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Cold Stone Thirty One
IVORY She wore a grey suit with grey flats and pearl jewelries, standing stiffly by the door, taking in my state. "I need to talk to you," she grilled out coldly."About?" I returned the cold. She gave a contemptuous glance to the other occupants of the room. "Alone."They immediately exited the room, except Jide was more hesitant. "I see you are improving faster in this cheap hospital," she noted, stalking the chair by my bed.I did not respond to that. "What do you want? I heard about how you were much of an ass the last time you visited." "I was suggesting what was best for my granddaughter who has suddenly turned against me. I see those barbarians had succeeded in transforming you to an animal. I thought I had done a good job in building your immunity. I am however so bdisappointed," she drooled while dropping her butt in the chair. I was angry at the terms she used to describe my African friends. "You froze me over and shaped me into an animal. Made me have hate and disresp
Cold Stone Thirty Two
JIDEThe structure of the restaurant was almost ready. Ivory had no idea that we had begun construction. We wanted it to be a surprise when she got discharged. The restaurant was situated in the farm compound by a corner in the courtyard. I had suggested that its location be in the city and not in a remote area like the farm. But Ivory was of the thoughts that locating it in the farm would expose the farm more to the public, making us gain customers. She was so sure that a lot of people from the city would love to come to the serene environment of the farm to have our wonderful African dishes, especially when she was our public figure. We were decorating the interior at the moment. I was hanging Ivory's finished paintings at strategic spots on the bamboo walls. Tumpale and some other girls took care of the floor and ceiling designs while Kofi and other guys arranged the bar. I was to handle the sitting arrangements when I was done with the paintings. We vibed to African hip hop mus
Cold Stone Thirty Three
"Grandmother. Where is Grandma?" I snapped at the fleet of guards that scurried behind me. Aunt Joan was coming down the stairs at that moment and I hurried to the landing, waiting for her. "Where is Grandma?" I queried. She looked confused and worried at my state, "She does not stay here anymore." My eyebrows drew together, "What? Why?" Aunt Joan shrugged, "Says she can't live with us no more. Thinks we spite her." I clenched my fists, "Now I do. How could she? What does she intend to achieve by perpetrating such wickedness?" "I do not seem to follow." Aunt Joan said, confusion etched on her pretty face. I recounted the farm incident. She shrugged and moved away from the stairs landing to the sitting room. "I would not know what this is about. I am as concerned as you are." "Where is she right now?" I asked, walking with her. "I have no idea, my dear. She did not inform me of her departure. I returned from work to receive a note from my chief maid," she replied, resti
Cold Stone Thirty Four
IVORY Why and how? I had been pondering.I had not been able to sleep since last night after that revelation was made. Aunt Joan? Like Aunt the fuck Joan? Damn! I definitely did not see that coming. I got back home last night, totally ignoring her and finding my way to the the confinement of my room. The lawyer advised that I do not confront her. But that was making me go crazy.I crazily paced my room, my fingers raking through my hair wildly. I needed to see the look of horror on her face when she sees she does not fool me anymore. I needed answers, answers I would not get if I did not confront her. My lips itched for a smoke. My fingers itched to paint. I had no residue paint supplies here at home; Grandma had discarded them all. But I had residue cancer sticks in my drawer. I checked my drawers and found them. Quickly lighting one, I took a long drag; a long drag of relief, a long drag of immediate and temporary peace. Letting the smoke settle in my insides a bit longer, I
Cold Stone Thirty Five
IVORYI spent the next two days at the farm, turning daft ears to Aunt Joan's pleading. She had not changed one bit. She was still that caring, motherly and soft spoken person I had always known. It made me wonder if she being a suspect in this whole case was not just a set up by Grandma. That old woman had not still returned from her hideout. I had horse duty this morning with some African boy I had not met before. We worked quietly, a respectable distance separating us both. I fondled with a horse's mane while I ran a brush over it. I had never stood up close to a horse before and I knew I should be scared but I was not. This was my fourth week in the farm and I was beginning to let go alot. Shit that really got me scared and rustled no longer bothered me. It was a great change. I got a call from Cassidy and swiped to answer it. "What's up?" I asked. "Mr and Mrs Khoza wants to have a word with you. We have set up a meeting by eleven," she informed me. I breathed out. "Why? Is
Cold Stone Thirty Six
MIRAThe next day, I took a cab at the bus stop after walking the path away from the farm. It was lights out and I was supposed to be in bed but here I was, on my way to the hospital with the finished painting of beloved Mother.I felt so bad and guilty for hating on her when all she did was love both me and Father. I wondered the emotional and psychological trauma she must have gone through because of Grandma's stoic attitude. Mother sacrificed her health for Father. Did Grandma actually think anyone would accept to marry Father with all his riches if they found out he was infected with HIV? Grandma really did not know the blessing she has had.I got down the bus and stalked into the hospital building. Getting to Ward 5B, I checked into the hospital register and found my way to Room 11. She was on a wheelchair by the window, watching the stars. I watched her frail form. The wrinkled skin shook feverishly next to the chair. Her hair ridden head looked ragged and unkempt. "Are you go
Cold Stone Thirty Seven
JIDE I discreetly watched her as she supervised the restaurant's decor. She looked breathtaking in her orange and white chiffon top and bright green palazzo trousers. Her blonde hair was swept to the right side of her hair and I imagined the strawberry scent that would hit my nose if I got close to her and nuzzled the exposed neck. "Breathe man. Breathe," Kofi nudged me. I found myself exhaling. I was not breathing? How long had I been staring?"She literally took your breath away, Jide," Kofi chuckled at his joke. I ran my palms down my face and rubbed my eyes. What the fuck was happening with me? I rolled up my sleeves and carried a chair. Kofi followed me. "Why are you following me around now?" I asked him, irritated. Kofi could be an ass when he wanted to. "To constantly remind you to breathe, lover boy," he answered gleefully. I dropped the chair at a table and dusted it. "You really do not have to. If you are that jobless, I could find you something to do," I cut out
Cold Stone Thirty Eight
IVORYMy brain cells delved into overdrive as I stared at him wide-eyed. I wondered if he could hear the erratic thumping of my chest. My blood sang in my veins and I felt strangely warm. Jide was fucking kissing me. Oh my gosh! Jide was fucking kissing me. And oh it tasted so good. His lips were like soft pillows and tasted of melted candy. I loved the tingles that spread through my body and I did not want them to stop. I did not want him to stop. And yet he did. His lips froze and his eyes found mine. They held uncertainty and dread. Uncertainty that he had acted without thinking; dread that he had done something wrong.'Oh no no. I loved it,' I wanted to say. 'Do not stop,' my subconscious screamed. But my throat constricted as bubbles lodged in it, impairing my speech. I frowned at the distance he put between us, his eyes looking every other place but at me. He cleared his throat to speak. "Y...you do not like it. I am so sorry coming unto you like that. I was not sure what
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Cold Stone Fifty Six
JIDESeeing blood drip from her injured wrist brought back painful memories. Memories I had managed to tuck into the furthest part of my brain. I watched the blood trickle down and grimaced when she winced. "Jide," Ivory breathed out in a whisper. That drew me out of my frozen state and I hurriedly guided her to a low stool. I got a bowl of water and dipped her hand into it, the water immediately turned red. The cut was not deep but it drew a great amount of blood. I quickly dashed into Mama's room to search for a first aid kit. I checked her medicine compartment in her dresser and found the contents of a first aid kit laying around. I assembled a pair of scissors, a bottle of methylated spirit and a wrap of cotton wool and dashed back to the kitchen. I felt pained to see her fighting back her tears. I removed her hand from the water and let it drip dry before using cotton wool to dry it. She winced when the cotton wool dipped in methylated spirit came in contact with her skin. I
Cold Stone Fifty Five
55JIDE I had woken up by 5:10am to find Ivory searching for something frantically in the sitting room. "Where the fuck did they keep it?" She muttered to herself. "What are you doing?" I asked and she whipped her head to the sound of my voice. She smacked her head childishly and I wanted to laugh at how cute she looked. "You were not supposed to find me here if I had found that key by now," she said frustrated. I was worried. "Why are you searching for the key?""I wanted to see the sun rise from here. I have never witnessed it. And I wanted to begin sweeping the front yard before Mama wakes," she confessed. I smiled. I walked up to the television stand and put my hand behind it. "It has been there. How did I miss that spot?" She screeched lowly. I chuckled at her bulging eyes. I unlocked the door and we strode out. It was dead silent and the morning wind teased our skins. She inhaled deeply and smiled. Watching her was enthralling. "It smells like wet sand," she commented.
Cold Stone Fifty Four
54IVORYMama called me into her room later that night after we had had dinner. Jide had switched off the generator and it was dark. He had gone off to sleep then. "Ivory, my dear," she called me after she had been silent for over thirty minutes. The crickets chirped into the night while the owls hooted to the rhythm that was made. It was very hot but my shawl was over my shoulders. "Yes, ma'am," I replied uncertainly, wondering what this summon was about. "I know you will understand me. Even if Jide does not, you should because you are a woman like me," she said calmly. I nodded. "I have talked to Jide a lot of times on how he treats you. He is a good man, I know, but he still needs some touches here and there. I am trying my best, ma'am."She looked at me, then looked away, sighed heavily before shaking her head and making a tut sound with her throat. "You are a good person, Ivory. Very nice. Your mother must have brought you up well," she commended. I smiled. "My mother was
Cold Stone Fifty Three
53IVORYThe market was rowdy and muddy. Mama led me through the tight spaces in between people and flying sputum. We got to an one storey building containing stalls. Mama walked to one on the ground floor and extracted some keys from her bag to unlock the huge padlocks. After opening the doors, we brought some wares in cartons and shelves out in front of the doors with a little passageway the customers could enter the shop from. Customers filed in and Mama attended to them while I watched closely, intent on learning quickly. If Mama thought Adanna was good, I needed to show her I was better. "Do you have Magi?" A woman asked me later that afternoon, after Mama had left to get something nearby. "Magi? The men who came to see baby Jesus?" I asked, bemused. The woman looked at me like I was psycho. "Wetin this one de talk now? Who leave oyibo inside shop?" The woman mumbled and turned to leave. Mama was coming in at that moment. Mama conversed with her in Igbo before giving me sco
Cold Stone Fifty Two
52IVORYAfter washing my face that morning, I put on a pair of flip flops I had brought along with me and found my way to the front yard where Mama was sweeping. I watched her move the dried palm branch and was totally intrigued. "Let me help you, Mama," I offered, walking up to her. She smiled and nodded, letting me take the fronds. With one swift sweep, I scattered the dirt she had gathered. She burst out in laughter. She was like Jide, finding my ignorance quite amusing. "Come on, Mama. You should know this is my first time," I cajoled her. She smiled sweetly. "Let me show you."She retrieved the broom from me and showed me where to place my hands and how to apply pressure to gather the dirt. She returned the broom to my waiting fingers and I continued from where she stopped. There was progress but it was little. Mama watched me as I took baby steps sweeping the front yard. People who passed by shouted greetings to her in their language; some conversed with her longer. "You c
Cold Stone Fifty One
51JIDEI watched, just like everyone, as Ivory was led to the back row of the church hall."Attention, people of God. Do not let the devil distract you," the priest said in Igbo, returning the attention of the members back to him. Mama gave me a scowl before bowing her head in shame. I could imagine the storm she will brew once we got home. Some older members gave us disgusted glances while some hissed and gruntled. The younger members had excitement dancing in their eyes; they chattered happily and I could tell they admired Ivory's bravado. Ivory quietly followed the ushers who led her to the back. She looked exhausted and like she wanted to elope from here. The priest concluded the sermon and prayed to conclude the service. After the service, the congregation avoided me and Mama since Ivory approached us. "Mrs. Nwosu, I would like to see you, your son and your daughter in-law in my office," the priest said to us. We followed him into his office and sat down. The priest rested h
Cold Stone Fifty
50IVORYThe number of kicks I received last night from Adanna's horrible sleeping positions were uncountable. When I finally got a peaceful sleep was in the early hours of the morning when I thought Adanna had awoken and left the bed for me. I slept until the sheets were pulled from underneath me and I landed on the floor. Why was this familiar? Oh. This was exactly what Makena did to me on my first day in the farm. I opened my eyes and rubbed my forehead. Adanna was standing above me with her feet wide apart. I looked at the time and it was 5:30am. "Is this how you use to sreeping in your fada house in ala oyibo?" I thought she asked me. "Can you just go away? The fuck." I swore and stood, rubbing my throbbing side. She exclaimed something in Igbo before referring to me. "I cannot goes away. You is a bad visitors. You is here sreeping while Mama Jide dey do the work. After you go come chop. There are a no food for a lazy mans."I can't possibly deal with this my whole stay her
Cold Stone Forty Nine
49IVORYAfter Jide's mother showed me where to get water to bath and how to go about it in funny gimmicks, I had my bath. Even though it was much of a struggle, it was successful in the end. I wondered why they had taps that were dysfunctional when they could call a plumber to just fix it.I changed into the pyjama I had brought along with me to the bathroom. I was drying my hair with my towel when the lights went off. I hung my towel around my neck, blindly found the door and exited"Jide," I called, feeling around for anything that would give me a clue of where I was or where I was headed to. "Jide," I called again. I bumped into a slender form and landed on my butt. Squinting my eyes at the sudden flash of torchlight on my face. "Who be this one?" I heard a hoarse female voice ask. "Ivory," another flashlight from a distance called. The flashlight sprinted to me and I felt Jide's arms lift me up."Are you hurt?" He asked worried. "I am fine. What happened? The power suddenly
Cold Stone Forty Eight
48IVORYWhen we got into the house, Jide's mother sat me on a sofa and said something to Jide in Igbo before disappearing into an adjoining door. Jide sat beside me with a heavy sigh and a warm smile. "What did she say?" I asked him. "She is preparing a meal for us," he said. "What did you tell her about me? She was excited to see me," I asked. "Told her you were a friend. People here really like whites. That is why you garner a lot of stares," he explained and I blushed. "I would really love to have a bath right now. I am all sweaty and sticky. God. How could they pack us all like sardines into that tiny space without enough ventilation or even an AC?" I complained. Jide laughed out loud and muttered something in his language. "Are you mocking me?" I asked him. He smiled and took me into his arms. "Of course not." He kissed my hair. "It was just an 'I told you so' statement."I leaned into his hold. "I have to say you were right on this one. Damn. What is with the roads? It
