Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

7 years ago

Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

Indeed, you never know with women. One minute she stood off Tunde’s father while defending Ifeanyi and all of us, and still silently made a plea for the boy when she added “…he just loves games”. One would be tounched.

Next minute she is subdued with a s£nsu@l kiss.

And now its as if cold water was poured on her.

Quiet. I didn’t know what she was thinking. She was probably angry at what I did when she least expected.

After talking on the phone, shee decided we should chat. So so the chatting began. In the end of the chatting, feelings had been revealed. How?

She suggested we played a game. The song game she called it.

Its a game were you give 3-5 lines from a song and the other person tells you what song and the artist who sang it.
She went first. She typed:

‘I haven’t ever really found a place that I call home
I never stick around quite long enough to make it
I apologize that once again I’m not in love’
I laughed hard and wrote:
‘But it’s not as if I mind that your heart ain’t exactly breaking
It’s just a thought, only a thought’
She showed an angry face and said that wasn’t the rule.

So I simply said:
Common! That’s cheap, even a chicken will know its ‘Life for rent -Dido’
I was next, so I typed:
‘I can make believe I have everything
But I can’t pretend that I don’t see
That without you girl my life is incomplete’
After a while, she wrote:
‘Incomplete -Sisquo’
That was impressive though. Nice to know she’s been long time coming with music. Hmmm
Her turn, and she went:
‘Long day and I’m ready
I’m waiting for your call
‘Cause I’ve made up my mind
My heart aches with a hunger’
Yeah, I know this lines. They sound very familiar.

And it hit me -ahh!!!

‘One Night by the Corrs’
“I thought you won’t know it” she said
I just laughed. Now was my turn:
‘l hold you and touch you and make you my woman
I’ll give you my love with sweet surrender
Tonight our hearts will beat as one
And I will hold you, touch you’
After a while she said she didn’t know that one. So I told her
“Hold me by teddy pendegrass”
“How would you expect me to know that one”
“But it was a duo with whitney houston. You ladies know every whitney houston’s songs”
Anyway, her last attempt:
‘In your heart, I can still hear a beat
For every time you kiss me
And when we’re apart
I know how much you miss me
And there ain’t no way’
I couldn’t get around to this one. I tried but I couldn’t place it. I knew I know the song but it just wasn’t coming to me now. So I gave up on it
“Forever and for always -Shania twain”
“Oops!” I guess I lost that
My final one and I decided to get her off balance
‘here’s nothin’ wrong with me
Lovin’ you, baby love, love
And givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true, oh baby
Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be?

I’m askin’ you baby to get it on with me, ooo ooo
I ain’t gonna worry, I ain’t gonna push
So come on, come on, come on, come on baby
Stop beatin’ round the bush, hey
Let’s get it on, let’s get it on
You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout
Come on baby, let your love come out’
“But that is longer than 5 lines” she said
“Just answer if you know it”
“Let’s get it on. Marvin Gaye. Everybody knows that for chrissakes”
“And what do you say to the song?”

“Stag we’re only playing a game her”
“I know. Okay forget it”
“Lol. Loverboy” she typed
Of course, like I said the songs had a lot to tell.

For it wasn’t long after that the last song played out in reality…

I started work on monday and the week went by fast. The calling and chatting went on between Vicky and I. But on Thursday Vicky fell ill.
There wasn’t any need to panic. Her mom is a nurse. She took care of Vicky well. By weekend I really wanted to see her, but I didn’t know her house so I devised I means.

I involved Vera. Since Vera was well known at her house, it was easy. I went to her house with Vera on saturday.

The security guard opened up when he saw Vera.

A big house. There were funny looking dogs, they looked too hairy for their eyes sef. I don’t know their names, there were peacocks. Two of them. And two parrots in a large cage. Admirable cars parked around and I noticed Vicky’s.

First thing I thought was that I didn’t even know her surname. Possibly one these politicians.
As we approached, an elderly man in shorts and singlet came out from around the corner carrying a broom and a parker with animal poo on it, apparently cleaning the animals’ cages.
“Ahh! Vera! You remember us today because your friend is not feeling well”
“Good afternoon sir” Vera greeted, bending her knees slightly in respect.

I greeted too with a bow
“Good afternoon sir”
“Good afternoon he replied
Then turned to Vera
“And who is the young man”
“Oh. He’s a friend. I came with him to see Vera. We are old friends from school”
“Okay.” He said, turning to me he continued
“You’re welcome”
With that he called someone and a woman came out in a formal maid’s wear. She took us in. Apparently, that’s Vicky’s dad.
We went in to a small living room, like a receiving area. And Vera vanished in a way that showed she was more than a visitor around her. She had gone to Vicky’s room.
While she was gone, I was alone. The door opened and the elderly man came in
“So young man, how’re you doing”
“I’m fine sir”
“What’s your name?”
I told him.

“I see Vera has gone to meet Vicky”
“Yes sir”
“Ah! So come, I’d keep you company till they come out”
I stood up and followed him. We walked into a larger living room. Much bigger. And better furnished.

The furnishing show taste. Class simply expressed. At a side was a shelf made of wood. Pure mahogany. On the wall hung an artwork I instantly recognized. The Blue Boy. An oil on canvass painting by Thomas Gainsborrough. Nice. On the other side of the wall was an even bigger painting of an african woman carrying a pot on ther head. I wondered who painted it. I squinted and saw it was signed by the artist.
Anyway, the thick volumes on the shelf made me curious. And if there was anything I knew about these type of men, is that they like to show off their collections. This is where they show wealth.

Antique collections of books, arts and esoteric items.

He pushed a button on the side stool. A while later, another woman formally dressed like the one that ushered us in appeared. He asked her to bring something for the ‘guest’.

He sounded a very nice old man. Hospitable.

So I asked
“Sir, can I take a look at the art on the wall?
“Ah!!!” He exclaimed excitedly.
“So you have an eye for the lovely things the world has to offer”
Indeed, I have sir. For Vicky. A beautiful work of nature.

“Well, it looks captivating sir”
So I went ahead and took closer look. He pointed across and was telling me of The Blue Boy with much enthusiasm. I just listened. It was the things they loved to talk about.
Interesting old man.

More interesting was that Vicky never showed off even though she has such comfortable background. Wealth is all I see here. And a completely humbled out old man. I wondered why he bothered himself cleaning animal cages and parking poo when he had people around to do those. A handy man. I have been told successful people like to do things themselves.
Vicky came out with Vera and almost immediately, the maid returned with drinks on a tray.

“So, I think I should leave you people now. I hope we get to talk about painting again”
“I’d really love to take a closer look at your library collection. I’m sure I’d find some classic”
“You certain will” he smiled with pride.
With that, he left us.

Indeed, Abuja had some well cultured people.

And not all wealthy abuja based is a politician.

Vicky was looking pale but didn’t look as ill anymore. She had had a fever. Some minutes later, her mother came in a wheelchair,
unaccompanied. The wheelchair was electronically controlled. She just said hi. She talked a bit more with Vera and left. She had a pleasant smile on her face. We talked a bit more with Vicky and I left with Vera.
On the way home, Vera told me of how the man had built a very strong network of businesses. He travelled most of the year to attend to business. Only once in a while is he around. Shocking also to hear is that the woman is actually Vicky’s step-mother. That was interesting, considering how Vicky talks about her. And how they take care of each other.

Later that evening, Vicky called to thank me. And we joked about Vera’s lie. Old friends from school indeed. I commented on how much of an kind man her dad was and her mum.
“Don’t mind them jare. They both enjoy their simple lives”
And she went on further to tell me that wasn’t her biological mother. Well, I didn’t say I had known. She told me of her other siblings who were permanently based in the UK. She has one elder sister, two elder brothers and a younger brother. Their mother had divorced their dad many years ago when he was too much into his businesses.

Well, but her mother-daughter relationship with this woman is remarkable.

I told her I missed her. Instead I heard
“Thanks” hmm
Well, I asked if we’d see the following weekend.
Kemi was taking my cousins out and their dad had a wedding to attend. So I was free and we could meet at Ifeanyi’s.
She said okay.
And soon, weekend was here…