The Good Life serialization continues 8
If your problem is getting a good wife in Lagos, as we keep hearing
that Lagos girls are not good girls, I’m happy to remind you again that lots of
choice maidens abound here in the village and many of them are very much
available and any of those we’ve earmarked for you will make a good wife and we
hope you’ll pay the bride price of any of them after we’re done with our
ceremonies.
We at home await you, my son, and I pray fervently for you not to
disappoint us on these two significant issues.
The rest of the family send their greetings.
God be with you.
Your uncle.
Fred Uba.
Uba’s father, Benedict, while
alive, was a junior sibling to Frederick who was the first child of their
parents and who was now the main father figure in the family to Uba. He had
many offspring of his own who were now caring for him in his old age but Uba’s
father had had problems with childbearing and it seemed his only progeny, Will,
was destined to the same fate as he wasn’t even married yet.
He folded the single long page
message back into its envelope. Mentally, he had been preparing for the
remembrance ceremonies for a long time. In his head, he could just envisage the
cows and goats that would have to be slaughtered, the costly native attires
that would be worn, the various types of exotic foods to be prepared, cartons
of drinks that would be consumed, widows that would be given some form of aid
and many other things in keeping with tradition.
It all boiled down to money, big
money, something he wasn’t sure he had enough for the festivities ready. And
the second letter confirmed to him that he was indeed not too buoyant. It was
from his bank in Yaba, where his other account not known to Vintage
International was domiciled, and contained his quarterly statement of account.
After scanning the neatly typed
lines, he realized he had only a few thousand left in his account. Seven
thousand, three hundred and forty-three naira, fifty-two kobo to be exact.
The customer relations unit
advised him that he had been withdrawing more than usual and that he should cut
down on his spending, as it had really increased in the last few months, unless
he was investing, and if he wasn’t investing with his increased expenditure,
then he should consider investing in stocks or micro and small scale
enterprises like candle manufacturing.
Done with the two paper sheaths
and especially their contents, he deposited them in a drawer as queries
assailed his mind.
Note: This is the eighth page of the Oseyiza Oogbodo book, The Good Life. More excerpts to follow
on this blog. It's also available on Amazon and many other stores through the
links below. Other Oogbodo books available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo,
Scribd, Dang Dang and other stores are Short
Story Galore and The Newell Murder.
https://www.books2read.com/u/mgLRgK
www.amazon.com/dp/B07DM3KC4S
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DM3KC4S
www.amazon.fr/dp/B07DM3KC4S
www.amazon.it/dp/B07DM3KC4S
www.amazon.es/dp/B07DM3KC4S
www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07DM3KC4S
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