In Dependence

o serve younger British men who knew so little yet felt naturally entitled to power.

Supposedly good-looking, from an aristocratic family, captain of boats at Balliol, and a million other marvellous things, none of which meant much to her. Certainly not the aristocratic bit, but she had to keep going because it was late and too dark to walk back to college alone, even though she still felt tempted to try.

When Vanessa and her friends arrived at the party, someone was thoughtful enough to lend her a towel. She

looking, from an aristocratic family, captain of boats at Balliol, and a million other marvellous things, none of which meant much to her. Certainly not the aristocratic bit, but she had to keep going because it was late and too dark to walk back to college alone, even though she still felt tempted to try.

When Vanessa and her friends arrived at the party, someone was thoughtful enough to lend her a towel. She

Vanessa cursed herself as she and her friends left the pub. A wet October night was not the time to have worn, of all silly things, a strapless dress with summer sandals. And what on earth was she doing splashing through rain and stubbing her toes on paving stones as she ran towards Balliol? Who was this person that everyone was talking about as though he were a god? Supposedly good

There were moments when Tayo felt guilty about Modupe, but he reasoned with himself that he and Modupe had been too young to make promises to each other.

Don’t forget the Ajayi motto – In all things moderation, with exception of study.

They are duly impressed. In your next letter, you will please apprise me of the precise names of these gentlemen so that I can provide complete statistics to colleagues and Uncle Kayode.

September 1963

One could begin with the dust, the heat and the purple bougainvillea. One might even begin with the smell of rotting mangos tossed by the side of the road where flies hummed and green-bellied lizards bobbed their orange heads while loitering in the sun. But why start there when Tayo walked in silence, oblivious to his surroundings. With a smile on his face he thought of the night before when he had dared to run a hand beneath the folds of Modupe’s wrapper. Miraculously, without him even asking, Modupe had loosened the cloth around her

ayo felt disappointed that they had to mingle outside rather than inside where it was warmer, but it seemed to Tayo that this was the British way. People spent all day talking about the weather, complaining about how cold, damp and miserable it was until the sun poked its head around the clouds and then everyone cheered up and started talking about lovely weather.

Mr and Mrs Barker