THE ENCOUNTER

It was on one of my keke napep trips to where I can't really remember. 

Just me and the tricycle driver. I was already beginning to feel weird because we had driven almost half the trip and hadn't gotten any other passenger. I didn't want him thinking I was his bad luck today.

That was when she flagged us down. She asked first to find out if we were going her way and thank goodness we were. 

I can't say your definition of beauty but this lady right here was one.

A fair one at that. 

I adjusted as she climbed into the tricycle. 

"Hey, good morning" She greeted.

You could imagine the joy. This beautiful stranger was trying to form an acquaintance. But I didn't answer her. 

"I'm greeting you oo" She said again.

I was taken aback.

"Oooh, pardon my rudeness dear." I said, smiling. Don't blame me for using the word 'dear' already. I was trying to makeup for my first impression. 

"No problem," She said stretching out her hand for a shake. "My name is Beauty."

This was getting real. A beauty bearing Beauty. 

"Daniel. Daniel is the name." I responded as I shook hands with her.

"Mmmm... Nice meeting you. Mind I call you Dan?" Beauty said.

"That's totally fine." I was giggling like a two-year old. Pet names already.

"So you live in the area?" She asked.

"Yes, yes. I stay on the street opposite the Youth Church." I answered.

"Impossible," She laughed. "I stay there too. Number 12."

"No way. You can't be my neighbour. I live at Number 11." I said as we both laughed.

"How come we don't know each other?" She asked in the midst of our laughter.

"I don't even know. A small world you know." I said.

"Who dey drop here?" The tricycle driver's voice brought us back to reality.

"I think it's my stop." Beauty announced.

"Mm. I guess we'll see at home then." I said.

"You don't need my number?" She asked, as we approached where she was dropping.

What?! Where are all the girls like this? 

"Why not?" I said, handing her my phone to enter her digits. I watched her type the numbers earnestly.

09035....

"Do you want to sleep till 10am?" My father was tapping me to wake up.

I looked around me. I was still inside my room.

This couldn't have been a dream. No.

"I'm off to work. Come and lock the front door." My dad said leaving the room.

I followed immediately after him, waved him goodbye and locked the door.

This dream was one of a kind, but I knew it was too good to be true.

Just so you know, I don't know any Youth Church...

THE END.

Written by,

Uche Uwazurike.