One Sunday Morning

by Rosie R.

Leaning over the bathroom sink, I tried to ignore Johnny’s happy whistling in the next room.He was always out of tune.I scrubbed my face for the second time that day to get the oily residue left behind by my make-up.Spring was bringing on heat too early in the year and making my make-up run.I was drying my face on Johnny’s big fluffy towel when I saw a long strands of brown hair tucked away at the corner, almost covered by toiletries.I picked the hair and examined it.It looked familiar.It wasn’t mine for sure, I had short black hair.The owner had to have almost waist long hair.I firmly believed I had no jealous bone in my body so I tried to rationalize the discovery.Maybe it was his cleaning lady – wait – he didn’t have one.May be it was old hair left over months ago by some one night stand – no, it couldn’t be – Johnny was not a one-night stander, he didn’t seem the type.Then I remembered his ex-girlfriend had very long hair, a little darker in the photos I had seen of her but about the same length.

I walked into his bedroom and held up the hair.

“Has Jessica been coming around here to pick up her stuff?” I said careful not to sound accusatory.

“Hmm?” Johnny said.

“Does Jessica still come around here?” I asked him again, showing him the strands of hair.

“No, why?”

“Whose hair is this?”I asked.

“Probably hers from a while back,” said after examining it closely.He took it and threw it in a trash can.He looked a little uncomfortable. “We have to get ready, we are running late.”

I thought he changed the subject a bit too soon but I was not in a fighting mood.We were having a nice day and I would not let strands of hair get in the way and even though my female intuition kept telling me to dig deeper, I let it go.

This happened three weeks ago.Today, I was calling his house trying to get a ride from him.I had been in fender bender accident that had given me the worst whiplash I had had in years.My back hurt so badly and my head ached from not having enough sleep.I had to wait hours for the cops to arrive and then drive to the police station to give my statement to the oh-so-efficient Detroit’s finest.Guess the cops were too busy chasing gang bangers to attend to a fender bender accident -thus my trip to the station.

Johnny’s phone was still ringing.It was Sunday morning.I was supposed to be at work that day at the hospital.I worked most Sunday mornings and I guess he would not be expecting me to call him till later in the evening after work.I was about to give up when someone picked up.It was a woman.

“Is Johnny there?” I asked.

“No he is not,” the lady said.

“Can I leave a message?” I asked.I assumed it was his sister, whom I had not met.Strange thing was, she sounded so akata-ish … er … sorry … African American.

“Sure.”

“Could you tell him to call Irene when he gets in?”

“Of course,” she replied.

I hung up and lay down to nap.My back hurt so badly.I figured I would have to see a chiropractor the next day.Five minutes later my phone rang.It was the same woman.

“I don’t mean to be rude but is it okay if I ask you who you are?”

The hair on the back of neck stood straight.My stomach lurched forward as I realized my accident was not going to be the worst thing that would happen this week.

“I am Johnny’s girlfriend,” I answered.

“That’s strange,” the woman said, “I am his girlfriend.”

At that moment, I had the strand-of-hair incident flashback.I should have listened to my intuition.

“Jessica?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” she replied.

“I was under the impression you broke up with him five months ago.”

“No, I didn’t,” she replied.Her voice was taut.She was beginning to sound distraught.

“Is Johnny in?” I asked again.

“Yes,” she said.

“Good.Don’t tell him I am coming over.He needs to explain this,” I said and hung up.

I dressed quickly and got into my beat-up car, which was in no shape for travel but at this point I had no choice.I needed to settle this sinking feeling in my stomach.You see, my life was divided into two: B. J. (Before Johnny) and A. J. (After Johnny).Before I met Johnny, it was just meaningless dates and acquaintances and then there was Johnny.It was like things made sense when I met him.We clicked instantly.And the fact he was good-looking did not hurt.When I met Johnny, all the noise in my head got quiet and I was happy, really happy…goofy happy…like a crazy person.I thought this is it; this is who I have been waiting for.

The knots in my stomach and the feeling in my heart were indescribable.Johnny was leading a double life.I made the twenty-five minute drive in fifteen minutes, ignored the front door and walked in through the garage door I knew was always open.

Johnny was sitting at the kitchen table with Jessica; his eyes took on a deer-in-the-headlights look as soon as I walked in.

“Who is she?” Jessica asked him.

“Yes, Johnny,” I countered, “Who am I?”

Johnny did not say a word.He stood up and walked to the living room.I did not blame him.No man should be made to ever encounter the situation playing out in his home at the moment.I took his seat across Jessica.I checked out her hair.Yep, the strand belonged to her alright.She was very light skinned and plump in a wholesome way.I am dark and slender. We were literarily as different as night and day. I guess Johnny likes both light and dark coffee.We looked at each other for a while and without saying a word to each other, we agreed the problem was not either of us.The problem was Johnny.Good old Johnny.The man I thought would rock my world till the day I die apparently was rocking another woman’s world.

“Johnny, come here, we are not finished with you yet,” Jessica yelled at him.

Johnny appeared and leaned on the door frame.This took me by surprise.You see, Johnny is a man’s man. He is very tall and masculine and every inch an Igbo man.He was very traditional and believed men and women had their places in life.He would not have tolerated that tone with me.This pissed me off.I just realized I was a second class citizen in his house.

“Why did you do this?” Jessica asked quietly.

“Because you said you did not want me any more!” he said pointing in her face.

“No I did not say that.”

“Yes you did.You wanted to leave me!” he replied.”I had no choice!”

“This means you go get yourself another woman immediately?Am I easily replaceable after all these years?” she asked, pointing at me.

“Don’t talk about me like I am not here,” I said tensely.

They both looked at me like they had forgotten I was there.Then suddenly, Jessica leapt from her chair and jumped on Johnny, they both began to wrestle. She was hitting him with her fists and Johnny was doing his best to dodge them.If I was not in so much pain, I would have laughed.I would have cried.I would have screamed at both of them to stop it.Instead, I picked up my car keys and left both of them still yelling and hitting.Unlike last night after my fender bender accident, I did not want to be there when the cops arrived.

This is a true story.

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11 comments

Toks July 19, 2010 - 9:32 pm

I’m glad this happened years ago, I hope time has done it’s part in healing the pain.

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D. Jacobs December 20, 2008 - 11:52 pm

pele o. Sorry Jare, well i guess sh*t happens. The bobo was trying to hit two at once, but at the same time i sympathize with him, theres the ex girlfriend hes been with for a long time and you and it must have been a tough choice for him lol. I hope u have healed though.

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Lati July 23, 2007 - 6:47 pm

Bose from Comment #4 sounds like a…. If she doesn't see anything wrong with a guy having a relationship with 2 women at the same time, then something is very wrong with her. The fact that she says she wants to "jump in his arms" means that she doesn't mind being with a guy that's a two-timing jerk as long as he looks good.

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april April 17, 2007 - 1:13 pm

good one

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Anonymous November 19, 2006 - 6:24 pm

great job!!!!

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Ejiro October 19, 2006 - 7:37 pm

Aaayah! Girl. Kpele! what struck me was your comment that he would not have taken that tone of voice from you. It's all good, when e meet Oyinbo, e no go take am from akata either. Just jiving. Fabulous imagery and word stringing. Loved your story

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Bose September 19, 2006 - 4:30 am

I did not see anything wrong in the man's actions. You and I know that men cannot stay an hour without women, obviously he was trying to get into a serious relationship with you and that jessica is just a side attraction even though he claims it was because she left him. You better try and check whether he is on the route to settling down. Your story is no big deal in my area; it is a mans world. If we dont want them, they can find ten of us that wants them in the next five minutes. You should be more interested in finding out whether he intends to marry and the way you described his physique makes me wanna jump in his arms.

Please tell us what happened when he eventually called you. More gossip abeg.

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BIGFEST September 18, 2006 - 8:23 am

The average nigerian man is polygamous in nature.Sorry for the good experience and please don't run away from him bcos that would amount to a clear case of inferiority complex before the other woman.No woman has a right to pursue another from the kitchen.Oncemore,the guy did do his timing well,abi them non dey off phone for abroad if u non wan receive calls especially when you get runs.

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Sabella Abidde September 17, 2006 - 5:26 pm

This is a true story? Ha, sorry ooo, pele oo my dear sister; I beg make you no vex oo. Forgive him and take him back (wink, wink, wink).

As I been talk before: I have yet to meet a man who would not stick it to his ex-wife or ex-girl friend if the opportunity arose; and I have yet to meet an ex-this or ex-that who would not consent if the timing was right. Morality aside, humans have not conquered their sexual cravings.

I have never met a man who will not cheat on his wife if there is an assurance that his infidelity will remain a secret; and I have never met a woman who will not acquiesce to such if what happened in Vegas will remain in Vegas. Infidelity is part of our makeup.

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Anonymous September 16, 2006 - 10:37 pm

I feel sad for you and furious. What gives another human the right to use another?

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vini September 16, 2006 - 12:31 pm

strange things happen,sorry this had to happen to u. i feel u.nice story, keep them coming

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