The door opened slowly at his push. ‘The man’ hadn’t locked it. He stepped inside to see the face that had the voice that had told him to come in. The man had his back to the door. Chislow could only see his back. ‘The man’ didn’t turn around to see who it was.
“How may I help you?”
“I came to do my registration sir.”
“You are late” replied ‘the man’ without still looking at Chislow, “Registration is over.”
“Please sir, you told me I could come.”
“Do you want me to go contrary to the school regulations? That could cause me my job, boy!” ‘The man answered and slowly turned around to give Chislow a piercing gaze. Chislow felt a wave of shock travel down his spine. He was getting scared, he was desperate. What will he tell his father? He could cope with his mum. She swallows any lie he tells her. His father never did.
“Abeg sir. Please, I take my mama beg you. I take God and my papa beg you. Help me sir.”
“How are you twin sisters?” The man asked, suddenly changing the conversation.
Chislow was at a lost. Twin sisters? He didn’t have any. What was this man up to? It showed on Chislow’s face. He was puzzled. The man saw it. He realized Chislow had lied to him the last time he came, when he told him that he had to get his mother to a hospital where she gave birth to twins. Chislow claimed that was why he was late for his registration.
‘The man’ smiled. Chislow suddenly remembered. He felt stupid. He put his head down in defeat and mumbled, “They are fine sir.” He knew ‘the man’ knew it was a lie. ‘The man’ smiled again.
“Greet them” he said with a mocking grin. “Registration is closed”
Chislow’s head dropped. “But if you are willing to corporate, then I can help you.” ‘The man’ paused for effect. Chislow raised his head and looked at him. “I am willing, anything you say.” He could hardly hide his desperation.
“I will give you the forms and things you need to fill. Bring them back on Tuesday, Monday is a public holiday.”
“Ahh! Thank you sir. God bless you, your children, your wife, your …” ‘The man’ cut him short with an impatient wave of his hand. “Leave God out of this. This is between you and me.”
Chislow was overjoyed. He didn’t know if he should cry, run, jump, shout or sneeze. That was what he told his friend La Joe boy when he narrated the incident to him. Chislow was careful not to narrate the part where ‘the man’ made demands. He made it look like it was just an act of kindness.
“I have three conditions, three things that you must do before I finally agree to help you.” The man continued. He gave Chislow another piercing look that gave him goose pimples.
“My three demands are…”
That was the story Chislow told me that cold December day in his cell. He had told others, different versions of the story because he was trying to hide from them the identity of ‘the man’ and the demands he made. To me and to me only did he tell the true and complete story. He requested that I should keep the demands a secret and so also the identity of ‘the man.’ Like I told you the last time, the man is a well known man in society today. Chislow just wasn’t ready to expose him yet. He was waiting for something, for a particular time. That day in that office marked the beginning of beginnings for Chislow. Unknown to him, his life story had just taken a new turn. It will be a little while before he will find out.

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