July 2016
“You have to look people in the eye, Aminu. How will they see you are being honest if you don’t?” His mother grabs his chin and he flinches. “You don’t even look your own mother in the eye. Your own mother!”
15-year-old Aminu makes the effort. His entire body stiffens while he slowly looks down to meet his mother’s eyes.
“That’s it. How do you expect, o, to make friends in the States if you don’t make this effort? We are so proud of you, being chosen, one of ten only in Africa to go. Our talented amplifier. You’ll work hard, son. Make us proud, son.”
Aminu is just passing by. He’s there for the summer, in his hometown Iworoko. Ever since he was seven that he lived and studied in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. Ever since then that Aminu was considered special. Amplifiers aren’t common and the scouts for the Nigerian institute were pleased to have found him first than other institutes nearby, and even farther away, from South Africa and Morocco. They promised him a fair salary when he turned 22 and until then they’d pay a small stipend to his family. Smaller than the ones the other institutes across the continent promised, but at least he’d get the chance to visit now and then.
Before moving to Lagos, before starting to study in the institute, Aminu’s days were spent on the field. Working with his parents, grandparents and siblings. Whenever he could, at night before going to bed and between tasks, he’d draw in old pieces of paper. He’d draw the world he imagined himself living in one day.
***
September 2008
Lagos was a world away from what he was used to, even if in the same country. The dormitory had a lot more conditions than his house. He had a room for him and another boy, one from a place that he’d never visited. Chidozie was his name. The boy didn’t talk much and mostly kept to himself.
Despite being the same age, they attended classes separately. All Chidozie said was good morning and good night.
“He’s so weird, o. I swear.” At the end of the first day, the group watches Aminu and comments.
“Hey, you!” One of them shouts and Aminu looks away.
“Why are you so weird?!” The kids laugh.
Stolen novel; please report.
Aminu starts rocking a bit and they make fun of it. One tries to touch him and Aminu snaps. Pushes him and makes him trip.
“God, he’s dangerous! Let’s go!” They leave running.
Aminu finds an empty room and falls to his knees, rocking back and forth. Chidozie, his roommate, is there, having lunch by himself.
What you doing, brother?
He comes closer and hands him his earphones. He’s listening to Kendrick Lamar. Aminu begins focusing on the music instead, keeping up with the rhythm and tapping his foot.
“I saw them messing with you… they are just jealous, you know? You are an amplifier, o. That’s impressive!”
Aminu didn't really notice Chidozie until that moment. They had only shared a room for a week. He didn’t understand why the boy first was dismissive of his presence and now kind.
“Why, o? Why you help me now?”
“I don’t know how to talk to people. I wanted to. But I just words… are strange. Nice to meet you, brother,” he refuses to have his earphones back, “they are yours.”
It was the boy’s only pair.
***
June 2016
“Now, brother, you are a big shot, o!” Chidozie tells Aminu before he leaves for his hometown. “I got you something.”
He hands Aminu a present. Aminu shakes it and opens it.
“I know, o, you need new ones. The seller told me this mp3 is good.”
“Chidozie, brother…”
“Take it, brother. I got it for you. So, you can listen to Kendrick Lamar, so you can ease your mind whenever things get too much. You deserve it, man. You are my best friend and you deserve this opportunity.”
“You mad, brother?” Aminu forces himself to look into Chidozie’s dark eyes.
“Mad at you? Impossible, brother. Never! I’m happy for you. You deserve this. Just don’t forget about me when you are the world’s most powerful deviant. When you make in the States.”
Aminu never forgot Chidozie. He was the one who showed him the importance of studying. Chidozie's parents urged him to read, believing it could change the world. He thought about Aminu how to study, told him countless times that his ability didn’t define him, that autism didn’t define him. He was bright enough to lead any path he wanted to.
Chidozie always video called him, despite the time difference. He celebrated with him all their wins, he cheered him when Aminu was offered a position at the Institute.
“You’ll be a great instructor, brother. Those children are lucky. And use that brain of yours in the lab. Show them!”
Chidozie dropped out of the institute just a few years after Aminu left. He preferred to use his ability in the real world. He went all over Africa to help with the crops, give new life where needed.
He told Aminu how excited he was for his trip to Eurasia. His first stop was Paris. Aminu looked up the photos and listened as he explained all his plans there. His second night in Paris, celebrating his birthday, turned soon ugly. A fight gone wrong. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bullet pierced through his brain. He died right away. His ability couldn’t save him.
“Just because you are a big shot, brother, don’t forget about me. Just wait, I’ll go there to visit, not move. It’s not a place that I dream about. But I’ll visit you. Just wait.” Chidozie asked if he could hug him, before they said goodbye at the bus station.
Aminu snapped his fingers, looked up to meet his eyes, took a step closer, and gave him a hug. One that Chidozie cherished, even if it lasted for only a second.