JIDEHer laughter rang in my ears. I was quite surprised but it felt so melodious coming from the stoic cold girl I had met and heard a lot about. Everyone watched her and it was like the time had stopped to capture this moment. She looked around when her laughter died down and her blue eyes caught mine. She gave me a brief glance and returned her gaze to Kofi. I had to admit Kofi had won my admiration. He was just working her softly and penetrating quite easily. I was not sure I had such patience. I heard Makena snort beside me. "She has got the nerves to laugh." The white light bulbs above reflecting off her bald ebony head. "Kofi does know his skills. Once he softens her, we will deal with her," Kadin, a Moroccan teenage boy hissed. I shook my head in dissent, "Kevin said to be nice.""Does not mean we should be," Wangui interjected, spooning into her mouth. "We can't just let her go after what she has done to our home," Tumpale, a Malawian girl, gruntled. "We were not able t

"That was a dangerous prank, man," I heard Jide's voice filter through my subconsciousness."It was a grass snake. It is harmless," I recognized the voice of the boy with the snake. "She would not know that, Adel," I heard Jide say again. "That is what made the prank all the more cool," Adel chuckled lightly. "Not cool, Adel. Not cool. Do you know what might happen if Kevin heard a word of this?" Jide asked lowly. "Why should we worry about her? If she does not survive this, then she will realize that this place is not for her," I heard Makena snap. "Makena," Jide called. I heard her bed squeak and she almost yelled, "Acha. You sound like a man whose wife is sick. You should not worry about this brat.""She is human and she may terribly break down from all these," Jide cajoled. "Well, we will see that for ourselves," Wangui dismissed. My eyelids fluttered open and my vision cleared as the ceiling came into view. I turned my head slightly to see a number of people clustered in

JIDEI waited for Ivory in the apple orchard, a very far distance behind the male hostel. It was quite chilly, even though I wore tons of warm clothing. I missed Nigeria. I had gotten so used to our warm climate that surviving here in the first few weeks of my arrival was hell. And though I had spent seven years in the United Kingdom, I had not fully adapted yet. I looked up into the darkness when I heard the crunching of gravel. It was lights out and no one was supposed to be out of bed. I shuddered a bit when I pictured Kevin walking up the path here and find me. There was punishment for not heeding to instructions. My mind raced for excuses to give. I heaved a sigh when I saw Ivory treading the path, a confused expression etched on her face. I was quite sure she had not been to this side of the farm yet. She looked quite good in her pink furry jacket, knee length blue shorts and knee length blue boots. Her long blond hair was tied back in a tight ponytail and her face was death

The next day, Cassidy had called to give me info on the new buildings she could get ahold of. I requested that she sent it to my mail. After the day's work and a meal of sadza, I sat in the porch of the hostel building, smoking and watching the dark sky dotted with bright stars. The moon shone at a distance, illuminating the courtyard. "I have never seen a woman who enjoy smoking this much," Jide invaded my thoughts. I butted the end of my cigarette stick and replaced it between my lips. Jide shoved it out of my mouth and crumbled it in his palms. I watched him in wonder. How could he do that when it was still lighted?"Can you let me enjoy my stick? This helps me relax," I told him. He bent his head at an odd angle and questioned me. "I thought painting helped you relax?""I stopped doing that three years ago. Grandma thought it was a waste of time. But she did not have issues with my smoking," I shrugged. "Who does that? Complain about painting but not smoking," he boomed. "Ca

JIDEI awoke to the ringing of my cellphone. I jolted awake when I tapped on the answer button and heard Mama's voice. "Nwa m(my child)," she said in Igbo. "Mama, how...why...? You should have waited till I called you. How much do you have to waste on call cards to reach me in the United Kingdom?" I reprimanded her. I heard her sniffle. Had she been crying?"Oh. So you knew all those and you have refused to call me, Jidechukwu," she sniffled again. My heart clenched at the break in her voice. She had been crying. "Mama, I never forgot you. I think about you all the time and pray for you too. You know it is not easy to make money over here," I tried to placate."If making money is going to stop me from hearing your voice, then do not make it. Kwụsị (stop). I miss you dearly, Jidechukwu," she cried. I sat up from my bed, the foam and woods groaning from the impact. "Mama, kwụsị biko(stop please). You are breaking my heart," I pleaded. "When are you coming home? It has been seven