I recently came across
this picture on Twitter and it took a little while for it to sink in. Now,
before you begin to consider me ‘stupid’ or ‘dumb’, try assuming that my brain
is a little too advanced to process seemingly simple things like that. Lol.
Anyways, after a little consideration, the import of the response of the little dog hit me. Most of us have at one time or the other been bitten by the ‘New
Year’s Resolution’ bug and we’ve found ourselves making decisions on the things
we intend to begin to do or cease to do, the things we want to do some more or
cut down on, the people we want to begin to talk to or not talk to anymore etc.
The list goes on and on. In fact, many of us actually go on and list it out in
a ‘To do’ list format like our dog in the picture noted. I did this a lot, even
until a few years ago and I know a lot of people who still do.
Now, I have
nothing against New Year Resolutions but I’ve often wondered about two
scenarios. First, why do these resolutions they have to be made or proposed to
become effected at the beginning of the year. Do you really have to wait till
the beginning of a New Year to make that decision to stop drinking, smoking,
begin to do your laundry yourself, cut down on fatty and junk foods, go out
some more, attend church services more consistently etc. As the saying goes, ‘what
you have to do, do quick’ or ‘Make hay while the sun shines’. You don’t have to
put off till January 1st what you could have done in the previous
year’s August, November or December. The next point has more to do with the
picture above. The funny thing about these resolutions is that a large chunk of
them actually get broken within the first few days, weeks or at best within the
first few months of the New Year. Believe me, most of mine in the past hardly
last till February and that was one of the reasons I got tired of making them.
I just decide I will do this or won’t do that anymore regardless of whenever
the period is and usually, it’s not even at the beginning of the year.
Sometimes, it works and sometimes it doesn’t. My conclusion is, it’s all a part
of being human! Yeah, lame excuse, thank you!
So, before I
forget, let me say ‘Happy New Year’ to you all. Yeah I know it’s belated but
technically, we are still in the first week of the year so abegi! May this year bring
you unprecedented blessings and goodwill in all your endeavours and compared
with all previous years you’ve experienced, may 2013 stand out significantly as
the best year ever for you. AMEN.
I know it’s the
beginning of the year and all that but I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a
favour so here it is. Last year May, I completed my first book, editing and all
(done by our own special Atilola) around and had hoped to publish (resolution?)
before the end of the year but somehow I couldn’t get to doing that. I hope to
do that this time around (Okay! Yes, resolution! lol). The book has/had a title
but somehow, lately I haven’t been feeling it so I’m kinda hoping y’all would
lend a helping hand here. *In Dettol ad voice* After all, If you guys don’t
help, who will? I’m going to drop the synopsis. So here it is:
SYNOPSIS
The setting of
the story is mainly in two Nigerian cities, Port Harcourt and Lagos. The central characters are
united through the similarities they share in being haunted by past experiences
that have shaped their outlooks on life and love. They thus find themselves
unconsciously restricted from taking plunges in the present as they remain
stranded in the emotional wastelands of their past. It is a book with diverse
and multifaceted characters.
When Isioma Nwokocha, daughter and heir of late Chief Timothy Nwokocha finds out two
weeks to her wedding that her fiancé and her aunt are having an affair, she is
devastated and attempts suicide. She is rescued in the nick of time by Bright Davies, her laundryman. Bright
proves to be a strong pillar of support for her and to her greatest surprise,
Isioma soon finds herself falling for him. However, unable to shake off a
bitter experience from his past, Bright is wary of allowing himself get
attached especially because he believes such a relationship could never last
due to the barriers class and fortune had placed between them. In spite of the
challenges posed by the differences in social status and the outright
disapproval of her best friend, Tracy
Okonji who believes she is about to
make a similar mistake by falling for another gold digger, Isioma persists in
her resolve to make the relationship with Bright work. Eventually, the walls
around Bright’s heart crumble and just as things begin to look up for him and
Isioma, a careless bet he had made with one of the household staff surfaces and
nearly ruins his relationship with Isioma permanently.
Daniel Mac-Olubi is the Editor-in-Chief at one of the nation’s most
prominent publishing houses. Almost a decade after the death of the mother of
his son and only woman he ever loved, he is unable to bring himself to love any
other woman, having resolved to devote all his love and care to his son, Timmy.
Sandra
Aikhomu is haunted by the memory of a traumatic experience at the hands of
the first and only man she ever loved; an experience that nearly took her life
and had her confined to a Psychiatric home for almost two years. Years later, by
a strange twist of fate, she finds herself working under Daniel Mac-Olubi, a
notorious boy from her secondary school days whom she had always hated with a
passion. In spite of their initial aversion for each other, they soon develop
an attraction that begins to blossom until Timmy,
Daniel’s young son proves to be a major obstacle.
Kayode Jacobs is best
friends with DanielMac-Olubi. He is married to Halimah, a top fashion designer and career-focused woman who is so
devoted to her job that she makes no time for her marriage much to her
husband’s chagrin. Eventually, their marriage crashes and Kayode, renowned for
his ability to fix other people’s problems finds himself on the other side of the
coin.
And that’s it.
So, I’ll be glad to have your suggestions for a SUITABLE TITLE plus your feedbacks on what you think about the
story. Is it something you think sounds good? Would you buy/read such a book?
Does it sound stupid (he he)? Does it sound Nollywood-ish (I kinda think so and
I sooooo hate Nollywood!)? etc. I’m counting on you guys. Thanks a lot.
Here’s an
excerpt from the book:
Bright knocked on
the bedroom door one more time. There was still no response. He shrugged
indifferently and turned the knob. This wouldn’t be the first time he would be
entering Madam’s room. He still remained baffled about his boss’s carefree nature as regards her personal items. Miss
Nwokocha did not see anything wrong in her laundryman coming into her bedroom
to pick her laundry. He recalled the first time she had sent for him to come up
to her bedroom, and how scared he had been to venture into the room. Ngozi had
led him all the way up, past the suite, and as they moved on, he began to
wonder where the housekeeper was taking him.
“Where are we going?” He had asked curiously.
“Madam‟s room,” the
housekeeper had answered indifferently.
“But
. . .” he had begun, but Ngozi had assured him that the boss was a very free
person and had no qualms about her staff coming into her suite or any of its
rooms so long as they were not doing anything wrong in it. Bright himself had
confirmed this fact in the last few weeks. Miss Nwokocha was so trusting of her
household staff and had never had any reason to query any of them over the loss
of any of her belongings. At last, they had gotten to the bedroom door and
Ngozi had left as soon as she led him to the door. Bright had stood there in
confusion, wondering what next to do. The door was ajar.
“Madam, you sent for me,” he had said,
standing at the door.
“Come in, please,” she had answered.
He had hesitated
for a second, wondering if it was really okay for him to go into his boss’
bedroom. At last, he had gone in, and in a most polite manner, she had pointed
out her laundry basket and showed him how she wanted her clothes to be taken care
of.
“You can always come in here to pick my
laundry, in case I’m not around. My door is always open,”
she had said at last, leaving him to wonder if she was serious. She seemed so
different from most rich people he knew.
He wondered where
she could be as he entered the room. He marvelled, as he always did, at the
massiveness of the room. The bedroom was larger than three of the rooms in the
staff quarters put together. He took in his boss’ admirable taste
and fashion. Her bed was neatly covered with an expensive duvet made from what
looked like sheepskin. Her huge wardrobe was closed, but he could bet it was
filled with expensive clothes, many which she had probably never worn or would
never wear. The dressing mirror was positioned just by the bed and various
expensive perfumes and cosmetics adorned the space. He recalled he had not
noticed her in the living room when he walked into the suite. Perhaps, she was
by the pool relaxing, but doubted the possibility. It was barely 8.00 a.m. on a
Saturday; it was unlikely that she would be at the pool that early.
He spotted
the laundry basket and began stuffing the clothes in it into his large bath, whistling a popular tune to himself and as he did. He suddenly heard a sound that made him jump. It had emanated from the bathroom. Immediately, he realised his boss had been in the bathroom all the while. Why had he
not thought of that before? Bright hurriedly picked up the bath, hoping to exit
the room before she entered. As he turned, the bathroom door opened and she
emerged, singing to herself, her white bath towel carelessly tied around her
slim body. Isioma lifted her hands and screamed in fright as she suddenly noticed
the person in the room causing her towel to drop off her body to the floor.
Bright stared in shock at the stark nakedness before him, and fixed his eyes on
the sight for a split second before quickly looking away.
“I’m . . . I’m sorry ma . . .
madam,” he muttered as he avoided the sight and headed for the door. “I did not know
you were in the bathroom.”
“Just leave, please. Leave.” Isioma
managed as she hurriedly picked the towel and wrapped it firmly around her
body. Bright, now at the door, fidgeted with the knob in obvious confusion.
“I’m sorry madam,” he
said again, still looking away from her.
“Please, get out at once!” Isioma screamed
angrily.
Bright left the
bedroom dejectedly shutting the door behind him. Isioma sat on the bed and shut
her eyes. She rubbed her head furiously. What in God‟s name just
happened? Had her laundryman just seen her stark naked? What had he . . . ? She
sighed and got off the bed to get dressed. She had to catch ‘The Ellen
DeGeneres Show’ on Mnet Series.
So that’s a
sneak preview for y’all. Let me know what you think and pleaseeeeee, don’t forget the
title suggestions based on the synopsis. Thanks a bunch, folks!
THE GEEBEE
CHRONICLES would continue in the next post. Meanwhile enjoy this BLAST FROM THE
PAST-post that’s kinda related to the resolutions thingy. Click HERE to read Episode 35: Resolutions. See you soon! Happy New Year once again!
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