FRANCESSCA ….The MISSING Letter**

 

Strolling through campus to catch up with old class mates, as they were processing their clearance for the mandatory service year, Francesca had a bout of mixed feelings since she was going to far away Jigawa state, but was happy to see other friends and schoolmate she would be meeting there. Camp wasn’t till a few days, leaving her a short time to prepare.

In her words “as pilgrims to a foreign land I left home for Jigawa, with fear in my heart and hope in my eyes I waved my brother good bye at the terminal”.

It was a long journey and but we arrived in time to catch the long queue at the gate, chuckles.. I joined in too, having being on such queues too myself. chatting with others as the queue moved epileptic-ally, she smiled after getting through the gate's security and counted 4 people ahead of her before she is registered.  

Just when it got to her turn she brought out her document from her folder and gave it to the Registering official and he went through them and called her name “FRANCESCA where is your call up letter?” she said it’s there sir, he gave her back the papers to search herself but it wasn’t there, she opened up her box and started scattering it, hoping it would be somewhere in there….soon her eyes where misty as she moved from the queue for the next person. She cried as other corp. members asked her "what was wrong"?. She tried to talk to senior officials but they told her she wouldn’t be admitted without it and that photocopies were not allowed… by this time Francesca eyes were swollen and reddened from crying and some friends sympathized and encouraged her, one of the officials who saw her plight said “young lady, don’t cry, just report back to your school and have your name enrolled for the next batch OK? Where would you like to be posted to?” she said Kaduna still sobbing and not thinking, her heart was broken at missing this opportunity and wishing this hell would end swiftly…"he said I would try to effect that, but I’m making no promises”.   

With that said she slept the night and in the wee hours of the morning while corp members rallied to parade she rolled her box out of orientation camp and headed home.

    To be continued...