Old Dumb Man - by Friday Okwori

Babatunde recently finished the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He was a bright young guy, full of hope and self-assurance as he readied himself to confront the harsh realities of the outside world. Like many others, he had reached the point where he would be accountable for making all life-related decisions by himself. Although there are many unknowns in life after NYSC, Tunde made the decision to remain optimistic and composed. In all honesty, he had no reason to worry about a job or anything of the sort; he came from a very wealthy family. He belonged to the tiny percentage of people in his nation who were free to pursue their passions. Passion is undoubtedly a luxury that only a select few can afford in a nation with such a high unemployment rate. The Adebayo’s, Tunde's family, may be extremely affluent, yet their humility is what stands out most about them. They are also incredibly intelligent and are able to have lengthy discussions with anyone about any topic. Although both parents may have retired from their jobs, they are still actively involved in their church and other humanitarian organizations. They are blessed with two children – Tunde and his elder brother. Most people assume that Tunde is the only child because his brother is rarely there owing to school and work. When Tunde returned from NYSC, he began acting in ways that everyone who knew him found concerning. His parents ignored it and instead prayed about it. One day, while everyone was chatting, Tunde entered the room and requested his father for his portion of the inheritance. He complained to his father that he was sick of being treated like a child and that it was time to start acting like a man. As soon as Tunde made his demand, he left the room, as if to demonstrate to them that things had changed from what had been the norm. Welcome to reality, The Adebayo’s! The parents had a difficult night that day. The mother cried out to God, pleading for help because the devil had seized control of her son's life. Mr. Adebayo was astonished by what he heard. As far back as he could recall, he was aware that they had been good parents. Why would their child suddenly stray from the path they had raised him? Mr. Adebayo summoned Tunde at first light and surprisingly acceded to his requests. His wife had no idea it would happen, leaving her in disbelief. Tunde already had his luggage prepared, so he simply grabbed them and left. He was courteous enough to tell his parents not to worry about him - he was on a journey to discover himself. A few days after receiving his inheritance, he posted many pictures of himself in a club with various barely dressed women on his Whatsapp and Instagram accounts. It was from one club to the other - he was living the life. Dorime no be for civil servant but in his case, he made even Tech bros look like civil servants. In case you don’t know, he was given a trust fund as his own inheritance. No employment could possibly provide him with the amount of money he had accessible to him. He eventually deleted all his social media accounts. No one could reach him any longer because he also changed his contacts. Everyone was concerned about Tunde. The most recent information they got about him was that he was abroad. As much as they could, prayers were said for him in church. His mother experienced some health issues, including high blood pressure. Although he tried to appear unconcerned, his father was worried about his son's protracted departure from the house. He regularly checked his phone to see if there was any information regarding his whereabouts. Everyone attempted to move on, but it was impossible. Indeed, it is the hope that kills. Oh lest I forget, his parents were swindled severally by people that assured them Tunde would be brought home safely. It was such emotional trauma. Tunde contacted his father one day and pleaded for permission to return, but this time as a servant. Before he had even finished speaking, his father promised him he would arrange for a first-class ticket for him to return home. He only had to get to the airport. His parents dispatched someone to pick him up at the airport because they couldn't bear the notion of being disappointed at the airport if he didn't arrive when he said he would. Tunde's father went after him and hugged his long-lost son as soon as he got out of the car. Nobody bothered to control their tears at that moment; they all just let them flow freely. The relief of having their son back home overwhelmed his parents. They celebrated enthusiastically, disregarding prudence. From one celebration to the next it was. Even Tunde found it hard to think that his parents would rejoice at his return home; he knew what he deserved. After the party was done, Mr. Adebayo's close friends inquired about the crazy celebration. Apparently, they had heard that it was being held in honour of their rebellious son, but they thought it was rather foolish. Mr. Adebayo acknowledged that his child was the reason for the celebrations, and he couldn't care less if people thought he was an old dumb man. After all, it was his own child that returned home.

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