Staying over can be a lot of work
Being Bachelor (EP 22)
Its almost 12 am and as I stepped into my bathroom to shower, I couldn’t help but notice the patches in the basin, the kind that clearly tells you how bad this thing needs to be washed and how urgent it has to be.
Same was my fate when I returned from work the other day and I saw my blind and windows opened… ooo jigbi jigbi (papa ajasco here). Mehn, I couldn’t hold it, something erupted in me, but, I had to put up that pretty smile, the kind a beauty pageant contestant puts on when she’s failing the question “what year did Nigeria gain independence?”.
Well, on this particular morning, one thing couldn’t leave my mind while I wandered through the series of things I’ve had to put up with for some weeks. That one thing is my aunt. Now, I know why she shouts always.
I remember what her face will usually look like, like a lemon in the hands of a mixologist who squeezes a few drops of the fruit into a cocktail… My aunt’s face will regularly fluctuate between the red and green colour of the traffic light, you could tell something is wrong but, since she isn’t stating it clearly to me, I just shut up and zoom off.
So, why does she shout?
After 2 years of staying alone, having at maximum a week old roommate, I am beginning to understand her reasons whenever she sees the state of her bathroom or kitchen or even the throw pillow after close of work.
I can now understand from my situation that, I moved her salt in the direction she doesn’t like, I probably used the soap and didn’t place it how she would have, or I opened the door and wasn’t quick to close it against mosquitoes and a host of others things I probably would have done.
It took me to start living alone and having visitors to understand this. There’s always a way you would prefer your things to be done especially in your own space and usually, your house rules are sacred, when people, even best of friends start to break them, it opens a tap of “what the heck is wrong with you?”.
So like my aunt, I think I’m starting to squeeze my face. Once in a while, I catch myself and just like the model up there, I need to badly stay in form.
Now, it’s a different ball game when your house looks untidy and you were the cause, I mean, I hang my clothes around anywhere I like, but this same act coming from someone else is very unacceptable
I have observed also that, this thing causes a strain in relationships especially when the other person staying with you doesn’t have a defined time of leaving. Resentment can start building in, see finish and other things will start building a castle over your heads especially when both parties don’t agree on simple foundational issues.
Now, this revelation makes me appreciate my parents more. They never did me this face or felt the way I’m feeling for the long number of years we lived together. Of course, friends should help friends but I think understanding is key. Have clear communications of what your expectations are. Although you’re in my space for now, but please I will appreciate you don’t do, touch or use certain things.
Small issues but fam, I have been squeezing my face. I don’t want to be like my aunt. Help!
Aseyori Certain
