THE CHASER © Chinyeaka Okoli

Part 1

Obu, a technician with the Post and Telecommunications Department, Enugu was on tour to Owerri. He was to stay there for one month. His girlfriend, Uche, hails from Obibi, not too far away from Owerri. Uche lived with her Auntie , Chioma at number 84 Eze Street, Uwani Enugu and Obu, was living at number 83 Boardman Street, Uwani Enugu. Being holiday season, Uche had travelled to spend the holidays with her parents, brothers and sisters
in Obibi.

Uche did not know about Obu’s planned tour to Owerri area. Not that it matters to her. During one of their conversations, she had described to Obu the route to her Town and her house in Obibi, coming from Owerri, not necessarily for the purpose of a real visit by Obu. Uche always protested any suggestion by Obu to pay her a visit in her parents’ house, whether he meant it or not.

“Visit where? Our house? Obu, you are not serious! Please, don’t even say it, not to talk of attempting it. If you dare, my dad will kill me that day! He doesn’t entertain the thought of a male visitor coming around our home, not to talk of coming to visit me.”

Uche’s father was known to be very strict about male visitors. Most young men avoided tempting his patience or provoking him by visiting to ask for Uche or Chinenye. They still told the story of what happened to Chuzy, alias “Chaser” the day he braved visiting Chinenye. People had cautioned Chaser about the risk of going close to Okezie’s house to ask for any of the daughters. Chaser laughed it away as he decided to try.

“Wetin the Okongwu fit do? Dem dey look person eye well well before dem go yarb am!”

Chaser was bragging as he went off. Dressed in deep blue jeans on top of which was a neatly tucked in a white Swanex shirt, and his feet covered by a pair of Black Appollo shoes, so well-polished that some girls may use them as substitute for mirrors! He was a tall, fair and handsome young man, twenty four years of age and standing about five feet nine inches tall. He had ignored warnings from friends about venturing into Mr. Okezie’s compound to ask for any of his daughters. He called those friends cowards and “Joo men” who are afraid to show bravery where it is needed.

Wetin the Okongwu fit do? Dem dey look person eye well well before dem go yarb am!

Chaser hardly let go any beautiful girl without attempting a “talking to” at least. After all, why is he called “Chaser?” What beautiful girl in the town and its environs can deny having been “chased” by Chaser! None….

He boldly approached Mr. Okezie’s compound, and boldly entered. He slowed down. Cautiously, he paced along the corridor. Somehow, courage may have left him for a while for he stepped softly as he walked. A cat couldn’t have walked past more quietly than he did. For such a “brave warrior”, one would have expected him to continue as courageously as he had demonstrated outside before his friends.

Chaser looked down the corridor and saw a little boy. He signaled him with a wave of his pointer finger. Chidi, the ten years old younger brother of Uche understood the signal. He knew a deal was at hand. Each good informative job he did often got him some candies.

“Chidi, how are you?” Chaser muttered in whispers.

“Fine”, he replied, swiftly following it with a question.

“Is it sister Uche, Chinenye or Amaka that you want to see?”

The question was too loud for Chaser’s liking. Before he answered, he looked around him. He heard a noise behind him. It was Uche’s father.

“Ewuo! It is our fathe…..” Chidi cut short the last word as if he needed it for his escape and then flew like a gun shot.

The speed at which he disappeared announced the danger at hand.

Chaser turned around, and behind him was Mr Okezie, an ex-Police Inspector, a sixfoot four inches tall man, bulky and muscular. He was heading towards the front door.

Chaser pulled the collar of his shirt. It was as if pulling at it could help hold back the courage that almost leapt out of his weak, though once brave, or should I say, courageous heart. He paused. He remained at a frozen stand-still and noiselessly quiet, waiting for the final exit of the intimidating huge figure. In his mind, Mr. Okezie was leaving home to somewhere. Much better thing to do during such a visit!

Mr. Okezie slowly walked on, puffing at his Benson and Hedges Cigarette. As he got to the front gate, he quietly opened it, then shut the front door loudly and then bolted it! He turned around, now heading back towards Chaser. There was no other exit from the corridor except the bolted front door or running farther into the backyard. There was nowhere to run for escape, nowhere to hide. Chaser knew he was in trouble. He must think and act fast.

As the huge figure approached, the menacing stride and the imposing figure would not let Chaser remember to even utter any respectful greeting. If he did, probably it may have reduced the anger and rage in Mr. Okezie’s heart.

“Goo..goo…” Chaser could not remember if it is morning or afternoon.

“Gooo..goo what! Who are you looking for?”

He bellowed at Chaser as he advanced menacingly towards him, his Benson & Hedges smoldering in his right hand.

“I…I ..I was…I am.. I..”

Before Chaser could say a meaningful word, Okezie struck like an angry Mamba.

“You…what?”

He bellowed, and at the same time thrusting the smoldering cigarette right into Chaser’s trembling lips, extinguishing the fire in his open mouth. Before Chaser could scream, Okezie followed up in his aggressive attack with some thunderous and earthquakean slaps on Chaser’s cheeks.

“Sir, what offence have I committed to deserve….”

He could not finish his question as Okezie’s angry charge cut him short. Chaser ran back a few steps. Okezie followed him. Chaser ran back some few more steps. Okezie tried to corner him.

This time, Chaser knew that running or just retreating will not help. He stopped abruptly and screamed.

“Sir, this is too much! What did I do to you…”

He summoned some courage, stood and waited as if now ready to fight. As Okezie advanced again, he Chaser rushed at him in attack, giving him a big push. Okezie staggered for balance.

“You dog….you laid you filty hand on me….” Okezie angrily stammered.

Before he could finish, Chaser charged at him again as if to punch him. Okezie ducked back for cover in defense. Chaser swerved to a free opening to his right side, slipped past Okezie and raced towards the front door. The speed at which he unbolted the door in a flash, ran out, and took to his heels, overtaking all speeding vehicles on the road should have had a place in the Guinness Book of Records….

Obu decided to visit Uche in her father’s house in Obibi.

He mounted his newly purchased Motorcycle and started it with the hand ignition. He adjusted the side mirrors, throttled a loud sound, and speedily drove off. The way he perched on one side of the motorcycle seat, one may think that he was sharing the seat with an invisible rider! It reminded one of the “Omatas” (Onitsha Market Traders Association Members) and their motorcycle riding style.

Obu drove as fast as he could in his new Motorcycle. In a short time, he arrived Obibi. It didn’t take him much time to locate Mr. Okezie’s compound, for the Ex. Police Officer was well known all over the town…

Obu arrived at the compound, stopped his Honda 175, a rare model of the Honda series as at that time. He left the engine running for a while.

“O-n-e- s-e-v-e-n- f-i-v-e-, U-g-b-o-o- a-l-a-” Some little children screamed in excitement.

Also, the older men watched with excitement, smiling from ear to ear as they joined in admiring the brand new Motorcycle.

Obu turned his head and looked around like if it is in acknowledgement of his cheering admirers. After a while, he gently turned off the ignition key of the running engine. With his left leg, he kicked out the stand, climbed down from the Motorcycle and stabilized it with the dual stand for a more stabled balance. He looked at himself from chest down to his shoes. He bend over forwards and gazed closely into the left side mirror of the Motorbike. He was dressed in deep blue Levi Jeans “up and down”, with a pair of Black Technician’s shoes, He dabbed his neatly combed hair again to ensure there was no hair poking out and that all are on same level. Satisfied, he proceeded for Mr. Okezie’s Compound.

Neighbors and curious spectators guessed he must have come for one of Okezie’s daughters.

“Maybe he could be a relation”, some wondered.

As they watched him open the main gate and entered, heading for the Veranda of Mr. Okezie’s compound, some of them ran to peep through the gated compound. With mixed feelings, they watched. Some shook their heads in sympathy for what will befall the visitor if he were not a relation and if Mr. Okezie were at home. Of course, he was! His Gallant vehicle was well packed. They watched and listened anxious of what would happen to the new “Chaser”. Others stood their distance but still in anticipation of what they hope or anticipate could be another fascinating “Chasersonic flight”.