EPISODE 5 – THE VICE OF TEENAGE PROMISCUITY pt. 2

There is something funny about being caught doing the wrong thing and it is basically the instant shock that accompanies the realization, usually on the part of the culprit. Sometimes, the shock is not that of the culprit alone. The look of surprise on the face of the one who discovers the culprit is usually amusing as well. That was exactly the scenario when Chief caught me red handed going through his ‘stash’ (that’s one word I got from solomonsydelle and I can hardly contain my amusement). What I found in that locker was a stash indeed – a secret locker that wasn’t meant to be opened by anyone except the Chief himself. Well, curiosity led me into this discovery and in that split second before I realized I wasn’t alone, a couple of thoughts ran through my seventeen-year old mind. What was my dad doing with such stuff? Actually, at that age I had never seen pornography before (are you surprised?). Seriously now, I hadn’t and secretly I had always had the longing and helped myself with my ‘peeking’ like I said in the last episode. Anyway, I wondered and before I could place a reason on it, my dad appeared right behind me.
“What are you doing there, Gbenga?” my old man blurted out in the angriest voice I had ever heard in a while.
At that moment, all I could do was have a flashback of the last time my dad beat me. I must have been about eight at that time and I began wondering if the man wouldn’t beat me again after almost ten years.
“I – I – was -” I began stuttering and feeling the sweat break out on my forehead almost instantly. Fortunately, Chief spared me the stress.
“Hand that over,” he simply said in a much calmer voice and it was then I realized I was holding the CD in my hand. Quickly I handed it over and dad put it back in the drawer and locked it securely.
“Those kind of movies are not for boys your age, okay!” he said on a note of finality as he walked away. I managed to nod my head and as I heard his bedroom door shut, I sighed gratefully. It was then I realized that my old man was probably as embarrassed as I was. I knew that was the reason he could not touch me. What reason would he have given for beating me by the way? Stealing his mojo? I don’t think so.

Sometimes I still wonder why my Chief had such a movie in his possession but these days, I have come to understand that every adult has a right to do certain things and unfortunately, children don’t have that right. However, my funny thoughts and wishes persisted and somehow it was pretty hard to get myself on the straight part. I believe I would have been much more composed if I had been with mum especially because of her strong Christian tendencies but with dad, it was so easy to stray, especially since he wasn’t at all the best spiritual role model. Well, I focused a little more on my JAMB/UME coaching even though I knew it was such a late time to begin preparing for the exam. This was in March 2003 and the examination was scheduled for April. This meant that I had about one month to prepare for an exam that should normally take a year’s preparation. What further angered me in the whole situation was the fact that I would have to write the same exam with Sean who was rounding up secondary school at the time. Again and again, I cursed O.A.U, Ife for subjecting me to such ridicule.

The coaching classes proved to be such a nice avenue to ease my troubles and boredom at home and shy as I was, I still made friends easily, especially among the girls. Somehow, they didn’t seem to mind that I was just a lanky, skinny kid who was joining them a few weeks to the D-day. With time, I got used to being in the center and it was there I had the chance to truly get involved in a relationship. The girl’s name was Beesla and she was such a simple and innocent girl that I just found myself liking so easily. The manner with which we began was somewhat romantic especially because it was actually poetry and our interests in it that got us talking for the first time. Beesla had a book where she often composed poems and for an amateur at the time, she was pretty good. Before long, we began exchanging poems. She’d write one for me and I’ll do the same for her. It all started on a platonic level but before long, feelings got involved and even then, we knew our boundaries. She was a virgin and that fact made it virtually impossible to do anything but smile at each other (Man! It was so annoying). Back at home, we had more housemaids that kept coming and going (Cyan just couldn’t find a maid that would satisfy her) and while some were ‘nice’ to me, some wouldn’t even think about it. Meanwhile, I was too timid to even suggest to Beesla about taking our relationship a little further but I was spared the stress yet again when U.J, the prettiest chic in the coaching center at the time picked an interest in me. I could hardly believe my luck!

U.J was pretty in the real sense of the word and how we got personal still remains a mystery to me. In my coaching center, there was a special arrangement that of course had some extra cost attached. Chief didn’t mind so long as it meant I would pass well and get into University so he gladly paid. According to the arrangement, we had to write the exam in a special center that entailed us going all the way to Ibadan. In the bus, U.J and I sat together by chance and naturally, we had to talk. We talked about a good number of things and laughed all the way. It was so easy to get carried away with each other and for a good while, I forgot about being shy and basked in the euphoria of talking to a girl better guys than me didn’t have the guts to talk to. It felt so good. We spent two nights in Ibadan before the exam day and even though there were separate accommodations for boys and girls, we always found a reason to hang out under a tree in the compound where we lodged and when U.J told me on the second night that she liked me, I felt like wetting my pants. We kissed and did a good deal of touching that night and it was a most memorable experience. It was so easy to forget about Beesla and her poems and I enjoyed that passionate moment with U.J. Somehow though, I knew it wasn’t going to last. She was just too beautiful for me and she was just like a piece of bone many bigger and stronger dogs out there were waiting to devour. As for me, I couldn’t compete with such dogs so I simply enjoyed the experience for the short while it lasted.

SEE YOU IN THE NEXT EPISODE OF GEEBEE’s TRIP!

On a lighter note now, I would love to congratulate our Muslim brothers and sisters (especially the bloggers) on the Sallah celebrations. Thanks guys for giving me the opportunity to have two days off from work. I've been eating a lot of meat all day and I'm scared I might lose some teeth. Now, these are my wisdom teeth we're talking about. Abeg o! Take care people and God bless.