His muse 4

"Hey. Akua let me call you back alright?" She said looking directly at Edem. He and his friend both froze. "How are you?"  She said again. Edem's friend kicked him and he said, "I'm fine. You look great." He said. She giggled and looked at the plain tank top and jeans she was wearing. "Thank you. I didn't know you were a student here too." She said smiling. Edem just smiled back. "Hi I'm sandra." She introduced herself to his friend. "Hi, I'm Moses." He replied. Edem turned to look at him. "Seriously? Your parents named you Moses?" He asked. Sandra started laughing. "Oh shut up." Moses replied. "Anyways, I have to go. My roommate has been calling me. See you around." Sandra said, taking her car keys from her pocket. "Ok. Ermm...Sandra." Edem managed to say. "I have a performance next week Friday. Would you like to come and watch?" She paused and smiled. "I could buy the ticket for you. Its at the Fairline hotel at 7pm." He added. She smiled. "Ok, that sounds cool. How much is the ticket. I would prefer to buy it myself because I doubt I will come alone." She said. "10 cedis." Edem replied. She smiled. "Ok. That's cool but I have to run so will see you there, ok?" She said and hopped into her car. At that moment Moses was singing praises to him.

Dean was so impressed when he heard Edem’s story. “It’s just annoying that she will come with her boyfriend.” Edem said. Dean turned to look at him. “Chale, are you sure you want a girl like Sandra?” He asked putting more clothes in his bucket. Edem paused for a while and smiled. “Why, you don’t think I’m good enough for her?” He asked, almost offended. “No, that’s not it at all. She is a beauty queen. I know Sandra is cool and all that but she has so many boys after her. The competition is tight.” Dean explained. 

“Deanie!” His girlfriend called. “Sally I’m in the bathroom.” He called out to her. She turned around and walked to them. “Edem I was asking Dean if I could get an extra ticket for a friend for the fashion show.” She said when she got there. Edem nodded. “Yea sure. The organizers gave me 4 tickets. The person I wanted to invite said she would buy her own ticket so you can have it.” He replied. Sally smiled and took out her phone to send a text. “Thank you! Oh were you going to invite Sandra Osei?” She blurt out. Dean turned and gave her a furious look. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She whispered. Edem shook his head. “It’s ok. You guys talk about everything. I kind of knew Dean will tell you.” Edem said, looking down. Dean felt bad. He stopped washing. He told Sally to excuse them. “Look, you know what? After this show you will see more beautiful girls. You will have so many muses it would be hard which one to choose.” He said. Edem looked at him and nodded. “That’s what’s up!” He yelled and they both laughed.

The night for the show came and the organizers gave Dean the program lineup when they got there. They were seated with Sally and her friend. “Look, all we have to do is make these people laugh for just 15 minutes. In actual fact you have no need to be nervous, you know why?” Dean asked. Edem shook his head. “It’s simple. You have nothing to lose. If you go up there and no one laughs, big deal, we are still getting paid. If you go there and it’s a big hit, you also win with a bag of chips.” He explained. Edem smiled at that. He was a little less nervous now. 

All through the show he was looking out for Sandra. The event was not so big so he could see she wasn’t around. Dean put his hand on his shoulder. “Yo, you need to go backstage. Don’t worry about Sandra.” Dean said. Edem stood up. “Why, with her do I also have nothing to lose?” He asked sarcastically. “Actually yes. Hear this. If she shows up, you can watch her laugh and if she doesn’t you have something to talk to her about when you meet her again. Technically she will owe you one.” Dean said. Edem’s face shot up into a massive smile. One of the organizers was signaling at him to come backstage. “Dean, you be guy. You just made my day.” Edem said turning to leave. Dean smiled, made his voice feminine and said, “So am I your new muse?” He teased. Edem hit him and rushed off. 

To be continued...

His muse 3

“Yo, why are you standing there like that?” Dean asked walking up to him. He saw Edem staring at Sandra as she walked off. He turned back to Edem and opened his mouth. “The girl you were talking about? That’s her? Sandra Osei?” He managed to say. Edem turned to him immediately. “You know her?” Edem asked eagerly. “Yea, I mean who doesn’t. She won Miss University. Dude are you thinking of…? Oh please forget about it.” He replied and walked off. "Wow, I'm sure she beat everyone easy kwraa." Edem said as he walked off with Dean. "Oh yea, she is really nice too. Most of these girls who win something small act all stuck up but this girl is super modest." Dean continued. Edem felt even worse. "Why are the good girls all taken kwraa eh?" He asked. "They are just too irresistible to stay single for long." Dean answered with a giggle. "Anyways forget about girls for now. When you get your cash and go from show to show the girls will be chasing you." He added, trying to cheer Edem up. "You are right! I can't wait to tell my parents I won! Next semester I'm gonna be schooling with you." Edem finally said smiling.  

Edem automatically made Dean his manager. They went for the prize money together. Edem almost couldn't believe it. The first thing he did with the money was buy university forms. He was so eager to get a proper education. He knew he needed it. He tried to forget about Sandra but when he got admission he knew he would see her again and that was just enough. 

In less than 6 months Edem got a call to perform at a fashion show. One of the companies that sponsored his contest was organising it. Dean spoke to them and he landed a cool amount for his first gig. "Ma guy the show is in two weeks oh so please start preparing now. This is your chance to make it big. Plus the prize money only caters for two years. You need to work for more money." He advised. Edem nodded calmly but his heart was racing. He bought a notebook the next day and took it with him everywhere he went so he could write funny things down. Dean was impressed. He believed in him but he was also happy he was taking things seriously.

One night Edem went to Dean's hostel. "Dean...do you think if I invite Sandra to the show she will come?" He asked shyly. Dean wasn't very pleased. "Yo, are you still thinking about her? I thought we spoke about this? Look you won because you have talent and not because she was there." Dean said. Edem looked down. "Ok you know what? One of the girls in my hostel is her friend. I will ask her to ask her." Dean finally said to cheer his friend up and just like magic it worked. "Thanks chale!" Edem said excitedly. "Ei, relax she hasn't said yes yet" he added and they both laughed.

On his way from lectures the next day Edem was chatting with a new friend when he saw Sandra. She drove past them in a brand new blue Kia Picanto. It was the Pageant car. He wanted to stop her but what if she didn't recognize him and drove off. That would definitely be shyous so when she turned in his direction he kept his head down. He walked on to his Hall far behind her car. When he got to his hall he noticed her car parked there. He looked around to see if he would see her but he didn't. "What are you looking for?" His friend asked. "That." Edem said finally finding Sandra walk down the stairs. "Wow, fine girl. Do you know her?" His friend asked. "Yea but I don't think she remembers me." He confessed. Sandra walked to the car. Her neat ponytail was shining in the sun and she held her phone, chatting and laughing in a conversation. "Chale that's miss university. Nice." Edem's friend said as they passed her by. She turned and looked at them and Edem's heart missed a beat. 

to be continued...

Jackpot!

She greeted me in the morning but without a smile

Her walk was slow and sluggish like she had walked a mile

There was something wrong with her. This wasn’t her style

I could tell there was something wrong by watching her for just a while

How could a free spirited lady feel so down?

In all my life I had never seen her frown

Maybe I should go to her and talk to her now

Who was I kidding I was nobody and she was the prettiest girl in town

Then God gave me a push. My boss sent me to go over

I took a deep breath and walked into her office praying not to stammer

“Hello, my boss said to give this to your father.” I said with hope of getting closer

“Ok.” Was all she said, took the envelope and put it into her drawer

I had blown it. I could have asked her why she was sad

I turned around and walked out feeling really bad

“Hi, wait!” She called from behind me and I turned sharply like mad

“You work at IT right? Could you please help me? I think I broke my dad’s Ipad.”

Jackpot!

His muse 2

The final comedian was up. After him the judges would announce the winner. Edem was no longer nervous. All he kept doing was look at his enchanted girl. "This guy isn't funny kwraa. I better pass am." He said. Dean agreed after listening to one thing he said. Edem on the other hand was not listening to him at all. He was just watching her. She wasn't laughing. She was merely giggling. In no time he was done and the winner was going to be announced. Edem closed his eyes and said a little prayer. Losing wasn’t much of a big deal for him anymore. He had a pleasant distraction. The second runner up was mentioned and he went to the stage for his prize. Edem held his breath. The first runner up was also mentioned and he rushed to the stage as well. Now the moment of truth had arrived. “And the first position goes to…Funny Bone!” The presenter said.

 Edem’s face dropped. Dean turned to look at him and put his hand on his shoulder. He was about to say a word to him when the presenter said. “But not him alone. Edem! It’s a tie for first position.” Edem froze. “Edem join us on stage!” The presenter said again. Dean had to push him onto the stage. He was in shock. “Come here Edem. The judges gave both of you the same marks. Thanks to our lovely sponsors the prize money will be double so both of you will have the grand prize.” The presenter said, holding Edem’s hand. He was smiling from ear to ear. He turned to the stage and saw her. She was clapping and cheering. Edem felt so good. 

“I told you. You have really good talent.” Dean said as they packed up to leave the venue. “It wasn’t all me. There was this girl that gave me most of the courage and even the jokes.” Edem confessed. A guy walked up to them. “Yo, the chick is on the move. She just left through the front exit.” The guy said. “Ayt, thanks.” Edem replied and rushed off. “Ei superstar where are you going?” Dean called as he sped off. Edem got to the place just in time. “Hi.” He called out to her. She turned around and saw him. He was panting. “Hello. Oh it’s you, congratulations.” She said. The wind was blowing through her hair. Edem suffered a bit with his next words. “Erm, thanks, thank you.” He finally said. “I wanted to say thank you. Like, to you.” He added. She looked surprised and giggled. He finally heard that giggle. It sounded just as he had imagined it on stage. “For what?” She asked, taking a step closer to him. 

“Please don’t take this the wrong way. When I was on stage I was very nervous. After I saw the other guys I felt like I wasn’t good enough but when I saw you laughing, it just sparked me and I lost all that fear. You probably didn’t notice it but thanks.” He said. She smiled. “That’s really nice, I’m flattered.” She said. Then she put out her hand. “So where is my share of the money?” She asked sharply. Edem stummered. “It hasn’t really been given to me yet.” He said honestly. She laughed. “I’m joking. For a comedian you have a strange sense of humour.” She teased and laughed some more. Edem caught the joke and laughed too. “Maybe you would have beaten me if you took part in the competition oh.” He said, loosening up. “I know right? Would have beaten you all with just that joke.” She said and they both laughed. 

“Sandra, I was looking for you. They had only pineapple.” A tall guy said. He walked over to her and gave her a cup of fruit drink. “Hey, I heard you were great in there. Didn’t see you perform but Sandra told me some of your jokes. They were crazy.” He said when he saw Edem. Sandra was giggling. “Oh thanks.” Edem said. “The guys are ready.” The guy whispered to Sandra. “Ok sure. Edem, I’m leaving. I hope you do more shows so we can come watch you.” Sandra said. She gave a little wave as she walked away with the tall guy. Edem waved and watched her leave. “Why are all the good girls taken?” He asked himself. 

To be continued....