Dinner with Tony
James turning the pages of a book, like a man fanning himself with his hand, turned at me, and asked, between books and movies, which one would you choose?
I was still thinking, before my younger sister who was sitting with us, shouted Books! Oops! I nearly fell off from where I was sitting, because her shout was too loud that it startled me. I ask her why? She said I chose books because, first, the holding of the paper, the reading of the letters, the smell that comes from the pages, the page numbers & the chapters, the Writer, everything about books are unique. It gives you the imagination that movies don't give you. Books can be read by both young and old.
I reply with hmmm and I said, so you mean movies cannot be watched by both young and old? It can, she said, but reading comes with a different kind of imagination, that movies don't give. I said that's true though. But that's not enough reason for you to jump into my question, that question was for me, why would you answer it, she said, books are my triggers, anytime I hear the mention of a book, I'm triggered, I'm sorry I jumped into your question. It's okay, I said, I like the way you explained and talked about books, the pages, the chapters, the smell, like why the details, I asked.
She said details are the beauty of reading, novels, stories, books, etc without details, reading isn't fun. Details are what give imagination and feelings, and you have not achieved your purpose of writing if you don't achieve these basics. Imagination and feelings are two basic things, every good book should have. And if you are a good reader, these two should come easy to you. You shouldn't find it difficult to inspire feelings and imagination in others.
Most people lack creativity because they don't read, they don't imagine, and they don't feel. And most times creativity is killed when you watch too many movies, but reading never kills imagination no matter how many books you have read or read. This is the reason I will choose books over movies. Movies mainly are for entertainment, and although there are some educational movies, they can't be compared to the detailed information in some educational books. Books come with more details than movies. So that's why I chose books over movies. Interesting, tell me more I said, we will talk more at home, I'm hungry, let's go home, make sure Tony comes for dinner tonight. I missed him, you know? She winks her eyes, while beckons at us to stand up.
Tony is one of my closest friends, tall and dark in completion, he is very brilliant, I will dare to say, he is the dream of most girls. He likes to wear tight jeans and a tight t-shirt which gives him a special kind of fitting that is not common among the guys in our neighbourhood, who likes to wear baggy jeans and baggy polos, you know everything big. Tony likes it tight, coupled with the fact that he has muscles and a big chest, which makes the tight clothes even sexier on him. Tony stood out from the crowd. Every young girl in my neighbourhood wants to be seen with Tony, including my sister, Somtochukwu. Somtochukwu is an Igbo name that means follow me and praise God. Ever since Somto was 17 years old, she has had eyes on Tony, she would look for any available opportunity to see him. If it was possible for her, she would ask him out, but our neighbourhood frowns at that. They see a girl who asks a guy out as being desperate or doesn't make her worthy.
It was 6:30 pm, and my sister started to ask me about Tony, I said calm down, your love is coming and I have a feeling that today will be special. Special! What do you mean? I will let Tony answer that.
What my sister doesn't know is that Tony too also has eyes on her. Tony had approached me about my sister, a couple of times, to help him to woo my sister, I told him, I can't help you to woo anybody if you are man enough do it yourself. So when my sister requested I bring Tony for dinner, I called Tony and told him, to step up tonight. But of course, my sister isn't aware.
So that evening was special indeed, Tony came tight as always, smelling like an angel that fell from heaven. Before he came we have already started eating, cos he came in a little bit late. Immediately he entered the dining room, he moved straight to my sister, knelt and asked her, would you be my girlfriend? With a shock and unexplainable feeling, she said yes with tears dropping from her eyes. As if her least expectation has been met. They hugged each other and told my sister, tonight would be special. Yes, it is indeed Special. Thank you.
That was how a dinner, turned to a proposal.