The Cleaning Girl

This story contains a bit of foreign language which I have tried to translate to the best of my ability.

"You know things are gonna change between us if we do this?"

Kunle's heart was thumping hard in his ears now. He could hardly hear what she said. "Yes...I know."

"And once this happens, we cannot go back?"

"No going back, yes."

She turned to face him. "You promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

A coy smile lit up her face. "Okay," she replied, "I'll help you..."

Several months earlier...

"Ki ni gbogbo trash yi gaan na(what is all this trash)?" Lara screamed at him. "Igba ti o mo pe o le ba obinrin sun(when you know you cannot perform), why do you disturb me for sex?"

He was on his knees naked, begging and pleading with her. "Lara jo, ma binu(don't be upset). I don't know why it's always happening like this."

Lara stood up and grabbed her bra and panties from where they had tossed them. "This is the fourth time and I've had enough. Just look at yourself. I brought myself down to your level to please you and everyone but look at what I got myself into. I'm engaged to an impotent fool. Well, not anymore. I don't think I want to be with a man who cannot perform."

She yanked off the ring from her finger and flung it at him. It hit him on the forehead and clattered to the floor, but he hardly felt the pain. The insult she threw at him stung him more than the pain from the ring. She dressed up, gathered his clothes in a bundle and flung them at him.

"Ma ko oshi e lo jare. Iwo okobo oloriburuku yi(Get your useless self out of here, you impotent arsehole). Get the fuck out of my house!!!!!"

She pushed him out of her bedroom and towards the main door, not even giving him the chance to dress up properly.

"Lara jo ma shey bayi si mi now(don't do this to me)," he pleaded.

"Abi eleyi ya were ni(are you mad)? I said get out of here!!!! Aminu!!!!!!!!" she shouted for the gateman, "Come carry this useless fool out of here. And I must not see him in this house again, or else you are fired!!!!"

Kunle dejectedly dressed up and walked out the vast compound. Aminu the gateman avoided eye contact with him and shut the gate once he stepped onto the street. He hailed a passing commercial bike which took him to the nearby bus stop. On his way home, he pondered. How dare she do this to him? After all they'd been through together? Well, he thought, it was his own fault for going after a girl like Lara.

They had met during their one year NYSC* and fortunately for her, she was retained by the bank she had served. Kunle had struggled to find a job and after a year or two he managed to get one at a food processing company as a Quality Assurance Assistant. By then Lara had been promoted to assistant branch manager with an official car and residence to match. He had been hearing rumors about her as people just don't get promoted like that within a few short years of working in a bank on a full-time basis, but he refused to acknowledge them. Lara will never do that to him, he had fooled himself.

He could still remember vividly when he found he had problems with weak erections and premature ejaculation. Lara had come over to his place that day and one thing led to another, and they had ended up in bed. They had stripped naked and she was already all hot, sloppy wet and ready for action, only for him to insert his dick into her, pump a few times, and ejaculate. He was really surprised; Lara could not believe it either. She had first sympathized with him, maybe it being their first time together, but after it happened a couple of times more, he knew he had a problem. To make matters worse, Lara had not taken it easy on him and told him if it happened one more time, it was over between them. He had been to the doctor and he had told him to eat less sugar and exercise more, but all to no avail. This time around she rained curses and abuses on him, calling him impotent, an "okobo". She could have insulted him all she wanted, but calling him impotent hit him hard where it hurt the most. He really had to do something about his condition.

The alarm on his phone buzzed loudly, waking him up with a start. He stretched and yawned, looking out the window as the first rays of dawn began lighting up the sky. It was time to get up and prepare for work.

Kunle lazily threw the covers back. He stood up and headed for the bathroom. Looking at the mirror, he saw a haggard looking 27-year-old with bloodshot eyes staring back at him. He hadn't slept much since the incident at Lara's place four days ago. He had tried calling her several times, but she never picked up. Afterwards the calls didn't go through. He decided the first thing he would do that weekend was to apologize. He sighed and started his shower. He had just about an hour to get ready and head to the park where the staff bus usually picked him and other workers.

He finished up and jumped into his shirt, tie, trousers, and well-worn loafers and grabbed his laptop bag. Mama Akosua, the motherly Ghanaian woman who had set up a food stall at the park at end of the road should be waiting with his breakfast. He had made it a habit of always having breakfast of hot waakye(rice and beans), plantain, egg and fried mackerel with the woman and she always had it packed, hot and ready for him, no matter how many customers stormed her stand in the mornings.

Kunle stepped out of his one-room self-contained quarters behind one of the two main buildings of four apartments each and almost ran into the cleaning lady's cart. The cart of mops, brooms, and cleaning products was parked right in the middle of the pathway and he almost toppled it over in his haste to dash out. Cursing slightly, he heard someone running over.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put this in the middle of the way. I'm so, so sorry." she pleaded, pushing the cart into the hedges.

Kunle gawked. Instead of the middle-aged, plump woman who came around every other day to clean the compound, pushing the cart away from the path was a young, pretty damsel. The girl was gorgeous. The plain clothes she had on did not hide the perfect curves she had underneath. The sweater she wore that cool harmattan morning couldn't hide the size of the basketballs that stood proudly on her chest. Her shoulder-length curly black hair was tied back with a headband, and a pair of black-framed glasses sat squarely on her face, giving her a nerdish, schoolgirl look. She was still apologizing as she moved the cart out of the way. She stood facing him and he couldn't help but stare at her protruding chest.

"Oh don't worry, I...ahem...I'm fine," he managed to say, finally able to drag his eyes away and focus on her face, "I should have been more careful and watched where I was going."

"I'm the one who should be more careful...keeping this damn cart in the middle of the walkway..."

She had one of those shy smiles that lit her face. "By the way," he inquired, "you seem new here. I've not seen you around before."

"Yes, I just started today." The girl responded cheerfully. "The other lady had to leave and I'm her temporary replacement. Humble, little me."

"Wow. So nice. Well I have to rush off to work now. Will I get to see your lovely face again?"

"Well" she replied, pushing up her button nose in thought. "I'm usually scheduled here on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays."

"Okay. I guess I'll hopefully see you on Saturday then. What's your name by the way?"

"Sheila."

"Such a beautiful name for a pretty girl. Nice meeting you."

She giggled and blushed, embarrassed. "It's nice meeting you too Mr...errr..."

"Kunle. Just call me Kunle. No fancy titles."

"It's nice meeting you too...Kunle."

She pushed her cart towards the main building. Just before she entered, she looked back over her shoulder and caught him staring. She gave him another smile disappeared into the building. Jerking back to reality, he rushed off to the park.

The bus was already pulling up and he quickly ran to get his breakfast, the usual crowd of people already waiting patiently for theirs. Mama Akosua was busy serving a bunch of hungry customers when he arrived.

"Madam well done oh," he hollered at her.

"Ah customer good morning oh. How are u this morning?" she replied as she served the customer standing in front of her.

"I just dey try manage my life oh. How market(How's business)?"

"Market dey oh my dear. As you see am we dey manage. Na God dey help us oh."

"Where's my little girl and her brother?"

"They've gone to school."

"This early morning?"

"Yes oh. You know Akosua is a prefect in her school. She has to lead by example."

She called out to someone inside to bring out his package.

"How much do I owe u ma?" he asked as he opened his wallet.

"Na 1200 naira."

"U get change for 2000?"

"This early morning? I no get change oh. You fit bring am in the evening."

Kunle thanked her and waited for the pack. Upon its arrival, he grabbed it and thanked Mummy Akosua again. He ran to join the bus which was almost filled up and grabbed a seat. He looked back at the hungry patrons as the bus moved off.

Throughout that day Kunle thought about this new girl. Her curves, her lovely chest, her bright, bespectacled eyes and her shiny light skin occupied his thoughts as he went about his work. But what could he do about it? He didn't want to disappoint another girl again. Besides, he was yet to make up with Lara, something he planned to do soon. She had still not returned any of his calls, chats, or emails. He decided to go to her house again that weekend. She would have cooled down and would hear him out. On his way home that Friday, he entered a store to buy a box of perfumes, chocolates, and some roses. Though it set him back substantially, he felt it was worth it. He made sure he looked as clean as he could be. He got himself a fresh haircut and shave and bought a new shirt and tie. He really wanted to impress her and show he was sorry for what happened.

Saturday morning, as he was about to go get some eggs and bread from the mallam at the gate for his breakfast, he ran into Sheila again. Immediately she saw him she beamed and bounced up to him. She made a spin and curtsied.

"Hello Kunle," she greeted him cheerfully.

"Good morning Sheila. You look so radiant and beautiful today," he greeted back. Today she wore a red T-shirt over a pair of blue jeans. The shirt struggled to contain her generous boobs which pushed against the fabric. Her curly hairdo was no longer tied and hung freely. She looked stunning.

"Yeah it's a beautiful morning. Not cold and dull though like the other days."

He smiled. "You know...I don't know much about you, other than you are a very lively and pretty young lady."

"Well you never asked. And this is the second time we're talking."

He smiled. "Okay then. So why is such a beautiful, young lady like you doing a job meant for old middle-aged women?"

She laughed. "Don't think I'm a small girl oh. I'm not as young as you think."

"So how old are you then?"

"I'm twenty-two."

"Twenty-two? That is still young in my books. Anyways why are you working this odd job?"

"Well," she responded, removing her glasses and rubbing her eyes, "I finished my Pre-ND program about two years ago. My dad sent me here to Lagos when I couldn't get into any school back home and my mum wanted me to get married since that was not turning out. He insisted I must at least finish my first degree before thinking of marriage, so he sent me here to be with his sister. I told her I will look for a small job where I can raise some money to at least buy a JAMB form and pay a bit for my upkeep. I'm tired of asking her all the time for money. After about six months I was able to get this one. It is not much, but at least I get something to save towards my aim."

"That's a good strategy. How much are you being paid here?" Kunle asked.

"Well it's not much. Though I just started this week, they will pay me three thousand, five hundred naira monthly."

She raised her hand. "I know it's not much, but with time I may get another job that pays better."

Kunle smiled at her naivety. "Anyways that's a good plan. If you have any issues or you need any help, don't hesitate to call on me. I live in there." He said, pointing to his living quarters.

She smiled back. "I surely will. Well, I have to skip off. Talk to you later."

She skipped away to the main building, and Kunle sighed.

"You can't have it both ways," he told himself.

He realized he was not hungry anymore. He decided to skip breakfast and go try see Lara. If he had known what he was going to encounter, he would have just forgotten it the day she shoved him out of her house rudely.

He got off the okada rider's bike and paid him the 700 naira he had demanded. Stupid crook. Is it because he was dressed up, prim and proper in his shirt and tie? He dismissed the bikeman and he roared off in a cloud of smoke and exhaust.

Cursing the guy under his breath, he thought about what he was going to tell her; he would go down on one knee and beg her - he was sorry, and his screw up won't happen again.

He was so mesmerized in his thoughts that he didn't notice a bunch of posh cars parked in front of her gate. The quality of vehicles parked made him realize something was going on in Lara's house. He saw Aminu, the gateman sitting on a bench infront of the gate. Immediately their eyes met, Aminu stood up and made an effort to going inside.

"Aminu Haba now. Why you dey troway face for me? Na me Kunle now."

"Oga, madam don already talk am say if I see you make I no open gate. She tell me say make I warn you make you no reach this place again."

"Haba now Aminu. You wan do that to your padi," replied Kunle, removing a one thousand naira note and folding it in half.

Aminu eyed the note greedily. "Oga...ehn...I know say you be my oga...but you sabi madam wahala. She fit send me comot."

"Don't worry." Kunle replied, slipping the note into his black paw. "Just tell her you were not at the gate when I arrived. Tell her I opened it from outside."

Aminu quickly pocketed the money. He opened the gate and Kunle slipped inside. He walked towards the door and heard music and laughter inside. He knocked on the door and after a short wait, it opened. It was Dupe, Lara's friend and colleague at work. The smile on her face disappeared when she saw him.

"Dupe bawo ni now(what's up)? It's been quite a while. How have you been?" Kunle asked cheerfully.

Dupe hissed and stepped back inside. Kunle slowly entered and was greeted by several folks in Lara's bank. There were bottles of expensive drinks and lots of food and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Lara suddenly appeared; a scowl of disgust written all over her face.

"Ki lo n wa nibi? What are you doing here? Did I not tell you never to show your face in my house anymore?" she demanded angrily.

"But Lara, I came to apologize. I even brought these for you to show you how sorry I am," Kunle trembled, showing her the gifts.

She took one look at the things in his hands and hissed. "Do I look like a small girl to you? All your mates are buying expensive stuff, you are bringing these cheap flowers here."

She knocked the flowers and perfumes and chocolates from his hands onto the floor. By this time everyone's attention was already on them. Every word she spat out was like a dagger to his heart.

"I've told you already that we are no more. Finished. I no longer love you. Keep your cheap gifts to yourself or go give it to some other small girl someone your level deserves. We are no longer mates and we're no longer in the same class. Please take your leave before I disgrace you further," She concluded.

A young man about the same age as him walked up to where they were. He stood beside her and wrapped a long arm around her slim waist.

"Baby? What's going on? Who is this guy?" he asked, waving a glass of wine in his direction.

"This is the impotent fool I was telling you about," she replied.

The word "IMPOTENT" reverberated around the room and there was an audible gasp as everyone went silent. The only sounds were the music blaring from the sound system.

"Please, LEAVE NOW! Baby, get this useless boy out of my sight." she repeated.

"You heard the lady," the guy said, taking Kunle by the arm. Kunle slapped away his hand before he could touch him.

"Don't touch me," he responded. His eyes had turned stone cold, and his voice was filled with ice. "I can see myself out."

With the little dignity he had left, he picked the gifts off the floor and glanced around the room. Everyone was staring at him, wondering what he was going to do. Even Dupe had a scared look in her eyes. The macho dude had backed away.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your afternoon. Have a nice party," he said before turning around and exiting the building.

There was an awkward few moments of silence after he left. "Lara, you took that too far. You shouldn't have insulted him that much," Dupe scolded her friend.

"He deserved it. I've told him never to come and bother me again. He wouldn't listen. I had to tell him that way." Lara replied sadly.

Her new beau tried comforting her. "Baby forget him. Don't let a little pipsqueak like that upset you. You are above him. Come on, let's dance. This party is meant for you."

Lara shrugged and followed him as he dragged her and started dancing to the beats.

Kunle walked dazed and dejected to the main road where he could get a bike back to his place. He was still shocked and reeling from the embarrassment he had just gone through. He couldn't believe it. Lara? Say all that to him? Insult him in front of all those people? He was glad he had controlled himself there and not knocked the silly grin off the face of that stupid punk. He looked up in the sky and sighed. Is this how it is? A common girl insulting him just because she was more successful than him? A tear rolled out of his eye and down his cheek. He looked at the tattered gifts in his hands and a sudden anger enveloped him. He threw them to the ground - chocolates, flowers, and perfume - and stamped on them hard till they disintegrated into a mess of brown mush at his feet. A couple of people were already looking his way. He quickly flagged a bike down.

By the time he got home, he was seething and boiling with anger. How dare she? Who the hell did she think she was? After what they both had gone through. He didn't acknowledge the greeting of the mallam and stormed to his room. He locked himself inside and didn't go out again that day.

He didn't sleep at all that night. Thoughts of Lara filled his mind. Even when he was able to catch a few minutes, all he dreamt of was her. By morning, he was a total wreck. He had a bad headache and his eyes were bloodshot. He was a mess.

Later that afternoon, he heard a knock on his door. He didn't want to get up but when it became more persistent, he stood up and walked over, intent on taking his anger out on whoever it was.

He opened the door to reveal a beaming Sheila. One look at him and she became alarmed.

"Kunle!!! What is wrong?" she asked, shocked at his appearance.

He didn't answer; he just turned around and went back in. Sheila followed him in. After a while her persistent questions started getting on his nerves.

"Sheila, don't you know when someone wants to be alone?" he asked rather coldly.

She was taken aback. "Did I do anything wrong? I'm sorry if I annoyed..."

"Yes, you are doing something wrong. You are pestering me. Stop bothering me. PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he shouted at her.

He regretted it almost immediately. A painful, shocked expression appeared on her face, and she backed away, a cry escaping her lips.

"I'm sorry Sheila" he began to apologize, "I didn't mean to..."