August 2015 “I can’t take it anymore,” Gloria said, squeezing fake tears from her eyes. “Ellis, I think something is terribly wrong with me. My eyelid won’t stop twitching, my knee feels like it’s humming, and now I swear my left ear just popped on its own.” “Hmmh,” Ellis sighed, worry creasing his brows, his mouth puckered in disbelief. Was what he was hearing true? Health was not something to joke about. “You don’t know,” Gloria sniffed, already thinking of ways to spice up her story. She had to get Ellis out of his house so the crew could set up for his surprise birthday party. “Please, can we go somewhere so I can tell you all about it?” She leaned in, looking as distressed as she could manage. Ellis was instantly anxious. “Sure, sure. Let’s go to Fridays and talk.” Gloria smiled inwardly — her plan was working. She was part of an elaborate plan led by Ellis’s wife, Maame— a plan Ellis would have shut down in a heartbeat. He hated surprises, and if given the slightest warning, would have come up with ten solid reasons why this was a terrible idea. At Fridays, he ordered drinks. Gloria eyed hers longingly but kept her act tight. “Sorry, I can’t drink. Caffeine might make my twitch worse.” She added a few well-timed sniffles before launching into her dramatic list of “symptoms” — the eyelid spasm, the mysterious knee humming, and how she might have contracted a rare tropical nerve disorder from a salad. “Ei! And you’re going through all that?” Ellis asked, his face now etched with genuine concern. “Hmm… excuse me, I have to use the ladies’,” Gloria said, slipping away to call Bekoe and Burgess. “Give us an extra fifteen minutes,” she whispered, hiding a smile before returning with her best miserable face. Minutes later, she sighed. “Let’s go — their restroom was awful. Can I stop by your place to use yours before heading home?” When they got home, Ellis opened the door to usher her in, but— “Surprise!” his friends shouted, making him step back before breaking into a grin. “Happy birthday!!!” Ellis’s eyes instantly found Maame. “You,” he said, pointing at her like she’d just pulled off a high-stakes heist. She grinned, unapologetic. “I told you I could surprise you.” He shook his head, laughing despite himself. She’d won this round — and they both knew it. The prankster had been pranked… and the queen had taken the king. Fast-forward to August 2025 In a recent interview, when Ellis was asked how he’d like to be remembered, his answer was classic Ellis — short, humble, and a little mysterious: “I’d rather let people decide how they remember me.” Well, Ellis… challenge accepted. As he turns the big 6–0, another “operation” is underway. This time, the goal isn’t just to get him out of the house — it’s to capture the man in print. Behind the scenes, calls are flying, WhatsApp chats are buzzing, and side conversations over jollof are in full swing. The mission? A surprise birthday journal — a collection of stories, photos, and tributes from those who know him best. We grilled (lovingly) his friends, family, and coconspirators. The responses came in thick and fast — some touching, some hilarious — painting a vivid portrait of the man behind the name. Time and again, certain words kept popping up: Loyal. Witty. Dedicated. Chef. Compassionate. Courageous. In other words, Ellis is the kind of guy who will give you his last plate of food… but not before making sure it’s seasoned to perfection and served with a joke that makes you snort with laughter. Little does he know, the prankster is about to be pranked again. Only this time, the “trap” won’t vanish in a few hours — it’ll be bound in glossy pages for him to keep forever. Anecdote 2 The Birthday Journal A N E C D OT E
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