60 Questions

Thought I'd leave you guys this 60 questions thingy, since I won't be back until after exams. Stole it from Calabar Girl....thanx!


1.What time did you get up this morning?
8.00 am. Hit the library to study for two exams.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds, I guess. Whatever she likes. Honestly, give me a leather strapped Breitling and I'm good to go!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Fracture. Pretty tight. Hopkins IS the man.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
I don't watch TV anymore, but Martin is my favourite show of all time. Whaaat? Shenene... Jerome? Men, I have the entire series on dvd.

5. What did you have for breakfast?
A slice of toast and two eggs..sunny side up, over-medium.

6. What is your middle name?
Sweetboy. Named after my Pop-pop. I need to blog about him sometime.

7. What is your favorite cuisine/meal?
I almost said Thai, but I gots to go with Nigerian. My aunty B's Jollof rice and stewed beef is crazy! The rice will now be reddd! Chei. I'm hungry.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Oats. Yuck. In fact, anything with bits in it, like Mullerice yoghurt. Eugh!

9. Your favorite Potato chip?
Don't have one. Cheetos aren't bad though.

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Tough one. Erm, Ne-Yo's new album or T-Pain's. R.Kelly's new joint is hot too.

11. What kind of car do you drive?
Don't drive in London, but my last car was a 2005 Mazda 6s. Sweet car- tiptronic gearbox, heated leather seats, all that good stuff.

12. Favorite sandwich?
Turkey and cheddar cheese. Oh, the club sandwich at Londoner's in Nige is good o. Kai!

13. What characteristics do you despise?
Hateration. Damn, I can't stand people who'd rather have bad belle than big a person up. Loser mentality man.

14. Favorite item of clothing?
That's tough. My ripped American Eagle jeans from like two years ago. They're hella comfy and sit well on chuck taylors. My mum says I should throw them away though. "They look old!" she says.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Cabo, Mexico. Again.

16. What color is your bathroom?
Errrm..... I'd say green, but I'm sure Finebabe wouldn't call it that. It's one of those weird 'new' colours that only women know the names of. Looks light green to me.

17. Favorite brand of clothing?
Louis Vuitton loafers are the most comfortable shoes in the world. Tod's make amazing drivers as well. This is too hard. Chuck Taylor's by Converse are just the classic sneaker. Can't choose. Sorry.

18. Where would you want to retire?
Lagos. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.

19. Favorite time of day?
Noon. Gym time.

20. Where were you born?
West London.

21. Favorite sport(s) to watch?
Football, American Football and Boxing. I stay up until 5am whenever Floyd Mayweather or Jermaine Taylor's fighting.

22. Who do you least expect to respond to this?
Errm, my mama??

23. Person you expect to respond first?
Teekay probably.

24. What laundry scent do you use?
LOL. Are you serious? Err...no idea.

25. Coke or Pepsi?
Neither. I quit drinking soda in 2005.

26. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night owl baby.

27. What size shoe do you wear?
10 1/2

28. Do you have pets?
Not in England. Does my godson Scratchy count?

29. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone?
It's my birthday on June 21, two days after my exams are done!

30. What did you want to be when you were little?
An actor. My dad thought I was crazy.

31. Favorite Candy Bar?
None

32. What is your best childhood memory?
Eating hot dogs at Battersea park circus with my older bro and my mum. Fun times.

33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life?
Err...not that many actually. Intern, student newspaper columnist, of course Officer Fineboy, and project manager.

34. What color/type underwear are you wearing?
Err...have to look. Okay, black Hanes with the grey waistband. Thanks for asking!

35.Nicknames:
Mbobo. my oldest bro calls me that to this day 'cos I loved the bushman character in "King Solomon's mines" when I was a 3yr. old. How embarassing.

36. Piercings?
Got my left ear pierced twice. The hole closed up again a couple of years ago. No more though. Time to get my grown man on.

37. Eye color?
Brown

38a) Ever been to Africa?
You berra believe it. Gidi till I die.

38b) Ever been to South Australia?
Nope

39. Ever been toilet papering or rolling?
I was a Naija kid men. Wetin consign malu with one-way?

40. Love someone so much it made you cry?
Pretty damn close.

41. Been in a car accident?
Yeah, no big ones though.

42. Croutons or bacon bits?
Neither. Lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and ranch.

43.Favorite day of the week?
Friday.

44. Favorite restaurant?
Mango Tree at Victoria. Great Thai food.

45. Favorite flower?
None

46. Favorite ice cream?
Chocolate Chip cookie dough. The smarties joint is sweet too o.

47. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
None. A whole Lagos driver?

48. What color is your bedroom carpet?
Beige.

49. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
None now. I told you.

50. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email?
Chief Fineboy. He wished me luck.

51. Which stores would you choose to max out your credit card?
Bang & Olufsen.

52. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Write or call my shorty to harass her.

53. Bedtime?
This is actually terrible. 2am nowadays, for no apparent reason. I need to sort myself out.

54. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire?
Nelson Mandela. Not like he would do it.

55. Last person you went to dinner with?
A couple of my Canadian friends. Fire and Stone at Covent garden.

56. What are you listening to right now?
Ne-yo. He's telling her "We gotta make it work..."

57. What is your favorite color?
Depends. My women black though, for sure.

58. Lake, Ocean or river?
Ocean. Remember those rivers in the village? They were scary o.

59. How many tattoos do you have?
None. Yet. thinking about getting my grandfathers' portraits on my left upper arm, but everyone's saying i shouldn't.

60. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The Chicken. Eledumare created the chicken and gave it to Oduduwa innit?

Thanx for the love...soon come.

Blogsville! What’s really good? Meeeen, exam wan kill me o. Yeepa.........all you people abeg print out my prayer request and carry it to your churches and mosques o…..all prayers are accepted. Tell your Pastor/Reverend/Alpha/Grand Master that I need divine intervention. On the real though, I’d like to thank y’all for the love men. Your comments are so hilarious and encouraging!

Oh and by the way, I really appreciate the e-mails. People show me love for real. But men, there’s one “Guru Maharaji” kinda guy that keeps sending me e-mails o. Giving me advice about the sun, moon and stars and all sorts. The bobo go say “Brother Fineboy, Kuumba, Imani, Jah bless, your light shines now so you must be righteous and victorious in the struggle…you must use your influence to help to restore our people to their traditional greatness…”

I dey fear o. The guy even sent his pictures. Omo, long beard and everything, with candles in the background. Chei, and he obviously reads this blog. To you bros, no vex o, abeg. I’m only mentioning it to my fellow bloggers. My people help me o. I dey fear no be small.

And to that babe that sends me all those raunchy e-mails…..hmm softly softly o….I appreciate the love though.

I can’t wait until exams are over men, I’m gonna rock like crazy! Its my birthday like two days after, and we’re doing the whole lake district thing so that should be fun. My cousin Hot Mocha has been doing most of the work booking the cottage and all that....speaking of Mocha, make I give una one quick gist that she gave me o.

Apparently, after leaving the club last weekend, she and her friends went to the Den. (This Nige food spot in London). She now heard this egbon (big bros) on the phone talking to some chick. The guy goes “Baby, you are too funny. Lawl lawl lawl lawl!”

I wan die men! As in the guy was actually saying “LOL” on the phone, like “Lawl, lawl, lawl!” Oh my days, only Naija man. If you don’t know what the hell it means, why say it? Na wa o.

Anyways y'all, I'll be back soon as I'm done with these exams. 6 of them y'all.....I really gots to get stuck in. After that, it'll be me and you men, i have mad gist. I love y'all...soon come.

I LOVE HER (scoin-scoin and all...)

Blogsville! What’s good! I know it’s been a minute, been hard at work in the trenches man. Let me not lie, half of the time na blogs I dey read men. I saw Taurean Minx's Nige pics the other day...chei, she's hot o. In fact, o wa very bearriful. Babaalaye beware!

But on the real, I literally spent like one straight 24 hour period at the library last week. Some people have even been telling me to quit blogging until after my exams, but i can't leave y'all man. Not for nothing. It’s all good though, it’ll be over soon.

The weekend was great men. We hit the club on Friday night, and it was a such a laugh. If you know me, then you know I’m a serial clowner. I love clowning girls I talk to, ‘cos their reaction usually tells you what they’re like. Really confident women usually just laugh or clown you back. The arrogant or insecure ones just get really pissed quickly. Anyways, so this girl came up to our table on Friday and struck up a conversation with me. She was actually quite hot-looking, and I gathered she was a Nige babe ‘cos of her name. Men the girl had to be one of the fakest people I’d ever met and I swear after like fifteen minutes, you’d have thought it was a job interview.

Me- So where do you usually party?

Chick-Well I come here a lot, I also love Crystal and Boujis…..

Me- Boujis abi? How long have you been in England for?

Chick- Errrm….since 2003

Me- Wow, only four years. So why are you giving me the hard British accent now?

Chick- It’s just the way I talk.

Me- Yeah right. I moved to England when I was 14, and I’m not speaking to you with a British accent.

Chick- Well, I lived in England when I was very young so….

Me-Really? Awon English babes….

At some point during the conversation, the babe tells me how great a cook she is, so I ask her what she can cook.

Chick- I make very lovely Spaghetti Bolognese, sirloin steak, stuff like that.

I’m looking bored.

Me-That’s it? What else?

Chick- I can actually make nice mussel pasta too….

What the? Is this girl drunk? I’m sure she’s an amala specialist.

Me- I mean, you’re telling me you can cook all these things that I could just pick up from an Italian spot. Matter of fact, I can cook most of that stuff myself. What’s sexy to me is a girl who can cook Nige food. Now that’s hot.

Chick- Well I can cook jollof rice, fried rice, stew….

Me- Really? It’s getting a little more interesting now. How about more traditional stuff? Like efo?

Chick- Oh spinach? I’m great at that!

Me- Nice..what else?

Chick- I can also make this soup, I can’t remember the name of it now….errr..

Me- You can’t remember what it’s called?? Hmm…..what’s it look like?

Chick- Well it’s usually very dark, and it draw….it’s gooey….kinda like okra….

Me- Gooey abi?

Chick- Yes….errr….

The joker almost said “it draws.”

Me- Ogbono?

Chick- Yes! That’s it.

Me- You’re telling me you didn’t remember it was called that?

Chick- Haha, I did. I just didn’t wanna say it.

Me- ‘Cos you think it’s not cute to say ‘ogbono?’

The babe was just sitting there laughing o.

Chick- It’s not cute at all.

If I slap this razz babe. I swear I was so irritated I felt like pouring my drink over her head. Ah ah! How pretentious can people be? I bet you she speaks some ethnic Nigerian language at home and chops slap whenever her popsi’s eba is not ready on time! Joker.

It’s amazing how fake people are men. Keep it real!

Meanwhile the boys and I had a very deep conversation about it the other day. Guys were just chilling, shacking henny and red bull as usual, and we were talking about…..believe it or not…luuurve. Hehe, I know what you’re thinking. Meeeen, I think it’s the quarter-life syndrome men. You start thinking you’ve been there and done that, and kinda wanna settle down right?

Anyhow, it was me, Prettyboy, Roroski and the gang. Prettyboy said you know you’ve found the one when you can honestly be yourself around her all the time. Hmm, my theory was…..you know you’re in love when you know you’re down for a person even when you know all her scoin-scoin. Omo, don’t ask me what scoin-scoin is o….I stole it from ex-schoolnerd, but my boys and I have redefined it and we use it all the time now! Shout out to ESN!

But my people, this was a serious argument o. Prettyboy and I were talking about how, with all the hot chicks we meet, there’s always one scoin-scoin or the other. Always. Now, the argument again, is that it’s love when you love a person despite all the scoin-scoin. You accept it, you’re down for them regardless. Now that’s love. See the thing is, for most of the women I’ve met, I’ve been put off early by one small scoin-scoin, or later by bigger scoin-scoin.

For example, I remember one chick I used to date back in the day. She was a nice intelligent babe, very good-looking and whatnot, but she was extra clingy. Damn! At first I thought it was kinda cute, but men this babe took the term “touchy feely” to another level. I mean there’s nothing wrong with being affectionate, but hot damn! Ah ah! I’ll never forget the first time we slept in the same bed. Omo I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic.

“Yeeeeeee!”

Men I thought I was being strangled. As in, the babe’s body don contort all around my body men. For a split second, I couldn’t make out what the hell was going on. You know when you’re still all groggy from sleep? I come begin find my leg o. Jesus! Wey my leg? Ese mi da???

I couldn’t even make out mine from hers. Inside this heat. Bloody hell. Her arm was wrapped tight around my neck and her mouth was positioned right in front of my nose. Meeeen! And I couldn’t now move ‘cos I didn’t wanna wake her up. Which kin’ wahala be this? Chei! And morning breath just dey pump! Omo I wan faint. Na so I sleep till morning o.

Men, that’s pretty much how we used to sleep. I’d be sweating like a madman in the middle of the night, but I couldn’t yarn. If I moved, she’d adjust herself again. If I turned, she’d wake up and say I was being unaffectionate. Say na wetin she dey used to. Awon boys couldn’t sleep without hugging the babe. Imagine!

This babe eh, she always had to hold hands when we stepped outside my door. EVERY MOMENT. We had to go everywhere together. Had to call her ‘baby.’ And I couldn’t complain o. I no fit tell am anything or she go wan cry. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with calling your woman baby, but when SHE gives herself the title, it starts to bother you. She say she be princess for her papa house. The girl no dey hear word o. Everything na fight. This is how she’s been treated her whole life blah blah. One time I almost said to her “You dey crase. Is this your father’s house?” My peeps, I can’t front, omo I had to dismiss the babe in the end o. That was some messed up scoin-scoin men.

I met one Fola chick one time that was nice as well. Correct chick o, good-looking, sense of humour, e’rrythang! She had a crazy sense of style and I was really feeling the babe. But men, this girl’s nose men. Gaddem! As in, I’m not shallow or anything, but that nose dey distract me men. Kai! Sometimes she would look at me and the nose go just dey expand. No lie! One time I asked the babe, “Are you actually flaring your nostrils?” She said no. Ah ah! Wharra hell! Your nose dey talk again??? Omo, most people would say that was nothing, but that small scoin-scoin was enough to put me off men. Hehe, trivial I know, but I’m just keeping it real.

I’ll never forget Simi though. This babe was an all-round winner. I had met her at my boy’s housewarming party, and we made plans to go do shisha the next week. Men, we hung out and she was a laugh. Beautiful babe men, dimples, everything. Just hot. Mo like e gan. After our first date, we came back to my place so that she could pick up her car and drive home. I now invited her in for a coffee . We’re sitting on the couch, and next thing I know, she’s like “Where’s your bathroom please?” I show it to her and I notice say the babe rush one kin’ to enter. She was in there very briefly but omo when she came out eh?

Chineke God of Africa! The pong! Whaaaaaa?

I wanted to ask the babe what the hell kinda block she had deposited in my bathroom in such a short period. But I no talk anything sha, I just maintained like there was nothing now. I remember the girl going back and forth between my couch and the bathroom a couple of times and at the time I guessed she was fixing up her make-up or some kinda girly stuff, you know? But the girl dey sweat. I asked her “Are you okay?” She said she was fine. Why this babe dey look flustered like this now? Anyhow sha, after a couple cappuccinos, the babe went home.

My people, after the girl left, I went into the bathroom. I no know wetin me sef I dey find o. The place was still stinking, but no yawah now, it’s normal to take a dump, no? I opened the window and then pulled up the toilet seat.

ELEDUMARE O!

This babe still had one little floater hanging around in there ni sha. Ah ah! Men, if you see the way I flew out of that toilet eh? Damn! Morrafuckin’ babe! And if you saw her on the street, you'd think she was one of those calendar models wey no dey mess.

Hmmmph! Meeeen, I couldn’t bring myself to call that chick again men. The babe sef didn’t call me back. I actually might still have called her, but her behaviour and reaction to her own block just put me off men. She for just tell awon boys say her belle dey worry am now, no problem. When I called her for the last time that night to make sure that she had gotten home safe, the girl was even trying to be a little cold on the phone. Na wa o. What the hell kind of scoin-scoin is that? After you don blast-scatter my toilet?

Funny enough, I saw the babe at some sushi bar a while after that. I was with a couple of my colleagues, and she was with her girlfriends. She even tried to pose o. I just gave her a wink from my table like, “Hmm, master blaster. How far?”

Men, my boys say sometimes I’m a little too resistant to scoin-scoin. It’s not that men. If I can’t stand your scoin-scoin, it just means I’m not feeling you like that. Like I know some people whose babes fart in front of them. CHILL! I haven’t graduated to that level yet men, but I’m sure I will with time. Chei! I doubt it though. If my babe even thinks about messing in bed, I tell her oya oya go outside the room and go and do it. Abeg!

Ladies don’t get it twisted o. I’m not saying it’s only girls that have scoin-scoin o. I know we guys have our own too. Even more than women I’m sure. There are small things that irritate me men, like the way a person eats, and sometimes I look at some dudes, and think “This guy’s babe is trying o!” The scoin-scoin that women tolerate!

Case in point: My boy Akinzo. Gaaaaaaadem! If you see Akinzo eating eh, it’s one of the most disgusting things you’ll ever witness men. I remember when we first moved in together, I used to ask the guy, “This dude, na fight? Why you dey attack the food like that now?” My guy would have oil dribbling out the corners of his mouth and everything, and wouldn’t bother wiping it off until he had finished his meal.

Well, no problem now. I’m thinking Akinzo only eats like this at home. Omo, not so o. You see, Akinzo and I worked for the same company for like six months. We’d go out to lunch with colleagues from work sometimes, and my guy would crack the bones off the buffalo wings like there was no tomorrow. Omo, sucking and everything. Oyinbo go just dey look am. Imagine. I’d even be giving the guy eye sometimes like, “E don do now. The chicken don finish.” The guy would just blank me.

And Akinzo always used to buy Nige food from this lady who drove around selling take-away packs from the back of her van. I never could buy that stuff men, you know how sometimes Nigerian food abroad is some second-class take on real Nigerian grub? That’s how this woman’s food was. She’d have rice with a lot of stew just poured untidily over it. It certainly wasn’t the type of thing you’d wanna eat in public.

So that’s how one day my guy ordered food from the lady o. In my head I’m thinking, “Awwww, hell no! This dude is not gonna eat this ish at work.”
Akinzo ran downstairs and came back upstairs with his box of food. He laid it out on the table and started eating. Needless to say now, the whole place reeked of stew. Oyinbo colleagues now started walking past, looking at Akinzo’s meal, then using style to give each other those their amebo glances like "Mr. black man don come again!"

My boy didn’t even send, he was just quaffing away. At some point, Mr. Davies, my boss looked in at Akinzo, who was battling a big chunk of cowleg.

Oga- Akinz!

Akinzo-Huhn?

Oga (looking terrified)-What the hell is that???

Akinzo (grinning with oil all over his lips)-It’s cowleg.

Oga-What?

Akinzo- Cowleg! It’s very good.

You should have seen the look on my boss’ face. He just rushed past me in the corridor. I was so embarrassed. This Akinzo sef. She na for office you go come dey chop cowleg?

Akinzo left for Nige not long after that, and I remember going for lunch with Mr.Davies and one other oga. Mr. Davies says,

“Scott, Akinz has moved back to his homeland Nigeria. I kid you not, one day I saw that kid gnawing on a cow’s hoof in the office at lunch time. It was the most disgusting thing I’d ever seen. I thought I was gonna puke. That African kid- I tell you, he exhibited some real cannibalistic traits. You ever see that boy eat chicken wings? He would devour it right down to the bone, sucking in the marrow and everything! That kid would only leave shrapnel on his plate by the time he was done!”

The other oga looked terrified.

Omo, I wanted to cover my head in shame. Bloody hell mate.

Damn, how did I end up talking about Akinzo’s eating habits? Men I don digress as usual. But my point is, the guy had a babe and she loved him with all his dietary scoin-scoins. So love your woman/man guys, scoin-scoin and all, it’s a beautiful thing!

Shout out to my homegirl Vickii whose sister Kitty just got married! Happy married life y'all!

Oh and thanks guys for all the comments and e-mails! mr.fineboy@hotmail.com

Soon Come...

Peeps, I'm almost done with my last essay. Soon as I hand this thing in, I'll be back. Relax now, I have some sweet gist for you guys.....soon come.

An officer and a gentleman.

Long time no holla people...I know it’s been a minute. Too much work to do at the moment. I've been writing essay upon essay, and I'm so tired of thinking, I swear. This master's thing is no joke o. People lied to me man.

Meanwhile, I'm mad because I was at the Nigerian job fair thingy last week friday, and on saturday afternoon one consultancy called and said they wanted me to be at Russell square within the hour for an interview.

At that point, I was in the library writing essays, and I couldn't leave. I just thought, "long thing!" and told them to e-mail me to reschedule. Meanwhile, my boy Roroski went for that 2nd interview, and they offered the guy a job two days later! Damn! Who beg me say make I dey pose? Chai! Now, I've resorted to blowing up the mobile number that they called me with, and I think the woman even locked me off last time I called. Imagine.

Anyway it's all gravy. I got called for a job interview with this other Nige bank on tuesday after taking a competency test for them the day before. They asked me to come in at 9am and I hadn’t gotten home until 12.30am the night before so I was rather upset as it meant very little sleep. Anyways, I got up nice and early, and omo I kak'd my safe dark gray suit, a white shirt and a purple and lilac tie. I denge in front of the mirror. Ha! Mo bad gan!

I got to the venue at like 8.45, thinking "worst case scenario, I'd be out by 10." Not so o. I sat in the waiting room with some JJC-looking guys for like 2 hours before I even got called in!

While we were waiting, the ju-man next to me sha wanted to yarn by force. Now, I'm not anti-social or anything, but when you don't know someone and they just keep talking to you like you’re friends, it's annoying man. My whole body language should have shown this guy that I wasn't interested in conversation, but the guy no wan gree o.

"I'm Vincent."

"How's it going man?"

"Fine thanks. You are?"

"Sorry. Fineboy"

"Okay. Are you very worried about this interview?"

“Not really.”

“Don’t be navos. You must not show navosness because they can see it in your face o. Be very relaxed.”

“Oh okay.”

“I’ve been in this country since 2005, but I want to see what can happen in Nigeria. If the money is very good, I may go.”

“Oh aight.”

Oooooh o! This guy wouldn't let me read my new Soyinka book o.

I was so happy when I finally got called in for the interview. Free from Mr. Vincent, thank God.

I walked in and drew a deep breath. There were three men at the desk. I’m guessing executive directors or something. One of them was quite young, like in his thirties, so I figured he must have been the owner's famous managing director son. I took a seat.

"So tell me about yourself."

I give them a brief monologue, and before I'm even done, the oldest guy asks me,"Why you, why do you want to work here, why?"

I give him one well-rehearsed answer about how great I am, how wonderful their company is, and somewhere along the line I must have used the word "dynamic."

The guy hissed, "We will soon see how dynamic you are!" and looked at my cv.

They now started asking me a bunch of questions including who my father was! NO LIE!

Anyway, in the end, the interview took like 10, 15 minutes, when everybody else’s took like 40. I don’t know what that means men, but we’ll see now.

To be honest, it wasn’t as stressful as I had expected. Before I went in for mine, this girl came out of the room in tears. She was mumbling something about how rude and mean they were and apparently she just walked out before the interview was even over. I don already make up my mind say if those guys talk nonsense to me for there, I’d abuse somebody’s father. I kuku already have a job offer in London.

The truth though is that it was actually mild compared to the 2nd round interview I had with a big bank in London last year.

Omo, that one was quite mad. There were two top boys from the company and if you see the way they scrutinized my cv eh? At one point, they were asking me questions from it, and I swear I wanted to peek and see what I had written on the cv, because omo, I no remember everything on that thing men.

“What is your greatest quality?”

“You are aware that our firm hires only the brightest brains in the business, aren’t you? Why should we pick YOU?”

Men, it was a sweatbox in there. I was pissing my pants. I got asked all sorts of questions, including ratios and percentages and all sorts. Thankfully, I’m pretty good with general knowledge stuff, so I kinda coasted through. Then the bombshell.

“Mr.Fineboy, can you tell me how many airplanes are presently flying in British airspace at this moment?”

Chei! What the hell kinda question is that?? I was about to start sweating, because I know say lailai I no know that one o. I thought for a second…..

“More than one, that’s for sure!”

The man looked at me for a second and then just burst out laughing. Whew! They must have liked the answer because I hold an offer from them now, but me I wan go naija men.

Without a doubt, that was the hardest interview I’d ever had. The easiest one was the one I had for my first job ever in Yankee. I was a freshman at University and Akinzo had called me to say he knew a place where we could make some part-time dough. Awon boys were broke students, so I told the guy, “I’m down o, as long as it isn’t working in a shop or something.”

The guy assured me that it wasn’t and was some administrative gig, and the next day we drove up to this building. As we got out of the car, Akinzo said,

“FB, I lied yesterday. This thing is for a security job o….”

The madman burst out laughing, while I stood there stunned.

Secure-kini??

I wanted to turn around, but it was too late. Akinzo said it wasn’t like Nige security anyway, all we’d have to do was sit at some desk in some faraway building and nobody’d see us. And we’d also be getting paid like $12.00 an hour.

Omo, I think am! At the time, $12.00 and hour was good kishi o. I could be using that one for extra pocket money, since Chief Fineboy dey always do anyhow when it was time to settle boys. So we went in, and filled out one easy-ass test that seemed more like a questionnaire. They called each of us for interviews immediately.

The bobo was just happy to have college students interviewing for jobs with them. Under like 5 minutes, the guy invited us to come for an orientation session two days later.

At the session, come hear toooory! There were like 1 million rules. This is what you do when you see something suspicious. This is what you do when this….This is what you do when that….

Never arrest a suspect. Emi? Who was planning on arresting anybody?

Wear your uniform with pride. God punish you.

Always show deference and respect to your superior officers. E no go better for superior officer.

This is not a job, it’s a career. Na your papa go get this kin’ career.

Anyhow, that’s how I started work o. They put me in this pharmaceutical building after hours. There were like three other guys on the shift. Let me not lie, when I first got that uniform, I like am small o. Dark grey pants, light grey shirt, grey tie (clip-on), grey bomber jacket, with a gold badge that had my Officer no. on it.

I denge in front mirror. Hmm. Officer Fineboy.The uniform was just like a policeman’s uniform. This is the sort of thing that I’d have killed for as a kid. I now started practising.

“Hays! Stop there!”

“Ma’am calm down…I’m just trying to do my job..”

“Radio radio…10-4 10-4, whats your location?”

Omo I don mad finish. I went to the building. They gave me instructions and I sat down in front of one monitor that had nine small surveillance screens on them. The supervisor told me there was a camera watching me, and I wasn’t allowed to doze even for one second. Na wa o. That’s when it began dawning on me. See my life. I sat staring at that boring screen for hours, and it was like watching paint dry men.

After like an hour, the guy told me on radio that it was my turn to do the rounds. He came up and gave me one wand and a map, telling me all the spots that I had to hit around the premises before I came back. No problem now.

That’s how I went outside. OMO! If you see the premises, it was like a huge factory or something with woods at the back, and I had to go into all these buildings and boiler rooms and stores. Fear catch me die! I was just thinking all sorts of things. Ha! At like 12 am o, and all I had in my hand was a torch.

I had just begun my round, walking slowly across the dark yard when one of the other guys came on the radio “Oficer Fineboy, don’t worry too much about the snakes on the premises. They’re harmless. You might also see a raccoon or a deer, but nothing dangerous.”

Oloshi. That even scared me more. Heeee! God who begged me o? I was just thinking, this America, any kin’ animal fit come chop person for here o. Or even serial killer. I was just praying throughout.

I finally got back to the desk after like an hour, by which time I had made up my mind that there was no way I was coming back on day 2. For what now? Because of $12.00 an hour? God forbid bad thing. Before the end of my eight-hour shift, I had to do the rounds again twice.

The next time I went on the rounds, it was 3am. I remembered one houseboy that we once had in Nige, Dennis telling me that 3 am was the hour when witches used to have their meetings. Jesus Christ! I know I was a grown-ass man, but men when I stepped out into that pitch-darkness with nothing but that yeye flashlight, omo fear catch me no be small.

I just started walking slowly around the premises, flashing their pangolo torch. I wasn’t even inspecting their bloody grounds, I was on the lookout for any possible ogbanje or witch that might jump out of the woods. Not like there was anywhere to run. Fear catch me no be small men. I just kept asking myself over and over again who sent me.

As I made my way into one dingy boiler room, one of those idiots shouted over the radio. “Officer Fineboy, everything okay?”
I almost jumped out of my skin! The crackle scared the shit outta me men, I think say na one oyinbo ghost don appear.

The two other officers now started talking to each other (they were in different parts of the building) about ghosts and the supernatural, and whether or not it really existed. Omo! I wan slap person men! Why the hell would someone be talking about that kinda thing at 3am when I’m walking around some huge yard by myself? Bastards!


By the time I got back to the desk, my mind was made up! I wasn’t coming back men.

When I got home in the morning, I called the office and told them I wouldn’t be working anymore. The oga was very sympathetic o. He said he absolutely understood but wouldn’t want to lose one of his college kids.

The guy was just giving me one long story to disncourage me from leaving, and then finally offered to transfer me to another site. He promised that I wouldn’t have to do any strange midnight rounds, and there’d be no cameras on the client site watching my every move.

Na so I gree o. That’s how the guy moved me to some place called Falls Village and gave me directions. Omo, that afternoon, as I drove towards the place, I remembered that it was one shopping centre like that! Yeeeee! It wasn’t like a mall, it was more like a complex of stores. Jesus Christ! On a Saturday afternoon! Gaddem! Men, there was no telling who I could jam there.

When I resumed, the dude who I was taking over from told me that I could just drive around in my car, and come out at intervals. He told me that the biggest problems in that area were people loitering at the back of some restaurant, and teenagers spray painting graffiti on the walls.

Ope o! At least I’d be able to harass some kids that would be afraid of an officer on patrol.

I laid low for the first two hours, just driving around incognito until the supervisor called me on the company cellphone to say that one bookstore had complained about some kids smoking weed behind their building.

Correct! Time for action! I drove to the back of the bookstore and spotted the kids.

I sped my car up to them and braked sharply. I started to jump out of the car, and omo that’s when I noticed say these ones no be small teenagers o. I had already started shouting then and it was too late to retract..

“Excuse me gentlemen!”

One big tall ghetto-looking gangster type type in oversized jeans and one long-ass t-shirt turned around.

“What up???” The guy stuck his chest out as if he was ready for action.

The other guys come bone up. Jesus Christ! These ones fit scatter person head o. Na my papa company?

“No problem at all gentlemen. Just making sure everything’s alright. Have a nice day guys.”

“Right back at chu, homie.”

Omo, if you see the way I sped off eh? I called the supervisor.

“I’ve taken care of the situation, S/O.”

Olori buruku. You dey find who una go take experiment abi? Then when gangsta boys break my head, you’ll say I was a model officer abi? Not Fineboy.

When I got home that day, I called my popsi. I knew that if I told him I’d been working security, he would flip. His own son, working security? He would increase my pocket money sharp sharp.

“Dad, I have something to tell you. You wouldn’t believe it.”

“What’s that son?”

“I’ve been working as a security guard.”

He burst out laughing.

“Haha…son, do you mean you’re a mai-guard?”

Is this man trying to be funny?

“Pretty much.”

“That’s great. Such experiences only help to mould you in your journey toward manhood. I commend your bravery son. Have you succeeded in apprehending any criminals running afoul of the law?”

Imagine!

Men I went back to that office and returned their dirty uniforms after only a week. Apprehend ko, Apprehend ni.


I'll holla at y'all.....it's a very busy time guys, but I’ll try to update again soon, I promise!

For The 32.....

Over the New Ridge valley they float
32 Hokies now in Paradise’s bliss
Questions unanswered, futures cut short
Shots ringing, no back talk
32 fighting gobblers
Taken away

Another mother’s tears, painful anguish
Suit ready for graduation now burial kit
Another brother’s pain, another dream deferred
A family’s hopeful plans put aside
On new angels’wings, forever blown away

A bumbling lunatic has called their time,
In his mind a protagonist in his twisted tale
Why he took them we will never know
Jealous rage or meticulously planned
It makes no difference to a mourning Dad
God be the judge

For Emily who was first killed
Another mother’s daughter unfairly snatched away
For Livu, brave professor who resisted Nazis
And defended students in the face of certain death
For Ryan the RA who tried to make peace
And the other 30 who now reside in Heaven’s plains

Today we are all Hokies
Former fighting gobblers, in maroon sweaters
Today we are all from Blacksburg, home of the hills
Today we walk the Blue ridge mountains proudly again
And resolutely wear our colors, shouting “Ut Prosim”
Our Hokie motto still “That we may serve”

Today We are Virginia Tech

-Mr.Fineboy

In a bit...

Soon come guys! Just finishing essays, abeg no vex! May the Virginia Tech victims rest in peace...