The first thing that Tunde observed was the flickering nature of the lights in the small bar in Lagos before it got bright. It was the usual sign. Closing time.
It was not the first time he had seen it but he felt it was heavier to-night than it was as though the air itself wished him out.
He had a glance at his Malt bottle on the table. Half full. Or half empty not full, he was not sure. The music had already been reduced to a low hum sufficiently to be heard by those who were the latest customers that it was nearly time to close.
Behind the counter, Mama Bisi was pointing at him. "You see, Ogas Tunde, we soon lock up, you see," she said rather wearily.
"I hear you," he replied, although he made no movement.
It was 8 p.m. when he sat there. It was now almost midnight. There were only two guys quietly arguing in one corner and a woman in red scrolling through her phone leaving the bar almost empty.
Tunde massaged his palms. He wasn’t sure why he lingered. Perhaps, it was the silence following dramatic laughter. It could have been the room he was required to think.
Or perhaps it was because this was the very anniversary of the end of his job and he still did not even know what the next starting point would be.
The door was opened, and there came cold night air with a slender, tall man in it. He had a polo shirt of green color and a backpack. When he saw Tunde, he grinned.
“So you still dey here?” As he sat opposite him he said to Sola, his nearest friend.
"You told me two hours ago that you were coming," Tunde replied.
“Traffic,” Sola said casually. “Wetin happen? Thou hast look wey lost remote control.
Tunde shrugged. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
You begin afresh, Sola, you begin afresh, say Sola, and lifted up his hands. “Guy, think finish? You do not think about it another year."
Tunde smiled a little. “Maybe I like thinking.”
"Please," Sola said, and shook my hand. You believe you say you are a philosopher? Drink your Malt make we dey go.”
The lights brightened again. Mama Bisi applauded once. “Everybody, last round. We dey close.”
The red dress lady got up and walked away without even glancing at anybody. The two arguing men also went leaving them whispering sharply at one another.
Tunde and Sola were left soon enough.
Sola sat back and unbuckled his legs. "Wetin you really worry me tell me."
Tunde paused. He gazed at the bar that was emptying, at the chairs, which were piled up, and the silence slowly returning to the room.
"Do you remember what the last day I went out of the office was?" he questioned.
“Yes now.”
I believed that something new will soon come.
“And we never come,” Sola said.
Tunde nodded. "I also find myself at times wondering whether I am waiting for something that is not even coming."
Sola tilted his head. "You know say sometimes, something dey begins small. You don't notice until later.”
Tunde dropped his fingers on the bottle. “Maybe.”
“Stand up,” Sola said suddenly.
“For what?”
“We dey go to my house. You go to sleep there. Today we are going out to find something new tomorrow. I no dey leave you leave you here all there."
Tunde frowned. “You get visitor?”
“No,” Sola said. "But you are lonely nowadays, too. I know you.”
Tunde looked around again. The bar was now like a shell lower than deserted, in want of being locked up till evening came again.
He stood up slowly. “Let me pay.”
“Leave am,” Sola said. “I get you.”
Tunde paused as they approached the door, and stared at his corner. The table. The half-finished drink. The quiet light. It was as though a closing of the chapter, but without any outcry, without any drama.
The night breeze was beating on his face. The street was nearly quiet save the honking of the dances which ran off in the distance and the humming generators.
“You alright?” Sola asked.
Tunde inhaled deeply. “Yes. I think so.”
They were walking side by side along the dim street.
The street lamps were the only light that remained behind them, as the bar lights were turned off altogether. Tunde did not again turn round.
"He didn’t need to."
Certain doors shut themselves unobtrusively, he reasoned. And sometimes, that is enough.
