ONE HEAD TWO FACES

******

Dear diary,

It’s about two days to go before camp is closed for this batch and I’m missing it already. I’ll miss the parade drills, my platoon mates, my roommates and even the harsh sunlight. But I can’t believe I’m missing the very things I wished away just two weeks back. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. No. Yes. My memory is indeed playing some trick here.

******

Anyways, why two faces on one head?

We were all in the room absorbing heat and emitting sweat. It was around 1pm. Patrick sat on the top rung of my bunk swinging his legs – I lay below. “My Ladies” – the nickname of a flatmate named Kola – stood at the door. Llyod sat up on his bed and Segun lay half aware of himself – distracted by his blackberry.

“But I’ll miss camp O!” Patrick said

“Really? You? I’m surprised.” Segun added looking away from his phone towards Patrick.

Laughing. “Shey I told you people. Everyone eventually misses camp.” Llyod added.

“Not me. Missing camp ke? Can’t wait to leave here.” Segun replied.

“Hey hey hey my Ladiesssss”. Kola said starting with his regular refrain.

Sighs. “You’ve started again. Young man go to your room!” Llyod said.

“Ok – like seriously - I’ll miss camp too. Llyod! I’ll miss even you.” Kola said.

“Good people! Camp has been fun you know.” Smart added.

 “Na posting be the next thing.” Llyod said.

“Abi O! Who knows, camp might be better than your PPA.” I added.

“By this time next tomorrow we’ll all know where we’ll be going too.” Patrick said.

We ranted on and on. Two things were clear: we would miss the camp and we waited for our postings in anticipation.

I think most human beings have two faces on one head – facing opposite directions. One face always looks into the past – “memory face” – and the other into the future – “speculative face”. The memory face looks like all the experiences a person has had combined together. For some, their memory face looks all fresh and smooth for many others, their memory face if full of freckles and wrinkles. While the “memory face” tells about all the experiences people have undergone, the “speculative face” looks like the dreams and aspirations of its owner. The speculative face is ever smooth – because every living being has some good hope. Some say, “When there is life, there is hope”. So – I believe – the often rugged “memory face” tries to compete with the “speculative face” by hiding its bad memories in a bid to look as good. Herein lies the problem. (I know you understand what I’m saying because you are very smart).

-I remember reading an article in which an old white man recalled an almond tree in the backyard of his country home when he was just a teenager. He longed deeply for them commenting that “they were the best tasting almonds ever”. The editor’s reply was insightful: “dear old sir, I’d advice for you to enjoy those almonds in your memory for the real almonds would never taste as good”. I think memory makes our past experiences feel better than they really were.  What is your view?-

Most Corps members fell for memory’s trick.

Later in the evening, I went to buy some items at the mammy market and I looked around as usual.

“Ehen! Babe give me your number – before them post you go Baruten.” A guy said said to a lady.

“God forbid! Baruten of all places – I’ll be posted Ilorin?” She said as she took his phone. (Baruten is a very remote local government in Kwara state.)

I overtook the love birds and strode on.

“Hello! Please help …” A lady said to me as she handed me her phone.

She and three other friends posed near a tree for a photo shot.

“Smile a little – Okay – better – Ok.”

Click.

I handed them the phone and moved on. See O! Even that dry tree is now a celebrity because everyone is missing camp.

 

But I pitied some people more. Those who had formed emotional relationships with members of the opposite sex. “What if these people are posted to different places – how would they cope?” I wondered. (By the way, am on a research topic which says; “How I Met My Corper Hubby” – watch out). I was amazed that in the short space of three weeks people could get so close. No wonder Solomon said, “there be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea and the way of a man with a maid”. If Solomon didn’t understand it who am I to?

POEM

Memory, thou deceitful bangle

Adorning my legs

Preventing me from looking forward

Hear the voice that says:

Remember not the former things …

For I will do a new thing

CLICK ME

www.4stepstogod.com

DEAR Reader,

Friday and Monday’s episodes were not available because my village’s transformer packed up and so my electronic gizmos couldn’t work. (Unreserved apologies). Let’s keep praying for our dear nation. Be an agent of change wherever you are; no change is too small –ask a student who scored 69% if you doubt me! Feel free to make comments and share too – both buttons are beneath the page!

Next Episode:

Monday: 24^th June 2013.