The G8 Summit

"So I have come to solicit your support for the election", the girl said to the gathering.

Frankly, there was no need for her soliciting, as she was the only aspirant for her post. But she came to fulfill all righteousness. She put a drink on the floor and some change under it.

The G8 smiled. We were being lenient because we knew the girl but there were standards to be upheld. And we were not going to lower them for anyone, not even a friend.

" It's not as if we are looking for your money or your drink", Prince said. He was smiling as he spoke. He turned the bottle so that it lay on its side. Now tradition required that our solicitor put the bottle back in its upright position by placing some money under it.

"As you can see", Prince continued, " we have our own drinks. You met us drinking, didn't you?". It was true, we had been drinking before she came. She nodded at this.

"We just want you to do the right thing", Prince concluded.

At this point, Udofia stepped in.

It was barely ten in the morning but he was already drunk. The girl was an ex of his friend, so he was more familiar with her. He went to the girl and put his arm around her neck but it was as if he wanted to strangle her.

He took her outside, apparently to advise her. He must have thought he was speaking in hushed tones but we could hear him clearly.

" See eh, we know wetin happen. We know you. We know say Smith break your heart.", he was shouting. I could only imagine how the girl must have felt. Being that close to a noisemaker and all. I wondered what her heartbreak had to do with the election. I wondered what it had to do with anything.

" But you suppose know say we get our own money. Nobody dey ask you for anything. See when you go back inside, we go do like say you just dey come, so you fit start all over" , he concluded.

He staggered back inside and took his seat. The girl came in a few seconds after he had sat down.

" So" , she began again," I have come to solicit your support. I will be going for the post of vice president and I would like your endorsement"

She raised her drink, removing the former note(which was a hundred naira note) underneath it and put a new denomination. The new denomination was a 200 naira note.

Francis, who was usually in charge of meetings like this, had been silently watching the whole time but her last action spurred his spirit. He stood up sharply that the girl must have thought he wanted to attack her.

He was visibly angry.

" Take your drink," he said, his wide nostrils becoming wider with his anger, " and leave this place".