I was woken suddenly by the vibration of my phone! I knew it was too early, not because I could see any clock in the darkness, but because I still felt uncontrollably sleepy. I looked to my side and saw the outline of the beautiful lady God gave me. I watched her sleeping, seeing her breath rising and falling gently. There was a serenity around her. Then she smiled in her sleep. She was probably dreaming about me. My attention returned to the phone. It had stopped vibrating. It was probably some patient who wanted to get a free midnight/early morning consultation with the doctor. Sometimes, people actually forget how human doctors are. Of course there are emergencies, but most of the early morning calls that wake doctors from sleep have absolutely nothing urgent about them. My mind veered to the Nigerian doctors who had been on strike for 5 straight weeks. It dawned on me that even the government had no regard for the doctors. The voices floated up. I wondered who would be discussing outside this early in the morning. I live on the topmost floor of a 2-storey building that affords me a beautiful view of the city in the daytime. However, it was quite early and the Power Holding CompanY was holding electricity as usual. This was the 4th day. I looked out of the window towards the compound. The voices were a bit louder. I still couldnt make out what was being said. I noticed the voices were coming from the compound behind us. It was a large compound with the rooms forming a square that enclosed a quadrangle in the centre. It was one of those compounds that had more rooms than you could count. The noise grew to a buzz. Looking out of the window, I noticed candles popping up at different corners. It was too early. Something had to be wrong. More people were awake. Some were woken by the sound of voices while others were woken by someone who seemed to be going house to house knocking. The buzz grew louder. Now I could make out some words. Bucket, Salt, 6am , Hot.... What was going on? My phone buzzed again. Picking it up, I noticed it was my mum. Actually it was my mother-in-law, but God had made us that close. The greatest blessing God could give a man apart from a good wife, is to make his wife and mother to be at peace. Right next to that is having parents-in-law that love you like their son. I picked her call. Hello mum. Good morning. Is all well? The next few sentences she made were lost on me because she spoke too fast. I guess she was trying to pass the message in as short a time as possible. The noise in the next compound was now at its peak. Isaala ahu(Have you had your bath)?, Bola... What was going on?! Was Bola Ige visiting Ebonyi? I knew there was no Bola in that compound, unless it was a new corper. My mum was still talking on the phone. Did you hear what I said?, she asked in her melodious voice that made the Uburu dialect sweet to the ears. Em.. No ma! Network was fluctuating. Biko repeat what you said I said, you people should wake up, boil hot water, put salt in it, drink some and then use the rest to bathe before 6am Then there was something about Ebola and a chemical released in the air to destroy it. The warm water and salt bath were protective. Dropping the phone, I looked out. The day was gradually beginning to break. There was a scramble for the bathroom in the next compound. I then understood . It was the hot salt bath to protect a viral onslaught. Was this a sudden medical discovery like the Anti-Ebola Kola Nut or was it a prophetic activity declared by a Man of God? Suddenly my phone started vibrating again. It was my grandfather. Ha! What was this? I I needed nobody to tell me why he was calling. Picking the phone, and before I could say Hello, I heard him say Hope you have bathed.. I replied,Im about to enter the bathroom I guess Ive committed myself. Let me have my bath. Maybe its prophetic, or maybe its a medical discovery. But personally I think its another virus. The most invasive virus of all! Its the Information Virus whose virulence is made more deadly by a generation engulfed in the social media. Yes its a virus.... Be careful what you hear. But theres no time. Its almost 6am.... (I hope my clock is correct). I never even boil water and I no sure say salt remain for house. Please lets continue this talk later. Make I go baff!!! Uzy darling..... Ngwa!!!!
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 05:25:38 +0000
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