Checkmate Episode 27 (By Adeyoola Ojemola)

 

Joshua wondered what was going on in Simon’s mind. They had been ushered into the living room of the boy Simon came to meet, Dayo. His mum had gone upstairs to call him but she did not come back. 

 

Dayo soon came downstairs. He saw Simon on his feet and he paused mid-way, shocked to see who the junior from his school was as his mother had mentioned. He almost lashed out at Simon for coming to his house but caught himself when he saw Joshua seated close to where Simon was standing. He wondered who the man was for Simon to have come along with him. 

 

‘Good afternoon, sir, Dayo said. Joshua stood to return the young teenager’s greeting with a handshake. ‘Hello! My name is Joshua, Simon’s uncle’. 

‘I am Dayo. Nice to meet you, sir’. 

 

Then the atmosphere was awkward between all three after that brief exchange. Without any words, Simon suddenly dragged Dayo away towards the mini porch they had come in from. Joshua was baffled at the young boy’s actions. Without a word, he sat back on his seat awaiting their return and hopefully some explanation of this whole saga from Simon. 

 

Outside Dayo’s compound, Simon spoke, literally begging. ‘Please give me his number. Can you introduce him to me? I’d really like to speak with him, see him. Does he know about me already? Senior Dayo, please!!!’

 

All the while Simon was pleading, Dayo kept looking towards a window upstairs, checking to be sure his mother was not peeping on them. He soon dragged Simon away from where they were standing to a secluded corner of the compound. 

 

‘What is your problem? Oh! Do you believe me now? I thought you said you would knock my teeth out if I ever spoke such nonsense again?’ Dayo glared at Simon fiercely.

 

‘ I am sorry for the words, beating and the suspension I caused you. I know it has been over a year since the incident happened but I never apologised. Please forgive me. I am very sincere about this request. Can you make it happen?’

 

‘ I cannot make it happen, Simon. I can’t. My mum doesn’t even know that I know. I overheard her conversation on the phone while they were discussing. I was asleep in the living room and she sat in the dining area and her phone was on speaker. 

 

They were talking about it and your dad’s name came up and I connected the dots. I don’t think they want your dad to know. My mum said that day that it could destroy his ministry. Or do you want his ministry to be destroyed? If I were to introduce you, it would be as what? For what purpose? 

 

By the way, I only mentioned a part of the truth to you. There’s two of them! 

 

Simon felt dizzy at that point! Very dizzy, almost staggered but he gained his balance by leaning on the fence. 

 

‘Senior Dayo!!! And you are only just telling me?’

 

‘Of what use is the information about one and about two You can’t do anything either way with it.’

 

‘It doesn’t matter! If you told me one, then I deserve to know that there’s two of them!’

 

For a moment, both of them stood in silence. Then the gate to the compound opened and soon went shut. But neither paid any attention to it. They were hidden where they stood. 

 

‘I advise you to let God unveil it His own way. You try to  make peace about it within you. Don’t do anything rash o because it is not me who told you.’

 

Simon looked at Dayo in disbelief. He almost glared at him with his eyes but refrained from it because he knew he was right. He has been taught while growing up to always let God do His own thing in every situation for that is what will bring the best result. 

 

However, isn’t God being slow about it? Why did God let this information slip into his hands for over a year now and he has only grown angry about it and against his father the whole time. Should he tell Uncle Josh about it now?

 

But that could bring Dayo trouble and Dayo wants to be left out of the whole matter. 

Simon spoke eventually. 

 

‘Fine. I won’t talk about it. However, please tell me their names? Please?’

 

At that moment, Dayo’s mom came downstairs calling his name. He quickly responded and proceeded to leave Simon to return inside. Simon hurried after him but wished he had more time to hear from Dayo. 

 

They were both soon inside the house and he saw uncle Josh looking a little perturbed. That was unlike him. He rarely had a ruffled face. ‘Done?’ Joshua asked Simon. 

 

‘Yes, sir. We can leave now.’

 

Dayo was soon walking out from their kitchen towards them with two bottles of soda. Dayo’s mom was walking behind him. ‘Simon, right? I heard that you came to apologise to Dayo for the incident between you two a year ago? That is so sweet of you. Has Dayo also apologised for tearing your uniform?’

 

‘Yes ma, he did. Thank you ma for the hospitality but we will like to leave now’

 

‘Oh! And I was hoping you will join us for lunch so I can get to know you a little bit. This is Dayo’s first time having a friend over.’

 

 

Joshua seemed so comfortable and Simon was wondering why he had not made a move to get them going. Unexpectedly he spoke. 

 

‘Simon, you should wait. Let’s wait. Thank you for the food offer.’

 

 

Dayo and Simon looked at Joshua with their mouths agape. What is this man driving at, they both wondered. 

‘Thank you jare, uncle. Oya Dayo, go and call your uncle to come join us for lunch. I’ll set the table now. Oya Simon, you come and help me while your friend comes back’ . Dayo’s mum led the way to the kitchen.

 

Dayo on the other hand looked back, suspiciously at Joshua from the stairs. Dayo didn’t realise his uncle was back. Is that why this uncle chose to stay for lunch? Did Simon tell him anything? But he said he didn’t. Dayo felt even more uneasy and hoped his uncle would decline lunch. He seemed to love fasting. Hopefully he will be fasting today. 

 

Joshua, sitting all alone in that living room. Didn’t like the way he felt uneasy as though there was something he missed when that young man entered the house.

 

There was only one thing that popped up in his mind. The young man felt familiar in a good way.

 

But he felt that the moment of interaction was too brief for him to make sense of anything. 

 

Why does he then feel uneasy? Joshua searched his heart to be sure that he had not fallen short of God’s glory at any point in time. He checked to be sure that he was not disobeying an instruction from the Lord. 

 

He searched and noted in his heart that the uneasiness he felt began from after the young man greeted him amicably and went up stairs.

 

Did I not greet him well enough? Holy Spirit, please guide me. Point out what the issue is and restore the fullness of Your peace within me. If you need me to do something, please speak in the language I ‘ll understand, in Jesus name, Amen!

 

After that prayer. He simply sat, waiting for whatever would unfold. 

 

Within minutes, Dayo’s mom called him to dine. All three of them were seated to eat some white rice, stir fried vegetable sauce and fried fish. It was an appetising dish. Soon, the trio was joined by Dayo and his uncle who also sat to dine. 

 

 

Joshua took the opportunity to introduce himself to the man and get a very good look at him again to see why he looked familiar. ‘I am Joshua, sir, and this is Simon, Dayo’s friend’ he said, offering his hand for a shake to the other man. 

 

‘Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Solomon. And please no sir. I am just a very young man. SM is just fine. Everyone calls me that’

‘Alright, SM. Nice to meet you too.’

 

Then the table grew quiet. 

 

‘Aunty, you served Abigail’s food? She is not back yet o.’

 

I thought you both arrived together from town. 

‘No ma. We departed when we got into town., She said she wanted to do some shopping, as usual.’

 

Dayo, please take the food to the kitchen and cover it up. 

 

Joshua spoke up next. ‘Your wife?’

 

Solomon gave a hard laugh. ‘ Far from it. My twin, actually. We recently moved here. 

At that  moment, Simon lifted his head to look at Dayo who was just settling down to continue his meal. Dayo refused to meet Simon’s gaze. He would look everywhere else but at Simon!

Simon had not felt so frustrated as he felt that very moment. He wished he could force answers from Dayo’s mouth right at that moment. 

 

Meanwhile, Joshua kept asking in his spirit what the Holy Spirit wanted him to take note of at that moment. All he got was the young man looked familiar. 

 

Soon they were done with lunch and Simon helped Dayo and his mom clean up. However, the woman seemed to have a lot to do in her kitchen that she wouldn’t leave for a moment while Dayo and Simon did the dishes. 

 

Still, Dayo pretended as though there was no issue hanging in the air for which Simon needed him to clarify. 

 

As soon as they were  done, Joshua stood to bid the family farewell after he had exchanged contact with Joshua promising to show him around town whenever he was up for it. 

 

Simon had no choice but to go on since their ordered ride had arrived. 

 

For a short while, Simon and Joshua were each lost in their thoughts as they sat in their cab on the way to Simon’s house. 

 

A few minutes after they left, a car parked in front of Dayo’s residence and his aunt Abigail highlighted from it, limping. She was helped into the house by a woman who had two identical looking daughters.

 

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Wheeeeew! 

It’s been a long while right? Dropping this right now is to apologise for leaving you hanging on what next. Next year, 2026 only gets better. Let’s continue the ride in the coming year. Thank you for your understanding and time. Much love. 

 

Catch up on all previous Checkmate episodes here.

 

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Checkmate Episode 28