The Expatriate Episode 7: Alarm Bells

Wapi looked across at his passenger in a silent rage. Ever since he'd become a car owner he'd found himself being treated as a community resource. Suddenly it seemed no Sierra Leonean could undertake any journey or outing without a lift. At times he found himself taking someone right across London when he preferred to be resting or taking himself off elsewhere. Otherwise he was transporting large pots of soup or large aunties or both, from house to wedding church to reception.

Todays unwelcome passenger was Stella. She had an attractive figure and an instinct for clothes that emphasised her attributes, but could never completely disguise the "me first" attitude her eyes delivered. It was this exploitative streak that was the cause of Wapi's ire. She had used the extended family argument to manipulate Wapi into this trip. 'Aunty Koso. Bo yu sabi am yes," she'd insisted, in a voice at once imploring and condemning. "When you people get to England you feel too important to put yourselves out for fambul any more. No ajo. Just like the British. Una jomp na wata en ton fish."

Wapi was neither entirely convinced by her argument nor embarrassed bye her accusations. He had simply realised that the conversation was unlikely to end until he succumbed. So here he was at 5AM on a Sunday heading to the airport with Stella all comfortable and smug in his front passenger seat. "Una lek motoka lek Inglish dog," he thought, glancing sideways at her. He remembered the warm bed he'd left on this his only day off. Right now it contained his girlfriend Marva who in turn contained their unborn child. Right now what ithat bed most definitely did not contain was Wapi. That pissed him off. Oh yeah, that pissed him right off.

Wapi pulled onto the forecourt of a gas station. "You're paying for the petrol," he told Stella plainly. "I'm sure she's your aunty not mine." "I didn't bring any cash Wapi. I was planning to use a cash machine at the airport." Wapi exited and slammed the door shut. His tank was almost completely empty and he had not bothered to get cash either, having been sure that Stella would have at least made provision for that. He counted his loose change. It amounted to a few pence short of 5 pounds. At least it would get them to the airport. He would have to make sure SHE bought some at the airport gas station. The rest of the journey was silent. Although Wapi had been enjoying the reggae music from the pirate station on the car radio, so had Stella. In his unspoken anger at her, he'd not switched it back on since they left the gas station and Stella even with all her faults, had too much sense to reach for the dial herself.

Hanging around the arrivals lounge was always fatiguing but particularly so this early in the morning. Wapi was irritated and impatient. The flight had the usual delay but the number had finally appeared on the arrivals board. The waiting crowd collectively watched the status change from LANDED to BGGAGE IN HALL. As usual there were plenty of familiar faces milling around waiting for the flight from home. One by one their faces would light up with recognition, relatives and friends hugged warmly, and they'd be off bidding hasty goodbyes to those still waiting for their passengers. Wapi kept his eye on Stella as he was sure he wouldn't recognise aunty Koso if she ran over him driving a bus. Wapi left Stella and went to find one of those dreaded and uncomfortable airport seats. Even though they made his "wase sawa'" it was better than standing at this point. He settled down hoping not to be disturbed until this aunty Koso emerged. He could see that Stella was now approaching people that had arrived on the same flight asking whether they knew her aunt and whether she'd been on the flight. He closed his eyes to disguise the fact that he was awake.

It was funny. He had never had any clear thoughts about children. he'd always felt he would have them, but hadn't ever got round to expectations of when. However, with Marva this close to delivery he was really warming to the idea. It had taken a while to overcome his initial shock especially his concerns about finances, but as the weeks went byhe found himself enveloped in a welcome euphoria. This translated into a new energy and optimism that spread to all aspects of his life. He was sure he loved Marva and the thought of her carrying their child filled him with a sense of...of...well he didn't really know but it was a nice feeling nevertheless.

An urgent tap on the shoulder interrupted his reverie. "Listen," it was Stella, " The airport tannoy repeated, "Will Miss Karen Cochrane meeting Mrs Koso Thorpe, please come to the immigration point." "That's me," Stella explained to a confused Wapi. "I used my flatmates name to invite aunty Koso because she has a British passport. Mi pepa dem no korekt." She took a bogus British Birth certificate from her bag, handed the bag to Wapi and set off towards immigration. Wapi said "Hmmm..." but was unable to elaborate as Stella was already gone. he watched her speak to a security officer whom she then followed beyond the barrier. His instincts were wide awake now, his eyes taking in all movements around him. he paced nervously trying not to look suspicious but felt as if he had a huge spotlight shining on him. He went back to his seat and looked in the bag Stella had handed him. He wanted to know what he was carrying. Apart from her personal items, there was another British Birth Certificate in a third name and 370 pounds in cash. he thought momentarily of her lack of cash at the gas station. "What was she up to, stupid girl?" Still he waited, even more nervously caught between his urge to be reliable and gentlemany, and his instinct to get the heck away from what smelled like trouble.

All the other people from the Salone flight were gone. Several later flights had cleared, and an inordinate amount of time had passed. Wapi knew something must be seriously wrong. "Ding Dong." The tannoy again. "Would Mr Gabriel Johnson waiting for Mrs Koso Thorpe & Miss Karen Cochrane please come to the immigration point." By the time the message was repeating wapi was exiting the terminal and on his way to the car park. He had a feeling both Stella and aunty Koso were going to be on the next flight home to Freetown and he had no intention of joining them.



Glossary:

Fambul: Family or relatives.

Ajo: (No translation)

Jomp na wata ton fish" Literally to jump in the water and become a fish. Doing as the Romans do when in Rome. Assimilating.

Lek motoka lek inglish dog: Sierra Leonean dogs rarely get to travel by car. Their English counterparts enjoy this privilege almost constantly. Sierra Leonean people reputed to like being driven around in cars are therefore observed to be as fond of cars as English Dogs.

Wase sawa: Sore posterior.

Mi pepa dem no korekt: I have a dodgy immigration status (or no immigration status at all).