Ahana“You have to leave the flat between 8am and 5pm?” Tayo repeats as we have tea and cake at the Costa coffee shop on campus, just as bewildered as I was when I first heard it. “What kind of job does she have that she has to be alone in the flat? Is she on OnlyFans or what?”I almost spit out my tea in my laughter, amused by the mental image of Josephine stripping for the camera to entertain online ‘fans’.“And you can’t cook there, or even have visitors?” It is Camila’s turn to retort. “Are you in a boarding house?.”“But she’s given me a roof of my head now that I need it most,” I say in Josephine’s defense. “I’m just going to have to work and save as much as I can by November, so I can get a place of my own.”Camila and Tayo exchange a look.“I hope you remember it's a maximum of twenty hours a week.” Camila says.“Yes, but at £14, £15 an hour, that will be about £300 a week, and £1,200 a month,” I answer confidently.My companions burst into laughter, and I find myself beginning
AhanaSo, George and I have a few ground rules for the flat,” Josephine says as we sit on the couch later that evening, eating takeout fish and chips. “No cooking after 7pm. We want to stay healthy, and so dinner should be before 7pm. And only use the dinning table.” I nod, trying to digest this piece of information, pun intended. No cooking. While that will be hard seeing as I eat late sometimes it’s not something I can’t live without. and although I love the comfort of a bed or sofa bed as I find myself, I will have to make do.“You also need to be out of the flat between the hours of 8am and 5pm. I work from home and need the privacy,” she shrugs. “Today was an exception because of my meeting.”I nod again, reminding myself to stay calm as I do. That also isn’t something that can’t be done. On the days I don't have early classes, I could always go to the library or something.“George is very wary of having strangers here. I had to do a whole lot of convincing for him to be comfort
ChrisI watch Muna squeal as she is chased by other children in my cousin Adam’s backyard. It is his youngest daughter’s birthday, and the kids are enjoying a pool party on this sunny afternoon in September. If the weather outlook is anything to go by, we won’t have a lot more ofthese before the cooler weather arrives. A child I recognize as April, Adam’s sister’s daughter, helps Muna into the colourful inflatable pool set up for younger children, and I smile as she giggles and splashes in the water. Looking at her, my daughter, it still feels surreal that this perfect cherub is mine. Despite everything we’ve already been through, in spite of how much this journey of fatherhood has upended the other parts of my life, I wouldn't change it for anything.“Still playing Mr. Mom?” Jones, Adam’s older brother, teases as he takes a seat next to me.I chuckle and shake my head, used to the nickname most of my cousins have given me. “Yes, I am. I’ve had the rottenest luck with childcare, you w
AhanaIf she does, she doesn't show it. “I’m going to have to rush off. I have an appointment I’m already running late for but was just waiting for you to get here.” She smiles at Aput, “We’ll have to have that beer another time, I’m afraid.” Then turning to me, she throws me a bunch of keys. “We can talk later tonight when I get back. In the meantime, get comfortable and make yourself at home.”When she is gone, Aput let out a scornful laugh. “And you somehow think this is better than staying with me?”I sit with a plop on the couch. “Even if for the mere reason it’s closer to my school, yes, it is.”He sits beside me on the couch and, like me, his eyes rove the apartment.“Aha, I knew it. She’s with an English man,” he remarks, as if that is supposed to explain things somehow. “I’m disappointed.” only offering the place until November. And no, she doesn’t want anything from me.”I try not to roll my eyes, understanding with even more clarity why my old friend has decided to try som
AhanaAput doesn't share my excitement as I tell him how I fortuitously ran into an old friend willing to accommodate me.“So, you want to leave? We’ve been apart for a year and now that we're finally together, you want to leave?”But I will not be made to feel guilty for doing what I know is better for me… for us… in the long term. Living with his animalistic flat mates will not only be dangerous for me, but for our relationship.“Mi amor, I know this isn’t the best of situations, but it’s not something we can’t manage,” he prods. “If we both put our heads down and save, we’ll be able to afford a place of our own in a few months.”“I can’t survive a few months here,” is my firm answer. “Apart from the fact I hate your flatmates, the commute to school will kill me. It will drain the life out of me, and I won’t have any strength left to study, much less get a job.”He is silent for a few minutes, and I can’t help but wonder if he has seen the sense in the arrangement. Surely, even he h
ChrisMonday evening, as I walk Muna home from the bus stop, I realise I am back to square one. With two back-to-back route Au pair disaster, I don't want to go through that route again. But if not that, then what?It’s a little past 5pm, so I fix Muna a peanut butter and jam sandwich for her tea. As she eats, I contemplate what to order in for dinner, Chinese or a good old pizza, the only kind of Italian delicacy I like. Before I can decide, my phone rings. I frown when I see Ada’s name on the display. I am tempted to ignore it like I used to, but I decide to put us both out of our misery and end this nonsense once and for all.“What do you want?”“Chris, I’m so sorry about how I behaved yesterday. I don't know what got over me,” comes her voice, sounding breathier than normal. “I was so disappointed not to spend more time with you, but it’s no excuse to have acted like a spoiled brat. I’m so sorry.”That she makes no reference to Muna is even more of a red flag. “Listen, Ada, You’re