Tales of A Single Mum

Episode Eleven

...As women we come across them one time or another in our lifetimes. The man who wants to show you that money is not an object, he can buy you anything. There I was one Saturday morning, having a solemn lunch at Chicken Delight, ignoring Kristoff who was obviously calling to explain his glaringly obvious absence online on valentine’s day. There I was jejely minding my own business, charging my phone and moving my upper body in my seat to Banky W’s Yes No song. Suddenly someone came to stand in front of me as I looked up from my phone he bowed slightly.

“Good morning Ma” he started. “My boss is calling you. He’s sitting over there he said pointing to a seat a table a few metres behind me. I thought quickly, I had no intention of moving from my seat so i returned his smile and said. “Tell your boss to come over here, if he wants to meet me. With my head held high, I turned back to my phone and tried to look busy, ignoring the man as he walked away.

About five minutes later, I heard a shuffling of feet as someone came to stand by me. “Hi, May I sit down?” I nodded and he promptly in the empty seat opposite mine.

“My name is Idongesit but everyone calls me Don or Don Carlo” he announced with a smile. I looked at Don Carlo. He had heavyset brows and beady looking eyes and spoke with a very heavy Akwa ibom accent. He also wore too much jewellery. He wore rings on both hands and a thick rapper like chain on his neck. I was wondering how to politely get up and leave without drawing attention to myself when he said the words I hadn’t heard I a long time.

“Is that all you’re having” He said looking down at my empty plate with the moimoi cup still on it. “Please take anything you want, at the counter”. Ah at that very moment I felt there was nowhere else I would rather be. I remembered my empty wallet, my kids with my mom at home and I sprang into action. I first asked for a generous helping of friend rice and barbecue chicken, watching to see if don Carlo was still smiling as I made my pick. He smiled at me and urged me on, AH! I took two extra packs for my kids at home and one large plate of Egusi soup and pounded yam for my mother. Again I looked to see if “The don” was still smiling He was so I added two loaves of fresh bread.

Don Carlo paid the bill and his sidekick help with my bags. As we walked out of the restaurant door, he politely asked me if I would wait a minute while he made a few purchases in the supermarket next door.

Please come in and pick up anything you might need. Ah Magz you woke up well today, I teased myself and laughed at my private joke. To be honest I’m not sure he had even asked me before I picked up the shopping trolley. I filled the trolley with diapers, cereal, all sorts of food items, toiletries and snacks. Don Carlo stared at my trolley before asking me softly.

“Are you married? Do you have children? I see you picking children’s things.”

“Yes I’m a mother with two little kids. I’m divorced.”

“Oh I’m sorry about that. Life is unpredictable” He said with sympathy in his eyes.

“Thank you.” I responded. For a minute I was afraid he would tell me to return all I had purchased after my huge revelation instead he pointed at the pharmacy, a small room inside the supermarket.

“Would you like anything in the pharmacy he asked” I suddenly remembered I was low on multivitamins, the kids needed drugs and for every ailment that could possibly come their way, being a Nigerian I muttered a secret God forbid in my head but picked the drugs anyway. We hauled the items to the checkout counter as Don Carlo tried to drill as much personal information out of me as possible, I said very little but kept smiling and asking him about himself making it seem as if I was interested in him. It was all he needed. He went on and on, he told me he was an architect, he owned a chain of hotels in Akwa Ibom, he was also into politics over there, he sold cars also and he was in Itoki for two days just to clear his cars from the border. I listened without concentrating, he could have been a fuel attendant at a gas station for all I cared, I looked at the rolls of diapers for my son and I smiled. Don Carlo asked me for my number and promptly called me to make sure I had given him the right one. Then he put me in a taxi with all my look and promised to call me. I arrived home in style and my mom was sitting at her spot by the gate. We hauled everything inside my little apartment and settled down to a delicious dinner as I filled my mom in on the magical events of the day. She thanked God and my ancestors and blessed me. When the don called me, later that evening, I thanked him again for all he had done. He said I reminded him of his late sister and that he wanted us to be friends.

What won’t they say when they first meet a new lady? His sister for all I know might be alive and well in Akwa Ibom. That’s if his mother even had any girls. Hmmm… Time will tell what “the Don” really wants. I thought to myself as I popped open a can of Pringles.

Namaste!