FORLORN HOPE: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

E

ven though Richard knew the risk involved in meeting a strange girl and planning already without her knowledge of making her his friend’s wife, he could not face Haniel and tell him to give up the issue. His elder sister, Mary-May had been worried too for Haniel since Richard told her about the talk he had with Haniel after school that day. What could she do to help? Haniel had grown up with the talk of meeting The One in school like his father and planning the future all along. How could she face him and advice him not to pursue that cause, not to follow that gray line, that golden path his father trod.

The life of a son of a father is either the faithful followership of that which made his father successful or the struggle to abandon that which his father did and is not successful.

Richard’s mother was a columnist with The Brown Chronicle, a writer with international award in her silver hand-bag. The mother had worn the heart of her husband in school when he came second after her in a writing competition held to mark their graduation from the most prestigious school, the famous school which their kids are made to attend. But the difference with the growing up in Haniel’s and Richard’s house is the simple fact that Richard’s parent did not always sing the need for them to look for their mate there in school or to chose who to remain with till forever comes at that age. They made this clear so that the kids would not make any wrong choice and later blame them for initiating them into their path.

That morning as Richard led the morning devotion with his family, he prayed.

“Lord God, we thank you for the gift of life and the gift of this day. We ask You to bless it and make it fruitful. I pray also for my friend Haniel and his family, meet them all especially Haniel at the point of his needs.”

Only the sister answered a louder amen to that prayer, and later the parents acknowledged they sensed something was fishing but since it appeared to be intruding into someone else’s privacy, they only told the children to be careful and help their friend to walk the right path. And knowing the task ahead of her brother and his friend, Mary-May, who took after her mother in writing, wrote a poem for Haniel where she hailed him for identifying The One, but also pledged that he allowed his reason to guide his decision and not his emotion. Although she had planned to sit with her computer every night to write and make a career in writing, she also chose to study Philosophy; thereby having the ability to think critically and constructively, to evaluate situations, and to reach concrete conclusion without committing any fallacy.

In school, Richard gave the poem to Haniel who read it with reverence like reading the Bible. Instantly, he replied, also in the form of poem. This was why Mary-May loved him: his ability to write, especially replies to a given issue. But as he write the reply, his gawk was scanning almost everywhere in the school compound in search of Comfort. As he got to the closing line of the poem, he saw Comfort and ran to meet her. Richard was engaged in a discussion with a class mate, probably making enquiring too about someone strange in the hall on Friday. It was the other person who drew Richard’s attention to Haniel who practically, was running to meet Comfort. In an instance, Richard joined him, walking briskly towards Comfort.

It was their fourth year in that school and Comfort could not remember ever having a close contact with Haniel or could she remember ever having anything to do with him and Richard. They only greet each other when they met on an even path. Comfort was the brilliant type, always top in the class, always seen with the girls. She grew up with a catchiest father and a mother who once had the call to become a nun, but could not answer it after graduating from Isiraojie Secondary School, because she had become The One for Onafowope Kayode, the most popular basketball player. Seeing Richard and Haniel hurrying up to her, she waited with lots of thoughts running through her head. She turned squarely and faced them, praying that all should be well. As they got to her, Haniel spoke up.

“Please, good morning Comfort. I know you might be feeling like ‘what do we want this Monday morning’, but please help me.” He paused and looked at Richard who gave him a ‘take it easy boy’ stare. Haniel got it and smiled.

Still not sure where the whole thing was leading to, Comfort remained calm and pretended she was listening when her mind was miles away and her heart in her mouth. Somehow she got the power to speak.

“I am not getting anything here please. Make me understand am not in any danger and that ...”

“No, no Comfort, you are not in any danger. In fact am the one in danger.” Haniel said, looking at his friend this time. But as his inclined role, Richard once again performed the spokes man.

“Han saw you with someone last Friday and could not get his mind to rest since, throughout the weekend.”

Comfort smiled and looked as if she had been expecting to hear just that. She said. “Last week I was with lot of persons. May be if you describe better, I could recall.” But her smiling face sold her out. She gave a sight of a person who had heard of the news before it got to them. What did she know, why is she smiling? Is she mocking them? Haniel thought.

Haniel drew closer to her and said. “She came into the hall with us and registered for the examinations too. At least that was what I saw her do, I don’t know if she actually wanted to sit with us.”

“Have you seen her somewhere before that day?”

“Nope, but I wish to see her again please. It’s important I see her again Comfort. Please.”

“Both of you had not seen each other before last Friday, and you are ...” she stopped. She was about to say something but held it back, making Richard and Haniel more confused and this time worried. But it least, it confirmed the fact that she was real.

Richard asked. “Is she real, Comfort? I mean, can we get to know her before she comes around?”

“She is as real as the sun that is shining on us now. And you might not know her well until you meet with her. She can explain to you better who she is, and ...” she withheld something again. Haniel noticed. And then she walked into the classroom, sat in her site and folded her arms. Haniel went to her and sat down on the site next to her with Richard at the other side. Haniel again said.

“Comfort please, who is she?”

Looking straight between their shoulders, Comfort said. “She is the one with the most brilliant smiles I’ve ever seen. She is the one with a heart that is open to every individual that cares to enter. She is the one that cares for people she knows nothing about. She is the one coming forth like a morning star, fair as a moon, bright as the sun, like a creature from another planet.” Because her eyes were smiling and were not blink, Haniel followed her gawp and beheld her, The One, coming into the class.

As she was walking towards them, Haniel stared and got lost in it. His heart jumped into his open mouth, sweats ran down his forehead. The force of her pleasantness was everywhere in the classroom. Everyone, both girls and boys were made to look; Richard too. Maybe now he knew why his friend was practically dead to this girl. But before anyone could do anything, the student union president followed right behind her. She smiled at Haniel and walked to her site. As he and Richard were leaving for their own place, six pews away, Comfort said.

“Her name is Deborah. Deborah Ogbe-Anaju.”

Back at his place, Haniel could not concentrate on what the president was saying; and was grateful the man was saying much but giving instructions on the need to make the hand-over ceremony of the union a hitch-free event. Richard told him the details later. As he noticed the long hairs which fall on the neck of The One, he said within himself.

She is a golden lily in the dew, she looks as sweet as an apple on the tree, as fine as a melon in the cornfield, gliding and lovely as a ship on the sea, a damsel, a Greek goddess.

The moment the president left the hall, Haniel rushed to where Deborah was sitting and said.

“Please, I would appreciate it if you come outside with me; there is a confession I have to make”

“Confession you said?”

Confession in did! Or what could one call this feeling, this hidden agenda of winning someone’s heart for ever, if not a confession. At first, he thought she would not even look at his face; but with her now, she wore a smiling face, and it was welcoming looking into the bright eyes. He strongly believed that she and Comfort must have shared something concerning, either him or Richard or both of them. He glanced at where Comfort was sitting and saw her looking like she had seen a fiction movie come real.

Deborah hesitated for while but agreed to go with him. And when she stood, Haniel took her hand in his and led her out the hall. They made for the school’s garden with a pond close by. Sitting on one of the garden benches, with Haniel still holding her hand, it took them like a decade of silence before Haniel found his voice.

“What a damsel you are Deborah.”

“Thank you.” She answered blushing.

“You are a paragon of beauty.” Haniel added as he looked away, picked a stone from the ground and threw into the pond. Turned to her again and said.

“My name is Christopher Haniel. I hailed from the Middle Belt Zone of this Country. I am the last child and the only male child in my family. I ...” he began to stammer.

Are these all he has to tell her to win her over to his place and keep her forever? This part is hard. His parents did not tell him about this part. They did not tell him he had to say something and made some personal introduction. They did not tell him it’s going to be this difficult wooing a girl. But how did his father did it to his mother? Since he is the true son of his father, what gave his father courage and words and determination, would also bring that charm over to him as he prepare to launch another trail. 

“My friends call me Debby.” Deborah picked up the conversation. “And I understand what you are about to say.”

“You do?” Haniel said with surprise in his voice, on his face, and within his being.

“Yes. And what will be of me if I’ve not asked question about you before now?”

Fear gripped him. What! She has asked questions about him? From the wrong source maybe. May be Comfort. Maybe...

She continued. “What will happen if I say I’ve heard much about your performance in school and your ability on the field of football?”

Haniel sat speechless, just looking at her. “You mean that someone told you somethings about me?”

“Haniel, I’ve seen you several times in almost all your daily activities; and you wore good quality I admire in a friend.”

“One day we will be more than friends.”  Haniel added quickly.

She smiled and continued. “Han, I’ve loved you for over thirty days now. But since nature itself does not allow us, the females, to always take the first step towards starting a relationship; I refused you to know it. For I thought you might consider me too cheap, which you know it’s an insult to the female gender.”

The hand of time has changed. The dial is now running backward towards where Haniel did not expect. This morning is the first and best of the days of his life. This day is the beginning of the rest days of his life. This is it! Where had she seen him and know him and like him and love him and want him? Who had told her about him, about his activities and about his plans? Who?

She began to cry with the reason that she had done something she never thought it’s right for a girl to do. She has opened up her heart to a guy who only asked to confess to her, and now she is the one confessing to him. Now what? She thought to herself.

I’m not going to let him see that I want him badly. The first thing my mother told me before I came to this school was about her days here too. She too came to this school for a sport’s competition and met my father. She was not the best that year, she came fourth in the female relay race. And as she broke down crying over her lost, a smooth palm came on her shoulder and when she looked up, it was Tabitha Oni - her husband. Can that come around again?

While Deborah was lost in her thoughts, Haniel too was fighting his. He looked directly into her bright eyes, and like God blew the breath of life into Adam the first man, Haniel spoke speechlessly into her heart.

I don’t know what is happening, either to me or to you, but I don’t really care what is happening. I’ve loved you before I met you. Live now, live with me forever. Please.

Still looking into her eyes, he repeated his thoughts backwardly.

“Please. Live with me forever. I’ve loved you before I met you. I don’t really care what is happening, either to you or to me. I don’t want to know.” And like his life as just began, as if he was holding a ring in his hand, he said. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure” She answered tearfully.

“Can you be my girl, my wife, the mother of my children?”

“Let it lie till after school hour.” And she stretched her left hand towards his face, stroked his cheek and walked away without looking back.

He stood with thoughts running through his entire system via his veins. Is that all she has to say to him after the earlier show of I love you like death? What is she trying to prove to him now, that she has gotten his heart and walked away like she did not mean what she uttered? He too has been kept in utterance snare, so much afraid to let his words entrap him. The only tool that could hold one captive for ever had been used by them. It would be only him if she did not really mean her words. This is seriously an utterance snare; his recently developed word. The most prestigious gift of writers: creating words, new words out of the existing ones; Utterance Snare.