Chapter 2 - Strategy

“You sister needs a dress and you have the money. Just give it to her so she can go get it.” My mother says standing at my door and I look at her in disbelief, I can’t believe she’s doing this to me right now.  I’m too tired to be having this conversation with her.

“Okay, don’t give it to her. Lend it to me; I’ll pay you back the money when I have it.” She says knowing that she doesn’t have the money to pay me back and if I give her the money I will never get it back.

 She slowly walks into my room and closes the door. I didn’t invite her in but I guess this is her house. Never mind my privacy and needs. I sit up on my bed because any thoughts of taking a nap are down the drain. I know she won’t leave me alone until she gets what she wants.

“Why does she have to have such an expensive dress? She can get a nice dress at a cheaper price.” I say and my mother sighs irritated with me but she’s asking me to her my money. This is crazy she doesn’t even have the patience to hear me out.  I’m not saying she should be kissing my ass but she can at least have a discussion with me about it.

“That’s the dress she wants. I can’t tell her she can’t have it. She wants to wear that dress for her matric farewell. What do you want me to do Adira?” She asks as if I just didn’t give her a solution to her problem.

“You can tell her you can’t afford the dress she wants and she can choose a different one. Why does have to always get what she wants. Sometimes it’s not possible and that’s okay.” I say and my mother looks at me looking defeated.

“You of all people know that your sister will never agree to anything but what she wants. Are you going to give her the money or not?”  She asks her voice laced with anger and irritation. She’s decided she doesn’t want to have this conversation with me anymore. I look at her astonished at how little patience and consideration she gives me.

“No, I have plans for that money.” I say and she stares at me with a look of disbelief in her eyes. She didn’t expect me to say no because I always give them what they want. I take care of them, I’m the one that makes sure the lights in this house are on, there is food in the fridge and I make sure they have a place to call home.

I took over everything when dad couldn’t work. I never asked for a break or special treatment, so now my mother expects me to do anything she tells me to do.

 Well I’m not paying thousands of rands for a dress that Chloe Is going to wear once and never appreciate. I work too hard to spoil her. If she wants to go to the stupid matric dance she needs to sort herself out. She’s an adult now; she can take care of herself like the rest of us.   

“Adira come on, you have to lend me the money. You know your sister is going to start bothering your father if I don’t give her the money. Your father just got back on his feet and he can’t afford to have Chloe harping on him for money. I don’t want him all stressed out.” She says looking me in my eyes. I hate when she uses dad a weapon to get me to do stuff.

Dad had an accident at work a week after my fifteenth birthday and that’s right around the time I started my hair braiding business. Everything was going well and I was starting to make some money. But when he had to stop working I was the only one making money in the house so I had to take over with the bills.

I was lucky enough that people liked my work so I got a lot of bookings. That meant we didn’t have to worry about running out of food in the house and mom could concentrate on taking care of dad until he got better.

But at the same time it meant that I had to work harder than I ever did. I had to run my business and go to school.  And then come home to help out with dad, Chloe didn’t do jack and my mother let her. And I never complained.

 But now things are different, dad is back at work now. He’s making money again; I’m still helping out a lot around the house. Instead of my mother laying off me a little bit she’s demanding even more money for me. When will I get my shit together if I’m taking care of her spoilt seventeen year old. Chloe should look for a job and take care of herself. I’m doing it and no one is cutting me any slack.

“Just tell her you don’t have it mom.” I say and she looks at me with so much anger it takes me back.

“It’s just money Adira. Just give it to me.” She says screaming at me.  I look at her shocked; I reach for my phone on the side table and unlock it. I make a payment to her bank and wait for the notification to come through her to her phone.

“There.” I say when the notification pings on her phone. I walk to my closet and start packing my work kit.

“Where are you going?” She asks staring at me.

“I have a client.” I say finishing off packing my kit. I take my back pack and phone and head out of my room. I need to get out of this house right now before I lodes my mind. And more importantly I need to move out of here.

I was hoping to put off moving out until the end of the year but I don’t think I can survive another six months in this house. I’m going to have a real fight with my mother if I stay here. I need to get out.   

“When will you be back?” She asks when I get to the front door.

“I don’t know how long it will take so I don’t know when I’ll be back. I’ll sort out my own dinner.” I say before she asks me because I know that’s her next question.

“Your sister is going to need someone to help her pick out the right dress. So don’t book any clients for tomorrow.” She says and I almost scream at her. What is wrong with this woman? Is Chloe all she cares about? She can’t even see that I’m pissed off right now.

I open the door and leave her standing there with no answer. I’m not going to say what I really want to say because as much as she pisses me off I respect her. She’s my mother and she raised me.

I storm out of the front yard just as my father pulls into the driveway. He gives me one look and he can tell that something went down.  I ignore him and keep walking down the hill onto the main road.

I take my phone out and get an Uber. I have an hour and a half until my appointment. I’m going to my favorite coffee shop to relax. I need all the relaxation I can get; I don’t want to go to see my client angry. That is a recipe for a terrible hairdo. I love what I do and I approach it with love and care.

“She didn’t even let me go to my matric dance. She told me I had to save the money I was going to use for to buy a dress to help around the house.” I say talking to myself as I walk down the street. My Uber is five minutes away s I have time to kill.

“She begged me to not go. She cried saying that we need the money for dad. But today because it’s Chloe’s thing, I should just give her the money. I shouldn’t make a big deal of it because it’s just money.” I say talking even louder. People on the street stare at me as I continue to talk to myself. I don’t care who sees me, I need to vent or else the rest of my day will be crap.

“I should have known this was how it was going to go down. It’s always been like this. My mother has always hated me there is no way around it. She hates me but she loves the money I make.” I say looking how far my ride is on the app. He’s two minutes away.

I stop walking and decide to wait for him next to a supermarket.

“I am moving out. I have enough money for three months’ rent. I would have loved to have more but I can make it work.” I say deciding right there that I’m moving out. I’m doing it at the end of the month. “If I run out of money, I’ll end up homeless and on the streets. I’m doing this anymore; I’m moving out and getting my own place.” I say feeling more and more confident about my decision.

“Yes you go girl. Do it, take the plunge and move out.” A man walking out of the supermarket says standing next to me. I almost jump out of my skin when I finally notice him. I didn’t even realize that someone was standing next to me. “Don’t be scared just do it.” He says smiling at me.

“Thanks.” I say smiling nervously at him. He starts walking away and I look around to see if anyone else is watching me. I need to stop taking to myself in the streets. I’m going to attract creeps for sure.

A car stops in front of me and the driver opens the widow looking at me.

“Adira?” He asks smiling.

“Yes. Gino?” I ask looking at the plate number on my phone and confirming with the car. He nods and unlocks the car for me.

I’m moving out. The words echo in my mind as the car starts moving.