TWO WEEKS - EPISODE 4

Annie sighed with relief after the gang had gone. She walked to the exit to lock the door.
“I’m sorry that, that guy tried to hurt you.” Vicky called to Annie.
Annie turned to her, leaning on the door, “It was my mistake to get involved with him in the first place,” she confessed and added, after glancing at Vicky’s outfit. “You can’t have that in Ortegun. People will make fun of you. They will also make rude remarks about your weight.”
“I only wore this Khanga because I wanted to represent my country in the plane coming here. About my weight well, I know that it will decrease in time. My weight varies often.”
“If you say so. Do you want me to help you?”
“In losing weight?”
“Yes. There are wraps if you know what that means.”
Vicky nodded. “Oh I do know what that means. I prefer aerobic exercise. Do you have any jogging team in the campus?”
Annie sighed again at this and walked to the dining room, replying to Vicky’s question from there. “Yes. It’s also Wayne who leads it. Lucky for you, he’ll have a hangover by morning so, you won’t see him on your first run.”
“I don’t think that I’m afraid of him.” Vicky replied, grimacing.
Annie took out a can of soda from the refrigerator. “I admire your character. I can’t stand two minutes with that guy.”
Vicky decided to join Annie in the dining room. “If so then, why do you hang around with him and his friends?”
“I have no friends.” She replied and waved the can of soda to Vicky. “Want a soda?”
“I’m okay. I’ve had a long flight. I don’t want to make my stomach hurt now.”
“You know what Vicky? For a person who just arrived from Africa, you are just an exception.”
Vicky furrowed her eyebrows. “How?”
“First, we understand each other.”
“I’m still lost at what you are telling me. How?”
“I mean, I would have expected you to be local or something. But, you have a nice English, like you are from here. Then, you have the courage to stand up to Wayne and to even tell me what to do.”
Vicky walked closer to the table where Annie leaned. “I’m only advising you.”
“I understand that. But, how is it possible that, you are so confident and…” she tapped her foot “Oh my God… what’s this word? Yes! Eloquent! So, how can you be confident and eloquent?”
“Well, maybe I watch a lot of movies but, about confidence, I know it’s God who built the character in me.”
Annie sipped her drink. “Ah. You believe in God?”
“Yeah. He is the one who brought me here.”
Annie laughed a little. “You came here because you are obviously talented and intelligent. Let no one cheat you to think otherwise.”
“Annie, I have a lot of testimonies about God working in my life. If it wasn’t for him then, I wouldn’t be here with you today.”
Annie relinquished her can on the table. “Okay. So, are you an Anglican or a Catholic?”
“Pentecost. Do you know where the John Hagee’s ministry is? I have watched of lot of him through the TBN channel back in my country.”
“John Hagee, John Hagee. I think that, I’ve heard of him. I’ll ask about him for you so you will have a place to worship while studying here. We can’t let Wayne or his gang prove that you will leave your God just because you are in America.”
Vicky smiled a little. “Thank you. Will you escort me?”
Annie shook her head. “No. I’m not much of a believer.”
Vicky was silent, feeling sorry for her.
Annie stretched her sweater. “Now, where are your stuff? Let me help you unpack. Maybe I’ll also see something ‘Africanic’ that I will like.”
Vicky managed a short laugh. “Here.” She said, turning to the room’s exit. “Will you also tell me about your…oh. Our University and this jogging program?”
Annie followed her to where the suitcase was. “Yeah sure. The university well, it has got various buildings….” She begun narrating, assisting Vicky in unpacking her stuff and establishing herself in her room.

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