A steak looking sunset reflects over the bland murky horizon, at the bottom is a dusty road infested with pot holes filed uneven aged asphalt, tarred and grinded by time and a brand new ambulance. Inside is a coffin of a young man in his prime, cut short by failed kidneys. His brother is in tears and his work colleagues sing songs of old. As they escort his corpse to its final resting place, behind them is an entourage of six work vehicles showing support to his family and respect for the life he lived.
In an instant, a pothole about two feet deep swallowed the right tire and forced the ambulance into a side rail. The impact crush all the sides and fuel spilled and burst into flames. In two minutes a large flame is all that could be seen as people braced burns and pried open the burning ambulance. Charred remains burned around the burning coffin as three are rescued and unconscious. The entourage becomes emergency vehicles as they now race to save three lives. Others stand and watch the ambulance collapse into charred remains and ash flies about. Where are the four men singing? Where is the only brother of the deceased and where is the coffin? All that is left is a mangled frame, a skeleton like ribcage that once was an ambulance. If it was an advanced country, someone will be held accountable. If there was justice, the bad road is grounds for a lawsuit. If and if there could be a way, they would still be alive. In Nigeria, how many burn victims survive? The traumatic scene of those young boys, assigned by work to follow a fellow colleagues corspe to its resting place.
Oh lord, why is death such a scary time in this part of the world? Why can't we bury the dead in peace? May their souls all rest in peace and may the remaining three be a living testimony to us all and survive this ordeal.
How can we be better and value human lives more? Oh lord protect us all.
A crowd gathered as I watched hard and long at a bleak horizon....
Burnt To Ashes, The Funeral Escorts. It's a sad day indeed, how do you console the families and why is there a superstitious belief in this part of the world that the dead always takes people with them.
I have no words and have no way to try to ease their pain and only ask.
''Was there no fire extinguisher? Where were the firefighters or could they not do more?'
Tears were trickling down my eyes as I cried and this I did like an hour after I heard the shocking tragedy.
'Ade, you of all people know what an accident is like'
Ajoke was not referring to the one that made me loose my all my family, no.
She was referring to the one I had when I was into network marketing.
It was an interesting time in my life, setting impossible targets and achieving it all. Meeting strangers and selling them the dreams I hear they want to build which was a big eye opener. It was me trying to climb up to the level where one becomes a millionaire and a lot of trials and errors. And just when I was about to breakthrough, I had one last sale just one last product and no vehicle, so I took a bike. Begged the same man not to speed and from Liverpool road, liked it to third mainland bridge. A man with a massive five by three feet Cart with dismantled truck doors and mangled metal, rushed in front of us to cross the road. It was sudden and we were going to hit him. He quickly reversed but was going to be hit by a truck, so he pushed the two wheeler cart in our path. I looked back to see what was coming and it was another truck. I just told the bike rider to calm down and not swerve and as we hit the cart and crashed, I raised my legs. The impact was not what I was concerned about, I was not going to let any truck crush me. So I raced up and out of the four lane road. People chased me and as I stopped held me, I think they thought I was in shock. I scream at them saying I was fine and they assured me I was not. I refused to let them touch me and they point at my back and say I'm injured. I feel my butt and it's wet and in my hand is a mixture of my blood and sweat. I screamed and shout and panic so much, I knew I was in trouble. So I called my sister in Sweden and my brothers and everyone but my parents. I did not want them panicking and afraid. By the time I got to the hospital, I started to feel a lot of pain all over. It was the grace of God there were no casualties and I still climbed up the ladder success but that one accident stays fresh on my mind.
'Thanks God you survived', Ajoke says hugging me.
''Yes, thank God', I say and hug her back.
'Oh look, is the Stonehenge', Ajoke announced.
'Yes, I was there with my ex'
'Really?'
'He was twenty years older and upset we were not allowed to climb the stones'
'Why not?'
'It was crumbling from years of Climbing and wear and tear'
'But Ade you self try'
'Exactly, my Journey to love was a long long hard one. I thought the one I dated was too young, so I tried old and then young again'
'I always preferred older men, though the younger ones are to blame'
We both laugh and decide we should both go on a road trip together, to Stonehenge.
Celine calls and I pick up.
'We are both traveling without you', Ajoke screamed.
'Laye Lai, I will travel with you two. I vehemently disagree'
Ajoke was laughing so hard that I squeezed my face.
'Don't mind her'
'Ade, I will go ooo, and it must be after my baby is here'
'We will wait for you'
'Stonehenge without you, cheddar cheese caves without you'
'No', Celine was almost crying.
'Ajoke you are an agbaya'
Celine starts to laugh and I as I watch her I shake my head.
'You two are not serious'
'I miss you two', Celine adds.
'Me too', Ajoke and I echo.
'You know that Nnoye will come too', Ajoke adds and you won't believe who walked in.
Carrying Angel and Junior and rocking both children, she is laughing.
'Daniel let you have the kids', I was kind of surprised.
'No, the nanny let me. We have our own arrangements'
Ajoke gave her a hifive and they both laugh.
'Don't mind Daniel, he thinks he is sharp. Thank God the nanny believes in mother and child bonding'
'YES, but no selfies'
'Ade how did you know? It's been tough fighting the urge to upload pictures'
'Well, it's up to you'
'Yes and I am going with you all to Stonehenge'
'Sure, after Fiji'
'Ade is always about practical spending'
'Do you blame me, the way money vanishes eh. If you are not making or replenishing it, it goes away like a sudden burst of wind'
So my friends and I are adding Stonehenge to this trip and Nnoye has found a way around Daniel keeping her from her kids.
Life is about finding and making a way. Not everything makes sense but we have to struggle and make the most of it.
**"ADE'S JOURNAL", Season 3, Episode 16, COPYRIGHT 2018**
**BUSOLA ELEGBEDE, COPYRIGHT 2018**
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