DIARY OF A VILLAGE CORPER (PART 1)

Code number 4733!' my platoon inspector's raspy voice resonated and jolted me out of my reverie. My heart sank into my belly and my pulse accelerated. I was completely befuddled 'Yes sir' I gesticulated from the midst of my fellow expectant Corp members as I struggled through the teeming crowd towards my platoon inspector. As I approached him, I could see his eyes skimming through the left corner of my posting letter as though he was searching for an information. By now, my heart beat had gotten so intense that I felt people around could hear it. Then he raised his head, narrowed his eyes and looked at me. 'Are you 4733? he asked. 'Yes sir' I nodded. He shook his head repeatedly as if to say 'Take heart my dear' as he handed my posting letter to me. Oh! I staggered on my feet. If I was posted to a creepy village by now, to me, was a forgone conclusion. His pathetic mug had revealed it all. I needed no seer. I grabbed my posting letter and dashed to a tree adjacent the packing lot to check it out.

My desire had always been to be posted to Oshogbo, Ile-Ife or any other big city with Government parastatal but judging from my platoon inspector's countenance earlier, I knew I was jinxed. I meticulously peered into the sheet in my hands and for a moment, the words in it seemed to be written in Arabic.  Ata...ku...mosa West LGA. Oke-Bode Mi..ddle & high school' I stammered. 'Where exactly could this be'? I asked myself hands akimbo. I felt disgruntled and managed to fight back the tears already welling up in my eyes. I quickly tucked the sheet into my file and glanced around in search of someone, anyone who could direct me to my PPA's shuttle.

Hi, excuse me' I turned to a willowy dark lady passing by with a placard. 'Please do you know where Atakumosa West NCCF shuttle is parked?' 'Erm.. No idea oh. Just go forward and ask' she replied curtly and dashed off. 'Yeah right! Obeying the clarion call indeed!' I lamented as I dragged my aching feet laden with the enormous jungle boot on the coarse floor, stopping sporadically to inquire for my PPA's shuttle.
It seemed no one knew where the shuttle was parked or even heard of that LGA before and for a second, I began to feel that Atakumosa West was nowhere on planet earth.
Then Bam! I sighted this familiar masculine figure. I squinted and moved closer to him to take a clearer look. Behold! He was my course mate back then in Uni. He apparently had come with his LGA's shuttle to convey new corp members to their PPA. I was pretty excited to see him. At least I now had a friend to assist me in the search for the 'almighty' Atakumosa West shuttle. #Laughs.
I later found the shuttle and the journey to Oke-Bode Village began.
We were about fifteen sad corp members on board.. The lady beside me had her eyes all swollen, I figured she has been crying since she got her posting letter...
***********************************
To be Continued.