THE CHASE....

 THE CHASE.... 

 She was wearing a white and red dress when I saw her. I was in company of two friends who were escorting me home. I was very tired, and really looking tired. We were just turning into my street when I caught sight of her. The gaze I gave her as, she walk down towards us, was a shade too long and this attracted the attention of my two friends, who turned around to see what had attracted my attention, and smiled knowingly.

We were just strolling as if we hadn't a care in the world. She was walking faster, so when she passed us I shifted my gaze (and took her behind in my site she was simply lovely), down the street she went taking the shortcut by the fence of the house where I live. I let her go. There was time to chat her up later, I told myself.  So when we reached my gate, I pretended that night was still early yet for me,   turning around I went back shortly with my friends the way we had come, and then wish them a good night. As they disappeared into the night I drifted languidly to a low fence, where two neighbours were standing, shook hands with them, and sat down on the fence. I didn't, tell my friends what was on my mind. I was going to wait for that girl in white and red dress till she comes to pass by again. I had a feeling we would return, probably on her way back home,  then I will make the move to chat her up. Meanwhile, I and the two neighbours got engaged in conversation touching on the immediate vicinity, the approaching Christmas and New Year holidays, the general look of the town, and of course, the mosquitoes that were all the while tormenting us. A Third neighbour joined us, contributed his quoter to whatever we had to talk about, and bid us goodnight!

 Not even the remaining two guys conversing   with me knew what I was up to, or rather, planning. I, alone knew why I was still up and outside. As the night crawled on, I began to wonder if she  would pass by or whether she had passed another way home. Several times, the older of the two neighbours with me wanted to turn in, but I cleverly delayed him with very interesting, exciting and captivating stories and jokes! Meanwhile, l kept looking down the street in the direction from where  she would appear, hoping that she will come our way. If those two guys saw the frequency, and felt the anxiousness, with wish I was gazing down the street to where a shortcut  connected our street, from where  she would appear,  they didn't say anything. 

At last the climax came. My two neighbours headed off to sleep, and since I couldn't just sit there alone I got up and walked  towards my gate. Actually, I meant to pass the gate without entering, the compound, but going ahead to take the shortcut, thinking that, with any luck I will come across her. Well, it wasn't to be! When I reached the Gate at the front of the compound where I lives, I saw her coming  from the shortcut into my street. This is it. I exclaimed in my mind, "here she comes", as she came down the street briskly. I pretended to have taken a sudden interest in the lights that appeared on our top floor flat. When she was a few metres from me I started to stroll casually, heading in the same direction she was moving. I met a couple of young guys outside the next flat and I pretended to be saying hello to them, with my back to her when she passed me. One of the young guys who lived close by said: "hey, tell that girl that you won't talk to her". I felt that he must have guessed that I wanted to chat up the young lady. I smiled and went on casually as if I was not interested in her. 

 

When she reached the crossroads at the end of the street she turned left, going down Eta street with two kids lingering behind her. It appeared to me as if she was going along with them possibly, on an errand. then one of the kids was carrying something that look like Garri in a salt bag. This made me to hesitate when I reached the crossroads. As I was still contemplating whether to follow her or not she decided for me by giving the kids and herself a long gap. it made me  realise that if she was  with those kids she wouldn't leave them behind like that. By this sudden revelation I got rid of my doubt of those kids, eavesdropping on our conversation, and giving testimonies at home, if I should approach her and have a chat with her. The smart-thinking  of nowadays  kids is well-known.

 Haven got that end  straightened out,  I went after her. I shot down the streets towards her, like a bullet from a gun. She must have heard me coming. I was only a few  steps away when she looked over her shoulder, got the idea of what I was planning and slow down in her walk. "She  seem to understand,"  I thought. With long  striding steps I reached her. "Hello... how do you do?" I said, in a gentle let's-get -together-and-be friends-turn-of-voice. She turned, took my face in one brief stare, then looked on, ahead. I could have addressed the Great Wall of China, for the attention she paid me! This didn't Baffle me. I was half expecting it. I fell in step with her and we went away.

 "Are you under any instruction not to speak to anyone?" I asked her, after a while of complete silence. This got me nowhere. "Why don't you speak up... what's up?" This didn't yield any dividend either! In addition to this complete ignorance, as we went along she suddenly turned her head towards me and gave me a critical look from head to toe. The Suddenness with which she did it coupled with the rigid expression on her face made me to laugh! She was as hard as uncut diamond and quite beautiful as one. She could pretend to be "ice" I  told myself however she must melt, as all ice do. Is there any ice that doesn't melt? I guess not. With the right pressure or temperature, I  have not known any ice to defy melting, no matter how hard it has been. 

 "Do you normally treat strangers like this?" What's  up, why don't you speak with me. Still, it was a complete silence from her. By then we were approaching another Crossroads that terminates Eta Street. We eventually reached it, cross over to the opposite road on the other side, and continued  towards a massive building, called "Igbudu Upstair"  By this time her silence was really getting on my nerves. I thought  of something that will make her talk... say something... anything. After a while I tried this one. My brother has used it once and it worked. "I am following you your house", I said, with all the seriousness I could fathom. Well, if you ask me, did she say anything? I will tell you, she didn't!

She began to hum some music, shaking her body rhythmically in tune. I was impressed but didn't show it. I thought, she was giving me the impression that she was enjoying herself on my account. I felt, there was no point in walking into the lighted frontage of the massive buildings ahead. So, I told her: "I will see you someday, some other time". With that I turned back. I had only taken a few steps when I heard her ask, "time?" I said "time?. Some other time, l believe I will see you again. Goodnight", I said over my shoulder and went off, looking like  the cat that got the cream!