Must Read: Taking Chances

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Taking Chances

Jide rolled severally on his bed, only waking up abruptly when he
realised that he was on the verge of falling off, he had been having a wonderful dream.
With an angry sigh he sat up his eyes traveling to the clock, the time was 8:20, Sunday morning.
Jide got up immediately, that his plan of going to church with Daisy for the first time after their wedding, was almost ruined. How had he slept off so st.upidly? He wondered angrily.
Few seconds later, he was standing in the parlour, even though it was looking better than he left it yesterday, it felt empty. His food la!d covered on the dining but there was no sign of Daisy.
He went back to the hallway and stood in front of Daisy’s room hoping to hear movements or sounds.
Nothing.
Hesitantly, he turned the door knob, but it was locked. Immediately, Jide dashed out and soon he was walking towards Adamu.



Adamu was sweeping and singing an hausa song when he noticed Jide walking towards him. He stood upright and stopped singing.
‘Goodmorning Oga’ Adamu greeted, genuflecting in the process.
‘morning’ Jide answered impatiently ‘have you seen Daisy?’ he asked.
‘Daisy…’ Adamu said scratching his head, he momentarily forgot who
bore that name. Then it hit him ‘…oh! Madam!’.
Jide sighed, irritated.
‘so?’ he asked impatiently.
‘yes, madam don commot’ Adamu replied smiling sheepishly.
‘To where?’
‘Church oga’ replied Adamu.
‘Did she specifically tell you that’
‘specifically…’
Jide hissed again at the dunce of a man.
‘she tell you say na there she dey go?’ he interpreted.
‘She being dress fine and since today na Sunday so i…’
‘That’s ok’ Jide cut in and walked away. He didn’t have time to banter with the old man, given the chance, he would go on and on about things that weren’t his business. As for Daisy, she was gonna hear from him when she came back.
**********
‘Hello’ Jide said, the phone hanging between his chin and shoulder while he busied with his shoe lace. He had finally decided to go out, he had waited in vain for Daisy to return but now, the house felt empty and suffocating. The time was threatening to hit 1pm soon.
‘Jide love…’ the voice at the other end was saying.
‘Grace?’ he interrupted puzzled.
Jide halted the fumbling with his shoe lace to peer at the phone screen. The number had no name.
‘Jide darling why are you treating me this way’ came the response of the bereaved woman.
‘what’s with this joke’ he asked frowning and went back to his lace tieing.
‘its no joke Jide, why are you refusing to pick my call?’ Grace asked.




Jide sighed and stood up, his shoes now firmly tied. He wasn’t in the mood for Grace’s nagging.
‘thought we ended this days ago’ he said walking to the dining.
‘am sorry if i angered you then, but lets talk about this okay?’ she
begged.
‘really Grace, i told you from the onset not to expect the more, i am a married man and…’
‘please don’t give me that poo! But i thought, no! knew we shared something deep and lasting, when did we finally lose it?’ whined Grace.
‘I really don’t have time for this, why don’t you understand that it was fun while it lasted, now i want to concentrate on making my marriage
work’. He said resignedly.
Jide didn’t enjoy treating Grace this way, however she nolonger excited him, she was the one pushing herself on him, and he wish she didn’t, she was the one to get hurt at the end. Grace was pretty alright and a good bedmate too, but he had problem with her inability to cook well like Daisy and she was bad at nagging. These were the little fault he had
capitalized on to end their illicit relationship few days ago. It was as if she had had it coming. He shook his head, it was better they both forgot eachother and moved on.
‘Jide! Jide! Are you even listening to me?’ Grace cried, Jide had not
responded to any of her last questions.
Jide had been standing by the dining lost in thought when Grace’s voice jolted him.
‘am going out, got no time…’
he resumed.
‘Great, come over lets discuss, i cooked today and guess what would follow…’ Grace cajoled.
But Jide wasn’t paying attention again, noises coming from outside were distracting him now.
‘Let me call you back’ he said quickly and cut the call without a response from her.



Quickly, he tucked the phone in his pocket and made for the door.

******

‘Nice crib hunh’ Brenda said coming out of the passenger seat of her car. Her American accent more developed than Daisy’s.
Daisy came out of the driver seat, she had decided to drive them back. Having long itched to ride a car again.
‘something to write home about’ Brenda continued, her eyes sweeping round the compound.
Adamu was still standing at the gate staring foolishly at the two ladies.
‘lets go in, you don’t wanna get a tan now do you’ Daisy teased.
‘on my chocolate skin? No way that happening’ Brenda replied. Both girls giggled and made for the house.