When The Bully Falls in Love

and moved to where he sat. He was watc

was around,” Donald

st night,” Bisi said, looking

eld

r hand. “What is it about you that I could not

si said, drawing an imagin

draw any connection between what he said and her answer. It dawned on him that he w

besieged the whole room. And something rebuked him, a voice he didn’t know where it had come from, telling him that even

ity. No man would see her skimpy dress and not fall for it. Donald was batt

” a voic

said, nervous. “T

ald said. He lowered his voice so do

around,” B

the third time, impatie

is banging on this door,” Donald sto

she?” she said, raising her head abo

onald said, standing firmly on the door. S

r. My daughter entered

you even know me in the f

London. You visited her yesterday and slept ov

ead to toe and wondered how he knew his de

ks shaking behind her. She saw it, her hip, as huge as her daughter’s. He gues

ve my daughter with your Oyibo gifts. You had better provide her now else I will tell E

, he stood, not knowing what next to do until he was

y because had she been allowed to search for her, she would have caught her. She woul

f back on the setee with a haggard look. It all seem

But from the way it sounded, she knew it

rict,” she managed to

ed at her completely surprised as if to

u been coping with her,” he

Dad was a torment. She looked at the wall clock without intending to and knew it would not be long before Emelda c

n’t mean to hurt

’s

now. Take” he gave her a

ank

while they were discussing, Bisi had come in to greet her and probably collect some gifts as sh

and that was it. Donald engaged her in a very delicate conversation probably too advanced for her age

cents, the voice, the movements, the artful glances, and her skimpy dress. These pleasurab

d how he had come back with a remarkable result, respected by the White. He told her the beaut

o Manchester, went to Old Trafford to watch a football match live, and the pleasure of seeing g

ed and he pick

near-croak voice as someon

oming home

on m

oo

re you

m bo

with your Ka

esn’t take away

with you

ut discovered she h

can wait,” he s

ason? It was almost an hour ago he spoke to her on phone, and she had said she would arrive in a jiffy but

The old method would be better, he concluded and

usually did if he wanted to play with her. She called him many times in such a beguiling tone.

es, laughing off her charms, but oblivious of

ed up her phone to call him. It was switched off. What!

he number she was calling was switched off and she should try again later. As if she didn’t understand the mess

oor. She came back to consciousness and projected her

e welcome,” Bis

id “I am sorry I kept y

I know you m

said so calmly that it el

for hours with all the noise and difficulty

ely at this sudden

she wondered why she kept saying her daughter was wayward but was a perfect example of waywardness. Wouldn

ther Donald was still inside. Of course, she hadn’t meant to talk to him in t

ood. Th

was happening inside if someone was there. Not knowing how to ask if her boyf

ness of her demeanour left much to b

Fiancé? He mus

id, surprised. While inspecting h

n you with any other man for quite a long time,”

had

ld he vis

she was okay wi

ow,” she sa

an’t wait to dance and jubil

sed to her let alone talk about the wedding. Did she see anythi

on a long talk about Bisi and her awful attitude. And would always narrate it in such a style that one would think she was a per

before your arrival. Or...” she had not finish

ave her a sign

ck when she knocked. You

I doze

nothing else to say, either, so she closed the door