"Wanda's Tale" by Ritkatmwa Gwan Episode 10

Family interventions. 

“What kind of allergy is this that I know nothing about, Wanda, you were born before my eyes, I’ve watched you grow and I never knew you or your sisters to have allergies”, tell me the truth, Jude hit you, he has been hitting you”…Wanda couldn’t remember if it was the worry in anty Billy’s eyes or the fact that she was crying that got to her but she was almost convinced…”aunty it was a mistake, ba halin shi ba (it’s not in his character)” the sobbing continued,she spoke in hausa when she wanted to appeal to aunty Billy’s motherly side…. it felt strange watching this woman she knew to be a master of her emotions cry. 

Florence and Offy’s wedding was that weekend and she had clearly said she wanted her in top shape and form for the wedding…It was going to be an evening wedding she wanted it out doors but Offy’s Nigerian mother insisted they wed at the cathedral he was baptised that would have meant the wedding happening 

in Calabar…thank goodness Offy listened to her and everyone settled for a church wedding in Abuja.  Florence had met Offy on one of her many globe trotting episodes three years ago, Bidemi had convinced her to go on a tour bus to Ghana when the tour bus stopped just outside of Lagos, the other bus with “Generation 42” boldly inscribed had a flat and they needed to wait because they were part of the tour… Was it the creasing of his shirt or the fact that he wore a well-ironed shirt on a tour bus that aroused her curiosity…Bidemi was trying to get Zach out of the bus so her attention wasn’t on the guy. Her glasses weren’t as dark as she thought and his gaze quickly caught hers. He wasn’t her type of guy so she didn’t bother. She was ready to attack the cliche move he would chose and disarm him immediately… his outstretched hand was a shock, “ I’m Offiong, my friends call me Offy” ..trying to maintain her cool she simply replied “Florence, just Florence”… That week in Ghana was a good time getting to know each other and even Bidemi was surprised Flo was taking a liking to this guy.. they became inseparable and yahoo messenger became a lot more interesting she always had something to look forward to at the end of the day, calls weren’t cheap so they spaced it and it was always soothing hearing his baritone voice on the other end of the line.. 

Offy was about FLo’s height a little darker than what she’d normally go for but he was focused and driven, his days as a graphic designer would soon begin to pay off with the face of media changing, so when he prepositioned her for a relationship it was dramatic; she could only then imagine what a marriage proposal from him would look like. 18 months later on another tour, this time to Kenya, Offy proposed on the flight and trust me it was pretty dramatic. 

…Jude had mustered what courage or arrogance was left in him boarding the vehicle to Wuse 2, it was a bad idea but he knew he had to see Wanda, he needed to apologise and he was expected to be at the wedding, Offy had made him an honorary grooms man even though it was apparent they didn’t get along, Wanda was chief bridesmaid so it was only polite to have Jude on the train…as the driver navigated Aminu Kano crescent he rehearsed his story (hoping it would match whatever aunty Billy was told).. 

At the white gate he caught his breath and knocked 

“na who?” Austin’s familiar voice was reassuring..”ehn, na Wanda friend..ehn Jude” “Ju— wetin?” Austin quickly opened the gate knowing his orders..”abeg dey go, oga Jude….madam don warn me say if she see you inside this house na my work”. “please..I just want to see Wanda….ok how is she? is she in? has she been out? I mean, have you seen her?” almost pushing him out of the way with his index finger pointing at Jude….”which Jamb question you dey ask person? abeg I no know….Mr man leave here oh” (pulling his ear as if to drive home his point. the gate was slammed shut and Jude knew he had some work to do….. his phone rang it was Offy “guy where are you, the suits are ready and everyone looks great, you said you were 5minutes away” a quick look at his watched Jude motioned to Austin ‘I’ll be back”…he had a plan and it better work!

"Wanda's Tale" by Ritkatmwa Gwan Episode 9

The endurance period…

The slap threw her across the room, she knew what was coming and braced herself. Each time he got angry even before the beating she would imagine the feel of his fist or foot to her rib, the taste of blood in her mouth the chock of tears in her throat and the quiet place she went to in her head…

Wanda had become obsessed with Jude,it was as though she enjoyed these episodes.

…the black eye from last week’s  beating had only just faded and aunty Billy wasn’t buying the story she was selling…she did a poor job at covering it, if only her make up skills were better. “Wanda, if that useless boy is hitting you just tell me, kin ji ko(do you hear me?).  

The last thing on her mind was getting anty Billiy and her goons involved, Jude would kill her(maybe literarily kill her). “No ma, we’re fine, I slipped in the tub” “Tub? Wanda, bath tub ko? hmmmm suit yourself, don’t say I didn’t try to warn you, that boy is bad news”. She had heard this often it started sounding like a broken record. 

"Each week its something else, sweetheart you aren’t that clumsy and if you keep tripping then something is wrong." 

A few days later she was back to him.

Like she always did when he was in a “mood”, Wanda mentally led herself to happy times and the kicks and blows felt distant. 

His loud sobbing jolted her, apparently she had fainted…waking up with her faced cupped in his hands felt strangely nice, at least he felt bad.

“my Love, can you hear me…I,I,I’m so so sorry, I didn’t mean to do this… damn me” his stammering voice was clearing and he wanted to sound more assertive… “I promise this is the last time I ever lay my hands on you…Please don’t leave me, I’d die if you do”… Wanda was too weak to respond but from the look in her eyes he knew she would stay. 

She got in before aunty Billy and avoided any confrontation. She had taken pain killers and dozed off…11:25PM…the loud chatter from the living room reawakened the thumping in her head, that headache just wouldn’t go away, “or do I have a concussion?” “ah, God forbid, I am fine”.. Aunty Billy was in one of her moods, the cheerful kind caused from taking a little over her threshold of alcohol… and a voice that sounded like Uncle Tam’s could also be heard… “Was he here? did aunty let him into her life again, after what he did to me?” All that however seemed like a distant worry, her throbbing headache was her main concern. 

When Wanda was posted to serve in Abuja her excitement was to the roof so during one of her arguments with aunty she let it slip…it came out amid tears but she said it, ”why do you bother advising me about Jude aunty when you allow Uncle Tam walk in and out on you….”young girl that’s none of your…”my business? yes it is aunty,….he raped me, he forced himself, he damaged me, he raped me…..”  there was silence and aunty Billy was probably trying to process but hot tears streamed down her cheeks.” She flashed back to all the times they had fought and the accusations from two of her catering staff whom claimed he molested them…so this was all true. “If I didn’t ignore it when he did it to the cooks he wouldn’t have gotten to you".. The two wept and talked for hours, in the end the Police was to be left out of it because they knew it would go no where.

Her service year seemed like a life time, she was excited to be in Abuja and since Jude had settled here after his National Youth Service Corps in Bayelsa it was the right city to start a family. 

Was she really considering going ahead with wedding plans? all the odds seemed staked against her, but “maybe Jude would change once we are married, I mean he wouldn’t hit his own “WIFE”…I’d be a wife then so everything would be different”.

1:08AM, her wondering thoughts had kept her awake, plus she had to explain the swollen jaw to anty Billy in the morning…

Wanda's tale by Ritkatmwa Gwan Episode 8

The engagement: did Love win? 

Since Jude decided Wanda was what he wanted, he felt the need to keep her at all cost.  The red flags kept popping up but Wanda ignored them, she had become one of those girls who didn’t read the signs but believed love covers a multitude… She had now lost all male friends and acquaintances, even females had to pass his test to remain her friends, how Oiza survived this is still a surprise seeing that Jude hated her guts. 

It was several months into the relationship that she experienced one of his out bursts… Nicolas was one of those guys everyone in class loved, he was smart, witty and had just been made class rep, Wanda and Oiza didn’t need to suck up to him cos he had his eye on Oiza so they exploited the opportunity… 

Jude had just walked past the cafeteria by the library and heard her giggle “only she laughs this way” what was she doing here? He didn’t need an explanation neither did she have one, he grabbed her hand that grip was so tight a slap would have been better…

”Jude you’re hurting me…we’re in public” Nicolas was more confused than embarrassed; his mistake was making the effort to stop them, he was shoved hard and he fell to the chair the small crowd that gathered quickly broke it off and just then Oiza showed up and saved the day…. can anyone explain what just happened? Nic was still speechless and Wanda was full of apologies…that evening she would receive the beating of her life, if only she had avoided Jude as Oiza advised.  

she needed to justify her action or inaction, whatever it was; “I mean look at Gladys and Mofe, their somewhat toxic relationship had blossomed into a budding romance, the kind Nollywood movies were made of”…she wanted that for Jude and her. And for a while it seemed she got her fairy tale, the happily ever after was now in sight they had survived one year, they were in love. She had hidden several other incidents from her friend; like Jude would say, ‘She doesn’t need to know everything about our business” He always apologised anyway; cos he loved her (so she thought) “Is it rape when he is your boyfriend?” she had questioned herself countless times even second guess herself, “Jude was just a passionate lover, I need to relax” even she knew those words weren’t convincing, “thank God Oiza doesn’t know about this”.

Months of several altercations , squabbles and fights would pass, each time Oiza hoped it would be the last but like metal drawn to magnet Jude and Wanda found a way to make up…

This guy has got moves….a giggling Wanda told Oiza…The glittering ring on her middle finger was getting all the attention and as much as Oiza wanted to be happy she knew this was a mistake.. “ Girl you mean you said YES?, you agreed to marry him?”…her stammering lips blurted out.. “bu…but you’re just in your 2nd year? what happens when he finds another girl during NYSC? what about the beatings?” “have you thought that maybe he just did this ti keep you because he is graduating…?”

Oiza had switched to mother-hen mode and there was no stopping but Wanda wasn’t having it…”babe, at least you can pretend to be happy me”..  

“ Wanda you want the truth?” she paused as if awaiting a response then continued… “I’m scared for your safety, I’m worried, not happy, I mean its Jude we are talking about” Knowing what her friend was getting at which would awaken old hurt she quickly wrapped up the conversation.. “we love each other and that’s final, by the way we’re not getting married until my final year or after NYSC…. be happy for me, pleeeaasseeee!!! Jude is different now, I promise; he has changed” Wanda thought if she said it long enough it would be true. She needed to say it to convince herself. Both girls hug but it was clear the worry had not disappeared. 

Not that she was comparing but, she was beginning to see a bit of Anty Billy and Uncle Tam’s traits in Jude and her. 

She was in a toxic relationship and she knew it.  

Wanda's tale by Ritkatmwa Gwan. Episode 7

Uncle Tam takes her.

Remember aunty Billy?, she’s mummy’s younger sister and as they say, “a woman of the world”. Her bouts with various men had lead her to Mr Tamandu, that’s Uncle Tamandu to Wanda and her sisters, they never caught his surname and honestly didn’t care to know. 

Their on and off relationship of over 15 years hadn’t provided an offspring (not that anty Billy wanted a child to tie her down) and he was the least bit worried because he had an array of baby mama’s; three to be precise but these two always found a way back to each other. They would fight dangerously, love passionately and almost kill each other in-between, but I guess it worked for them”. 

Because he had always been known to the family, he was trusted around the girls (Florence,Wanda and Charis). 

Wanda was in SS 1 and that long vacation seemed like an opportunity to visit Abuja, the city was still developing and it was always fun holidaying at aunty Billy’s. The girls ate what they wanted, when they wanted and what quantity; mum felt like a kill-joy with her principles and rules. The girls often heard her and aunty quarrel about spoiling them, and how she couldn’t understand being childless and all.

Wanda’s older sister Florence was in SS3 and had friends who lived in Abuja so the entire holiday was spent visiting one friend or the other, Charis (the younger of the three) on the other hand was a “follow-follow” she tagged along, Wanda the loner and introvert decided being indoors was good enough. 

Florence and Charis had mapped their paroles (as they like to call it) and tried to convince Wanda it will be worth her while, “You need to drop these novels and live a little” Flo knew she was a beautiful girl and had the trail of boys to prove it…she was also a tough nut to crack but she loved and cared for her sisters. “Wanda, just this once come have fun with my friends and I, just before you say you don’t know  anyone, Charis will be there”… the smiles didn’t convince her. that week she had rented three novels and needed to return them, the guy that like her was no longer at the rental store and that new girl was mean so; “no I have reading to catch up on, I’ll join you tomorrow” if she knew the events of the next hour would change her life forever, Wanda would have made that outing. 

It wasn’t clear what line of work Uncle Tam was in, but he always had meetings, the land-line was always engaged while he was around and the smell of stale cigarette (benson and hedges) and gin filled the air; if you saw him take a whiff you’d want to smoke. He hardly ate, even if he did, he just picked at the food till it was too cold to eat.  He would playfully tap the girls’ buttocks as they walked passed him and no one thought much of it Flo and Charis we off and he had the house all to himself.

The new Joe CD Wanda was listening to had taken her entire attention, earphones plugged in and Disc-man in hand, she was going about her chores not knowing Uncle Tam’s wondering eyes were prying….

It happened so fast she could hardly retell it, sometimes she even asked herself if she only just imagined it…. As she walked into the room to pick the laundry pile aunty had left her she felt his cold hands grab her, that familiar smell of stale cigarette and gin almost drowned her; her screams were muffled, his large hand ensured she could barely breath, she knew this wasn’t happening, no screams, no fighting, she was defeated, she was damaged…as he had his way with her, the tears trickling down her face all she could hear was the soothing voice of Joe playing in her head, “I wanna know” was just released the year before and Wanda would come to hate that song. 

After what seemed like a life time, it was over and he was out….

#forTheLoveofTravel

Travel far or near...just Travel.
2017 is the year I told myself will include travel. As I planned for the year the thought of exchange rates, visa's or even getting a break all formed part of my concerns but I decided on a first step: travel near.
I will be traveling to some states and sights in Nigeria (some I have been to some will be a first). As I explore new adventures in familiar and unfamiliar places I will share my journey and maybe inspire you to travel.

Wanda’s tale by Ritkatmwa Gwan

"Body Image" Episode 6

The events of a few years ago had defined the young woman Wanda had become. 

These weren’t exciting days, Anty Billy, Mummy’s sister was back and she wasn’t a fan of Wanda’s; in her eyes Wanda was the ‘ugly duckling’.  Their conversations never ended well, there was always a sour taste in her mouth afterwards.

“ My dear, how are you? so you’re now entering University, you’re all grown up” “yes ma” was all Wanda could say and a quiet “thank you ma” followed.  Wanda always wondered why aunty Bilkis had so much power over her…

This woman in her mid…”wait Oh is anty Billy in her 40’s or 50’s” well it all didn’t matter because she was “self-made” as she liked to call it, slim and light complexioned you’d think she had albinism I mean the years of “Tura” had paid off except for the not so light knuckles… “Did I mention she was single and loving every moment of it”

“Wanda, you need to loose weight, how will you get the boys with all this…?” Mind you this was the year 2000 and there was a craze for being slim. “yes ma”…

Wanda had two sisters, both slim, light complexioned like mumsy and they were tall for her standard. “you’re a pretty girl but you need to be slimmer, boys don’t like fat girls, stop eating everything put in your path”..”so she was still talking?” her thoughts were always lost with anty Billy.  She hated being at anty Billy’s, the countless men, the loud parties, the “meetings” it was all too worrying. “If dad were alive all this wouldn’t be happening to me”. She needed to mount courage to call mummy’s bluff, she needed to say what was wrong. 

This was her first time back in almost 4 years, she had always made excuses to avoid coming back and daddy gladly supported her, now she had to face her demons; Uncle Tam was one of them.  The girl’s father had died only recently, she was heart broken he wouldn’t get to walk her down the aisle, she knew she was his favourite (at least she looked exactly like him if that was any consolation) she wanted to pursue Public Health like him, but it didn’t seem feasible now. 

Jolting her back to reality was an all so familiar voice, “Wanda Wanda, kin yi girma” (you are all grown) Uncle Tamandu liked  speaking hausa even though he knew they couldn’t speak it well enough. Her fear was becoming evident (at least she taught it was) and it became all so clear she wasn’t quite ready to face the demons, at least not today… 

Was she angry? afraid? she seemed more confused. With the corner of her eye she caught Charis chating away with him…How can everyone be so clueless, this man was slime, no the thing under slime, no, the thing that grows under the thing under slime…Arghhhrrr, “count to 10 Wanda, count, she told herself…it was a technique she saw in a movie..”1, 2, 3, ….5, 6..” it seemed to work but rather than calm down just then a nauseating feeling overtook her and she needed to get out of there.  

“what was he doing here?”

Wanda's tale by Ritkatmwa Gwan Episode 5

Awkwardness!!

“Wanda, Wanda, Wanda” her silence echoed…

Back to reality: 

The next few days were pretty weird…One would think after the kiss/peck, whatever it was, this two shared a whirlwind romance would have commenced, NO!… Wanda had mastered a plan and it was working at least for the time being. 

I mean it was barely a peck on the lips….why make so much of a small thing….

Jude was more frustrated it was the forth day after ‘the incident’ and he hadn’t seen her at the department, even Oiza was now avoiding him. 

He was in luck… “Oiza!!..” Jude knew she could hear him, he took three strides and caught her arm, “ are you avoiding me?” “Me? why, you?” her obvious confusion was all the response he needed, “where is she? is she ok, has she been avoiding me and in the process missing classes?”

she didn’t have time to answer because he kept his interrogation going.. You see, these two could barely tolerate each other with Wanda around and his patient was always thin with her..he had to make a tight fist pressing his nails hard into his plam to stop himself, it was the same everytime and who is not to say she was feeding Wanda some holier than thou nonsense that’s why she’s avoiding him…..  

Oiza cut in like the sassy one she was “ah, Jude calm down. “Yes, yes and No” 

He was puzzled and very sure she would get what she deserved soon.. “what do you mean yes, yes and no?”  knowing Oiza  he was ready to take whatever sassiness that came with her today. “you asked I answered”… th frown lines on his forehead was no cosmetic…he was working up a storm…

 “ok so Wanda is avoiding me, she is fine and isn’t missing lectures?” She gave him a plastic smile (the kind you fake when trying to get out of an awkward situation) “something like that, see you’re smart after all” In another scenario a slap would have followed her loud mouth, did she know who he was, he knew if he gave her the slap he was preparing it might ruin all chances with Wanda…”patience,patience” he told himself…”so where is she,I need to see her, we need to talk?”…

Oiza wasn’t strong armed by Jude, she didn’t even like the guy but he had these eyes that pierced and she was genuinely scared what he might do to her had she refused. “yes he was light skinned, looked sharp and had a suave to him… but he had these eyes that weren’t blue but had a certain hue only someone of mixed race or albinism could have..they were beautiful eyes oh (even she could see that) but even the devil appears as an angel of light and this devil, Oiza did not trust. She knew encouraging this budding romance was bad but Wanda had the deciding to do.

Her little bubble was busted…“Wanda!” “before you run off, don’t blame Oiza, I literarily dragged her here, well, something close to that”  

She was lost in the stare of his eyes, there was a twinkle to it at a certain angle from the light…his eyes were teary but not that he was tearing up, he was just perfect there was a hint of silent rage but she didn’t notice that… He was still asking himself why this girl had such a hold on Him…. Maybe it was her resemblance to Vickky that intrigued him but was this a good thing? 

“What say you Wanda?”  she didn’t hear anything he had said but she nodded anyway and the broad smile on his face only meant one thing, they were officially a couple…

Stepping into deep waters.

By now it's no surprise to many that I doodle and like to write, for those who are just finding this out, follow "Wanda's Tale" my ongoing series (we're in Episode 4 already so you have some reading up to do) Twitter @RitgwanFacebook, facebook.com/Ritz.Gwan 

Monday's and Thursday's are now dedicated to creative writing...the stories, tales and doodles (😀)

From the month of February I will be introducing "For the Love of Travel" where I will continue to write about my love for traveling until I begin to travel and document those adventures (😀), this will be Tuesday's and Fridays.

I reserved Wednesday's for a special project, "Living your best life" is something I started in 2014 but dropped along the way, now it's back and better...This captures mostly pointers to living an abundant life, the voicing promises to be as interesting and as creative as possible, some of you will be conscripted to share with me some tips to living an abundant life...

2017 is the year of stepping out.... January was a blast. Thank you for encouraging me through "Wanda's Tale" as the story unfolds I assure you, it is only the beginning of great things this year.....

By late February another series "WIFE MATERIAL" will premiere, you don't want to miss this.
Cheers to an exciting 2017..

Wanda's Tale Episode 4

A Friendship is born?

Jude had two carryover courses and unlike before, he now had reason to attend the lectures more frequently, Wanda had become his new obsession and the two had become somewhat comfortable and a harmless visit to room C-14 didn’t look like a bad idea. 

Oiza in her usual fashion had reservations…”Wanda you know what they say about C block boys; don’t say I didn’t warn you”..A puzzled Wanda had stumbled on some Maya Angelou literature recently and she felt the need to express herself…”Babe, why box the guy in a stereotypical description…because he stays on a block doesn’t make him akin to the behavioural pattern dominant there”…All this English, Wanda, don’t say I didn’t warn you sha”. 

“it seems you don’t have friends?” Wanda’s question seemed like a concern even though she tried to coat it.. This had “RED FLAG” written all over it but the butterflies in her stomach didn’t leave much room for thoughts.

“I like my sanity”; “trust me I’ve had friends on this campus and in three years none has proven worthy”.. “your royal majesty or should I say your royal flyness” both caught a laugh and Jude took the opportunity to cup a feel of her breast. 

“AH!!!” “please, I’m not that kind of..” he didn’t even let her finish “I’m sorry, I slipped, I ehmmmm, I’m sorry”. Now they could barely make eye contact and the tiny room felt more like a cubicle, she was running out of breath.. “ I have to go”. The C-block stereotype wasn’t a lie after all… 

“but I said I was sorry, I really am” Wanda was already on her feet and in all honesty she didn’t mind that he had felt her up she just didn’t want to appear easy. Since she started it, she intended to continue with the charade until she knew for sure who this guy truly was.

Few weeks ago Jude was a figure in the University census as far as she was concerned; now, he intrigued her and his mystic appearance didn’t make it easy. Even he knew he was a catch but what was it to him? Wanda knew there was more and she was keen on finding out. She quietly had a thing for ‘bad boys”, now that Jude was looking like one, he seemed all the more her type…..hmmmmmm

“ I’ll walk you out then, I apologise I didn’t mean to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable”

now Wanda was feeling bad and in her head she thought “…me sef, and this guy is a gentleman oh..” as if reading her mind he says “ I insist you go and return whenever you feel comfortable, even I am embarrassed now.” Jude knew he was putting up an act; in another place and time things would be happening, no talking involved…

It was a quiet walk to her hostel and since men weren’t allowed in he knew he had to say something before she disappeared into the night and possibly never speak to him again…just as the noise of the busy commercial area was drowning out he moved closer, leaned in as if to say “good…” the night was muffled in the kiss she gave him, “hmmmm” before he could respond or even get it through his head what just happened, she had slipped through the gate… 

There were no mobile phones then so he knew it would be a long night… 

A shaking Wanda walked briskly “What did I just do?!! what are we now?” her walk was in a bid to avoid the scorpions that could be lurking in the dark and trying to get further away from what she had just done… 

Had Wanda awoken a sleeping dog?

"Wanda's Tale" by Ritkatmwa Gwan Episode 3

Wanda meets Jude:
It was a hot Wednesday afternoon and the scotching sun on campus seemed hotter than usual. Wanda made her way through OAU walk, she had just 5minutes to the start of lectures and she didn’t want to sit outside. Professor Koroma would let you sit in the scotching Northeastern Sun if you were five minutes late to his class….not to mention the Maiduguri flies that seemed high on steroids.
She could tell someone was trying to get her attention but she was the least bit bothered.“These guys don’t know when to toast girl abi”…the sweat trickling down her back wasn’t the only thought running through her head, her misplaced face towel was competing for her thoughts …“ excuse me, hi” Wanda’s patience was thin at the point and without a second glance at whoever it was she blurted out her repugnance…“ahh, what is it, can’t you see I’m late for a lecture? please, I don’t have time for this” and walked off.He looked at the purple face towel in his hand and walked quietly behind her. He knew he had seen her before…trust me, this wasn’t a cliche move he knew she needed the towel.Just as Wanda was beginning to enjoy the coolness of the barely functioning fan in the lecture theatre Cynthia passed her face towel, “that guy said I should give this to you”… Her flushed face did no help masking her embarrassment.She quickly looked away and the lecture seemed like an eternity…she would almost forget he was there but each time she tried to steal a glance, their eyes met; those eyes…. “what is this?” He looked too good to be trying for her attention...With Prof out of the way, she knew he would walk up to her, what would she say…before she had a chance to gather her thoughts he was a few feet from her desk, his perfume had a soft smell of talc almost like a baby smell to it…his presence was over powering..."is he that tall or it's cos I'm sitting?"
“I’m sorry about earlier, I,I,I…” her stutter was more embarrassing…
, “it’s fine, you wouldn’t have known I had the face towel, it’s OK…”
with an almost convincing gentlemanly demeanour he stretched out his hand for a handshake and Wanda was awed by his smile.
“I’m Jude”……” ammm, I mean, I’m Wanda”.
Her heart rate was accelerated, the sweating had returned….why did one hand shake have so much effect on her?!
Watch out for Episode 4 next Monday... feel free to Comment, like and share...