Must Read: Three Women (short story) - Season 1 - Episode 12

Episode 6 years ago

Must Read: Three Women (short story) - Season 1 - Episode 12

They were seated at a restaurant, just a floor above the cinema; the movie wasn’t coming on till like 30 minutes, and they were killing time.
“I saw a book I’d like to buy for my mom.” Anu said with a mouth full of chicken.

“Where was that?”
“At the book store, downstairs.”

“Hmm! So what is the book about?”
“I don’t know; the cover is just really pretty.”


She said and started laughing. Some grains of rice flew out of her mouth in different directions.
“So…why do you want to buy a book for your mom anyway?”

“I don’t know, because she likes to read books.”

“Okay, we’ll check out the book later, after the movie.”


They sat there for a few more minutes. Dapo listened to her talk about her mom all the while, and how she missed her. Even though he wasn’t used to having long conversations with kids, he found his time with her very refreshing.

“It’s time.” Anu said and jumped off her seat. “And you don’t have to go with me to the door.” She continued when she saw that Dapo was getting off his seat. “I have the ticket; you can stay and finish your food.”

“Okay, I will be waiting; I will be right here when you come out.”

“Okay.” She said and gave him a hug. Dapo watched her run off with the little knapsack she had behind her bouncing up and down.
He had been through with his meal, but wanted to stay a little while longer. There was a girl sitting adjacent from him, on another table, and he noticed she was looking in his direction. She had dark shades on and Dapo couldn’t tell if she was looking into space or really staring at him.

He looked in her direction again, and he thought he saw her lips move, but he wasn’t sure she was saying something because of the Ipod earphones in his ears. And just as he was removing the earpiece, he saw her proceeding towards his table, with her tray of food in hand.
‘No!!!’ Dapo thought.

“I was commenting on how beautiful your daughter is.” The girl said. She was standing in front of Dapo now. “I hope you don’t mind me joining you.”

“Umm!”

“Oops! Sorry, I will just take my leave.” The girl said and was turning around.

“No! No! That’s not what I was implying.”
Dapo said and waved his hand for her to take the seat opposite from him. From her voice, he could tell she would be in her late teens or early twenties.

“What I was trying to say is that the girl you saw with me earlier is not my daughter.”

“Oh!”

“Yeah, she is actually a friend’s child.”

“Hmm! That’s funny, because you guys are so…I don’t know the word. Whatever, I apologize for being presumptuous.”

“Apology accepted.” Dapo said and was wondering why the girl came to sit with him.
There was a little silence, and she had gone on with her meal. He thought he had no obligation to start up any more conversations, so he just tried to forget she was there.

“I’m sure you are wondering why I came over?”

“If I am to be truthful, I can say yes.”

“I can’t seem to get private time alone when I’m eating in public. People, boys…” She said and paused for a while and then took off the shades she had on. The girl was beautiful and he understood why she would say boys were always bugging her.

“So I thought, since you are a father with a little kid, I would be safe with you.”

She said and smiled, showing very fine set off teeth that amplified her beauty.

“Point of correction, I am not a father; At least not yet.”

“Or sorry; but you are married, right?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Dupe.” She said.

“Pleased to meet you; I am Dapo.” They shook hands like they were doing business, but Dapo still felt a bit uneasy. Even though the girl was really young, he felt bad sitting alone with someone of the opposite s-x. He looked up and saw that she was looking at him, like she was expecting him to say something, then she laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s nothing” She said with a smile on her face. “It is just funny, that’s all.”

[B] “Well, I don’t get it, but anyway…so did you come to see a movie?”

“Nope. I actually came here to hang out.”

“Okay.”

“I was meant to meet some friends here, but I guess they stood me up.”

“Sorry about that.”

“I hope I’m not being a pest or anything?”
She said and smiled.”
“No, you are not.”
“So how long before you leave?” She said, and Dapo checked his watch.

“Till the movie my girl is seeing ends; that’d be in like…an hour.” Dapo said and looked at her taking scoops from an ice cream bowl; she was young, more beautiful than his wife, and very classy. He wondered what his wife would think if she just happened to walk into the restaurant right now.

“Okay, I got to go.” The girl said and put the frames back on.

“It was nice talking to you; thanks for the company.” Dapo said and felt awkward as she packed up her things to go. He didn’t know if he should request her number, just to be polite.

“Say hi to the little girl for me.”
“I will. I guess we might just run into one another sometime in the future.” Dapo said, from not knowing what to say. She removed her shades again and focused on Dapo. “Trust me; you’d be seeing a lot of me.” She was smiling as she said it, and then she waved before turning around to walk off.

Dapo wondered what she meant by the last statement. She must think he was a regular here, and maybe she visited here a lot. He shoved the thought aside and plugged up his earphones.

Later on, he and Anu picked a book for her mom before living the cinema. She was asleep by the time he dropped her off.