DILEMMA VI

 

It had been a whole month since I last saw Adom. A whole month of neither seeing nor talking to him. We were at loggerheads with each other, or more accurately I was refusing to talk to him. He’d been calling me without end and I was ignoring his calls. What caused our tiff was Freda. No surprise there! I passed by Adom’s house one day and Freda was around. There we were and the choice of a movie for our entertainment became an issue. Yours truly just couldn’t resist; I stoked the fire till it became a full blown argument. I was actually impressed with how Freda handled the whole thing. She held her own, albeit with a touch of hauteur as if her preference was law. The impudence! I got angry and left, with big drama. Adom came after me and I told him I would come back when he doesn’t have such repugnant company. Now get this: Adom wasn’t making any attempts at dropping me off at my house. He apologized for it and said he couldn’t because he had a visitor he couldn’t leave all alone. I flared up.

“So you wouldn’t say anything in there even with that attitude of hers and now you won’t drop me off because of her?” I was practically shouting now and Adom barely got a word in before I stormed off with my parting shot: “fine! Go and attend to your ‘visitor’. I’ll find my own way home.”

He decided to pay me a visit one Saturday. Apparently, my ignoring his calls didn’t give him a hint. Taking your girlfriend’s side over mine. Me, your best friend, and after everything too. He was contrite enough so I forgave him, after all, we were pals (nowadays, I can’t think of that word without getting a sour taste in my mouth), were we not?

Mother left us for her room, leaving us alone. After we’d ‘hanged’ for a while, he complained that he was hungry, asking whether we had any food in the house. I thought this was a massive overcompensation because he’s teased me countless times that my food tastes terrible, so he wanting to eat was just another olive branch he was extending. We had some rice and stew in the fridge so I went to heat some up for him, only to find out the stew had no meat or fish left inside. I left the house then, to get some smoked fish for the stew.

After inquiring from three different vendors without success, I decided on some eggs instead. When I got back home and opened the door, right there on the couch was Adom and……………. no, that cannot be right. Adom and my mother on the couch……..kissing, like lovers do. My whole world flipped upside down in just seconds. What a fool I had been all this while. How long had this been going on? Was it ever about me? The shock must have numbed my fingers because I heard a thud in the distance. I suppose that was the eggs breaking. Adom and my mother sat on the couch while I stood within the door. We all seemed shocked.

I must have called Bill. I don’t remember because it all seemed so fuzzy. I remember greeting his mom at their house and her usual cold response though. When I got to his room, I just broke down and cried and cried. Bill had his own apartment in the house so he is for all purposes living alone. Nothing fancy but it afforded him the privacy he wants.

I spilled everything out to Bill and later wished I hadn’t because in spite of everything, I didn’t want anyone knowing this about my mother and my best friend. The only people I have. I decided to spend the night at his place. No way was I going home. I didn’t like it because he kept making nasty comments about the whole thing and I could have gladly strangled him if I could.

Only Bill would be stupid and insensitive enough to think I was in the mood for sex. By now I didn’t really care so I didn’t make any protests. I gave it fifteen minutes, tops. After his fifteen minutes were up he left for the washroom to clean up. I got up as if in a trance, made for the drawer in his crudely converted space of a kitchen and took what I was after. Back in bed, I listened for the sounds of his footsteps. We cuddled and when I heard his deep breaths, I knew he was asleep.

Taking the embodiment of my freedom and power from under my pillow, I felt its steely strength in my hand. When we cuddle, I usually have my head on his chest listening to his beating heart while he has one arm around me and the other under his head. This very favorite posture of his was his undoing in the end. With one fluid motion, I raised up the knife with both hands and drove it into his heart. That was when he woke up with a start. I got down, went to the side of the bed that gave me the easiest access to his head and smothered his head with my pillow to mute his cries for help as I watched the life drain out of him.

Tomorrow, his mummy dearest would wake up and find out I’d cost her a son, but hey, someone also cost me a mother and a best friend. Like I say, the world is so freaking fair, you’ve got to love it.

I pulled the knife out, sliced my wrists and returned to my original cuddling position. As I bled out, I thought of how ironic it was that after all is said and done, it will be reported that I died in Bill’s arms. Bill’s and not Adom’s.  What a way to go.

My thoughts are becoming blurred now. I think I heard someone say……..

Vatity, vatity………………..wait, that can’t be right.

Vality, vality………………no

Oh, yeah.

Vanity, vanity………………all is…………………..

****THE END****

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DILEMMA V

 

Freda wanted to know when Adom’s birthday was………….as if she wouldn’t find that on Facebook or from Adom himself. I was tempted to give her a wrong date but thought twice about that. I really don’t recall much from our conversation; seeing as I’m trying to pretend she doesn’t exist. She would love it if we became friends, or so she said. Like hell!

On said Saturday, I woke up at six, (very early for me but my love life was at stake so no complaints). It took me an hour to decide what clothes to wear. By the time Adom came to pick me up, I had donned snug denim pants and a purple tank top with the inscription, ‘I’m hot n I know it’. I added a wide brimmed hat just for effect. I was going for the kill. I smiled at myself at the mirror. No man stood a chance at my overall effect today. Well, not unless he were a eunuch.

We were at the beach by nine am and we found a relatively private spot to set up shop. We got to chatting about lots of stuff and I skillfully brought up my relationship with Bill.

“Make him jealous.” Adom suggested.

“I can’t. He doesn’t care enough to be jealous. I mean, you don’t do the bullshit he does when you are in love, do you?”

“Then dump him.”

“I can’t do that either.”

“Yeah right!”

“No, I mean I literally can’t. He broke my virginity so he has to be the one I marry. I have standards, contrary to what people might think.”

“I don’t believe this! You are open minded enough to indulge in pre-marital sex but not open minded enough to kick his sorry ass out the door for being a prick?”

“Hey! We all can’t have the perfect relationship.” That was bait I threw him to see if he would come right out and tell me the nature of his relationship with Freda. I should have saved my breath though. He didn’t bite.

“What happens if he doesn’t marry you?”

I knew by now that Bill has no intention of marrying me but I wasn’t ready to accept that yet; At least not enough to discuss it even with Adom.

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers.” I replied instead.

“You know what I think?”

“Oh, yeah! I know plenty of what you think.”

“You’ve not had enough. When you do, he wouldn’t last a minute longer.”

“In his own way, he loves me, you know.”

“No, he doesn’t. You just said so yourself.”

“So, how is Miss Perfect?” I asked, trying to change the subject. This wasn’t going the way I’d imagined it at all.

“Who?”

“Your girlfriend, Freda, Miss Perfect.”

“You call her Miss Perfect?”

“Of course! I mean she has to be. Any girl who is able to capture your attention has to be right?”

“His face took on a queer expression. Then he burst into laughter.

“Is that what you think? You are incorrigible.” He said.

“Wait, wait. You knew that I slept with him, didn’t you?”

“I guessed. The guilt was written all over you for weeks.”

“Ewww! It’s so creepy, the way you know me.”

“Just like you know me.”

“I guess you are right. Like how I know right now that you are still a virgin.”

“Amanda!”

“What?”

“My sex life isn’t up for discussion.”

“Oh? And mine is?”

“You brought yours up. It’s fair game.”

“I think it’s admirable. Unmarried ladies who aren’t virgins are judged and crucified, sometimes even by guys like Bill, who have no right. And here you sit. I doubt there is anyone in the world who would think less of you for having sex before marriage. After all, you are a man. You have every right to criticize anyone you want.” I said. See? I can be pretty matured and wise too.

“You are my best friend. You are supposed to say that. That is IF I were a virgin.” He said with emphasis.

“I think it’s cute. Adom the virgin! Makes for a nice movie title, don’t you think? Hahaha!”

He threw some popped corn at me. Popped corn and fruit juice; that was our lunch, for by now, it was lunch time.

“Ow!” I said.

“What? It’s just popped corn. You are such a girl!”

“In case, you haven’t noticed, I am a girl.”

“Even a blind man would notice.” He muttered.

“Are you flirting with me, Mr. Grace? What would your girlfriend think?” I teased and we both burst into idiotic laughter.

The story continues next time…………….

DILEMMA IV

Mrs. Mira Mensah is my role model. We get along quite well and I daresay she’s gotten the one man in the whole world who was custom created for her. He caters to her every whim; with her eccentric way of making impulsive decisions, that is no ordinary feat.

Since we wouldn’t be going to the airport after all, we decided to go to a restaurant for some dinner. We spent the whole drive regaling ourselves with stories of how Mira Mensah likes making people jump through hoops for her. Like the time she decided Adom was being bullied in the boarding house during his first year in high school, so he should become a day student. Within a term, she had changed her mind again, claiming the boarding house would make him tougher. The school authorities sure had their hands full with her during Adom’s period in school. She is sweet and she means well but I tell you, it’s not fun being the one jumping through the hoops she created.

Freda seemed a good sport about the whole thing and laughed at the stories. She had such a lady-like laugh.

The rest of the evening went without incidence, that is if you discount the little bit of staring competition Freda and I had just before we left the restaurant. When we were about leaving, she got to the car before I did and guess which seat she took? Oh yes, little Miss Perfect went for the front passenger’s seat and from the look she gave me, I could tell she was daring me to say or do something about it. So it was game on. I actually like it because then I wouldn’t feel guilty about anything I did to her. After all, all is fair in love and war, right?

As soon as I sat down, I suggested that we drop Freda off at her home and that I didn’t mind being dropped off later. There isn't a snowball’s  chance in hell that I would leave the two of them together for the rest of the night while I sit at home wondering what they were doing. If Freda didn’t like my suggestion, she didn’t let on, for which I was a bit disappointed.

The next day being a Sunday, I went to church. Bill pretended there was nothing between us again and for the first time in two years, I actually didn’t care. During worship time, I chipped in a request to God about Adom and casted Freda out of our lives. When the pastor mounted the podium to preach, I felt closer to God more than I’d felt in a while. That is before the pastor started to preach about how sin prevented God from blessing us and all; with much emphasis on sexual immorality. Never mind that his wife gossips about everything and found fault with everything on walking legs. Anita, a girl I had been fighting with for some time over Bill kept giving me these looks as if to say; the pastor is talking to you. Apuuuu! She is one to talk, considering. What she didn’t know though, was that she had also already been replaced by Elsie, this beautiful and quiet girl who was always minding her own business. I made it a point to tell her mother to advise her. I actually did like the girl and respected her too. As for Anita, I don’t know what her problem is. In the past, I would have picked a quarrel with her but I wasn’t in the mood for quarrels. As soon as the benediction was given, I left for the house. 

Freda Boateng sent you a friend request. Can you believe the girl? I stared at the Facebook notification for some time, not quite sure of what to do. I ended up clicking the ‘not now’ button.

Bill called in the evening wanting me to come over to his house and I told him I was busy. “Doing what?” he asked. “Massa! Look, you wouldn’t have given me a polite answer if I was the one asking you this question so don’t bring yourself koraaa.” I retorted. He got angry at my answer, obviously. “Whatever! Suit yourself.” I muttered after he had rudely hung up. Who does this guy think he is? Adom called soon after, we chatted for a while and we ended up making a beach date for the following Saturday.

Around nine pm, someone called me with a number I couldn’t identify.

“Hello!” the female voice on the line said.

“Hello, Amanda speaking. Whom am I speaking with please?”

"Hi, Amanda, this is Freda.”

Freda? Why is this girl calling me? The last person on earth I want to talk to is her. Forcing an upbeat note into my voice, I prepared myself for what I knew was going to be an awkward conversation.

“Hey, Freda, what’s up?”

Till next time. Hope you enjoy it.

DILEMMA III

   

 

  When we got to Waakye Butik, Adom parked the car and left to go and meet Freda. I sat back in the car and watched like a hawk from every available mirror I could find. He hugged her and they spent some minutes talking. What are they talking about that they can’t do in the car on our way to drop her silly, skinny ass off?  They then slowly made their way to the car and I must confess; this girl is beautiful. She has curves, looks trim and her hair was all natural, not permed. Exactly the look Adom admires. As they made their way back to the car, I imagined her coming to my side of the door and doing something rude like she wants me to take the back seat or something. Boy, will I go all berserk on them! She disappointed me though, and went straight for the back seat. She sat directly behind Adom, making it easier for me to study her from the mirrors.

Adom introduced us to each other. He introduced me as his best friend and her as the smartest girl he’s met yet; mentioning that she was the smartest among the whole lot that went for their damned Nestle’ workshop or conference or whatever. I don’t really care; he had me fuming at ‘smartest’ girl. The girl seemed pleasant enough. I mean she would be, hello! She’s just trying to snag my best friend! The plan was that we would drop her off at her house then proceed to the airport to meet his parents.

Things I never noticed about Adom before were suddenly getting my attention. Like the way his upper lip was slightly upturned, the way he has a dimple in his right cheek when he smiled and the way he casually wore his long-sleeved shirts with the sleeves folded back to the elbows. Bill has handsome features but Adom is cute and has presence. That is the only way I can describe it. He is taller than me in heels. I was never good at the ‘feet and inches’ stuff so pardon me a bit. I am the standard for everyone’s height; if you are shorter than me, you are short, if you are taller than I am, you are tall, quite simple. So Adom is your standard tall, dark, handsome guy and I am yet to meet a girl who likes fair guys.

So now that my sense of awareness for a guy I’ve been careful to friend-zone all this while has been heightened, my sense of insecurity over this African Barbie has also been raised to crazy proportions. Instinctively, I drew a mental scorecard, (Amanda vs. Freda). From where I’m sitting, the results look pretty bad for me. Freda has a beautiful face and an innocent look. I have a pretty face, yes, but the make-up kind of gives me a minus there. Aside that, no one will call me innocent. She has rich and flawless black skin; I have light, toned skin courtesy of all the skin creams around. Don’t get me wrong, my complexion is beautiful but barely natural and compared to hers, I might as well be a troll. She looked like a dadabee and we all know I am a wannabe, so, no way would I like this girl even if she were the nicest in the world. As far as I can see, the only advantage I have over her is the duration of my friendship with Adom. That has got to count for something, right. Note to self: from now on, I am going to treasure my friendship with Adom more and I am going to manipulate it as much as I can. I am going to be the perfect best friend.

En route to her place, they got to conversing and anyone could tell I’d been relegated to the background. They were discussing Hollywood and Freda seemed knowledgeable enough in that area.  I hate those snotty type of girls; behaving like everything local was beneath them. I mean who cares about Prison Break or Breaking Bad when you can have a drama filled Mexican soap opera anytime? So now I’m giving everyone the cold shoulder; partly because I’m angry and partly because I don’t have anything to add to the conversation.

Here is another nugget about me; I give girly a whole new meaning. I’ve been called immature on occasion. I feel it is my God given right to be emotional, so as long as there is an emotion to be exploited, I let go without restraints. Girls have got to learn; sometimes, cool and mature just doesn’t cut it. However, the damsel in distress act, the tears card or the wall of silence; they get plenty done. I have no intention of ‘growing up’, not if it means giving up my ‘feminine tools’. This girl thinks she is intelligent, eh. I am going to play the ‘I know him better than you do’ card. Lets see how she fares with that.

“Since your dad gave you the news that they would be coming today, have you called to confirm that they would indeed be coming today?” I asked, disrupting their ‘talk’.

“You know, I think you are right. Would you please call my dad’s cell for me? At least if it doesn’t go through we can assume they are mid-air.” He answered. I called and Mr. Mensah picked up.

“Hey son, how are you? Did you get the mail I sent?” the voice on the line said.

“Hello, Mr. Mensah. Aah, this is Amanda. Adom is driving and we are on our way to the airport. We just want to check if you guys were able to catch the flight?” I replied.

“Oh sweetheart, how are you doing? Tell my son to be checking his mail often. Mira changed her mind again so we are staying for another month. You kids should just get yourselves some ice cream and head back home ok.” He said jokingly in his rich baritone.

“Hahaha, will do sir. A hello to Mum.” I said and got off the phone.

“Your dad says hello, and that you should be checking your mail more often because they are staying for another month.” I could tell he wasn’t happy.

“Why didn’t he just call?”

“Hey! Don’t shoot the messenger.” I said, with hands raised in mock surrender. Take that bitch! I said to myself, secretly pleased that I’d established my reign once more. 

To be continued