Simon

Colleen must tell her boy friend, Simon, that she is getting married.

  Simon

Beaming, Elizabeth hugged both of them.
The three shared soup and sandwiches. Then Colleen and Dan retired to Colleen’s bedroom. At a few minutes before two Dan rose and dressed.
“Do you have to go” Colleen asked, her eyes only half open
“Have to make a living. Not safe traveling in the dark. I’ll be back on Saturday.”
She held out her right hand. “Come here.”
Taking her hand he sat down beside her. They kissed and held each other. Then, as gently as he could, Dan pushed himself free and rose. “You’ll talk to Simon?”
“I will.”
She remained by the door until Dan was out of sight. She then closed the door.
Elizabeth frowned. “You’re running around with two different men?”
“Help me Elizabeth.”
“Oh no. Not this time. You got yourself into this mess just because you couldn’t keep your legs crossed. You get yourself out.”
“I am trying to get out. I have to tell Simon I can’t see him anymore. I just need you there, you know … moral support.”
“I never met a couple more suited for one another than you and Dan. Right from the very beginning you two could not keep your eyes off one another.”
“Then why didn’t he tell me?”
“He’s too much a gentleman. They do exist you know. Why didn’t you tell him? Instead, while he’s gone, you jump into bed with Simon. What was Dan supposed to think? Was he was going to fight a duel over you? You’re an adult if you haven’t noticed. He respected your decision as any decent man would.”
Colleen sighed.
“You have to choose, Colleen.”
“I know.”
“So have you?”
“When we lay together, Dan was so awkward, so hesitant at first. In the morning he confessed that he had only had one lover in his life, a pathetic, brief affair. I knew it to be true. Before, I had always assumed that . . . ”
“That he was like Simon?”
“More or less; same urges, instincts, but he was so buried within himself. Odd; by the morning, the shyness was gone. He had changed so much.”
“A man and a woman can do that to one another. Love making may be a game. Love is not. Do you think I was born middle aged? I was once young as you are. I loved and was loved. That may be over now but I remember. You have to choose between someone who thinks of you as amusement and another who thinks of you as being his life. What in God’s name are you waiting for?”
***
The Boeing 727 sped south over the southern Sahara. Sipping a beer, Simon looked out the airplane window. Far below him green fields emerged from out the desert’s yellow sands. Another hour to Kano, he thought. For the third time he flipped through the travel magazine; Nigeria Airways, the flying elephant. He wondered if the company’s directors knew that elephants were not meant to fly. Staring at the page, photographs of wildlife, he saw his mother.
Marry, she had told him. Choose a girl and marry. He had three girlfriends in three different cities and no wife; a disgrace. Everyday her friends would boast of their grandchildren. She felt ashamed to be with them. Maryam was such a nice young, Lebanese girl. What was he waiting for?
“Mama.”
“You tell these other girls they have to go.”
He turned to his father. “Papa, what do you say.”
Ahmed looked up from his coffee. He said what he always said in such a situation. “Do as your mother says.”
***
Simon hired a cab at the airport, more expensive than getting one on the street but worth it. Air-conditioned, it allowed him to keep the windows closed sealing himself off from the beggars and peddlers jamming the streets. In his luggage he had brought a bottle of French wine. First he would stop at his apartment to freshen up, change and pick up his car; then to her place.
He would share the wine with Colleen and Elizabeth. They would dine. Colleen and he would then retire and make love. After that he would give her the bad news. He did not look forward to that but what else could he do? Girlfriends came and went but a man had only one mother. Besides he knew that mama was right. It was time to marry, a good Lebanese girl. He would have to break it to Colleen as gently as possible. Make it a happy evening, one that she will remember with fondness.
***
“Maybe we can just turn the lights off?” Colleen suggested.
“Why? Power authority does that most of the time anyway.”
“If it’s dark he won’t think we’re here. If we leave him a note on the door …”
“Then he’ll just come back tomorrow. The man deserves the truth. He deserves it from you. I’m going to bed.”
“No wait. Don’t leave me alone with him. Please.”
“Why? You haven’t been alone with him before? Call me if you need me.”
***
Simon stood at the door a plastic bag in his left hand. Colleen sat on the sofa but did not move towards him.
“Something wrong” he asked.
“I’m glad to see you Simon. Your parents are well?”
“Yes.” He waited to hear what she would say next.
“Please sit down. I have something to say. Please don’t be angry.”
Simon sat on a table chair. “Angry? About what?
“I met a man. Well that’s not quite true. I met him before I met you. Like me, a Canadian teacher. I haven’t seen much of him since he came in September. He works in Hadejia.”
Simon suspected where this was leading. “So?”
Colleen wished that Elizabeth were with her. “He came to the conference last week. We went out for dinner. Well, one thing led to another.”
Simon tapped the table top. “You fucked him?”
“He wants me to marry him, Simon. He wants me to be his wife. I never took him seriously at first but he truly loves me.”
“And you?
Colleen hesitated. “Yes. I think I do. I know I do. Let me go Simon. Please.”
Simon, busy in his thoughts, said nothing. He looked down at the floor and then up at the ceiling. Then he spoke. “Where is Elizabeth?”
“Eliza . . . ? In her room but she’s probably asleep.”
“Wake her up. I want to talk to her.”
Colleen tapped on Elizabeth’s bedroom door.
“Yes?” A wide awake voice replied.
“Simon wants to speak to you.”
Elizabeth, still in her clothes, opened the door. Colleen stepped aside.
“Hello Elizabeth,” said Simon with a friendly smile. “You are well?”
“Yes. Welcome back Simon. What do you want?”
“Colleen says that she is engaged. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of man is he?”
“Dan? Like Colleen and I, a teacher; a very good man who loves her. Kind, intelligent, a bit awkward at times, gentle. He has a nickname, Al Haji Ba Kudi.”
Simon nodded; “wise man with no money. Thank you, Elizabeth. You have always spoken the truth.”
He turned to Colleen. “More than what you’ve done. Still … the heart is a strange creature.” He placed his package on the table. “French wine. I thought you might enjoy it. Keep it for the wedding.”
“You’re not angry,” Colleen asked.
“I ask only one thing.”
“Yes?”
“I get to kiss the bride, a kiss which I will claim now.” Stepping forward, he hugged Colleen smothering her mouth with his lips. He then did the same to Elizabeth. “See you at the wedding.” Whistling “as Time Goes by” from his favourite movie, Casablanca, he sauntered to the door.
***
Everyone agreed that the wedding had been lovely. Only one small thing troubled the bride and groom, the absence of their families. However it could not be helped. Both sides notified them that they had no objection. The project Director, Richard Delgarno agreed to give the bride away while Elizabeth stood in as bridesmaid. Dan had asked a fellow teacher from Hadejia, Mike McDonnell, to serve as his best man. Mike, engaged to a Filipino lady from a nearby school, was happy to oblige.
Odd about Simon thought Colleen. He had come to the wedding. No hard feelings he had said, congratulating them. Daniel and he seemed to have hit it off. Simon had even brought a wedding gift, a jeroboam of champagne.
“Congratulations!”
Simon shook Dan’s hand so vigorously Dan thought he might lose it. Simon then hugged Colleen giving her a great kiss on her right cheek.
“Love weddings. I may have one myself soon.” Beaming, he strode away looking for the buffet table.
“So, that was Simon?” Dan asked.
“Yes.” Colleen said watching Simon disappear into the crowd.
“Ah. Seems like a nice fellow.”
“Yes. He is.” She smiled. “Very nice.”

Author's Note

Canadian English