They would come at dusk to sit with him in the "parlour" chatting about everything and anything. Their loud cackles and laughters roaring into the deep quietness of the night, a music to my ears only punctured by the grim attention they pay to the 7pm news belt.
Thereafter, commentaries would follow deep into the night. The men always have an opinion on and about the issues. The Gideon Orkar coup, MKO presidential quest, military rule, Awolowo's legacy, Ajasin/Omoboriowo's tango, SDP and NRC chances, faltering economy and the good ol' colonial days, Olumilua's mass retrenchment, the civil war and its demobilised soldiers, cocoa business, Bisi Egbeyemi's administration, indiscipline of 80's children, teachers' salary delay, imperatives of Ekiti state creation, the emerging 419 business, etc.
Pure fun it was to sit somewhere on the dark as adult men talk "fathers' talks". Each friend had his favourite topic to discuss and he always had solid opinions on each. Their conversations often spiked by the frequent bellows of " hmmm.. Honorable!!". I would prefer listening to the retrospective wisdom of grown discussions than playing the "mude si o" moonlight plays with other children.
But Dad!! They no longer come. The ones who are still alive are now old and hardly have time for such talks. They don't even have the energy for such anymore. Mummy has grown old too. So is everyone! Oh how much I long for the blissful innocence of those sweet days. Are they just basically memories like we all are? Why are they this fleeting?
Dad, please come back with your friends and I promise to listen to your discussions forever.
Just memories, we all are!
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