Loving Umar Part 2 ... Edited version

THREE YEARS BEFORE

TAYO
My heart skipped an actual beat, then it slowed down for a second or two, then it started racing so fast I could barely catch a breath. The reason for the odd behavior of my heart was standing, like a vision, right in front of me. He was the African version of Adonis, the Greek god. He was uncommonly tall, like six feet five inches, with a well-toned body and fantastic abs. I could see his abs because he had taken off his shirt in order to fix the vehicle he was hunkered over. If his body was beautiful, it was nothing compared to the face of this creature. His eyes were shaped like small almonds and their pupils were a deep brown, his nose was straight and pointed, his lips were slim and sensual and his skin was an even caramel hue.
He stood up and stretched out and I marveled at the way his muscles rippled in unison with all his stretching movements. Amina nudged me awake, “I’m glad you approve,” she said sarcastically, “although I’m not sure if ‘approve’ isn’t an understatement. Heh! Heh!”
“Very funny Mina”, I said rolling my eyes toward the sky.
“Umar! Umar! I’m home!” Amina was positively shrieking at the top of her voice as she ran toward her elder brother. He jumped a little at the sound of her voice, turned around with a slight look of surprise on his face and then, when it finally dawned on him what was happening, he broke into a smile that did the impossible: made him even more perfect than he previously was. He swept his little sister into his arms and laughed joyously, “So how is our little degree holder doing?”
“I’m fine! I’m fine!” came the laughing reply, “Oya put me down! Haba! people will think I am the elder child here. I came in to open the gate seeing as how my horn is bad, but I didn’t think you would be home”.
“Oh? I’m on leave oh! I was supposed to hang out with Yaro and the other boys, but this car…” he kicked the wheel of the car in a burst of pure anger. I noticed a shadow of fear cross Mina’s face, but it was gone so quickly that I was not sure if it was ever there. Then she said with a smile, “Haba Umar! Geskiya, it’s not such a big deal. I mean I can see Mama’s car in the driveway, and even if she is going out, you can use mine now I’m home.” He smiled and said, “Minnie babe, but you are a life saver, geskiya, a real life saver!”
“Whatever boy!”, even though I could see that she was blushing. I had watched this exchange between brother and sister intently, well, okay I had watched the brother intently because I was hoping that he would raise his eyes away from his sister long enough to notice me, but I was fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunate because his steady gaze never once left his tiny sister’s face so I could drink in his delicious looks to my satisfaction, unfortunate because the fact that he took no notice of me made me feel a little awkward and insecure. I began to fidget and wish I hadn’t come home with Mina. Just at that moment I heard Mina say again, “Come meet my friend Tayo from school. Mum said she could rent the boys quarters during our service year.”
She was pointing in my direction as she made this declaration and his gaze followed her finger. When he saw me he started, and then he smiled that fabulous smile of his, he strolled toward me and stuck out his hand, “I’m guessing you are the famous Tayo, right? Minnie mouse can’t stop talking about you, apparently you are Minnie’s role model. You know she is always saying, ‘Tayo this’ and “Tayo that’. We were beginning to wonder how she would survive after school. Apparently she and my mom worked it out.”
“H… hi … I guess”, I gave my greeting laughingly because he had somehow managed to put me at ease. Umar laughed with me and then stuck his hand out again, “it seems I have put you at a disadvantage. I know who you are but you don’t know who I am.” He smiled again, “Well, I…”
“You’re Umar Tijani, Mina’s beloved elder brother, about whom I am sure I know every intimate detail, seeing as how she cannot shut her mouth up about how fabulous you are. And speaking of role models, I thought you were hers.” I pulled a wry face and Umar and Mina burst into delighted gales of laughter. “Well!”, Amina exclaimed, “You guys seem to have saved me the trouble of an introduction and you seem to be getting along. Phew!”


UMAR
I jumped when I heard Mina screech my name like that. I mean, I was already a little pissed off because my car had refused to start, spoiling my plans to hang out for a little while. So I turned toward her with the intention of berating her, or taking out my anger on her. I, however, noticed through the corner of my eye that there was someone behind her, so I forced a smile on my face and steeled my self for her ebullient greetings. Don’t get me wrong, I love my tiny younger sister to the end of the world, but she couldn’t have chosen a more wrong time to come home. Luckily, I remembered in time that she had just graduated and that was why she was home. I think I might have congratulated her, but I am not really sure because I was barely paying attention to a word she was saying. All I wanted was a car to get out of the house that day so my mind was wandering but I am almost sure we had a pretty decent conversation.
“…be home.” At those words I actually began to listen to the little dear.
“Oh? I’m on leave oh! I was supposed to hang out with Yaro and the other boys”, at this point in my explanation I started getting a bit frustrated, “but this car…” I hit the car in frustration and Minnie me backed up a bit and started blubbering something about my mom’s car being available but what caught my attention was when she offered me her car. I let the angry expression fade from my face and put on a face of extreme gratitude, hugging her and promising her the world in return for her “favor”. The little thing looked so grateful and relieved I almost felt sorry for her. Well, not really, but you know!
When I turned to look at the guest, I felt like something had slammed into my stomach. She was beautiful, if beautiful is not an understatement. Then I noticed something, any time she tried to look me in the eye she had to turn away. A slow smile spread across my face as it dawned on me. This lovely piece of art was shy; hence she could be controlled. I stood up a little taller and strode toward her as Minnie me skipped ahead to make the introductions.
When I got close to her I recognized her from pictures Minnie me had showed. She was Tayo something or other from Amina’s school. Apparently Minnie me had been so taken in by something in the young lady’s personality that she was all she ever spoke about when she came home for holidays. So when Minnie me begun to introduce her, I interrupted with a bow and said, “I’m guessing you are the famous Tayo, right? Minnie mouse can’t stop talking about you; apparently you are Minnie’s role model. You know she is always saying, ‘Tayo this’ and “Tayo that. We were beginning to wonder how she would survive after school. Apparently she and my mom worked it out.”
I was watching Tayo closely as I said this and I knew that I had struck gold when she visibly relaxed and said with a relieved laugh, “H… hi … I guess”. I laughed and she joined me. At this point I was fairly sure that I would be able to get her to date me. It was just up to me to decide whether or not I wanted to date her so I stuck out my hand and said, “It seems I have put you at a disadvantage. I know who you are but you don’t know who I am…” I took a breath and smiled and she used that time to interrupt, “You’re Umar Tijani, Mina’s beloved elder brother, about whom I am sure I know every intimate detail, seeing as how she cannot shut her mouth up about how fabulous you are. And speaking of role models, I thought you were hers.” I could tell she was trying to be funny, so I let the fact that she had interrupted me slide. She pulled a funny face and we all burst into laughter. Mina said something and we all laughed. At this point my phone rang.

TODAY

TAYO
I woke up in a room filled with flowers and edible stuff, but the thing that impressed me the most was the fact that I felt like I had been run over by a car again and again. And again! And yet again!
“Baby! You’re awake!” I heard Umar’s voice as though from a distance and I tried to turn my head to see him, but I guess I must have passed out because it seemed like all at once it was evening.
Umar said, “Don’t try to look at me or you’ll black out again. I’m glad you are awake. I was so worried. I haven’t left your side all day.”
I was a bit confused. Was this the same man that had beaten me up so thoroughly? Or had I dreamed about that beating? Just trying to figure out what was going on was making my head ache so I tried to settle the second pressing issue: “Water ”, I croaked.
“Yes! Yes!” Umar said eagerly, from the sound of things, he jumped out of his chair causing the chair to fall over. In a short time a straw was placed against my lips and I sipped the water gratefully. When I had enough, my husband took the water away, raised his seat upright and cleared his throat. “Uhm! Tayo? Honey? Can we talk?”
“About?”
“Baby, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what came over me! If you had only done what I had asked you to do the way I wanted all this would not have happened I promise baby I will never hit you again!”
DON’T YOU DARE BELIEVE A WORD THAT HE IS UTTERING, DON’T DARE!
The voice exploded in my head causing my vision to double for a little while, I had to rest my head a bit. Where was this voice coming from and why did it sound so familiar?
“Umar honey.” I interrupted quickly. “I can’t do this any more. I’m hurting from every angle. I cannot begin to live in fear all over again. You promised! You swore you would never hit me again!” I made this speech with some difficulty as talking made my sides hurt.
Umar looked crushed, and I felt something expand in my head, but I pushed it aside quickly, I’m not naturally mean and I sure wasn’t going to take pleasure in seeing Umar look hurt.
“I swear Tayo, have no idea what came over me, but it will never happen again. I …”
“Umar, listen to me.” I was sure I didn’t want to hear all that. Again. “I have heard all this before and I am definitely not going to fall for this again. I was bleeding , bleeding, and you just kept hitting me!”
“I know, I know! But sweetheart, if you take some time to think about it, you will realize that something had to be wrong with me. that is so not me, you know that! I would never hit you so hard. And I know that I have said that I would change before, but I mean it this time baby. I have never been so scared in my life as I was when I saw you motionless on the floor.” He had started crying at some point in this tirade and at this point he broke off, unable to go on because of the storm of tears that had overcome him.
“Hey, hey, hey!” I said comforting him, “Please don’t cry.” I was really feeling like a witch.
“I’m sure we can…” But I could not complete the sentence as the voice in my head was running wild. She was screaming her head off.
TAYO, YOU DUMMY! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TELL ME THAT YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY THINKING OF COMPROMISING! AGAIN? HE IS GOING TO KILL YOU NEXT TIME! GIRL WHERE ARE YOUR BRAINS? TELL THAT VILE, REPULSIVE PIECE OF RUBBISH TO GET OUT OF YOUR LIFE! FOR GOOD!
“You know what Umar?” I asked
“Yes?”
“Well, normally I would have said, all was forgiven, but you almost got me killed. I need time to sort through things in my head. Right now I have mixed feelings about us.”
“But…”
“Umar please leave, you are agitating me”.
He walked out of the room with an odd expression on his face.
It was time to get some thinking done. Umar had promised to change many times, but this was the first time he had ever cried when talking about it. But then again, this was the first time he had ever beaten me up this badly. I thought about it. I frowned as I thought, can I really make it without Umar? After all how many times had he told me I was not worth the time he had invested in me. Besides, I really love him, and he loves me too!
HUSH TAYO, the voice said. At that point I recognized the voice.
“Mama?” I asked in shock, could I really be hearing my grandma’s voice in my head. I was sure that I was losing it, Mama had been dead a long time.
HOW CAN YOU THINK THAT FOOL LOVES YOU? HE HITS YOU AT EVERY TURN. SURE ENOUGH HE ALWAYS TREATS YOU LIKE A QUEEN FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS AFTER A REALLY HARD BEATING, BUT THAT DOESN’T STOP HIM FROM HURTIN YOU AGAIN! THAT IS NOT LOVE! EVEN IF IT IS, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE THE WAY YOUR MOTHER DID?
An image imbedded it self in my mind, my mother, bleeding and sick telling me not to take her to the hospital, my dad would kill her if he found out she had asked for help.
“I certainly don’t want that!” I mumbled
NOW SHE’S SHOWING SOME SENSE!
I laughed aloud and a doctor came into my room with a nurse who was carrying a tray. He was an elderly man with a head full of gray hair and a round face, which seemed to have been created for laughter and joy. He smiled at me kindly and said, “You poor dear. If only there was hope of catching the vagabonds who did this to you.” His smile turned a little sad as he shook his head and said, “But you know the conditions in this country, the police have probably forgotten about your case by now. Anyway, I believe that God will judge them.”
I was a bit lost as to what the doctor was talking about. “What do you mean ‘vagabonds’?”
“Don’t you remember? You were attacked by thieves in your home. Your husband found you and brought you here. You are lucky he brought you here when he did.”
“Oh, so that’s the story!” I said even as the voice in my head said, And your argument was? “How was I lucky?” I asked, remembering his last statement.
The doctor frowned and said, “Two of your ribs were broken, one very close to your lungs. That one broke upward and inward, piercing your left lung. The thieves also hit your kidneys a lot, causing slight damage to your kidneys. Your nose is broken, and you have a slight concussion. And you sprained a shoulder. It almost seems like those people were trying to kill you! If any more blood had entered your lungs… well it didn’t happen and for that we are grateful.” When I heard that statement, I shuddered as the look of jubilation on Umar’s face as he hit me flashed through my mind and a thought tried to form in my tired head. But I was in too much pain to consider it.
That’s a nice excuse! I started in surprise as I heard that voice, grandma really seemed to have it in for me. It’s funny watching you always try to make excuses, for how long will it continue Tayo? I was confused, I had no idea what she was talking about, so I shook my head, smiled at the doctor, and said, “I’m in so much pain.” the doctor smiled kindly and told the nurse to administer pain killers. A few minutes later I slipped into sweet oblivion. An unconsciousness that was devoid of hard decisions.
When I woke up again, it was daytime and my room was empty, my mouth felt as though I had swallowed a whole box of cotton wool. My head was swimming and I hurt in places that I previously thought it was impossible to hurt in. As I lay there, recalling the doctor’s words, I begun to feel very lonely, I wished for Umar’s comforting presence. After a few minutes I realized that my face was wet. Touching my cheeks, I realized that I was shedding tears. For what reason I know not. I wiped off the tears and thought, at least I’ll be home soon. I was just thinking it, but I got a reply anyway. I replied myself, Where is your home? If you can answer that … I pushed the thought away, scared. I didn’t even want to think about the fact that I had made a decision even in my sleep. But then the voice in my head replied for me, Home is wherever you feel safest! And I held on to that thought like it was the only thing that would keep me alive.

Loving Umar... Part 1...Eited Version

TAYO

The blow that landed at the back of my head caught me by surprise. I had turned away from Umar, and besides I didn’t think that he would hit me… I didn’t expect it at all. When I turned back to accost him, another punch landed fully on my face breaking my nose so painfully that a bright light invaded my vision. I can swear that I heard a crunch and I saw a bright splash of blood spurt out from my nose as though in slow motion. For a while, I was lost in an upside down world, so I shook my head gently in order to clear it and I literally saw stars. I wasn’t too sure as to what I had done that was so wrong, so I opened my mouth to ask him, that was when the next punch landed, smack in the center of my mouth, mashing my lips against my teeth. I started to cry then, soft silent sobs with bitter tears running down my face and mixing with the blood. I saw him smile gleefully and so I asked him, “Umar? What’s going on?” Even as I asked, I saw him pull back his fist for another hit so I dodged it causing him to howl in fury and kick me in my shins. I gasped in pain and slipped down to my knees. “GET UP!!!” Umar roared in anger pulling me roughly to my feet and pinned me to the wall. He slapped me again and my head rocked backward hitting the wall hard and I could only see a bright light for a moment or two. “DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET AWAY WITH THAT!!!? HOW SILLY!” At this point his voice begun to sound like it was coming from a distance and there was a ringing in my ears, my face felt like it was on someone else’s body. I don’t know what came over me, I just started screaming,; I screamed and I screamed and it seemed the more I screamed the angrier he became because Umar went into some kind of frenzy, beating me and shouting and kicking me as hard as he possibly could.

Soon, however, I could scream no more, and my breath was coming out in hitched sobs. The edges of my vision begun to dim out and my head was whirling. By this time, Umar had stopped for a breather and was massaging his shoulder muscles while asking, “Why do you make me hit you! If you would just behave yourself, we would never be in this situation…” His voice began to get dimmer and dimmer as another voice rang loudly in my ears, “WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY IS HE HITTING YOU?”

I jumped a little at the sound of this voice, and I looked around, turning my head slowly and gently in order to see who was asking that question. Even as I was turning my head I knew that I had heard the voice in my head and that this voice, which sounded vaguely like my grandmother’s, was asking me questions that I would never ask my self.

“Umar,” I croaked, “honey! Why?”

Umar started as though I had struck him. “Are you asking me why? You are really asking me WHY?” he slapped me at this point and my already weak body slid to the ground, I was shaking and tired, but not Umar! No! Umar was like a man possessed. He kept shouting at me, he ranted and he raved, and then he acted like he was going to hit me, causing me to cower into the wall as though I could pass through it. As he continued to rant, I started to cough. Deep boisterous sounds that rattled my whole body and put me in even more pain.

“You better be quiet! If you are not quiet I will…” Blood spurted out of my nose and my mouth and I continued to cough out blood.

Tayo baby, how did you get to this stage? I heard a roaring sound in my ears and that drowned out all other sounds, but my new friend in my head persisted in asking, how did it get so bad? How can the man that you love beat you this badly? You do realize that f you try to tell any one this they will call you a liar? This beating is unrealistic! It’s almost like he tried to kill you! Tayo baby…

I can’t remember anything else after this point, except that I seemed to fall into a quiet darkness. Now I think about it, that darkness was a relief. It meant that I wouldn’t have to face Umar’s beating and insults, it also meant that I wouldn’t be in pain anymore. I gladly let myself slip into this blessed and much needed darkness.

UMAR

I guess Tayo did not see the punch coming. I mean, how could she? After all she had turned away from me. I had planned to hit her, but I’m sure I wouldn’t have hit her so hard if she had not tried to walk away from me. I mean, I was still talking. So I lashed out a little harder than I had originally intended. When the blow landed, she staggered a little and turned around to face me with this look of utter surprise on her face. I was ready to leave off hitting her until I saw her lips move like she was about to question me, stunned by her audacity , I punched her again, this time full on in the face. As soon as I did that I regretted it, because her nose broke. How would I explain away a broken nose? I was just about to start apologizing when I noticed that she was fixing to say something. I did not have the words to tell how mad I was, so I hit her across the face again, targeting her mouth just to get the message across. I felt her teeth against my knuckles , grazing the skin of my knuckles, causing me to bleed a little, I saw blood rush out of a cut on her lips, and I saw her stagger. All these observations were made in a very abstract manner as the submissive look on her face was beginning to excite me. she looked as though she realized that she had been very stupid. As though she knew that stupidity came with a price and that price had to be paid. In fact, she looked like the Tayo I was trying to cultivate. The quiet humble woman who would be the pride of any man, but would be exclusively mine.

It had been a long time since I had been chanced to remind Tayo who was in charge in this house. My wife had been on her best behavior recently. She had done everything perfectly, there had been no cause to correct her and I was beginning to feel like a useless husband. Had she finally seen how weak I was? I had become afraid, I mean if there was nothing to correct, then she did not need me any more which meant she could walk out at anytime and I can’t have that. I know that it is not possible for such an imperfect person to become perfect all at once. So I decided to set up a small test to see if she had really become as perfect as she appeared. Boy, did it pay off!

It was a simple test really. I can’t believe that … well actually I can believe it, after all Tayo is a stupid little thing. That is why she needs my guidance and correction every once in a while. I pulled my hand back for another punch and struck her. Or at least I tried to strike her, I ended up hitting thin air. In my rage I struck her in the shins.

I came back to my self a moment later when I heard her ask me what she had done wrong. The daft lady didn’t know what she had done wrong! I was flabbergasted! Of all the gall! I turned to look at her and discovered that she was on the floor. On her knees, yet not humbled. That thought flashed through my head and it shamed me. was I so powerless that my wife no longer respected me? Had I lost so much of my masculinity that she felt she could question any of my acts? What was going on here. I was filled with so many different emotions, fear, shame and rage. Rage is good, focus on the rage, I told myself. “GET UP!” Even as I was shouting out the instruction, I was pulling her roughly to her feet and slamming her against the wall, then I struck her across the face sharply. I asked her if she had thought I would let her go free. At this point she begun to shriek, a high wordless wail that put me into a frenzy. I beat her thoroughly, throwing in some kicks for good measure. When she stopped screaming, she again had the temerity to ask why I was still hitting her. I realized then that beating her up was not enough to humble her, I had to remind her how worthless she was I had to let her know that she was lucky to be with her. So I started by asking her why she always made me ht her when she knew there was nothing I loved more than a quiet night in, right in the middle of my diatribe, the bitch began to cough! “SHUT UP!” I roared, slapping her once more, by this time she was already on her knees once more and after the slap, she started to cough up blood. I paused with my hand poised for another slap. I waited for the blood to stop, but she kept on coughing up amazing amounts of blood. She slid to the ground in the fetal position and coughed twice. All was still and I got scared, if she died from my beating there would be no way to explain it. I had beaten her up the way thieves would have beaten up a victim. Thieves! That gave me an idea. I ran upstairs, washed my face and hands and changed back into the clothes I wore to work that morning and went back downstairs to put her into the car.

My World... Jarwhol

There are days when the world as it is seems almost too much for me... too many "sane" people. On those days it seems like i stand apart from the rest of the world even more... On those days i'm lonely and weak... and i want nothing to do with other people.
On these days i move from this world into another world, a world where there is zero normalcy... here the grass is never green and the sea isn't always water... in fact things are great. No one judges me or tells me i'm weird. my best friend is half jaguar half cheetah and is called a maldeesh! his name is Yonosa. and his wife is Star. All the animals talk. and they collaborate with the mafolk. the head of the animalkind is a Bagree called Skeera! she is a great black feline of a specie i am yet to identify. She is the most beautiful creature i have ever laid my eyes on. Her fur is sleek and beautiful, her body is lean and well toned. she can stand on all fours or walk with just two feet. She is almost humanoid when she walks with two feet. she carries an aura of power around her, and trust, she does have some great powers. I have only ever seen her twice but she claims that we are great friends.
the Head of the humanfolk is a Man called Hanadnee. i have only ever seen him once from a distance. But from the stuff i hear, he is a mighty warrior. Today is one such day, so i say... come away with me... lets fly on the wings of the wind... join me in Jarwhol... Let us explore this world created to ave me from "sanity"... hee hee

Strange Things 1

She sat in the corner of the bar looking lost and when the bartender came over to ask her what she wanted, she only ordered a coke. I had been watching her for a while and she was doing an odd thing. Every few minutes she would look into her purse and wring her hands, her face would literally crumple and she would look four times her age, after a while, she seemed to give herself a mental shake and looked around as though to make sure no one was watching her. She was beautiful and I have a thing for beautiful ladies, plus I can’t stand to see a lady in distress, so I stood up and walked over to her.
“Is this seat taken?” I asked indicating the chair beside her, causing her to jump slightly even though she had been facing me when I was walking toward her. It took her an instant to compose her and she flashed me a brilliant smile that was carefree and warm at the same time, “It is now!” Was her tart reply.
I sat down with an answering smile and introduced myself to her. Still smiling she took my hand and said her name was KayCee, which was short for Morenike. After that the talk just flowed. She was quite an educated woman and seeing as how I am a lawyer – which we all know stands for Know-it-all – we had a very engaging conversation ranging from things as trifling as the latest “Nollywood” Movie to discussions as heated as the latest PDP scandal that was rocking the nation. She told me that her ideal vacation within the country would be a visit to Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross Rivers State because she loved “all things green”! Which led me to crack a joke regarding a DNA test to ensure she was Nigerian seeing as how all Nigerians seemed to be running away from “all things green” and strolling toward “all things computerized”. She laughed and said she was a complete zero with technology. According to her, the only reason she had a cell phone was because her ex had gotten tired of trying to surmise when she was at home and had bought her an N96, which of course she could not use so she had traded it in for a 3300. I laughed, “For someone who claims to be a technology idiot, you seem to know models of phones pretty well”.
“I love numbers”, she laughingly declared. Of course I immediately asked if she knew her cell number by heart, causing her to laugh again, “You must think you are smart” she said. “Young man, if you want my number ask for it directly”. So I did. All in all it was a fun, if somewhat cheesy night.
After about an hour and a half of this type of teasing and flirting, we got up to leave the bar together. All night, underneath all the teasing, there had been a strong attraction between us both and we just knew that the night was going to end steamily, so when it was time to go, as if by some unspoken consent we left together. It was raining heavily outside and KayCee shrieked with excitement running to get under the rain. She started a funny kind of dance consisting mainly of awkward bumps and jerks… and I’m not sure but I think I might have detected some sort of attempt to wind her hips. I couldn’t help myself; I knew I would probably lose points with her, but she was so funny and so cute at the same time. I burst into laughter, I laughed so hard that I had told my sides for fear my ribs would fall out. She stopped dancing and started pouting.
“Hey, hey!” I said, walking into the rain and catching her chin with the tip of my finger gently, “Don’t do that! I’m not laughing at you. It’s just, well, you are so cute. A terrible dancer, yes! But the best bad dancer I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
She laughed, “You know you are the worst sweet talker ever, right?”
“At least I’m honest”, I retort
“Yes! At least there’s that.”
By this time she is in my arms and she’s looking into my face, while the rain drenches us both. I forget who made the move, forget who kissed whom; all that I recall is a fantastic kiss. Attempting to describe the things I felt during that kiss would belittle it, but Femi, believe me when I say there can be only one such kiss. Outside of that, the kiss was also very weird. A few seconds into it, I could have sworn that it had stopped raining and the sun had come out. Don’t be absurd, I thought to myself, it’s 2 in the morning. Yet, I could feel the rays of sunlight beating down on me, warming me up, so I thought I’d open my eyes for a bit. I did, and I can swear that I caught a glimpse of a forest before my eyes were fully opened but by the time they opened – a nanosecond later – of course we were outside in the dark rainy compound in which the bar was located. I remember I tried to pull away from the kiss, but she held me tight and deepened the kiss. “Close your eyes”, she said. I don’t know how she got it out of her mouth seeing as how she never broke the kiss, “It’s better that way”, now that I think about it, I’m not sure whether it was my ears or my mind that heard that husky timbre that was her voice but I obeyed her. This time I heard whispers and felt like we were being watched. Again, I tried to check, but I found that my eyes would not open. To my left side, I heard a woman scream; on my right I heard an animal make a sound. That sound! It was like nothing I have ever heard before, and it is like nothing I ever want to hear again, it was… it was horrible, a cross between a bark a meow, a purr a roar and a grunt. I say it was an animal sound because I cannot imagine a human being make that sound - just the thought of it is enough to make my fingers of reality begin to warp – but I don’t think any animal make that sound. Maybe then I was able to delude myself that I t was an animal. I needed to deceive myself that it was an animal.
By this time KayCee had broken away from me and was smiling into my eyes, when I looked at her, I couldn’t help but smile back. The memory of the weird things that had, maybe, occurred during our kiss was already receding and all I recalled was how great the kiss was. On that basis, I leaned in for another kiss. This time, with no conscious plan, I kept my eyes open. What I saw, I still have trouble believing, even after all that happened later that night. As soon as our lips touched, I saw the most divine woman you can imagine ten times over. She was tall, almost eight feet tall, and slim. Her skin was the color of red earth, but it was so clear that it appeared to be translucent; her eyes were the color of coals, right down to the red spark in the middle – the dying ember – she was smiling in approval and her small white teeth shone like pearls in the night. But as beautiful as this woman was, I was freaked out by her! I think this is because I saw where she had come out!
I feel my sanity going even as I tell you this. She had come out of KayCee! Yes, yes! That goddess had pushed her way out from between KayCee’s skirt, so I can only presume that she had come from between KayCee’s thighs, all eight feet of her. She was so tall that when her back reached the floor, she had to begin slithering in order to free herself from KayCee’s body. It was awful!
I tried to free my self from KayCee’s grip in order to scream, she held me in place with surprisingly strong arms and sighed. “The human body is a beautifully terrible thing. It says so much more than words ever could, I see you’ve seen my child.” At these words, I felt my sanity begin to slide, I began to chant a poem that used to calm me down as a child.
“Oh my home!
Oh my home!
When shall I see my home?
When shall I see my loving home?
I will never forget my home!”...

To be continued...

This Job Thing

NYSC is almost over and it seems like every one seems to know what is happening next for them, this thought was uppermost in Nkechi's mind that day. I mean, I have no clue what I am going to do next. Should I go to school or should I find a job. She shook head and laughed, "Get a job?" this was asked aloud, "Even if I decide i want to get a job, What kind of job can I get? The only things I seem to be interested in don't seem to be money makers!"

She ran her hands through her her and sighed deeply, getting up and strolling into the bathroom where she sat down on the rim of the bath tub to think. Ok, Nkechi what are you good at? I love to read, so I can edit books. I can write or so I think... but what kind of careers will such passions afford me. I mean what sort of a living can I make with such passions. Even if I say I want to go back to school, that will have to be next year so I have a year at hand and I refuse ...

The phone rang at this point, interrupting her thought flow. "NKECHI!", Tara screamed so loudly that Nkechi winced and had to pull the phone away from her ears. Oblivious to this Tara continued screaming over the phone, "YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT, MY ADMISSION JUST CAME THROUGH NKECHI I AM SO EXCITED I GOT INTO PRINCETON!!!! WOOOOO! I'M DOING MY MASTERS AT PRINCETON!"

Nkechi's heart sank a little even though she was truly glad for Tara. "Oh my gosh Tara, I'm so glad for you. Wow! It worked, It really worked. That's all you, Ok? All you!" Another person who knows what to do with her life, Lord, What is going on?
"Haba, Nkechi what do you mean all me? After all you and Habiba were the ones that kept reminding me to get my application in on time and all that, you were always there! Anyway it paid off I GOT IN BABY!!!!" The girls fell into fits of delighted laughter at this outburst from Tara. When the laughter had died down some, the girls chatted for a little while while, making plans to meet up for a while the next day after work and celebrate, the Tara said something about preserving her credit and got off the line.

She let the phone slide out of her hand and used the hand to wipe across her face sliding to the floor of the bathroom as she did that. "Nkechi", she called her name aloud, "Nkechi, Nkechi, Nkechi", her voice became a sort of groan at the back of her throat. What are you going to do? What are you going to do? What are you going to do?

She stood up, caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiled brightly at herself. "Darling, it's obvious that you will not solve this problem tonight. At least you realise you got a problem. Here's what we are going to do. We chew on this issue and think seriously about what we need to do. Time is running out but It hasn't run out yet. Realise that you cannot be like everyone and move on. That doesn't mean you don't keep trying to figure out your corporate essence. Keep your head up babe. You won't regret. You might be a bit of a late starter, but you will make it. You have to ... failure is an unacceptable variable for you". She winked in the mirror after this self lecture, smoothed out her hair and sauntered out to rejoin the cocktail her parents had thrown in order to celebrate her finishing her service year all the while smiling to herself as she considered the irony of celebrating the end of a phase of her life when there seemed to be no new phase to step into.

Breathless... (I don't know wat i was trying to achieve... I don't know it i achieved it

*"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one."* *James A. Froude*
she stood at the top of the hill, looking down at the valley below. The view was beyond words. the village nestled in the valley looked almost like she imagined a fairy city would look. with squat houses fenced in by hibiscus bushes. the houses were cheery and looked inviting, there was not a patch of dry land to be seen, every square inch was covered with foliage of some sort. the land was flourishing, but the most amazing thing was the stream! It flowed serenely down the hill, a sparkling silver snake that wound its way through the heart of the village, providing the dwellers with drink and sanitation.
Ah, the river! the river was the village it self, the life force of the village, flowing clear as a diamond that has been newly buffed, the river was a serene animal, but it was deadly too. the villagers knew this and respected it. you didn't mess around with the Vistic river, it was a kind life giving force, but it would kill you too.
When the town was morning a death, the river turned black, when the chief died, it was blue. When the river was hungry, it turned blood red. and yes, it got hungry every day. when it was hungry it had to be fed, otherwise it would turn a pale malevolent shade of purple, and when the river turned purple, the town began to die. The green grass would shrivel up and die. Whole trees would disappear, the houses would lose their cheery aspects, but, worst of all, the villagers would begin to vanish. body parts would be missing in the morning, no blood or pain, they would just... go! and by night that person would have been erased from the town, permanently.
at this point the river would no longer require an animal, it would require three living humans, a man, a woman, and a child.
She stood at the top of the hill, looking down at the valley below. the view was beyond words. the village nestled in the valley looked almost like she imagined a fairy city would look. with squat houses fenced in by hibiscus bushes. the houses were cheery and looked inviting, there was not a patch of dry land to be seen, every square inch was covered with foliage of some sort. the land was flourishing, but the most amazing thing was the stream! It flowed serenely down the hill, a sparkling silver snake that wound its way through the heart of the village, providing the dwellers with drink and sanitation. but she had to get away from that village. after all she could only look down at the purple stream with her one remaining eye...