KBOY AND KGIRL

Hello again. My name is Kunle Omope; I’d like to tell you the story of Kboy and Kgirl.

On a Saturday evening many years ago when there were no mobile phones or Internet, Kboy would take a deliberate shower with Imperial Leather soap. Taking his time to scrub his body and especially his face so as to get every trace of Nixoderm off it. Every boy of his age battled with pimples and Nixoderm ensured their faces looked a bit presentable.

After the almost one hour bath, Kboy would generously massage his skin with Stella Pomade and apply some Brut Aftershave that was left over in the bottle his dad asked him to dispose off some days ago. Sniffing himself and being assured that he now smelled like a man, he’d get dressed in his red corduroy trousers…the type that was sold for 20naira at Yaba market and any young lad that had a pair was as cool as Boyz 2men.

Kboy would then complete his fashion ensemble by throwing on a T-shirt that slightly hugged his body, which he felt confident in because he had been doing push-ups.

Finally, he’d wear his black Kito sandals, and embark on his journey.

A large hole on the fence beside New Block 2 in the barracks where he lived, led to a short cut he was well accustomed to. Crossing the road and walking past the Customs Office while admiring the well-trimmed grass and new trucks through a slit by the massive gate, he’d hear the faint gushing of water from a broken pipe that ran under the main road and served as a pool of clean water for some guys that set up a car wash beside the road.

At the end of the Customs road, he’d take a right turn into Toyin Street. One clothing shop on the left side of the road had a name he always found a bit difficult to pronounce, some name that was spelled as KIOZADHOIKS. Reader, don’t try pronouncing it, especially if you have just had a peppery meal to avoid a bomb blast in your throat.

Sorry for the digression, okay, back to the story of Kboy and Kgirl.

Kboy would continue his love journey past St. Leos Catholic Church, and slow down his pace to enjoy the melodious Latin Prayers, that was usually punctuated with the refrain, “The Lord has answered my prayers, I will sing praises to him, ANSWER EH EH, EH, ANSWER EH, EH, EH, Amen.

With the brief musical interlude over, 16yr old Kboy would trek past Abiola Crescent, wondering in his young mind, how the acclaimed richest Nigerian- MKO, lived. On getting to the junction that led to Allen Avenue, he’d hasten his steps just after taking a quick backward glance at OSHOPEY, a large magnificent shopping plaza.

Then, on to Awosika street with Chrisland School to the right and an uncompleted 3storey building to the left. The uncompleted building housed all sorts of people, from Ghanaian women on the ground floor, selling Donkunu, Kenke, Wanke and Macaroni with a black peppery stew plus fried Titus Fish, to the cobblers, labourers and a host of other miscellaneous ‘hustlers’ that occupied all other floors.

Proceeding to Opebi bus stop by walking in front of Skymit Motors would take a long time, so Kboy would just walk behind the uncompleted building and pass through some corner corner to arrive at Opebi, his destination, and Segun’s house.

Now, Segun was Kboy’s buddy, who had free access to Kgirl’s home because they were neighbours. Like the good friend that Segun was, he’d go to Kgirls’ house a few blocks away. Greeting Kgirls parents, he’d pretend to watch TV, while giving Kgirl the sign that Kboy was around.

Kgirls’s head would get giddy from love and she’ll remind her mum of an errand she wanted her to run earlier in the day, advising Mama that it would soon be dark, and she was ready to go now.

Kgirl’s mum would thank God for her daughter’s wisdom and send her on the errand while Segun would sit and watch Voltron half-heartedly.

As Kgirl hurried out of the house, Kboy would have been waiting on an agreed spot. The two lovebirds would hold hands and meander through corners to avoid the curious eyes of amebos and aprokos, exchanging sweet nothings and shy glances. Their hearts would race, beating fast to love songs only known to them, even as nervous sweat formed between their clasped palms.

The whole love stroll will just take about 8minutes and Kgirl would have to hurry back home after receiving light kisses on both of her cheeks. They’ll wave affectionate goodbyes to each other, and Kboy would walk many miles back home with a fulfilled spring in his steps, and a determination in his heart to visit Kgirl again next Saturday.

This is the story of teenage love. This is my story. I am that Kboy.

The end.