It was going to be a bad day. Udenna knew it even before he opened his eyes. Was it because he woke up nearly drowning in his own sweat from being pursued by a headless monster or because while getting up from bed, he missed his footing and tumbled to the ground, stubbing his little toe in the process.
“Damnit!” He whisper screamed as he grabbed his feet. He forgot how much a stubbed toe hurt. He glanced at the alarm clock above his sitting position on the ground. 6.37 am. He might just sit today’s work out. Balogun would cover for him as always. He had been missing a lot of days at work, but everyone understood. He was still getting over the divorce.
Thinking of hours spent seeing his favourite series on Netflix, Prison Break, the feeling of pain in his toe ebbed. He smiled to himself. He had probably just been overthinking things. Or maybe eating Mama Kamsi’s roadside food late at night had gotten to him. Just as he stretched to pick up his phone from the beside table, his phone lit up and the caller ID displayed made him chuckle.
Who said the Spirit isn’t one, he thought.
“Baddest guy!” he hailed. “You won’t believe that I was just about to call you.”
“Errrr....Udenna, good morning. Trust you’re doing well.”
Udenna smiled. Balogun was probably with a woman. That was how his friend did each time a woman companion was beside him. Blasting English anyhow.
“Wetin bring about this one? Abeg stop all this your fronting. That woman should accept you as the local man you are.”
“Udenna, you need to come to the office.”
His friend was resolute on keeping up with this charade. Okay, Udenna thought. Two could play the game.
“That’s just what I was going to call you about. I don’t think I can make it to work today, and I’d need you to cover up for me, please.”
Udenna heard his friend let out a soft cuss. There were also muffled voices in the background. What was going on?
“I can’t do that for you, Udenna. Please make sure you’re here on or before 8 am. The supervisors are here and need to speak to you. See you.” The line disconnected.
Udenna felt the blood drain out of him. Why would the supervisors be here all of a sudden? Weren’t they due by March ending?
“Damn. It is March ending.” Wasn’t he just celebrating Valentine’s day with Bintu, his new girlfriend just yesterday?
There was no time to waste. Udenna quickly got himself together and began the journey to his office. God please, let it be nothing serious.
Udenna made his way into the bar. He knew he was going against his resolve and his counterparts at the AA meetings would be displeased. But there was nothing he could do. He needed just one drink to quench the throbbing pain in his head and in his heart.
“Bar man, a glass of whiskey, please. Neat.” Just one drink.
As the bar man started on his drinks, he pondered on the words of his superiors. Good for nothing. Slacker. Indolent. Dilatory. Irresponsible. What word hadn’t they called him. All of that just to tell him he was suspended. As if, that was not enough, his ex-wife just served him to appear in court on the grounds of increase in child support. That woman was definitely the weapon fashioned against him.
Just as the bartender placed his drink before him, his phone lit up. As he saw the Caller ID, he felt his calmness restoring. Bintu always knew the right time to call.
“My woman, how’re you?” His voice rang with longing.
“So, Udenna if I don’t call you, you won’t call me, right?"
Udenna had a palm to his head. The last thing he wanted was to be nagged. “Don’t do this, Bintu. Not today, please. I’ve had a bad day.”
“Oh, so you’ve had a bad day, right? I’m making your day bad?”
“Ahhhh. Bintu please —”
“No, it’s fine. I hope the news I have to give you makes your day better.”
There was suddenly a roaring sound in his ear. “What news?”
“I’m pregnant, Udenna. I’m five weeks pregnant.”
Udenna knew in that moment that he was capable of running mad. “Ah, you’ve killed me, Bintu. Tell me you’re lying.”
“Me? Bintu Smart? Lying? Okay, no problem. I’ll be packing in tomorrow. Now that I’m carrying your child, you know that means I can no longer be on my own. Have a lovely night and see you tomorrow.” She hung up.
Udenna was stunned. How could his life change for the complete worse in barely twenty four hours? Too hell with his resolution. Downing his whiskey in one go, he hollered. “Bar man! Pour me another drink.”
Jhymi🖤
My entry to today's Freewrite Daily Prompt: Pour Me Another.
Images created with Meta AI.
