Some Addictions Worth The Hassles

They gathered around the 14 inches TV that was the talk of the town in that middle '70s in that Umuku village of Agboko autonomous community. That is a privilege they tend to enjoy every twice in a month when their father returns from the city. Only when it's enjoyment time, almost all the kindred of theirs' circle like a vulture for the news. Chidi don't like the news or cares about what is dropping from the newscasters but images on the screen. His father and his friends will gather there following the happening over a cheap whisky his father always returns from the city with for his village friends Chidi can't tell if it's the news they gather for or the expected whisky. He and his friends or what supposed passed as friend for every kid of the same age group female or male is friend of each other. Who knows at under six who a friend or enemy is. They will gather with all pleasure and sample themselves on the floor of their parlor before the TV almost as if they are prostrating or something while the adults will sit behind them listening and talking adult talks. 

"Hey! Shut your mouths, we are trying to hear what is being said in the news" one adult will vomit under the influence of the whisky or lack of having anything to say. Whichever one, Chidi or his friends don't care. Seeing the cities and at times white man's nation in the Tube  before them that '70s were like time travel in that village. I guess it was the same for those women that gather there for the news. But the funny thing is that TV and books with images in them have their own arresting ability that is too subtle and stores itself in the long term memory of any kid hooked on them without their knowledge. That is how Chidi saw the influence of those two in reflection. 

Most of the things he knew as an adult now came from '70s and early '80s. They store themselves inside him and seep out at appropriate times when they are needed, not when he needs them. He doesn't know they are there. Fast forward to late '80s and VoA's voice of Africa news, and BBC focus on Africa news shortwave radio offers was also doing the same work without his knowledge. He had formed the habit of listening to both he came in contact by accident or even intentional accident for he wasn't seeking for them actually but seeking for the result or commentary of the football matches his country is playing or played. He found another addiction that arrested his spirit. News and the times they came in, their programmes schedules. 

  "You, you must be following your mates and doing what they do, why do you always stay indoors?" That line is always from his father. He doesn't understand what addiction is when it's overpowering like that news and commentary of football was to his son Chidi at that period. Chidi doesn't also  know what to pass his time on that period outside those news and movies. They were a powerful addiction and they were stored somewhere Chidi doesn't know anything about.

Then funny enough, there were quizzes and Essays that went on on those news programs organized by the BBC african focus that went as high as 2k pounds that period. "If you are given this amount as a winner, what or how will you invest it?" They will send the address where you will send your answers to and God bless my heart, it's the era of snail mail and the madness of the workers then wasn't as it's now. Chidi will write bullshit to the best of his dreamy knowledge listing how he will spend the money if it comes his way and send it to London of all places. It gets there in two weeks time only. If it were to be today, maybe two months, they would be lying there in the post gathering dust. "Is there anything, any other thing that hooks interest like your passion for football and when hope of money is thrown into it too, how will you not bury yourself into it like mad?

That was what arrested Chidi interest for almost fifteen years due to that money and then, you start knowing fifty percent of what the newscaster is riffing on. You will even start knowing where some nations like Burma are situated and know they are talking about a nation somewhere when they mention it. When you hear something each day for a week, a month, a year, there is no way you will not start understanding at least 20% overtime. Then when free things like study magazines are there for you to pick up just by writing to the address they reel out during the news, why not? 

All were snail mail which means that there was no computer or any technology to correct your spelling when you make them and Chidi will swear that whoever was sending those mags to him that period don't understand fifty percent of what the letter in front of him or her is talking about, but then, the address is always the most correct witten thing there and so, magazine must show up within fourteen days and they kept showing up meaning that Chidi kept religiously listening to that news and following as little as he does even though he will swear he understands 100%.  

He never fails to read or listen, even keep the date of the various competitions he enters hoping really that what he sent sounds like a winner to his ears. He used to eagerly wait to hear his name in the Radio as a winner but it never happened and he never lost hope and they never ceased throwing up one competition or the other so, there is always something outside football results and commentaries that sustains his interest and made him an addict of decades standing that period.

I didn't forget that an uncle that is almost a decade older than him was living with them in that late '80s and early '90s and the guy is a fan of James Hadley Chase. He buys them in quantities then and at times casual droppings of some of the book bring them in contact with Chidi and his spirit  was hooked too from late 80s in that genre. When you are from an illiterate parents family but with all these exposures to what Chidi will swear his parents rate as bad addictions and bad manners, you will start understanding why they can't understand why their boy wastes his pocket money on those past times. 

Funny thing about illiterate parents is that, they don't want their kids talking books and even reading, yet, they want them to be presidents, lawyers and doctors. Almost all the rich parents around Chidi does that. Most of the time, they will ask their kids to follow them to their shops during holidays to learn trade. Subconsciously, they want their kids to be wealthy and the only way then or rather that generation knows wealth comes is buying and selling yet, they have distant respect for the educated people. When your kids even intelligent ones keep following you to your business place that era, there is no way they will not be influenced by money flowing around, the people, the talk and aspirations of all around them.

Chidi still recalls brilliant kids of his age group that ended up in the retail sector and dropped out of the school to join business. Many are nothing but nonsense humans in terms of personal fulfilments and accomplishments today. Unregulated business sector soon went kaput and they followed them. But when primary addiction is listening to all these foreign news that is usually around 6 or after 6 in the evening, it for sure is an equalizer to him. Chidi was hooked on books and all those news and rest of them were what saturated his subconscious. 

Talk about things you don't recall exist seeping out decades later and this Chidi is about to put a work out to the world. His own book. It must have been an addiction that was worth it. I think he entitled that work "Yancheng Forces"