I KNOW THIS BOOK COVER

 
Happy New Year people!
This story launches a new column on the blog for flash fiction. This is best suited for readers who can’t handle bulk. I hope we have on awesome time with this berries of stories.
So, right away let’s dive into, I Know This Book Cover
 

 
“Why were you so unfriendly to Lami?”
“How was I unfriendly?” Nnena’s reply came quick, her defenses as high as the sky. She dropped her drink with a gentle thunk on the table and stirred it with a glass straw, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on Kelvin, her boyfriend. Kelvin held her gaze without saying a word.
“Okay fine” She exhaled the words. “See, I don’t like people like that”
Kelvin chuckled. “That’s funny, considering that you’ve not even had a conversation with her”
“You don’t need to taste burnt rice before you know what it is,” She drew a graceful seep from her lemonade.” If you have a functional nose you’d smell it from a distance”
He reclined. “And what is your functional nose smelling this time?”
“I know ladies like that Lami. Did you see that flowing skirt, the bare ears, face dusted with talc and lips sparingly glossed? I can tell that she’s one of those holier than thou people. She must be very judgemental and supercilious.”
“Oh wow,” He mouthed crossing his arms. “tell me more”
“Yes now. I have a truck load of them in my church back at home. And God knows I can’t stand one more person measuring in inches the length of my skirt or hair with their eyes.”
“I’ve known Lami since we were in 100L and I can say she’s nothing like all you’ve assumed. Yes, she has preached to me a couple of times. But I don’t feel judged sitting next to her. She doesn’t exude any ‘I better pass my neighbor’ vibe. All I see in her is a lady excited about her faith and willing to share it.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah, and there you sat judging her to be judgemental”
“Now you’re judging me”
“No Nnena, just stating facts”
—————–
When people hurt us, we should not spill their sins on the next person that walks in looking anything like them. Yoruba people have an adage that is translated to mean, if we choose to close our eyes to let evil people pass, we won’t know when good people too will pass.
Cheers to the new year. And let’s be kind enough to give everyone a blank sheet, one free of prejudice, sentiments or unfounded preconceived notions and let them choose what impression they’d make on it.