This is my post on #freewriters3110 #dailyprompt he has a beard hosted by 
The humid evening air of Uyo hung thick over Abak Road as Emmanuel sat at his favorite spot, strokes of neon light from a nearby lounge catching the sharp edges of his jaw. Or rather, the sharp edges of his beard.
It wasn't just facial hair; it was a local monument. Thick, midnight-black, and meticulously carved, Emmanuel’s beard had its own reputation in Akwa Ibom. It required more maintenance than his entry-level tech job. While others spent their naira on afang soup and weekend drinks, Emmanuel invested in imported eucalyptus oils, premium wooden combs, and a barber named Kufre who treated every trim like a high-stakes heart surgery.
"Bro, your beard get its own PVC?" his friend Ubong joked, pulling up a plastic chair.
Emmanuel smiled, smoothing the whiskers with the back of his hand. "Consistency, my guy. It’s a lifestyle."
Truthfully, the beard was his armor. In a city brimming with fresh-faced graduates and hustlers, his beard gave him an air of unearned wisdom. Elders at family meetings suddenly started listening to his opinions on land disputes. Waiters brought his star beer faster.
As a sudden Uyo downpour began to pelt the zinc roof above them, Emmanuel carefully shielded his chin from the stray droplets. A stray splash could ruin the carefully applied beard butter.
"You're acting like it's made of gold," Ubong laughed, waving down a suya vendor.
Emmanuel just grinned into his glass. It wasn't gold, but in the heart of Uyo, it was close enough.
