The Passenger seat

I woke up in the morning to observe my daily prayer and to prepare for my routine household chore. I was the third child in a family of seven, the second son of the family. I am starting to form opinions about people and things around me generally, sometimes I feel like I have been around for a thousand years but in truth this is my second decade on this wretched planet. My father is an administrator working for one of the parastatals in the state capital so we are priviledged to be living in the senior staff quarters at the moment.

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The quarters consist of duplex, bungalows with corresponding boys quarters fitted with a garage. We stay in the third bungalow adjacent to Mr Kokori and his family who live in the second bungalow. Mr Kokori by my estimation should be in his mid forties, a man of average height probably five feet six inches. He has chubby cheeks, a slightly pale eyeballs which I believe is a sign of Jaundice due to excess alcohol intake. He keeps a huge moustache which my elder brother told me is a sign of a professional drunkard , his overall facial appearance reminds me of Baron Greenback in the Danger Mouse cartoon series.

Mr Kokori is a womanizer of legendary status even though he has two wives in his home. There are always news flying around about him in the quarters of his various escapades though I think his prowess might be a bit exaggerated. I must admit he has good taste for women as both wives are tall and beautiful, the first wife is slightly taller and has a face of an angel with dimple in both cheeks. She has smooth chocolate skin, long fingers and generally has the right curves at the right place. Omolade is a fashion designer who should be in her mid thirties, she is calm and exudes this aura of peace around her.

She is a mother of three- two boys and a girl, Gbenga the first child is in high school while Yemi and Torera are both in elementary school. Omolade dotes on her children so much and I could see all her hopes in life and her existence depends on these kids. I have a feeling she must have decided to focus on her children more to ensure they succeed in life after Mr Kokori took a second wife. I do not blame her for taking some attention off her husband because I really do not know what Ajani Kokori wants more in a woman, she seems perfect to me and sometimes I think she deserves a faithful and loyal husband. Nevertheless she loves him despite the fact he keeps smashing her heart to smithereens continuosly.

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Feyikemi is a typist in the ministry of Education in the state capital Oshogbo, she is older than Omolade and should probably be in her early forties. She has a grown up daughter from her previous marriage who comes around once in a while and two boys for her present husband, she wears a scowl most of the time and does not appear friendly. She could be a lot prettier if she smiles once in a while but she could care less of what anyone thinks of her. She is fair in complexion though her skin is not as smooth as the first wife and I feel she harbours some resentment for her predecessor probably because she is older and feels she should have been the first wife. She exerts more influence on Kokori and has him at her beck and call though my mum thinks she is using transcedental means to mesmerize her husband.

Kokori drops Feyikemi off at the ministry every morning in his grey 1984 Volkswagen Satana before heading to his workplace while Omolade goes to her local fashion designer shop about half an hour later. This has created a feeling of entitlement in Feyikemi as to who sits in the passenger seat in her husband car. Omolade could care less since her shop is just a stone throw from home, however tension has been brewing underneath this forced peace in this home. Omolade tries to avoid confrontation at all cost and this has been taken for granted by her rival who seems embolden by Omolade's meekness. She would flare up easily at the slightest of provocation and issues which could be overlooked, she seems to be asking for trouble subconciously.

The Satana is in need of major body and paint job, even the engine is giving off a sound of a bull frog at the end of its life cycle. Kokori cares a lot about his car but he does not have the means to pimp it up at the moment, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the millitary regime has made life unbearable due to unprecedented inflation. Kokori could be seen cursing his luck often when pondering alone under the Mango tree, he probably regrets his polygamous life at the moment. He switches on his Kchibo radio to listen to local news but turned it off about five minutes in.

"There is no good thing happening in this nation"

He stands up angrily and went indoors, soon the music of King Sunny Ade could be heard blaring from the living room. Kokori's Kenwood speakers definitely need some repairs but the 'Good Shepherd' is one of Sunny Ade's best album. He danced rythymically to the music and could be heard shouting "the good Shepherd! Oluso aguntan rere" at intervals. Things were definitely reaching a crescendo in the Kokori household as a result of the intrigues of polygamy in combination with harsh economic policies and disillusionment at work. Ajani Kokori was living on a knife-edge while silently praying for a miracle to get him out of this rut but the event of the following morning would forever remain indelible in this household.

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It all started like a normal day would but Omolade has had enough of her husband seeming neglect and was determined to take back the place she once occupied in his heart or atleast be on equal footing with her rival. She made a demand but Kokori was having none of it, things were escalating at an alarming rate between the erstwhile love birds. Feyikemi seems to be enjoying the drama but stayed out of it because she has an unfinished work on her desk. She has to get to work unfailingly so she was waiting for her husband in the living room. Kokori stormed past her heading for the car with Omolade in hot pursuit. He got into the car and was about to bring life to the engine but Omolade got into the passenger seat.

"You are not going anywhere today"

He stared at her in bewilderment, his hands shaking tremendously while he held on to the steering wheel. Feyikemi who had been a spectator all the while felt it was time to intervene and save the day.

"Iyale e jo e jade, ki a le lo si ibi ise" (Senior wife please come out, we need to get to work)

"Wa gbe mi jade ni" (Drag me out) the visibly angry first wife fired back.

Feyikemi who obviously has been looking for a way to teach her senior a lesson of a lifetime would not pass up this opportunity, she flung the passenger door open and made to drag Omolade out but the series of event that followed would leave a bitter taste in her mouth. Omolade freed her right hand from her rivals grip and responded with two jabs to the face, she staggered backwards and tried to regain her composure but Omolade added a one-two combination. Feyikemi's lips gave way easily, she touched her lips and felt the blood then made a lunge at Omolade pushing her against the car and proceeded to sink her teeth into her rival's breast. She let out a loud cry and pushed Feyikemi's head back with every ounce of energy in her before adding a headbutt to disorientate her adversary.

Omolade grabbed Feyikemi by the right shoulder, lifted her high up in the air and slammed her on the bare ground.

"Mo ku oo" (I'm dead) Feyikemi shouted.

Meanwhile Ajani Kokori who had earlier frozed to his steering wheel kept shouting with his heavy Yoruba accent;

"Passenger seat"

"Passenger seat"

"Passenger seat"

He regained his composure then runs to the other side of the car with rage, he grabs Omolade and slams her to the floor.

"AJ why" Omolade retorted on the ground.

"This is not what you promised me"

Ajani Kokori has never being more confused in his whole life, neighbours have gathered to watch this show of shame. Kokori looked around with a feeling of remorse and anguish fell on his knees.

"I ruined everything Omolade"

"I ruined everything with alcohol and selfishness"

The end.