Tuesday 1 July 2008

My Cousin (Part 1)

I promised I was going to do this, even though I really don't feel like anymore. So here's me trying to make good my promise.

How do I start to talk about the life of a girl born the same year as me but in different locations? While I was born in a tiny hospital in my home town she was born in a massive one in Houston, Texas where her dad had been a Pharmacist. Truth is I didn't know she existed until I was in my teens by which time she had been living with her mum in Lagos for some years. I moved in with them shortly after my secondary education while I was waiting to get into higher institution. She became the sister I never had and opened my eyes to Lagos life. You see I had never lived in Lagos before then. I was more of a tomboy having grown up with boys but she showed me the ropes of being feminine - Make-up, dresses, skirts and different hair do.

We had a few things in common like music and dancing but despite her size, she trounced me easily on the dance floor. Yes, Spice as I would call her was really big, she still had that American gene in her. She was not strikingly beautiful but she had all the curves in the right places. The rest of us in contrast were petite and somehow she felt that was the ideal size she ought to be, hence she suffered great self esteem which was to cause her several heart aches later.

You see Spice liked to eat and her mum absolutely spoiled her. It was in their house I first tasted American staples such as Kidney Beans, Aunt Jemima's maple syrup and Jif peanut better which till today has remained my favourite. Every time I visit the States I come back with Jif peanuts, standard! So even though Spice didn't like her figure, she continued to eat and eat and eat and ballooned and ballooned and ballooned. While the rest of us had plenty of male admirers, they were thin on her own side because of her sheer size. Picture a skinny pimpled face 19 year old bloke trying to ask out a woman that looks like she could be in her mid 20s. Definitely no go.

Things that happened the months following my moving in with them was to change that sister bonding we had and as you can all guess it’s a MAN!. She had been telling me about a bloke in church that she really liked but the bloke never looked her side. One Sunday we went to church and I went to the loo when my eyes beheld the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Our eyes locked and I smiled shyly at him and he coyly at me, then we went our separate ways. My heart was beating so fast and I coudn't wait to tell Spice about the guy that had taken my breath away. Finally after the church service, I had my chance to spill but as I was about to open my mouth she tapped me animatedly and said 'parakeet parakeet look at that guy, he's the one I've been talking to you about'. I raised up my head and I just froze. 'This cant be happening, not the same guy I've been shadowing', I thought. My heart instantly sank but I just smiled wryly and I said 'not to worry we'll do something about it'.

I picked up courage and walked up to him and his friends, he saw me from afar and I couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in his eyes while he was grinning from ear to ear and whispering something to his friends. I got to him with shaky legs and I said 'hey am parakeet my cousin over there likes you, can you come over and talk to her?' He looked at me amused but still smiling and said 'but I like you not your cousin so what do we do about that?'. Without thinking I told him not to worry and asked him for his number and left. I went back to my cousin and just simply told her he said he was busy with his friends. I mean how was I suppose to tell her that I was after the same man she had been agonising and now it looks like I have him. Who has more claim to him? She that saw him first or me whom he likes and I just happen to like him too?

This post of fast becoming my longest post ever so I'll stop here…will continue next week but am still looking for my cousin.


Have a great week all.

27 comments:

Chris Ogunlowo said...

B'tful narration.

I think I know how u feel about this. You don't want your cousin to feel cheated, especially because she will think that her size disqualifies her from winning the booty ;)

As much as I think it's bad to make her feel hurt, i feel you should go for what you want. Besides, you took the courage to meet the guy FOR HER, not for you.
She should work on her self-esteem.

Hmmmmmm, what do u stand to lose if u don't date the guy?

This reads like a movie plot ;)

LG said...

awww sweerrry i feel for ur cousin o. wat can i say xcept.......
*scratches head*
so many questions in my head...
why do u like/luv/gbadu/feel 4 d guy?
has He made any advances on u yet?
how wld ur cousin take it?
is He genuine?

i need answers????

O'Dee said...

I like the way you told/wrote this post.

I don't really feel anyone owns the guy. Both of u like him, but he only likes one of you. Its hard 2 swallow but its the truth.

That said, since spice has some self esteem issues, u liking d guy will only make things worse.

But the truth is, if she were in your shoes she'll probably not send your side.

Thirty + said...

Please come back and finish now

*stamping feet and shaking head in anticipation*

Allied said...

Come back now and finish this story.. next week is to long jare..

Buttercup said...

ok, cos u said this, "Things that happened the months following my moving in with them was to change that sister bonding we had and as you can all guess it’s a MAN!", im assumin u got the guy, not ur cuz...i hope things ddnt get too ugly tho n i also hoe u find her!

Buttercup said...

oops..hope*

Chari said...

Impressive work of art...why do I feel like I know where this post is headed...

Mehn, I dont envy ur position at all mehh...we are waiting for the sequel sha...

Anonymous said...

See I have an adverse reaction to interminable posts (in that I don't read them) but the first sentence in this post caught my attention, now I'm eagerly waiting for the next long part II post.
(Don't be a tease!)

About the story, personally I would have stayed away from dude. If this was a friend or some other person you didn't live with then cool, but a cousin who would have to hear about dude and see him when he comes over to take you on dates, that's got to hurt like crazy and do absolutely nothing for her self esteem.

Nigerian Drama Queen said...

Oh wow. This post has happened to me before in real life. I will wait for the next post before I make my comment.

bumight said...

even though you wont be cheating her by going for the guy, that wont stop her from thinking so.

bad situation!

Unknown said...

Nooooooo do part 2 ASAP!!!

Flourishing Florida said...

u had 2 stop just where d story was getting sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awwwwwwwwwwwwwww. will b stalking u till u update.

Jay said...

Like the way you told the story..def kept my attention...can't wait for the next part but girl are you gonna make us wait for a whole 7 day??!!!!!! Heheheheh...

Will stalk u till then...have a good week too

ShadeCrown said...

awwwwwh.. oya finish it biko

IT'S JUST LIFE said...

Oh Geez!!!! I know dis situation. Well its a dicey case at hand and u know we ladies dont know how to handle forgiveness well.I tink its who he likes n since dats u, yep u win. But she aint gonna be happy. Complete dis soon o!!

Afrobabe said...

wow...I dont know the end but sure doesn't look like it will be in ur favour...lol

dat 1 okrika babe said...

wow I cant wait for the rest, I want to know how you handled such a tough situation.


Take care lady!

Sasuke said...

Bad Chic! how you go take sly your cuz like dat? well bearing in mind that he is a hotie i honestly won't blame you. but nice format anyways. you practically were trying to throw her off his scent...lol

Sasuke said...

Bad Chic! how you go take sly your cuz like dat? well bearing in mind that he is a hotie i honestly won't blame you. but nice format anyways. you practically were trying to throw her off his scent...lol

uNWrItten* said...

wow..
well that was sweet of u not to rub it in a her face and all but i dont know..if u like the guy go for it u know..
there is someone for everyone is what i think :)

Rebirth said...

waiting for the end before i comment...... im thinking u guys had a lot of drama...
thanks for coming to my blog

musco said...

'blood shld be thicker than water'!

Anonymous said...

I am an individual that is in your cousin situation....I mean as far as the size. But I in no way have low self esteem. Me making sure that I am beautiful inside and out makes the person that I am.

If I were you...ummm... I wouldnt go after him. I would tell the guy that I couldnt because I have morals. I wouldnt want anyone to do that to me. Had you not known and you two had developed a relationship then that would be different.

I agree with oluwadee, no one owns the guys so why not both of you speak on it and decide. I mean will it really hurt if you dont get this man?



Nice story, cant wait to read part2

isha said...

I saw part 2 first so I had to check this one first before going back to read part 1.

The sad truth is that if anyone 'holds claim' to the guy it's you. cos for the relationship to work, the feeling must be mutual.

Unknown said...

Time to put on my thinking cap...(This is obviously not copywriting...lol)

As far as my individuality is concerned, I wouldn't date the guy if I were in your shoes cos my heart won't just feel right about it.
I have found myself in a situation like this on two ocassions but the difference is just that it was my friend that was involved and not my cousin and I actually made sure I did a match making between them. They may not get on so well but i was gratified knowing that I helped a friend out, let alone a cousin...

Be that as it may, I must state categorically that it is just the person I am, I can't bear to hurt those that I care about...but that doesn't make me better than anyone else!

Lets see how the story unfolds...

Hi

tobenna said...

Hmm, this sounds very interesting.
Let me go read part 2