At the beach
~Dare Ofegu~
"I want to do a lot of crazy things, Lara."
I said, looking at the endless water ahead of us. I could see the waves lapping and crashing, the hankering horizon with crazed connection with the clouds, an inexplicable natural advances. I've never heard the call of the seagulls as seen in the movies. Well, that isn't actually my headache at the moment.
I took a glance at her, her eyes pacing my face. I have no idea what she was thinking. But I knew she would be wondering why I had brought her to the beach for the first time. Which she didn't know would be the last.
You know, it's somewhat a juvenile knack here that when you visit the beach with a lady, you have a nasty thought. For example, when you take a lady to a hotel or brothel, what other explanation is there to make?
But even I don't know my stance at that moment. There are a lot of assorted thoughts struggling to dominate my mental ken. I used to fight them with great tenacity but now, I've willing succumbed. Even though I have the strength, I'm not willing to fight anymore. The last deal with Kola totally broke me.
"What are you saying, Dare?"
She quizzed, I could see concern splattered on her face.
"I'm afraid I'll do whatever I find right now. Whatever I feel right. That sense of responsibility is no longer there. That spiritual restraint is no longer there. I don't really think I'll keep being a believer."
I let all the words out as my muse bade me. I'd agreed with myself before coming to the beach with her that I would let her in on everything. I'll do everything with her. Everything! Well, with the exception of her ill-will.
"Don't say that, Dare. God is not a man to be mocked or a pair of dice to be tossed to and fro. I tell you that, even if you quit acknowledging him because of your recent circumstances, he still have you at heart. Imagine the sins of David, yet God was always there for him. The sins of the children of Israel too..."
She paused and reached out one of her hand in an attempt to hold mine but then she hesitated. I looked at her, tracing her beautiful face down to the swell of her boobs, which was revealed by the swimsuit. Down and down I looked till my eyes fell on her hand.
I picked her hand up and placed it on my lap. She was very surprised. I could trace the ray of shock shooting from one end of her face to the other.
"Could you share with me what really happened? What made you change all of a sudden? Or have you been having doubts since a long time? Is it about that shady Kola?"
Her words were bitter, her tone harsh at the call of Kola's name. I chuckled but she hit me in the chest,
"It's not funny. I told you never to trust him. Most times I get really mad at you but what could I do? You had every right to make a choice."
I reached out my other hand to her cheek and caressed it gently. I dropped it,
"Thank you for being there."
I muttered. She looked away to the right. She was seated by the right and I close to her by the left. There was nobody in view. We've walked to a very far end of the beach just to be alone. Just the both of us and the wandering winds hitting on the celibate waves. Probably thinking that that was what I was meaning to do to her.
We are at the Badagry breach, called THE POINT OF NO RETURN. The trade route for the British folks who enslaved the traditional Nigerian folks back then.
"It's fine. But tell me."
She knocked me back into reality. I sighed then found my words,
"You know, I've always had the feeling that one day I would meet a foreign lady who would take a strong delight in me. It felt like someone, a force or spirit placed it there and made me look forward to it."
I paused,
"It really happened, just like magic..."
"Miracle!"
She corrected. I scoffed and squeezed her hand,
"I met an American lady -- woman, on Top-face. Could you imagine the message she sent to me? The opening message?"
"I can't guess. But I know that the folks there are quite open compared to us."
"Do you have a Big Dick?!"
Her eyes widened as she cracked up.
"Jesus Christ!"
"Yes! That was the same thing I called out to."
"Wow! Really!"
I sighed,
"Believe me. I couldn't chat with her then told Kola to, you know, he's very free and open, like you said."
I pushed a lump down my throttle and wanted to continue, but then she interrupted,
"But then he took an advantage of the situation and snatched the woman from you. She sent him money, $10k to prepare stuff. He gave you a peanut, 500k and travelled out, imposing as you. Isn't it?"
"How did you know?"
My jaw dropped. I couldn't help it. She pushed up a side of her lips, she was used to it,
"I don't know. I just felt something move within me then my lips started moving of its own will."
THE HOLY SPIRIT. I knew. I didn't need to be told that that was the influence of the Holy Spirit, even though I was reluctant to admit. What was he trying to prove? That he exists and didn't want me to waver my faith? I think that's too late, my mind seemed made.
"That was it. And I knew you warned me. I was stupid to believe that God would change him like he changed several people... But then, a fool was made of me by both him and God. I'll just stick to my own choices henceforth."
She squeezed my hand and moved even closer to me,
"Don't say that, Dare. God has a foreknowledge of everything, whether or not you believe. And deep down inside of you, you know I'm telling the truth."
I kissed her suddenly. So suddenly that even I didn't know why. My lips resting on her hers which were reluctant to pave.
We remained like that for few seconds before I let go. What have I done?
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what I --"
I choked on the words. She repaid the lips offering. Her soft lips leading mine on a pleasurable voyage. She kept on it for a while then caught her breath.
She looked away from me and I from her. There was this awkward silence between us. Even the gentle breeze couldn't rule out the heat rummaging my inside.
"I'm leaving for California."
I severed the silence and she slowly tossed her face in my direction.
Since I'd gotten her attention, I continued,
"To find Kola and the woman. I can't let it go."
I was waiting for her to say something but she didn't. I hated to think that the kiss had drown her words. But she did repay me.
"And before leaving, I have some people to prove wrong and teach a lesson. That was why I said I'm about to do something crazy."
I could hear a wierd sound from her throttle. But I seriously don't know why she didn't want to show her anticipation like before. Maybe she hasn't had enough. I confirmed,
"There's this lady at my work place. Dayo. She likes me but I don't like her. She's a secretary to my boss. A post belonging to me but for the love of Christ I didn't take bold step. But now that I don't have anything to lose, I'll pull a stunt."
Yet she didn't say a thing, but her eyes didn't leave my face. I wonder what she was thinking.
"Recently, my boss threatened to sack me if I had anything to do with her. And now I really want to have something to do with her. Not something serious, but just a trick. Like have sex with her in my boss' office. I want him to walk in and see us there. Sacking me would make no difference. He should learn the hard way and have his heart broken."
I paused. I was scared of myself. I didn't know that I had such courage to put up those words let alone say them out loud.
Yet, she didn't say a thing. I finalized,
"After that, I'll leave for California. My uncle recently moved mom to Lekki and has started preparing my travel papers and other things. I might not see you again after today."
She sighed. That was the only reaction she spared after all I had said. Then suddenly, she picked up one of my hand and squeezed like before,
"Let's have sex."
She said. I didn't know when the bridge of my lips were paved. Damn! Was that what she had thinking about all through my discourse. I wonder if she heard any other thing I said.
I nodded and she stood up. She pushed me, my back to the warm but sharp sand. She climbed on me and leaned forward, her boobs pressing on my chest. We locked lips and I slid my hands down her sides to grab her booties...
Ladies! Damn! I thought.
At Work."Ekaaro, ma."[Morning, ma.]I called out to the kiosk's owner who had just showered her pleasantries. I'm not really sure how old she was but she looked fifty. She was always the first person to say a hello to me. Even when I'm absentminded, she would keep the pleasantries up till I respond. Somehow, her kind gestures remind me of Lara. She must have been like Lara when she was young. A lady who doesn't really put much worth in self respect.I hurried towards the building which housed our offices, walking through the large undeveloped and uninhibited compound. I caught the sight of the tree under which I sat the other day to read the ugly news.I'm sure that there would be no one at work because it's just 7:10am. The resumption hour was 8:00am, and many do arrive 8:30am and even up to 10:00. But both those who resumed 8:00 and 10:00am would write 8:00am and no saint has the guts to rat them out, else you wou
Lekki. ~Dare Ofegu~"What are you going to California for? You won't put your mother in the darkness of it all, would you?"I had tried to avoid her gaze in the first place but there is no use anymore. She wasn't the type to be beaten so easily. I knew my mother too well, she wouldn't stop until she had gotten to the root of the matter, believe me. Or better still, you can see for yourself."We already had this discussion, mom. I got an offer to work with a company over there. You know that I write poetry, so one of the companies in California read one of my poems on allpoetry.com and wanted to meet me in person. I have been postponing it but now that uncle is ready to help, why should I let the opportunity slip off my palms?"I quit talking but the stare she was wearing said it all. She was not ready to give in, I could bet on my life. Then she said,"I had a dream."I stood up at once and
Airport.~Dare Ofegu~"I don't want you to go, yet I can't stop you."Lara remonstrated, her right arm tucked in my left. We were brushing sides and standing in the broad gleaming hallway of the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport."I can't help it too. I must go find that traitor and ask him why he had done that to me after the trust. I even told him that I was giving him the last chance and that if he betray me again, twould be the end of our friendship."I explained, untucking my arm as I wounded it around her waist instead. She took a peek at me, I could see surprise splattered on her face."You can't just expect a lion to stop being a lion because you rescued it and make it live in your house. One day, the killer instinct which defines its being would always flare up."She looked away. I scoffed,"Kola is no lion. He's but a hyena. A very funny creature which hardly works but always want to
California."America."I muttered, looking through the window of the taxi. It seemed to too real to believe. I didn't know why I kept doubting whether or not twas true.My experience in the plane had been extraordinary also. Feeling yourself floating amongst the clouds you had always thought to be an illusion. The clouds being your only neighbors."Your first time?"The taxi driver looked at me through the rearview. I looked away from the window to the tough but hospitable face of the driver with scanty beards. I was trying so hard to compare him to the car drivers back in my country."Yes. My first time."I nodded, trying to convince myself. I was the only one in the taxi. I tried to remember boarding a car from Onipanu to Mushin back in Nigeria, we always have four passengers at the back, two at the front. But nah! I'm riding solo in this Taxi, how refreshing."You want me to
CLEAVER'S AVE. ~Dare Ofegu~ "Come,the dogs won't bite you." As I watched those words escape the woman's small lips, a lot of questions stumbled on themselves in my mind. Questions like... Are you the dogs? Are the dogs you? Have you been a dog before? Were you a dog in your formal life. How could be so sure? But the questions only drooped on my consciousness because I didn't want to be rude. I didn't know her from Adam, neither from Eve. Hehe. But then, strangers should watch what they say to newbies. The memory of a man who was told the same about a dog but was ripped into pieces by the Rottweiler is evergreen in my mind. I found my words, trying not to stutter, though obviously she could see that I'm scared, "You can't be so sure, ma. Dogs are at the mercies of their owners." She shot me a smile, standing behind the two dogs whose dancing tongues were caught between the bridge of t
Morning. ~Dare Ofegu~ "Wakey Wakey!" I heard the call from outside the door of my room. I rolled in bed mumbling inaudibly. "Mr Dare, are you awake yet?" The call came again. I fisted the duvet in my hands, trying to knock off the intrusion but then there was little I could do. "I'm coming in now." That was the final call. I turned over, my face to the white ceiling of the room which seemed endless. The duvet half-tucked into my chest. I was in pajamas. I heard the doorknob bothered and the door creaked. Then came a sequence of barking. "Morning, Mr Dare." The woman called again but even before I could stand up, one of the dogs had jumped on the bed and climbed on me, licking my face with his wet tongue. I could feel my chest wailing for help. Its 130 pounds almost capable of digging up my intestines. "Shit." I wrestled with the dog and ma
Samantha's Hood.~Dare Ofegu~"What do we do now?"I asked no one in particular, standing before the enormous gate of the opulent building."Talking to you, Theo."I looked down to my right at the American Akita. We've been standing there since few minutes ago and no idea popped into my shallow brain yet.I had thought that as soon as I get to the gate of the building of the Billionaire, I would just knock on the door and enter through. But then, here we are, and I'm still struggling to place the appropriate thought of what to do."I guess we should go back and think of something. That's the appropriate thing to do, else we would make a fool of ourselves."I was staring at the metallic giant who I ain't sure whether or not twas staring back."But there should be a gateman here at least. Or what do you think, Theo?"Theo had been indifferent all along. He had been s
Big Basin Redwoods State Park ~Dare Ofegu~ "What's this place?" I have been meaning to be quiet all along but I just couldn't help it anymore. Who would had been able to help keeping quiet, when you're being led by a strange lady through the woods. Through thick barks, unusually tall trees, dry path stalked by fallen dried leaves and twigs. A kinda creepy forest. At first, I'd been quiet also because Theo was. I have always believed that if anything is wrong, a dog would be the first to figure it out. And since Theo had been indifferently playing along, I found no need to be jumpy. But now, I couldn't help it anymore. "It's been over 20 minutes since we've been walking through this place. Are you taking me for sacrifice or what?" She stopped walking at the accusations. She was at the forefront, myself and Theo behind her. Then suddenly, she spun around and cracked up, "Is that what your bl