Biglo was in room seven of hostel B at the Delta Park campus of University of Port Harcourt. Fastgirl was going to call out Biglo for Mr. Paul. She swung her waist to allure him as he sat in his SUV car parked under the Mango tree. He had given her a handshake of two thousand naira for the trouble.

Mr. Paul looked around while Delta Park winked at the dusk. .

At University of Port Harcourt, men always hung around for new catches. They could win or lose. But Mr. Paul was not there for that game. He was a serious mind who had met Biglo at a birthday party two months ago.

He looked down from the door. The grasses were caressing the car tires. Some cellophane floated around here. Some disused tins rolled around there. A dry leaf dangled down unto a heap.

Scratches of wounds and tear repainted the walls of the hostels with the tender fingers of infants.

Biglo emerged. She walked out from behind the porter’s counter with good grace. She stood and peered to confirm the status of her quest. And with a shrill, her feet plugged rhythmic frets and drew attention.

‘Hello,’ she fiddled the lock and pulled the lock. She rushed inside and pecked him with emotive charms.

‘Hello,’ Mr. Paul nourished the urge as he sniffed, swallowed and breathed out. You’re a sweet…girl.’

‘So…’Biglo eyed him.

‘Well mold…’ his eyes pinned on the quarter minus skirt that hid her hips. The glistened laps reflected his face and he touched them.
Biglo slapped his hand off. Her left hand stretched behind his neck. It cooled his skin.

‘I’m still thinking about it… so how are you?’ Mr. Paul pushed the subject aside.
She sulked. An effluent recklessly discharged flowed on her face.

Mr. Paul felt the flood. ‘Easy…relax...baby,’ as his mind worked at the issues.
Biglo was asking for marriage ‘I’ve said yes to you already,’ she enthused. ‘That is the point of commitment.’

‘Is it true…? Tell me...’

‘Tell you what…that love requires singular commitment?’

‘Something like that…you’re married already?’

‘No more now…the first time was when I was running my advance studies, then during my remedial…five altogether...I’m just in year four.’

‘So it is true?’

‘Yes …my elder sister got a heart break from every man she opened it up for…’

‘Her life is different… marrying every year heals it?’

‘Are you proposing or not?’

‘Let’s progress in this thing gradually …’

‘Gradually to where…? Commitment determines the progress…you’ll be the sixth.’

‘What… I’m just dazed…you’re irresistible.’

‘Are you in or out…those men came to my sister, hung on a while and snapped her heart.”

‘Are you on some revenge mission?’

‘No, I see myself as the cup and all men as the rain, conventional or not.

Mr. Paul looked out and saw Fastgirl well dressed up and walking out. ‘Let me go…see you later,’ he told Biglo.

‘…going for that girl…I don’t trust her one bit.’ Biglo said.

‘Her appetite is not as deep as yours.’

‘You don’t know; please don’t move me to jealousy. I hate it.’

‘If you don’t click, she just might…’

‘Try it and I’ll kill you.’

Mr. Paul laughed and ignited the engine. Boglo slipped out. He revved off and met Fastgirl at Delta Park’s gate and pulled over. ‘Pop in,’ he said. ‘How far are you going?’

Fastgirl jumped in, ‘…to Rumuokoro…to pick up some things.’

‘Between you and Boglo who can I trust,’ Mr. Paul broke the silence.

‘…scared she’ll dump you?’

‘Why dump her husband?’

‘Sex leads them…they sex around…’

‘Just that …?

‘If sex is your target and ruler, don’t marry her. Marry me instead and pay me every time we have sex.’

‘Wahoo.’

‘Monthly or yearly divorce claims become life time investment…she makes much more.’

‘Instantly…?’

‘Exactly…if you have gone to bed with her already, then leave her alone.’
‘I would have dumped her for you.’

Fastgirl laughed. ‘You don’t win like that…you like me…’
‘In the circumstances, may be.’

‘You sound desperate, control yourself…love Biglo…’

‘I do. ’

‘I’ll stop at that billboard, there…’

Mr. Paul pulled over. Fastgirl jumped out.’

Mr. Paul and Biglo decided to marry months after. Legal document signed bonded the marriage until two children were born. Then the children would grow into adulthood to become witnesses to any divorce between the parents. If Biglo pressed for divorce, she would lose alimony. If Mr. Paul was caught in acts of infidelity, the marriage dissolved instantly.

‘Would you have and keep yourself wholly to him?’ Barrister Charles asked.

‘Yes I will.’

‘Do you take her as wife as long as ye both shall live?’
‘Yes I will.’

‘You may kiss the bride,’ Barrister Charles said.

The confetti stood like pecked flowers on the clipped lips. They sucked their passion with thirst. Mr. Paul longed for the remaining eleven days of his leave. He worked as a rig engineer with the Drink-the-Oil company.

SHORT STORY ENTRY