OUTSIDE THE BOX
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
"You can be
very self absorbed Deoye, you really can." She
raised her voice as Deoye looked up at her. "I
went out on a limb to get to you, all I ask is a
little appreciation sometimes. I’m not asking you to ‘sell out’ as you put it.
But if being with me is a compromise to your beliefs. It's time you kept it
real. Cos I’m not black am I?"
"Come on
Princess. You got culture you aint white, you know I aint got no problem with being with you."
"Then focus
on this very graphic picture for a moment, it's very simple. I love you and I
want to share some time away with you. I don’t mean to offend your strong black
male pride but I need a break and you know that you could use one too. Now
that's reality. So stop the speeches throw some scivies
in a bag and let’s go!"
Deoye was unyielding he knew he could
use a holiday but she was right, it was partialy an
ego thing, though he wouldn’t admit it.
"The
timings wrong Princess, I gotta sort my shit
out."
Amane was convinced she could sway
him but was tired of having to constantly pick him up. Deoye’s
shit was getting heavy. He was in a stubborn mood and seemingly hadn't invested
as much emotionally in the relationship as she had.
She got up from
the bar stool and sighed again. Looking at the floor pausing
to gather her thoughts. She was hurt and fought to summon words through
the lump in her throat.
"I guess
you're right, the timing is wrong."
Deoye sensed her pain a moment too
late as he got up from the floor to hold her she shrugged out of his grasp and
put her hand in his face with the attitude of a sister.
"The timing
is wrong. It's so fucking wrong! You take your time and sort your shit out, you
hear?"
"Amane I didn’t mean to piss you off but I've got to look at
the big picture . . ."
"You keep
focusing on this great big picture but you're also forgetting to consider this
insignificant minor detail on the side cos that's
what I feel like Deoye. I’m just penciled
in grey on the side, til you get to colour this whole
big picture of yours black, and I don’t fit in with my grey, not pasty white, but neutral grey, non
understanding self, waiting to be rubbed out!" Amane’s
voice trailed off before she turned, walked away, opened the front door, and
uncharacteristically slammed it behind her.
Deoye could only open his mouth and watch
as she walked out. He had never seen Amane so annoyed
before, certainly not at him. And he strained his mind still disbeliebving that she had actually sworn. In his
mesmerised state he stood looking at his front door oblivious to hearing
another out of character act from Amane, a tyre
screech, burning rubber as she sped off.
Having concluded
that he had never heard Amane swear, Deoye snapped out of the academic factors of the situation.
He realised that he had screwed up. In his own state of self pity he had
neglected the one thing that was going well for him. He kissed his teeth and
fronted all the same.
"I gotta sort myself out and get my shit together, this pauper
aint ready for a princess".
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Book Details
About the Book
For the many
webs of dual cultured people in society, life is complex.
This web is spun
around
The contrasting
life of his professional footballer best friend, Tayo
with his ambitious model girlfriend, Deoye’s racial perceptions,
morality and the ingrained chip on his shoulder, compound his view of cultural
acceptance in
Amane Al-Shifa
is the only daughter of a Kuwaiti Sheikh, trying to be her own woman, though
influenced by her disciplined Islamic upbringing. She seeks to enhance her utopian
theories of life. Her relationship with Deoye, flatmates
and family provide varied perspectives on life’s realities.
Shokoya is a Nigerian fraudster. His justification; payback for colonial exploitation. He
legalised his stay through an arranged marriage to the street Shereese, an aspiring make up artist. Shokoya
works the system with abandon, financing his expensive taste, without remorse.
But Shereese has a secret and it’s used against her
when her desperate ex-lover Calvin threatens extortion.
Will the answers
to their pursuit of success, identity and love be gift wrapped?
About the Author
The various
facets of self expression are harnessed and exuded by Adewale J. Ola Dimeji.
His style is truly his. Precipitated by the dual cultures that he possesses,
though he proudly affiliates himself with the predominate part of his
African-British identity.
His passion as
an artist has thus far brought him to publish an anthology of poetry, ‘Emotional
Condensation’ and a neo-soul/jazzy spoken word CD ‘No Comparison’. He also has
a fervent desire to work educating youth and children.
More will be
heard from J. Ola Dimeji this year this decade and beyond. It is worth noting
that a literal translation of his surname ‘Ola Dimeji’ is wealth multiplied.