With barely two weeks before departure, adrenaline had gotten the best of me. For the next few days I would pack and unpack the contents of two large black boxes. I had to be careful not to bundle irrelevant things but I seemed to be failing. At a point I had packed items like a blanket I had owned since I was five and a big collection of hair ruffles that I had kept for what seemed like a lifetime. I almost missed the ludicrousness of what I was doing till I noticed Chiamaka’s speculating eyes just across the room. She was my immediate sister and it was only natural that she’d want to covet some of my old belongings, especially now. Finally, after five stressful days of packing I was pleased with what I had in the boxes and my sisters were also happy with their hand-me-downs. With four days left, I decided to spend some time with friends. My closest friends were Bola and Uju. Bola was the “crazy one” of the “three amiga” as we called ourselves. She’d call a spade a spade and had no control of what words came out of her mouth. Uju was the complete opposite, she couldn’t hurt a fly ever, gentle and sometimes almost too pristine for the group. We’d call her “mummy” as she was the cautious voice of the three.
The next three days would be tagged “enjoyment galore” with my favourite gals. We toured all our regular spots, from neighbourhood eateries to the local swimming pool and back to either of our houses to catch up on daily gossips. Bola was tall, brown-skinned and what some would call an early bloomer, with curves shaped like an hour glass. This was often a plus especially when we’d go out to eat because some man would always offer to pay for our meals with the hopes of getting one on one time with Bola. This was usually the norm and we had gotten accustomed to it and teasing that one day we too will entrap men like she did. On this sunny afternoon, we strolled into the sweet sensations just few blocks from my house to get some snacks. Behind us was a dreamy looking young chap. He definitely was not in secondary school but he didn’t look like a university graduate either. His smile uncovered the greatest set of teeth I had ever seen and he had eyes that I could have sworn had mystical powers. Bola turned to Uju and I whispering “babez are u seeing what I am seeing?” , I nodded shyly, Uju with a straight face replied “I no kuku dey for una kwanta o”….. and just like he sensed we were talking about him, he started walking towards the table, every step he took towards us made my heart skip. “Hello ladies” , “he-e-e-e-elllo” we chorused childishly.
Before we could gather our thoughts, John as he introduced himself had pulled a chair to join us. He spoke the entire time as Bola and I were swimming in teenage lust and Uju could not care at all for the unwanted company. We finished our snacks and the young fella promptly offered us a ride back home. Uju was the first to respond “Haba no please don’t bother, we don’t live too far”, “but I insist” he replied. Bola finally snapping out of her trance joined in “of course we could use a ride back Uju, can’t you see how hot it is outside”….they argued back and forth but I couldn’t get myself to utter any words but I knew I definitely was not going to object. Finally, all I recall was Uju and I occupying the back seat and Bola fixing herself to John’s side in the front….Just as we were about to pull out of the parking lot a loud knock came to the window *ko ko ko ko* “John!!! So this is what you do with my car when I send you on errands ehn? So if my wife was not craving yam pottage from this place I won’t have caught you red-handed” yelled a man with the biggest pot belly, “hum oga they are my sisters, please no vex sir” he pleaded.. The yelling continued. Immediately we scattered out of the vehicle and ran so fast like we had been caught robbing a bank. When we had gone far enough from the scene, we stopped to catch our breath and simultaneously burst out into repetitious laughter….. As we walked the rest of the way home, we re-enacted the events of the afternoon and giggled all over again……………..
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