Let Us Postpone The Wedding
I wore a blue dress over my head. I hissed in irritation, I was already sweating a little. The room was hot and stuffy but despite the discomfort, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Covid-19 hated hot environments and I would give it what it deserved. The fan had since stopped spinning and the room seemed strangely quiet because the AC was no longer droning on in its low but steady voice.
I tied my hair into a ponytail and applied lip balm to my lips. My eyes were bright and sharp as they always were these days. No more late nights chatting or video calling with Steven. My body now had all the sleep it needed and more. I checked my phone, no messages. It was odd but being single made me feel like I was in some sort of quarantine.
I only had my roommate now. Jessie was sweet and talked enough for five people so I was mostly entertained when I was with her.
“Hey sweetie, you still here?” She asked as she let down her towel and began to rub lotion all over her body.
“I’ll be leaving soon. Just want to pee” I said.
I plopped on the toilet seat. Thinking of how the coming day would play out. I’ll go collect my statement of result from the department and a copy of my project work from my project supervisor. Then I would head to the market and get enough foodstuff to take us for a while. I got up and flushed.
Inside the room, Jessie was looking ravishing in a black T-shirt and blue jeans. I sniffed.
“What’s that smell?” I asked. Jessie looked at me with big eyes.
“I used just a little bit of your cologne,” she said in a small voice.
“Again” I finished for her. She cringed and I rolled my eyes, picking up my handbag.
“Bye Susan” she called after me “I love you”
***
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My supervisor’s office door was locked but I knew he would be inside. I raised my fist to knock, then I noticed something. The old man had set up space where people could wash their hands and use a sanitizer. I smiled at his thoughtfulness.
“Come in” the old man called. His voice sounded like old tires scraping on gravel. I pushed open the door, making a note to wash my hands again when leaving the office.
“Good morning Sir” I greeted him, Mr. Udom was standing with his back to me and rummaging through his shelf of books. After a moment, he turned.
“Susan my girl. How are you?” He greeted me with a smile.
“I am doing well sir”
“I was just searching on the shelf for your work as though I knew you would be coming this morning.” He said handing the document over to me.
“Thank you very much, sir,” I said.
“You are welcome. I am proud of you. What I’m waiting for now is your wedding invitation card” he said.
“I am single sir” I blurted, regretting it the minute it left my mouth.
“What? Pretty girl like you? Four years in the university and you’re still single?” He asked, shocked.
I licked my lips nervously “Yes sir”
“What have you been doing with your time? If not finding a good man you would like to marry. Don’t you know it is more difficult to find a life partner out there?” A knock sounded at the door. “Come in” he turned back to me. ” Don’t you know that there are greater opportunities here than out there? What will you do when you’re cooped up in your father’s house or working 9-5?”
The door opened and a young man stepped in. “Good afternoon Sir”
“Gerald my boy. How are you?” Mr. Udom asked.
“I am doing good sir”
“Yes,” he turned to me. “Do you understand what I am saying?” He asked
“Yes sir” I answered.
“You girls nowadays, you get confused with tales of feminism and a woman not needing a man to succeed in life. Yes, that is very true but you also need a husband. Don’t confuse yourself by believing you will be young forever. Young promising men like young beautiful ladies like you. Gerald, is she not beautiful? Will you believe that she is still single? ” Mr. Udom asked the young man.
“No sir,” the young man said chuckling “she is a very beautiful lady.”
I thanked Mr. Udom and fled out of the office, I felt so embarrassed and angry. Why did he continue the conversation when the young man walked in? What was his name? Gerald. The old weasel even went as far as telling him that I had no man in my life. I shook my head at myself. Could I blame him? He was only trying to help in the only way he could; by giving me advice.
“Hey! Please wait!” Someone called behind me. I turned and saw the young man from the office walking towards me, his long legs eating up the distance.
“What’s up?” I asked when he reached me and was smiling sheepishly without saying anything.
“I am sorry” he cleared his throat and handed a bottle of hand sanitizer to me “I saw that you didn’t wash your hands on your way out,” he said.
I looked at my hands as though I had never seen them before. “Oh!” I said suddenly. I had forgotten to wash my hands in my haste to leave the office. “Thank you”
“You’re welcome,” he said. We fell into step beside each other.
“I am sorry about the old man’s behavior. We both know he has no filter” Gerald said.
“The old weasel. Sometimes I think he has nothing else to do but think about other people’s problems” I said heatedly. Gerald cleared his throat.
“Is today your last day here?” he asked.
“Yes, done and dusted,” I said smiling. “How come I’ve never seen you in his office before? Did he just start supervising your project work?” I asked. Certain that if I had seen him before I would not forget the long hair or the handsome face.
“Err, no. He is my dad”. He said.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!”
***
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“Why do you stare at me like that?” I ask Gerald. We were sitting opposite each other at an eatery in my neighborhood.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you” I replied, I told myself I was not flattered in the least. I fanned my face with my hands.
“No, that’s not all. I want you.” He said. I blushed, hard.
“What?” I asked, looking around the eatery to see if anyone heard.
“Yes, and I always go for what I want” his hand squeezed mine on the table and I suppressed a shudder. I did not know why those simple remarks were turning me on but I was determined to find out.
“Oh yeah,” I said, picking my fork with my left hand and swallowing some food to keep calm. He removed his hand from mine and placed both his elbows on the table.
“Let’s say this is you, and this is you. Then my head goes between and I’m just munching along, never getting tired because I know what I want and…” I cut him short.
“Gerald”
“Yes, ma’am?” He asked, with a deceptively innocent expression on his face.
“I’m not going to sleep with you,” I said. His face broke into a boyish smile.
“I know, I just wanted to try my luck,” he said.
“I could be offended at that,” I said quietly. He looked up at me puzzled.
“Really? I’m so sorry. I really do want you. I mean no disrespect. Here, take some more food” he spooned food unto my plate.
“Seriously?” I asked laughing. I couldn’t believe how ridiculous he could get. We had been chatting online since that day we met and it had been so much fun. It was only our third date but I already felt like I knew him so well and I’m sure he felt the same way too.
Two weeks later I was sitting on my couch weaving his long hair while he massaged my foot.
“Too tight, Jesus! woman!” he complained when I pulled on his hair a little too hard.
“Don’t be a baby,” I said crossly but I kissed the nape of his neck as an apology.
“I am your baby. Am I not?” He asked.
“Yes you are”
“I am your man. Am I not?” He asked again, I stared exasperated at the back of his head.
“Yes, you are,” I replied. He turned so fast I lost my grip on his hair.
“What the hell?” I asked as he squatted in front of me.
“I have an important question to ask you and I don’t want you to tell me lies,” he said. I looked at him as though he was mad. Was he accusing me of being a liar?
“It better be a good and sane question because I’m getting pissed at you,” I said.
“Will you marry me?” He asked, in his quiet and earnest way of doing everything. I was stunned, with my mouth open like a fish gasping for air. A lot of things ran through my mind at that moment. We had only dated for three weeks, who was this man to ask a girl he barely knew to marry him? Who was I to accept? Who was I not to? We loved each other and we both fit the other like a glove.
He was the kind of person I would love to spend my life with but I just hadn’t been expecting him to pop the question so quickly. I thought of my mom’s happy face when I would break the news that I was getting married. I thought of my father’s pride when he sees that his daughter has come home with a handsome man.
I thought of my own happiness. Endless days of being with this man who had come into my life and made me forget all the loneliness.
“Yes, I will marry you,” I said. Gerald whooped, dragged me down to the floor with him and began to kiss me all over my face.
***
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“Susan weds Gerald. He he he, Should we call it SuGe2020” my mother said in a bold whisper. She had dragged me into the kitchen for an energetic victory dance and a little chat. When we were both tired of dancing without music we leaned on the countertops.
“No mom,” I said.
“Should we call it GerSu2020?” she asked again, her white teeth flashing as she smiled. I was very amused.
“No mom,”
“What about this one? You can’t refuse this one” she said excitedly.
“What is it?” I asked to humor her.
“SuGer2020! Susan Weds Gerald. Sweet like sugar. That is what we will call it. It is sweeting me like sugar. My daughter has come home with both a degree and a husband. I am overjoyed, all my friends will hear of this” she leaped and went back to dancing around the kitchen until she realized she was dancing alone and came back to snatch my hand.
***
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“We don’t like this one, it is too open”
“What do you mean “too open” mom. I like it!” I snapped, irritated. I was tired of trying on dresses only for my mother to dismiss them as “ugly” “too tight around the bosom” “too cheap” and now “too open”. Someone would think she was the one getting married.
“Hian” I murmured, the irritation slipping out of my mouth.
“What did you say?” My mom asked, her face was dangerous.
“Nothing ma” I replied, swallowing. African mothers and their attitudes.
At the end of the day, we chose a low cut gown with lots of diamonds and sequins. It was beautiful and I looked like a goddess wearing it. We had decided on the adjustments to be made and were about to leave when the news came on.
“The federal government orders immediate shutdown of all economic activities to curb the spread of the Coronavirus,” the reporter said.
I and my mother stared at each other. What was the meaning of this? The reporter went on to announce that 12 new cases had been recorded in the country’s capital and that the government was taking appropriate measures to curb the virus. A doctor came on and told everyone of the precautions to take to prevent the spread of the virus and I shook my head.
“This thing is getting serious o,” I told my mother.
“My dear. Let us go home and wash our hands.” My mother said.
“The doctor said to wash your clothes too, and sanitize,” I said.
“Yes,” my mother said, she looked scared “may the good Lord save us” she mumbled. I turned my nose up at her and laughed behind my hands.
***
We had been planning the wedding for a month. Running around trying to get everything nice and ready despite the lockdown and all the shops closing. My wedding dress was safe and home with me, displayed in a tall white plastic case for my viewing pleasure. I was stressed out of my mind despite all the help from my mom. I could literally feel every bone in my body.
“I feel sick, I swear,” I said to Gerald one morning as we both showered.
“How long have you been feeling ill?” He asked.
“This morning. Have a cough and catarrh” I said. His hands stilled in my hair and he slowly shifted.
“You went out yesterday. You touched people. You touched surfaces” He said as though to prove a point. I glared at him.
“I went out but I didn’t touch anyone!” I said fiercely.
“I think you need to self-isolate,” he said seriously.
“What?!” I shouted. I was near the point of tears. Gerald saw this and rushed towards me.
“Oh, my baby. Don’t cry. I was only joking. I don’t care if you’re infected, I love you so much.” He gathered me into his arms. I began to weep like a baby. I couldn’t even explain why.
***
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I woke up late again that morning. My mood was a black one but I was trying hard to be strong and it was working. The dining room was empty because everyone else – including Gerald who had thought it wise not to wake me – had finished having breakfast.
I spotted my mom sitting in front of the TV and called out a greeting to her. I was so hungry.
“Come over here Susan” she called.
I looked balefully at my breakfast, snatched a piece of bread and walked over to her.
“Good morning mom” I greeted again. You can never greet an African mother too many times.
“Good morning my dear. How was your night?” She asked.
“Was fine. Slept well. You called me” I said, reminding her the reason I was standing in front of her without yet having my breakfast.
“Yes,” she got up and walked over to the small table in the middle of the sitting room. She handed me a newspaper and pointed to one of the headlines.
Government Bans Public Gatherings. Orders Everyone To Stay At Home
I read it over and over again and I still didn’t understand how it concerned me. I looked to my mother for help and she shook her head muttering “four years in the university” under her breath.
“Let us postpone the wedding. We don’t have a choice” my mother said. The newspaper fell sullenly onto the floor.
“We can’t,” I said sadly.
“Why?” My mother asked. She was looking at me strangely.
“I am pregnant”
My mother collapsed on the chair, the motion pulling the scarf that hung carefree around her head before to reveal white matted hair. She looked unseeing at the television in front of her. The phone began to ring shrilly but neither of us paid any attention to it, too busy with our despair to care. My mother’s lips moved, forming inaudible words. I felt a shoulder bump into mine as I stood there transfixed with shame. Gerald’s fingers closed around mine.
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