A DARN GOOD YEAR.... EPISODE 11

 Sam came out of  the bathroom dressed in slacks and a tank top, Shelly eyed her and grinned “ you look under thirty dear, if Segun was wise he should have spent the whole of last year trying to get a baby from you. ”

“ Are you not trying too hard to lighten my mood dear, you have always had the best looks whether aided with that nose job, tummy tuck and the silicon improved chest of yours, you are always my sweet sixteen”.  Both laughing, Shelly decided to fix Sam a hearty meal of her favorite pasta and shredded chicken to go with.

LAGOS (Lekki)

Turning and tussling with his pillow Kojo finally woke from his sleep. He had been tormented by dreams of Sam almost every night saying the same thing with eyes so intense “come”. He had been cancelling all his appointments with his partners irritated but never summoning enough courage to tell Don it’s over. He had even bought a studio room which he intends to start as his photography studio but have not gone back since purchase of the building and equipments for his trade. He thought about their meeting at the hospital, it was brief but much was revealed and the hidden pain he had always seen in her face was finally understood……the pains of a mother.

He wanted to call her but his phone dropped into the water closet and lost his contacts, though Don retrieved the line three days later with a new iPhone to go, reminding him on the need to be available should a surprise job come along. Don broke into his thought as he read a message from him “Lucaz Galileo would love to be treated to your one course meal. He is in town to launch his new design and shop outlet in Nigeria. No contemplations I have collected my fees”.

The door opened and Shelly was quick to lock up the bathroom door, heart pumping hard as she tried to laugh and question Sam on the need for privacy. Sam walked back to her room giggling like a teenage girl as Shelly held her artificial breast close to her heart “We all have secrets”. Carefully she wore the artificial breast on her left breast, she had been lucky then when a lump was discovered in Australia and the surgeons were left with no choice when it became malignant

They had to cut it off so the cancerous growth can be stopped. Tears now coming down her eyes, she felt empty. Nothing to live for, no kids, no husband, a sister she broke up ties with and family members she can’t remember again, so much for being strong willed. But she has a dear friend called Sam and would try her possible best to be there for her in her trials keeping her own pains to herself and stop being selfish for a while.

MY LAST HEROIC ACT

Pouring out my heart for you all to read and laugh, frown, smile briefly or even cry is not as easy as you think. Apart from the money I stand to gain from writing down my life story for some of you to criticise, hiss at and perhaps call me disillusioned at 38 , I also get to selfishly pass my message across to you all, drain my emotions while you feel my heartbeat ; with the hope that I , with my jargons, have in some way helped to save humanity .

 

A feminist you may call me but not a lesbian, man-less I may be but of course with pungent reasons, uncooked my approach to writing may be yet the words ring true for so many women out there including the unhappy married women whom for the love of their children stomach all the hurts one cannot fathom and remain in a padlock called marriage. 

In the past years, we have witnessed  the fall of the mighty; men of valor conquered by their penchant to 'serial cheat'. Tiger and the blonde bevies in the woods, Terrys playing session with the French bombshell and Ashleys frolicking on and off the pitch. The harsh reality of todays world is that a lady with a fragile or naive heart can not survive  the emotional darts thrown by men ably  aided by women like us, in completing their favourite video reality game, breaking hearts........

 

At 38 I still cry whenever I remember Dee, I loved him with my whole heart. I did not want money, jewellery, cars, clothes, shoes or any material things. What I wanted was unseen; I was, in the words of  Apostle Paul , focusing on things we can not see . I yearned for nothing but his sincere love and time. Little did I know that it was the scarcest thing a guy could part with. I could see my future with him ; I saw myself in his kitchen cooking his meals, feeding him and renouncing my  spinsterhood.

 

My dreams were dashed  by the bitter blow he dealt me. It took years to recover, like a tortoise I  retreated into my shell, on the defensive , but happy with my shell as it protected me from the fiery darts thrown at me. I never knew I was emotional, I never knew I could crumble, I had high blood pressure and I realised I was almost killing myself over a guy that never cared for me as in, he was no longer into me. I found it hard to believe, we shared so much together but he was not brave enough to tell me to my face that it was over, he chose a text message in which he reaffirmed his love for me but deemed it 'complicated'.

I drained his phone with my phone calls, I begged, grovelled, wept, gnashed my teeth but his mind was made up. I had to call myself to order before I self destruct. I was a shadow of myself .

 

 I recognized that although Dee had rejected me, God had not rejected me, that I am beautiful on the inside and outside. 

Then I began to check my self and ask pertinent questions. I realised I had a low self  esteem and needed a guy to complete me and feel secured even though I was outgoing ,vivacious and loveable . I receive marriage offers and relate well with people, my smile is very infectious and when people meet with me they are moved to confide in me. 

I have since decided that God completes me and not any man. I have chosen to be more assertive about what I want in life ; write down my rules for people to see.  I dont have to betray who I am simply because  I need some guy to put a ring on it. Its no sin being single so long as you have your sustenance coming from God, then and only then would you exude peace, confidence.

 

When the man that is worthy of you shows up, he would know he has indeed found a good thing. He would fight to have you in his house, guarding his heart and loving him till death.

You may still be wondering what my last heroic act was, well it was finally writing about what hurts me so much, thanking God for everyday spent in my life and enjoying the company of my friends. Now my heart is stronger not because I did it myself but because I gave all my hurts and pains to a higher being and shared it with friends and foes alike.

A DARN GOOD YEAR...... EPISODE 10

“Spare me Shelly, he could not even drop a note…..or peep in to see my face and health. I am the only one who packs up his luggage, whenever he is travelling, besides we slept under the same roof yesterday and he didn’t even say a word. I swear he prefers me dead”. And the tears rolled carelessly down her cheeks.

“Shhhhhhh……. I know……please don’t put yourself through this. You need to be happy, believe me I’m moving into that house of yours for the next three months because I need you and you need me. Okay”.  She nodded and Shelly let out a sight of relief.

Kojo left the hospital and settled his bills even after the cashier assured him that Mrs. Toba Lawson had promised to pay his bills. He declined wondering why in the world a woman would want to be nice to him without wanting anything in return. Just outside the hospital gate he stopped a cab and jumped in feeling better than yester night, memories of her being so sensual, quick, captivating and emotional flooded his mind. His heart throbbed as he remembered what she told him. She called him a name yes “Jason” No doubt the wound is still fresh, feeling vulnerable he hugged himself as he remembered telling her his greatest secret. After she had fainted he had not seen nor heard from her and was sure Sam would go in history as the first woman after his mother that never wanted something back in return. “Just give me a chance to know you….please”, lost in thoughts, soliloquizing, the cab driver turned back looking at a troubled young man and shook his head.

LAGOS (Ajah) 4:45 pm

Sam walked into the house amidst the chattering of her dear friend, unable to understand why Kojo settled his bills and walked away without saying goodbye. She dropped into a sofa and kicked off her shoes, sweeping the hair from her face. Taking a quick look at the room she noticed a yellow sticky note by the bar and stood to get it. “Apologies for not telling you beforehand but I am sure Shelly has told you everything. See you soon”.

 She squeezed the paper and threw it to Shelly, who carefully unfolded it and read it. “it is too formal, why did he bother writing at all” Sam used all her will power to suppress the urge to cry again

Shelly had always been independent in her thoughts and decisions. A single lady who never had regrets on the type of life she has lived thus far. She was not committed to anyone besides her pets and she never wanted the hurdles (pains and gains) associated with the title of a Mrs. She was single and always ready to mingle. She was not a saint of any hierarchy and most times Sam called her to order on her drinking and spending habits which she linked to the fact that she was too independent and strong willed to be submissive to any man and too impatient to loving any child. For years she had always been happily envious of her dear friend who seemed to have it all, managing the cracks in the family and letting it look like a perfect work of art but things fell apart after Jason died and of course Laura, the heartbreak kid divorced. She watched in vain as her dear friend collapsed under the weight of so many problems, coupled with her blame passing husband. There is no doubt the marriage is rocky and Segun is not even trying to make the situation better. Samantha had always lived her life for her family and from the look of it she is likely to die as an uncelebrated martyr for the same family she dropped her ambitions and life for. “No one is appreciated dear, no one and I promise you Sam I would unleash the real you for the next three months……I will”.

A DARN GOOD YEAR .... EPISODE 9

LAGOS (Ajah) 4:45 am

Segun entered his room tired and sleepy after driving all round the estate searching for a grown adult that was screaming their late son’s name. He felt the bitter pain again and almost felt like cursing Sam for making him suffer from her paranoia with Jason. Coming home has now become his worst nightmare and he continued in his thought until he fell asleep.

Hill crust hospital (Ajah) 5:00 am

Sam could finally get a well deserved sleep, as Kojo was transferred from the emergency ward to a private ward for recuperating patients. She woke up two hours later and went to the doctors’ office asking to speak with Jason. The doctor who had been their family physician for a while was startled but still tried to calm her down saying “Jason’s condition is stable and you may go and see him, if you are not too tired of course”. Immediately she jumped from the chair smiled and forcing her legs to walk as gently as possible she made her way to the ward. On getting there he was sleeping and looked relaxed Sam grabbed a seat and decided to pour her heart out now or never “You know you have made me live with so much guilt and now I’m just going to spit it out. Where in the world did I go wrong with you, why did you have to try and kill yourself, for goodness sake that is the cheapest thing to do and a great act of cowardice. You knew earlier on that she had leukemia and I tried to warn you that it may not last. Yes I know you loved her but she lost her life on the surgeons table and I’m sure she would have wanted you to live life for her as well”

Now taken aback emotionally she cried, holding him like she would never let go, Sam held his hand and cried “ I am so happy you have another chance now, but after making me live in misery for so long. Jason why?” the bed shifted and Kojo held her hands now, tears streaming from his face he mumbled between sobs

 “ What would I have done, sleeping with same sex makes me sick but I could not stop myself . I still have the dream mother, to be a professional photographer, yes I do. I just can’t summon the courage to do it and …I”

 He felt the hands that held him go still as he opened his eyes wide to see who was in front of him

 “Sam”

Samantha finally closed her mouth, trembling all over she could finally talk “Kojo”. Saying that she stood up and started crying for reasons she was not so sure of, maybe finally realizing that Jason is long gone and buried six feet or coming to the shocking discovery of Kojos sexuality. Either way she cried and was inconsolable; trembling all over and trying to talk at the same time she gasped and fainted. Darkness surrounding her and voices she could not make sense of.

About two hours later Sam jumped from her bed and wanted to let out a scream but for the quick hands that hurriedly covered her mouth and stilled her. After regaining her composure she started crying again and a dazzled Shelly could only conclude that her best friend has finally lost her mind or is undergoing a bad case of mood swing. Samantha had always been a melancholic child but never has her case been this terrible; fluctuating from a scream, laughing and moving into tears at the same time. Like a mind reader Sam stood up from the bed smiled at her friend and whispered “I am just fine dear, maybe its menopause and my bad mood swing” she lied, afraid to say the truth and what she might think of her. Unable to understand her sudden attraction for Kojo and how shaken she was on knowing the truth about him. She smiled again as she remembered she never  gave him the newspaper, another reason to see him again.  
Frowning at the thought of Kojo not wanting to see her Shelly smiled and said “Dear I know, he was the one that called me to come and see you at the hospital. Segun said he couldn’t make it because he had to go and monitor a new project in the Caribbean’s. He apologized for not telling you beforehand and would be spending three months there. I heard it’s a seven star resort and……”

A DARN GOOD YEAR.....EPISODE 8

LAGOS (Ajah) 2:45 am

Sam had never been the type to be interrupted while sleeping, after speaking her mind and freeing her soul yester night she fought hard to keep her eyes dry and refused to shed another tear for Segun, Laura and Jason.  She now had to live for herself and stop walking in their shadows, she felt drained and used by the ones she truly cared for. Opening her eyes as she yawned she reluctantly  picked the phone on the third ring.

“Hi”

“Please, I’m dying can you come to my house”

Hearing a strange but somewhat familiar male voice Sam looked at her screen, she could not identify the number but replied “I’m coming, where is your address”

“House 13, Portland road. Lekki”

Now certain she doesn’t know the stranger calling, fear crept in and took hold of her, afraid her mind worked quickly “it may be a thief, sophisticated plot to kidnap,  or it may be Kojo”  she steadied herself and asked “ who are you”

“Ko…..” and click the phone went off

Instinctively she wore a top on her pajamas pant and ran through the house almost bumping on Segun who raced after her asking where she was going. Sam lost all sense of reason and fear took hold of her as adrenaline pumped faster she raced towards the car, jumped inside and honked her horn signalling the gateman on duty to open the gate. She started screaming "Jason you’re not going to die, mama is coming" and the gateman closed the gate as Segun caught the last glimpse of the car she rode.

“Sam is gradually losing her mind, why would she be screaming for Jason”, reluctantly he went back to the house and picked a key to his AMG G 65 , he started the car and drove down the road.

LAGOS (Lekki) 3:30 am

Sam screeched to a halt in front of a 13 Portland road and it was a tastefully furnished duplex, her mind flashed back to Jason again……how she got the news that he jumped from 3^rd mainland bridge. He was rushed to the hospital but could only mumble “I’m sorry mum, but I just can’t live without her.”

Emotions welled up inside her and she made for the door, banging and banging with no answer……she ran around the house and saw an opened sliding window, she navigated her way through and went about looking for Jason….She reached him and found him unconscious, she tried to resuscitate him and also found his pulse. She was a member of the Red Cross society but gave it up to be a full time mother. She called her family hospital and gave directions as she kept holding on to him shouting “I’m not going to lose you again”. The ambulance arrived in the next fifteen minutes and she went to the hospital with them.

A DARN GOOD YEAR................EPISODE 7

 LAGOS (AJAH) 8:35pm

Sam was in for a rude shock as she entered the house and met Segun seated in the sitting room reading. His gaze met hers and he simply nodded, lifted the torn piece of paper and demanded an explanation for her recent behavior. She did not hide her resentment and told him she had no explanation for him, irritated he moved to hit her.

 Sam dodged and smiled “you blame me for being a bad mother to our children, you run away from me like I am infectious and now you attempt to hit me for no good reason. Jason is dead and gone, let his spirit rest and let mine be free, Laura has chosen her life, let me live mine too and you have chosen to be a bully but I will no longer be a weakling for you to trample on, I came home late today, so what?, Stay at home and cook meals you won’t touch, cry myself out and die of boredom……..you want an explanation and there goes your explanation. Good night Segun”.

He was dumbfounded and was going after her to shake her up and demand an explanation or even beat her but he cautioned himself and walked back to the bar and took another shot to bury his pain. She had opened up wounds that are still fresh even after three hundred and sixty five days.

 “ I was working my head off, as a wife and a mother she was meant to take care of the children, yes I know I have my fault but she was meant to know everything, including the symptoms of a child that was becoming suicidal. I asked her to give up her job for them, so she can watch over them, tell them reality and not Cinderella fairy stories, I was her first love but she was never mine……I just don’t know where I went wrong and now Laura, divorced after six months of marriage. Even the blind could tell he was a gold digger, I left it to Sam to talk to her but Laura stuck to her guns and now that she is hurt she blames everybody in life……..I don’t know where I went wrong” and he slept off on the couch.   

LAGOS (Lekki) 1:35 am

Kojo screamed from his sleep, shaking all over he pulled the duvet closer to himself. He had a horrible nightmare of senator Williams pulling him down into a dark pit; he closed his eyes again switched on the light saw Samanthas note and wanted to call her just to let her know he saw her note but thought it was unwise for him to call  a married woman at an ungodly hour. He could see her like a vision, seated in front of him with a huge wedding band on her left hand smiling like flowers on a sunny day. He moved to touch her but couldn’t reach her, he hissed ashamed of himself and turned back to sleep but could not. Instead he started having flashes on all his sexual escapades starting with his step-mother and later on men of power and wealth. Nauseated he jumped from his bed ran straight to the bathroom and threw up, he had lived a rotten life indeed, lied to his family in Ghana and has been a coward to himself, looking for the short and dirty way out to get money. Goose bumps appeared all over his body as sharp migraine struck his head, bending slightly he limped to his bed and wanted to call the first dialed number on his phone. 09055317698. But felt nauseated again and limped back to the bathroom. In frenzy he dialed the number 09055317698.

It rang once, twice and on the third ring it was picked……..

A DARN GOOD YEAR.....EPISODE 6

Head bowed on the table, with hands clasped together Kojo smiled and let the tears flow down his cheeks freely, mumbled some jargons and held Freds hands in his. He told him how grateful he was for being there for him and promised him never to run again. Fred nodded silently not fully understanding what he meant but was glad he was finally making some decisions himself.

The lounge {5:00pm}

Sam looked at her wristwatch, clearly disappointed on how her day turned out she wrote a note saying “thought you would want your newspaper back. 09055317698”.         She left the lounge reluctantly hoping on hope that against all odds Kojo would find the note and return a call as suggested. She frowned deeply when a thought crept into her mind that if he really needs the paper as she thought he could ask a vendor instead of going through all the stress of calling or even finding the note in the first place. She wanted to turn back and retrieve the note but pride stopped her. She started her car engine and thought of Segun again, she loved him but his invincibility is a threat to their love. She hushed the tears again and refused to cry instead turned up her stereo to full blast and sang along with the chorus.

Kojo zoomed his bike to a halt as he watched a stereo blasting car screech past him. He frowned a bit and noticed he did not fit into the new crowd at the lounge, now people from their various place of work come to hang out before they face the traffic ahead of them. Dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt he thanked God for the gift of life and walked in looking around for Don but his eyes suddenly saw Sam smiling at him as he walked to the table and met no one. Realizing that his mind played a fast one on him, he took a careful seat and called Don who apologized and asked him to wait for some minutes.

 He called a waitress and chose a menu of vegetable salad and fries, with a juice to go along. He thought about his day and silently thanked God again, he walked to the vendor and asked for his choice paper and hoped time would fly. He  looked at his best part, the horoscope section and he froze as he read “second chance; to live and to love. Go for it!” His mind flashed back to Sam, her smile, her warmth, her fear……he could almost see her and suddenly he saw a yellow sticky note on the table  “thought you would want your newspaper back. 09055317698”.  Finally life has found him and given him another chance, he thundered in reckless abandon picked up the note saved the number and raced to his power bike.