carlene,a love story

8/11/2019 Carlene,A Love Story

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http://carlene.akiwumi.net/


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About the author

An international marketer by profession, Tayo Akiwumi has a

particular love for Far-East Asia and has spent many yearstraveling in that region. Raised in ondon, England he has since

traveled to over !" countries across the globe and has lived in

Africa, Europe, #iddle-East and Asia including $ubai and

%angkok.

&'arlene - A ove (tory& is Tayo Akiwumi&s first novel.

'arlene )omepagehttp*++carlene.akiwumi.net+

All Original Content 2008-09 Tayo Akiwumi, All Rights

Reserved
http://carlene.akiwumi.net/http://carlene.akiwumi.net/


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For my father R.../, and mother, %ola0i and 1emisi

Akiwumi, for their sacrifices, love and firm guidance.

For the rest of my family* for their constant love.


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$eep thanks to friends and colleagues like (onoyo, 2iang

1an and 3ayleigh 'hung who spent many hours helping to

comb through 4'arlene5 and giving feedback that helped shape

a better novel.


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3

t was (unday and time for me to return to 'helmsford where

was doing my apprenticeship and part-time study. usually

came home to ondon every other weekend, when could afford

it. was 67 and had won a technical apprenticeship position with

#arconi 'ommunications (ystems, with my father and mother5s

encouragement. left school and went to live away from home for

the first time. was fairly self-supporting from that point but of

course, mum and dad were always there for when my bank account

nudged red.

#arconi owned 'helmsford. t was said that when the workers

went home8 the town of 'helmsford shut down.

The bus ride to iverpool (treet railway station was uneventful

and as per normal. The bu99 and busyness surrounded me as

entered the station, starkly contrasting the dull bus trip.

stopped at a kiosk to get snacks for the fifty minutes train

0ourney. :n the way to my train5s platform, two Far-East Asian

girls standing to one side of the platform gate drew my attention.

They were perhaps ;-< years older than me, at a guess. The

slim, prettier one crossed eyes with me momentarily as walked

past, close by.

boarded the train and walked along its side corridors, looking

for an empty cabin. The train did not seem so full in fact and was

spoilt for choice. selected one in the carriage before the canteen


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carriage. made sure would be in a carriage which did not get left

behind when the train shed some carriages several stations prior to

arriving at 'helmsford. entered, closed the sliding door dumped my sports bag and

guitar on the seat opposite and settled myself into my 4private5

cabin.

t was a beautiful spring day and was rela=ed and content

with life, not a care in the world and looking forward to the

0ourney back.

usually preferred to take the train leaving 0ust after 6*


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The noise of people walking past the cabin door and along the

corridor outside stemmed my daydreaming. $ragging bulky

luggage, they bumped into the door which rattled back in protest. watched them march past my private haven, hoping will be left

alone to continue my reflection during the trip.

glanced at my watch, wondering if the train was going to

leave late as it tends to. ess than five minutes to the scheduled

departure time. stared out of the window across the platforms

watching other trains come and go and tried to track the

mesmeri9ing flow of legs striding on the platforms. turned as the slide door was disturbed again, this time it was

opened. instantly recogni9ed the pretty girl at the platform gate.

(he stood behind her slightly plump companion who was not

carrying luggage.

>ould you mind if my cousin sits with you, she5s still new to

the countryB (he5s on her way to >hite @otley, are you going that

farBC The plump girl spoke in a typical but educated ondonaccent. The other girl smiled as her cousin, gave her a reproachful

side glance laced with embarrassment.

1es, yes of courseC, replied, stunned at lady uck5s gift to

me. 5m getting off at 'helmsford, three stops before >hite

@otleyC

FantasticDC she beamed. Alright then, call me when you get

there won5t youBC she said, turning to her delicious cousin andstepping aside to let her into the cabin. hurriedly pulled my

luggage to the seat ne=t to me, making room for her to sit opposite

me. (he kissed her cousin on the cheek and they hugged. )er

cousin smiled an appreciative smile and returned the smile, even

more appreciatively. Thank you, thank youDC telepathi9ed with

her.

watched her arrange her luggage and sit down in the oppositeseat. (omehow, sensed this train 0ourney was taking both of us to

a destination neither had planned.

>e smiled at each other as the train obeyed the departure


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whistle and chugged effortlessly away from the platform and out of

the station.

5m Tobi aughan and may ask your nameBC looked at her,she had a cute nose and a great, easy smile with even, white teeth

proudly displayed. There was mischief to her eyes too and smooth

lightly tanned comple=ion all wrapped in a slim frame of about

5GC was so alluring that almost did not hear her reply.

)ello, my name is 'arlene, 'arlene >angC. 'lose up like

this, thought we might be the same age or she may be a year to

two years older ma=. wanted to know everything about this girl and would be an

open book for her, what ever she wanted to know about me,

would oblige.

>e talked, asked her about her cousin and what she had been

doing in ondon and we Huickly drifted into easy conversation.

#y first and only puppy love had been at primary school when

was around 6" to 66 years old. )er name was 3ay hilips. stillthink about her to this day but it was puppy love. >hat was

starting to feel for the girl sitting in front of me was something

much more mature and une=pected, certainly not from the dull way

my day started on the bus to the train station.

I came to spend my weekend with my uncle and aunty in

ondon. They had insisted come to celebrate my birthday with

themDC she said.:h, nice and how was itBC prompted )appy belated

birthdayDC

Thank youC, she gave me that easy smile that liked so much.

had a wonderful time, they are really lovely and it was good

to be with family againC

(he spoke with a pleasant, lilting accent that seemed all at once

familiar yet distant. can5t Huite place your accent, but it is Far-East Asian isn5t

itBC asked.

1es, you5ve got itC8 5m actually from 3uantan, on the east


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coast of #alaysiaC

AlrightDC, >ell knew it wasn5t Huite 2apanese, that5s for

sureDC laughed.'ome to think of it, you look 'hinese, yet you could also pass

for a 3orean or 2apanese too, from certain angles that isDC

Jood thing you didn5t say am 2apanese, we don5t like them

much you knowC, not easy for the 'hinese race to forget what they

did to us in the pastC

nodded sympathetically.

t was then remembered. had heard the same accent once ina movie called Tanamera. :ne of my favourite stories based in ;nd

>orld->ar (ingapore and #alaysia. t was inspired by a book of

the same title written by @oel %arber.

(o, do you consider yourself 'hinese or #alaysianC asked,

genuinely seeking clarification.

am a #alaysian 'hinese of courseC. A logical answer to an

unnecessary Huestion maybe. 5m what you might refer to as athird generation #alaysian 'hineseC she said this with an

emphasi9ed lilt to the words. (he beamed her cute smile.

>e chuckled and both looked out of the window at the scenery

unfolding sideways from urban to suburban to rural. The spring

tree blossoms were out in force as if it was their first time ever and

birds darted through the trees and over shrubs busily disputing

nesting spots or collecting nesting material. (ome still had to fightfor the right to a mate. There was hoping mine had been 0ust

simply handed to me as had sat Huietly in a train cabin,

anticipating another standard 0ourney.

t seemed perfect. t was perfect.

lease Jod, let her not have a boyfriend or other distractionC

prayed silently.

:ur train slowed as it approached the ne=t stop and the(henfield station sign sneaked up on us, gliding past the window as

we screeched to a halt at the station. >e were now a little over

half-way towards my stop and was still grappling with how to get


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'arlene5s number or some contact information of any sort. >e had

conversed easily after the first awkward moments and yet, the

simple Huestion lodged itself in the throat of my mind and 0ustwould not come out.

f you don5t mind, can ask how old you areBC (he enHuired.

panicked a little, if gave the right answer, it might put her

off as would probably be younger than her.

)appy to tell you if you let me know which birthday you 0ust

celebratedDC Huipped, helped out by a shot of bravado.

1ou want to play mind games then TDC (he used mynickname with such familiarity felt bravery re-entering my veins.

Actually, 5ll be ;" this yearC, t sounded better than telling

her am 67 years oldD

0ust turned ;6 a few days backC, she told me and went on to

say that her birthday was on 67th April. immediately filed that

safely in my memory. (he showed no concern over the fact that

was a little short of ; years younger than her. Relief crept over me. was besotted with this girl and didn5t want to risk losing her.

wondered if she felt for me even close to what was starting to feel

about her.

don5t know why had not seen it earlier but she had these

rather pretty dimples on her cheeks when she smiled. (he had long,

stubbornly straight brown-reddish hair all the way down to her

hips. )er sweet cotton summer dress paired with a (wiss stylewaist-coat was set off by stylish ankle boots. The effect was

e=tremely pleasing.

Hueried her on life in #alaysia and why she had chosen %lack

@otley )ospital, of all the hospitals in the world, to come and do

her (tate Registered @urse or (R@ trainingD could probably count

the population of the villages of %lack @otley and >hite @otley

combined on my fingers with a little help from my toes.%ut of course, 0ust below the surface, was happy she had done

so. >e had already dropped off and collected passengers at

ngatestone station and were now speeding to the ne=t stop, my


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stop, 'helmsford and still hadn5t plucked up courage to ask what

needed to ask.

And how about you, what do you do in 'helmsfordBC8 #yguess is you5re a student there. Am closeBC she continued.

>ell yes and moreC8 teased. Actually study and work.

5m a trainee for communications engineering on a 4block-release5

basis which means the company pays me an allowance, provides

accommodation and pays for my courseC

That is a nice dealDC8 n fact it sounds a lot like my (R@

program but all our tuition gets done within the hospital. t soundslike yours is in a separate institutionC

)aha, 4institution5 makes it sound like my parents sent me to

'helmsford and told them to lock me up and throw the key awayDC

>e both grinned then laughed out aloud at the thought.

The passing view through the train windows slowly began to

crystalli9e as the blurring of the scenery reduced. was Huickly

reminded of my mission impossible. didn5t even want to leave her and then had itD

'arlene, 5d like to see you at least as far as your station, okBC

ReallyBC she asked, needlessly because little did she know

would see her off to the proverbial moon if that was her stop.

Jreat, but don5t want to inconvenience youDC

@ot a problem at all. %elieve meC assured. had bought

myself more time to get the vital contact number that cravedD was born and raised in 3uantan, in fact even my parents

were also born and raised thereC (he said, continuing from my

earlier Huestion about her life in her home country.

>e moved to 3 later but always like going back to

3uantan with my parents on the special occasions. t5s a peaceful

coastal town and most of my family and friends are all there of

courseC3, what does that meanBC asked.

:h, 3uala umpur, t5s the capital of #alaysia. %oth my

parents are academicians. #um teaches mathematics and $ad was


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a science professor.C

That would e=plain the well-raised and educated air she had

about her, thought.1ou said 4was5 , enHuired with interest. 1es, about your

dadC

:h, dad is not able to work anymore. )e hasn5t worked for

Huite a few years now. #um struggled hard to raise my two

brothers and myself. (he still does. After graduated from

secretarial college last year decided to work abroad and help her

financially. #y dad5s brother in ondon helped me to get a traineeposition at the hospital.C

listened intently to her story and sensed sadness interlaced

with e=citement. $ue perhaps to the loss of her father5s lively-

hood and the new life she was anticipating in a new country.

Are you able to tell me what happenedBC

They were in a car accident. $ad suffered paralysis from the

waist downwards. #om had been driving. (he5s never driven sincealthough she was not at fault.C

>hat happenedBC

They had been hit by an oncoming lorry. The driver had lost

control because of failed brakes.C

(he paused reflectively.

#om blames herself for dad5s in0ury and is inconsolable to

this day, almost years laterC (he continued. wanted to reach out and hug her, tell her it will be ok. was

also conscious that the e=tra ;" minutes would gain between my

stop and hers had whittled to a mere ;-< minutes as we neared

>hite @otley station.

would love to show you around 'helmsford or maybe we

can play tennis sometimeBC blurted out, awkwardly and out of

synchroni9ation with the topic. could only hope the desperationin my voice was evident only to me. 4>hat a fool, am58 thought,

wondering if she considered me insensitive, having 0ust shared an

inner concern with me and all could utter was an offer of a dateD


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:k, why notD %ut warn you, am not a good player at allC (he

saved my embarrassment. can barely get the ball over the net,

anyway, if you get bored with my game maybe you can show methe sights of 'helmsfordC (he was charming to the point of

angelic.

can5t wait for the game, at last a chance to beat someone at

tennisDC said, modestly. The labouring of the steel wheels finally

slowed to a dead stop as 4>hite @otleyD5 was announced over the

train5s public addressing system.

helped her with her luggage on to the platform and waved toher as she walked towards the station e=it. (he was about to

disappear down the stairs off the platform when she turned around

and walked briskly towards me with a grin.

)ey, how can we contact each other to meet ne=t (aturdayBC

n my haste 5d forgotten to get her number and she must have

wondered how serious was when didn5t even ask.

reali9ed could not remember the Animal )ouse phonenumber.

'an call youBC asked, finally getting the Huestion out of my

head and out there, where it belonged. (he gave me her number.

(ee you at eleven (aturday morning thenDC said happily.

had even forgotten had to change to the platform on the

other side of the tracks. walked with her to the e=it then turned to

get the return train to 'helmsford which rolled up shortly after.


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carlene,a love story

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