Do you know what I did today? I rested. But you know how a portion of the Bible says something about the mind being a workshop for the devil- or was it hands? well, whatever it was, it wasn’t a workshop for the devil. It was for the over-thinker in me.

I have this neighbor, roughly 23, probably turning 24 this year. He returned on Monday from his trip and I’ve been brainstorming ever since, trying to come up with something acquaintances can enjoy with minimal awkwardness. The idea finally came today. Ah, what a good two hours nap can do in your life.

I walked to his door, armed with a nap-fueled plan and a pockeful of witty quips.

I stopped a couple inches away like I did last time (story for another day, also a story about wrong timing). I knocked and knocked and knocked, occasionally glancing at the kids from our other neighbor, playing around. I kept at it, one knock after the other. I was ready to give it one last go when the gate in front of our compound opened. It was him. I bolted, almost twisting my ankle, as he opened the main gate for his father to drive in.

Why did I run? I don’t know. Am I thankful I didn’t roll my ankle? Forever thankful. I can’t imagine explaining to my mother what I was thinking.

I went back inside and while I stood looking at the bumper of his father’s parked car, it struck me, why don’t I use the front door? Maybe I could catch him by the gate before he walks toward his dad. I missed him. So, I stood outside my front door staring, deflated and hungry, the silence of the evening pressing in on me.

I was going to ask him if he wanted to go on a walk. I love evening walks and late night drives but we didn’t know each other well enough for me to suggest a drive. I had hoped he was a fan of walks too.

I went back in and stood at the dining table, staring at the car through our dining room window, pondering on if this was a failed attempt or not as I took my jacket off.

Wait! Another thought struck when I heard their generator flicker and die. I put my jacket back on and went out. I took a rag and cleaned the trunk of our car and hopped on, for a second I forgot why I came out, the skies were cloudy today, the birds might not fly by this evening.

A door creaked open and slammed shut. There he was, walking out of his house like a man on a mission, with his earpiece in. Awkward timing but that didn’t stop me, I greeted him, waving and he waved back. Progress! And out the gate he went. All hope isn't lost, we just might talk today.

He came back in a short while later, confirming my suspicions, he had gone to get engine oil. This time when the generator came on, it stayed on, dampening my hope a little.

I sat out there until the last bit of light disappeared behind the curtain. Although, I thoroughly enjoy sitting and staring at the sky in the evenings, this one was no different but a part of me had hoped he’d ask to join me.

Thinking about it now, I don’t know if the tree had blocked me enough from his line of sight to the house when I was knocking earlier, I don’t know if he saw me there but if he did and didn’t try to talk to me, I think it’s best I stop trying. Things don’t always work out, hoping to friend a neighbor in a new city doesn’t always work out.

The birds didn’t fly by but we had waved at each other. A part of me has given up but a part of me feels like there could still be a friendship somewhere in there.

Am I wasting my time? I can’t go another year in a different city without a friend to check out town with. First Lagos, now Akure. There might be a chance or does he think I’m trying to date him? I’m not but how do I tell him that if I keep getting the timing wrong and almost twisting my ankle?

Should I try again?