Oga U: CHAPTER 3

Story, story! STORY!!!

Days turned to weeks. Jima kept calling for progress checks. He kept reassuring her that he was gonna get her hoodie as well as the money. The more they conversed, the more solid their greeting format became. National anthem.

“Oga U, good morning.”

“Good morning. How you dey?”

“I’m okay. Where is my hoodie?”

“E dey come.”

“My money?”

“E dey come.”

“When? When is the guy coming back?”

“E dey come.”

These three-word answers were beginning to rile her up.

“You said he was coming back in the beginning week of November.”

“E dey come. I tell you say na last born im be.”

“What does have to do with this?”

“E dey stay with my mama for village.”

I don’t get it. Is he perhaps confused?

“Why is he staying with your mother?”

“Na my cousin.”

“The person that took my cardigan is your cousin?”

“Yes.”

Pour me cold water.

At this point, Jima didn’t know if she was in the middle of a family heist or a coincidence. Either way, she was amused. Then confused, and at last, enraged.

“Wow. You gave my cardigan to your cousin to go to the village, ba?”

“No na. Im bin come my shop carry im cloth.”

It was giving “I didn’t steal it, I took it.” vibes.

“Okay. How many cardigans did he bring? How many hoodies e don bring come your shop?”

“2.”

Interesting.

“Out of the 2, how many are black?”

“1”.

 Superb.

This man had told her that the said customer, now revealed as his cousin, had many black cardigans. Now, our cousin has only 1 black cardigan. Very much possibly Jima’s own. Cute.

“So you lied to me? You knew him, and chose to give it to him. It’s okay. You both should be ready to return everything.”

Her heart was racing. She had just come back from a 3-hour afternoon lecture. In her room. Sitting down. Hungry. And this was the update she needed to hear. The laundryman is a liar.

She had to inform her friends about this. And probably her parents. Yes, her parents.

She did. Mummy and Daddy told her not to wear the hoodie again if it ever came back. Daddy said to let it go. Jim Jim refused.

“I’m so sorry, dear. Just leave him. Report him to school authorities.” Daddy said.

Oh. Oh. Report? Her eyebrows furrowed pleasantly.

Wait. What if they tell me to forgive him and let it go? 

For all she knew, this could go right. Or left. They’d tell her the Christian thing to do was forgive and let go. Sure, but actions have consequences. And he must face them.

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Kai, so sorry fa”, Her mum chipped in.

“Thank you, Mummy.”

Weeks turned to months, and before Jima knew it, she had packed her bags to go home for the Christmas break. She couldn’t bring herself to tell the gift giver what had happened over the phone. She decided to tell him by mouth.

“Uncle Remiiii.” She said, with excitement.

“Oh, my Jim Jim, how are you?” Uncle Remi said, with the widest smile.

“I’m okay o, how have you been?”

“Fine, my dear. This your medical school dey show for face.”

“Na wetin I talk o.” Her mum said, making the both of them burst out in laughter.

She chuckled.

“It’s for the plot, Uncle.”

“Which one is ‘for the plot’ again?”

“Don’t worry, it’s a Gen Z thing.”

“Okay o.”

Jima liked muzzing her uncle with lingo like this.

“Uncle Ree, I have something to tell you.”

“Shoot.”

“I gave my black hoodie—the one you gifted me, to a laundryman, and he misplaced it.”

Jima spent 5 minutes giving him an abridged version of the story.

“Ah, so sorry about that. Don’t worry, I’ll get you another one.”

Just like that? Wawu.

“You will?” Imaginary tears fell down her cheeks. Her eyes were competing with most recently born puppy.

“Yes, my dear.”

Una really love me o.

“Thank you so much, Uncle Ree.”
”You’re welcome.”

“May God bless you, sir! I’m really grateful. Thank you so much!”

“You’re welc—”

She had engulfed him in a hug before he could complete his sentence. At least, she’d get her hoodie back and still retrieve the money for the lost one. Win-win.

The consolation of a new sweater kept her through the countless errands she had to run at home during the break. Or did it? Any small thing, “Jima ooo!!!”