Mr. Frankly Speaking

I've decided to change my name. I'm gonna change it to Mr. Frankly Speaking, and it's for a purpose. I need to convince her. I have to get her undivided attention. You're already asking how the hell I'm gonna do that by lying about my name. Anybody can bear crazy names like Tiger Woods. Well, check me out - I'm white, frankly speaking!

She's just a rare quintessential breed of Omnipotent-made intelligence that anestecizes a man and his guards. However, I must resurrect one of the guards - Courage. Yes, resurrect, because it's two years now and Courage and I have not recovered from the sight of her - isn't that death in a way?

Courage is more beautiful than this lady in question. Though younger than I am, she does a pretty good job of being a guard. She was given to me at adolescence while she was still a newly-born. I recall my petrifiction when she was given me at infancy. "What will I do with this? How will I guard her?" I asked. I was told later that she would guard me alongside my other guards.

With time I grew to know Courage's capabilities. Sometimes I wanted to take up tasks but they seemed quite impossible. Little Courage then would push me forward, with an infectous smile to encourage me and a frown to force me when I wouldn't yield. I became so fond of her that I believed in her: at some point, I overrated her like beleiving she could push me to move mountains.

At some point in my life I began to notice that other people had guards just like me! "I thought I was a special prince!" I even noticed that they also had a guard that was named Courage! Now these people's 'Courages' were more beautiful and more daring, such as to push them into taking the bull by the head, the horns being an overcome task. I began to accuse my Courage, calling her a lazy coward and blaming her for not leading me to these kind of daring tasks. She left her position at my back and came to take a good look at me. After staring at me with eyes peering down my soul, she ordered me to sit! WHAT? I had already sat before I chose to recover from her 'rudeness'.

She showed me those women, men like me who went ahead to engage in jaw-breaking tasks, who talked to beautiful ladies and disarmed them. Just as she was talking, I saw someone whiz past me. Before I could decipher who it was, I heard a loud splash in the lagoon. I looked over the bridge. I knew it was a human being, but why? She sat me down again, and pointed in the direction of the suicide site. "But you will not do that", she said. That suicider's Courage was malnourished, thus his finding a better life in death. "Jesus!" I exclaimed.

Courage didn't need any food for survival like I thought. Her energy came from tasks. Just give her the task and she would take care of it. I tried it. I held public offices like being the Social/Health Prefect. Senior Prefect. Class Representative. I spoke to large gatherings. I acted on stages. I smiled and waved at shouts of 'Oyinbo Pepper!' Other people asked how I did it. I proudly told them it was "Little Coura...ge..."

Little Courage was gone. A tall, dark-haired 'terribly pretty' molato replaced her presence. She appeared like she'd been working out. I was unsure where Little Courage was until she smiled and said in a sonorous voice, "I'v grown up!" I didn't believe. She then taught me what to tell my interviewers: "I learnt not only to believe in Courage, but to summon her." It was the working factor until...

...I went to the bank. I needed some cash. I remembered the last time I talked to Courage; I begged her to get ready to walk with me to my hostel from the bank, a 48 minutes walk because it appeared the Automated Teller Machine wasn't dispensing cash. I remember her changing my footwear to tennis shoes and standing up to salute, saying "Yes boss" before going to her place at my back. Then I turned, only to see this calm lady in a light blue shirt and dark skirt, looking peaceful. Looking simple. ............................................. The use of elipses is just the best way I can show how blank I was. I wore my sunshade so I'd have a proper look at her, through pretence of looking elsewhere. I couldn't. I turned to ask Courage what to do. Then my other guard, RightSenses reminded me to compose myself and mind my business. I turned back, and she was gone!

I used that opportunity to ask Courage what to do. Nothing came. I was confused. After some time, I heard Courage's unusually faint voice saying "run after her!" That was all.

With Courage fallen and RightSenses not helping matters, I chose to obey Courage. I went after her and found her leaving. I asked if she had withdrawn her money, to which she replied with a statement, as against the usual one-liners ladies give. "Encouraging!" I jubilated. But where is Courage to help me with the rest?

Till today Courage hasn't said a word of advice concerning it. I must tell this lady my mind. I'm gonna be frankly speaking, Courage or not!

Signed & Stamped,
Jayde Curlz, XCI.