SUSAN 6

THE CLOG

Stanley’s result comes out with beautiful grade. As the son of Boudaha he is surely not one of the candidates on the job seekers’ list. If he wants ten jobs he could get them at the press of a button. He is beyond a job. Life is not even. As soon as he leaves school he begins to supervise some of his dad’s business portfolios and in the course of doing that he begins to build his own empire.

 

With the help of some of his dad’s consultants, he was able to bid for his first contract from one of the big government agencies and it scaled through easily. Their society isn’t about building a pedigree of experience but of who you know. Although young, he is one of the few politician’s children or cronies that has the fear of God.

 

He believes in quality output, so this gives him reputation for excellence. The very corrupt politicians do their best to avoid him because he isn’t into the shady practices of neglecting a contract midway. The unfinished projects that litter the towns and cities are as a result of shared money that are originally earmarked for executing and completing many of these projects.

 

Stanley grows his own millions in currency without hassle. He is the son of a top politician.

 

Meanwhile he continues to send money into Susan’s account on regular bases while she is in school. Now that he is out of school, the chunk of cash grows into a large proportion Susan becomes skeptical and uncomfortable. She begins to sense Stanley as the man behind the silly story of an angel dropping money into her account.

 

In the same light, he often goes visit his fiancée in the school very often and to check on the other brethren in fellowship. During these times, he makes some gifts to the school fellowship.

 

On one of such visits, while on a walk with Susan, she stops unexpectedly and faces him: “tell me the truth, who is the regular depositor into my account?”

 

“An angel of course.” Stanley begins to laugh. “Anytime an anonymous drops a gift we have to view such as an angel on assignment. What do you think?”

 

“Stanley, leave that story for the gods. Be truthful this once.”

 

“I have been doing that to my pet sister – I cannot watch you struggle over finances for once when I have surplus. I love you and I don’t want your self esteem to get hurt by giving you supports without you asking for it.”

 

Susan is seen silent for a while, and then she mutters out slowly but with utmost appreciation: “Thank you Stanley, you have eased the burden off the shoulders of my parents. I now have more than enough and to spare. Thank you dear.”

 

“I will do everything to see you happy.” They continue on their leisurely walk as they meander here and there to no specific end in mind. “Susan, do you know you too will be graduating in few months’ time?”

 

“You have a job for me?” She said teasing him.

 

“Not that. My mom told me she would be glad to know you. Would you oblige please?”

 

“So fast husband material,” she teases him again. This is how we roll in my place: You will be the first to come over to know my parents. Then I will reciprocate the gestures.”

 

“Why, dear Susan?”

 

“It is a general belief that a new generation follows the laid down patterns of the older ones if they would overcome many pitfalls. A woman don’t woo the man, it is the man who woos the woman although women could subtly play their roles here and there. In the same light, the process of getting the parents involved must start with the man. Ladies are trained never to act desperate brother.”

 

“How come my pet little sister knows so much,” Stanley laughed out.

 

“Those are lessons we were taught in our sister’s forum and by mom at home.”

 

“I feel some of those teachings could be archaic and irrelevant for the modern relationship.”

 

“You thought so, but the evidence out there validates the position we the virtuous sisters are holding. You remember the trending story of Onye last year, Egba early this year and numerous girls who were pregnant out of wedlock while we were growing up? They are often the ladies who believe they could change the system and traditions of our people.

 

Onye was in love with Kelebe. She trusted in the relationship, from school she travels to meet Kelebe in his village with nobody privy to her movement. Unknown to her Kelebe has arranged with some human organ harvesters. She was killed and butchered. But nemesis caught up with Kelebe and his gangs, but Onye has been sacrificed on the altar of secret love. True love should never be played under cover.

 

How about Egba? Egba was an innocent girl who was invited by Desmond her lover through the internet medium. The scary part of the story is that they have never met before; I cannot imagine going to meet a man I have never set eyes on. Desmond ganged raped Egba. She was found dead out of exhaustion in the hotel room.

 

“Do you now take me for one of the bad guys in town?”

 

“No, you are an angel my dear. Yet the proof that you are not like those guys is that you will do things differently without cutting corner or having any aspect in secrecy nor changing the pattern.”

 

“Ok Lady Protocol, I will come over to your place.”

 

“That is my impeccable fiancé talking,” she nudges him.

 

Two months later Stanley visits Susan and her parents in her village. Stanley is well received as a son. Instantly, Susan’s home becomes home for Stanley.

 

Stanley accepts everything about Susan in spite of the wide disparity in their family status. His is what we could term as “Love is blind”. His love for her makes him to see nothing but the perfection of his fiancée in all ramifications. His is an angel from a humble background. If Jesus was born in a manger, Lord over all estates of life yet came through a demeaning background, Stanley believes Susan as an angel is masked and requires a discerning heart to see through. He has seen the hidden pearl; he is not ready to lose it. The thought of her has been his elixir to living.

 

“Son.”

 

“Sir.”

 

“I am afraid this relationship may not work.”

 

“Please dad.” Susan comes into the talk.

 

“It is not me,” Susan’s dad continues, “It is about Stanley, his family and friends. It is about your exposure and class. Here we are of the humble background. He who is down fear no fall; but here is my fear though unconfirmed: Won’t you drop my daughter to crash when you finally realize we don’t belong?”

 

“Ah, why would I contemplate that?”

 

“Susan, you are a girl. It is not a cheap thing for the poor class to get married and sustain a good relationship with the rich except you are able to bring in an outstanding value to make a difference. I am not saying it is not possible, but the empty prides of the rich often give them such an obnoxious thought.”

 

“Dad,” Stanley sighs and straightens himself, “I have made a personal resolution, I know what I want in life.”

 

“How about your dad, mom and the expectations of close allies?”

 

Stanley is silent for a couple of seconds before replying: “I come from a family where each other’s choices are respected sir. More so, our family is educated.”

 

“Stanley, you as a person happens to be different and lovely kind; my daughter told me how you have been an angel in her life. But for others, education doesn’t erase ego and class.”

 

Stanley does all he can to convince Susan’s dad.

 

Sometime later, in keeping to their agreement, it is Susan’s turn to visit Stanley. Stanley’s family accepted her as soon as they set eyes on her. She becomes a darling especially to his mom.

 

“Stanley, where did you get us this angel?” His mom asks teasing her son.

 

“Mom, leave that one.”

 

“I thought my son will turn to a life of celibacy until he met you. This is the Susan? Come and sit on my lap my daughter.”

 

From that moment, Susan and Stanley’s mom becomes inseparable friend of mother and daughter type. Stanley’s mom tells Susan everything as Stanley sings her praises from the first day he sets eyes on her. This causes Susan to know that he has always been in love with her from the very first day they met at the school fellowship. She also comes to know that Stanley being afraid to lose her was scared to ask her for an intimate relationship so he was contented to keep her as a pet sister.

 

Susan too is out of school so it is not out of place to come and ask her hands in marriage. The arrangement is concluded and the date is set for a Saturday in the month of September so that if everything works as planned the wedding will be slated for December, the eve of Christmas.

 

Boudaha leads the entourage along with some family members, both immediate and extended families from both Boudaha and the wife’s. This will be a formal introduction and opportunity to ask for Susan into the Boudaha’s family.

 

Susan and the parents wake early and get the home prepared. Susan knows there is little she could do with the sparsely filled sitting room; she cannot upgrade it to look like the palatial outlook of the Boudaha’s family. They have few chairs so they have to borrow from the neighbours to take care of the emergency. They have done their best along with the preparation of delicacies for the august visitors.

 

They arrive early.

 

“This is the house dad,” Stanley tells his dad. Their car and two other vehicles in their entourage stop and they step out. Boudaha is lost in thought and fails to see Susan’s dad who comes forward to bid them welcome. “Dad, Susan’s dad is greeting you.”

 

He suddenly comes back to himself and he makes a beautiful show and honour. Everybody is happy about the plan and nobody shows any displeasure. The marriage date is agreed upon. Susan and Stanley are the happiest people in the world on this day.

 

After the meeting the Boudahas feast on the fine meal served and afterward bid the family of Susan a bye.

 

Back at home Boudaha and the wife are having some frictions that last for days at the peak of it all Stanley’s dad calls him to his presence with the wife sitting.

 

“Stanley, you cannot marry Susan.”

 

Stanley finds it hard to comprehend the statement until the father repeats himself the second time. “Why can’t I marry her?”

 

“She doesn’t belong to our class, and everything I am doing is for your good. Trust your dad.”

 

“Mother, what do you have to say to this?” Stanley is close to tears.

 

“Nothing.” She stands to her feet; walk out with tears on her face. “Boudaha, remember that we too began life as poor.”

 

“Time has changed.” He replied with a stony conscience.

 

“Dad, I am going ahead with my choice.”

 

“Don’t destroy my reputation.”

 

“How about my life?” Stanley looks up into an empty sky, his father gives no reply.

 

“Our lives,” his father said slowly.