The Endie.

'Honey you are so beautiful' he said. Placing emphasis on the 'SO'. "Awww you rock my world. From the first day I set my eyes on you I knew you were the one for me".

'Hmm...lame talks' I said in my head.

He shifted and made himself more comfortable on the seat which was unfortunately lacking in space. His over fed body took more than half of the seating space. Too bad it was the only available sitting area in the restaurant. My eyes darted around the fast food restaurant to see if there was any familiar face. Woe on me if anyone sees me in such a compromising position I thought.

I love your hair, do you know you know how to pick out the right shade of extensions for your complexion? He said, bringing up his fat fingers to touch some tendrils of my hair.

Bring on the rhymes brother, I thought. "Extensions for your complexion" All because you wanna get laid. I mentally cringed. "Stupid goat" I thought. Do you have to let the world know that my extensions are cheap? Haba!

Waiter! He bellowed. Stabbing the air with his chubby fingers.

A tall, handsome young man walked over to take our orders. His crispy white shirt beautifully molded his broad chest and his trousers flowed down his long frame almost endlessly. Damnnnn! I seethed under my breath. Why aren't guys like this waiter the ones with the cash?

My piggy companion was obviously intimidated by the waiter and his tone of voice instantly changed.

Waiter! He said. Get us some cold drinks and make sure you come back here with some ice-cubes to go along with the drinks.

Yes Sir! The handsome waiter said and turned to leave.

Not satisfied, Piggy called him back. Do you people serve gizzards?

No Sir! The waiter said.

How come you people don't serve gizzards eh? I should speak to your manager.

Ok Sir! The delicious waiter said.

While Piggy and the waiter were making conversations, in my mind a song started to churn up.

"E be fine boy O!
E be fine boy O!
You be fat boy O!
E be fine boy O!
You be fat boy O!"

Sweety?! Piggy called and I quickly snapped back to reality.

Yes Endie. I answered. He insisted I called him Endie an abbrevation of his name "Endurance". God, one had to endure to be with him. What a befitting name.

In a short while, the waiter brought back the drinks. The usually bottle of beer for Endie's type and orange juice for me. He quickly served us our drinks and scurried away as soon as he could.

Endie started rambling about his logistic business in China and how he intended to open a branch in New Jersey. I had a fixed smile on my face but his voice was slowly fading away.

I was back in my hostel with Moremi, a light skin beauty who knew the ways of the world. I see her as sophisticated and posh. To me, she had it all, beauty, brains and money.
She said she was moving off campus soon. Ikenna as she calls him is renting her an apartment and promising to buy her a car soon. I guess that is why I bought the idea of going out with Endie...fat Endie.

Moremi intoduced him to me two days ago when Ikenna and Endie came to pay her a visit. Ikenna's Range rover was parked in front of our hostel with Endie in the passenger seat while Moremi and Ikenna where leaning on the car. I said my hellos to both of them and was introduced to Endie before going to the hostel. It was later that evening she told me about his interest in me.

Two days later I was having lunch with him.

Sweety?! He called and brought me back to the present.

Oh Endie! I exclaimed with nervous laughter. By the way, the name is Tokunbo.

Tokunbo, Tosin, Tolumbo any which one, where were you?

I had endured enough. The name is T-O-K-U-N-B-O! I said picking up my hand bag. I could no longer pretend enjoying his company. Is this what babes go through to make huge bucks? Un-interesting company, men who forget their names and to top it up arrogant and not good looking? Enough!

I stood up, said my thanks to E-N-D-I-E and walked towards the entrance cum exit. To me, it was the "endie".

Ethiope.

Ejiro was sitted by the Ethiope, tossing stones into the river. Memories floating through her head. She was here ten years ago,bathing in this same river,dancing and singing with glee but then she was not alone. She had Tobore by her side.

A handsome young man who was so much in love with her and could do almost anything for her.
Beside them were other river lovers, some swimming,racing while others were pounding their clothes to remove dirt with gusto.

She scurried around the water while Tobore tried to reach her. Her giggles and squeals of delight could be heard from afar. So innocent, so alive. The world was at her feet and she was it's mistress.

Tobore standing tall and light complexioned was the epitome of manhood and everything she ever dreamed him to be. A brother, a friend, a father and ultimately her lover. He could do no wrong, he was her all.

He studied the sciences while she was in the arts but they had the best of both worlds since they were both mentally compatible and could go on arguing for hours until Tobore would give up for the sake of peace for Ejiro must win. She was his all and he was hers.

Days turned into weeks and weeks to months and months to years and the ties grew stronger but fate always had a way of playing tricks on ordinary mortals. Ejiro became more adventurous and thought the world had so much to offer. Temptations were everywhere, why limit myself to the ordinary, she thought.

Ejiro wanted to see,touch,taste and to fly and the winds made it so easy,the allures of Tobore had become mere dust. The drummers of the world played fervently and she danced to their drum beats. A step forward, then another and another and soon she was running. The cries and pleas of Tobore fell on deaf ears. They were like noise to her compared to the sweet melodies of the drummers that she longed for like a dog digging for lost bones.

They world came with so many fascinations, the sight, the sounds, the smells, the feel, the pleasure and it's terrors but they didn't daunt her, instead they ignited a passion so strong that even the fearful cries of the dark wilds to her senses were like an enchanting perfume that must be smelt, savoured and enjoyed.

The blood in her veins were flowing quick and fast and there was no going back.

Tobore saw the future but not even the warnings he gave could stop Ejiro. Like a volcano she had erupted and could not be stopped until she had poured out her content but by the time she was done, it was too late. Tobore dis-enchanted had found another and her time was over.

She cried and pleaded, prayed and fasted. She became a shadow of herself but all she did, did not make him sway for his mind once made was like cement that had solidified. She suffered, she died and died again but just like the Ethiope, fast moving and one directional, he had flowed past. He said his goodbyes, looking her straight in the eyes without flinching. That was ten years ago, He has a wife now and a daughter.

Soft breeze slowly caressed her skin and she stood up fom where she sat, slowly throwing stones into the Ethiope. Tears on her cheeks and her dress slowy swaying to the breeze. She was ten years older, ten years wiser. Like water poured into the Ethiope, so was Tobore now to her. Forever gone never to come back.

Change!

Change they say is the one constant in life.

Have I changed?

I remember a few years ago I was talking about having a job and expressed my frustrations as a corper. Now things have changed beyond my imaginations.

Have I changed?

A question I still ask myself.
Events and experiences change people and I myself must say that indeed I have changed.

Maturity and life always leaves a mark on you.
I looked into the mirror a few days ago and I must say that I have packed on a few wrinkles. Wrinkles gotten from squinting my eyes to life's happenings.
Resulting from many a nights of long thoughts and sleeplessness.
They say the more success you come across the more responsibilities you have to shoulder. True talk!

I have learnt to be careful with my choices and that all that glitters is not gold.
I have more to say...I'll be back.