Eggshells (Episode 1)

Only Jessica Wilson understood him. Stanley was a man of short temper. He could hardly control himself when he was angry. He personally disliked getting angry but it seemed that getting angry was unavoidable for him. This time, it was his car. His mechanic, Yusuf had "tampered" with its engine a few days ago. Stanley had paid him #5,000 for his services even though he knew deep down that he was been overcharged. He had no choice. Getting an honest mechanic these days was like finding a needle in a haystack. His only console, however, was that Yusuf was pretty good at his job. He was not the best around but he was far from being mediocre. Stanley had been called over the phone by his secretary. The call was to let him know that a certain amount of money had been deducted from the company's account by the bank to cover for the loan which he received earlier. Stanley was more than furious to hear that. He immediately excused himself from the meeting he was involved in and motioned quickly to where he had parked his car outside. He got in and switched on the ignition. The car refused to start. This was just what he needed on a sunny Monday afternoon. He cursed under his breath and stepped out of the car. Dialing Yusuf's number at that time would have been a total waste of time, so he called Jessica instead.
"Hello!", came the sweet voice from the other end.
"Save me Jessie. I'm at Freedom Hall, Apapa right now and my car is acting up. I need to be at the bank in less than forty minutes from now. Could you do me the favour and come pick me up?", he knew he sounded desperate but he had to. Jessica was his "go-to girl" and he was glad he had a friend like her.
"Okay. I'm on my way."

Jessica and Stanley had been friends for close to five years. They met at a mutual friend's wedding and they had kicked it off from there. Jessica was the Maid of Honour while Stanley was the Groom's Best Man. He could remember how he had watched her snatch the bouquet from falling into another's hands.  She giggled endlessly thereafter. She must have thought she would get a marriage proposal right there or even sooner than she expected. But she was wrong. Although she was a very beautiful woman with a body most men would kill for and her cute and appealing eyes, Stanley could not bring himself to love her. Yes, he adored her but he could not see himself as anything else apart from her friend. He hoped she felt the same way and he was not indirectly breaking her heart with his decision. He also secretly wished for her to find a man he thought would be more deserving of her heart.

Jessica was a single mother who lived in a two-bedroom apartment with her seven-year-old daughter. Her daughter, Amanda had been born at the time when Jessica was still in the university. She was a final year student then. She discovered she was pregnant for her boyfriend then, Tunde Balogun. She informed him about the pregnancy and he told her to be strong for herself and the baby. He also added that he hoped Jessica knew that there was no way he could marry her because of their ethnic group difference. He told her he loved her but his mother would never support their relationship nor even marriage. He advised her to look for a better man. She wept bitterly but did not contemplate suicide nor abortion. She was somehow relieved that Tunde did not suggest abortion either. She decided to keep the baby against all odds. She managed to survive with the help of God and a few kind-hearted individuals. She also did not drop out of school but completed her degree and NYSC. Her daughter was born a few months after she received her call-up letter to serve in Gombe State.
Despite the pressure and hostility, she took her baby with her to Service. She ended up being very loved and respected among many of the Corp Members.
Jessica had closed her heart to love after what had happened between her and her daughter's father, Tunde Balogun. All the men who showed interest in her were turned down outrightly. She thought she would die a single mother until she met Stanley. She then realized her greatest fear was soon becoming a reality. She always tried to comport herself whenever she was around him but her emotions gradually took the better part of her. She had once overheard a conversation between him and his friend, Dele about her. Dele had asked Stanley about his genuine feelings for her. Stanley had replied by saying that he only saw her as a friend and even though she was a wonderful woman, he felt nothing more than a normal platonic feeling for her. He had  added that he wanted nothing more than a good friendship with her. Jessica almost froze where she stood after she heard that. She was then convinced that Stanley would never reciprocate her advances towards him. She had initially planned on telling him that she loved him but she changed her mind after she overheard that conversation.

*******

Felix Emmanuel, a highflying Managing Director in a Telecommunications firm was in his office when the intercom rang. He picked up the receiver and placed it to his left ear.
"What is it, Sade?"
"Sir, your wife is waiting here.", said the receptionist.
"Oh! Let her in!"
His countenance changed. He was happy his wife was around. She was the one he wanted to see at that time. She always knew how to make him happy.
Ada Emmanuel, a woman in her early thirties walked into her husband's office. She was carrying a food basket containing a food flask, one litre of fruit juice and some apples and oranges all neatly covered with a napkin. She was averagely built and had a modest appearance. She looked like the typical modern housewife. Felix removed his gaze from the system on his table when he saw the door open. His wife walked in with a smile on her face. He had one on his face too.
"Hi honey! How is work going?". She said and placed the basket on the table. She sat on the couch. He left his desk and went to join her on the couch.
" So so. But I'm glad you're here".
"Why won't you be glad when you know I've brought your food?", she teased him.
He pulled her to himself and wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm glad about that but you yourself know that you're the light of the party". He smiled.
She gave a wide smile which revealed her beautiful dentition.
"You this man! Have you started again?", she jokingly hit his chest.
" And what do you mean by that, Madam?"
"I'll tell you when you come home". She laughed.
He whispered into her ear.
"On the bed right?"
"Naughty man! Is that only what you can think of?"
He stood up and faced her.
"Come let's have lunch, Mrs Emmanuel and later we'll have a preliminary of what will happen this night on the bed at home."

"Can you ever change, Mr Emmanuel?", she asked and stood up.

He paused. "No. Not really."
They both laughed and she went to dish the food for the both of them.

*******

Prisca just had an impromptu test on MAT 314 and she left the lecture hall feeling sad. Her friends Onyeka and Ruth hurried to catch up with her. She was already walking to the elevator.
"Wait now, Prisca!"
"Prisca, hold on now. Where are you rushing to?"
Prisca looked back and halted in her steps. They caught up to her.
"Ah! Why didn't you wait for us?", Onyeka asked panting under her breath.
"You didn't even run and you're sweating", Prisca teased her.
Onyeka and Ruth exchanged glances.
"We've been calling you since", Ruth said.
"Don't tell me it's the test that made you like this?", Onyeka asked.

"Not really! I know I didn't do well. I just didn't expect the test to hold", said Prisca.
" We know. It's the same for us too. We didn't do well either", said Ruth.
"Don't mind her. She is a bookworm na. So failing Odogwu's test is like someone died to her. Unlike me who is already used to failing the man's test", Onyeka said.

Prisca shook her head.  " You won't understand because you're not under pressure to pass. I guess your parents are moneybags", she said.
"Whether my parents are moneybags or not, I can't kill myself because of that sadist of a lecturer", replied Onyeka.

"Let's go get lunch girls. I'm starving here", Ruth said and took the both of them by the hand with her in the middle. The three of them walked to the elevator and entered it.

Prisca thought of her elder sister, Ada. Ever since their mother died, she had been like a mother to her. Ada had been very nice to her younger sister. She loved her like a daughter even though they were not of the same father. She took care of her and made sure she sacrificed her own education in order to work so she could fend for herself and her sister.  Prisca's biological father, Matthew Johnson was an irresponsible man. He didn't take care of Prisca nor her mother. He had eloped with a rich woman when Prisca was nine years old. Prisca's mother had no choice but to go back to her mother's house to look after her two girls. Her first daughter, Ada was born to a soldier from the East who had died on the warfront. Ada was only two years old then. He and Prisca's mother were not legally married at that time but he had plans of meeting her people when he came back from the battlefield. That never happened. His life was cut short while he was fighting to defend his fatherland.  Prisca's mother later met Mr Johnson who married her and accepted Ada as his daughter. Two years down the line, their marriage started having problems. He was sacked from his place of work and things went awry from there. He later met a rich widow who promised to make him wealthy if he could leave his wife and children for her. Matthew Johnson didn't think twice before accepting the woman's offer. The only thing he left behind was a letter for Prisca's mother telling her that she should not bother looking for him because he had traveled with a better woman outside the country and he didn't see himself returning soon.

Prisca's mother died when Ada was in her second year in senior secondary school. Prisca was in JSS2 then. Ada had to drop out of school and register for her SSCE in a private tutoring college. She worked in the day and went to lesson in the evening. She shared her salary equally between herself and her sister. They also survived from occasional monetary support from their mother's friends and relatives.

Prisca did not want to disappoint her sister at all.

*******

To Be Continued...