The 'S' Hub

Juliana Nkemdiri The bath or the little after-bath confrontation had left me feeling better. My eyes still duplicated things, of course, but my legs could hold themselves well and obey the simple command of my will to move steadily. The puking sensation was completely gone but my head pounded moderately. Two tablets of Paracetamol are all it’ll take to make it quit the pounding, I told myself. I needed to get home, more out of disappointment than anger at the standoff with Edisemi. She made it easier by bringing the party to its inconclusive end, much to the dismay of the partiers who were heart-deep in the celebration. The absence of the celebrants meant nothing to them. The steady flow of booze, music and light comestibles were all that mattered, and if it meant to go on till the next day, the good Lord will always be their strength and will forever be praised for favours. Captain didn’t take it lightly. He tried to seek explanation from Butch, Edisemi, and even Njideka

Edisemi Thompson I stand staring at Butch with astonishment, anger, and an entirely different kind of emotion I can’t fully explain. It’s like a cross between dismay and agony, an emotion that only fuels my anger. It hurts that while I was busy ignoring his calls and expecting him to be penitent, he had discarded me and was routing for his alternative. As I stand watching his smile spread wider, as if this moment of painful discovery and truth meant nothing, I begin to wonder how many alternatives he has. First, there was Julie, now it’s Njideka. In barely two days, I’ve discovered that the man I’m going to get married to has two sidechics. What should I expect tomorrow? I browse through my mind for any of my girlfriends who could be his next target or who already is a sidechic. With Njideka eliminated, there’s none other. This does nothing to relieve me. Julie was never my girlfriend, she’s always been Butch’s, and with the speed of these discoveries, I should expect to

DAY 2 Njideka Ime How is it that we fight against what we want?  The answer is simple, it’s conscience. That crazy mechanism installed in us like a smoke detector, picking up what our excited flesh wants and raining down a shower of cold water to douse these things. It restricts us, it cages us, it… but it holds us all down to sanity. I sigh as I kick open the door to Edisemi’s room. I have a box of chips in one hand and a saucer of three crunchy chicken on the other. I think it’s one of the very few things that can get Edisemi lively again – partially, if not wholly. I didn’t prepare these myself. I’d gone over to KFC at the next  street to get it. I’d gone there for a couple of reasons. One was to clear my mind of the thoughts of Captain. Since that surprise kissing incidence at the party, I can’t seem to get him off my head. I keep groping for thoughts of a kiss free of every dramatic restriction, just the two of us in a dimly lit room, our erotic scent heating up the