MÁ KÀN JÚ OLÁ
A folklore by Anthony Temiloluwa Kenny (Saintkenz)
Ola and his old crude looking wife stood staring at the two male figures standing at the doorway of their tattered shack they called a home. The older lad ahead looked quite familiar to them because he was a popular palace errand boy. But the other lad behind the palace boy looked like a stranger to them. And though he was a stranger, Ola and his wife could still make out a striking resemblance of their long lost son.
“The King asked me to bring this stranger to your place to spend the night with you. And by tomorrow morning he is coming over to make some explanations” The errand boy said gesturing towards the other man who was behind him and was richly and extravagantly dressed in a three-piece suit with a bowler hat and rimmed glasses. Ola and his wife stared at the stranger once again who obviously and undoubtedly reeked nothing but wealthiness.
They thought why would the King out of all the dignitaries and chiefs that palisaded their hamlet chose a pauper and so wretched fellow like them to lodge in such a wealth stinking stranger ?
Something must be wrong somewhere.
“Are you sure Kabieyi asked us to do this”? Ola found his mouth purr to life.
“Yes Baba” The errand boy replied.
Making way for the stranger to pass. Ola and his wife swooned in surprise as the stranger only mumbled some greetings of appreciation or whatever as he walked confidently into their shack of a home.
Immediately the errand boy left, the two of them went inside to meet the stranger who sat comfortably on their eld iron bed which enjoyed making a cracking sound whenever it’s being seated or slept upon.
“So what do we take for dinner” Ola and his wife heard the stranger asked. Ola scoffed at the question, this stranger isn’t aware of what he has gotten himself into. He thought. “Son, the last time we took food in this house was day before yesterday, my wife and i had only survived on ordinary palm oil and salt since yesterday.. Son there is nothing to eat unless you will take ordinary water” Ola explained while the stranger nodded in pathos and empathy before making for his black briefcase. Flipping the roll of numbers that served as security measures and “click click” the briefcase split opened. Ola and his wife watched keenly with hungry eyes as the stranger tossed around the myriad bale of money lying inside the briefcase.
“Mama take this, you prepare dinner for us with this token” the stranger gave a crispy bundle of 1000 naira notes to Ola’s old stricken wife. Ola and his wife’s mouth burst opened and could even contain the whale that swallowed Jonah in the bible. They had never seen not to talk of touch such a huge amount of money before. Ola seeing all these made him come to conclusion that he would maneuver the whole situation to their vantage.
Midnight soon came like it was never going to come. Ola hadn’t slept a wink. He had decided to keep a vigil in other to execute his narcissistic plan. He jolted up from the torn mat he lay on with his wife and gazed at the stranger sleeping and snoring soundly on their eld of a bed.
“Olu, olu, olufunmbi” Ola whispered as soundless as he could, tapping his wife out of her sleep.
“Yes. Ola what is it ?” His wife asked looking a bunch worried.
“Olu don’t you see this is our opportunity to make it even at this our old age. Imagine how life had been cruel..i think the gods just smiled on us by bringing this wealth to our side. You know once and opportunity lost it can never be regained” Ola preached out to his wife.
“Ola i don’t seem to understand you. What do you intend to do now” Olufunmbi queried naively.
“Let us kill that stranger and make away with all the money in that bag” Ola said sounding so insensate and cold.
“AhhhHhh! MAKANJUOLA! MAKANJUOLA!! MAKANJUOLA!! Ma ma kan ju ola!!” (don’t be in haste to acquire this wealth) His wife’s voice trailed out with shivers running down her spine and warning to Makanjuola her husband”
“Shut up old woman! If i hear ween again.,i will make sure i kill you before killing the stranger” Makanjuola cautioned sternly like a fiend he was before he rose to pick up knife and plunked it hard on the chest of the stranger sleeping. The stranger writhed in throe of pain while longing to say something to Ola, but death clasped his mouth shut as he gave up to it. The stranger died.
Ola quickly made to dispose his body at the backyard by burying him in the grave he dug for him. He tidied up the place, cleaning the blood stained that littered the place. In jiffy everything was back to normal. He looked at his obnoxious woman he called a wife and hissed ” You Fool you want me and you to die in this poverty abii ? Olorun Oni je!”
Makanjuola was still battling with the briefcase, but he didn’t get through due to the security check and his inability to get the combined code to unlock it. Ola got frustrated, disappointed as he cursed obscenities. Unfortunately he was still unable to put it to unlock. He resigned to fate after long hours of fruitless tryouts.
“KAABIESI OOH” Ola heard his wife shouted then he knew that the king had arrived slated to his words. Ola bolted out to meet the king and greeted him in the accustomed manner.
“Hmmm.. Makanju! Thanks for yestyday! I came to greet your visitor and also explain something to you” the King said as he was ushered in.
Ola heart skipped a bit as he said “Ahh mY king! The visitor left early this morning. He said he has an important call in the town of Abeokuta and i’m not sure if he is coming back” Ola lied to the uttermost disbelief of the King and his boys.
“No it cant be.” The King muttered. “That stranger i asked my errand boy to bring here last night explained to me that he was your long lost son! He said he couldn’t recognize your house again so came to the palace for directives. He told me he has come to renovate your financial wreckage and even the whole town as a whole.. Now tell me how come that person left so soon”? The king spruced out concern.
“Whaaaaatt! Yeppa! Moti gbe ohh” Olufumbi screamed out throwing his body to ground while Makanjuola bit his lips in deep regrets.
Yes! Exactly twenty years ago, their son told them that he was traveling out of the village to search for his destiny. He was tired of relishing in their abject poverty, so he was going to strive hard till he becomes a successful person. He said he was not returning untill he finds his destiny. He asked them to wish him well and always prepare for his return.
Now their son came back as he promised only to be slayed by his hungry fiend nefarious of a father. Immediately the king finished talking Olufunmbi slouched and died!
If he had listened to his wife. if he had waited a little bit. If he hadn’t allowed his malefic desire to consume him, If he had stopped being myopic and selfish.. It would have been a different story. Perhaps a success story.
