John Ekongo ONE can hardly make it on a student grant let alone patrol the corridors of UNAM in the latest fashion accessories and not to mention maintaining one of the freshmen on a dating basis. So one can’t blame Sara for settling for the bald-headed, portly and wrinkly Mr Shivute gallivanting in his new NAVARA. The fact that Shivute’s daughter Mary is the same age as Sara is a non-issue. Now on the other side of town, Paul is out in the cold not knowing the girl he’s spent the last two years with is eyeing freshman Mary’s father as she’s had it with pap and vis! Lets just say Paul is not adding up to her “new standards” – it’s apparently a new year’s resolution to be at the top of the social ladder mixing with the right people and making new contacts not forgetting keeping up appearances! Now she works overtime to maintain her new image, neglects her studies because she’s finally got her “man” Mr Shivute and his Viagra who has her skipping classes running from lodge to lodge. If ever she turns up at campus, she looks down on Paul as he is still wearing the same old All Stars he bought two years ago, the Levi jeans his brother donated few years back and the T-shirt she tried to throw away so many times (his best Sunday clothes by any standards). Thinking, no more pap and vis for me, only Greek and Mediterranean salads as Mr Shivute likes his girls on the twiggy side! Eventually six months later, Paul pull’s himself together and stops feeling sorry for himself cause he finally got the message that Sara is not coming back, and cleaned himself and went to the nearest bar to celebrate his new-found freedom. So he happens to find himself at the “Wine Bar’ accidentally, nonetheless he needed to quench his emotional turmoil and pain with liquids. Be warned, Paul meets Mrs Jones having a few drinks at the bar, and a “healthy conversation” ensues about the facts of life, Naturally, Mrs Jones feels sympathy and she offers Paul comfort while driving him around in her RAV 4. Occasionally Paul gets to hold the steering wheel, in that manner Mrs Jones thinks of him as her new “personal assistant”! It’s cool as long as you keep him on a tight leash. Did I tell you that Mrs Jones is married to Shivute, the same man who digs Paul’s ex-girlfriend. Whoever said that Mrs Jones is not entitled to her own toy boy was wrong. Paul could not be worried less in any case, in the absence of Sara, experience will do. Mrs Jones is well and good playing that role exceptionally well. Confused yet, don’t be, the twist is yet to come. So any way, Mrs Jones, seeing that her toy boy was on such good behaviour, there is possibly no harm in taking the weekend away to spend in serenity at Tobie Aupindi’s revamped Wildlife Resort with Paul, considering the night drive one can have these days. With Shivute on some business trip down South, “all will be well that goes well”. Reality is that Shivute was no way near the airport, and Sara did not pitch for class either – two plus two equals two. As the saying goes, like-minded minds think alike. Well true, Shivute thought it be a nice gesture if they get to spend the weekend holed up in an air-conditioned en-suite room at Tobie’s resort, as well. Since they spend most of the days indoors rightfully so, you never know who is watching, so discreet that even the staff at their reclusive spot forget about their existence. It was a lovely day; nothing could go wrong for Mrs Jones and Paul not lingering far from her with travel bag and all. Excellent service at the check-in counter, all systems checked and ready to go. Wait a minute … the booking valet just gave them the copy keys to room 14. Ring any bell. But Mrs Jones, did notice … there he was bare-chested potbellied with jockey straps on, Viagra on the bedside table, and she cosy in bed with red lingerie. “What the hell.**%*@.” So Paul goes “Sara?”, and she goes “Paauuuul!”. Shivute goes baby it is Valentine day, and Mrs Jones goes “which baby Shivute?” Let me just point out good people, or should I say cheaters, I’m not Jerry Springer – there’s not even the slightest resemblance but crazy as good as it sounds, I hope your Valentine day was not this bad. Sorry Ngo