The Conversation

'Have you heard what happened to Mr. Badmus?'

'You mean your neighbor?'

'Yes'.

'Haaa! Titi,what happened.Was the man involved in an accident? I do hope it wasn't serious. Was it in that his new Toyota Landcruiser. . . the customised vehicle?'

'There Tinu, story don finish. You figured it out for yourself. Calm down. Let me narrate what actually happened okay? Radio Lagos.
Mr Badmus was payed a visit by robbers. . . about twelve of them'.

'Yegbeloo!' (exclamation)

'Kai. That man is a lucky man'.

'How come?'

'Tinu, do you know, I mean, could you imagine the thieves drove away only one of his vehicles. . .'

'The 'tear-rubber' Land Cruiser?'

'Not at all. That's the amazing part. They stole his old, tho' still in good form anyway, Honda Accord. And could you imagine the stupid man begging them to take the Cruiser instead?'

'Really? Hmmm Hmmm. Wonders shall never end'.

'I mean, his wife almost slapped him, Tinu'.

'Why not? I would have done the same thing o. Titi, I would have done the same thing. But you're sure he wasn't drunk?'

'Haa, I asked the same question myself when I heard the story'.

A voice from the front seat. . .
'He could have hid important documents in that car. People do that'.

'What kind of documents would those be. His obituary?, this coming from Tinu'.

A different passenger chips in,
'I once heard of a man who hid originals of his Certificate of Occupancy and folders containing his business files in his SUV. He rarely used the automobile but there came the day he was forced to. Unfortunately, for him, he was involved in an accident which resulted in a fire outbreak. He barely made it out alive but his files were all burnt to ashes in the inferno'.

'Yeee!', Titi began. 'I guess this neighbor of mine did a similar thing. He's a businessman you know?'

'But, Tinu speaking, Couldn't it have been a set-up?'

'You mean, like people who knew about his hiding place setting him up with the robbers? It's possible. Mr. Badmus was recently awarded a $3.5 million worth contract by the state government. Now I'm almost certain it's the reason he was begging for the exchange. Maybe he even hid money in the car'.

The voice from the front seat again,
'But people can be rash. Why the car, what are banks for?'

'It's not every money you keep in the bank'.

'Says who?'

'Sooner or later you're going to need some money. You'll cash it from the bank and may have to bring it home for later use'. The driver now joining in on the conversation.

Titi responds, 'I even know of a particular man who keeps large sums of money in his home and has never for once been robbed at his apartment nor mugged on the streets. He lives just across. . .'

'Okay, okay. That's enough. Let's not give any thief in this bus directions to the poor guys home. This coming from the rear. I guess it's time somebody changed the topic, please'.

(509 words.)