I noticed her from a distance. Maybe because of the way she was dressed or the way she stood, who knows? It could have been the way she cast her eyes at the passing cars or probably because I'm also female, and would, to a certain extent, understand certain misguided feminine ploy. She stood, wantonly chewing the gum as if her entire life depended on it. The car coming from the opposite direction was a Jeep with a chunk (I think some would rather I use Hunk here; oh well…) of a man at the driver's seat. It sped past and the standing dark beauty glanced nonchalantly at it. I would presume she didn't like what she saw.
We were on our way to a meeting - my Boss and I; already behind schedule. Our car was soon to pass where the young lady stood.
She fixed her eyes on the driver's seat, probably hoping to get a good look at
the driver. Ughh, was that disappointment? I would have bet my ten toes I saw a
look of disappointment cross her face. Maybe she didn't think to see anyone
sitting in the passenger's seat. What was she thinking then? That she will cast
her net like a fisherman and catch the fish unaware with or without me swimming
alongside the fish? The very idea sounded ludicrous. Plus the analogy between
her and the imaginary fisherman in my thoughts was quite hilarious. I felt a giggle rise and
tried to stifle it. I managed a light chuckle instead and looked out my side of
the window. I hoped my Boss didn't notice, so before he would say anything I
asked about something to distract him. What would I have said? Surely, you
don't expect me to tell him a female fisherman was trying to catch a silly male
human fish by the crossroad we just passed.
As we sped down the road, I began to reflect deeply on what I just witnessed. I
thought about my Boss who was a married man and, obviously, didn't notice what
just happened. I thought about so many other faceless men who would ignorantly
fall into a net subtly set for them. With it came also a realisation that as it
was for the menfolk, so also it was for the female counterpart. It took a
fellow lady standing at a crossroad to get me to ask myself a pertinent
question... "What happens at a crossroad - any crossroads at all?" What happens when we are
faced with a decision - a decision for good or bad, the right or wrong, the
best or worst, the safe or dangerous in life? What informs our
choice when we take that turn or take a path at that crossroad? What are the
odds that we'd not plunge over the edge or keep fast to the track we set out on
at first?
The Crossroad... A place of confusion. A place of crucial decision with far-reaching
consequences. A place where mistakes are made either for the best or worst. A
place where people takes a plunge down the ravine or scale up the mountain. A
place where men are made or marred. A place where just a step can take you on the
highway to destruction or on that very narrow path to safety.
Narrow, you say? Yes.
I discovered that it is
often all so easy for us to make decisions that serve our selfish interest and
cravings first than consider the interest of others. Many will argue with this,
I know, but when it comes to making a decision that serves the good of another
or people around us, there's this unusual pressure; this fight and inner struggle that leaves us tired and giving up easily. At that point, our thought goes, 'what the heck! I won't be the first to have made mistakes anyway.' And with that thought, we take the easy way out which may
eventually not be the right option to have taken in the first place.
I'm guessing you are probably thinking, 'What's the point in all these?'
Okay, here it is.
When we drove by the young lady that day, I took note of some interesting truths.
1. Everyone encounters crossroads at certain points in their lives whether literary or literally.
2. No matter how innocent or ignorant a bystander one may be at a crossroad, there is always a challenge to face, a choice to make, either for good or bad at every crossroads. Challenges or happenstance are no respecter of status.
3. Never underestimate the power of a challenge at a crossword to destroy or build you up. You can never tell what measure of heartache a little compromise can bring you. Better to walk away from an inferno when you are not wearing a fire proximity suit than be consumed by the very fire you are trying to quench.
4. At a crossroad, there will always be conflicting choices to what one knows, and the possibility of making a wrong turn will be quite high. In this case, don't get overly confident or try to be superman when you are not. Be clear about your strength, choices and path, and stick with it.
Herein I rest my Pen.
If you have ever been at a crossroad at a point in your life, and you came out unscathed, this writer would love to read about your experience and how you handled it in the comment section or write me at ejikestephanie@gmail.com.
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