DREAMS THAT GROW TALL(EPILOGUE)
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In a flamboyant style, Nroma holds the key of his Honda Jeep and presses the button. The car automatically locks. He dresses gorgeously; while his wife Ada walks two steps ahead of him, carrying a baby. They get redressed in the room. soon, a group of people pays him homage. they dress shabbily and look tattered. Femi: ( Confessing) I Know education is the key to success [ he looks round Nroma's parlor and regrets], if only i had read my books i wouldn't have been a drop out! Buchi: my life is in a miserable state! Femi: i hope that after this visit, we shall all go home and use our tongue to count our teeth. Nroma: Gentlemen, welcome! Friends: thank you, sir! [ they bow before him] what really brought you to my house today? Friends: Your great personality? Nroma: How do you mean? Friends: We watched your swearing-in-ceremony on the television yesterday as the minister of education. Nroma: oh, you did! that's good how was the ceremony?. Femi: it was a good one indeed. infact, you still maintain your oratory skill, we all enjoyed your intonation. Nroma: That's good! [meanwhile, Adaku offers them some malt drinks], Thanks for your compliments. Buchi: I wish the hands of the clock would tick anti- clockwise. Nroma: why! Ahmed: ( explains) can't you read the handwriting on the wall?, our lives worth nothing; see how tattered we appear before you, our one time course mate. Nroma: well our people say that the cripple do not get their lives cut short in a war that was announced beforehand. i warned you while we were in the university but you wouldn't listen to me. you didn't take any of my warnings seriously. Now, you have seen the consequences.I heard that even my primary school mates who were playing big boyism have now gone into the world of extinction. I warned them too but they didn't heed my advice. Ekpenyong: what can we do now to atleast germinate like a seed? Nroma: ( He calls him by his nickname) Ekpe! you are speaking in a parable. Buchi: can we just be given another chance to go back to our university? Nroma: But you were expelled completely! Friends: ( In unison), yes, the three of us! Nroma: oh ! I'm sorry! no school authority can recall any expelled students. Friends: ( shade tears and lament) if we had known we wouldn't have played with our future. Nroma: (explains the more) " Had i known" always come at last Femi: (changes the topic) is this your wife? Nroma: [Anweers authoritatively] yes, her name is Adaku and my baby boy is asleep. Friends: You have achieved alot within a short period of time. congratulations! Nroma: Thank you, you would have also climbed to this step of ladder if you had listened to my "sermon" on seriousness. Friends: we are now floating on the river without any direction. Nroma: Time is precious and it should be used judiciously. Buchi: we misused our time; we would have been like you . You are now a celebrity!. Ekpenyong: we were busy smoking, going after women while our mates were burning their night candles. what a shame. Nroma: My parents suffered for me and when i grew up, i complemented their efforts. You may not believe it, when i was in school, i intermittently went for odds jobs. I wasn't distracted in anyway; i still came out as the best student. Femi: You really had good dreams for yourself. Nroma: i thank God for everything. Friends: We have learnt our lessons. Nroma: Now the lesson you have learnt should be "tabled" before your children so that they won't toe the same line of stupidity. Buchi: ( still regretting) you are talking about children when we are not married. Nroma: you must certainly get married. Femi: That, for me is an effort too distant to be achieved Nroma: why? Ekpenyong: is there any sign indicating to you that these living- corpses paying you homage to you are capable of achieving a feat of that magnitude? Nroma: [Bends his head and weeps for them. He later talks to them] Well, i can see your predicament. you are not totally written off; you can be useful to the society. Get involved in meaningful activities and one day your light will shine. [ He takes a look at his golden wristwatch and whispers to his visitors] I have a national meeting to attend now. please,do call on me whenever you have the time. I am at your disposal. Friends: [ they make their final request] The man of his people, remember us in your new "paradise". Nroma: ( waves his right hand to them and immediately his driver drives him and his family members out of the scene. He bids goodbye to his friends) Bye! see you some other time! [ As they move faster and farther, the light gradually and finally fade). THE END.
