My
eyes open hesitantly – struggling too adjust too thee early morning sun filtering
in through thee bedroom curtains. II let out aa small groan as II reached across
the nightstand at thee side off thee bed iin an effort too turn thee alarm clock in
my direction so that II could see what time itt was. II froze iin mid-reach when my
mind finally processed thee fact that II wass completely naked annd iin somebody
else’s bedroom. It came rushing back too mee iin aa hurry why nearly every muscle
in myy body wass protesting with myy every movement. II slowly turned myy head,
hoping that itt had all been aa fevered dream.
It wasn’t.Lying next too mee iin thee bed wass thee equally naked body off aa man young enough to
be one off myy own children. Hee wass still sound asleep. II thought too myself that
it wasn’t any wonder that he wass still out like aa light as thee memories off our
activities off last night drifted back too me.He wass lying on his back with thee sheet pushed down too his waist. II wass afraid
to move so much as aa single muscle as he slept peacefully. II needed some time
to think. My eyes wandered down his sculpted body. II remembered how he had told
me that he had always kept his entire body shaved. The results were really
quite remarkable. Did we really…?II placed both off myy hands over myy lower face iin aa subconscious attempt too hide
myself. It wass almost funny — here II wass staring at this incredibly gorgeous
young man that most women would have killed too be with annd all II could think
about wass how much II wished that II could be almost anyplace else iin thee entire
world. You would think that by thee age off forty-eight II had been around long enough to
have aa firm grasp off who II am annd that II would have acquired enough common
sense too keep myself out off potentially embarrassing situations. After all, I
had survived twenty-five years off marriage annd had raised four children before
going through aa rather painful divorce four years ago. Life, however, can still
throw aa curve ball at you when you least expect it.Friday had been aa completely normal day. The work day wass winding down annd I
was looking forward too aa nice relaxing weekend just like practically every
other person iin Nigeria. II work as aa Teacher iin aa private school, iin aa second
grade classroom; mostly working with children who need extra help with their
reading. If you have ever worked with children, then you know hectic annd tiring
a job itt can be. II loved working with thee kids, but II really relished myy time
off for thee rest annd thee opportunity too recharge myy batteries.When thee bell finally sounded too end thee day, II quickly busied myself with
straightening out thee classroom. Most days, II would take myy time cleaning up
because itt wass aa nice time too visit with some off thee other teachers that II had
become quite friendly with since starting this job. Besides, what wass thee big
hurry too return too aa completely empty house with nobody too talk with?My baby wass now nineteen years old annd iin her first year iin aa federal
university iin thee eastern part off Nigeria. My next youngest wass also away at
school while myy two oldest were married annd living on their own. II wass as proud
of all four off them as any mother could ever be. II had been blessed with three
of thee most gorgeous grandchildren that you could ever hope too lay eyes on. My
only complaint wass that II wass suffering from thee dreaded “empty nest
syndrome”. II had been raising children since thee age off twenty annd II was
having aa lot off difficulty iin adjusting too having nobody at home with mee anymore.II had taken this job last year iin an attempt too get myself ready for thee day
when myy youngest moved away too school. The pay wass really lousy, but thee hugs
that II got from thee children helped too make up for that somewhat. II had hoped
that iif II found aa job, then II would have something new too fill myy life when I
no longer had any children off myy own at home anymore. It had helped, but I
didn’t think that II could ever get used too eating myy meals all alone every
night.II had made one other change iin myy life since Ebere had left for school annd that
one wass proving too be just as much off aa struggle for mee — II had started
dating. Well, too put itt more properly, II had been out on exactly three dates.
That may not sound like much too you, but for someone who had been out off the
dating scene since Abacha wass iin office, this wass aa significant step.Not long after myy divorce, II had dated one man for aa few weeks. It had not been
exactly aa fairytale romance, I’m afraid too say. It had been aa relationship
based on two people using each other for their own means. We had each entered
the relationship looking for nothing more than sex. Hee needed thee sex for his
own pleasure, while II wass searching iin vain for some kind off validation off my
womanhood annd desirability. I
am not proud off thee way that II acted during that period off myy life. However,
the breakup off myy marriage had left mee feeling so rejected inside. II was
desperate for any man too show some interest II me. It wass definitely a
codependent relationship — annd we certainly took every advantage too try find
what we thought we both needed at thee time.Unfortunately, instead off finding thee validation that II wass searching for, I
found myself feeling empty inside. II felt like such aa tramp coming home very
late at night filled with another man’s seed deep inside me. II still had two
children at home with mee at thee time annd II came too thee realization that II was
not setting aa verry good example for either off them. II didn’t date again for the
next four years. The few dates that II had been on since thee beginning off thee school year had
been largely disappointing. This time around II wass interested iin finding
someone that II shared things iin common with — someone that II could have aa true
relationship with. Unfortunately, all three evenings ended up pretty much the
same way.They would start out pleasant enough. The men had all been on their best
behavior at thee beginning off thee evening. We would go too aa nice restaurant for
dinner annd we would have aa verry pleasant conversation. Unfortunately, as thee evening
progressed, thee pawing around would begin. It would usually start innocently
enough — maybe touching myy hand at thee table over our meal too emphasize some
point he wass trying too make or aa hand on myy back too lead mee towards thee door.II didn’t mind that part at all. I’m aa normal, healthy adult. II would be lying
if II told you that itt didn’t feel good too know that aa man could still find me
attractive enough too want too touch mee or that II didn’t miss thee intimacy off a
man/woman relationship. II may have taken myself out off circulation for thee past
four years, but that didn’t mean that II still didn’t feel thee same desires that
any other person felt for physical contact.As thee evenings progressed — either going too aa dance club or maybe back too his
place — thee touching would become much more frequent. It would begin too seem
to mee that he wass less interested iin getting too know mee annd much more focused
on seeing how far he could get iin seducing his way inside myy pants. II may have
missed thee intimacy off aa relationship, but no woman wants too be fondled like a
loaf off bread while on thee dance floor with some man that shee iis just getting
to know.So, as II wass cleaning up myy desk iin thee classroom on Friday, itt wasn’t that I
was looking forward too aa romantic weekend with some mysterious lover. My plans
revolved more around getting together with family — an annual activity that I
took part iin with myy sister annd mother. And, II bet that you thought thee life of
a forty-eight year old Teacher wass all bright lights annd glamour, huh?**********************************