AFTERTHOUGHTS

The British are too damn clean.
I am between my house and the train station in Wigan. My focus is riveted on the ground. I am searching for a single piece of paper. The pavements have been swept clean. In Nigeria pieces of paper on the road are left a while before being swept off if ever. Damn!
In my hand is a copy of the times and one of the stories - GIRL 23, WINS ONE MILLION IN LOTTERY in the inside of the front page. A very familiar face is attached to the story. That is what has me outside in the cold searching. Searching for what would definitely be my way out of outstanding bills and fees.
Pedestrians cast suspicious looks whenever I dive for pieces of paper blown across the pavements by the wind. I couldn’t be bothered. I don’t think they would understand if I explained anyway. I have been out here one hour and still haven't seen what I am searching for. Oh God oh God
A man, mid forty-ish comes out of one of the buildings at the side of the road. He is balding, with a stocky appearance that makes him look short. A green hi-viz vest covers most of his bulk. What really grabs my attention though is what he has in his hands. An iron rod with pinchers at one end and some sort of trigger handle. With this funny contraption and an expressionless face, he traps pieces of paper and releases them into a large polythene bag which he has in his other hand.
I stop. I have never been one who hung on to hope when faced with stark reality. I hold the newspaper before me and peer hard at the pretty face that stare back at me. The face of a millionaire. Oh God no.
It was a month ago I saw that face for the first and, regretfully, last time.
That day was my second day in Manchester and I was can-barely-walk hungry.
I had just finished a class which I had gone in for without breakfast or lunch. An hour of lectures took days to end. I just wanted out. I made it to the bus stop in front of the school...well not in front really but beside one of the buildings. I sat down on the vacant iron bench. One of the mysteries of the British I am still trying to unravel - a thousand people at a bus stop, waiting for the bus and everyone ignores the bench. Back in Nigeria, people who have no business at the bus stop would sit on it just for the heck of it; that is if it hadn’t become the bed of some crazy destitute and all that would happen when the government ever decides that people do need benches at bus stops.
I was the only one on the bench anyhow and thankful for it for this one day. I wanted to get a bus that was headed for Victoria train station and hop on a train to Wigan where I live. A solitary ten pound note rested in my pockets. I fingered it to make sure it was still there. If someone had been watching me closely all morning, I would be described as the guy who keeps putting a hand into his right trouser pockets. I couldn't afford to lose that money. It would mean a long walk across town to the train station. My chances of making it would be worse than that of a desert explorer, stranded in the Sahara with a bottle of water. Such people were trained for such eventualities. I never asked for this when the plane that brought me into Britain landed in Heathrow.
Now you will begin to wonder - and I wouldn’t blame you for it – why, in God's name, did I have ten pounds in my pocket and dying from hunger? Surely I could grab a bite and still have change left for the bus fare. If you have ever been to a foreign country with a foreign language and no guide, you will be better placed to understand my explanation. The English colonized Nigeria and the official lingua franca of Nigeria is English so I should have no problem with communication right? Wrong! What was I to answer when asked 'howyad'n mae?' and 'whadyuwan luv?' when I go into a store to buy something. All this, always said with lightning speed. It would eventually come down to sign language and I always ended up taking more of the attendant's time than they deemed profitable per customer.
Once I was confused as to which bus to take within Manchester. There was this middle aged lady at a bus stop waiting, apparently, for a bus. The reason I walked up to her was because she looked like she was Indian or something. Hopefully she would get across to me.
'Madam' I asked. She turned to meet my gaze, ready to answer my query. 'Could you please tell me what bus goes to Oxford road?'
'Oh ithinkutaetheonethagoesta......'
My sincere apologies for asking.
I thanked her for her help. She smiled sweetly in response. I heaved a heavy sigh and strolled to Oxford road.
So, shops, restaurants and the lot were no go areas unless it was absolutely necessary.
So there you go. Back to the bus stop beside the school building where I sat, hungry and waiting for a bus with ten pounds in my pocket.
There were lots of girls around but I only had eyes for the name 'Victoria' and it had to be boldly written at the front of the bus. I must have looked at the ground for a moment - to rest my heavy head perhaps - because her shoes, Nikes really, were what I first saw of her. They were white, neatly laced and partly covered by the frills of a bell bottom jeans trouser. If it were back in Nigeria, I would assume it to be someone I knew. Being just days old in Britain, there was hardly a chance of that so....what the h..... I jerked my head upwards. A mulatto girl, early twenties, tall and pretty - very pretty, stared back at me.
'Can I si ere?' She pointed at the empty part of the bench beside me. I got that and shifted to make space for her. She sat down. I usually make small talk with pretty ladies that invade my space but at that moment roasted chicken would have been more welcomed.
'Whieu gon?' it couldn't have been directed towards any other.
'What?'
'Whieu gon?' I strained to catch it.
'Oh, Victoria station.' I answered. People don’t just walk up to you and ask your destination but hey, this is Britain. Maybe it is the norm over here; I thought and pushed it out of my mind.
'Can I cumwivya?' she leaned into my ear to ask this. To help me understand people over here when they speak, I read their gestures as well. There wasn’t room for that in this instance so what I thought I heard was 'can you come between my legs.' Don’t ask me to trace the relationship between what she said and what I heard. What was I suppose to think with a strange pretty lady leaning into my ear and asking a question in a seductive whisper?
'What?' every strand of hair on my body was alert to decipher the question.
'Can I cumwivya?' heck! This was an offer. Why?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to say that I don’t have what it takes to make hearts flutter but a pretty girl asking to follow you home within two sentences of meeting you just did not seem like it happens to Brad Pitt on your regular cold Tuesday afternoon. My alarm bells went up, as well as something else - to be honest. Just how far was she willing to go?
'Actually I live in Wigan. I am going to Victoria to catch a train to Wigan.'
Oh.' Her balloon lessened a bit. Not that far. That was the end of that I supposed and wondered if I had missed my bus in that minute of excited anticipation.
'Cud u give m two pounsfer luonch?' Again into my ear but this time, slowly.
The words 'two pounds' and lunch were distinct. I got it and stiffened. So here was the catch. But hold up just one minute. I looked her over. Why would a girl looking like the runner up of Miss Manchester beauty contest beg for money.
'I’m reli hungre.'
I did not have any change on me - just my dear ten pound note- else I would have just given her right away and gotten rid of her. It would have saved my legs if I had. An idea invaded my brain like a virus and muddled my thinking. I would usually think twice before offering to take a lady whom I had only just met, to lunch. There had to be more to her than the sexy figure and strong accent. My invitation was not altogether selfless though. I worked out that if I took her to eat, she would do the ordering and I would get to eat as well. And if it was two pounds for her food, why, I would have six pounds left after a meal for both of us - enough for the bus and change.
She jumped to her feet before I did, beckoned that I follow and walked away. She walked fast and I followed as best I could.
I was puzzled when she flitted past the refectory. If she understood when I pointed out this fact to her, I did not get her explanation to why we could not stop there. She was prattling like an m-16. Too fast to follow let alone understand. My alarm bells just clinked once and I steadied them. As long as she kept to where there were enough people to hear when there was a 'HELP!' scream, I felt safe. The conclusion I chose to arrive at was that she must have someplace where she usually takes lunch. Someplace that would cost two pounds for good food.
The bells clinked again when we stopped before a teenage boy with a spiky hairdo just standing on the pavements behind a huge poster. He had tickets in his hand. They had a brief exchange and the boy seemed pleased. To think that I was right there, they spoke English and I did not catch a word - my! Turns out that she wanted me to buy a red ticket from the boy to get change for my ten pounds. I couldn’t remember telling her about my ten pound note. Well, I thought, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. I mean, how much would a red ticket cost? A couple of pennies at the most I presumed and handed over my ten pounds to the boy. He put a hand in his back pockets, sorted out change and put it, and a red ticket, in my outstretched hand. First things first. I checked how much I had in my hand; one...two...five...six, seven...what da..? Eight pounds? This…thing cost two whole pounds? I checked to see just how worth it the red ticket was – a ‘buy one get one free’ alcoholic drink voucher - Revolution bar I think it was. The thing is I DON’T DRINK! Two pounds wasted. Before I had the time to lament my loss and complain my situation, she locked our arms together and led me into this restaurant. I did not trust the coziness. No students about, hmmm. We sauntered to the bar. I made up my mind that if the food was more than four pounds, I would turn around and leave. Courtesy be damned.
The only problem was that I was not in control. She was. To see her talk with those behind the counter, one would think they were buddies from way back. Someone must have cracked a joke because they all threw their heads back and laughed loud while I stood like a brazen statue, feeling like a dog at the end of a leash whose owner had stopped to chat with friends. I listened for figures mentioned. None was mentioned. Instead the man at the bar handed me a small round black object.
'Ere u go mae.'
'What for?' she had her arms in mine before the man had a chance to answer, and led me to an empty table. What in the world was going on? She gave me the stop signal in answer to my quizzical look. 'What is going on?' Another stop signal. Just then the black object in my hand came to life. Light shone from within it.
'O’ food is ridy.' she rose to her feet, walked to the bar and signaled in a rather frantic manner that I join her. I joined her. Two plates of hotdogs, salad and something else were on the counter. 'Cud we ave tiplease' She turned to me. 'Or wu yu ave cafee?' I made out the words 'tea' and 'coffee' out of her sentences and understood what she had said. The only thing I could think of was how much it was all worth.
'Cfee or ti mae?' This from the barman.
'.....tea' I only answered mechanically, not to seem rude. He slammed two cups of tea on the counter soon after. I watched intently as he punched the cash machine in front of him. The girl beside me exchanged a joke with him. They chuckled.
'Seven fifty mae.' He said at the end of his mirth. I looked at the cause of my immediate woe and vaporized her. The sweetest smile was on her face. I dipped my hands in my pockets and surrendered my bus ride to the barman. He had the change ready. I wasn't fast enough. Another hand took the coin from his. I could only sigh when she slipped it into her pockets. At the table, I hinted her that there was absolutely no penny on me and that meant I was stranded.
'Don u ave a bancard or sompfthin?'
I had not even heard of the term 'bank card' before and I told her as much. She waved me off airily and dug into her food. What in heavens name had I gotten myself into? My appetite vanished and I picked at my food while watching her masticate hers with relish and going on about how she was desperately searching for a job. Would that she kept mute for just one minute, I might have been able to give my predicament some thought and figure a way out instead I engaged my analytical faculties in following what she was on about. I could not understand why she would not shut up when it was so clear there wasn't a conversation going on. She finished every morsel on her plate then dug into mine. To the on looker, two lovers sharing a meal. What hideous crime had I committed to be punished thus? I wondered.
Lunch ended and we went outside. I stood, trying to figure a way out of my broke. She stood with me. I looked at her again. My hunger had lessened enough for me to appreciate her beauty. It wasn't going to help me at the moment. I really just wanted her to disappear.
'You don even knowmi name.'
Get lost lady
'What is your name?'
'Shantell'
I told her mine - anything to get her to leave.
'will I see y' agin tomaro?'
Hell no!
'I don’t know if I will come to Manchester tomorrow.’ I said, looking out for cars on the road so I could cross at a moment's notice. She must have sensed my detachment.
'Don You wano see me agin?'
No
'Sure I do'
'Gimme y'number, ya, so I c'n call.'
'I don’t have a phone.' This was not a lie.
'Well heres mi number gimme a call ya?' I took the torn off sheet of paper from her, studied the numbers for her sake and squeezed it into my pocket.
'Definitely.'
Definitely not.
'Bye now.' She leaned in and kissed a cheek.
'Bye.' I watched her walk away. Nice backside. Perhaps it would have all been worth it if I had gotten into her pants.
If I learnt anything from that experience, it was that it takes a little under two hours to trek to Victoria station from Oxford road. My poor legs were wobbly when I arrived. Thank God I had eaten enough to give me the strength. I had a return ticket to Wigan so my journey back was assured. A new challenge, however, loomed ahead of me. I usually take the bus from the train station in Wigan to my house. It is a further trek than the one I had just made. My legs wouldn't survive it.
When we arrived, I saw the answer to my problems at the bus stop outside the train station. She was seated on the bench leafing through a book. Young, blonde and beautiful. Every other person around was standing. Typical.
I occupied the space on the bench beside her.
'Hi.'
She looked up from her reading with a somewhat quizzical look on her face.
'Hiya.'
I usually don’t do this but this time I really had no choice.
'I am in a bit of a fix here and I am wondering if you could give me two pounds for my bus fare home.' I watched her eyes turn cold and she got up without saying a word and walked away. Although I had spoken in hushed tones, too many had been too close. Eyes turned to look at me. The ground wouldn't open up and swallow me.
As I put one foot in front of another in the direction of home, I reflected on the blonde's behavior and chose not to blame her. Who knows what would have happened to her if she had helped this complete stranger that had come to sit beside her at a bus stop and asked for two pounds? Wise girl.
I put my hands in my pockets to keep them warm and felt the piece of paper in which Shantell had written her number. I wrenched it out of my pockets, crumpled it and threw it on the pavement.

The scourge called 'woman'

“Men rule the world, they say, but women rule men.”
This, my friend, Obi, saw on a woman’s Tee shirt (trying to get an eyeful of cleavage no doubt). ‘I wanted to hold her neck and sqqquezzeeee, and sqqquezzeee!’ he narrated later. I have since thought about his reaction and he could have only have been irked thus for one reason and one reason only – it is true (how bitter that sounds). Sorry to burst your bubble all you testosterone driven males holding the world in your hands, but feel those clutches around your sides? Yep, that is a woman’s claws well entrenched and there is precious little you can do about it (till you read through this guys, because I am here to fight the cause. Its time men took their rightful place back from these daughters of Eve).
Fact: A man walks into any bar in the world and laments loud enough for all others to hear ‘women, why did God make them?’ Instantly he has gotten friends, and free beer of sympathy to go along. Okay okay, what about women amongst women? (Gosh I hear those thoughts clearly). Ladies, lets be honest, when a woman seeks the ears of other female strangers, it doesn’t hold the same packed punch. You know what that means guys? We are in this together and together we will take back our place – just read on.
Women reading this would be simmering gently by now, water on low heat (definitely no pun intended) moving towards boiling point, ready to take to arms – the never ending battle of the sexes (which we – the guys – are set to prevail).
Guys lets look our strengths here. I am yet to meet a woman who says her closest friends are women. ‘Men are so easy to get along with than women are.’ They readily say; and in the same, but now exasperated breath, ‘men!’ well well, how do we let such advantage slip? Women take to men (as friends) so readily and guess what? Men’s best pals are also men. So, why are we still taking a back bench? Why do women determine (if indirectly) every decision we take? What was that? Their looks? Those breasts, the hair, eyes, backside? Guys, guys I feel you, I mean, I am a guy as well and I have eyes but listen to me, we were cheated by nature. Look at the animals – lion, lizard, peacock, the list goes on and on, the male is always prettier but with humans it just had to be the other way round. Someone called it nature’s mistake and I wholly agree. We must see woman as being with some features that are rightfully ours. That’s the first step gentlemen.
Secondly don’t try to understand women. That is another secret weapon of theirs. They inundate the men with their many puzzles and while we are trying to fathom them, they take the initiative.
‘Son, women have many rules which a man knows nothing about until he breaks them.’ That was from a movie I saw sometime back. How true. But to buttress my point even further, in a moment of my dad’s frustration with my mum, I told a joke which he laughed long and loud at and strongly insisted I tell the old lady as well. Suffice to say she didn’t find it quite as funny.
A man with so much on his mind happened upon a genie. And like all good genies would, the man had a wish just waiting to be granted.
‘Anything?’
‘Anything you wish for, my good man, will be granted. But mind you, just one wish, so choose carefully.’
There was so much the man wanted for himself but being philanthropic was best, he decided, so, because the people of his town had suffered so much from being cut off by a huge lake from the city, he decided on a bridge.’
‘A bridge?’ The genie frowned. He hadn’t counted on a wish like that. ‘My good man, do have pity on a genie, think of the wood, steel, nails and every other thing I would have to use.’ He grabbed the man’s shoulders and looked imploringly in the man’s eyes. ‘Please pick another wish.’
The man thought again. Philanthropy was out the window. This time he would ask for something he had always wanted.
‘Okay, genie, I want to understand women.’
‘The genie sat down on a rock, held his head in his hands and thought for a very long time. Finally he looked up. ‘That bridge,’ he asked, ‘would you want a dual or a triple carriage way?’

Guys, there u have it. Need I say more? We need to resist them when they turn on their charms and use their wiles to manipulate us. We need to see through the beauty mask and hold firm. We have to take back our place – by force if necessary. We…er excuse me, phone…gentlemen, we will have to call it a day here. Just got a call from this hot broad I have been chasing for a while…no groaning man, you should see this girl. She sizzles!
What was that? Prevail? Well that would be another day.

Circle of the lollipop

‘Can you believe who came to tell me he was in love with me?’
She asked this with just the right pomp to evoke sympathetic jeers from her enthralled audience. The two other girls flanking her on either side as they made their way towards the dorm from class leaned in, holding their gaze steady and smiles ready; waiting to break into laughter.
‘The lollipop’
‘Peter?’
‘Who else?’
Her friends threw their heads back and indulged her heartily. It was the cue she needed for more.
‘Can you imagine that…that bean pole, shaking that large head of his in front of me muttering “Shusan, Shusan, can you come hout for a date tonight?”’
Their sudden eruption was like a champagne cork popping open and its contents sizzling wantonly all over the place. They stopped and leant against a wall to catch their breaths.
‘”Shusan hi have been looking at you for long time. Hi love you shince.”’
‘Susan, stop it! You are killing me.’ The books which both her friends held tight to their bosoms stumbled out of their grasps between spasms of laughter.
‘But really, what was he thinking? How could he, in a million years, believe I would ever say yes to his ugly African arse? Talking in that accent that could scare off ghosts in the dark? I could kill him for even coming to me.’
‘So what did you tell him? What did you tell him?’ They picked up their books, still coughing out the last peals.
‘What do you think I told him? I told him to stick his face where the sun don’t shine.’
‘No?’ Mock horror.
‘Oh yes I did. I think that went right over his head. The likes of him would need a Sat-Nav to cross the road. The idiot. I suspect he is still a virgin’
‘Care to find out?’ They teased.
‘Are you joking? I would have a leper’s baby first.’
‘Wicked Susan, that’s just plain wicked.’ They were holding their sides again.

‘Hello girls, you aren’t laughing at me are you?’ The smooth confidence in the question ceased their mirth in an instant. It was like someone somewhere had pressed a ‘pause’ button. Austin Gretsky, a Greek god who had decided to come to university and (thanks to the fates) was in their class.
‘Hello Susan, Trish, Yvonne.’
‘Hello Austin.’ They cooed shyly, mentally adjusting themselves to look like beauty queens. He shifted his six foot two “muscles-struggling-to-rip-my-top” frame to the girl in the middle. A sweeping gesture that swung the part of his mane covering his face to the back of his head topped the ‘cool.’
‘You free later tonight Susan?’
‘What do you have in mind?’
He winked in reply.
‘Naughty, naughty. I don’t know, we will see now, wouldn’t we?’ She giggled.
He dug a pen out of his pockets, seized her hand and opened her palm. ‘This is my number.’ He smudged her hands with ink. ‘Call me tonight.’ Another flick of his head and he walked off.
‘Wow, Suuusan Baaaby! Talk about scoring the big one.’
“Will you call him? Will you call?’
She eyed her friends whose faces at the moment would make light bulbs pale. It was the Austin Gretsky effect. She could see the green in their eyes as well.
‘You can bet your scanty pubic hairs on it sweetheart.’
Yvonne’s next request confirmed her fears.
‘Let’s see the number, Susan.’
I don’t think so. ‘Maybe some other time lovely. Now I got to run.’ Austin Gretsky was now her man. Damned if any leech touched him. She scurried off to prepare herself.


Life happened.


‘Hi Susan.’
‘Heeello Yvonne sweetheart.’ She’s looking really nice, the witch.
‘Sorry I couldn’t come earlier.’ She leaned in so they exchanged kisses, pouting ever so lightly to keep her lipstick in tact. ‘You know how Richard is. He is a good boss…’ She flicked her index finger across the seat and examined the finger.
‘It’s clean Yvonne.’ Susan offered icily.
‘You never know with places like this.’ She sank into the seat, crossed her legs with hands on knees, adjusting her designer suit to make as minimal contact as possible with the plastic chair. Her Gucci bag found a place at the edge of the table far from Susan’s KFC chicken wings. ‘…Richard runs the firm like a military camp. He needs me around him all the time, the poor bloke. The place would go to pieces if I wasn’t there to help.’ Susan over-smiled at Yvonne giggles.
‘You look good Yvonne. Time has been kind to you.’
‘And money too my dear. Richard does hand out more tip than I deserve really.’ She winked. Susan had her plastic smile ready.
‘You look a tad chubbier.’ Their eyes met. ‘Well, not too bad though.’
‘Thanks Yvonne.’
‘How is your son? Jack?’
‘Jason. He is growing up too fast for me. Seems like yesterday I had him and already he is eight. I can hardly keep up with him these days. Just the other day he climbed a tree and fell…’
‘Ah there you are.’ Yvonne kicked herself off the chair to meet a figure shuffling through the swinging glass doors. Susan looked up at Trish hugging the not-as-enthusiastic Yvonne. There had been a time when she hated these women – years ago when she saw them as backstabbing sluts for going behind her to sleep with Austin Gretsky, when Trish had gone a step further and married him. Susan had sworn revenge and embraced her grudge through four relationships till a fateful stormy night that Trish showed up at her door, naked, bruised and badly shaken. Austin Gretsky was a monster.

‘Hi Susan.’ Trish broke away from Yvonne and approached the table.
‘Hello my darling.’ The mental wounds were stamped on her like a badge. Susan clung on tight to comfort her. The meeting had been Susan’s idea. They hadn’t been together like this since their uni days. She had planned to reignite the spark before Austin Gretsky. It was a mistake; obvious within seconds of their seating down.
Yvonne, prim as a packaged doll, with her superiority airs looking over the bridge of her nose, wary of the ‘contaminated’ atmosphere that could be potentially lethal to her skin. Trish, an epitome of the very opposite; her hollow eyes shifted nervously at the slightest sound. She didn’t care that her dress, too large, trammeled across the floor after her feet, gathering dirt. Her long black hair, once the envy of many, now hung dry and brittle about her shoulders. A little more effort and she would fit for the part of a scarecrow in a local play and wouldn’t need costumes. If this was the long term Austin Gretsky effect, Susan thought, if things had gone as she had hoped back then, she, and not Trish, would be looking like that now. Oh girls, Thank you so much.
Then there was her, Susan, with two marriages, two relationships and a son in her wake. Life had taught her enough lessons and she had been a good pupil. Yvonne, Susan felt, was too pretentious. What she wanted at the moment was not a friend but someone to worship and adore her and her ‘achievements. Trish on the other hand, having refused to leave Austin in spite of all he had done to her, needed an ever listening ear to tell her daily tales of woe to. They, in Susan’s opinion, still had a lot to learn.
An uneasy silence fell around the table after pleasantries had been gotten out of the way. Austin Gretsky seemed to be the only thing all three girls now had in common and discussing their past sexual exploits with him (that had cracked their friendship in the first place) was anywhere but near the vicinity of ‘wise.’

‘I ran into Peter the other day.’ Trish came to the rescue.
‘Peter?’ Yvonne latched on. At least a conversation had started. Susan corked an ear as well. She had known so many Peters over time.
‘You know, Peter, that African guy at Uni.’
‘The lollipop?’
‘That’s the one. I bumped into him at Tescos. He recognized me first and asked after you two. He looks so different now. Working on some research for NASA he said.
‘Wow, sounds important.’
‘He looks important as well.’
‘Would be good to meet him, you know, see how he is after all these years. He still single?’
‘I would say so. We didn’t have that much time to talk though. I had to get home to Austin and his troubles.’
Susan had been quiet at her friends’ exchange. Yvonne’s question, however, made her raise an eyebrow.
‘So you didn’t get his number then?’
Yvonne??
‘No I am afraid not.’
‘Pity. Susan, you wouldn’t happen to have his number would you?’
There was no way history was going to repeat itself.
‘No Yvonne, I don’t have it.’

It was somewhere in the attic amongst dusty books, clothes and what-nots from uni that she had stashed away ages back. He had given it to her during her last days on campus and she had a vague recollection of keeping it somewhere. Where? It took an hour of nearly pulling the place apart before she found it folded in Rocks of the Jurassic age. Jason had given up trying to get her to come down. ‘In a minute sweetie.’ He was probably asleep by now. Her hands shook as she keyed in the numbers on her mobile. What if he had changed his number?
‘Hello.’
He hadn’t.
‘Hi Peter, its Susan, remember me?’
Of course he remembered her. How was she? Doing very well thank you. Been quite a long time. Yes yes. She laughed uneasily. They would have to meet, that okay by her? Oh sure it was fine. Did she like Chinese? She actually loved it. Seven o clock tomorrow then? That was just fine. Could she text him the details of how to get to hers? She would right away. Settled then. Take care. Take care. Click.
She paused to catch her breath. He sounded so confident then. She steadied herself and began composing the text.
‘Mummy!’
‘In a minute darling. I am nearly done.’
There was one thing unchanged in the voice of ‘the Lollipop’ – his accent. He still called her “Shusan”
Nice.