I watched my brother put on his khaki jacket over his white crested vase. On the breast pocket of the jacket was the Nigeria Immigration badge. He straightened up and put on his cap. I looked at him with admiration and giggled as he adjusted the brown cap on his head. His eyes caught mine, and he smiled and did a funny dance; I laughed out loud.
“I'll miss you, brother,” I said, and he smiled and responded, “I'll miss you too, baby sis.”
I suddenly remembered when he graduated from training school. He had been so happy, wearing his honey-brown khaki and smiling sheepishly in front of the camera. Dad and Mom had gone to bring him home. I studied all the pictures and videos they took keenly, they were all filled with happiness and laughter. My mother had prepared a big pot of rice and chicken and invited her friends and neighbors to come join in the celebration. We were so proud of him. A few months down the line, he was deployed with other officers to man the Nigerian borders, somewhere around Niger. It was my first time hearing my brother over the phone sound so afraid.
“Mummy, we are sleeping in the forest, I haven't had my bath for days now; there's a lot of militant activities close to the border.” I heard him say to my mom.
“It's going to be okay, son; God will keep you and bring you home.” My mom replied.
My dad and I voiced an “Amen.”
He stayed on the phone for a few more minutes before he said bye-bye and ended the call. During that period I prayed more than I had ever prayed in my life, that my brother would return safely.
“What are you thinking?” My brother said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I jerked and shook my head. “Nothing,” I said smiling.
“Okay, help me bring my backpack.” He said and walked out of the room with his head held high. He was going for another assignment, I closed my eyes and said a prayer.
What I see: a young man walking down a path with a navy blue suit and a cap with a graduation gown.
What I feel: nostalgia for the early days of my brother's recruitment into the civil service.
Why I chose this story: the uniform looked more to me like a law enforcement uniform, the Navy, or aviation. So it reminded me of my brother's graduation from the immigration training school and his time in service.