Before the couples got downstairs, they had set the table and waited for them. Soon, everyone took their seats at the dining table, and Uncle Emma declared the dinner open. This time, Oliver had a seat at the table. Now, Uncle Emma began to wash his hands and he recalled that those hands had a handshake with the governor, Inspector General of Police, and other dignitaries, and teased. “Thank you, my in-laws, for the opportunity to have a handshake with the number one citizen of the state. I wish I won't have to wash my hands anymore.”
They laughed happily and Oliver relished the joke.
“Big Uncle, I saw you on the television,” Regan pointed out.
“Me?” The bewildered Emma asked anxiously.
“Yes, when you shook hands with the dignitaries,”
“Even when you were walking in and displaying your new walking stick up and down,” another child added.
At that point, Emma could not restrain himself from laughing because he was certain that he truly displayed his new cane out of proportion.
“When was the event aired? I would have loved to watch it. It is hard to appear on the television. Even when the traditional ruler buried his mother, we did not see even his shadow on the television.”
Now the compound was agog with laughter at his funny remarks. The policemen, who could hear him from the gate, laughed too.
“It would be aired at 9 PM again,” Sarah informed him.
“That is good. I will be delighted to watch it.”
After the dinner, they dispersed and the men walked to his hut for further discussions. Before they got to the hut, they heard the mooing of bulls and the gobbling of turkeys. Then Callum spoke, “That reminds me. I have not seen the gifts.”
“Let's see them.” Uncle Emma responded and walked them to his livestock barn. Apart from the twenty bulls, they saw other gifts and Fredrick commented, “My in-law, you need to expand your barn. It is too small for what you have now.”
Uncle Emma could not process what Fredrick meant.
'Will they leave all these for me?' He asked himself.
“We will see to it before we leave,” Callum pointed out and took a step towards the hut. Now, Evans and Fredrick exchanged glances because they had planned to leave him behind and return to the city. Soon, they were at the hut. Then, Uncle Emma spoke, “Once more, I appreciate you all. You have delivered me from shame. All the mockeries against my family because of my brother… Sobbing.”
“Our in-law, you can't do this. You have accorded him all the respect due to him,” Callum pacified
“It's okay, our in-law. I understand how you feel. Put yourself together,” Evans pointed out.
Now, Emma's head was down, and the hut was calm. Then, Fredrick teased, “My wife is coming, and if she cries because of you, I will ensure that you pay a fine.”
Others laughed softly, and he looked up at once and dried his tears. Then he cheered up and discussed freely with them. After a few minutes, he asked, “My in-laws, what are your plans?”
“We will tidy up before we will leave,” Callum explained.
“Thank you, Uncle Callum, for volunteering to stay behind. I will leave tomorrow,” Fredrick emphasized. Now, the bewildered Callum looked at him, but before he could speak, Evans added.
“Yes. He will fly me to Abuja before leaving for Lagos. Thank you for staying behind.”
“Look at these boys,” Callum faced Uncle Emma and blurted out. Then, Uncle Emma elucidated, “My in-law let them leave. You are lucky to have supportive co-in-laws. They had stood by your side all this while. It is hard to marry the first daughter in any family.”
Now, Callum had no choice but to let them leave.
“It is all right. I accept. All the same, I wish to thank you all. You have been wonderful.”
“We appreciate your leadership attributes. We are proud to be your co-in-laws," Frederick and Evans responded one after the other. Then, Uncle Emma asked, “What about our newest son, Oliver? What are your plans for him?”
“I will take him along for skill acquisition,” Evans declared, but Callum disputed it, “You can't take him along immediately. I need him to assist me before I leave.”
“That would not be a problem. Just let me know when you are leaving. You can take him to the airport, and I will pick him up from there.”
“He can come with Frank,” Fredrick advised.
“In that case, Frank will stay behind too. He planned to leave with me tomorrow,” Evans declared.
After they concluded, they got out of the hut and saw their wives coming out of their mother's room. They thought that she would move over to the new house, but she refused.
“That place would be too lonely for me when you leave. I would like to stay here.” She argued.
The children saw reason with her and granted her wishes.
“Oliver, how are you?” Fredrick inquired.
“I'm fine, Sir.”
“Take, for taking care of the policemen.”
Oliver was dazed when he saw a bundle of fifty thousand Naira. In all his life, he had never owned such an amount of money.
“Thank you for finding me worthy of your trust. I will never forget this.”
“You are welcome. Remain a good boy.”
“I will do my best, Sir.”
At 9 PM, Uncle Emma glued his eyes to the television, just to see himself. He was elated, and he made Dickson laugh heartily. Afterward, he asked, “What happens to the gifts, father?"
“They planned to leave everything to me.”
“That's a big one. I will recommend that you propose selling them off and remit the money to them. With that, they would understand that you are not taking advantage of them.”
“Your proposal is in order. I will sell the idea to them.”
At the General Manager's Suite
It was 6 PM and Tony had not heard from Silas. He got off the bed and walked to the parlor to give him a call.
“Hello, boss.” Silas greeted him when he picked up his call.
“What's up, Silas? Don't tell me you are not back yet.”
“We are at the gate, Sir. We just arrived.”
“I see," he said, cut the call, and walked back to join Susan on the bed. While she was sleeping, he prepared the report of the trip sent it to her, and ordered dinner. Subsequently, he woke her up with a kiss.