People l there is first minute introduction effect that makes people remember you for life. 

Others say it’s a moment. A slipping realization, of who a person truly is, that makes you remember them for life. 

Either ways, I wish I never met Joseph. Or do I?

The day I met Joseph, it was a rainy evening. Streets wet, gutters overflowing with dirty water, a foul odor accompanying it. The waters overflowing into the streets, making it almost impossible for pedestrians like myself to find our way. 

“Nawa o, what kind of a day is this?”

I spoke wearily to my sis on the line, I had called her earlier while I was in a shed, waiting for the rain to subside. 

The day has been absolutely miserable and rough for me. 

Everything seemed to be going wrong. 

Even this rain. 

I walked down the street, tip toeing around mud, waters and clear ground. 

“Kpele my dear, just tell your ride to enter the streets na” she said

Living outside Nigeria makes my sister think everything is as easy in Nigeria as it is over there in Paris. 

“Ogochukwu be for real, didn’t you hear me when I said the roads were blocked?” I have to walk down to that junction to meet him there. Hmm it’s not easy at all o. 

“Walk down fast before the rain starts again, you know…-

Her voice trailed off while I checked the message the ride I had ordered sent me;

“Road blocked from Garki down to TBC junction, the traffic not moving, I might not make it there even in hours, sorry cancelling the ride.”

Perfect. 

Just Fabulous. 

I’m stranded. Once more. I began contemplating removing my “Zara flats”

And walking through the water upwards to get a bike. 

Or will I get a bike?

The rain has sent almost every sane person home and into hiding. 

Only unfortunate people like myself were still stuck out side. 

Either ways I was stranded. I didn’t have an active plan. 

“… and you know it’s getting late. Let them not snatch your phone from your hand this evening like this…”

My sister continued. 

Adding to the list of things I should be worried about. 

“Let me call Jane, see if she can drive out towards me, if the roads are not blocked from her side” I thought to myself as I made my way to the call app on my phone. 

“Sorry baby work is calling. Call me again when you get home. I have to get something done this minute” 

My sister said before cutting the call. 

I dialed Jane’s number almost immediately, she picked at the first ring

“Jumah Mumbarak my loveeeeee”

She made sure the stress the “e”

Typical, Jane. Always happy. Always ready to drop gist. 

“My dear, I’m in a hot soup, I’m in that FG College road street, by TBC junction. This rain blocked the roads it’s almost like there’s an unclearable traffic. This place is horrible I need to leave. But it’s flooding, can you drive from your estate side? Down here pleaseeeee?”

I said, silently hoping for a positive answer. 

“ you know I love to be a savior, Ada new but my car isn’t here, you forgot the tire has issues, let me see if I can send you a ride. Hold on”

She said assuringly 

“Okay, let me continue trying from my side too, they’ve all been cancelling the trips,mehnnn”

I was genuinely tired at this point. 

“Oh one is calling, let me speak with him, she said and hung up”

“Jesus please do something”

I said trying to hold back tears. 

My hate for my job just doubled. I know it because the thought of today almost sent me to tears. 

I typed in my destination and waited for a driver to pick up. 

I looked up, that was when I noticed that a car had turned into the street from the junction. 

It was coming straight down to me. 

Danger. 

There’s no way the car was passing me with that speed without splashing water on my already drenched outfit. 

But this one will be dirty, smelling water. 

I had to find a cover. 

I ducked. Made to move back. But there was muddy sand. 

“Chineke merem Ebere” I said surrendering to my fate. 

Because there was nowhere to go. 

The black car approached with full speed, but something happened, to my utmost surprise, it slowed down. Slow down. Almost like it was parking. It moved slowly. 

“Thank you Jesus” 

I whispered to my self. 

At least we still have sensible people around. 

“Wheew that was close, thank you ABBA father, I continued saying to myself as the car drove by. 

Just then Jane message popped up;

“Sorry, they’re all refusing to come down there, I’ll continue trying, call Dami.”

Very good. 

As if it couldn’t get worse. 

The car started coming back. Slowly again, like before. 

“Haa”

I exclaimed. 

It was a Prado Jeep. “It’s today they will finally kidnap me, I thought to myself. 

The car reached where I stood and stopped. 

I became terrified. 

The passenger seat glass which was tinted whined down. 

It revealed a face. 

A face so immaculately sculptured. 

On the nose of the face perched a glass. Fitting to the frame of the face. 

I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing at that point, but I know I liked it. I know because I stopped being afraid. 

“Good evening gorgeous, seems like you’re stuck here, are you okay? Do you need a ride? Maybe down the street and across the flooding gutters to the junction?

It’s kind of lonely around here, not fit for a lady like you”. 

He said. 

Voice deep, words articulated and gentle. Dream boy. 

I was still staring. Struggling to find my words. 

“It’s okay if you’re not comfortable with riding with a stranger, I totally understand, you just seemed distraught, thought I should help.”

His voice came again. 

This time he turned sideways toward me and was trying to charm me with a smile. 

“If it helps my name is Joseph, and I’m a Jesus boy”

He said and laughed. 

I chuckled too. 

Jane’s message popped up again;

“No luck :(“

I looked up and said “Actually, thank you so much, I don’t mind”

I didn’t know honestly, how those words left my mouth. 

“Great” he exclaimed. 

“I knew I was going to feel guilty if I left you out here” he said. 

“Hop in, the car is unlocked”

I said a silent prayer to my make as I opened the car and entered. 

The car smelt of lavender and vanilla. 

I liked lavender, and I think I like this very gentleman, who just told me he is a Jesus boy.