Near Miss

TEN

Seyi was able to book an appointment with the manager of the modeling agency the day before. Now he is waiting at the reception of the agency for the front desk officer to call him into the office.

After all the preliminary questions were asked the gentle man relaxed, removed his glasses and became somewhat informal.

“Why did you decide to come?”

“I am ready to give modeling a chance sir.” Seyi said not knowing what else to say.

“Smart choice; the industry in Nigeria is advancing faster than expected and Nigerian fashion is paraded on the most sophisticated catwalks in the world today. Now is a good time to start paying your dues, because the opportunities are boundless.” Seyi just nodded and waited for him to continue.

“What I am saying to you is that every good thing has its price. This is not one of those agencies that will promise you rainbows and strawberries and then turn around to take advantage of you. You have truly been blessed with the physique and look that is marketable in this industry, but that is just the beginning. You are going to be put through a five week training program. Count yourself lucky for your degree; without that it would have been far longer.”

“What will this training cost?”

“Nothing. I mean not immediately. Once the training is done and you are able to work, twenty percent of your pay is for the agency.”

“When do we start?”

“First we sign a contract that basically underscores all I have been telling you, then we start.” He handed the papers to Seyi.

“You can go home and take your time to read and understand the terms of the contract before you sign".

Seyi thanked him and left the office to the reception where he sat down and read the document as well as his non-legal mind will allow him understand. He felt satisfied with the terms and signed.

“That was fast. Are you sure you understand the contract? Do you understand the terms?” The Manager said when Seyi stepped into his office again. 

“Yes” Seyi said.

“Then welcome on board.” He stretched out his hand.

“Thanks.”

Ken did not come home that night. He came home the evening of the next day reeking of alcohol. Signs of a nervous breakdown at the idea of fatherhood thought Datare. For all the things Datare wanted to say to him, she said nothing. She heard the shower and after a moment Ken grabbed food from the fridge and sat by her.

“Hello Ken.”

“Dat, I am sorry I could not help myself. I am alright now. It will never happen again.”

Her first impulse was to ask where he was but she decided that she did not what to know. She smiled and nodded.

Ken Made good his word and stayed home the next couple of days but the vise that accompanied him home from the streets stayed with them. He drinks heavily and stayed locked in his studio. He seemed like a different person. Datare did not push him. She just left him and pored her energy into taking care of herself and the gallery.

Seyi thought that the modeling gig will be a distraction for him at least for a period of time until he decides what he wants to do with his life. He discovered the training requires all of him and then some. It is exhausting. He was a student to his mentor, trainer, photographer, and his older colleagues. It is a rigorous and sometimes outrageous training. Yesterday they were at a pool learning to hold their breaths for as long as possible. What has this got to do with modeling?

A question Seyi got an answer to after his training was completed. His team did a shoot for a magazine where they were required to hold their position under water. Seyi was effectively distracted by his work so much so that he lost touch with happenings around him. He has never been one to clutch a phone around with him. He cannot understand how other models find it painful to be separated from their phones when they are working; and when not working, their phones are always cradled in their hands. Today however he was glad to receive a message from Morenike. He called her; she seemed troubled so he decided to see her later that day.

“The wedding date has been set.” She said when they were together.

Seyi went to her place but waited three blocks down for her to join him and together they went to a quaint little restaurant.

“Surely you knew this day will come. You have been engaged to marry this guy, a notion you were so excited about some months ago.”

“Don’t mock me.” She smiled sadly.”Seriously I do not want to marry this guy anymore I want to live I want to follow my own way like you.”

Seyi laughed. “You know this is not the way I want to go, it is just the only way left to go for me.”

“Exactly! I want to determine my own destiny not have it drawn out for me.”

“Morenike what is really going on? I have never seen you like this.”

“It is a normal animal instinct to squirm when the prison doors get closer.”

“Why are you telling me this Morenike?”

“You are the only friend with whom I can truly be myself. There is no one in my world that can understand me or even listen to me without thinking of me as crazy or ungrateful.”

There it is again the word ‘friend’. For a moment there he thought she was going to say that she could not marry because she has fallen in love with him and he would say that he loves her too and they may just run back into the jungle to live out their fantasies. Instead he smiled and held her hand. They did not order any food just drinks. They chatted about his work and all its excitement. The ridiculous things he had to do made her laugh. He was content just to be there with her and be comfortable around her. No sense in ruining a good friendship.

A few weeks back Datare went into ken’s studio to give him a cup of coffee. She found him by a fresh board about to begin a new work. She set his cup of coffee by him and left the room. If he noticed her he did not show it. He had been so distant outside his studio he eats, drinks or goes out.

This night after he emerged from his studio, grabbed his coat from its stand and Datare heard the door open and shut. She looked back and he was gone again. She waited a while then let herself into his studio. Ken is very clear about his instruction to her not to go into his studio. He especially does not like her to peek at his unfinished works; but Datare needs to understand what is going on as he is not speaking to her about anything. He has changed so much over a short period of time. Datare almost wished she did not get pregnant because everything was fine before then. She saw his paints, brushes and board; nothing was out of place. She turned to walk out of the studio when she realized that nothing has changed from the time she came in here a few weeks ago! He is not painting.