DECONTEE (Everything Has Time)

Kla was done, all he craved now was a moment of distraction from what seemed like a horror movie. As he took his phone from his pocket to YouTube one of Paul Flomo’s latest comedy clips, the advice of Lassana resounded in his head; ‘never give up if you can and still want to try’. Steering at the phone in oblivion, Kla endlessly echoed these words in a faint voice ‘Never give up’. Soliloquizing, Kla said, “I know ley man will be on FB na na, he likes FB baney bad way.” (Liberian Pidgin). 

Kla logged onto Facebook and as predicted, Lassana was online. Without delay Kla started the conversation.

 Kla: Hey

Lassana: Xup bro?

Kla: Not good. 

Lassana: Fill me in.

Kla: It’s like a war against my amorous episode the world has waged. Because the foundation of my intimacy has crumbled, and like the oceans I feel rage.

Lassana: I know it has everything to do with Decontee.

Kla: Yea bro, you’re a prophet. This girl is arduous, and snotty at times.

Lassana: What you are going through is normal, especially for scrapper like you. Haha

Kla: My man stop making fun mehn, I talking my serious tin here oo.

Lassana: Let’s stop being profligatory and hook up in a few minutes 

Kla: okay bro, see you soon.

 In no time Kla was at Lassana’s house. Okay, go ahead ‘Scrapper in love’ tell me exactly what happened today. Lassana said, putting aside everything. “I got a missed call from Decontee today,” Kla begun to elucidate, “so I used one of my course-mates’ phone (Gbalee) to call her because I was out of airtime. She told me that she wanted to go for lunch at the cafeteria with her friends. Immediately, my smile died because I couldn’t meet her request at the time, so I lied that I was in Pleebo.”

    “Few minutes later I was caught in Ma-Mary cook-shop by Lorpu, she then called Decontee.”  “Kla!” Decontee bellowed when she entered the cook-shop, “I thought you never knew this place? You don’t eat at ‘lappa be doors’; in fact, you should be in Pleebo now.” Before she could say another word I took her out for us to talk. She didn’t even give me a chance to say a word, but angrily walked away. Since she left, I have called and texted, all to no avail.

        “I told you to stop living a double life. Always be true to who you are, then the world will accept you,” Lassana told Kla. “But her demands and looks made me put up with those fake impressions. Just imagine, my inconsistent allowances can’t reach two (2) weeks, just because I want to satisfy her,” Kla explained. “We all know you love Decontee bro, use that love to save your relationship and not some false impressions. Go and reveal your real self to her; I am sure she will come to love the real you,” Las advised. 

In the evening hours Kla went to Decontee’s place to do the right thing. “Deco!”, as she’s commonly called, Kla began to calmly speak, “I don’t know from where to begin, but I have come to unmask myself. I had you caught and wrapped in my web of lies, and like a spider, I preyed on your ignorance—I am sorry. My dad is late, and my biological mother is a farmer. I am being supported in school by family, and friends. I go against all odds to maintain my status quo just to keep you close. The truth is: I eat roasted cassava and dry coconut, I have eaten in virtually all the ‘Lappa Be Doors’ here in Harper, I…”

Before he could say another word, Decontee started to cry. 

“Why didn’t you tell me all these things before?”

“I am sorry Deco,” he repeated.

Finally, she said something, “it’s ok. Thank God tomorrow is Valentine’s day; let’s go to Fish Town Beach and settle this matter, my father will soon call out—and don’t worry about the bills, I will see what I can do.”

They hugged one last time, kissed good-bye, and went their separate ways.

The next day at 11am Decontee came to Kla’s house with a mini cooler, in it was fried plantain and fish Gravy. By 12:45pm they were at a half full Beach. In their own space, Deco said to Kla “you did the right thing.” “Thank you for sticking with me Deco,” Kla replied. She pulled his nose and called him ‘Scrapper Lover’ as she ran towards the water laughing; bare footed without shirt, and with a painful nose, he happily chased her. They ended up in the water along with the others that went to share love on Valentine’s Day.

 Authored by Anthony C.  Kwarbo 

Featured Picture by Unsplash