I just about knocked down a cyclist this evening. It's been raining all day and driving across town from Tooting in deep South London back across the river to more familiar locales in the Islington area, the traffic was murder. And those annoying daredevil cyclists were darting through the traffic like they have nine lives. Normally I would take it all in my stride, but this evening I was furious! Were it not for expert driving skills honed on the mean streets of Lagos, I would at this minute be in a dank police cell somewhere, awaiting interrogation on how I came about killing an innocent cyclist. I said I was furious, but it was not because of the traffic.
You know that fellow, the big overweight one with the round belly that flops over his trouser fronts; the one with those silly glasses hanging on the end of his nose? Yes, him, you know, that one with food stains on his tie, the loud, noisy one whose voice is clearly audible from half a mile off? Yes him.
In the last few days I've observed a change in his countenance towards me. This so & so who only few weeks ago would crawl to me on his fat belly to seek my opinion on issues that exceeded his cerebral ability. He strutted past me in the car park yesterday morning, head held high in the air, looking down his nose at me as he shuffled past, ignoring my greeting...Hmm! I didn't make much of this. Later on during the day, our paths crossed again. And again, he acted as if to snub me. Today the same thing happened, but this time it was even more brazen. I heard him from a distance shouting into his phone, obviously talking to one of his children. He was speaking loud enough that I would hear that he's got kids. And I'm wondering why he thinks that this should upset me in any way. Late this afternoon we were walking on the same pavement towards the car park, and in the same direction too. Mr so & so brushed past me and the hostility was tangible...if only he could push me into the path of that oncoming truck, he would..
I sat in my car and quietly mulled it over in my mind. He had never acted in this way in the past. What had happened to cause him to change? Then bingo! Of course he's been reading this blog! So now he knows who I really am and it gets up his nose that he's having to share his surroundings with a gay man who declares that he is gay and is proud of it too. In his African mind he can only think to respond to this new knowledge with a display of hostility. But I'm sure that having read this blog and being so affected by it, it is guaranteed that he will return. And when he does return to the blog I want him to read this post.
Now listen to me Mr so & so. Yes, you read it correctly. I am what I am, and I am happy being who I am. That is why I do not believe that I need to hide my true nature from you or from anyone else. I knew it would be difficult in Africa to be open about my sexuality, but we are not now in Africa. I would therefore wish for you to leave your ignorant attitude behind at home with your wife, before you venture out into the civilised society that you find yourself living in. Your attitude does not upset me, it annoys me! You have been exposed long enough to a liberal and tolerant society to know better. I'm sure you've heard of what happened to that fat Ghanaian lady who let her mouth run loose. If you haven't heard, I can tell you that I brought her actions to the attention of the Police and she wound up being formally cautioned, with a criminal record to boot. So Mr, keep your homophobic attitude far away from me. I will not tolerate it.
Phew! I needed to vent my spleen..
