My father has a little bar, in the open market, which I became a waiter at a very small age, and became the manager from my  9 years to 16 years, when my younger siblings took over. Our bar is not for all as it's pattern is never for the youth, except for those who doesn't mind, as far they gets what they want, and as well ready to drink together with their father and get insults from my father. In truth our bar is for old men, as father will not admit any youth with signs of indecent dressing. The kids, God forbid, it is a sin that calls for not only confession but open restitution.

And having been a manager in flying Doctors bar, ( Flying Doctor, my fathers name) gave me much insights, both the good and bad, yet I learnt good well enough because much reputable old pals visits our bar to drink ngwo (white win), palm wine, or to eat Agidi and puck pepper soup, puck nwgo ngwo(puck meat prepared with bean oil, red oil, vegetables etc) or to buy snuff or roasted puck meat; Only few comes for cigarette and bear. I wouldn't excluded some who comes to drink free with others, after all they are all customers and I learnt much  from their discussions of umu nwa Sara aru ( fine ladies), and chassis lady's within our environ.

Eze, 87 by age, tall and dark, easy going and a retired Biafran soldiers with honour, and also my most loved and the eldest of our customers came to drink with a tick back note and pen. I brought jug of palm wine and okuku ( a typical traditional cup used in some Africans bars), and sat beside him to gets some word's. Listening to elders jokes and talks is hobby each time I'm in the bar, sometimes my father calls it -"not minding your business", truly I love minding old men's business, may be because of the wisdoms that flows from them. He opened the note book and began to scroll from page one to page 21 yet he seems to have passed the name he is searching for. He closed it and started all over.

"May be old age is affecting my vision" he hummed and I didn't hesitate to offer my free help. 'Onye nkuzi' (a teacher) they do call me. 'Look for ozoemena mgbemena in this book' He said handing over the book to me.

I searched through but the name is not there. He laughed and said 'You seeee, ifugonu ndi mmadu (You have seen people). No problem check for Adolipush okonwko'. I scroll through and Adolphus Okonkwo was at number 56. 

"OK he came, now I remember, he and his people came with four cartons of bear and check if they came with any money" 

I searched under column Amount and it indicate he came with #200.

"People think they are wise" he said smiling " this book contains name of all who came to say sorry when I did Burial of my mother, and son. Many didn't come but expects me to come theirs and give them money. Is that not selfishness? Is that not foolishness on my own side? Thank God I have this register. Onye nwanna ya nwuru, o buru ukpo jebe afia, ubochi Oga anwu ya rie onwe ya ( one whose kinsman died and he carry his basket and went to market, the day he will die let him bury his self)" and in his intonation no condolence visit to ozoemena mgbemena whose wife died, even though he sent him invitation. Case closed.

"And I saw john on that list, he came empty handed and I heard he ate wheat, bitter leaf soup, Ukwa (bread fruit) with meat, and also drank three bottles of bear. Just check the price of what he ate in market, closely #2,000 but he couldn't put at least #100 in envelop. Now his wife is dead and the burial fixed. He had reminded me three times to remember the date" I laughed out loud and asked " will you be attending the burial, at least he comes here with you?"

He drank from the cup, and bite a little meat and chew it for some minutes before laughing out.

'Hehehehehe, onye nkuzi you talk more than your age. There is one adage that says, he who love to eat burial goat, should die for others to eat as well. I must attend the burial, and eat well, though my problem is that I don't eat much these days but I must carry small bag along. I won't go empty handed, my spirit will not give me peace if I do. #20 is OK for john"

In Papa's condolence register, many others must have failed to pay their condolences and with the register, papa is sure that he won't waste money on paying condolence visit to them, when they loss any of their loved ones.

 Adolphus's child is rich and he is capable of giving him One rope of cow, but chose to be stingy. papa thanked God, he had saved money for him. He doesn't have money, still works at his age, her wife so sick with no person to assist him pay hospital bills, the second son still managing his self and business, the first son who was already near to rich died mysteriously after playing ball with his friends.

Papa told me that Condolence register is a valuable document in Igbo land, for knowing those who actually love you. And those who are so selfish, and self centered.

 ' some would lie they came, but here is the evidence to know the truth' he said and laugh out louder.

Still me- Ben thinking how you feels about Eze's CONOLENCE REGISTER.

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