“Larry, I just can’t still believe this is happening to me!” that was my first word as I banged the door opened meeting Larry on the bed glued to his phone. Still on my feet, looking at Larry sternly but he seems to be oblivion of my horrifying look.
“And what happened?” Larry said nonchalantly and still working his fingers on his phone. Normally, I would have snatched the phone from him and threaten to break it to draw his attention but Larry is not a guy you can threaten with such, he’s a tough guy; never worried about things that does not worry him.
He’s older than me with two years and in his third year studying Law. He’s fair in complexion, an oblong face with a pointed nose and his lips—extra red—to describe the redness of his lips. Often times I wonder if truly, this Larry is not a Lebanese but his accent and his surname proves him to be a true Nigerian. He’s often teased to have started kissing the very first day he was given birth to. His hair are not that black, in the sunlight, its golden to the eyes but in a dim place with penetrating light, its pale in colour. ‘The boy with a pale-gold hair’ is another way to describe him. He’s jovial and very humorous, though it has caused him a lot of misfortunes. Just two weeks ago, his girlfriend broke up with him because she did not find Larry’s joke funny and she took it personal. All pleading afterwards fell on deaf ears. Since then, Larry has moved on, he’s ladies’ man. He doesn’t have to stick to one Miss hard-to-get kind of a lady. His fairly robust stature with his tallness struck a wonderful balance that leaves every lady to look at him again and again. That’s all I knew about Larry at least physically and for a very long time, I believe I knew everything about this ‘dude’ until…
“Is that all you will say?” I said calmly now sitting on the downside of the bed.
“That’s all bro, since you haven’t still tell me what happened to you!” Larry said raising his head from his phone to and for the very first time, catches a glimpse of his worried friend.
“Okay!” I said, re-positioning myself and facing Larry who’s now half-conscious of my worried state.
“This afternoon, as I was returning from the campus, you know that corner before you get to the old library building?” That was a useless question, but in fact I was trying to make myself clear. Larry has being in the campus before I got admitted; what’s the use then of asking him such question. Ignoring his snub, I continued.
“Three guys crossed me there with their white berets and collected my phone, my wristwatch and my wallet. They only threw my I.D card, A.T.M. card and an empty wallet after emptying the valuable content in it!”
“And what did you do?” Larry cut me short dropping his phone and putting on a stern face
“What the heck did you expect me to do?” I answered him almost immediately his question came out.
“Get up! Get up!! Get up!!!” Larry said, standing up immediately; pocketing his phone, moved to the wardrobe, brought out a beret—a green one—and gave it to me to wear and also tying a green handkerchief round his head.
“What’s all these? What am I using a beret for?” I said totally confused now.
“Doyou still need your phone and your stuffs back?” Larry asked tying the knot of the handkerchief at the back of his head.
“Of course!” I said soundly.
Ignoring my reply, he took a small bag that’s always carried at the shoulder, I saw him putting one thing inside but before I could see it, he has already sealed the bag, hanging it across his shoulder so that the bag sags down at the right.
“Then, you have to follow me now, do what I want you to do and don’t act cowardly.” He said and started making for the door. Before I could tender any other excuse, Larry is already out and making a phone call.