Mary. That was her name. Very pretty girl, he
thought. He watched her as he parked his car
beside her. Moving the side window down, he
smiled widely at her. “Hello Mary. I told you we would meet again but
on a neutral ground.”
Mary just smiled. Her fair skin plus her smile
was making him think of fairies. Eye-burning
fairies. He reminded himself to wear
sunshades whenever he was with her. “Hop in, let me give you a ride” He said. She opened the passenger door and got in. “Thank you.” She said in appreciation.
“I’m not going far, just two more stops from
here.” She told him. He gave his ‘No problem’ smile before turning
to face the road. His mind was racing with
thoughts. This was his chance to get closer to
her. He’d watched her from afar and had seen
that she was a good girl. Not the type that
pretended to be good so they could spend a guy’s money. This one was a real wife
material. She was hardworking at the restaurant, her
rapport with the customers was top notch and
she always seemed to know what one needed.
Whether it was a cold beer at the end of a long
day or a bottle of chilled coke on a good sunny
afternoon. She wasn’t too informal and she wasn’t cold
with customers. She just knew what one
needed. She was that good. He remembered the day he’d asked for her
name and the sweet, shy smile she’d given him
when she told him.
Mary. He’d said the name many times to
himself while he pictured her face. They were
no longer in the restaurant, two more stops to go. What a chance! “So tell me, Mary. What is it about you that I
don’t know?” He knew her well enough to know
that she would be smiling. “What do you want to know? You know my
name is Mary, I’m from Edo state, I….” I’m from Edo state.
I’m from Edo state. He wasn’t listening again. His mind kept
repeating those words as if trying to find their
meaning. He could feel cold fingers moving
along his spine.
He’d put on the A/C but why was it extra cold
in here and… He wiped his brow and his hand revealed
sweat- Why was he sweating? Oh no! I’m from Edo state. Edo is the centre of witchcraft.
The voice said in his mind, sounding like his
mother’s. Of course, it was his mother’s. She’d
advised him many times about life, marriage
and work. Mostly about marriage, especially
when Edo girls were involved. Never have anything to do with them, they will
finish a man. Edo girls are prostitutes. Edo girls use jazz to trap a man and you
wouldn’t even know when you’d begin to buy a
house and cars for her and her parents. Edo girls!
Edo girls!
Run from them! The voice screamed in his ears. “Oga look where you are going!”
Mary’s voice brought him back to the car. She
was no longer smiling but frowning at him.
Was there a glint in her eyes? He looked away before the magic she had in
them would trap him. Why was he sweating
and she wasn’t? Just sitting cool and calm, no
more expression on her face. He should have paid extra attention. Beauty
wouldn’t lead him to his fall o! He should have known that a normal girl won’t
be so beautiful, skin so fresh and she was a
restaurant girl. Thank God he’d found out
sooner before introducing her to his mother.
That would be calling for death before which,
there would be spiritual cleansing. Thinking of cleansing, he thought of his car.
He would have to cleanse his car from
whatever spirit she would leave behind and
also cleanse himself, even though he hadn’t
touched her. He checked his side mirror, when he saw
there was no car behind him, he quickly
parked at the side of the road, then he turned
to her. She was looking at him, puzzled. “Do you want to do anything here?” She asked
innocently before looking at her wristwatch. “Yes, I’m going to drop you here. I just
remembered that I have an appointment at the
other end, not this end. Sorry, don’t be
annoyed.” He added. He didn’t want to hurt her
feelings so she wouldn’t do something evil to
him. He was glad that he sounded in control and not
shaky. He pasted a smile and jumped up
happily inside when she gave him a small smile
and got out of the car, thanking him for the
ride.
He nodded as if in understanding in order to move her along so she wouldn’t sense his
haste.
He put his car in drive, waved at her and said
goodbye to bad rubbish in his mind. Mama, here I come! *
She didn’t know that she wouldn’t see him
again, not even at the restaurant. Every good
quality she had, set aside at the mention of her
state, her tribe, her country, her background,
her religion. Let’s stop all the stereotyping, fanaticism,
racism and all the other sms, gyns and the rest
that does not encourage love.
Let us live and love so we can grow in unity
and our progeny will have a better tomorrow. It begins with us.
It begins with you.
#Letlovelead.
