Godwin Inyang's Blog

Entering the red-carpeted lobby, Ben with a beam pointed a sofa for Adet to sit while he went fiddling with the television set. A movie channel came on and a romantic flick was showing. It was apt and Ben left the television alone and moved towards a diminutive fridge. He opened it and without asking, brought out a big pack of juice and two glasses and brought them around to where Adet sat. He placed them on the centre table and then asked: ‘Do I put on the AC or fan?’ ‘The AC,’ Adet smiled and answered like the spoilt child she was. She did love luxury. Done putting on the air conditioner, Ben walked around and joined Adet on the sofa which was the only seat in the lobby. Ben opened the pack of juice, drew a glass nearby and poured himself the drink. When he attempted to do the same to Adet, she said: ‘No, no. Please, don’t. I’d taken too many soft drinks already. Right now, I’m too cool and would love to be on the high side.’ She let her palm brush his thigh for a few seconds

Adet was deep in contemplation. Seated at a remote corner of the fast-food bar with a bottle of an orange-flavoured soft drink and a meat pie, she had carefully watched the men come in, size up the tables and draw near the ones with the women they fancied and would take their seats, order for drinks and food, eat and chat; then they would pay and finally leave with most of these women in tow through the revolving door of the main entrance. In this particular bar situated along a popular street in an estate in Isolo and not too far from the Ikeja International Airport, Adet knew most of the girls who frequented it and they knew her as well. The spot was near hotels where prostitutes were not openly accommodated so the men who lodged there knew they could come over to the fast-food joint and pick the women they wanted who like birds to a ripened rice field flocked around the place. An unfortunate thing was happening to Adet these days. The men with catapults would sling their sto