The Missed Call and the White Lady - Ekanpou

By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Seven days had gone by since 
I called up the white lady .
The call hit her phone in the morning
 Without a return journey.
Nothing abnormal stood nearby;
No bad news of accident or death heard 
Within the period.
Even the tide travels and comes back home After a journey no matter how long it is.
Birds fly home when darkness appears
 In the sky.
The white lady did not return the call 
Even after another seven days.
I mustered courage and called her up again.
The call was picked up after a single ring, 
With a thunderous voice from her end.
'Who is this?' 
'You don't know who this is?' I stressed.
'No', the white lady quickly retorted.
'You no longer have my name saved on your Phone?' I enquired further.
'I don't know. I just picked up the call hurriedly Without a look at the name of the caller', 
The white lady fired back.
'I am Gogi', I fired back correspondingly. Without any break for response, I continued.
'Why didn't you respond to my call two weeks Ago? Didn't the missed call appear 
On your phone? '
'I forgot, sir'. 
Silence was the word for me, pondering 
On the truism in her claim. 
I found my voice again after pondering.
'You mean you forgot a whole me, 
A full-bodied person of my stature?'
The white lady spoke more emphatically,
 Full of tension-dilution pills.
'I did not forget you; it was the missed call 
I forgot, sir'.
I sought more clarity from the white lady.
'You mean you only forgot the missed call, 
Not the caller?'
'Yes sir. It was the call I forgot, not you'.
For some minutes I held my handset, 
Silent and astounded..
I engaged her further like the landlady 
And her prospective tenant in Wole Soyinka's 'Telephone Conversation'. '
Madam, I am flabbergasted'.
'Sir, don't be flabbergasted. I can never forget You; it was the missed call 
I forgot because of my busy schedule 
For the past two weeks. 
No target to ignore and belittle you, sir'.
I hung up on the phone, losing the power to continue the telephone conversation.

 Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.