5.
THE SECOND ENCOUNTER
It was barely two weeks after Bale's first encounter with
the local police that he had a second one with them again. He and two of his
friends had bought some wraps of their favorite Moi-moi (Bean cakes) and sat
under a tree by the side of the road that leads to the king's palace to devour
them. They ignored the waste basket that was placed by the road side just some
feet away as they unwrapped the bean cakes and littered the road with the
wraps. But as they were about to leave, three community police officers, which
included the first two of Bale's earlier encounter, passed by. One of them
said, “Bale Onidoti, can't you and your friends tidy up this place after
eating?” Bale turned back and replied, “Tidy up where?” pointing to the ground
that had already been covered with dead leaves. “Can't you see that this place
is already untidy in the first place? Or do you expect us to clear this whole
place up just because we ate a few wraps of Moi-Moi? Even their leaves are
small compared to what the trees here have shed. Never! ” And his other friends
laughed out loud.
“Never?” Repeated the second officer, “now it's obvious you
have chosen to boldly defy the laws of the land. And this time around you will
all pay for this.” He turned to the other two men in uniform and said, “Let's
arrest them. For today they must appear directly before the king!”
“The king?” Bale's friends asked at the same time. Then the
boys tried to run but were outrun by the officers. And with each of them having
a boy in his grip they marched them toward the king's palace.
“Don't worry,” Bale assured his friends, “let them take us
anywhere and my father would soon get us all out. After all, he is a close
acquaintance of the king.”
 | |||
| "Don't worry, my father will soon get us out !" |
“I have so much confidence in your father,” said one of his
friends, “I know he wouldn't want to see anybody unjustly punish his last son.
You know that he is still a very rich and powerful man despite being the
erstwhile chief.”
“Don't worry,” Bale reassured again, “I know he will get us
out of this mess and later deal with all those harassing us!”
6.
THE JUDGMENT
This time the king had decided to summon the old chief to
his palace concerning the matter. But when he got there it was like adding salt
to his injury. The king made it clear that it was the new chief that would
pronounce the judgments upon the children right in his presence. And whatever
judgment he passed would be sealed by him, the king. So the younger chief
declared that the children would be detained for three days and made to sweep
the major streets of the Olobun village as a community service.
The old chief tried
to protest, but he knew it was too late. The king had immediately risen up and
lowered the finger with the royal ring as a mark of seal to the judgment; which
was the land's tradition. Chief Onidoti Adugbo was furious. He grumbled but he
knew he couldn't do anything to reverse the decision. And so went back home
with a bruised ego!
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