The Odds Are Against Me - Episode 28

"Hello, Afamefuna, how are you doing?" Lola asked.

"I am okay. How are you too?" I replied.

"I am good. You looked dapper the other day" she said.

"Thank you. And you looked like you came to catch the latest eligible bachelor," I said.

"Oh really, I can confess you are good at reading people's minds but not in entirety," she said.

"I can see. Delusion is the worst form of mental illness. Stay deluded," I said. She stood for minutes and gave me a not-so- okay look. 

"So you can be this insulting, I never knew. Well, where are you up to?" She finally retorted.

"I am going for a stroll," I replied.

"I guess your wife has gone to work and your children are off to school. What about I entertain you in my house just today? We have known for so long but you haven't been to my house," she said. 

"No... Yes," I said both at once.  I wanted to decline but I was overwhelmed by the curiosity to know her house. 

"Why are you confused? Make up your mind already," she said.

"I am not confused. I wanted to complete this stroll, but I wouldn't mind if I come to your house, anyways," I said

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-odds-are-against-me

. "By the way, don't you stay in your shop always?".

"I have been saying all these for a while, I have sales girls that help me out," she said angrily.

"Okay, I am sorry. Can we go now," I told her.

"Do you know my house?" She said.

"What a question" I retorted.

"It's not what a question, dear. Hold my hands let's walk down the street to my house," she said. I hesitated before I held her hands and we started walking. We got to the entrance of her gate, and entered. She greeted the gateman who was an Hausa man from his obvious intonations.

"Kai, welcome back, Aunty Lola. Na your bobo be this?," the gateman taunted.

"Yes, dear," Lola replied. I stared at her distastefully but she didn't care about my stare.

"Welcome, Sir. Take care of Aunty Lola o. Na good girl she be, and she go take care of you well well," he spoke in a pidgin language.

"Thank you dear," she replied.

"Can we enter your flat now," I said.

"Okay", she said and walked me into her flat. Her sitting room was beautiful. She lived in a one bedroom apartment with a sitting room. I sat on the sofa, after I'd used my eyes to survey the whole of her sitting room.

"How do you see my bedroom?" she asked.

"It's okay for someone like you," I replied.

"Could that be an insult," she said.

"No, it's a compliment," I replied. She cackled, hissed and entered the kitchen. After a minute, she peeped through the door and asked if I want to have a taste of her egusi soup and pounded yam.

"I don't like pounded yam, you can make an eba," I requested.

"Okay, as it pleases you my Lord," she retorted. I laughed in my head because she called me her Lord. She must be deluded, I laughed out loud.

She came out later and placed a stool at my front, then dropped a tray that contained two plates. On one, was a sumptuous egusi soup rich in vegetables. It had a fish, meat and chicken. On the other plate was a beautifully moulded eba and then a glass cup of water.

"That's your food," she said and wanted to seat on the opposite sofa. 

"You have to eat with me," I said. She was shocked and puzzled all at once.

"Okay, give me a time," she said and entered the room. She spent about five minutes, and I still waited for her before I started.

"Okay, I'm back" she said. We washed our hands. She took a mould of eba first and I followed suit. Halfway to finishing of the food, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said. The door opened and it was a young lady.

"Welcome, Pelumi," Lola said. "That's my friend, Pelumi," Lola said, pointing at me.

"Okay, welcome Pelumi," I said, as she sat down on another sofa. Lola took the plate to the kitchen after we were done. She came back and sat on the sofa beside Pelumi.

"I want to sleep," she yawned and dozed off after she had gesticulated with her hands.

Read " The Missionary's Journey " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't because I was also feeling dizzy. My eyes were tumbling and I decided to sleep. After some minutes, I dozed off. When I woke up, I noticed Lola and I were naked as we laid on the floor. It looked like nothing happened but I smelt there was something fishy. I stood up and checked the time and it was 2:00PM. Lola was still fast asleep. I wore my clothes on the sofa and yelled Pelumi but no one answered. I opened the door and left Lola on the floor.

That night, while in the bed with my wife as she concentrated on her phone. I noticed she stared at me weirdly and then to her phone.. 

"What?" I asked as I removed my eyes on the laptop I concentrated on.

"What is this?" She said as tears ran down her cheeks. She threw her phone on the bed and jumped out of the bed, standing with her hands akimbo.