This Story Was Written for the Dreemport / Scholar and Scribe Challenge
Ugo still hasn’t recovered from the shock of how the man knew his name and was living in a trance-like world when the man asked him a question.
“Ugo” the man called again in that deep voice that startled Ugo back to reality.
“I said, how is your mother?” he asked, his eyes fixated on Ugo who still stood clunking to his files which were now in his armpit. He managed to answer the man as he fought between anxiety and surprise.
“She is fine,” He said, as his voice faded as fast as it rose.
Ugo then had a split time to read the initials “Abdul M.“, which were written on the man’s shirt.
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“Why do you want to join the army,” Abdul asked, he made a wiggle of his fingers and Ugo gave him his files. Ugo was thinking of a suitable answer to give him when the man stood up abruptly and startled Ugo again.
“Mon Sir!! “Abdul said, as his gaze shifted beyond Ugo and to the new person entering the office. Ugo turned around to see this person.
The person was a neatly dressed soldier with trimmed hair, he was accompanied by a walking stick with stripes and elegant yet fierce design. Ugo wondered why the soldier needed a walking stick seeing how strong and agile he looked.
“As you were,” the soldier said, as Abdul took his seat. Ugo greeted the soldier with his usual almost silent tone as he was now between two fierce men.
“Recruit, how are you doing?” the soldier asked, and then took his seat in front of Abdul.
“I’m fine” Ugo replied, Abdul immediately corrected him.
“You say, No option Sir” Abdul thundered, and apologized to the soldier saying something about how the recruit was still a white fowl and should not be blamed.
“This is the GOC” Abdul said and looked at Ugo who replied with a confusing repetition of the word.
“GOC”. “General officer Commanding” Abdul added. Ugo nodded as if he understood everything the army has to teach now.
“Sir, this is the son of late Lieutenant Okoli,” Abdul said, and the soldier immediately turned to look at Ugo again, before concluding that he had his father’s height.
“Why do you want to join the army,” the GOC asked and Ugo felt as if they had planned to ask him that particular question.
“Because, I’m passionate about protecting lives sir, ”Ugo said, he wondered where he got the courage.
“Sargent Abdul served in the same unit with your father,” the GOC said, and then added.
“If you want to join the army it is best you attend the academy, so I’ll sponsor you” Ugo didn’t get it at first, so when he did he started thanking the GOC.
Ugo’s files were taken by the GOC who told Ugo he would visit them in two days to see his mother as he had been away on assignment for some time.
When Ugo got home and narrated the ordeal to his mother he was also surprised at how his mother took it. She didn’t flinch at the thought of him joining the army but was glad that he was going to the academy.
“At least you won’t be doing a lot of ‘Yes sir’ after that,” she said, she told Ugo of how far his father would have gone in the army if he had entered through the academy.
Everything was going according to plan until Nneka’s voice woke him from sleep. She told him that Uncle Benji was in the compound shouting at their mother for what happened the previous day.
Ugo got up and without his shirt on went out to confront Uncle Benji. “This is the last time he will be here,” he said to himself as he left his room.