It is a foggy December, where the weather looks totally different this year. “ I love its smell,” Kola, who always emphasized how cold it is at Harmattan every December, said that nothing actually changed that year.
“IBILE” was the name all his friends gave him because he didn't play with the Detty December and had partied in all Lagos axis. As hardworking as he was, Kola believed in the wild fun that governed the month from December 1st to January 1st.
He looked at his wristwatch, and it was around 10:30 p.m as he was heading to the mainland. Late-night driving was not a thing for Kola as he already travelled at any hour of the night before that day, where he reasoned the road to be free from Lagos hustle, busy patterns, and holdups, which could be a hindrance to a smooth journey.
Though it was heavily foggy, and he could barely see the next person.
Kola took his bag and his car keys and left for the proclaimed journey. As he entered the car, his phone rang, and he confirmed that his friends, Ngozi, Salasei, and George, were already at the location.
He zoomed his car, which groaned like a pig and moved through the night. Its engine silently hissed as the car sliced into the fog like very sharp blades cutting through.
The car headlights were as bright as thunderlight, but they revealed only a few meters of the road before the mist swallowed everything again. He drove slowly and carefully as if he carried passengers who complained about his speed, but no, Kola was as cautious as caution itself, knowing the condition of the weather.
Something goes through his mind. “ Kola, you are missing out, race at the top speed.” A loud noise echoed from within, but he hissed as he said to himself. “ Elede ade Oyo, ariwo re laa po” ( the pig will reach its destination, it is only the grunts that will be very loud). He soliloquizes.
Inside his car, everything was as silent as a graveyard as he looked outside observing the buildings, trees, and signposts appearing suddenly like ghosts then dissolving just as quickly. Then, as he moved through the bridge linking the highland to the mainland, he noticed something from afar and concentrated on the windscreen to observe the outside gigantic structure, which was moving towards him through the fog, closely facing him. It was a lorry with a huge container fixed to its back, rushing straight towards him. His instincts took over, and he swerved sharply to the other side of the road, gripping the wheel with all his strength, but to his shock, the lorry swerved too, following the same path.
Through the blue of the fog and fear, Kola saw it clearly now, the lorry’s headlights danced wildly as its engine screamed louder. The driver of the lorry had lost brakes and was desperately searching for anything, an open space, a slope, or a miracle to slow the deadly speed, and with no time left. Kola made one final move and jerked the steering wheel hard, cutting across the lorry’s front at close range as metal screamed against metal. The lorry scraped the side of Kola’s car as sparkles flew into the fog.
The car spun but stayed upright, as the lorry freed itself from collision and thundered past, running wild with no direction for a few terrifying seconds before crashing violently into a tree at the roadside. The impact echoed through the night followed by sudden heavy silence.
Kola packed and came out of his car and sat on the floor, with trembling hands and breathing hard with the shock of his life. He had to wait for a few minutes before he could get back in the car and continue his journey.
A saying used to say that the difference between life and death is just a moment. Maybe it was a moment of silence. Getting to the location and his friends were in joy to have seen Kola unharmed.
Ngozi asked jokingly and winked with a smile so Kola would shake it off, “Is it to say that Kola is an excellent driver”
“ Yes, he is, but luck was also at his side,” George answered putting his hand on Kola's shoulder.
“ Then let us change Kola's nickname from IBILE to Lucky Dube,” Salasei said, raising his cup of beer.
They all laughed and continued to party, but Kole was humble, knowing that it was a privilege he had that won't make people have a one-minute silence for him.
