One after the other, the exams came: Commercial law, criminal law, law of torts, family law and political science. I wrote the exams for the law courses and soon forgot about them. I didn’t stress myself about the remaining political science course, because the relevant courses had been dispensed with. Elo’s examination timetable was more complex because all the courses in the four levels were combined.I never told her I had one paper remaining. I simply called her one afternoon when I went to the Temporary Site (T. S.), when I paid her a visit with two dainty black cover shoes. They were packaged, well wrapped and concealed in a cellophane bag. The cellophane bag was branded with the inscription of a famous fast food joint in Benin. The original contents of the cellophane were lying inside my small refrigerator.I walked to the Department of Physiology and kept staring at the flowers and grasses around the sidewalks. I saw some statues and soon remembered my wing chun dummy back in
CHAPTER FOURTEENWhen I arrived at this particular book shop, the people who were around it were surprised. It was rare for a student to be visiting a bookshop when the session was almost coming at the end. The shopkeeper looked at me with suspicion, and I wished I had some of my ‘Crown Prince’s Aides’ at that moment. They’d have helped to instil the fear of God into him.“What particular book are you looking for sir?”.“Give me that 2009 Guinness Book of World Records…” I walked into the inner part of the book shop and excused myself after I belched.“This one is Six Thousand Naira”.“If you interrupt mw again, you won’t like what I’ll do to you…” The shopkeeper saw my countenance and left me alone, before going to fetch cellophane bag. He picked up the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records and bagged it, and waited patiently for me to pick another book. I soon picked The Family by Mario Puzo and Carol Gino. I was handing the novel to the shopkeeper, who was already with a calcula
Two hours later, I lay on my bed watching The Expendables movie on my Dell laptop computer when Elo called me. She was through with her exams, and was excited to hear my voice. I remembered what Patt had told me about girls in the university and decided not to make reference to it in our conversation.“Hello Baby… oh my God, I’ve missed your voice.”“Elo darling, what’s happening?”“I’m so happy my love… finally done with my exams.”That’s great…”“I know… and I’ll be coming around tomorrow as promised. I’m so excited.”“Vanilla spread on chocolate cake.”“Pierre, you haven’t forgotten?” Elo giggled loudly.“No, I haven’t forgotten?”“Tomorrow is my day, Pierre… Please do not forget.”“Elo baby, you know I won’t.” I smiled and recollected the menstruation fiasco. I’d definitely not forgotten, because my small refrigerator was stocked with processed foods, snacks, canned and packed drinks.“Hope you’ve eaten?”“I’ll eat later, once I finish watching this movie, honey.”“Alright… what
Elo was dressed in a yellow and white print gown made from Hollandis cloth material. It was wide from her waist down to her ankles, with puffy sleeves. A ‘gold’ necklace adorned her neck, but she didn’t bother to wear a necklace on this particular day. The white shoes she didn’t bother to wear a wristwatch on this particular visit. The white shoes she wore made her look chic. When she dropped her handkerchief on the, she backed me and requested that I undo her zip.Her shoulder and back were simply smooth and flawless. At that moment, I her ex-boyfriend must’ve been a fool.“Your back is smooth and flawless, Elo.”“Baby, let me cook first, then you can savour it like a Spanish guitar.”We giggled as she removed both arms from the sleeves, followed by her legs. The next minute, she spread the gown on the arm of my chair and stretched her arms. She was still backing me, as I beheld the white lacy brassiere and panty she was wearing. Indeed, it was vanilla spread on chocolate cake.“You
The cold was more severe than it’d been when the rain began. They were few thunderclaps as Elo tiptoed back to my side.“What kind of songs do you have on your laptop computer?”“Songs? All types you know. Rock n’ roll, soul, reggae…”Elo bent and kissed me while I spoke. The next minute, she scrolled down my song folder and suddenly stopped. She looked at me with a mischievous smile, before clicking on ‘play.’The next moment, Hips Don’t Lie, by Shakira, began to play and I was stunned at Elo’s dance steps. The way she moved her hips was unbelievable. Slowly and carefully, my mum’s wrapper slid off her smooth body. Elo’s body moved effortlessly to the rhythm of the music. I couldn’t get my eyes off her hips, waist and buttocks. Her dancing was so mesmerizing. The ‘spell’ of Elo’s dancing upon me suddenly lost effect, the moment the music came to an end.I was about to say something when she sat on my thighs and selected Piano Lessons by R. Kelly, in my music folder. She tried to kiss
I felt like taking photos of Elo, when she took off her shower cap and swung her braided hair sideways.“I’m sorry for making you eat late, Pierre. Hope you won’t report me to your mum?”“There’s no need to… see her face over there. She’s already seen everything.”Elo laughed and buried her face on my chest. I fell in love with her every moment. She soon picked up one of my Arabian perfumes, and sprayed it on her wrists, neck, sides and armpit regions.“Spread the mat so we can eat.” I ignored her and stood by the window. They were a couple of cars driving the wet roads. I opened the window slightly, and a gust of chilly wind blew inside. Elo tiptoed towards me and stood in front of me. The Arabian perfume was soon around the entire room, and Elo was soon captivated by the darkness and dotted lights.“Isn’t it beautiful, Elo?”“Of course, it is… hold me Pierre,” Elo whispered. Her face looked more attractive without any make up on it. She was a true African beauty.“So, this is what a
“Mummy, that bastard just left me abruptly… and was soon with one Scottish girl called Gwendolyn.” Elo fumed.“Listen to me, you are my daughter, and the last thing I’ll do is to mislead my own daughter.”“So, what does he want from me?”“His mother sat with me last week for hours, and tabled everything out, Elo.”“His mother should go and meet Gwendolyn’s mother and not you, because, as far as I’m concerned…”“Shut up and listen to me, Elo. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”“I’m listening.”“Samson is deeply sorry for what happened, and would be coming to Nigeria next week. His father and your current Vice Chancellor were former course mates and buddies at the University of Benin, so he will assist him with…”“Assist him with what?” Elo asked in a bout of mirthless laughter.“Assist him in speeding up the process to get your results ready, to enable you get transferred to Robert Gordon University.”“Robert Gordon… listen mummy, I’m in 300level and I’m not…”“Listen to me Elo
On the third day of our arrival in the Nigerian capital, I decided to pay Elo an unscheduled visit. I was having a negative feeling about the whole thing, even though everyone knew how impeccable Sabiu was a s a detective. Our convoy drivers parked beside a hair dressing saloon and my mum went in to sit and wait for me. I took a left turn and walked past two fenced plots before I stood in front of Elo’s father’s house.The house had a black gate, with green flowers near the pedestrian walkway. A crazy idea popped up in my head, the moment I knocked thrice on the black gate.“Good evening sir, how may I help you?” A tall light-skinned security guard opened the pedestrian section of the gate, and stared suspiciously at me.“Good evening, my name is Caleb Ishiekwene and I’m looking for Elo.”“And who may you be, sir?”“Oh, my apologies.” I said with a quick smile.“I’m the President of the Delta State Students Association at Igbinedion University Okada. I’m trying to confirm Elo’s identi