Surprises come in chains II : Memories

I sat down in the shuttle and looked straight through the window. “Excuse me, what’s the time?” The guy sitting next to me asked. I turned to him and noticed he was wearing a fancy watch. “Why, your watch can’t help you?” I asked rudely. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “I think someone fidgeted with it because the time is definitely wrong.” He replied. I looked at the time on my phone. “Since you can predict that isn’t the time, why can’t you do same for the real time?” I asked even more rudely when I realized how good looking he was. He smiled calmly and was about to respond when I but in, “its 10:20.” The shuttle came to a stop and we all got out. I looked in my bag for money to pay for the fare but my purse wasn’t in it. This wasn’t happening. I looked again and again but it was just not in my bag. The stranger I was so rude to ended up paying for me and walked off before I could even say thank you. That was the first day I met Jesse…….

“Remember the first day we met, what did you think of me?” I asked with a little giggle. He laughed just recollecting the event. “I thought you were a stubborn young lady who needed to loosen up.” He replied with a wink. I hit him with a pillow and he just kept on laughing. Then I remembered. “The stew!” I rushed out of my hostel room into the kitchen. Luckily, it wasn’t burning. Jesse followed up behind me. He leaned on the door post stylishly. “Somebody remembered to reduce the fire for you.”He confessed. I walked over to him after closing the lid. I kissed him passionately and said “what would I do without you?” He was indeed heaven sent……

With my huge robe and make-up well done, I gave all the poses I could think of. “Pose like a graduate!” My sister teased. She and my brother were laughing their heads off. I couldn’t help laughing too. Friends were hard to find because they were busy with their families as well. My parents couldn’t make it to my graduation but my siblings were there to share in my important day. From a distance I could see Jesse. I wasn’t sure it was him because he had travelled to Tamale for a meeting. As this handsome figure approached, my heart raced. I rushed to him and gave him a hug. “You came!” I exclaimed. “Yes, I hope this was a pleasant surprise.” He said. I stared at him for a while just to make sure he was real……

I stared at a picture we took at my grad which I kept framed on my bedside table. Jesse had been away for 4 months. He was out of the country this time at an architectural fair. He called me often and we had video chats online but I missed him too much. It was worse knowing he had two more months to be there. My Ex boyfriend had hit on me several times, telling me that Jesse was gone for good and he probably found someone else. I didn’t listen to him. What did he know about Jesse? I picked up my phone and dialed his number. “Hello, Jesse’s a little busy right now. Would you…” I hanged up immediately. It was a lady’s voice. I was hurt. Was he really cheating? Just like magic, I met Vishnu, Jesse’s best friend on my way to work the next day. He gave me a ride and I took the opportunity to talk to him about what happened. He burst out laughing so hard he almost hit the car infront of him. “That’s the secretary. She takes their calls whenever there is a meeting. You have nothing to worry about. Jesse loves you.” These were just the words I wanted to hear……..

“She’s asleep. The doctor said she will be alright. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?” I heard my mother’s voice. I gradually opened my eyes. She was sitting next to me looking very worried. I was in the hospital and there were two police men walking out the ward. “Mum, where is Jesse?” I asked immediately I could speak. My mother turned and looked at me with surprise. “Sweetheart, Jesse passed away. Are you ok? Let me tell the doctor you are awake.” She said and walked out. She made me think twice about what had happened. As soon as the doctor came in I asked with so much eagerness, “Doctor where is the young man I was with?” He looked at me with a similar expression as mum. “You came in alone. You where rushed in here by a woman who works at a beach resort. Do you remember anything about the shooting?”

To be continued….

Surprises come in chains: New beginnings

I hadn’t heard from Jesse in three months. All Vishnu told me was that he had travelled abroad. He claimed he didn’t know exactly where. There was no way I could forget about Jesse. I knew deep in my heart he would come back to me. Even the song he gave me said so. Love wouldn’t disappoint me. I was playing with the necklace Jesse gave me when my mum walked into my room. She smiled and sat next to me on my bed. “Have you considered doing your Masters?” She asked with concern. “Your father was suggesting you go to his university. You will get a scholarship as well. What do you think?” She added. That was a good idea. I had been planning that for a while before the shooting. “Yea, I thought about it before. I will do some more planning and let you know what I come up with.” I replied. She was pleased…………

I couldn’t believe I was on a blind date! A couple of my friends had arranged for me to go on a date with a coworker of theirs. I had no idea about it till they both disappeared when we went to the movies. I didn’t like the idea at all but I couldn’t be rude either. He was nice, very nice. His sense of humor was amazing. I was beginning to feel comfortable. He was filling the space of emptiness I had hidden for so many years. What was I feeling? I decided not to let him have my number and that was easy because he never asked……………

I met Nana again. This time it was a complete coincidence. I was walking into a restaurant to get some lunch and he saw me. We ended up having lunch together and got even closer. This time I wanted to give him my number and I did. One night we went for a walk in my neighborhood. We wanted to buy kelewele actually. Just as we walked he put his arm around my shoulder, then he stopped, held my chin and kissed me. I closed my eyes and all I could see was Jesse. I moved back quickly. This made him feel uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” I said and run back home. He called after me but my mind was too cloudy to hear his voice. I was still in love with Jesse, I couldn’t be with anyone else………

I was getting more messed up each day. I enrolled to go for my Master’s at Westville University USA, where my father taught. I needed the change of environment, something to occupy my mind and concentrate on the stable things in my life! Maybe it didn’t work out with me and Nana but that was not good enough to give up. I left the country with regrets but also with hope to start over again. My father was so glad to see me. We had a lot of catch up time. I met up with some friends there as well. Everything was going on fine…………

One sunny day, I couldn’t help how much I missed Jesse. I called Vishnu to ask if he had heard from him. I forgot to tell him I was travelling even. He said he hadn’t heard from him still but I knew it was a lie. Then it hit me, why didn’t Jesse try to call me? Or at least send me a text. I kept my Ghanaian cell phone line active all the time. Maybe he didn’t want me anymore, or he had really died this time or found someone else! The negative thoughts were clouding my mind. I was on a bus going home from lectures. I closed my eyes and started praying. God has a way of calming me down and he did more than just that. When I got to my stop I got off the bus and there he was! I dropped my bag and my eyes opened as wide as they could go. “Excuse me, what time is it?” He asked with that his infectious smile. My legs were paralyzed. They just won’t move. He came to me and held me like a mother who had found her baby. His arms felt warm and safe. Once he was here I wasn’t planning on letting him go and I think he read my mind because he said, “This time I’m staying right here with you.”………………

Jesse went home with me and met my dad. He was surprised to know he was alive and he took the opportunity to tell both of us the whole story. I was more than glad to see him. I touched him a few times just to make sure it was real. When dad left us alone we were quiet for a moment. “So what now, are you going to run away again?” I asked eagerly. “I’m living in Mexico but now that you are here I might as well move into a place here. Can you help me find a good apartment?” He asked beaming. I smiled sheepishly and nodded. “If you had told me you were there I would have came here long ago”. I said. Jesse looked down, his expression changed. “Vishnu was supposed to do that. Remember the necklace I gave you, it was a key to a post office box which contained a letter with all my details. It also had money and an air ticket. He told me you rejected it and wanted to forget about me. I guess I was convinced when I heard you were seeing someone.” He explained. I told him all that Vishnu told me. I guess we were both played but he didn’t succeed. Somehow fate brought us together. “ ….so I let him fly and prayed he’ll come back to me coz I did believe that if I let me fly and he flew right back then it was meant to be……”

The End!!!!

Surprises come in chains

I'm sitting on a rock with the wind blowing through my hair. Once in a while I pick up my fruit juice in a box and take a sip. It's about 4pm and the beautiful sun is setting. Just what I need, the right environment to inspire me. I flip over the page of my sketch pad. I have 5 sketched already and an idea just sprang into my head. The tide is getting a little higher and the sound of the waves stronger.

"Where should I put the button?" I asked myself and raised my head up to imagine my design. "Somewhere visible?" a calm voice asked. A very familiar one but it couldn't be, or could it? I turned around as fast as I could and my eyes confirmed my assumption. I screamed and hugged him as tight as my body would let me. "Jesse, I can't believe it's you." I finally said with tears in my eyes.

We spoke and laughed just like old times or even better. His eyes were just as charming as the weather. I never forgot that smile, that blink nor that gentle gaze he gave that made all his emotions so obvious. Then it was time to know the truth, the joy of seeing him was enough to avoid the question but I had to know. With a deep breath I asked, "but I heard you died in the accident. Why didn't you contact me after all these years?"

He didn't look surprised because he knew it was unavoidable. He held my right hand with both of his and said "it was an assasination. They wanted my whole family dead. If they found out I was alive they would have come for me and God knows they would have hurt you too. You may not believe this but I have watched you all these years from afar waiting for this day." He explained. I could feel the pain and joy in his eyes. His answer was good enough. He's here now and thanks to the change of government I know he would stay now. There was nothing more to fear. Finally after 5 years I have been reunited with my dear.

We got up to leave. I watched him grab my book and pencils and hold my hand with so much affection. He turned to the sun which was almost gone to sleep. "This isn't right, the sun should be rising to signify this beautiful day I have waited to long for." I couldn't help smiling but he was right in a way. The sun was significant but neither of us knew how yet. He lifted me up and I giggled for so long but then he shut me up in the best possible way....with a kiss. I couldn't believe I had butterflies.

What happened next was beyond my imagination. I heard loud gun shots from no where and saw Jesse fall to the ground right next to me and just when I caught him I felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder. I fell right next to him. "Jesse" was all I could say as my vision went blurr. But I managed to hear his last words. "I love you"......the first and last time I heard him say them.

Some times it's you!

Sometimes the world isn’t too fast, you are the one who’s too slow

Sometimes people don’t care too little, you care too much



Sometimes life isn’t hard, you are the one living too soft

Sometimes your friends aren’t bad friends, you are just too good for them

 Sometimes people aren’t moving ahead of you, you are the one trailing behind them

Sometimes love isn’t ignoring you, you are the one at the wrong place

Every time God reveals to us all we need, we are just the ones who can’t see it.

6 things I know about creativity

• Some people’s mistakes make them scared; other people’s mistakes make them famous.

• Art is natural but developing and expressing it is a choice.

• It’s not possible to be uncreative; you are just not doing something right.

• Anyone can draw but the drawings that stand out are those done with passion.

• There are two sides of you; your creative side and your stubborn side.

• Life is a permanent teacher but are you a permanent student?

My boyfriend's passion

Have you ever been in a situation where you see yourself falling (not literally though) and you can’t do anything about it? Anyone who has fallen in love with a person they know is wrong for them will know what I mean. My story isn’t that simple anyway. Ok it’s like this, I have two friends I spend most of my weekends with. We have been friends from Junior High School and kept in touch ever since. We do the whole ‘girls-girls’ trip to the salon, shopping and even go to some events together. We called ourselves SIL (single independent ladies) until Mimi decided to get a boyfriend! Dennis.

Don’t get me wrong we were happy for her and knew our own men will come by soon but things where naturally going to change. Good things was, there was a lot more to talk about. Mimi seemed so happy, I’ve never seen her happier. Her Romeo was something else. She had one problem though (no, he wasn’t cheating on her) He adored sports, especially football. She usually felt left out when he and his buddies were talking about matches and she just couldn’t understand his passion. I think this is very common and advised her. I said, ‘sweetie there are two ways to deal with this. One, try to learn the game. And two, get yourself busy when there is a football moment. Sadly Mimi took the second option which was to be a joke. You see, my friend just can’t stand being the slightest bit boyish.

Naira who is my third friend is the tom boy and she was even willing to give Mimi a crash course in soccer but she nicely refused so we dropped it and hoped for the best. Weeks later things got a lot worse with the start of a new season. I was happy at first to see her spend more time with us but it was clear she wasn’t happy. She wouldn’t swim when we went to the pool, she would walk straight past her favourite shoe shop without even noticing and she just didn’t laugh much. So Naira and I decided to have a little talk with Dennis so at least he would do something about it. I called Mimi up and invited her and Dennis to a cocktail party my cousin was having. She felt reluctant at first but I told her it was a good way for Naira and I to finally meet her man and she agreed.

Naira and I came early to help out with the party arrangements. We couldn’t help gossiping about how we imagined Dennis to be and how much we would laugh if he wasn’t as ‘charming’ as Mimi described. (It’s a singles thing lol) They finally arrived and I must tell you I was impressed. He wasn’t drop dead gorgeous but he was charming and extremely gentlemanly. The introduction went smoothly and Naira confessed that he seemed just like Mimi described and knowing she was an exaggerator didn’t think it was true. He was funny and friendly but he wasn’t very open. He would smile but won’t talk much. He was a little free with Mimi though but not entirely.

Later that night, somebody wanted to speak to Mimi concerning a loan from the bank she worked for. I kindly stole her away from Dennis and took her over to the person. They had quite a lengthy conversation and when she was done we had a little chat as we walked back to Dennis and Naira. ‘Those Dennis feel uncomfortable here or he can’t wait to go and watch a match?’ I teased. Mimi giggled. ‘That’s the way he is. He only lights up when he is talking about or watching soccer. That’s why I get so upset. It’s like it makes him more happy. He has never lit up like. that with me before.’ She replied. Just then I completely understood her. She had all the reason to be hurt. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked again, ‘do you love this guy?’ The smile that appeared on her face as she nodded was enough of an answer.
When we got back, I was startled. As we talked to the couch Dennis and Naira were sitting on we could hear them talk and laugh. They were talking about soccer players because I could hear Messi and Fabregas in there (yup, I’m a fan too). Dennis looked like a different person. He was laughing and throwing his hands in the air, Naira also. They were sitting so close and occasionally, Dennis lapped her knee as they talked. Honestly they seemed more of a couple. If this was how I felt I couldn’t imagine what Mimi was feeling. She watched as her boyfriend found a lady that shared in his dream and made him happier.

A month later Dennis and Mimi broke up. Naira felt very bad about what happened and deliberately avoided Dennis. I kind of blamed myself for the whole incident because I invited them over. I felt they could have worked things out but everything I hear happens for a reason. This event just thought me one major lesson, know what your partner’s passion is and see if you can deal with it before you get involved. If this isn’t the lesson of the day I don’t know what is.

Dreams

If dreams could come true, what would we do about our bad dreams? Would there be a way to shut out the nightmares and turn on the fantacies? Would life be more fun? I’m just as clueless as you. Last night I dreamt I was deeply in love with a strange man. This man was well known to be mean and violent and here I was holding hands with him and hugging him like an absolutely harmless person. In the dream my brother heard from his friends that I was dating him and he refused to believe it.

In my dream I could see my man was no angel because he clearly had tatoos on his arms, not sure about his hair but it definately wasn’t modestly cut. There is a scene I so vividly remember and it goes like this... He opens his car to sit in it and I walk over to his side. He that asks, ‘do you want to drive?’ I smiled and nodded. He looked at me and smiled even harder and opened the door for me? (Doesn’t sound very tough guyish righ? I know!) So I sit in and he gets into the other seat and we are off. He makes fun of me as we drive through a crowded area. He is teasing me constantly and I try not to laugh too hard and lose concentration. Then I think we meet someone else and she also wants to drive so I hop into the back and my man playfully cries out for help. She gets into the drivers seat and is making so many mistakes. My man is totally laughing now and I’m trying to direct her and I can’t help but giggle at thesame time.

After all the drama we are alone again and this time we are at a pub. We got a table and had some drinks while we talked. (In a very friendly way) People around were starring, looking at me like I was crazy but I didn’t even budge. I looked into his eyes and wondered where he had been all my life. He was almost the definition of a definate ‘no no’ for me but for some reason he was so right.

When I was taking my shower the dream just came into my head and I was wondering if I would ever want such a dream to come true because I was truely happy with someone who scared the daylights out of everybody else besides me.

The Little ones

Kids are so interesting. They amuse me every time. I had the chance to spend some time with my nieces and it was more fun than I expected. I definitely want to have children one day and my future husband better be ready! I came home from a very stressful day. The flexibility of my job is quiet fun but the unpredictable nature is also annoying. A day before, I planned to have my hair braided and spend the rest of the day working at home. Just before I knew it my planned had to change. I received a call. Had to meet up with my business partner, get some design work done together and meet up with a client to deliver the work. After the hustle and bustle in town I got back at about 8pm.

When I got back, two things were on my mind; eating and sleeping. When I settled in and had my supper sleep didn’t look far from me but my nieces asked me to put them to bed. ‘That wouldn’t take long.’ I said to myself and nodded. As I waited for them to brush their teeth, I glanced through their photo album. All three of us ended up going through the photos and teasing each other. It was then time to sleep. One said to me when they were well tucked in, ‘I want Winnie, my teddy bear.’ The other asked for hers whose name seemed to change by the minute. I walked to their play room and came back with two stuffed animals that matched the descriptions they gave. Immediately I entered their room there was a huge outburst of laughter. ‘What is it?’ I asked giggling myself. ‘That’s not Winnie. That’s Winnie’s sister.’ My niece corrected. Wow, how was I supposed to know that.

After I got the exact toys they asked for it was story time. We each had to tell a story. Apparently this is some ritual I also don’t know about. I listened to their fairy tale cartoon inspired stories and decided to be a lot more creative and less fantasist. I told them an Ananse story and was surprised to see their extreme interest in the story. When the story ended instead of having them fall asleep they weren’t just wide awake, they wanted more. At that moment I wondered why I didn’t stick to the usual boring happily ever after story they were used to. Instead of telling stories we decided to sing songs from cartoons we had all seen. The Little Mermaid tunes were a favourite. After all this they were worked out and half asleep. I turned out the lights and left their room after saying goodnight.

I had spent almost two hours with my two little girls and didn’t even notice it. Children are indeed something.