Revolt

25. The Inadequacy Quotient

“Nothing, actually. I was just going to take the toothpick and serviette pack, and I got distracted.” She replied, letting herself be pulled away back to the action.

Several meters ahead of them, was a huge, mobile drink counter that was stationed beside a hut tent—several of which was situated at strategic positions on the beach. The counter overlooked a throng of plastic tables—crammed together in one line, with occupied chairs, running down its length. General conversation became more audible, as they drew closer to the tables, with a few heads turning their way.

It was a bit past noon, and that was why population on the beach generally, was still a bit sparse. By the time the evening came around, the atmosphere would be bursting to the seams with life. Not that it wasn’t lively enough presently, but majorly because she was keen on bringing the gathering to a close before then, as she had no interest in staying around when the place would have erupted into a happy rumpus. The few people not for their gathering, were laid out by the edge of the surging waters—on mats, mobile mattresses or on the sand itself. For now, it was easy to distinguish the outsiders but she knew that was going to change soon, when her crowd dispersed.

“You know, if you’re not going to go around to engage everyone, the least you could do to circumvent it all—is call for a cheer and thank everyone for attending, like people do at parties thrown for them.” Adaure continued, as they walked back to the counter that was manned by Ehize, Tiolu and Dayo. Adaure was the last member of the group, but she had abandoned her post to come fetch her, it would seem.

Asides from having able hands on deck, a handful of people had also freaked out on the grounds that the Dayo Tijani was serving drinks at her picnic. He wasn’t a musician, who had millions of followers on Twitter—but it still felt pretty awesome to have a celebrity of such caliber, as her barman. Even Adaure initially panicked when he arrived, and had strangled a promise for an autograph out of him, because she had neither of his books on her at the moment. Up until today, she never knew her friend was a fan. So far, so good—it had been a healthy, euphoric saturnalia.

“I think I should do just that,” Anjola replied, as she rounded the counter and drew out a high stool—across Tiolu, who was leveling her an inquisitive look. “I wasn’t trying to run away abeg, before you descend on me like a vulture. By the way, pass a stainless tray and a spoon over for me, would you?”

Tiolu, who donned a cream cashmere sweat-shirt, blue jeans and women brogues—had her long hair, twisted into two huge ponytails that rested on her shoulders. “What are they for?”

“To draw the attention of everyone,” She replied, as Adaure rounded the corner and returned to her station, beside Tiolu—pausing to give Ehize a knock on the head. While Tiolu ducked low, and went about to doing her bidding, Adaure questioned her.

“You know that people use spoons and glasses for that, right?” Adaure pointed out, setting her hands on the wood speckled cabinet of the counter. There were four stands, three for drinks—chapman, soda and smoothies manned by Dayo, Ehize and Adaure respectively. Tiolu who was in the right center, manned the one for barbecue. Occasionally, people seated in the tables behind them would step forward for a drink or snack refill. Right now, there was no line behind any stand on the counter.

“Yeah, I know but there are only disposable cups here.” Anjola rolled her eyes, pointing to Dayo’s section where the glass, chapman mugs were arranged horizontally in front of him. The young author had an apron on—like everyone else behind the counter—over his black pullover sweater, that looked so prissy that Anjola knew it cost more than her entire outfit of a black high neck jersey midi dress and gladiator peep-toe summer sandals. “And the only glass stuff we have, we rented for the Chapman. I’m not about to risk making a dent or cracking anything, when I can just use a stainless tray that would be more efficient in drawing people’s attention since it’s louder.”