Fighting For Forever: Part IV

14 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by in Fiction, Relationships, Series, Short Stories

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“What do you mean you lost your job?” she asked, her eyebrows meeting in the centre of her forehead.

“I got fired, sacked, get it?!”

“Don’t get smart with me, you know what I mean.”

“I’m sorry babe, it’s just that today has been the worst day of my life. I don’t know how to feel, what to think.”

“You still haven’t explained what happened.”

I took her by the arm and led her to the sofa. I hated having to admit to her that I’d failed and foolishly too. I knew how proud she was of me and everything I’d achieved in the 4 years we’ve been together. I opened my mouth to explain how it had happened but the weight of my shame silenced me.

“Go on Alex, talk to me. Your silence is driving me crazy!”

“I’m sorry, I just feel like such an idiot. I made a big mistake that lost the company a multi-million dollar contract. I swear I didn’t know the guy was a conman. I didn’t know!”

“Calm down Alex and start from the beginning,” she said, clasping my hands in hers, her fingers drawing comforting strokes.”

“Remember the deal I told you about? Turns out the guy I contracted to supply the marble tiles was a fraud.”

“How’s that possible? I thought you said you were using Zania? They are the largest importers of marble in Africa!”

“Yeah they are but it turns out the guy doesn’t work for them.”

“Didn’t you check him out? But you said you said he showed you round their warehouse in Matori?”

“Honey, I don’t understand it. I even went to his office in their main building on Adeola Odeku. I don’t know how the guy did it. He gave us an invoice and we paid for the tiles but they didn’t arrive on the day he said they would. When we tried to call him to find out what was going on we got no response so I sent one of my assistants to his office. I was dumbfounded when she came back and said she was told no one by that name worked there. I went there myself and met the MD, he confirmed it. I explained what had happened and he asked to see the contracts and all the paper work. Turns out they were all fake.”

“Oh my God, Alex this is huge!”

“Like that wasn’t bad enough, the client threatened us with legal action if we didn’t produce either the tiles or their money so the company had to pay back the money. It wasn’t my fault Karen, it wasn’t but the losses were too great, someone had to pay for it.”

“I’m so sorry baby, I know it wasn’t your fault.” She cradled my head against her breasts while I sobbed my heart out. Everything I’d worked for was gone in an instant. My reputation was in shreds and I was forced to pay back the $200,000 commission I had received for landing the project. No other design firm in the country would hire me, my MD had made that much clear to me.

“Don’t worry about it baby, things will work out,” she soothed, stroking my head, “you’ll get another job and things will go back to normal soon enough.”

“To be honest Karen, I don’t even know what I want to do with myself anymore. No design firm will hire me now and to be honest, I’m not sure I want them to. I need time to get my head around this and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Perhaps this is God’s way of getting me to explore other options.”

“When up say you need time, how long are we talking? A couple of days? A week?”

“A month, maybe two. I don’t know babe. I just need time to get my head round this.”

Her fingers stilled against my head and looked up into her eyes questioningly.

“And how are we supposed to survive while you’re getting your head round this?”

“I know it’s not ideal but we could live on you salary till I sort something out.”

“Ah, I see. I’m supposed to go out to work, while you laze around all day right?!”

“Karen!”

“Don’t Karen me! This is how it starts. One month turns to six and before you know it it’s been sixteen years and you’re still trying to get yourself together. If you think I’m going to work my butt off while you live a life of leisure, do yourself a favour and get that fantasy out of your head.”

“Who said anything about living a life of leisure? All I said is I need a little time to figure out where to go from here, is that too much to ask? I know what my responsibilities are as a man, as your husband, and you should know better than to think I’m trying to abdicate them!”

“Story! All I know is you need to find a job and fast too. You want to take a break from your career? Joker! The next thing I know you’ll be spending your days getting drunk in front of the TV and slamming my head against walls. If you thought you’d struck it lucky, you had better think again. I am not my mother.”

“And I Karen, am not your Father.”

Happy New (ish) Year!

14 Monday Jan 2013

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Hello people!

I know I’m late but HAPPY NEW YEAR folks! Praying God’s grace and peace over you all in 2013.

I’ve gotten into so much trouble for not calling people to wish them a happy new year, it’s unreal. I never do so surely, my friends and family should be used to it by now?! I’m not a fan of those chain texts, emails and BB messages people blast to all their contacts. I appreciate the gesture but I find them impersonal.

I had a seriously awesome time at church New Year ’s Eve and was so shattered when I got home at some ridiculous hour of the morning, I spent most of the 1st in bed. My mother was not impressed when I called her on the 2nd.

“Your own year started today abi?!”

Trust the woman to harass me. Lol.

How are you all? It’s been too long. I really miss all my cyber buddies. I’ve gone ghost from Twitter, Facebook and the likes so I’m out of touch with cyber goings on.

I typically don’t make resolutions at the start of the year because every time I put myself under pressure to do something, I fail woefully. That said, this year there’s one thing I’m determined to do…wear pants more often!!! By pants I mean trousers and NOT underwear. J.

Every time I wear pants, people notice…it’s that bad. It’s not my fault though, I find skirts and dresses easier to shop for. Every time I go shopping for pants I get SO frustrated. I never find stuff that fits the way I like so I resigned myself to my fate. This year, I’m changing my ways. By hook or crook I must wear trousers. If you know any stores that sell pants suitably cut for women gifted in the nether regions, please let me know!

In other news, I’m on the hunt for fun things to do on this blog. One thing I want to do is share my love of music with you. Still trying to work out the best way to do that but if you have any ideas, I’m all ears! Waila will be fun this year, she has to be!

I have no doubt this year will be a positively unforgettable one for me. Exciting times lie in wait. My mother has been my scapegoat on this blog but I suspect she is about to be cut some slack. Gentleman, get ready to be exposed!!! *wink*

Thank you guys for reading and putting up with my inconsistency in the latter part of last year. In the words of Sam Cooke, “A Change is Gonna Come!”

xxx

Waila

Fighting For Forever: Part III

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Fiction, Novels, Relationships, Series, Short Stories, Uncategorized

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As I stormed out of the house trying not to slam doors, I could scarce contain my anger.
Where does the man get off thinking he can get away with trying to feel me up when he knows I’m mad at him?!
A voice in my head tried to tell me that perhaps I was being a little harsh but I silenced it. I know I’ve been mean to him lately but there’s nothing like tough love to cure a lazy man. I’ll drop dead before I turn into my mother!
Desperate to vent I called my best friend Nneka.
“Alex needs to get his act together because I have no intention of financing his lazy ass for much longer. This is not the life I signed up for. Who wants a man that can’t look after his family?!”
“Good morning to you too.”
“Whatever Nneka, I’m serious! I’m sick of Alex’s crap!”
“Calm down Karen, you know Alex isn’t that kind of man. He is just going through a difficult patch. He’ll be back on his feet soon enough.”
“Yeah, that’s what my mother said for 20 years while my father sat on his ass getting drunk and fat off her hard work.”
“Haba! How can you say that?! Alex is nothing like your father! He will find a job soon enough, be patient with him. You’re his wife, you should be supporting him. Cut the guy some slack. He has been good to you and deserves the same from you now that he is in a difficult place.”
“And I haven’t I been good to him too? In the last six months I’ve paid every bill that needed paying, fed him and fuelled his car so he could attend the many meetings he claimed would help get him a job. I’m done doing it. If he really wanted a job he’d have found one by now. He knows people, surely it’s not that difficult?! ”
“Wow Karen, when did you become so unfeeling? And since when is finding a job in Lagos or anywhere in the world for that matter, not that difficult?”
“You know what, you’re getting on my nerves. I will speak to you later.”
I hung up without waiting for a response. I forget how annoying Nneka can be. It’s why she gets on so well with my mum, association of door mats. I can’t stand weak women. I love Alex but I’m no fool.
Karen, don’t you think you’re being too hard on the man? You know he has been trying.
I remembered how my mum would rush home from work night after night to cook dinner for a man who had done nothing but sit in front of the TV all day. One day, she came home late and he was so mad that he wasn’t served dinner at the usual time, he beat her till she ran out of the house screaming for help. I will never forget the sight of her kneeling in the driveway begging for his forgiveness, after he locked her out of the house. The house her salary paid for. It was the moment I lost all respect for her. She is a weakling but I, Karen, am made of sterner stuff.
If Alex thought he was marrying my mother’s daughter, he thought wrong.

Fighting For Forever: Part II

03 Monday Dec 2012

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I remembered the first time I took Karen to see my mother. Knowing how quick mama’s tongue is, I’d briefed her on the right things to say and do. As soon as mama came into the living room, Karen fell to her knees and greeted her like a good servant would greet his master. I was impressed. When mama went into the kitchen to serve lunch, she trailed her offering to help. Not wanting to be left on my own, I followed them into the kitchen but one sharp look from mama told me I wasn’t welcome. I groaned as I realised she intended to grill Karen. Much as I wanted to protect her from mama’s interrogation, I realised it would have to happen at some point so I conceded and left them to it.
Half an hour later when they both surfaced with smiles on their faces, I breathed a sigh of relief. All through lunch Karen wouldn’t shut up about how fantastic a cook mama was and I was certain she had passed the test when she promptly cleared the table and offered to do the dishes after lunch. I couldn’t have been more shocked when mama called me later that night and gave her verdict.
“My son, leave that girl, she is not a good woman.”
“Mama! How can you say that?! You met her today, what’s not to like?!”
“I am a woman and your mother at that. I know a good wife when I see one and I am telling that she will not make you a good wife.”
“You can’t just say that,” I groaned in frustration, “help me understand how you came to that conclusion.”
“It’s in her eyes my son, she smiles a lot but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes. She is shrewd, she is not a kind person.”
“How can you know that when you’ve only just met her? I’ve been dating her for two years and she’s never yet given me reason to agree with you.”
“Call it feminine intuition but I know what I’m saying. I’m your mother, I won’t lie to you. Oju e buru gan, her eyes are wicked.”
I was furious with the old woman. The very eyes that made me feel like a million dollars when they smiled at me, how could she call them wicked?!
“Look mama, we both know how you are. You never see the good in people, always quick to criticise. Karen is the woman I have chosen to marry. If you want to convince me otherwise, you’ll have to come up with something better than this your wicked eyes theory.”
“My son, you are not a baby. Marry whoever you want to marry but know that the day I cease to tell you the truth is the day I will join your father in the grave. I cannot sit back and watch you make a mistake without saying my piece. If you want to marry her, marry her but for your sake, I hope the blackness I see in her eyes is just her pupils.”
“I’m grateful for the advice but I think I know Karen better than you do. She is a lovely girl and I have no doubt she will make me happy. You wanted me to find a wife, I’ve found one. Please be happy for me, that’s all I ask.”

Oh mama, I wish I’d listened to you!

Karen has made my life hell the last six months. Initially I told myself I deserved her anger. I’d made a mistake and though a part of me wanted her support and understanding, on some level, I felt I deserved to be punished for being so gullible. Any fool that does business with a man that wears a white suit in this Lagos deserves to be conned! But six month of hostility from my wife was more than I deserved. I’ve begged, grovelled and worked my butt off trying to find a new job. What more does she want?
I will never forget her reaction the day I broke the news to her. It was the first time I saw what my mother saw in her eyes. Blackness.

Fighting For Forever: Part I

30 Friday Nov 2012

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I sat and watched as she got ready for work. My eyes liked what they saw and judging by the increased rate of my heart beat, my body did too. For the first time in months, I felt alive. Her dress nipped and tucked in all the right places, I could never get over how tiny her waist was. It was one of the first things I noticed about her the night we first met. That and the way her smile lights up her eyes. I miss that, so much! There was a time when all I had to do was walk into a room for that smile to appear. These days, my presence has the opposite effect.
I screwed up, I know I did, but show me a person that’s never made a mistake and I’ll show you God. How was I supposed to know that the client I brokered that deal for was a con man? I followed procedure, did everything by the book. That I lost my job over it doesn’t mean I did wrong. Someone had to take the fall to pacify the board and understandably, that someone was me.
“You look beautiful baby,” I said, moving to stand behind her, eyes glued to her reflection in the mirror. Lowering my head, I planted a kiss in the cleft of her neck. She tried to hide her reaction but there was no mistaking the flinch.
“Do you have a problem with me kissing you?”
“I don’t have time for this,” she growled, “Someone needs to go to work to provide for this family and seeing as you’ve refused to get off your backside, I am that someone.”
The force of her resentment left me temporarily speechless. I knew she was mad I’d lost my job but for the first time, I realised it went a lot deeper than that.
“Move out of my way Alex, I need to get to work.”
“Tell me Karen, what are you so mad about? I’ve told you what happened at work, it wasn’t my fault! Even my boss acknowledged that but his hands were tied. Why won’t my wife show some support?”
“It’s been six months, surely that’s enough time to find another job? Or do you expect me to support you forever?!”
“Is that what this is about, the fact that I haven’t got much money to add to the pot?”
“Much? Don’t you mean any? Look Alex, I’m sick of paying all the bills in this house. Like that’s not bad enough, you expect me to line your pocket too. What kind of man doesn’t know to save for a rainy day? You don’t work, you don’t spend. That’s how it will be from now on. Let’s see if a job won’t miraculously appear.”
“Tell me, who paid all the bills in this house before I lost my job? Who bought you your car? Who took you on holidays and lined your pockets when you didn’t have two pennies to rub together?”
“And is it not your duty to provide for your wife? If you want me to wear the trousers in this relationship tell me so I know where I stand. What kind of man doesn’t feel uncomfortable having his woman feed and clothe him?”
“You talk like I haven’t been frantically looking for a job. You think I like relying on you for money? You think it doesn’t break my heart when the bills come in and there’s not a damn thing I can do about paying them? Tell me, before I lost my job did I ask you for a penny? Didn’t I handle everything that needed handling in this house?”
“Then be a man and continue handling things! I really can’t do this now, I have a job to get to. For the love of god, get out of my way!”
I stepped aside and watched her pick up her handbag and walk out of my bedroom. My mother’s warnings came flooding back and I sank against the wall as the truth of her predictions hit me. I did not marry a good woman.

Before You Say I Do: Opposite Sex Friendships

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Hello People!

I don’t know what’s going on with this blog so if you do, please let me know! These days I can’t be bothered to write and I don’t even have the time to. My every waking moment is accounted for so much so that sometimes I just rebel and do nothing. My mind has been temporarily taken over by all things wedding but I refuse to blog about my wedding planning process, not unless I’ve got something particularly interesting to share with you.

The other thing also on my mind these days is marriage…and you know marriage is not the same thing as a wedding right? Lol. Marriage is the equal parts terrifying and exciting bit that comes after the wedding. In the last year, I’ve read a number of books on marriage and relationships and have also attended two pre-marital courses. One at Jesus House (JH), my home church, and the other at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB).  I’ve consumed so much literature on the topic and listened to so many lectures, I feel ready to write my own ‘Making Marriage Work’ manual. Lol.

Given the zone I’m currently in, I thought I’d share a few of the interesting and sometimes controversial topics from the courses with you.

On the HTB course, a couple gave a talk about managing your other relationships once you’re married, particularly friendships with the opposite sex. I expected that. When I started dating the gentleman the dynamics of my relationships with my male friends changed, and understandably so. During the course of the talk, they mentioned that they had decided as a couple, that they weren’t allowed to hang out one on one with members of the opposite sex. That’s when it got interesting. I have no intention of conducting clandestine liaisons with other men (not unless they are Justin Gatlin or Mark Foster) but to ban myself from going to lunch with one of the guys in my team or an old friend from Uni?

They weren’t proposing that we all adopt the same rules, they were just giving an example of some of the rules they have in place to protect their relationship. While I completely understood the reasoning behind it, I don’t know that it’s a rule I want to impose. I have no problem with the gentleman having the odd catch up with a female friend. Odd being the key word. Once a week is not odd, once every quarter or thereabouts is. Lol.

As far as managing opposite sex friendships is concerned, I think the key things are transparency, accountability and sensitivity. If you’re having that odd catch up with a female friend, tell me about it. Tell me where you’re going, when you’ll be home and make it by decent o’clock. Make the effort to introduce me to that friend and include me in some of the catch ups so I get to know her too and get comfortable with her. Invite her over. Over time, the idea is for his friends to become my friends and vice versa seeing as two are becoming one. If for any reason I’m uncomfortable with the friendship, take me seriously and curb the interactions.

What do you think? Are you okay with your man or woman having the odd coffee or lunch with a friend of the opposite sex?

xxx
Waila

How Not to Lose Weight

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

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One of the downsides to having worked in customer service is that I am well aware that no one gives a flying banana about moaning customers. If you have the misfortune of dealing with an irate customer, you stick your phone on mute and do your crossword while they rant and if you have the even bigger misfortune of dealing with them in person, you imagine them naked and bent over a chair with you flogging them unconscious.

For this very reason, I always try and maintain my cool because there are few things more annoying than going off at someone who you know couldn’t care less.

Where am I going with this?

I dragged my lazy self away from my desk at lunchtime and headed to the gym to Spin the calories away. I changed into my gym gear and kept telling myself “think wedding dress” as I grudgingly approached the studio. I opened the door and alas, the class was full!

How can the class be full when I booked in?! Ko possible!

I marched toward the instructor.

“Excuse me, I’m booked into this class and there’s no bike available for me to use.”

“Are you sure you booked in?”

I gave him a murderous look.

“Are you calling me a liar?”

I’m sorry if you booked in but the class is now full. Let me just ask if everyone else booked in.”

Turning to face the class, he announced, “Did everyone book in for this class?”

Yeah, like the culprit was REALLY going to fess up! They all nodded their coconut heads but at least one of them was lying. I tried to spot the culprit but my powers of discernment failed me.

I was furious but I knew kicking up a fuss in front of their entire class would only make me look like an idiot so I left them in peace and went to unleash the dragon at reception.

“Excuse me, can you please check if I’m booked in to the 1pm Spin class?”

“Yes you are.”

“So is there a reason I turned up to the class and it’s full?”

“Well, it’s now 1:05pm so any extras would have been let in if because you were late.”

“It is now 1:05pm because I have spent the last five minutes debating with the instructor. I turned up on time and the class was full. What’s the point of a booking system if you have no way of monitoring it?”

I’m not even sure why I went to complain at reception. I know the score, no one but me gives a flying banana! She wasn’t about to go and interrupt the class to do a roll call so I knew there was no point to the discussion. Anger blazing, I marched back to the changing room to wear the clothes I’d grudgingly stripped off.

I have this churlish habit of wanting to close accounts and cancel memberships when organisations annoy me but I’m learning to give second, third and tenth chances (but not to you T-Mobile or whatever you call yourself these days!) so I talked myself out of cancelling my membership and headed back to work.

The anger wasn’t abating though and I really needed something to make it go away…so I stopped by the Thai takeaway place and ordered myself some Penang chicken curry and egg fried rice.

It did the trick! *wink*

xxx

Waila

Hello! & A New Short Story to Say I’m Sorry

01 Thursday Nov 2012

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Hello People!

Missed me? *angel face*

First things first, thank you all SO MUCH for all the well wishes and prayers you’ve sent my way in the last couple of months. It’s a pretty exciting time for me as you can imagine and I’m grateful for the show of love and support.

Blogging has become a bit of a chore I must admit. I need me some motivation and inspiration ‘cause those wells are all dried up. Sigh. I found myself debating the Gary Glitter fiasco with my colleagues yesterday and was reminded of a story I wrote a few months ago.  It was inspired by some of my childhood experiences. Now now, I’m not claiming I was molested by an Uncle so please, interpret the term inspired loosely!

As a young teenager I was propositioned by so many older men, it’s a wonder I wasn’t a loose cannon. There’s something about the Nigerian culture that makes men think it’s okay to lust after prepubescent girls. I have PLENTY personal stories to tell on that front but by the far the most traumatic was being propositioned by a man of the cloth when I was about thirteen years old. Anyway, I’ll save that story for another day.

Till I get my mojo back, here’s a little something to keep you going.

xxx

Waila

************************************************

“Come let me tell you a story,” he said, his arms stretched out, beckoning. Her little legs skipped across the living room floor and settling into his arms, she listened to yet another tale about the infamous tortoise and his mischievous ways. This time, the tortoise had climbed a palm tree to pick a kernel to quench his hunger.

“Uncle, why is the tortoise always getting into trouble?” she giggled as he told the part of the story where the evil spirits came out of the drum and give the tortoise a good flogging. ”He is greedy that’s why, he doesn’t like to share.”

“Mummy says I must always share my things with people who don’t have.”

“She is right but you must also share your things with people who you love and who love you. You know uncle loves you, don’t you?”

She nodded in agreement.

“Do you love uncle?”

Again she nodded.

“But you never tell uncle you love him! That’s not fair. Go on, tell uncle you love him.”

“I love you uncle.”

“Good girl! Say it again.”

“I love you uncle,” she repeated.

“Do you know how you show someone you love them?”

She shrugged her shoulders, palms turned upwards.

“When mummy tells you she loves you, what does she do?”

“She cuddles me.”

“What else does she do?”

“Sometimes she kisses me.”

“Go on then, give uncle a cuddle and a kiss.”

Wrapping her tiny arms around him, she gave him a peck on his left cheek.

“Tut tut, that’s not a real kiss!”

“But that’s how mummy kisses me!”

“Doesn’t she kiss you on the lips?”

“Sometimes.”

“Go on then, kiss uncle on the lips.”

Her lips barely touched his before she withdrew.

“That wasn’t a proper kiss. Is that all the love you have to show me?”

She kissed him a few seconds longer this time. As she made to withdraw he clamped her against his chest.

“I thought you were a big girl but you’re just a baby.”

“I’m not a baby!” she protested, “I will be five next week!”

“Then give uncle a proper kiss!”

Holding her even tighter, he thrust his tongue into her mouth.

“That’s how big girls kiss.”

“Okay uncle. Can I go and ride my bicycle now?”

“Yes princess, off you go but make sure you wear your slippers before you go outside.”

“Yes uncle.”

Slippers in place, she skipped out of the front door, his gaze trailing her till she was out of sight.

Waila is Getting Married!!!

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in Memories, Random, Relationships, Uncategorized

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

WAILA IS GETTING MARRIED!!! :-)

On the left hand ring finger now sits a stunning bit of bling and yes, I can’t stop staring at it!!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not keen on weddings. It’s ironic that I now find myself in this position. I warn you in advance, if I don’t do things the way you are used to, don’t be surprised. The biggest shock of all is that for someone who swore not to have a traditional Nigerian wedding, I am super excited about tying a wrapper round my chest and having coral beads in my hair Benin style. Friends, be ready to tie your wrappers round your chests. Your days of sewing funky styles with aso-ebi are OVER! *evil laugh*

As expected, the whole world has been asking how it happened and blogging about it is my way of telling the story ONLY ONCE. :-)

I’d always said to my gentleman friend (must find him a new name) that I didn’t want a public proposal. I wanted something super private with just the two of us involved. I’m not one for ceremony, pomp and pageantry so I didn’t want any fuss…and I got what I wanted…and it was super special. :-)

We’d been talking seriously about getting married in the last three weeks and as soon as he called my mum to give her the speech, the planning started. It was a little weird because my mother was busy planning my traditional wedding and asking me about colours and fabrics but I couldn’t really tell anyone about it because I didn’t have a ring. As the plans for the wedding were in motion, I knew the proposal was on its way. I’m a VERY helpful person so I figured I’d give the gentleman friend a hand picking out the ring. He couldn’t believe it when I sent him a link to the ring I wanted but I promised him I’d act surprised when he got round to presenting it so I hope that lessened the shock. LOL. Even worse, I knew when he’d ordered the ring because when I went on the website to check, my size was no longer in stock. The website offered free next day delivery so three days later when he still hadn’t popped the question, I got a little jittery. Forgive me, patience isn’t one of the virtues I currently possess. *hides face*

Yesterday I found myself in a mall and somehow, my feet found their way to a jewellery store. There were two rings I’d been torn between and as I walked in, the first ring I noticed was the Option B I’d decided against. When I saw the ring in the flesh, it was love at first sight. I knew he’d bought the other ring though so what to do?! Call him of course! Lol. I told him I wasn’t sure which one I wanted anymore. The poor guy sighed, asked where I was and came to pick me up from the mall. We drove to his house and he went upstairs to ‘get something’.

I was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs and lo and behold, he appeared holding a box in his hand. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity… and then burst out laughing. We couldn’t stop laughing for a good 10mins. When we finally composed ourselves, he went down on one knee and I tell you, the atmosphere changed.

Suddenly he turned serious and I was blushing like the sun sits on my cheeks.  Even though I knew he was going to propose, when he got down on one knee, I promise you, I was in shock! He was nervous as heck; his hands were unsteady; but he gave the most eloquent speech of his life and l REMEMBER EVERY WORD!!!

The rest as they say, is history.

He had a nice romantic proposal all planned. He was going to turn up outside my house early this morning, sprinkle rose petals on the path to my door and have a bunch of flowers waiting for me so that when I opened the door to head out to work, I’d get the shock of my life. Sorry for ruining that plan babe! Lol.

After he proposed, I still had the dilemma of which ring to settle for. In the end we went to the store together and the moment I put the option B on, I knew it was the one.

How crusty does my skin look?! LOL.

Ladies and gentlemen, I AM GETTING MARRIED!!!

xxx

Waila

A Time To Die: The One With No Title

28 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Fiction, Relationships, Series, Short Stories

≈ 5 Comments

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I feel the moisture crawling down my neck, slowly making its way towards my spine. The air is still, the heat hovering, suffocating. A violent kick sends the duvet flying off the bed. Even before my brain is fully alert, I know she’s been in my room.  Why won’t the woman mind her damn business?! Reaching above my head, I flick the switch on the air conditioner. The low hum as it comes to life soothes my irritation. Eyes still shut, I rehearse the speech I’ll be giving that woman come the morning.

“Mum, I’ve told you to stop turning off my air conditioner. You may not like the cold but I do so please, for the zillionth time, leave it alone!”

“Your air conditioner, did you buy it with your money?”

“Whatever mum, it’s in my room so please, just leave it alone.”

“You can’t tell me what to do in my own house. If you’re tired of me, pack your load and go to your husband’s house. “

Here we go again.

“You are so unbelievably predictable! What does your turning off my a/c have to do with me getting married? Is the fact that I’m not married your only problem in life?”

“Yes, it is! How many of your mates are still living in their parents’ houses?”

“Do you think I like living here? Believe me, the minute my man appears I’m out of here.”

“That’s your problem, is it by magic he will appear? Instead of you to ask your friends how they found husbands you’re there waiting for him to appear.”

“Am I God?! Or am I supposed to parole the streets of Lagos begging men to marry me?”

“Has God not already created men?  If you like don’t pick one, be waiting for heaven to deliver him to you. “

“ I’m sick of this nonsense mummy, when he comes, he comes and if he doesn’t, he doesn’t  I’m not about to kill myself because I’m 35 and single. You are my mother for goodness sake, show some support!”

“Support your manlessness? Aren’t you ashamed? Your younger sister is married and you’re there chasing a career.”

“Well excuse me for wanting to make something of myself. It’s my fault for living in this house. It’s about time I got a place of my own where I don’t have to deal with this crap.”

“Over my dead body! You want to bring disgrace to this family? You will not turn into one of those wayward girl that are proud of being single. What kind of woman moves out of her father’s house before marriage?!”

“In that case feel free to drop dead. I’m getting a place of my own. I’m done tolerating your insults!”

“I should feel free to drop dead?! You are a stupid girl, that’s why you won’t find a husband. I blame your father, he is the one that sent you to England where they talk to their parents anyhow. Idiot…”

I’d had enough. Picking up my car keys I stormed out of the house, her insults trailing after me, hot tears burning my eyes.

Does she think I don’t want a husband and children? Does she think it doesn’t hurt knowing she’s ashamed of me?

I drove to the nearest estate agents to find myself a place to live and three hours and two viewings later, realised I was kidding myself. I couldn’t afford the extortionate rent on the Island, not comfortably anyway. Anger deflated, I made the journey back home and headed straight for her room. Annoying though she was, she didn’t deserve to be spoken to the way I’d done.  I could just lock my bedroom door before going to bed to keep her out of my room and give us one less thing to argue about.

“Mum, are you there?”

Knocking gently, I let myself into her room. She was there, slumped against the wardrobe, inhaler lying next to her lifeless body.

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