Stepping into the compound from the gate, he heard loud shouts and music, he began to wonder which onre of his neighbours was at it again. It has to be Kaycee, he thought. That one was always disrupting the tranquility of the neighborhood with loud music from his stereo. Maybe he even had his junkie friends over.
It surprised him when he passed by Kaycee's flat which was the first in the row but there was no sound coming from there. Walking on, he realized where it was all happening. His flat!
On getting in, the smell of burning cigarette hit him, making him twitch his nose in disgust. His jaw dropped at the sight of his flat looking like a mini club with drinks and smoke and sweaty bodies all around the living room.
"What is going on here?" he asked his roommates cum friends after he gestured for them to follow him into their room.
"We're celebrating your job?" Jimmy said,
"I dont understand. What job?" Seun asked, utterly confused.
"The mew one you got," Tayo replied looking him over.
"Got? Who said so!?" Seun asked
"You said that when you got back from getting your appointment letter...." Tayo was saying but Seun cut him short.
"Guys, I only said that we would celebrate my new job when I get back. I only went for an interview and what i said was spoken out of faith" Seun said exasperated.
"That's the same thing we are saying. We wanted to surprise you already. Party is ongoing, join us," Jimmy said, swinging his waist to the music playing.
"Where did all the drinks and food cone from?" Seun asked, frowning.
"We got them from mama Osaro?" Jimmy replied.
"Who paid?" Seun looking from one to the other asked.
"We got then on credit. We told her you had just gotten a new job and would pay when you got back," Tayo said smiling.
"Dammit! What have you both gotten me into? I didn't get any job. You couldn't even wait to confirm before throwing any party and buying things on credit. What is this!?" Seun screamed as his hands flew to his head in despair.
"How did that happen? Why..." Jimmy was asking but Seun, without giving them another look or answering the questions, walked into the living room and turned off the music.
"Everyone, party is over. You can go now," he said to the crowd of puzzled guests.
"Why? What happened? Just like that..." came the voice of some guests.
"Just leave. The party is over," he said in forced politeness "hey, Josh, put that down," he said to Josh, the neighbourhood gossip who was about taking a drink from the crate.
"Let me just take this as souvenir," Josh said grinning.
"Guy put that down and leave my house!" he shouted at him.
Josh sighed and hesitantly did as he was asked, "You're just tight fisted."
When everyone had left.
"How do we take care of the bills now?
Let's clear this space up and see how much stuff has been consumed and what we can return," Seun said irritated.
They gathered the bottles and crates, took it to the lady from whom it had been gotten and managed to convince her that they'd pay up in a week.
"Now that you guys have put us in debt, how do we handle it?" Seun asked the guys.
"Bro, don't worry, we'll find a way," Jimmy said in his usual feathery optimism.
"How? Did I even tell you guys that the landlord called me this morning and said he was going to issue us a notice-to-quit if we didn't pay our rent in three days? We're already behind by three months," Seun said,
"Jesus! What! " Tayo exclaimed.
"It's not time to shout. You both know you're behind in rent yet you're holding parties."
"It's no time to apportion blames. How do we fix this?" Tayo questioned, looking expectantly.
While they stood outside Mama Osaro's shop they saw an advert sign plastered to the fence by her shop building.
"Costume dolls needed for party..." Jimmy read indifferently.
"Who does this? I thought this was a foreign thing. So people do these in this Nigeria? I'm impressed," Tayo said nodding.
"Let's call rhe number," Seun quickly added.
"For what?" Jimmy questioned.
"To take the job," Seun answered
"What job? You call dressing like a clown and fooling oneself a job?" Jimmy looked at Seun like he had gone crazy.
"What is even your problem. Are you more concerned about the job or getting the rent?" Tayo asked Jimmy.
"I'm concerned about both. I'm too cute for that kind of job," he said smugly.
"I'm too cute fir that kind of job," Tayo said, mimicking him, "You're just stupid. We'll see of that your fineness will pay your dues and...."
"..yes!!!! Ah! I can't believe this!" Seun screamed, looking into his phone.
Jimmy and Tayo who had been frightened by the shout, asked in unison, "what is it!?"
Taking in a deep breath and smiling from ear to ear, Seun said, "I got the job. The company just sent me an email telling me to resume tomorrow."
"How's that possible, I thought they didn't pick you," Tayo asked, perplexed.
"I thought so too. I don't know what changed, I don't even care. I have a job now. Let's go home, I need to go and start preparing against tomorrow," Seun said excitedly.
"Congratulations, man. Now we no longer have to dress like stupid clowns," Jimmy rambled.
They all burst into laughter.
Thanks for stopping by.
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