Entry 43

UNFORGETTABLE

Max hasn’t called, why hasn’t he called? I know he’d call, he has to call.
Until then...

Imagine a blissfully cold December morning, the cool and cozy type that has you believing that Walt Disney studios gets its classic cartoons from real life situations, like you’d burst into song at any moment and your true love would appear from oblivion to sing the second verse, hum, let me see if I can paint a clearer picture. Today happens to be one of those mornings when you can almost smell Christmas in the air. I don't know what to liken it to but hammatan and dry season aside, there is this particular smell that screams December! It has me giddy with excitement and I start to believe in Santa Claus, cupid… the Easter bunny even! Buh, nothing was going to make me leave my bed!

I was about to close my eyes and give into sweet slumber when “saint” Ivy got the divine mission to call me (again!) to remind me it was Sunday and that it’d be a good thing if I went to church. Buh! I really wished I could tell her to ‘go suck a lemon and leave me alone’ or something not so nice but seeing as it’s the ‘ember’ months with the year coming to an end and all the blah-blah drama involved, I remained nice to her and thanked her for 'caring so much about my salvation'. Sluggishly, I slid out of bed and had a shower.
I decided to attend a catholic mass because the parish was the furthermost from me so if I was lucky, I’d arrive in time to miss most of the service and be back in bed before my darling bed realized I was gone and had time to miss me.

Whatever transpired in heaven between my leaving the room and getting to church, ( I can’t confidently say Nneka had a hand in it though) remains a mystery because even though I took my time to apply not only a foundation but two stories as well of makeup to my face and pass the longest route to church I wasn’t so lucky. Considering my initial plan, I got to church in record time.
To make matters worse, a lady who looked like being a church warden was the highest position one could attain in this life as we know it tried to ‘smilingly’ push me to seat in front but I stood my ground (it was bad enough I was early for mass), smiled sweetly as well and went the other way.

I sat behind a pillar at the back of the church. Close enough to the exit for a quick escape and convenient enough to get a proper view of the trending ladies fashion.
The girl that sat beside me was either so filled with the Holy Spirit that she mumbled to herself all through mass or she was a recent escapee from a ‘low security’ psychiatric hospital (whatever her situation, I guess I’d never know).

The choir did a wonderful job of making me feel guilty for not paying attention to what the priest was saying, they sang so beautifully.
Watching them sing and act like they were close candidates for heaven, I could not help but feel envy.
From what I could see, I am sure that if I make heaven, it would be way beneath their league.
Ah well, if I put in extra effort (and played nice with Nneka) maybe I could get an upgrade buh?

After mass, as I made my way home trying not to dwell much on the fact that Max still hadn’t called but rather on the fact that soon I’d be reunited with my bed (and maybe have dreams of me kissing Santa Claus like in that classic Christmas song that I didn't quite get as a kid) I bumped into one of the choristers from church. He seemed hassled, in one breathe, he told me his dilemma.
Turns out he came in from town to attend mass, he had to make an appearance in a meeting in school in a few hours time and needed somewhere to pass the time. Figuring if I was nice to him and gave him ‘room and board’ for the while G*d would put a good tick beside my ‘deeds on earth’ register and maybe just maybe….

I pushed aside all thoughts of my midday nap and offered him my humble abode.
On the walk to my room, I cracked my brain trying to recall spiritual matters and Christian information’s so I could impress him with my knowledge of church related issues.
I decided I was making much progress until I was interrupted by his ringing phone and heard his side of the conversation that ensued.
I felt my jaw drop open in shock!
Was it me or did this candidate for sainthood just make a booty call appointment?!
I shook my head in disbelief.
Maybe it was a code for a prayer meeting of sorts.
Seeing my reaction when he was through with the call, he tried to shrug it off telling me that girls would stop at nothing to get “fresh” with him and being a man, he hated to “slack” he then went ahead to recount an episode involving a girl, her friend, playing cards and a mirror.
I could feel my ears burn from hearing too much information, on a Sunday morning for that matter!
By the time we stood in front of the door to my room, I was considering the wisdom of being alone with him and how many of the other choristers where not quite what the appeared to be.

Lucky for me, though I tried to be a good hostess and all that, I was too busy worrying about Max and his activities for the day to subconsciously send any ‘green light’ to the chorister.
By the time he was ready to go, I was frantic with worry.

Was Max up to his old tricks or was I worrying over nothing? I tried calling both of his numbers but they were either out of service area or switched off.
Where was he? No text no call? I felt nauseous from worry.
After saying a little prayer to G*d to be with him and bring him safely back to me, I got up to lock my door so I could have my much anticipated nap and was hit by a vivid premonition of what Max was up to.
Heavens angels would bear me witness because, it wasn’t one bit holy.

I slept and woke up, still no call from Max.
I’d wait for him though, whenever he does decide to come up for air, I’d b waiting. I know what I have to say to him.

- Tabby