The Expatriate Episode 4: Wapi In Quandary

"800 quid yeah!" This was far and away Wapi's largest single outlay since he'd been in England. Anyway it was done now. He'd paid 550 pounds for an airline ticket and was also sending 250 pounds spending money. The ticket and cash were for Florence, Wapi's girlfriend of three years whom he'd left behind in Freetown and promised to send for as soon as he was settled in England. Having arrived, Wapi had kept that promise in the back of his mind, putting aside a little money when he started to work, but not conscientiously working towards any particular date. He had preferred to wait until he was firmly established in a good job and had a place of his own. He had not wanted Florence to be subjected to the treatment he was getting from Olivette, his cousin Tola's girlfriend, with whom he was currently staying. Although Tola had told him it was ok for him to stay until he found his feet, Olivette managed to make him feel he was unwelcome at every possible opportunity, without ever blatantly telling him so.

There was of course one further and more major complication. For the last several months or so Wapi had been seeing a girl called Marva and they'd been getting on very well. Extremely well. What's more, Marva carried a British passport, which while not Wapi's primary motivation, was certainly a point in her favour.

During their first few exchanges of correspondence, neither Florence nor Wapi had broached the subject of when she might join him in England. After a while, Florence's replies to his letters had become sporadic, a fact Wapi generously attributed to her not wanting to put him under too much pressure. In the letters he received from his mother, Wapi failed to detect the hints that Mama saw Florence these days, only when Wapi had sent money and Florence came by to collect her share.

Anyway, the situation had changed over the last few months and the volume of letters from Florence had greatly increased. Each successive letter detailed how much she loved wapi and missed Wapi, and couldn't wait to join him. He'd redoubled his efforts and had sent the ticket money, visa money, and spending money. Wapi was more than a little surprised that Olivette had raised no objections when Topla raised with her the imminence of someone else joining their household. In fact it appeared that she'd readily given ger consent and seemed mildly amused by the situation. The closer Florence's arrival date loomed, the more intrigued Olivette seemed intrigued. She constantly harped on how Florence's presence would put a stop to Wapi's sleep outs and teased him that, "you've left her in Freetown for over a year now. Are you sure no one has kicked your sticks?" At this question Wapi had smiled confidently and quoted those passages from her letters that articulated how keen Florence was to join him. " She can't wait to see me," he pointed otut, "my sticks are secure!"

The major worry in Wapi's own mind was not Olivette's "provocation," but his own ability to run two women at the same time in London. This would not be as easy here as it had been back home, particularly as one of the women, Florence, would be living with him and financially dependent on him. In his own way Wapi felt tremendous loyalty to both women. He and Florence had been together before he left home and had made plans for their future. His sending for her was to be phase one of their next stage of development.

Marva on the other hand was a relative newcomer in his considerations and affections. In a short space of time however, they had become very close. Even apart from the feelings that existed between them both, Wapi had been taken into the bosom of Marva's family. Her twin Marcia loved Wapi as much as Marva herself did, and it was her cousin Glenroy, Wapi's friend and workmate that had introduced them in the first place.

Marva's mum Darlene would always make a fuss over Wapi when she saw him and called him "my lovely African boy." She liked his polite manner and what she considered his serious attitude to life. Though she'd introduced herself as Darlene the first time they'd met, Wapi had never called her that, preferring Miss Darlene initially. He had now eveolved to calling her, jovially, mum. The respect he showed, so lacking in those brought up in England, had done a great deal to endear him to the family.

Wapi wondered how all these people would react when they discovered that he'd let them down. Indeed betrayed them. To an honourable guy such as Wapi this was a significant dilemma. There was nothing it seemed, he could do about it. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Wapi was leaning over the guard rail trying to get a glimpse through the sliding doors and see who was coming through the customs channel. Most of the arriving passengers had come through and only a few of the small crowd always awaiting a Salone flight remained. Suddenly he saw Florence coming through pushing a heavily laden trolley ahead of her. She was accompanied by a tall smartly dressed guy who seemed to have just as much luggage as she did.

Wapi vaulted the rail and rushed to embrace Florence. He noticed her cool response but put it down to her being shy and tired from her journey. They moved clear of the congested area and Wapi took control of Florence's trolley. As they walked, she explained that the guy who had travelled with her was her cousin. He needed liquid cash and was willing to exchange some travellers cheques for it. She asked him for 200 pounds but Wapi needed 50 for their taxi home. He gave her 150 pounds. Florence asked Wapi to get the taxi while she saw her cousin off and got the travellers cheques from him.

Returning from the cab rank Wapi heard the the public address tannoy, "Would Mr Gabriel Johnson please contact the information desk." Wapi quickened his pace and once at the desk, was informed that a Miss Thomas (Florence) had left a message for him to proceed home where she would contact him later. The information desk attendants could offer a perplexed Wapi no further information.

After searching the terminal for an hour or so, looking in shops, going to both the arrivals and departures areas, and waiting outside the ladies toilets to see if she would emerge, Wapi double checked the message with the information desk , then decided to head home. Florence did not get in touch and it was several days before Wapi discovered what had happened. The guy she'd been with was no cousin at all. He was Florence's boyfriend. And, the father of her expected child. He was here to pursue a Masters degree in Scotland and had brought his girlfriend with him. Wapi reflected that not only had he paid her airfare and given her spending money, but with the money at the airport, had probably covered their train fares to Edinburg as well.

Over the next few weeks an angry, frustrated and humiliated Wapi was consoled by his cousin Tola, though Olivette thought it was the funniest thing she had ever heard. Wapi was sure she knew far more about the situation than she was letting on.



Glossary:

Quid: British pounds colloquially. Equivalent of bucks for dollars.

Kick Your Sticks: Someone luring your romantic interest away from you.

Provocation: In this context, taking the mickey or merciless teasing. Provocation can lead to a fight. Particularly if someone has just had their sticks kicked.