July 26, 2013

Smoothies and Mendings

It was a really short walk.

Not long enough for a fight. But just about right for him to say something off and for her 
to let go of his hand and remember the reason she had left him in the first place. More than enough time for the cold of the streets to find its way back into their hearts.

By some tacit agreement, they kept on walking to their destination even though their 
appetites had disappeared. They had made it far enough that it made no sense to walk back home without the food they set out for in the first place.

"What will your order be today, sir?"

"Two servings of Fish and chips to go please," He answered the man taking their orders. 

The server's nose was red from all the cold and he was ready for his shift to be over so he could go home and cuddle with his wife. He envied the young couple standing in front of him. He wished he could spend more time with his wife. She was always complaining about his late hours. Yesterday they had fought and this morning he had left the house without kissing her goodbye. He would give anything to trade places with this young couple and see his wife smile that smile that she reserved only for him.

"I don't want chips," the girl suddenly interjected.

Dele looked at her for the first time since she let go of his hand. There was a sadness in her eyes that only he could have put there and his heart broke all over again. It was a mistake, he wanted to say, one that he was determined to spend the rest of his life making up for, if only she would have him. 

Instead he asked "Why don't you want chips, Ada?" 

"I just don't," she said, her stubborn chin sticking out in defiance, daring him to question her.

"Alrighty then. Two fish and one chips coming up," the server said, suddenly in a hurry to get away from this lover's quarrel. It reminded him too much of his own problems. He had not taken two steps when he heard the man 
call out.

"And one strawberry smoothie!" 

There was no way they could hold hands on their walk back to their apartment; their hands were occupied with bags of food. 

"You don't like strawberries" she said as they neared home.

"But you do." He replied.

"I didn't ask for it."

"No, you didn't but its yours for as long as you want it."

"What if I don't want it, Dele? What if I am not ready for it?"

"Then it will wait till you are. So long as you don't give up on it totally."

She held onto the bags while he fetched the keys.

When daylight returned, it would find the bags intact, fish and chips going sour, a smoothie that had gone flat, clothes strewn everywhere and love returned to its rightful place.

Song of the day: Cece Winans - Mercy Said No

July 15, 2013

Cobwebs

It has been ages...

Well hello, Ms. Obvious...Lol

I haven't written any story I wanted to share in a long time so I kinda just sat back and read all you guys' stuff. It is so refreshing and daunting to see all the amazing talent in Nigeria. And no, we shall not go into what Chimamanda said or meant in her interview. I am a huge fan of the woman. Nigerians need to learn respect for others' opinions. Chikena...

Things are changing so fast. I am moving to a new city and excited but also scared. New apartment, new clothes (as soon as I can afford them after shelling out all these money for rent and the move), new friends...and yet I miss the old stuff...

I miss my family.
I miss Mr Kiah.
I miss school.
I miss my friends.
I miss my old job.

But I am in a happy place and if you ask me why, I will smile and tell you "If no be God o..." 

So many answered prayers, so many more answers on the way...

Its another birthday in a few weeks. If I had one wish, I would ask that the people I love be fulfilled. I am getting to the place where I pray more for others than I do myself. It is a wonderful thing when you love people enough to put your desires aside and lift theirs up before God. You can't get better than that in love. Then you become what God intended for you to be in the first place...just like Him.

I am still waiting on that next story...praying to God for inspiration because I am nothing without Him. I have no doubt it will be written just the way He wants it and at the right time.

Till then, keep the stories coming people. 

Song of the day: William McDowell- I Won't Go Back