Talent on the Street - Episode 6

 

          “I am focusing on my career for now, all men are wicked ‘’ Sandra retorted

Anita has been talking to her to reconsider her position to adopt a child and never to marry.   

     ‘’Your position is alien in Africa” Anita said.

                Emmanuel hurts her beyond repair but she still had a soft feeling for him. She remembered good time they shared together, he was a perfect gentleman or a perfect chameleon . She hoped to see him one day, she didn’t know what to do maybe to lynch him or to embrace him when they meet. She is still bitter after three years he had eloped with another lady. What did he see in that lady?

                She thought she will see him in America when she traveled for vacation. She never knew which city he was staying, only mother luck could make their paths cross again.

               * * * *

                Sandra returned from church, she was thinking of what to prepare for lunch when her phone rang, she didn’t like picking calls from callers not on her phone contact, she ignored the call but the caller was adamant, she didn’t say anything for few seconds after picking the call to know the caller. It was Emmanuel

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/talent-on-the-street

. She dropped the call, a feeling of hatred arose within her, and she wished to see him for her to strangulate him.

                ‘’Like the biblical prodigal son, I am sorry, pick my call for us to talk’’. When she saw his message, she felt used and dumped. She started crying.

                ‘’I robbed Peter to pay Paul without knowing that Paul is a robber too, the lady I eloped with to America duped me. We agreed to settle down in Georgia where her uncle who I used to talk to on phone stayed. I don’t know her supposed uncle was her boyfriend; I was mad when I discovered, I had to hook up with my friends in California because I can’t return to Nigeria.

                Sandra didn’t know whether to pity or to mock him. Anita asked her to invite him to her house after Sandra has told her about Emmanuel recent incessant calls. Anita excused them using her child’s PTA meeting as a pretext to give them privacy.

                There was anger in Sandra’s face when he finished his explanation. He used her money to take another woman to America. ‘’Is that all, you can take your leave’’ Emmanuel was shocked by her reaction. She shouted ‘’Emmanuel go away’’. He stood to take his leave, she slammed the door when he left, and she went back to the sofa crying.

                ‘’What does he want’’ Anita’s husband asked When he came back with his wife, they met her crying. ‘’Sandra, if you still love him, give him another trial’’, Banji’s word struck her heart.

Read " Mothers' cry (1994 - 1998) " by the same author ( taiwo emmanuel )

. She still loves him but she must be very careful because once bitten twice shy, she was skeptical.

           * * * * *

                ‘’Omo mi, emi ki je egun mo yan’’ (My daughter, I don’t take what doesn’t belong to me)

                Emmanuel’s mother talking to her, his mother was the one that told her son to come back home to beg Sandra. It was his younger brother that told the old woman what his Elder Brother did to Sandra.

                They agreed on Friday to visit Emmanuel’s mother, she bought cloths, fruits and beverages for her.  She was not sure if the woman will accept her gifts because female Actors are seen as prostitutes. She was nervous but it turned out an exciting reception for her. They played with her till noon before they left Akure. ‘’So fun awon obi re pe ojo wo ni ka wa’’ (tell your parents when can we come to meet them) that was the old woman farewell statement as they enter car back to Ibadan.

                She was thinking about the old woman statement all through their journey back to Ibadan.. She wished she had a mother that can influence her decision like how Emmanuel’s mother told his son to come back home to right his wrong.

                Emmanuel was engrossed with Timi Dakolo’s Iyawo mi, she didn’t know when she joined him singing it, both echoing it lyrics together baby don’t go away, iyawo mi ololufemi…. Traffic at iwo road was heavy, when it was time for them to move, Emmanuel tried to restart the car but it was not working, she hates this, he got down if he could fix it. They were blocking other cars behind them, those car drivers were honking. She came down to assist him, when people saw her; they were shouting her name “Sandra!!!” Some guys volunteered to help push the car off the road but it was an automatic car.

                Emmanuel knelt before her ‘’would you marry me?’’. She was perplexed; tears running down her eyes, people have stopped repairing the car, a lady brought out her phone to record them, others also brought out their phones. People were shouting yes! Yes!! Yes!!! She echoed her Yes!  She carried him up; they hugged and kissed each other. She was sure the video will go viral on social media.