He said it.

With vigor and candour.

"Jude, abeg you have to come and help me
teach my junior sister how to write o."

That was all he had to say for me to do as he
wished.

This long time friend of mine.

For three months.

Two sessions a week.

I went to his office in VI on my tab.

Asking not a dime for service or expense.

Classes that ran for four to five hours.

He will pop in from time to time.

And listen in.

Until one day he called me.

And in his usual direct way he said.

"Men, Jude, thank you so much for all you have
been doing for my junior sister. But man, you
have to stop your sessions with her."

Surprised I asked.

"Oh, why?"

"Ahhh have you seen how she looks at you
when you are teaching her? It is like you are god
and she is worshiping you."

"Come on. She is just being attentive."

"Which kind of attentive is that? You that
teaches with so much passion and brilliance,
every other person starts to look like a dundee
beside you."

"Honestly, her level of assimilation and retention
is examplary, you should see how she applies
what I have been teaching her."

"Forget that one. Your teaching her was for her
to think that I am investing in her not all this one
that you are taking it so serious."

"I don't understand".

"I am saying that I don't want to use my own
hand to pour san-san in my own garri. Before I
know it now, it is her that will dump me and
start following you."

"Dump you?"

"Yes na, you don't know all this under twenty
babes and how they see old men like me. It is
not only money o that holds them o, some of
them still dey trip for men that have something
upstairs."

"Didn't you say that she is your junior sister?"

"Yes na, my junior sister from another mother
and father that makes me feel young again."

"Don't tell me she is your girlfriend?"

'Ahhh! All you Canadian people want to put me
in trouble. Can't you code something? Must you
spell it out?"

"But to be honest I have wondering how she is
your junior sister, not just because of the age
difference but she is like younger than your
youngest daughter..."

"Yeea! Juuuuudeee! If my wife hears this, I will
deny you and the smallie oooo. But seriously
what is doing you? Don't you know how to get
with the program like a good wingman or in that
your Canada, married men don't carry small,
young and beaurriful handbags?..."

Lagos

Jude Idada
October 14, 2023