The Sentence that Sends Chills down the Spines of Old Players

Old boys, if you are still in the playground, you will understand this. You sack up one night, and it is heavenly. The angel cherubim and archangels played the lyre or the Acoli nanga and sang their hearts out. Sparks flew and nearly set the linen on fire. The morning after, though exhausted and spent, there is the satisfaction and genuine joys and smiles that would light up the Dark Continent. Part of you wants her to hang around so that you can crawl together lazily on your couch, hopefully to go at it again. Another part wishes she could leave so that you catch up on sleep and do some errands. Eventually, she has things to do too, thanks God.

The week-end passes and the reality of making a living creeps in. Of course, she had called early on when the memory was still intense. But you never called back until Friday when nature urges and she is exciting. However, you receive a lukewarm reception. She has other commitments for the week-end. Then you receive an e-mail accusing you of not caring and how she doesn’t want to be “used.” That is puzzling if you are new to the game. Just the other day she was ululating to your prowess. “Who is using who?” you ask yourself.

Here is what is going on. You think in terms of mechanics—in geek lingo of male and female electrical sockets, or how plumbers fit pipes. A system is built and energy flows in perfect sync. That is what you thought the two of you were. She, on the other hand, reached into the future and built a castle with you in it where she reigns supreme and the present is no longer.

She wants to hear: I love you! Three words that scare the hell out of old goats who are still on the prowl. It means loss of freedom to come and go as you please. It means walking round and round in the store/shop/supermarket with a sad look on your face as you are dragged by the object of “I love you”. It means underpants hanged in the bathroom to dry. Crying babies, smelly diapers, or worse could come from “I love you.”

Will you or will you not say the dreaded words? It all depends!