early morning cartoon on television. There mother was n the kitchen with rose the house help .
It was like any other morning _so peaceful, almost as if wole had never left . Then Mr Solade came out of his bedroom yawning. He was tall and we'll built man with a head shaved bald. He wore a loose caftan over his bulging tummy.
'Annie ...' he began and then stopped short and rubbed his eyes, and rubbed the again jux to make sure.
' Good morning dad,' Wole said and, as an afterthought, prostrated himself. He sounded as if he was enjoying himself.
' What are u doing here? ' his father said un a strangled voice.
Mrs Solade came running out of the kitchen.'Good morning love. Just relax and let me explain...'
Jimi knew his father won't listen.
'What is this good for nothing doing in my house? ' his father roared . "Didn't I tell u not to step ur foot here again ? ,get out before I call the police!"
'Kelly! ' Mrs Solade shouted __ if her high thin voice could be called a shout. "It's too early in the morning for this . And he s ur son! You cannot treat him like this! You must not go on like this! ' she knelt down.
'It's you! Mr Solade turned to her. "You spoiled the boy! He brought shame and disgrace on this family and you still beg for him . Al your children are bad! '
Jimi jumped out of the dinning table and knelt down too, besid his mother and brother. 'dad! ,pls forgive him .'
Mrs Solade stood still , his chest heaving and said very quietly ,'You are not welcome here ,' and then turned back to his room . Mrs Solade collapsed onto a chair, but when wole stood up, he was grinning widely.
'You can laugh,' his mother said. 'Its not funny. You saw hw he reacted . We shall have to see uncle Kazeem and maybe uncle Jake.' They will talk to him '.
'He 's not a serious man ,' Wole said , grinning.
'Ah , Wole! ' his schoolbag and slung it over his shoulder.
Jimi picked up his school bag and slung it over his shoulder.
'You've not finished eating,' his mother said anxiously.
' I 'm not hungry . Bro , stay cool.' He was annoyed as he turned for the door , but he didn't know exactly why.
Dad and his temper, Jimi thought. Outside the gate , he stood for a moment and listened to the distant sounds of the buses and shouts of distant houses before the main roads , then someone called his name . It was his next door neighbor and school mate . Sunny Daniel running towards him a short thin boy who hardly reach Jimi 's shoulders.
' Heard you arrived back from your trip yesterday,' Daniel said, slightly out of breath , ' was wait for you'.
'hey Daniel boy! Sorry! My mind was somewhere else . 'Jimi smiled delightedly and threw Daniel a friendly punch .
Daniel snorted noisily. ' Well , it's nice to have u back here .'