Must Read: The Player

6 years ago

Must Read: The Player

I expected us to go to a restaurant but I met myself at a bar. I didn’t know how long Bauchi had stayed in the Estate prior to moving into the apartment but he was popular. Mama Chinonso hailed him as soon as she saw him. The girls serving wasted no time coming to our table.

“As usual?” a fair dimpled one with large head asked.

“Yes, Angela, for me and my man here.”

She nodded happily and went to the backyard that served as the kitchen.

“Fifi, you are a young boy but I have been watching you. You are very mature for your age. You will go far in life. I liked the way you stood by me today. Kiki indomie na wash sef , abi?”

“Not really,”I replied.

“Well thats not the point. The point is that you are my man and I will show you things, expose you to stuffs that will make you a man.”

“stuffs like what?” I asked

“Stuffs that would make you a Player.”

“A player?”

“Yes, a player. You will be able to control everything around you.”

“Sounds interesting. You mean you can control everything round you?”

“Yes, he replied.”

“So how come you didn’t stop the policemen from arresting you?”

“How come the son of man sacrificed himself and died in the cross. Sometimes you allow things to happen for a greater reason.”

I thought it was all hogwash, but I feigned interest.

The big headed girl came with two bottles of Big stout and two plates of cow-tail.

“I don’t drink Guiness,” I said, telling the girl to take it back and bring a Lager beer.

“Why?” he asked.

“Its bitter,” I replied.

“That because you don’t know how to drink it. Now, talk a gulp, you don’t drink beer with the front of your tongue, you do it with the back and your throat.”

I looked at him, his weirdly brown eyes were burying into mine. He looked like a bad boy with his rough beards hanging on his face but I could see why Kiki liked him. He was unique. He was different.

“Let the drink roll and fall in your throat, there is nothing more satisfying.”

He poured a glass of the black drink into my cup. I did as I was told, making sure I dulled the senses in the front of the tongue. I didn’t feel any difference. It was still bitter.

“better right?” he asked.

“Nope, same,” I replied.

He smiled and drank his. That was when I felt the difference. The smell of the drink enveloped me, the lingering taste tasted like bitter chocolate. Suddenly I wanted to try another cup, and I did. It was full and refreshing, the bitterness was their but it was satisfying.

I called the girl who served us earlier.

“Please bring back the Guinness.”

He raised his glass and hailed the man I had become.