Amah had a turbulent trip to Calabar. The journey was fraught with numerous vehicle breakdowns. From Owerri where the movement began, thick clouds of bad mechanical atmosphere were not noticed. The saloon car did not show any sign of palaver until it entered Ikwuano road on the way to Ikot Ekpene. The front tyre gradually lost the air content, becoming flat.

A vulcanizer was sought and was in sight close to a kiosk where vehicle parts were displayed for sale. The driver repaired the flat tyre and also remembered to buy an extra tyre to complement his spare tyre. The journey progressed until they entered Ikot Ekpene and branched into the road that connects Calabar.A little further the fan-belt cut and a road-side mechanic quickly intervened and restored the sanity. At Welcome to Calabar gate the back tyre burst and the dashboard showed lack of hydraulic oil in the brake system. A passerby, Mr John, sympathetically asked, “ Amah,when last did you service this vehicle”. “Series of tight schedules could not allow me,” Amah murmured.Unable to hide his ill-feeling Mr John retorted, “You invited all your palaver.A stitch in time saves nine.”