The Soldier: Changing the Narratives – EPISODE 4

By Dr Bassey Emmanuel

Homecoming in Camouflage

The whole street hid when he came home. Then they realised: their soldier came to protect, not arrest.

Pascal the vehicle is ready to take us to our new units come let’s go, Peter said.

Oh, thank you Peter I was carried away with my thoughts. Your bang on the door jerked me back to consciousness. Let’s go.

You are all welcome to your mother unit. You will undergo one-month cadre course. This is to enable you imbibe the culture, customs and traditions of this unit and the army in general, is that clear? The Commanding Officer said.

Everybody answered yes sir.

Lance Corporal Pascal, the CO called.

Sir, Pascal answered.

As the most senior, you are hereby appointed the squad leader. What that means is that you are now responsible for the whereabouts of all your colleagues, you are to give account of the 40 of you that were posted to this battalion at any given time, is that clear?

Yes, Sir, Pascal answered.

Good. Come out and stand in the front of the parade and take charge, the CO said.

Pascal came to the front of the parade.

You can all go home and when you resume tomorrow, I have instructed them to give you all 2 weeks pass to visit your families before resuming fully for the course, is that clear?

Yes sir, they all chorused.

Pascal called the parade to attention and took permission to carry on from the CO.

Permission granted, the CO responded.

The one-month cadre course was completed, and the squad was deployed to different departments.

Pascal was posted to A Company, and his first assignment was deployment on checkpoint duty.

Pascal was relaxing in the duty room having just completed his 2 hours sentry duty. He closed his eyes trying to sleep but could not. In that position he recalled what happened the first day he traveled home during the 2 weeks pass to see his parents in Lagos.

He arrived home in camouflage uniform and did not meet anyone at home.

He went around calling out but got no response.

Suddenly, he observed people hiding and peeping in their neighbours’ house. Everybody was afraid that a soldier had come to arrest their neighbour and, unknown to Pascal, they had called his parents to inform them so that they don’t come back home on time.

He knew where they usually kept the house key, so he checked and saw it, opened the house and stayed inside.

After some hours, not seeing the soldier again, his parents were informed that he had gone. They were told they were now free to come home.

When they returned from the farm, to their greatest surprise, they met the front door open and were wondering whether they didn’t lock the door before leaving the house.

In response to Mr Vincent’s question, Mrs Vincent confirmed locking the door with her own hands.

They approached the door cautiously, not sure of what to meet inside.

Mr Vincent summed up courage as the man and entered the house, then ran out immediately, making his wife run too, not sure of what was chasing her husband.

Upon hearing the running steps, Pascal, who had dosed off, woke up immediately and came outside, motioning to his parents who could not recognize him again to come back, but they refused until he opened up to tell them that he was the one.

Both ran back to him and embraced him. His mother was overwhelmed with joy that her shout attracted the neighbourhood. Everybody ran to their compound to rejoice with her for her son’s safe return in a special way.

That night, after all the excitement and merriment, Pascal’s father called him.

Pascal, yes father, Pascal answered.

We are so happy to see you alive. We never knew you going out was to join the army. Even though we are happy for you, we do not like the fact that you left without telling anybody.

I am very sorry father for leaving without informing you or mother here. My fear was that if I tell you I was going to join the army you would discourage me and mother might even swear for me, Pascal apologized. Pascal mother laughed. God forbid I can never swear for my son no matter what. You are welcome once again my son, she added.

Thank you, mother, Pascal responded.

Food is ready oo.

Pascal jerked back to consciousness when one of his colleagues touched him to go and collect his food.

Pascal stood and slumped suddenly and was rushed to the Military Clinic.

To be continued…

-Digital Embassy…