I remember that December as if it were yesterday...
The harmattan season had just kicked in.. the chill was everywhere.. we were
days away from exams and my school fees had not been paid.
I stared at the plate of cake in front of me
astounded at the obtuseness and insensitivity of my so called loving
boyfriend's. They showered me with useless gifts instead of giving me something
I could really use... Like MONEY!
Sam and Joshua were even better.. it was that creep
Henry that was the worst. My body started to get all tingly as I thought of
him. The familiar flood of self loathing filled me.
It never ceased to amaze how I could still be in
love with that piece of crap after all he'd done to me. I was for lack of a
better term nothing more than a bitch to him. Tears filled my eyes and I rubbed
them away fiercely. Now was not the time to pine and cry over spilt milk. It
didn't solve my immediate problem. MY BLOODY SCHOOL FEES!!
Just then my room mate walked in. Everyone knew what
sort of person she was. I was small fry. Someone like her didn't soil her
breeches by messing with small fry like I did. The boys at school were beneath
her. She dealt with me. REAL men! Elderly, with plenty of cash to burn. Not
sure why her eyes drifted my way that day. Usually the only greeting I expected
from her was a perfunctory nod in my direction
But that day she took one look at me and asked
"What's wrong?" In retrospect I think she probably sensed easy
prey... Gullible gal's like me she could bend to her will by showing a little
care and concern.
Sad to say I bought into her crap and found myself
telling her everything. She gave me one look after I was done and chuckled.
"Is that all? I thought you had cancer or something. Well that's not a
problem. Are you serious about getting a solution to your school fees
problem?"
I nodded violently. She smiled again and said ____
"Then it's settled__ we're going out tonight. There is someone I want to
introduce you to who can make all your financial problems go away."
I sat up, really interested. "Who is this man?
What is his name?"
"His name my dear is Mustapha Hajji. And he is
the only man who can give you what you need. See you at nine pm."
And with a swirl of her wide skirt she was gone. I
pondered on her words for nearly an hour afterwards. I didn't realize then that
was the beginning of another chapter in my life... The GENESIS of my downward
spiral to destruction and loneliness. That was the day I met Mustapha Hajji....
More when we speak again
