7 pm Maryland
Kristi, has always been ambitious, as a starry eyed kid in the 80,s she lusted for all the toys beyond the reach of her impoverished parents. She struggled with other little kids over their own dolls, most of the time she came out on top .In the market she would grab anything that caught her fancy, her mother would wrestle with her to hand it back to the owners. And later as a teenager in high school she stole everything she could not have. Boys were her favorite prey and she stole them in droves from other girls. She was bold and daring, she became the toast of rich boys around town. A lot of stories trailed her escapades. It was widely acknowledged by guys that she was hot. Many men saw her as an over sexed little slot whom they despised in front of their wives but secretly craved for inwardly, she didn’t care. She was too alive to bother about gossips; she referred to it only in her jokes. Nobody could resist her vivacity, which was contagious. She associated with girls much older than her and by the time she was admitted into ESUT to study linguistics she was way ahead of her mates in the game of “Yin and Yang”. She was living in a town where materialism was celebrated and to belong to the bigger circles one has to be able to compete in cash and fashion. In order to be in the circle you must look good and to look good you have to play the game. So Kristi joined the league of girls who collaborate to provide special desert to powerful and special guest in executive suites of high-class hotels within and around the state. She had realized at 14 as her body began to respond to the first impulses of puberty that men became unsettled in her presence and kept looking at her in a weird kind of way. As she grew older it became clear to her that those gray eyes checking her out were not exactly paternal. She was not exactly beautiful but her presence brought a form of sexual tension among the men folks in any gathering. She had something that drove men crazy .She began to use this power to fuel her ambition to acquire as much as possible of the good things of life. She was enjoying this life of fun and quick cash when she stumbled into Nollywood by chance and a new ambition was born in her.
A movie train from Nollywood had come to her campus to organize an audition for extras. She went with a friend and was chosen to play along with others in the movie. She was very excited about the experience and did not care that she spent more time in bed with the movie director than she did playing her role. She became obsessed with Nollywood and When eventually the movie hit the market she had made her decision to be an actress at all cost.
It has been four years now since Kristi came to Lagos to follow her dream. She was furious walking about in the sitting room of the flat she shared with Chioma, a banker and long time friend. The gossip tabloid ShowGrease has just published a piece they alleged her latest escapade. It was about another affair this time with another married producer Jim Davis. A picture of Kristi with the producer was placed at the center of the page. In the few years that Kristi had become part of Nollywood community many a wives have become wary of her and her tolerant single colleagues distanced themselves once they got married. She had become infamous and unwelcome in many homes and parties. The media thrived on her indiscretion, sometimes selling their papers on fabricated and unverified stories as was the case in this report.
Kristi was fuming as she explained to Chioma her flat mate who has been trying to calm her down.
‘We just had dinner. We were not even alone. A couple of my colleagues were there. It’s just happened that they left earlier and left us alone’
‘Don’t let these media people get to you, that’s what they pull on everybody in the showbiz’ Chioma consoled her.
‘Just dinner, now its all over the paper that I am screwing him too’ she shook her head
‘How horrible these people can be, they don’t even think about the emotional tumults they can cause by their publications’ Chioma wondered
‘What kind of people could make up stories about others in order to sell their worthless paper.’ With that Kristi tore up the paper to shreds. ‘May be I should sue them for libel this time. They can come to the law court and prove their accusation.’ Kristi looked serious.
‘Oh yeah, that’s not such a bad idea. Sue them for a very large amount of money so they can learn their lesson’ Chioma smiled and for the first time since the discovery of the slanderous publication Kristi smiled back.
‘I might just hire a lawyer tomorrow and have him file a suit immediately’
‘Careful dear, think it through. I hate lawyers besides court trials are always nasty. It belongs to the media. It’s their “own” real life soap opera. They run the show so they will do their best to dredge up old dirt and rub them on you. By the time they are finished baby nobody would want to hire or watch you.’ Chioma sighed as if to say its unfair but that the way it is.
‘I guess you are right, I should just ignore it.’
‘When Somebody is bold enough to ask just tell the person to ask ShowGrease’
Feeling much better Kristi walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a chilled blox energy drink. ‘Thanks for understanding, Chioma.’
‘Any time girl friend’ Chioma stretched out once again on the long sofa and retrieved the book she was reading. “Choosing your Life Partner”
‘Will I ever live without you?’
‘You will O! I either of us can get married at any time’
‘Lucky you.’
Kristi has never been bothered about the spats and attacks of the media but she was already in a foul mood because she did not land the lead role the stinking producer all but promised her. Her ambition of becoming a superstar was dying on her and she didn’t know what to do. The directors she has worked with so far paid more attention to her sexuality rather than the talents lurking in her. They always want to cast her as a prostitute, which did not help her already infamous image. Turning to Chioma ‘ Why do you keep reading that unrealistic book’
‘ What do you mean. This is good counsel’
‘Why would anybody want a perfect match for a spouse’ Kristi teased.
‘That is not the idea’ Chioma shook her head not ready for any argument.
‘Well, if my Husband happens to have the similar likes and dislikes. It will be a very boring married life and I would not be caught dead in it’ she continued her joke.
‘So may I know why you have not plucked any guy yet?’
‘I am not yet ready for commitment. Hey baby look at me, young and sexy. I can’t let any man ground me while he flies around the world.’
‘You will get tired one day.’
‘Till that day comes I will be flying. Open your eyes Chioma I have been to places and have seen what men in marriage do. Believe me when I say there are no faithful men in and outside marriage.’
‘Haba Kristi, that’s an overstatement. There are born again Christian men and respected pastors. How can you make such generalization?’ At this Kristi disintegrated into a fit of laughter.
‘Was that funny?’ Chioma asked her when she was calmer.
‘Chioma my sister let us not go there before I spill blood’
‘Kristi, are you ever going to change’ Chioma shook her head ‘Come to church with me tomorrow. A powerful pastor is coming from Ghana. There will be prayers and deliverances.’
‘You want me to be a bible carrying fornicator. No thank you. I may be a sinner but I won’t be a hypocrite. The day I deny my real self will be the same day I die.’
‘I pray you change your mind soon.’
‘You will be praying for long my dear’ Kristi remained adamant ‘these NEPA people have tried today O. The light has been on all day’
Chioma was about to agree with Kristi when suddenly without any warning sign the power went out. The two girls burst into laughter.
‘Did you have to remind them, Kristi. Look at what you caused now’ Chioma groped around in the dark and found a pillow and threw it in Kristi’s direction.
