As Peter approached me, I began to sweat all over. My chair suddenly became uncomfortable and my eyes kept rolling around. I was tensed and my restlessness was obvious. "Are You okay Fetty? " asked a customer. I said nothing, then Peter finally arrived. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "Let me get you a seat. " I said getting up. "I always help myself around here. " he replied while dragging a plastic chair by the corner. "You need water? " I further asked. "Are You tensed? " he retorted. "No. " I quickly replied breathing heavily. "Okay so relax then. " he said with a smile. I smiled back awkwardly. We said nothing for like a minute till Peter finally broke the silence. "I am very sorry for my violent behavior at the restaurant this afternoon. " he began in a low tune. The customers around were chatting and laughing, minding their business, their attention far from us. "I should have controlled myself. I was at Nancy's this evening. . I apologized to her and we are cool. " h
And Julia shows up... More drama
I went inside our room feeling angry to a latge. extent. I know that Julia was Peter's girlfriend and could see him anytime she wishes, Infact he knew her before I then why does this bother me. My mother, Kiki and Tami were already fast asleep. It was harmmatan season and it's always cold and foggy these days. I took off my clothes, grabbed a towel and dashed out to bathe. While fetching water from our water drum into the bucket outside, I couldn't help but listened to the chuckles and laughter coming out of Peter's room. Had they made up? I thought. I hurriedly took my bath, came inside and struggled to fall asleep. I tossed from one end of the mat to the other till I realized I just hit Kiki. I couldn't help but imagine Peter and Julia in the room together, talking, reconciling, probably on the same bed. I shoved the thoughts away and began to sleep before my phone vibrated. I just got a text mesage from Layo. He wants me to accompany him to Mr. Chinedu's offi
"Why don't you get inside, take a bath and get some rest. Am sure you must have undertaken a long journey. " I said. "My mother will be home in a while and by the time you are done bathing, I must have finished making lunch. "I added. He nodded and went inside with a little bag he held which was shaped like a briefcase. Soon, he was out in his boxers with a bucket of water heading to the bathroom. I was in the kitchen cooking and wondering why he had come all the way from the village. Was he hear to see us? Did he need anything? I thought. When my father died, none of my mothers relatives showed up. Not her two sisters or uncle Awang and his presence here today is questionable. My siblings then came back from school and I introduced Awang to them as their uncle. Tami who had always been looking for a male figure to clung on to was soon all over him and they even ate together. I told Kiki to stay at home with Tami and our uncle. I will be taking my mother's lunch
Before 6pm, I had already began my shift at the bar. My mother was back home with Uncle Awang and my siblings. I so much wanted to stay behind and be part of their conversation, to know why my uncle came and what his plans were but I had to run the bar that night. However, I knew my mother will feed me with all the information I needed the moment I returned home that night. I came along with two textbooks. Biology and English language. I had a jotter with which I noted down relevant points. Tommorow, I shall go to the London Secondary School to register for my long awaited final examination. According to my mother, the amount is intact. Since we didn't get to pay for Osifa's school fees, the fee was added up to mine and the earnings my cookie business generated, topped the amount. I feel grateful that my Mother and I were able to raise the amount. Baking daily wasn't easy. There were times, I would wake up feeling tired and worn out but I knew I had to bake that morni
The next day, my uncle left earlier than I imagined. Infact, he left before I woke up. After having breakfast, I counted my fees and stacked it inside my little purse. "Hold that purse tightly ". said my mother while pulling her left ear to warn me. "Those pick pockets won't see me today. " I replied with a smile. I missed my final secondary school examination last year and this year, I am determined to make amends. I won't allow any opportunity to rob me of this hard earned money that came with sweat and prayers. I heaved a sigh and announced to my mother that I will be leaving. She nodded then said "I wish you all the best. " and I dashed out. On my way out of the compound, I ran into Peter who was leaving for the construction site. We exchanged pleasantries. "Where are you heading to this morning? " he asked. "London Secondary School. " I replied. "You are registering for the final exams right? " he asked. "Yes. " I said nodding in affirmation. "I can come with you
I hurried home after Emjay told me he was around our compound. It's been seven months since we last saw each other and hadn't spoken ever since. He never called so did I. He went to study abroad so why was he back? I thought. I had imagined he would take four years to study and come home maybe once a year. Judging by his excitement months earlier, I never thought he could return this early. When I got home, Emajay was seated on the bench outside our door. There he was. Same old Emjay. Nothing has changed about him. He still looked the same. In fact, he got darker. Normally, my heartbeat would quicken at the sight of him but here I was feeling normal. "Hey! " I said hurrying towards him. I sat close to him on the bench and he greeted me with his warm smile. "You are here. " I said. "Yea, av been in London neighborhood for two days now just that I didn't get out till now. " he said staring at me. "Oh really! " I said. "He nodded, lowered his said and said nothing. "So how is sch
They say London has a way of pleasing everybody. It suits the wild and the calm. The Greenland dinner is an annual event just like the annual ghetto fiesta. However, this event is more calm, a bit sensitive and kind of boring as others say. It is an event where young men and women dress in fine apparels like suits and gowns then spend the night eating, talking and meeting people. Unlike the annual Ghetto fiesta that houses people from different age groups, this event is for the teens and youths. Two weeks to every Christmas, the events takes place. During every event that I have attended so far, Layo had always been my date. We've been barely spectators so we purchase the tickets which was very affordable because according to Razzi, it was his way of appreciating the youths in the community so the tickets are afforadable then we dress up, have the sumptuous dinner of fried rice and chicken and watch the event till it ends. During the event, there is jazz playing, a piano man played
Peter drove us to the Greenland open arena and he parked his car where the staff in the brothel park theirs. He was a VIP after all since his father owns the damn brothel. Julia quickly got down from the car and Peter hurried after her. Emjay went to collect a seat number from the ushers around while Layo and I stood waiting for directions. If we were there alone we would have gone to the ushers, gotten our seat numbers and sat awaiting the opening of the grand event. "Madam Fetty. " began Layo in a shrill voice. "Oh boy! " I mumbled knowing he was up to something. "You just made one girl jealous you know? " he said. "I don't know what you are saying. " I replied adjusting my hair which laid on my back. "But I like the arena you know? The car arena. You should have seen her face when Peter said you looked perfect." said Layo who moved very closer to me. "Shut up. " I replied. "Seat 21" said Emjay while walking towards us. "Look Peter is calling us from the
When I got home, I entered our room after throwing off my heels by the door. I saw my mother sitting up on the bed reading the holy bible. Tami and K**i were already far away in dream land. "You are back. " she said. I nodded without uttering a word then went further to take off my dress. "So tell me how your day went. " said my mother. "Fine. " I replied rolling my hair up with the aim of putting a hair net on. "That's a lie. " she said. "If it went well as you alleged, you would have filled my ear drums with news about the event, the dresses people wore, those who had ugly make ups on and the rich fried rice. " she added. I changed into my night wear and sat on the mat. "It was a disaster. " I began. "Really? Tell me about it. " my mother said. "I don't even know how to start this. The thing is, people fought and it was over me. " I revealed with my head lowered feeling awkward. My mother laughed then said "You still didn't tell me what happened. Start from the top.