Campus Tales: Episode 8 (The Birthday Party)

THE BIRTHDAY PART

I should have listened to my guts. I had a feeling the party may go sour, but I allowed myself get dragged into it. I pulled the trigger on myself.

After a series of debates, James had successfully persuaded me to accompany him to a friend’s birthday party.

“The guy is very good to me, and is like a big brother, just like you.” He said.

“How did you guys meet?” I enquired.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “Now that’s a really good story that should be told over some drinks.” He concluded, smiling.

The ride was fast, though chequered by the normal banter of conductors here and there. Sometimes amongst themselves, other times, with passengers who knowingly, or unknowingly, may’ve gotten on without change.

In no distant time, we were stood before a good looking bar, with lots of singing and dancing. But this place had some question marks about it, which I got to understand later, through the hard way.

Firstly, I noticed that this place was quite secluded. We had to trek a couple of kilometres from the main road, before getting there. Secondly, there were some half dressed girls, with very short and tight skirts, some with panties and bras, dancing to the music that was played, – some heavy metal kind of music – while some men danced with them from behind, grabbing their backsides at intervals.

There was also this strange thing about everyone there. But till this moment, I still can’t find a word to describe how I reacted towards them.

Lastly, there was this strong, pungent smell, which came from a dark corner, so dark, even with the dull blue light of the club, that I could only see small red lights glow and dim, followed by puffs of smoke, and then, the terrible smell. Smell of dry wood, or leaf, or some substance I couldn’t tell.

“Stop staring.” James whispered, dragging me gently by the arm.

“Guy, where did you bring me to?”

“I told you already. My friend’s birthday …”

“That’s what you said.” I cut in. “But this is a club, man. Look at all these girls.” I explained, looking round. But James only looked at me in amusement. The kind of look that makes you sound very ignorant.

“That’s what gives it the more fun, bro.” He smiled, while spreading out his arms. “The party no go sweet if girls no dey.” He concluded. “Now come on, let’s meet the birthday boy.” He put his arm around my neck, while pointing to a man, who was seated at one corner, surrounded by some girls, cheering, giggling, and laughing.  He had something that looked like a cigar in his right hand, but this item wasn’t like the regular cigar. It looked like it was wrapped manually.

“Arrrrr… See my maan!” he cheered, on noticing us approach. “The salient Chameleon himself! The man, in whom I am well pleased.” He concluded, laughing, as James joined in. I only managed a smile, so as not to look odd.

“Baba, after you, na you!” James cheered back, as they shook hands, and hugged themselves by the shoulder, without breaking the handshake. “Happy birthday, man.” James complimented, smiling at the dark medium sized man.

“Thanks a lot man.” Replied the man, and he looked over James shoulder at me, and caught me looking at one of the girls that winked, as she walked past me.

I wouldn’t lie. She was damn cute. Too cute to be in this hell-hole.

“The Salient Chameleon”. He called at James, without breaking eye contacts with me. “It seems your friend has seen one of our finest.”
Was this a brothel? I asked myself, concealing the frown and disgust that was mounting within me.

“Oh! Forgive me” James apologized. “This is my very good friend Cedric. He’s new in town”. He concluded, winking at the man, who made a croaky laugh as he spoke.

Cedric? Why would he call me that? Something was definitely wrong about this whole thing. But I played along.

“So you decided to spoil him a little ehh?” They laughed some more. This time, I joined in, with a fake laughter that was short lived as the girl I saw moments ago passed by again. “You’re in the right place, son”. He assured, stretching out his arm for a handshake.

It’s your father you’re calling son. I thought to myself, while taking his hard hand. The handshake was firm, and precise. “Happy birthday…” I didn’t know what to call him. Sir? Bro? I was hanging.

“Mako.” He said abruptly.

“What?”

“Call me Mako.”

“Oh! Nice to meet you, Sir Mako.”

“Just Mako is fine, bro.” He replied, laughing. James joined him, and I just smiled sheepishly.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let the partying begin!” Mako screamed at the top of his voice, with hands wide apart, everyone responded with a loud jeer.

And the party began.

A party that was soon going to be the reason my life took a different drift.

This was the first time, I’d attended what I later got to understand was a strip club.  It was loud, and wild. Ladies paraded themselves half dressed, and some, almost nude. The crowd had grown in number, and people were getting drunk and high, disgracing themselves.

I retreated to a corner, quite close to the bar, where I may not be disturbed. This was after some debate with James of cause, who was then entertained on the dance floor by two girls. I couldn’t tell if they were pretty. The lighting was really dull and blue, red, green, and some other colours dancing about the place.

At a corner I noticed two couples making out. Right there in public. Though wrapped by the dull light, but what sort of place is this? I kept asking myself.

There was some fun to it though, but everything came with a cost.

“Hello handsome” came a voice from the bar. I turned, and it was the cute girl that’d passed by me twice. She must have been about 22 or 23 years.

“Hi… How are you?” I asked, turning to face her.

“Not bad.” She replied. “Do you need something to drink?”

“Well, I’d like malt.” I answered smiling, as I rested my right arm on the bar.

“You say wetin?” she asked laughing heartily.

“Was there something I said?” I asked aloud, bemused. I liked her laughter, but I wanted to know why she’d laugh at my request.

“You’ve never gone clubbing have you?” she asked, cocking her head, as her black ponytail fell to the left.

I blushed. I knew I’d messed up. I should have ordered something strong, or at least not malt. “Do you blame me?” I asked smiling sheepishly.

“I’ll fix you something matured jare”

“See me o­!” I exclaimed playfully. “Is malt not matured?”

“Not for this occasion jorh.”

Our conversation went on quite smoothly, and this seemed to be the best part of this mistake of a birthday party, till my village people came knocking.

Sometimes, it’s good to mind your business. But I was about to learn that the hard way.

A very hard way indeed.

Read: Episode 7