The missing wristwatch

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/man-in-black-suit-wear-new-watches-luxury-style-m0ZBWRYYq7o

Let the cat out of the bag
There was this wristwatch my wife gave to me as a birthday present, even though I'm not a birthday person. I see birthday celebrations as belonging to children and women. Probably in future, my perception of birthday celebrations will change. I hope it does because many people are getting into that, and I seem to be left behind. I practically force myself to wear the wristwatch gift mostly to please the giver.

Also, I find it difficult to put on wristwatches because I find them cumbersome. Though, I loved wearing them in my secondary school days but, in these days of mobile phones, I almost find them unnecessary.

Now, one particular day during the COVID-19 time, I had gone to visit a friend. Getting there, I rang his doorbell, and he promptly came out and opened the door. I didn't enter the house immediately rather, as the common practice was then, I had to wash my hands under a tap in the wash hand basin in front of the house.

I was wearing my birthday gift - that lovely wristwatch but, I removed it before washing my hands in order to prevent water from touching it. After applying the sanitizer that was kept by the basin side, I forgot to put on the watch back on my wrist, maybe because I wasn't used to wearing it.

"Oh! My dear. How's life?", my friend greeted, extending his clinched fist for me to touch his knuckles with mine.

That was what the scientists prescribed as a new pattern of handshake for the sake of COVID-19.

Both of us smiled broadly as I was taking my seat in his expansive parlour.

"I said, let me come and know how you're fairing in this strange situation we find ourselves", I said.

"Ha! It's not funny", he said, and continued, "The worst is this restriction of movement".

"That's it. It's tough", I replied.

"Tell me, how can one cope with this style of staying indoors?"

"It's not easy. That's why I'm using this two-hour window to come and say hi, face to face".

We talked at length on COVID-19 and some other issues before I took my leave, before the time allowed for movement elapsed.

Getting back to my house, my wife immediately noticed I was not wearing my watch.

"What of your watch?" She asked.

I took a glance at my left wrist. It was not there.

"Oh! I have left it at my friend's house", I answered.

I called my friend immediately on phone, asking him to check for my watch near the wash hand basin.

He called back soon after to say he didn't see it. He then asked me to check my pockets, whether I put it there.

"Could I have put it in my pocket without knowing?" I asked myself.

I couldn't remember when I put it in my pocket. All the same, I checked allover. Nothing!

Two days later, I went back to my friend's house because I was thinking he didn't check well.
He was surprised I hadn't seen the watch. He said he thought I had seen it since I didn't call again.

His wife came out to join the discussion. We all went back to check the basin area, nothing was found. We went back to the parlour to check whether it fell somewhere, or any space inside the cushion.

As we were turning everywhere upsidedown, his little boy of six came out from the room.

"Are you looking for that clock?" He casually asked.

"Which clock?" His mother turned to him and asked.

"The one near the wash hand basin".

"Yes", the mother responded.

"It's in Aunty's room", he said, still playing with his car toy, and as if nothing serious was at stake.

"Deborah", the mother called the housemaid who the boy referred to as Aunty.

"Ma", Deborah answered.

"Did you see any wristwatch?"

"Oh! My God!" She exclaimed, and continued, "Junior brought a wristwatch to me the other day, saying he saw it near the wash hand basin outside. I was very busy then, I thought of telling you about it but, It escaped my memory".

"Go and bring it".

"I'm so sorry, I forgot about it. It's in my room", she pleaded.

With that, she went and brought the wristwatch, and I heaved a sigh of relief on seeing my watch again.

"Thank you, Junior. Thank you Deborah", I said.