Thursday 2 February 2017

First date diaries – Ida and Tola

Uncle Bola had forgotten his wallet at home. When Sisi Yemisi entered the shop with her cooler of hot soft Moimoi, he had turned so quickly that Stan very narrowly missed nicking his ear. As Sisi Yemisi sashayed into the shop, Stan wondered if Uncle Bola was more interested in the seller than the product.

“Ha! My daughter, how are you doing today?”, Uncle Bola smiled at Sisi Yemisi.

But Sisi Yemisi rolled her eyes and stared pointedly at Uncle Bola’s wedding ring.
“It is two for 150 Naira Sir, things have cost.” She replied.

Ahn Ahn, you cannot answer ordinary greeting again shey? Okay give me four”. Uncle Bola put his hands in his right pocket to retrieve his wallet. Then he searched his left, back and breast pockets. Then he got up and shook himself, hoping somehow that the wallet would drop to the ground.

Then he remembered.

He had left his wallet on the coffee table after paying the maiguard that morning.

By this time Sisi Yemisi was eyeing him suspiciously, and Stan was regretting the fact that he had not enforced the pay before service rule.

No vex abeg”, Uncle Bola started, “when I go home, I will ask Tola to bring the money for you, and you too Stan”.
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Ida was sick and tired of best man duties.

Ida was sick and tired of being sick and tired of best man duties.

And the rules kept changing. According to the #BenZee17 Groomsmen planning committee, the best man had to buy wedding shoes for himself and the groom, while the groom would buy the suits.

Which kain scam be that?” He fumed as he drove home.

Anyway, this would be the very last time he would ever agree to be a part of anybody’s wedding party. Ever.

His phone rang. It was Ben, the first (or second) half of #BenZee17. Ida considered ignoring the call as he could not trust himself to be courteous after spending the previous two hours trying to convince the other groomsmen that wearing peach coloured suits was not a good idea.

But he shook his head and picked his phone. Ben was after all his best friend, never mind his choice of ‘other’ friends.

“Ida, please I need a favour. Zee’s car is at the mechanic’s workshop and she borrowed mine after dropping me off at Stan’s shop. She is running late and I know it’s on your way. Please if you don’t mind, can you give me a lift? We need to talk about the wedding anyway and catch up on stuff. Is that okay?” Ben asked

“Sure Bro, I’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Ida replied
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It was her eyes, he thought to himself some days later.

She had paused at the door, scanned the room quickly, settled them on him briefly, before making a beeline for the barber.

For a moment, he was puzzled. She had looked round the room almost passively, as if she couldn’t see anyone. Almost as if she just wanted to deliver her message and leave the room as quickly as she had come in. But she had hesitated when she saw him, he was almost sure of this.

He felt certain urgency when she turned to leave the room.

Against his better judgement, he got up, leaving a puzzled Ben, and ran after her.

When she turned and smiled, he couldn’t speak for a moment.

“I was right, you saw me in there, right?” Ida said.

“I saw everyone,” Tola replied.

“Fair enough, but I hope you’ll see me again” Ida replied.

Tola smiled.

They chatted for a while and exchanged phone numbers.

Later that night, Ida woke up with a start when he remembered that he had agreed to loan his car to Ben for a whole week.

His mind had been so occupied with the beautiful girl he had met at the barber’s shop, he would have agreed to anything.

Tola.

#To’Da17

“Haha Ida is in love! Who woulda thunk it?”, he thought to himself as he drifted back to sleep.



Glossary of some terms
Moimoi- Traditional steamed bean pudding.
Things have cost-  Times are hard
Shey- Right? 
Maiguard- Security guard
No vex abeg- Please do not be angry
Which kain scam be that- What manner of deception is that?








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