If You Missed The Part 1, Read It Here
They sat down opposite each other and started talking. At first,she
was kinda stiff,but as the conversation went on,her tension melted away.
“So how long are you gonna be around?”,she asked about an hour later.
He chewed and swallowed the rice in his mouth and said;”About three
months. After which i’ll receive a letter from Met U,find out whether
they accepted my college application or not”. She knew how badly he
wanted to get into Met U;he’d mentioned it before several times. “They’d
be crazy not to take you”,she said,and continued;”I mean,come on.
You’re smart,you’re intuitive,you’re hardworking. . You’d be an asset”.
He smiled at her gratefully and said;”Thank you for saying that”.
“Your’e welcome”,she said,smiling back at him,outwardly radiating cool
self-assurance,but her insides had turned to jelly when he smiled. He
had pearly white teeth,slight dimples,and his eyes crinkled at the
corners when he laughed. “Uhh. . . It’s been over an hour”,she said a
few minutes later,looking at heq wristwatch. “I have to go”,she
continued. “Bummer”,he said,and rose when she rose. “I just got a new
line. Could i have your number?”,he asked. “Of course”,she replied and
gave it to him. He dialled it and cut the call after her phone rang.
“Call me when you get home”,he said. “I will. Bye”,she replied. “Bye”,he
said and gave her a quick hug. She smiled at him and then left the
restaurant.
********
A few days later. .Miriam and Orisha had talked on the phone everyday since then.
They’d even done one night call. His days had been very busy;he and his
family had been visiting and being visited. He’d called a few hours
earlier to tell Mimi that there’d been a last minute cancellation and
they arranged to meet again at the Mr. Biggs in Maryland. Miriam was
just getting down from the bike when she saw his lanky figure in the
distance. She’d only seen him once since he came back,but the way he
walked,and the way he looked,his height,his build,it was etched firmly
in her mind and she couldn’t get it out.
Back to what i was writing.
‘She entered the restaurant just before he did and saw him picking a
seat. “Hey”,she said when she got to him. “Hey”,he replied,giving her a
side hug and drawing out a chair for her. They talked,he
enthusiastically about being back in Nigeria,she about how boring her
days were becoming.
“There are a couple of places i wanna see in Lagos”,he said. “Yeah?
Where?”,she asked. “The slave ports in Badagry, the National theatre,
Museum, beaches and uhh. . . that’s about it. You know any cool places i
could add to my list?”,he asked. “I don’t know any cool
places,period”,she said with a self-deprecating chuckle,and continued;”i
haven’t even been to the cinemas.” “Seriously?”,he asked,his left
eyebrow raised in surprise. “Seriously”,she replied. “Well,why not?”,he
asked. “My dad’s not a very outgoing person. I think that’s part of the
reason why i’m not very sociable-i never had the chance to be anything
other than that. My idea of a good time is being inside all day on my
bed with a good book or just watching t.v.”. “So you havent gone to the
cinemas?” “No,i haven’t”,she repeated.”Well,we’re gonna have to do
something about that. We’re going to the silverbird cinemas this Saturday night.” She laughed in amusement and then said;”No we’re not.
“Why not?”,he asked. “It’s a very sweet offer,but i cant go with you on
saturday night. I have a very early curfew. 5 p.m? And there’s no way my
dad would let me stay out late”. “Oh come on! You’re 16! You’re through
with school,you’ve written your waec,neco,jamb and pot-jamb,you were a
model student throughout school;You’re 16,Mims. You’re not a kid
anymore. I’m sure you could convince your dad to make an exception this
time”,he said persuadingly. “He won’t”,she said. “How can you be so
sure? You haven’t even asked him yet”. “I know my dad,Orisha. He’s not
gonna let me go”. “Just ask him,please?” “Fine”,she said with a sigh.
“I’ll ask him,but i can tell you right now,he’s gonna say no”.
That evening. . . . .
Miriam walked into the sitting room and sat down on a chair opposite
her father. Her father was seated on the two-seater,his legs on a
tablestool as he watched the evening news. “Daddy? I want to talk to
you”,she said. “As you can see,Miriam,i’m watching something”. “I
know,but after you watch the news,you’ll eat dinner,take your shower and
then go to bed. This is the most conducive time for you,and it won’t
take long. Besides,this broadcast is a repeat. You watched it in the
morning,remember?” “Okay,Miriam,what do you want to talk about?” “I want
to go ou done t this saturday evening with a friend of mine. We want to
go see a movie at the silverbird cinemas.”. “This friend of yours,is it
a boy or a girl?” “daddy,what difference does that make?” “Going by
your cagey non-reply,it’s a boy”. “Daddy. . . ” “No. My answer is no”,he
said curtly. “Daddy,it’s just a movie. What does it matter if who i’m
going with is a boy or a girl?”,she asked in frustration. “It matters a
greusting me,just this once?y noat deal,young lady. How can you come and
be asking me for permission to go out on a date with a boy?” “It’s not a
date,dad.
He’s just my friend,”she said in protest. “I hear you.
Friend! That’s how it always starts,and then three months later,you end
up pregnant”. “Daddy,this is unfair. This is so unfair to me. what have i
ever done wrong? Have you ever seen or heard of me doing anything
untoward with any boy? Haven’t i always been decent? How can you justify
not trusting me,just this once?” “I don’t have to justify anything to
you. I’m your father,and i’m telling you that you’re not stepping an
inch out of this house come saturday evening.” “Daddy,please. . ” “I
said No! Are you deaf,or do you want me to beat it through your thick
skull?”,her father yelled at her. Miriam clenched and unclenched her
fists,her breathing quickened-classic signs of an impending outburst of
her.
WATCH OUT FOR PART 3
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