Chapter 14- The Toast.

"What's happening?" Bimbo stares at all of us, one after the other. No one has said a word since Bimbo dropped the bomb on us. I don't know what will happen if Sen. Cynthia, Amanda and Bimbo co exist in one place. It would be disastrous. It would be like Clash of the Titans! The female version. 

"Are you sure Timmy's mum told you Cynthia and Amanda are coming here?" Harrison asks. He seems disturbed. His reaction tells me his concern isn't for me; It is for himself. I can't think of any plausible reason that would make Harrison bothered about his sibling and cousin's news of arrival. 

"Yes. I am sure." She stares at me.

"What is happening?" She looks so confused and concerned. I shake my head. I can't believe one news can change the atmosphere like this. The once noisy and lively environment has turned into this serene and quiet atmosphere. I stare at Harrison. He has that serious look he wears whenever he is hatching a plan. Bolaji just stares at the ground. My phone rings, making all of us jolt at the same time. Bimbo hands over the phone to me. 

"Timmy. How are you?" The VP's voice sounds over the phone. 

"I am fine, Sir. Good afternoon, Sir." I mutter. 

"Your mum called to ask if Cynthia and Amanda can come to visit you. I am sorry but I cannot allow them to come. We can't just send two young girls to where they have never been before and expect them   not to fall into harm's way. I can't take that risk." 

I stand up. 

"Yes Sir! I totally understand, Sir." I say, energetically. Harrison gives me a puzzled look. 

"And you know you and your friends have so many things to discuss. The girls will only pose as a form of distraction." He pauses.

Wow! This is great! 

"Are you there?" 

"Yes Sir. I can hear you perfectly." 

"I hope you understand." 

"I totally understand,Sir! Thank you for understanding, Sir!" 

He chuckles. 

"Okay, Son. What says the time?" 

I check my watch. 

"It's 03:15, Sir." Wow! Time flies. I woke up like five minutes ago. 

"Okay. Tell your friends I must see them back in school before 07:00. Goodbye, Timmy."

"Yes,Sir. Thank you so much. Bye, bye Sir!" 

He hangs up. 

"Wow!" I bring out my handkerchief and I use it to clean my forehead. 

"What happened? Did you win a lottery?" Harrison says. Bolaji and Bimbo stare at me with rapt attention. 

"Even better." I smile. 

"What!?" Harrison yells. 

"Okay. They are no longer." I pause. 

"Coming!" I yell, jumping up. 

"Really!?" Harrison stands up with happiness in his eyes. 

"Are you sure!" Bolaji rushes to where we are. 

"Yes. The VP just told me. He said, sending the girls out is very risky, so he declined Mama's proposal!" 

"This is great news!" Bolaji taps my shoulder. 

"More than great!" Harrison shakes my hand aggressively. 

"Wait. What is going on here." Bimbo stands up. She looks so small in the our midst. I smile. 

"The people who are supposed to help me out are no longer coming and you guys are happy about it?" She stares at me. 

"You will not understand, Dear." I fall on the couch. Harrison falls harder on the couch. Bolaji sits beside me. 

"Really? Okay. Since I am the only one here, just know that your spaghetti and fried rice is out of the equation." She holds her waist. 

"What!?" Harrison exclaims. 

"Why?" Bolaji reacts, opening his eyes wide. I smile. 

"Uhm uhm!" I clear my throat loudly. They stare at me. Their eyes, filled with expectation. 

"Talk. Idiot!" Harrison says impatiently. 

I chuckle. 

"I can solve this problem with one phone call." I say with a typical Igbo man accent. 

"Don't maghị onye na-ekwu okwu, don't you know who is speaking?" I say in Engli-igbo. Harrison chuckles. 

"I bu onye nzuzu, you are a foolish person." Harrison shakes his head. 

"Why are you guys speaking Igbo. Don't provoke me and my brother o." Bimbo sits. 

Harrison taps Bolaji's shoulder, shaking his head in sympathy. 

"Mr. Brother Man!" Harrison mocks Bolaji. Bolaji frowns at him. 

"Hello? I am still talking." I stand and I walk to the front. 

"Oh God." Bolaji shakes his head. 

Bimbo giggles. 

"Okay. Let me prove it to you." I take out my phone from my pocket and I dial our part time maid's number. 

"Hello, Suliat." I say confidently. 

"Who be this?" A strong masculine voice sounds over the phone. 

"Sir.... I-I am Suliat's-" 

"What!? Na you be her boyfriend, abi?" 

"No! I-" 

Oh God! What have I done? 

"You still get mind. You still dey shout for me, abi!?" He yells. 

"I am sorry, Sir. I did not mean to shout at y-"  Harrison takes the phone from me. I can feel my heart beating so fast. 

"Good day, Sir." He says calmly. 

"No. I am sorry. That was my friend... Your wife, Suliat works for us. She is our part time maid." He chuckles. 

"That is how he does. He is still a small boy." He winks at me. Bimbo giggles, holding her mouth. I am such a fool. I walk to my sit with my eyes on the ground and I relax on the couch. I can feel Bimbo's eyes on me. I can't even look at her. Why do I keep disappointing myself like this!?

"I am so sorry for the misunderstanding... Yes, we need her now... She is not around?" He squeezes his brow. 

"Mr. Chigozie's residence, Sir. Oh, she is on her way here? Okay, Sir. Thank you so much...Yes, this is her son, Timmy's number... Anytime, Sir. Thank you. Bye." He hangs up. Harrison stares at me. He frowns his face and hands over the phone to me. He is obviously trying to hold his laughter. Bolaji and Bimbo stare at me. I am sure they are waiting for someone to burst into laughter. Bolaji covers his mouth. Bimbo giggles. 

"Okay. I can't take it anymore!" Bolaji bursts into laughter. He lays down flat on the ground. As expected, Harrison and Bimbo join the party. Bimbo covers her mouth, while Harrison points at me, laughing his guts out. 

"I can solve this problem with one phone call!" Harrison mocks me, raising his head up. 

Bimbo laughs hard. I can't even stop Bimbo from laughing. I shake my head. 

"Yeah!" Bolaji rises. 

"I am Timothy Chigozie. I can fix all your life's problem!" Bolaji raises his head the way Harrison did. Bimbo chuckles. 

"Wait a minute. Is that how I raise my head when I talk. Silly boys!" I adjust and I sit up. 

Harrison smiles as he goes to his seat. 

"Alright. It's okay. Stop teasing dear Timber." Bimbo stands and heads to the kitchen. 

"I can't believe you froze because her husband spoke to you. You are such a chicken!" Harrison says. 

"Yeah. A stupid chicken!" Bolaji adds. He walks to my direction. 

"Bro, I am really hungry. When do you think the maid would be here?" He sits beside me. 

"Well, any time from n-" 

The door bell rings. I rush to the door and I open the door. 

"Welcome, Suliat. Thank you for coming. I really need your help." She enters. 

"Bimbo is in the kitchen, preparing food for us. Can you please help her in the kitchen?" 

"No problem. That is my job." She goes to the kitchen. Harrison yawns and stretches at the same time. 

"Your house is boring o. Don't you have anything we can use to pass time?" Harrison relaxes on the couch. 

"Do you guys play games?" I ask. 

"Of course. What kind of stupid question is that?" Harrison replies sharply. 

"It's like asking a bird if it knows how to fly." Bolaji says. 

"Nigerians! I asked you a straight forward question that deserved a straight forward answer." I rise on my feet. 

"Fortunately, I have play station 3. We can use i-" 

"Really?" Harrison raises his brows. 

"So you had this all along and you allowed us waste like two hours of our time doing nothing? What is your problem?" Harrison sits up. 

"Oh. I just thought I -" I try to defend myself. 

"No! Please, don't think. Thinking cannot take you anywhere." Bolaji says sarcastically. 

Harrison chuckles. 

"That was nice, bro." Harrison laughs. 

"I know, right?" Bolaji smiles. 

"Idiots!" I stand and I walk towards the TV with my hands on my waist. I can't seem to find the remote anywhere. I take a step further, scanning the whole premises with my eyes. 

"Are you looking for this?" Harrison carries the remote from the table. 

"Oh yeah. Throw it to me." I place my hands together like a cricket player who is about to catch an incoming ball. 

Harrison shakes his head. 

"Old man." He mutters as he throws the remote three metres away from me. I take two steps and I dive, catching the remote. I crash hard on the soft rug. 

Harrison and Bolaji give me an applause. 

"Wow!" Bolaji opens his eyes wide. 

I sit up. 

"That was beautiful!" Harrison says, still clapping. 

"You guys are crazy. What if the rug wasn't there? Do you know how badly injured I would be right now?" I stand on my feet. 

"Our school's football team is in desperate need of a good goal keeper. With the way you caught the remote, you will make history in St. Peters High." Harrison smiles. 

"Yeah. He is right. You've got the talent, bro." Bolaji supports. 

"I just knew it. Why would you have a brother like David Chigozie and not have a bright future in athletics. Impossible." Harrison says. I give Harrison a funny look. 

"Thank you so much for your stupid advice." I switch the TV on with the remote. I walk to the Play station console and I switch it on. I take out two pads and I hand it over to Harrison and Bolaji. They seem so excited. I switch on the home theater with the TV remote. 

"So, what game do you guys want to play?" 

"Football!" Harrison replies energetically. Bolaji nods his head in agreement. 

"Okay. Harrison, do you know how to load Pes?" I stare at Harrison. He smiles and shakes his head. 

"See this guy. When I started playing PS3, you were not born." Harrison clicks on pes and the game loads. 

"Wow! You have the latest Pes!? Sweet!" Bolaji says with his eyes fixed on the TV screen. 

"Alright. Get ready to be beaten, Bolaji." 

Harrison smirks...

The game was highly competitive. Harrison beat Bolaji twice, Bolaji won Harrison once and they had three draws. I played with Harrison once. He spelt my name, Timothy with seven goals to nil. Well, I don't know how to play Pro Evolution Soccer. That was Dave's favorite game. Harrison ate his words when we switched to wrestling. I gave Harrison a total beating. He really tried but he wasn't good enough. I went to get the third pad upstairs. We played a handicap match. Bolaji and Harrison teamed up against me. It was a tough one, but I still won. It was a really nice and noisy experience. Bimbo complained about the noise a thousand times. Harrison intentionally raised his voice to annoy her. The smell of the food compelled us to wait for the meal on the dinning table. As usual, I am seated on the master chair. Harrison and Bolaji position themselves at my right and left hand side. Harrison is holding a spoon, while Bolaji finishes a full cup of juice in one gulp. 

"Wow. You be shark o, you are a shark." Harrison mocks Bolaji. 

"Yeah, I know." Bolaji pours himself another glass. 

"Hey! We've been waiting for like two hours! So you want us to die of salvation!" Harrison yells. 

"In a bit!" Bimbo replies. 

"Oh God! This is unbelievable. You a-" 

"What is your problem?" Bimbo cuts Harrison off as she comes out with a small tray. She is wearing a tight black singlet with her T-shirt, tied to her waste. It is a bit loose in the chest area, revealing the upper part of her breast. She has sweat all over her face and her chest area. Oh my sweet lord! She looks so good. 

"Wow!" Harrison exclaims with his eyes and mouth opened wide. Bolaji stares at her. He seems lost in the moment. 

She walks majestically and drops the tray in front of me. I can see half of her breast in her loose singlet. Oh my God! She is so beautiful. She drops a covered flat breakable plate in front of me. She smiles at me and carries the tray to the kitchen.

I look up and I stare at Harrison who frowns at me.

"Be careful." Harrison lowers his voice into a thick bass.

"I hope I am the next person." Bolaji winks at Harrison. 

"Oh God!" Harrison shakes his head. 

Suliat comes out with a small tray. She places it in front of Bolaji. Harrison chuckles.

"I thought Bimbo was going to bring it." He mutters. Suliat ignores him. 

"Thank you." Bolaji coughs out a smile. Harrison bursts into laughter, pointing his spoon at Bolaji. 

"Mr. Brother man. Where is your sister?" Harrison teases Bolaji. Bolaji looks at Suliat. 

"Thank you." He says calmly. 

"Welcome." She smiles at him. 

She turns and heads back to the kitchen. 

"Bimbo, where is mine!?" Harrison yells. 

"A moment." Bimbo replies. 

She comes out and drops the tray on the table. Harrison winks at me and nods his head. 

"Thank you so much." Harrison says. 

She ignores him. She drops the plate in front of him and heads to the kitchen with the tray. 

"Bolaji, did you see? She should have told Suliat to bring the food like she did for you, but she didn't. She decided to bring my food herself." Harrison pauses with a smile. Bolaji shakes his head. 

"The same way she brought mine." I smile. 

"Nevertheless, this is a step in progress. I can see a bright and colorful future!" Harrison yells, hitting his hand hard on the table. 

"You wish." Bimbo emerges with another tray. She places it on the other end of the master Chair. She goes back into the kitchen. Suliat carries three bottles of soft drinks in a big tray. She places it in front of us and heads back to the kitchen with the tray. Bimbo comes out with her handkerchief in her hand. She cleans her face with it as she sits down. 

"Wow! Were you all waiting for me?" She smiles. 

"Of course, my lady." Harrison says with a fancy accent. 

"Cool. What are we waiting for?" She asks. 

"Prayer. Where I come from, it is imperative to pray before eating." Harrison sharply replies. 

"So, you pray before eating every meal?" Bolaji raises his brow. 

"Yes. A prayer of thanks giving. We pr-" 

"I can't remember the last time I prayed." I interrupt. 

"Me too!" Bimbo supports. 

"I am surprised. Why does the devil himself want to pray now? Is the world about to end." Bolaji teases. Bimbo giggles.

"Can we pray!?" Harrison yells, closing his eyes. 

"Heavenly father, we thank you for everything you have done in our lives. We thank you for..." 

Its so weird seeing Harrison pray. I stare at Bimbo and Bolaji whose eyes are closed. I close my eyes and I place my palm on top of the plate. All I can think of in this moment is the food in front of me. 

"Amen." Bolaji and Bimbo say together. 

"Amen!" I say sharply. Bimbo smiles. Bolaji chuckles. Harrison opens one of his eyes and looks at me. He closes his eyes and continues his prayer. 

"Lord, as we are about to eat, be with us. Guide and protect us every step of the way. Thank you lord. In Jesus name, we pray." 

"Amen!" Bolaji, Bimbo and I echo at the same time. 

Bolaji claps his hands.

"Wow! That was beautiful." He stops clapping and carries up his cup of juice. 

"Lets make a toast!" Bolaji stands. 

"Oh God!" Harrison shakes his head. 

"May we all raise our glasses!?" Bolaji mimics my British accent. I raise my glass with a smile. Bimbo joins. 

"Really? We are doing this now?" Harrison raises his glass reluctantly. 

"Let's toast to second chances. If not for this boy seated here." Bolaji points his glass to my direction. I smile. Surprisingly, Harrison rises up with his glass in his hand. Bimbo looks puzzled I am sure she is wondering why the hell Harrison would stand up for a stupid toast. I don't even understand what is going on. My main concern right now is the meal in front of me. 

Bolaji continues, 

"If not for Timothy Chidozie, I would probably be a school drop out right now."

"Yes!" Harrison exclaims. 

"But, he went out of his way and he bore my burden upon himself, not withstanding the circumstances." Bolaji smiles at me. 

"I am so proud to be your friend." Harrison smiles at me. Bimbo rises up with her drink in her palm.

"A toast!" Bolaji yells.

"To friendship!" Harrison raises his glass higher. 

"To love!" Bimbo smiles at me. I rise up on my feet. 

"To second chances." Bolaji says calmly. 

"Cheers!" We echo as we make our glasses kiss themselves. We consume our drinks. Bimbo drops her cup on the table and claps loudly. Harrison and Bolaji do the same. 

"Speech!" Bolaji echoes. 

"Yeah. Give us a speech." Bimbo smiles. 

"No spoil am o, don't spoil it." Harrison teases. I chuckle. 

I take in a deep breath. 

"This is so overwhelming. I don't even know what to say. Thank you so much. All of you." I look at them one after the other. 

"You are all incredible. Having you guys around is the best thing I can possibly wish for. Thank you again." I pause with a smile. 

"Now, can we sit and eat. I am really hungry." Harrison sits. Bimbo chuckles. Bolaji shakes his head as he sits. 

"Boys." Bimbo shakes his head as she sits.