BY ALEM HAILU
Lately when I picked my ringing cellphone I read ‘unknown number’. It must be a call from America I reflected.
I crunched on OK and said “Hello.”
“Dostoevsky how are you doing?” the caller chuckled.
“Wow Tamic. Is that you? What a surprise?” I said remembering that it was he who nicknamed me so for often reading the works of literary giants from Russia like Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chekov, Akasakove, Leskove, Lermontov, Shelekove, Bunin, Gorky, Herzen.
Hard cover Russian novels translated in English were abundant in market around 2000GC here in Ethiopia. He used to borrow such books from me: Crime and Punishment, The Karamazov Brothers, The idiot, Poor People, Anna Karenina and Resurrection, among others.
I often enjoyed our discussion after he read the books. We relished reading them not only for their interesting stories but also for the flowery languages the stories are narrated with. Our literary competence was picking pace.
As too much water had passed down under the bridge since we parted I did relegate Temic, a past master in practical jokes, to the back of my mind.
“Lately when I goggled Tuck Online Magazine I came across your articles and poems! I especially liked The Dance of a Slain Hen. The critique is hard-hitting to the unreformed EPRDF. I also read other issues. What a surprise?”
“Yes I used to contribute articles about the reform in Ethiopia to the international community before the magazine screeched to a halt!”
“It is good to know you are still pursuing literature and journalism! I am happy for you!”
“Thank you!”
After graduating from AAU in Statistics he had sat idle while I became a Mathematics teacher joining the Addis Ababa Education Bureau. He was hunting for a job heading from to one relative to the other for lodging and food.
As cellphones were not introduced then I had to miss him whenever he went to stay with a merchant relative of his in Gojamberenda, Merkato. Though generous this authoritarian relative of his had strict rules such as ‘no one could come late.’ ‘ A corporeal punishment awaits s/he who comes after sundown.’” The rule was applicable to all including his wife.
In the meantime Temic had become a tutor staying with his kind Aunt around Fitber. A widow with two children she was leading a modest life. He was tutoring her children.
I and Temic used to meet early at night and every weekend to talk to our hearts content about the books we read and of course the fair sex. We opted to make English our medium of communication. One rainy day while drinking tea sat by the veranda of a restaurant in front of Science Faculty at Arat Kilo Science Faculty, “Tomorrow in the morning I have to sit for exam to join the English Desk of Ethiopia Television,” he became a bit anxious.
“Where? At Piazza Municipality building?”
“No. Lately they have moved to the new tall building round the National Theatre.”
“When did you register?”
“ Two months back! ‘Graduates who could manage to pass the entrance exam could join us!’ The post was saying.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I too could have registered,” I casted an accusatory look towards him.
“Yes. But I thought you would not give up teaching to be a reporter
“I think I could handle both if ETV is looking for a freelancer.”
“Yes the vacancy post was for a freelancer!”
“Would you please accompany me up to the gate?” he beseeched me with his eyes.
“You could go alone! What do you need my company for? Or is it another practical joke?” I swag my arm.
“You could simply walk down the sloppy road from Fitber (the place where Sheraton Addis is built now) to get into the exam room.”
“I’m a bit nervous. I would appreciate if you accompany me there,” he kept on begging.
“No! An early-bird teacher, it was only on weekends I got up from bed late in the morning.”
“What are friends for? Please do me one such favor,” he saw me with imploring eyes.
Though surprised by this unusual persistence of his I agreed to accompany him.
“Ok.When and where shall we meet?”
“Let us meet at Fitber’s hilltop sharp at 7AM.”
“Appointment fixed?” He double checked.
“Yes,” I nodded.
“Are you ready for the exam? Have you read some materials on journalism?” I posed a question.
“I have a journalist relative. He told me that writing news is coming up with informative pieces that incorporate answers to WH questions in such a way that the striking part is atop. It could have a wider tail for background information.”
“What about the language aspect? What possibly could they ask?”
“Sure they could ask key words and expressions in the journalist circle.”
“For one tuning to The Ethiopian Radio, BBC, Daybreak Africa answering such questions will not be a difficult thing.”
“Yes Ethiopian Radio. I like their program Ethiopia Today and the news. I like the Way Getahun Abebe read the news. I also cherish Sisay Haileselassies’s interviews.”
“In a bid, in all spheres of endeavor…” are common in the media I said.
“What about stop short of and for want of…” he smiled.
“Right you are! Also be ready for a short essay. Don’t forget to agitate and solve, address objections, substantiate with examples, use figurative expressions…”
“Yes. Where did you get all these?”
“ From the lovely lady Singah Kumar,” Our sophomore teacher.
“I like that. What about the letter I wrote to you in response to the one you gave me?”
“I liked it. I specially adored the expression ‘elephantine effort’,” I thumped him up.
“Really thank you!”
“What about current affair?” he asked.
“You must brush up your mind on TICAD II meeting and its support to Africa and efforts towards spurring investment in Ethiopia.”
“Given your talent you will qualify!” I added.
“Is that a leg pull?”
“No. Don’t you think reading fictions has helped us a lot in developing writing skills on the collocation of words and using signal words and the like. I noticed that on your last letter.”
When we parted he once more asked me to come sharp on time.
Not to miss our appointment I got up at daybreak. Discussing and laughing we descended down the hill and reached at our destination in time. When I was about to say ‘goodbye’ and leave with ‘I wish you luck’. Some examinees began to come. Soon the compound became swarmed by so many graduates from all walks of life. Most faces were not uncommon to us.
A man from the personnel office came and said
“Listen to your names and queue up I shall take you to the auditorium where you take your exam,” There were over 300 examinees but he stopped calling at the 90th serial number .
“What about us?” the rest challenged him.
“You see when we moved from the older building to settle here we did miss many documents. There are misplaced files,”
“Do you have to postpone the exam?”
“No ”he said adding “Anyways take the exam if you manage to qualify you will bring documents again. I will take your phone number when you leave.”
I and Temic eyed each other. He smiled reading what conjured up in my mind.
“Borrowing extra pen from examinees there I sat for the exam, which was what we exactly guessed.”
A month later when I was about to leave home mother called me and said “Someone on the phone is asking for you,” I rushed in and grabbed the unhooked handle.
“Is it Alem?”
“Yes”
“I’m calling from ETV’s personnel Office. You have passed the written exam. For interview you have to report to room 401 the day after tomorrow late in the afternoon at 12 PM.”
“Sure I will do that.”
Heading to Aratkilo I began to search for Temic in vain. I was to ask him whether he received a call from ETV. As I could not get him on the morrow too I went to ETV for interview alone.
On the signpost I saw eight examinees name shortlisted for interview. I and Temic were among the 8 interviewees.
Unfortunately, he missed the interview, while I passed the interview and joined ETV.A week later Temic came God knows from where?
“You better report to ETV! Though you passed the written exam you have just missed the interview. You better approach them for another chance!” I said.
He went in person and implored the personnel people for another chance. They proved adamant claiming that “Punctuality is one of the principles of journalism! ” A graduate of Statistics, a year later Temic joined the Central Statistics Office.
After a few years stay there studying Accounting in the extension program he joined the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. Few years later he became a research at ECA. The exposure there allowed him a chance to go to America. He has settled with his family there. Financially he is well off.
When I recall how he persistently requested me to see him off to ETV that night I reflect that God has his own program of doing things.
It is me God marked for a journalist though Temic paved the way.
The Ethiopian Herald 22 January 2021
