Junkyard Blues

Chapter Twenty-six

107 C Chapter Twenty-six iba listened to him patiently as he talked about Eric, and then asked a question that should normally not have sounded awkward to him, but it did somehow. “Did you ask him for some network?” Niba asked. It was already two days since his epiphany, and they were sitting over a few bottles of beer in their favorite bar (beer that was being paid for this time by Jude). The bar was still almost empty, with just a few early customers. Jude had already bought a new cell phone with Niba supervising the process like a drill instructor in some military training camp. Niba had an eye for such items and it was when he had weighed the phone in his hand for a while, his head cocked to one side and a frown on his forehead that he gave Jude the order to pay for it. “It’s a good looking phone, multimedia and strong,” Niba announced when they left the shop, “God the things are getting cheap. One day they’ll measure them on a scale like meat before selling them.” Jude doubt it could come to that, but the way the prices for cell phones had dropped was something to marvel at. “China.” “God bless them, they know what we Africans need.” “Hmm? Tell me, did you ask him for network?” Niba asked again. “What network?” “You know what I mean, man, connections and all that,” Niba said, “If he’s what you say he’s then he’ll be swimming in network, man.” “I don’t know,” Jude said. “Don’t start being your serious stupid self again, man.” Jude looked out, it was drizzling outside, and a thick cloud had covered the sky to make the day look older than it normally was. Jude understood quite well what Niba was talking about. He had also been thinking about the possibility of something like that since that day with Eric. It was clear that Eric had already made it and had done so in a big way. And making it meant he was going to know a lot of people and have a lot of connections, important connections, or at least know a few secrets about making it. It was N 108 easy for such a person to open some doors for a friend, very easy. At least the man had shown to him that he was a true friend, checking him up after all these years (and the money too). So, what could he be afraid of, asking for a favor or two from a man like that? What favors? You’re not the business type. Yes, I know but I can learn, everybody can learn. He turned back to Niba, “I didn’t want to start disturbing him with my own problems,” he said, “He’s going nowhere and I can…” “You what?” Niba laughed and looked at him as if he was crazy, as if his brain was leaking from his skull right there and seeping through his jacket and onto the floor. “That’s the problem with you, man. That’s the biggest problem with you,” he laughed, “Who waits? Huh? Who waits when some opportunity like that presents itself? Shit, even if the man was trying to hand you a bag full of dough you’ll still be hesitating.” “It’s still too early to start…” “It’s still too early to start what?” “I just met him once after how many years…” “But he was your friend, wasn’t he?” Jude nodded. “Then what’s wrong with trying to ask for some network from your friend?” Jude shrugged, it sounded logical, but… “You’re an idiot, man,” Niba said, and took a long drink from his bottle and shook his head, “You’re an idiot.” It was there in his eyes, that longing, that wish for a change in places, for the two of them to switch positions so he could show Jude just how to use an opportunity when it presented itself, “You’re an idiot, in fact you’re the biggest idiot in the whole world that I’ve ever seen.” Jude just shrugged, but he could see the picture clearly, it was a picture he knew any normal person would see without any problem. Then why didn’t you… He shook his head. No! It was premature. 109 Niba shook...