ROMANCE STORIES

Over the next few months, Taribo and Julie continued to see each other. They had both agreed that it would be a good idea for them to start off as friends, and to see how things developed. And the more Taribo saw of Julie, the more he liked her. He sometimes met her at the hospitals that she visited in the line of her work, and he saw how the staff and patients responded with affection to her genuine interest in them. He noted how cheerful and optimistic she was, even on days when things hadn’t gone her way. But most of all, he appreciated, he enjoyed – no, he luxuriated in the care and attention that she showered him with when they were together. It was like he was the most special and powerful man in the world, able to jump seven mountains in one bound. She flavoured his life so it tasted so much better; she added an eighth colour to his rainbow – in short, he found himself longing to be with her when she wasn’t around. And yet… “…I mean, Dele, I just don’t know what to do, man.”...

Would you surety someone for court bail? I did this once and got my fingers severely burnt. I thought I was doing a good thing but the person I stood in for absconded and left me feeling empty and stupid. The lady was arrested a few days to Christmas and I couldn't stand to imagine the kind of hell she would go through in detention. Also, only God knew how long the case would last, especially when she didn’t have anyone to help her in the police. She couldn’t even afford a lawyer to begin with, worse still she appeared so ignorant she didn’t seem to realise the kind of trouble she was in. I happened to be her only relative, though distant, who lived in the area, and when the petitioner agreed to settle out of court, I decided to stand in for her so they could release her on bail. It was soon after she absconded that I realized what a thoughtless thing I did. So how did this all happen? Well, there was a robbery one night at the phone shop where she worked as a sales girl a...

Taribo repeatedly scanned the restaurant for Julie, hoping that she would be on time. There was nothing he hated more than people who had no concept of punctuality – that was why he had arrived a full fifteen minutes before the time that they had agreed on the phone. In between scans, he thought about the circumstances that had led to their date. He had been to see his friend, Dele, and he had just happened to chance upon Dele’s sister, Ayo, who he hadn’t seen for a while. She marvelled at how good he was looking, then quickly zeroed in on his love life, jesting that he must have a swarm of ladies following him everywhere these days. In response, he gave a wry smile and said that he and Miss Right still moved in mutually exclusive circles. Ayo clapped her hands in delight. “Ah, there’s this friend of mine, Julie, that you must meet then.” Ignoring Dele’s protestations, she went on. “She’s a wonderful girl – she’s very bubbly, very intelligent and very, very compassionate.” Tarib...

The Beginning March 12th, 1994 [Friday] The day I first saw her in front of Principal's Office and it feels like it was just yesterday. My friends and I been the Senior Prefect and the Assistant are keeping the late comers at bay to pick up the litters. I stand behind the block of J.S.S. 3A looking at the wonderful woman, she is cute, cool, charming, captivating and cinderelling classic in her late 20s. Who is she? I tapped the Senior Prefect in amazed mood. The new English Language teacher he replied. I smiled as if have just won a lottery. The Romanticism On that same day, I could not think or reason in any dimension other than the stunning angel have sighted. Sometimes I smiles for no reason, other times I put on imaginary actions and unexplainable circumstances. On the same day I got home, its a total different day my parent, brother and sister had noticed the sudden change of mood; all house chores were thoroughly done without being lazy like before. On Monday morning, sh...

Brad looked completely exhausted as he fell through the front door, his arms full of  overflowing manilla folders.  Every day it was the same story.  He left home before the sun rose and returned after dark only to continue his work after a quick dinner and a couple of words with his long suffering wife. She noticed how thin he looked in the crumpled grey suit he wore to work each day.  The tall man stooped as if he was carrying a huge weight on his back.  In truth he was burdened by a load of responsibility which was clearly overwhelming him. ‘Hi, honey. How are you?  You look tired,’ said Cathy, worried beyond the meaning those words could possibly convey. ‘Hey babe,’ replied Brad wearily. Cathy watched him trudge past her after accepting a quick peck on the cheek which was all the affection they exchanged these days.  She wondered if she should try again to suggest he quit his job.  Last time ...

You know that the more times you press the “up” button . . . the faster the elevator will arrive,” said Pierre mischievously as he poked away in exaggerated fury. “You are so silly,” answered the smartly dressed, young, blond haired woman with a coffee cup in her right hand . . . and a smile growing quickly across her face. “NO . . . it’s true . . . see . . . the door is opening . . . right . . . right . . . . n o w,” he continued, feigning to be serious, and purposefully stretching out the word “N . . . O . . . W” to synchronize with the elevator’s arrival. “And where might I might I have the pleasure of delivering you today milady . . . Paris . . . Rome . . . forty-fourth floor?” continued Pierre as he changed his routine . . . now awkwardly trying to sound British. “Oh . . . I think should like to return to Rio . . . or . . . no . . . how about . . . the . . . forty-fourth floor?” “My pleasure . . . milady . . . 44 th floor it tis . . . but alas  . . . I can o...

om Dudley tapped his fingers on his desk in his Advanced English 11 room as he waited for the class to begin.  The 16 year old boy was a good looking, hard-working student who pretty much stayed within a small circle of friends due to extreme shyness.  Not one to socially approach any of the girls in Marshall High School, he was taken off guard when Jill Babcock came over and sat beside him. “Hi Tom.  Got a minute?”  The cute brunette with straight, silk-like hair was leaning in towards him. “Um, sure??”  Casual social conversation was not Tom’s strong point.  Ask him about the American Civil War and he could talk for hours.  Talk off the cuff to a girl about anything and he went into a panic. “Velvet and I are interested in going to the Sadie Hawkins dance on Friday and we would like you to come with us.  If, of course, you’re free that evening.” Dudley mentally checked his extensive social calendar for Friday.  Yep, you...

It was their love of John Donne that had brought them together, Larry recalled. While they had been attending the same seminar group on Renaissance Poetry, he had secretly admired her, with her long dark hair and stunning good looks. Yes, too good for someone like him, he had thought. Unattainable, like a goddess! But then a miracle happened. Sandra had been rapt by his analysis of Donne’s “The Broken Heart” in one seminar, especially when he quoted the final couplet from memory: My rags of heart can like, wish, and adore, But after one such love, can love no more. She had approached him afterwards saying how much she’d like to “discuss” Donne’s poetry with him as he was her favorite poet. This was the genesis of their weekly Friday evening meetings in the snug little lounge bar in a pub off-campus, well away from the noisy student watering holes. They would talk about a poem each week, over a couple of half pints of lager, both rounds on Larry. T...

It was a hot summer day in 1975 and Steve Geraci was slowly sipping his cold Dr. Pepper under a shady White Ash tree when his friend Larry Tantalo called to him. “Hey can I bum a ride home from you?” Geraci nodded affirmatively as Larry sat down beside the 16 year old boy.  Geraci and Tantalo, high school friends, had just completed a round of caddying at the Philadelphia Country Club, a prestigious private golf club in the Philadelphia suburb of Gladwyne.  One of the oldest country clubs in the United States, “PCC “was a gathering spot for Philadelphia’s elite.  Executives from banking and big pharma companies joined to play golf there and to be seen with the movers and shakers of the Phily area. “Hot day,” said Tantalo as he opened his own soft drink.  “Thought I might die out there.” Geraci smiled.  “Glad we got out early before the serious heat comes in.  Want to take off?” “Sounds great.” The boys stood up and started to walk u...

Life was not going as Miranda Allen had thought it should. It had been three long years. Those years involved frequent fighting followed by her husband Adam telling her that she would never amount to anything. Tears often stained her cheeks as she would always look in the mirror at the end of the day and say she was where she was supposed to be. No one had told her otherwise. Miranda's world came crashing down when she walked in on her husband and his mistress a few months after leaving her home. Holding back the urge to throttle the both of them, all she could do was stand there. With tears welling up in her eyes once more as they often did, she refused to let them fall. No way was she going to give this man the satisfaction of seeing that. Silence filled the room as all time seemed to just stand still. Even the hands on the clock above the stove didn't dare move. The last phrase uttered before the click of the door was still ringing in her ears as she stood...

Falling in love is easy.  It’s everything else that’s tricky.  The wooing, the courting...  I learned that the hard way. I met Gemma when I was 19. ‘She’s beautiful.’  I said to my dad. ‘Aye, son?’  He said back to me. ‘Aye.’  I nodded. I’d met her when I was out on a Spring Saturday. We were hanging out at our spot – a dry wall covered by the MacDaniels’ Barn, and she’d come along. ‘This is Gemma, my cousin.’  Duncan had said. I was amazed. How could so much sexiness be put in one body? She had, let me see... blonde curly hair.  She had the biggest, you know.  And legs, boy did she have legs...  And she wasn’t afraid to show them. ‘And who are you?’  She’d asked me.  Me.  She’s asked me . ‘I’m Jimmy.’  I’d said with my chest puffed up. ‘And what do you do Jimmy?’  She’d asked. ‘I help my dad on the farm.’  I’d said, still puffed up. ‘Very nice.  And are you coming to ...