Business Tip You Need To Know
Let me share with you a business tip that I picked up from a friend.
I was out with my friend one day. In reality, he is a senior optometrist at the large hospital where I am based right now. When I mean a senior optometrist I mean someone whose status is of the consultant level. I'm referring to a man whose status is far higher than mine. Someone I looked up to as a mentor or coach. Someone I want to emulate.
Now you're wondering why I just called him friend regarding his status. I'll tell you.
There is one thing, though, about him. He prefers that I address him as his friend rather than as sir. He insisted on it , "I find it too weighty to refer to him that way." And warns me if I call him using a different name.
He says that I should get used to being his friend rather than thinking of him as someone on a high and lofty platform which I hope to someday reach.
Why? Because if I consider him a friend, I will feel more at ease around him and will feel free to ask him any questions I like. That's because I already consider him a buddy, and as such, I will undoubtedly pick up a lot from him. However, if it were the other way around, I might be afraid to ask him questions for fear of upsetting him. As a result, I won't learn as much as I would like to because I won't question him frequently.
That idea got to me and I had to put in in a typical Nigerian Boss/employee relationship.Consider it from this angle. In the system in Nigeria. If you have ever paid to study a skill, been a student under someone's instruction, or have a boss. You'll concur with me that you don't know all the basics if because your superior refused to tell you that. Why? Because they believe that if they provide too much information to you, you will surpass them. The business community in Nigeria is rife with this mindset.
Now Imagine that you become friends with your employer. You might naturally assert that it is impossible. But you may truly earn your boss's complete trust such that you feel completely at ease with him.
Let's be clear about something. You'll agree with me that you're incredibly open with a friend who is probably in the same age range. You can talk and gist for a very long time. You can be frank with the person about any problems you are having. anything, including your relationship, health, and secrets. And in the greatest friendly fashion possible, he shares his heart with you and gives you advice. A good friend will go above and beyond to see that you are successful. There is a limit to how much information someone can know about you if they are not a close buddy.
Now, the business world operates similarly. If your mentor or supervisor allows you to be so open with him, he might be reluctant to teach you some things out of concern that you will surpass him. Or perhaps he believes you shouldn't. However, when you converse with him in a friendly manner, you notice that you are picking up the knowledge without his knowledge.
Since I discovered that tip from my friend, this has always been how I do things. When I move somewhere, I make an effort to win over my boss or mentor. I gave up my selfishness to accomplish that goal, and whenever I do, I try to observe the strategies he or she employs to be successful. I then apply it to my own life.
You could wonder why undertake all that just to find out why you won't be receiving a pay raise. Look, getting a pay raise is also a good idea, but do you want to work all your life? Do you not aspire to be your own boss?
Why not ask for what they know instead of what they have?
The Restorative Power Of 'I'm Sorry'
"I am sorry," a short but mighty sentence!
Do you know how many people have lost real good relationships because they neglected the restorative, healing and remedial power of "I am sorry." That single word is therapeutic. A single word 'sorry' one says can stop a war, and prevent millions of men, women including children
from catastrophic destruction. It can mend a broken soul. It can heal a bleeding heart It can calm an angry mind.
Already the world is in a whole lot of mess. But unfortunately it doesn't work that way in our world today. We all want to be seen as woke.
You can definitely agree with me that most, if not all of the troubles in most homes and relationships with peers or lovers are intensified because wives are too big to say "I am sorry" to their husbands/ men and you can trust the ego of husbands in saying the same to their wives.
Like I earlier said, it is attributed to all forms of human relationship. Severally, we've seen quarrels between friends linger because none of the parties involved wants to say three therapeutic words "I am sorry."
Each says or asks, why should I be the first to say "I am sorry?" He or she would beat his or her chest and utter the ego phrase, "a whole me!"
It is sad that humanity finds it easy to unleash curses at fellow humans. Our society sees you as stronger or smarter at talking down or unleashing wrath on fellow humans than saying "I am sorry". Welcome to the world where people refer to a person who says "I am sorry" in a midst of a rift as a "weaker sex": one who is not man enough; one who is foolish.
"'I'm sorry "is a hard nut to crack while curses are easily unleashed.
We all are victims of this discussion. We all in one way or the other have lost valuable assets, money and even lives because of this cheap and affordable sentence "I am sorry". Which simply cost only a breath of speech. And takes a second if not millisecond.
Imagine how domestic violence will be less pronounced in our world? If couples can simply understand the efficacy of I am sorry.
If husbands can say it to their wives and even children whenever they're wrong. If wives and children can reciprocate the same gesture and life goes on fine.
Even if what you did was unintended, it is a good practice to apologize if anything you did hurt someone else. This is due to the fact that saying "I'm sorry" invites dialogue, which enables you to get back in touch with the individual who was offended.
So when you've done anything wrong, you need to say sorry. You should say sorry when you make a mistake or when you hurt someone.
Additionally, it gives you the chance to apologize for hurting them, demonstrating your genuine concern for their feelings.
It is an act of taking accountability of your actions. It shows that you accept responsibility, you recognize that you've caused them pain and suffering, and you're committed to improving going forward.
We need to cultivate a habit of saying "I am sorry". It might be difficult but it is easily affordable. If only we can learn how to say "I AM SORRY" even if we are right.
My dad always says "saying I'm sorry first doesn't make you foolish or weak rather it shows you're smarter to avoid unnecessary drama"
You Can't Nice Your Way Into Being Loved
"You can't nice your way into being loved" Chimamanda Adiche.
I've read a lot of articles on love and I've listened to several people's opinions on love. A lot of people categorize love as being pure, sweet, and frightening, horrible and painful all at once.
The truth about love is, love is one of the basic indispensable things/items in everyone’s life. In a whole lifetime everyone needs to be loved to experience a normal and healthy life.
Love has different definitions to different folks. Every entity will give you their own version of love definition. It is a variety of feelings, emotions, and attitudes. To someone hustling in the streets his definition of love will be different to the man sitted at his air conditioned office. For people like me love is an emotional attachment it is more than just being interested in someone physically. It is being there, living there and everything.
Love is more of how a person feels for another person. The primary meaning of love is to feel more than liking towards someone. It is a connection that two people share.
Whil Love means to be deeply committed and connected to someone or something.
Falling in love with someone can feel exciting, even exhilarating at first. Then as time goes on, these feelings may change into something different. You might find yourself conceiving or believing “I love them” in place of of “I’m in love with them.”
This transformation doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your relationship. It just simply depict how feelings of love change over the period of being in a relationship, particularly a long-term relationship.
CAN YOU NICE YOUR WAY INT BEING LOVED
When it comes to love there are a few things men only care about two when choosing a partner:
Her looks
And her personality - can he put up with it.
These are the basic few not that there aren't others. But these two are the primary one a man can attribute to
While the ladies go ahead to care about a man's : Looks, Intelligence, Fidelity,Humor, Strength, Money,Kindness.
Being nice, as seen from the above can be one of many prerequisites for love.
You know one interesting thing about the heart is that it knows what it wants unless it doesn't care. Even to a heart that has been hurt, it's hard to reject what it wants. You cannot force your way into the heart of a person to love you. Why?, because there is no real formula when it is something that relates to the heart.
It's easy to show or express your love through your deeds by being nice. But you cannot force the other person to reciprocate same gesture If the feeling isn't there. When you become too nice and try to make your way into a person's life it depicts you as being desperate, and as such, is unattractive.
Being nice to someone who's kind won't make her see you as a love partner; it will just make her thankful. However, being nice to a nasty person will make them to use or ride on you.
Am I wrong?
So I was asleep at home yesterday when I got these heavy knocks on my door. I asked who it was and the voice on the other side yelled.
"Ley, open the door it's me" my name is Kingsley but she chose to call me by the last three letters of my name.
It was my friend (female). I could tell her voice even from my sleep, but this time there was pain in her voice. I quickly opened to reveal a girl with heavy eyes. You could tell that she had been crying.
"What's wrong I asked" as she pushed me aside and walked into the room. Instead of sitting down like she used to. She paced about my room. I knew she had something on her mind. Whenever she was in this mood it was either she has had a fight again with her boyfriend or she had been in a fight with her boyfriend.
That above sentence wasn't tautology, I intentionally wrote it that way. Gracey always remembers me whenever she is in a relationship mess and needs advice. That was the only time she remembered the direction to my house. Any other time apart from that we meet in school or at the park.
I walked up to her and hugged her tight, trying to calm her down. I could feel her heart pound so fast. I held her in that position for some seconds and when I felt she was okay to talk I asked.
"Do you want to share?" I said looking down at her. I was a bit taller than her.
She nodded instead. Then I led her to a seat.
"Talk to me," I said.
And in a few minutes she told me how she had had a fight with her boyfriend. When she was done she looked up to me and asked.
"Is that a good reason for him to get angry?" She asked, holding my palms.
"Yes," I replied. I guess that wasn't the answer she was looking for as her eyes lit up. "You've known me to be open with words and judgement. So I won't lie to you, you are wrong this time."
"But.." she tried talking.
"No buts Gracey. No buts" I looked her in the eye and said. "I've always supported you but this time you're wrong"
Okay now you'll probably be wondering what she did that's wrong. Don't worry I'll tell you.
A few years ago Gracey got a call from her then boyfriend who's now an ex telling her that they need to go their separate ways without telling her any tangible reason for breaking up with her. He goes ahead to flirt with different girls. Gracey had on different occasions met him with different girls but of course he didn't care. And then came Gracey's new boyfriend. He met her when she was down emotionally and did his best to help her back to her feet.
Now Gracey's ex is back and the crazy thing is that her ex goes on to rent a new apartment in the same building as Gracey's current boyfriend. He calls Gracey and tells her he didn't really break up with her as he needed time for himself then. He puts the blame in Gracey. Mind you this is after many years of flirting around with other girls. Makes me wonder how some guys think. How they find it easy playing with people's hearts.
Just yesterday Gracey goes on a date with him (ex) and her current boyfriend finds out. But Gracey says it's a harmless date. .
Well I might not be an expert in relationship stuff but I think Gracey is wrong.
Or what do you think?
Is Gracey wrong or right?
Note: Names in this post was changed to hide real identity.
The Same Goals, Different Chase.
Most of the time, we have a wish, to succeed and become big. There is this beautiful picture in our minds about it. We dream of the ideal life. The gigantic mansion and the quick automobiles. The splendor of life. The vacations at the beach and the journey to the Maldives. The important thing to know is that none of these things happen overnight.
That, however, is not the main issue at hand. But the main issue is how eager are we to obtain what we truly desire should be the key question. How determined or willing are you to go beyond what you can handle? ignoring the barriers
One thing we should be aware of is that, rather than the things that happen to us, it is our reactions to those events that ultimately determine our fate in life. Sometimes, when it comes to success, we are our own worst adversary. Everyone claims to have an interesting tale or justification for their failure. I refer to them as "the pity party."
Pushing ourselves to the limit and taking advantage of new opportunities that you may otherwise miss out on is one of the essential elements of life in order to realize our aspirations. Strive to surpass life's limitations and what you and others think you are capable of.
Winning is the aim. Try to score your goals.
It's never been simple to live. Additionally, life is not simple. As absurd as it may sound, Disney, with all of its colorful characters, grasped this logic, which is why Cinderella or any of their other beloved characters loved by our children never had it easy. They were presented with roadblocks.
How I Pushed myself past the limit
I had no motivation and was exhausted a few days ago. I had an exam coming up, which is strange because this particular course (Statistics) was challenging for me.
Naturally, I struggled greatly with anything that included calculations or numbers. I knew exactly in my head that I would fail that course. Fortunately, a math-savvy buddy of mine saw my trepidation. Actually, he is aware of my statistical issues. He decided to study beside them. He was so confident that if I just read, I would succeed. While I lacked motivation.
Up until the exam day, we studied nonstop whenever we had a spare moment. I received a B while my friend received an A when the results were released. I was able to push past, therefore to me, getting a "B" was conceivable. I trusted myself.
Every success story has a chapter devoted to horror, I assure you. that none of us are aware of. Even if we did, it didn't really affect us as much as it affected the initial success. The best things take time. It always happens gradually. It's not an option to give up.
Continue moving forward; don't stop now. The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming more visible.
My Journey And Motivation To Being A Writer
Before I started writing, I've always been someone that thought I loved reading. Unfortunately my reading was only limited to books with less pages.
I came from a family where my Dad always gets back from work each day with a current newspaper for the day. A family that has a library at home.
Is my Dad a scholar?, No.
Is he learned? No
But he loves reading.
At that tender age I enjoyed reading the entertainment and stories section of the newspapers. Gradually I started falling in love with writing. I gradually began to create stories in my mind but I didn't really know how to put them in words.
I can vividly remember telling my eldest sister my imaginative stories and how she applauded me and encouraged me not to ever stop. In her words
" You've got a great pictorial mind l. Don't stop using it."
Well at a tender age I didn't really understand what she meant by "pictorial mind". But I knew that she was impressed and that was the only motivation I needed. I moved on to gently putting words together on paper. The more I tried the more it felt like I wasn't doing much.
Until one day I was at a friend's place. I never knew his sister was a writer. When I mean writer I mean writing as a means of survival. A published author. That day I saw his elder sister put together words and gradually they grew to become an interesting story.
I wondered how she was able to do it. That was where she gave me the tip that changed my writing life. Just a few words but they mean a lot to anyone that wants to excel in writing.
In her words she said " A great writer is a vast reader"
She was nothing far from the truth. At that age I only sticked to the newspapers my Dad bought and never push my limit to reading other books. Although we had a library at home. I was scared of reading books with many pages. I always saw it as a stress and wondered how people do it.
But after that day, I gave myself the assignment of reading anything at all no matter the size. Now here I am.
I might not be the best writer yet. But I know I'm gradually getting there.
Would I ever stop reading? Not even in my wildest dreams. I intend to inculcate this habit down to my kids.
My Dad will always say to me "no information is a waste no matter how little" and definitely he's right. I once saw a picture of a man with a shirt boldly written on it;
"I don't need google my wife knows it all".
That might be sarcasm but if at all it happens to be true then definitely the wife is a vast reader. That's the power of books, the power of information. And as we all know information is power.
Untold Stories About Cleopatra
Does the phrases "harlot," "selfishness," "seductress," and "mistress" all spring to mind when you hear the name Cleopatra?I'm sure it does.
What about her intelligence? Slightly or maybe nothing at all. But did you know she was believed to be an intelligent woman?
Cleopatra (also known as Cleopatra VII), was known as extremely intelligent and proficient in using feminine techniques to achieve her objectives. She was one of the most famous queens of antiquity, renowned for her seductive skills, formidable army, and scandalous liaisons with powerful individuals.
Even though she might have died without ensuring her country's freedom, she actually made every attempt to do so but didn't succeed. If Caesar hadn't died, she could have fulfilled all of her goals for both herself and her people.
First off, it is impossible to defend her intelligence if her schooling is not mentioned. It was thought that Cleopatra was the only pharaoh from her Greek dynasty to bother to learn Egyptian. She was also proficient in a number of other languages, allowing her to negotiate alliances and treaties without sending a representative and running the danger of receiving the wrong information. Despite the fact that knowing this clearly helps one achieve such authority, most people who wish to govern the world rarely bother to do so. She researched the languages of the Troglodytes, the Parthians, the Medes, the Ethiopians, the Syrians, and the Syrians.
Cleopatra was without a doubt one of Egypt's best pharaohs. She possessed all the qualities of a great world conqueror and general. She was smart, proactive, and familiar with her adversaries. Plutarch, among other historians, lauded Cleopatra for her intelligence. She was well-versed in debate, philosophy, and mathematics. She spoke Koine Greek as her native tongue, but throughout her reign she also became fluent in at least nine other languages, including Arabic and Hebrew. She had a talent for languages as well. She was the only Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty who could interact with her soldiers without using a translator because she spoke Egyptian.
It's unfortunate that her schooling is not commonly acknowledged because if it were, she would be better renowned for her intelligence than her misdeeds.
According to reports, her father gave her access to the top experts in history, medicine, and other subjects that would help her become a great queen.
Although it's claimed that Cleopatra picked up her seduction, it was believed by most people that she taught herself. She may not have done it in the most ethical manner, but she was cunning in how she used her femininity to get what she wanted.
She was immensely proud of her library, thus it devastated her when it was partially burned alongside her brother during the Civil War.
Some details about her personal and professional lives you might wanna know are listed below.
1. Cleopatra VII, who was born in 70–69 BC, was the child of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V Tryphaena.
2. She was of an incentious family. Members of the Ptolemaic dynasty frequently married into other family members in order to preserve the virginity of their bloodline. More than a dozen of Cleopatra's ancestors were married to cousins or siblings, suggesting that her parents were likely brothers and sisters. Following this custom, Cleopatra eventually wed both of her young brothers, who served at various times during her rule as both her ceremonial companion and co-regent.
3. Cleopatra married Ptolemy XIII, her 10-year-old brother and the co-ruler who had succeeded his father as Pharaoh, when she was 18 years old. Soon after assuming power, Ptolemy tried to kill his sister, which caused Cleopatra to flee to Syria.
4. Cleopatra recognized the importance of education in ensuring the strength of her people and her nation. The one fact that is left out of history texts is the fact that she enlisted the best academics to advance knowledge. Her subjects rebuilt her library, making it the biggest in the world, as at that time. If she had beat Octavian, there would have been a good chance that Egypt would be one of the world's top educational centers.
5. Cleopatra was not an Egyptian. Despite being of Macedonian Greek descent and having been born in Egypt, Cleopatra was a descendant of Alexander the Great's general Ptolemy I Soter. Ptolemy assumed control of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC and started a nearly three-century-long dynasty of Greek-speaking kings.
6. Power plays and assassination plots were commonplace in the Ptolemaic practice of family marriage, and Cleopatra and her siblings were no exception. As a result of her involvement, three of her siblings passed away. Her first sibling-husband, Ptolemy XIII, exiled her from Egypt after she sought to seize sole control of the throne, and the two later got into a civil war. Cleopatra had the upper hand by working with Julius Caesar, and after Ptolemy lost the fight, he perished in the Nile River. Despite the fact that it is believed she killed him in an effort to share power with her son, Cleopatra remarried to her younger brother Ptolemy XIV after the war. Since she considered her sister a potential heir to the throne, she also organized Arsinoe's execution in 41 BC.
7. Cleopatra's intelligence may have been more highly regarded than her beauty as one of her greatest assets, despite the propaganda that painted her as a debauched temptress who used her sexual allure as a political weapon. She had received training in astronomy, oratory, philosophy, mathematics, and up to a dozen other languages. There is evidence that Cleopatra wasn't as physically gorgeous as widely believed. She may have portrayed herself as male on purpose to demonstrate her authority, according to some historians, but coins containing her portrait depict her with manly features and a large figure.
90's Music vs The Gen z
Of late, there have been these comparisons between me and friends with our music. And I've come to the realization that today's music cannot be compared to that of the 1990s.
Consider what I just said. If you think back, you'll realize that I'm not in the slightest lying.
From Onyeka Owenu, Lucky Dube, Sir Victor Uwaifo, and Whitney Houston. Those were among the top artists of the 1990s, and when I listened on the radio to their songs yesterday while riding in the bus coming back home, I noticed that even if they were love songs, their music always had a message for the audience to hear. Not just the message but It constantly has a strong story to tell. It makes you adore the song in some way. They cannot be compared to modern tunes.
Nevertheless, the music may have changed throughout time. Similar things we can say not to the music only but the beats and the crystal-clear videos. The TG-Omori and Clarence Peters style. They music still don't seem to be comparable to 1990s music, in my opinion.
I don't know about you but for me, lyrics are the most important aspect of music; music should have an impact on our daily lives, teach us something, and tell a tale. Music should be more than just entertainment; it should be the melody of existence. And the 1990s made it for me.
These days, sex, drugs, and crime are more frequently discussed in music. This is already significant in today's culture. An upcoming artist drops an EP and half of the songs talk about sex. They're doing great no doubt but give me good music to my ears. Tell me about my feelings, motivate me.
When our musicians sing of and we accept it as the norm, how do we think we're going to try to stop these ills?.
Are they not supposed to serve as role models for our children?
Keep in mind that our children are watching, and as you know kids these days, they are quick learners now. Keep in mind that children learn more from what they see us doing, and that shapes their lives. Now when you start to question if they are singing for social good or just to make money, it makes sense why once you tell someone you want to be a musician, they will start to see you as a man headed for disaster.
I could keep giving instances of tunes like that, but I must stop here.
Amongst all I think Burna boy does justice to my ears most.
Picture gotten from [pexels.com](https://www.pexels.com/photo/amplifier-analogue-audio-bass-302871/)
Introducing Myself
Hello everyone.
My name is Kingsley Ogbonnaya. I'm a native of Alayi in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Definitely is in the eastern part of the country. That was where I was born and bred. At the moment I'm residing in Uyo local government Area which is the capital city of Akwa Ibom state. It's in the southern part of the country Nigeria.
I'm presently schooling at the Ibom Metropolitan University also located at the same Uyo. I'm the fourth child but second son in a family of five kids, a mom and dad. I work and school at the same time. This is to enable me raise support my old parents who have tried a lot for me and also help me foot my bills.
I work as a fashion designer at a fashion house. I make mostly Nigerian cultural wears because I love my culture a lot.
Okay so you might be wondering how I got to know of this platform. I got to know about read.cash through a friend. At first I thought it was a joke until I googled it and now here I am.
**Some of my works**
I come from a country that values culture a lot. There are over 200 ethnic groups in my country with beautiful cultures each. Igbo, hausa and youruba happens to be the major tribe in my country. Respect and moral values are the core design of our culture.
My hobbies are dancing, singing, reading and most importantly writing. This has been my hobby right from a tender age. I am a self trained writer though I will wish to know more if there someone to teach me. I intend to make a difference in the world with my writing. I wrote my first story at the age of 11 though I never published it. I'm also a lover of arts. Any kind of arts as long as it has a story to tell. Then am in.
**My writing space**
They colour white is my favorite colour. Because it has a deep meaning and connection to me. As we know white means purity, pure, and looking at the world today or considering the world we live in today I strongly believe that if everyone can be pure in heart not holding grudges against one another, we can make a change in this world.
I believe in love. Love is the greatest weapon to unite the world. To mend a broken soul. Love is the answer. There's a lot more about me to know. But this all I can remember for now.
I hope I'm welcome.
Lots of love
Is love not enough?
[Source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-wedding-rings-on-floor-17834/)
Why are there so many broken marriages these days?.
What are we not getting right. Or is love not enough? Is there any other addition?
With the recent happenings in the entertainment industry. With the rise in divorce and all the breakfast being served generously in our society today. It keeps making me scared. Scared if I will still get married.
Okay, before I go further I want to say that it's nice to be here. This is actually my first post here.
Marriages are crashing so much these days like dominos. People are being jilted on a daily basis. Which makes me ask if love is really enough?.
Now let's look at it from another angle. Two grown ups will meet and declare their love to one another. Most times they will court for years and during those years of courtship they are all okay with one another. Then they decide to get married and a few months into the marriage they are already serving breakfast here and there. Makes you wonder if the breakfast (break-up) was being prepared when they were still courting and carefully preserved to be served when they say "I do". Or was there no love amongst them in the first place. If there was no love then why proceed to marriage? Or was love not enough?.
I'm a guy that always believed in having my own family but as it is with the recent trend in divorce, my belief is shaky. I want to get married and spend eternity with my wife, make babies and train them to be great humans of our society just like my parents did.
So here's me pleading to know if love is enough. And even if it's not enough, what else is needed to make it work. I'm ready to learn from anyone ready to teach me.
Or are successful marriages a taboo these days?
[source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-love-art-heart-6670068/)
The Storm
"You have to go slower Debby". Maria voiced, looking up from the book she was reading as Debby hit a pothole.
They've been traveling for hours now in the rain with Debby driving and Maria seated at the passenger side. All her attention focused on the new book she had borrowed from the school library. They were on their way home from a get together party up north with their old school mates.
The strokes of rain flogged bountifully on their vehicle. The car wiper brushing off the drops of rain in a rhythmic sequence. Maria stretched herself. The road was flooded and appeared to be deserted only for a few heavy vehicles that drove past. She reached out to Debby and rubbed her shoulder.
"You're doing a great job" Maria said "Hours on the wheel and you still don't feel tired"
"I'm still clinging to the wheel because of your poor eyesight. I would rather not hand over my life to you at this point. You barely see the words in your book. Then how are you gonna see a coming vehicle in this foggy weather" Debby replied
"Okay that's harsh," Maria said, withdrawing her hand from Debby's shoulders.
"I know right," Debby replied, smiling. "But I love you still"
"I know. I hate you though"
They both laughed hard.
They two were best friends and bedmates seven years back in high school where they were boarders. They apparently grew up not just in the same community but as neighbors too.
And every year they both travel by road together for the get together party with their old classmates. With the venue being up north at their alma mater.
According to them it's more fun traveling by road than air. The adventure is top notch as they get to see new developments in every new city they will pass through.
They got to a bend and Debby slowed down a bit before turning to the direction of the road. On the left a signboard read 'Interstate 5 miles'. The rain has gotten heavier. The wiper could barely catch up with the amount of rain on the windscreen. And the sound of the rain against the old Volvo panel they were traveling with increased. This time it seemed like they were the only ones traveling on the road as they hadn't seen any other vehicles for the past few minutes.
They looked at each other but made no statement as Debby further reduced her speed. Maria closed her book and stretched for the car radio.
"What are you trying to do?" Debby asked.
" Eyes on the road please. I'm trying to Know if there's something about the rain on radio"
She tuned from station to station and after much static from the radio. The sound of cool jazz music emanated from the speakers. She found a radio station. It was music and nothing about the rain. She relaxed on her seat. Looked out the window. She could barely see the trees at the side.
"We would stop at the next gas station up ahead." Maria got back to her reading. "The rain is too much".
"But we're almost home" Debby replied "We can make it"
"Not in this rain Debby, you could barely see the road now"
"But.."
"Come on Debby, no buts"
Few minutes later Debby quickly drove past a gas station. After Maria had advices the go in and wait till the rain was over. In Debby's words she could gently glide their way home since they were just a few miles home. Maria had become angry at Debby and scared as the rain didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. She vowed never to let Debby drive her again.
Just then a message came on the radio.
"Bringing you this message from the office of the Palmas government. There's a heavy storm headed our way. Stay indoors and avoid traveling either by sea, road or air. We repeat stay indoors. God bless you and be safe out there".
Maria looked up to Debby. This time with anger in her eyes.
"Okay my bad, '' Debby apologized, looking at Maria from the driver's seat. Now she was driving blind. As the weather was foggy.
"Eyes on the road Deb!" Maria yelled
"But we're just a stone throw home. We can make it"
"Eyes on the road!"
Debby didn't see the incoming truck. And before she could swerve so quickly to avoid a head-on collision, it was too late.
@Ezegburugburu
