By Olayiwola Ridwan
Aminu Receives Advice About Salamatu from His Friends.
His friends: Aminu, how far is your intelligent girlfriend, Salamatu?
Aminu: It’s actually been a while since I have heard from her. But, she must be doing fine.
His friends: We know you have serious interest in that girl. Do you think you are up to her level? Because that girl is so brilliant and classy.
Aminu: So what? I deeply have interest in her, and I will surely gain her heart ultimately.
His friends: Dey play o… Just dey play… You better CUT YOUR CLOTH ACCORDING TO YOUR SIZE.
Aminu: You see now! You can’t even express a common English proverb properly. You better find someone like Salamatu as a girlfriend, instead of those girls with heavy makeup but empty heads.
His friends: What do you mean?! What’s now the correct version of it o, Salamatu’s husband? (They tease him)
Aminu: ehn ehn… Thank you. That’s me. It’s even from Salamatu that I learnt the proper way of expressing the proverb. I had always been like you people.
His friends: We don hear, oga. Teach us too.
Aminu: Let me make my girlfriend proud by extending the gospel of her work to you. I learnt that, saying CUT YOUR CLOTH ACCORDING TO YOUR SIZE has no basis in the English language. The existing version of the English idiom is: CUT YOUR COAT ACCORDING TO YOUR CLOTH. And that’s how the English people express it. Hope you get it clear now, three unserious elements? (He says jokingly).
His friends: Yes! Well taken. Thank you, Salamatu’s husband. (They continue teasing him)
Aminu: Thank you. That’s me. Go and find someone like Salamatu, too.
His friends: Better don’t deceive yourself. Salamatu is not for you.
Aminu: We shall see.