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2020-12-16 03:01:54The March morning sun did not seem so happy. It was furnace hot- attempting to roast my fair skin black. I was standing at the junction waiting for Keke; early in the morning, it was always difficult to get one around my neighbourhood. If one finally came around, they did not like to go to my work area because of the distance. They seemed like people afraid of working for money because I understand the distance and I pay accordingly.
The body lotion I applied was conflicting matters more. I kept dabbing my face with a white handkerchief till it was all wet and stained with the brown powder I applied that morning . There was a gutter behind me and for a split strange second, I considered sitting at the edge. I watched as a Keke approached and immediately sped off when I mentioned the address of my work place .
Unable to find an empty Keke I hugged my hand bag to my chest, moving from feet to feet. A car rolled
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INBETWEEN Inbetween 25
"Why are you smiling like that? " I asked .It was a stupid question. My own smile could actually be broader than his that was just done with a side of his lips."Let go of your clothe. It did nothing to you. "I agreed and freed my poor dress that I could have torn without noticing. It was the effect of being under his gaze."I should be going upstairs, " I said.He walked to where I was and began tucking my hair behind my ears."You are beautiful, " he said."Thank you? " I replied, unsure of the sudden compliment.I tried so hard to compose myself so I do not look like a silly teenager being complimented for the first time."There was a man," he began. His face was just a few inches from mine. I found it strange listening to him when he was that close to."The man was a taxi dr
Last Updated : 2020-12-16INBETWEEN Inbetween 26
Tunde came through as promised; he brought me to work. He dropped me in front of the work building. He explained he had a meeting to attend so he drove off as I went in.I had carried home some materials for the bridal train and worked on it overnight. It was a miracle that I still had energy to continue working in the shop. I thought of bringing the electric machine at home to the shop, but the news of robbery around the environment discouraged me each time .I was still working on the dresses when Aku came in. "Aunty, there's a man that is looking for you outside, ""Yes," I nodded.I was certain, it would not be Tunde because she already knew Tunde by his name and Tunde now just walked in without warning.I stood up from the seat and slipped my feet into my flat shoes before hurrying outside the shop.Ike was standing outside. Surprised, I laughed. W
Last Updated : 2020-12-17INBETWEEN Inbetween 27
I woke up to the effect of the light sneaking past the closed curtain. I had never known how to sleep with light . One of my neighbors decided to do blues this morning. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I thought of how I slept. I remember just lying there and staring into space not even daring to turn lest I catch Ike's eyes on me .I look at his side of the bed and he was not there . I stood up and strolled to the bathroom door, he was not there either. Matching out of the room on bare foot, I realized that the song I was hearing was coming from my sitting room.There was an inviting aroma coming from the kitchen. I redirected to the kitchen and he stood there with a trouser, loosely hanging on his waist that I could see the line of his briefs . He was shirtless, dedicated to the egg in the frying pan. I stood at the door, arms folded, staring at his well tanned upper body imagining what would have happened if I returned his kisses l
Last Updated : 2020-12-18INBETWEEN Inbetween 28
Everyone wore their grief in different colors of emotions. Some had craving, others had no appetite. Some had too much anger and irritation, others laughed too hard, that their eyes twinkled and you would see the sadness they were trying to cover; it could have been pretence. But people likeWisdom managed to lighten up the mood on some days. Other days, his jokes were failed jokes but I listened and smiled at the resigned look he always had on those days.Auntie Maimah refused to come downstairs. Her food was carried up to her room in a rectangular stainless tray and in flowered porcelain plates. Most days, I loved to take up the food . I would sit and watch her eat or I would stare at the dark surface of her plasma Television on the wall which was always off recently. She would pinch her eba and smear it with finger prints of soup then abandon the food untouched half way."Please eat more," I would say.She
Last Updated : 2020-12-19INBETWEEN Inbetween 29
I sat with Michelle, Stella, Ada and Ike on the same pew. We all came with well tinted glasses . I know it is called 'sun shade' but we are not for fashion today- We're hiding our pain.We wore blue ankara dress with red designs on it, all sewn in a simple blouse with a front zip and a pencil-cut skirt. My mother could have been anywhere in the church or outside the church.. She was a habitual late comer. Auntie Maimah sat in the front pew with Nneka and Wisdom at her sides. She was the only one who wore white. Her eyes were red and round and seemed it was sinking into her sockets. She was not wearing a shade. She just sat staring at the choir as they ministered.People on my seat cried silently but I noticed, they dabbed around their covered eyes too often. I was trying to be strong so I chewed the fruit gum in my mouth , imitating a nonchalance that I could not feel. Each time I stared
Last Updated : 2020-12-20INBETWEEN Inbetween 30
I returned to sitting behind the sewing machine after a week. I tried to properly utilize my time to make up for the time I lost while we arranged for the burial . Aku got admission into the university, I was happy for her but her absence pained me. Ignoring the age difference, she was actually a good company.Looking out from my office window, I could see the houses close to the rail; the unpainted houses with black charcoal drawings on them.There was a little commotion on that side. Two girls were being dragged about by older women. There was so much noise also but I could not make out a word. Some women even hit the girls. After a while they started to disperse leaving the two girls with just three women.I returned to the table, where I began looking up styles on the internet. I picked up a drawing pad and began to sketch new designs adding up the ones I saw online. Once in a while, I reached into m
Last Updated : 2020-12-22INBETWEEN Inbetween 31
The roads were busy as usual. I watched people go in and come out from the restaurant opposite our building. For a moment, I imagined being a spy. I could take a picture of anyone that went in from the balcony. There were people I imagined snapping and posting on social media, people like the old men who went into the restaurant with young girls and came out with bags of whatever. Their relationship could not have been what I suspected but the hand on the neck and waist made me to strongly believe in myself.Anyone reading my thoughts at the moment, would ask, why I am not minding my business. Well, Blessing came later than usual to work and she politely asked me to step outside so she could mop the office and shop . I stood outside like I was being purnished for her impunctuality."Nene, you should carry your friend and come and see o," Madam Chinaka called out. "I have restocked. Ogbala.""Okay ma," I replied without v
Last Updated : 2020-12-23INBETWEEN Inbetween 32
TundeI returned to the car holding a new bag I got which was in its white bag clothing. The name was sprawled across the bag clothing but that was not my attraction. The young lady that was selling in her words said, "This is original Christain Dior."It was not a designer I was familiar with but she spoke of it to be one of the best and I knew Nene deserved the best.I handed her the bag as I got into the car."What?" She asked, pulling the elastic rope to loosen the clothing that housed the bag. "What is this?""I don't know." I shrugged, "They said, it's Christain Dior and it's original. "She laughed, running her hands over the bag, "Indeed it is but you didn't have to. "I keyed into the ignition and replied her, "I know. It's just so you can use it when the one from Madam Chinaka spoils. "I drove into the road and she said n
Last Updated : 2020-12-23
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INBETWEEN Inbetween 43
We always said goodbyes without knowing when we are saying the last one but I knew. Each time he walked out that door, I stored memories because I do not want to forget how happy he once made me.It's up to four months since he walked out that door, I remember holding onto the scent of him, I remember standing at the window and waving even when he could not see me, even when I knew he would never turn to look at me. I knew then that while he mumbled a goodbye at my door before he left, it could have been the last one. It's also seven days exactly from the last time he came to my place and I ruined his clothes with bleach water.It is me, I have never loved enough to fight for anyone but this time I was going to try. That's why I'm in Delta, the same state that he is in. I don't know know the city or even his address. I did not ask before he left but I am here, I know I would find him before I leave. I just h
INBETWEEN Inbetween 42
TundeI could not have been thinking when I left my cereals in the open without putting it in a container. I was facing the result of my carelessness after I returned to Umuahia at night. I still had a month to the expiration of my rent. I could have told Anthony to arrange for the rest of my properties to be sent to Delta, but I did not. I came back just so I could see Nene, deliberately or coincidentally.Coakcroaches were running around like new tenants. Someone must have tipped them off my absence. Instead of finding an option for dinner in the cupboard, I was disposing the remains I left before I traveled to Delta. I would have loved to keep the fiber flakes because it was my best but like others, it was cold and had an unwelcoming smell.For a moment, I considered going to Nene's place and knocking. When she opens, I would tell her that I am hungry and I came to eat. I imagined that she would laugh a
INBETWEEN Inbetween 41
It was enough torture that I had to pass Tunde's office every morning to get to mine. The only good thing was that I knew he would not be sitting behind his desk inside there. It was always locked.I got a gift in his absence, a painting of me." Mo nife re," the accompanying note read.In the painting , I was lying down with my eyes closed . I could not remember the moment he took the picture but it was me. He lined my lips perfectly that I could not even doubt. I missed him. I called when I saw the painting. The call was filled with little talks and awkward silence so I was in a hurry to end it.Sometimes while I lay in bed before my eyelids close in tiredness, I remember the moments I spent with him, the ones I held close and locked away. I knew that he must have felt bad, maybe even concluded that I was immature but I knew myself, I could not watch him
INBETWEEN Inbetween 40
TundeI left for Delta three days after I left Nene's house struggling to hold in my emotions. I had much work on my table which I temporarily forgot with the weight of loosing her.I needed to finish up some plans on my table , there were also sites I needed to visit in Delta and outside Delta. I needed to work more than before for more arts for my launching .I got a house in an estate. It was one of the first buildings on entering the estate. I would have preferred a bungalow like my former place but while searching for houses, that was all I got in the list of available houses close to the location of my gallery and office.I let the hired hands do all the cleaning and refurbishing for my work place then I cleaned up the house. There wasn't much to do since the estate had cleaners who already cleaned the place u
INBETWEEN Inbetween 39
TundeI did not travel to Delta. I rescheduled all the plans I had there. Called the man I had given the work to organize the exterior decoration of the place and told him I could not make it. I lay on the cushion all morning with my eyes closed because of a woman. It would sound funny to anyone but they have not met Nene, the strong woman whom I have seen at her weakest, held her as she quaked in tears and watched her sleep. I paid attention to her when she thought I was not looking, I paid attention to her silence and every word she spoke.She was an independent woman, who seemed calculated and almost sure of all her steps. That's why I was worried. Has she thought about all of this? Has she seen that we can not work out? What was the main reason?As I lay on my cushion, I still could not place what happened. I could not understand it because if I am ever asked to explain, I would
INBETWEEN Inbetween 38
The next morning, it rained. It started very early even before the day welcomed light. We waited for it to stop but it did not. I did not see the need of waiting since we were going in a car but Tunde kept delaying, waiting for the rain.We sat in his parlour. He wore just a white short while I was dressed to leave. The sound of the rain on the roof was the only thing heard; The television was off."Will you come back, maybe after work? " Tunde asked, turning to look at me."I don't know. "He sighed and continued looking at his phone. Almost all the questions he asked me that morning, I did not know. I think after oxytocin messed with me, some of my senses were lost in my climax.Without turning to look at him, I said, " Let's start going please."He got up and left to the room without a word. He later came out, wearing a plain polo over his white short. I pai
INBETWEEN Inbetween 37
(*Sniffs* I was advised to let you know that parental guidance is advised in this page 😁)A week later, Tunde drove me to his house after work . He was leaving soon for Delta and when he asked if I could come over to watch him cook soup, I agreed even though I had lots of work to do. We bought already cut vegetables leaves and waterleaf from the market but I chopped the onions and now sat on a dining chair which I dragged to the the kitchen. He paid little attention to me. He was all focused on the pot. I loved to be a distraction so from time to time, I tiptoed and hung my head over his shoulder while wrapping my arms around him. "My worst distraction, " he murmured. Feeling encouraged, I gave him butterfly kisses all over his neck to his bare back. "I'm sleeping over, " I told him. "I know, " he replied immediately like we talked about it before then. He
INBETWEEN Inbetween 36
TundeThere was a slow traffic. I waited like others in the line for whoever or what ever that was blocking the road to clear. With each forward movement, the car infront of me made, I also moved to cover the space. Pedestrians could easily walk and cross inbetween the cars because they knew the cars could not speed up .I finally reached the point that was causing the delay. The road spoilt in the other lane and the people there were now joining the lane I was on. Immediately I passed that junction, I sped up free as a bird.I parked in the open parking space of the restaurant opposite my work place. If the people in my work building were asked to pay for parking there, alot of money would have been made because people like me and Nene park there everyday. I saw her black ford which was similar to mine. I knew if I came down from the car and looked up, that I could see her looki
INBETWEEN Inbetween 35
Tunde lived alone in a small place that was just fit for the cream colored bungalow and two cars. After parking behind the second car, a black Lexus I had never seen him drive, he went back to lock the gate. He did not have a gate house or a gateman.Inside his house was painted in grids of brown and cream. The floor was arranged with black tiles making the room appear dim. The only colourful thing in the room was his cream colored curtains and white ceiling.I sat on a sofa which was draped in coffee brown . I looked around the room, noting the beautifully carved wooden centre table. It was still shiny and same with the dining table. It was all beautiful.I heard the sound of the generator but I paid no attention to it till the airconditioner began to hum the same time the fan began to rotate. Tunde come in afterwards."Is this ok for you?" He asked, pointing to the airconditione
