Over the night sky, luminaries of nature mirrored the city lights of Auckland city. The city was alive with a flurry of nightlife among the inhabitants.Somewhere in a neighborhood occupied by the affluent, a young woman was getting ready to join the flurry of activities in the city. Andra Anderson, in her cozy bedroom, admired her looks before the large mirror as she prepared for her Friday night out. Lively music blared from the speakers inside the bedroom. She danced to the music in high spirits as she went about her preparations.High-end boyish sneakers encased her feet. Her slim body was clad in blue baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt. Her long center-parted hair was graced with a white face cap worn backward. Her attractive oval-shaped face was lightly made up with dark eyeshadow, giving her a smokey-eyed look.As Andra danced in anticipation of the fun she was hoping to have, the door opened as another young woman walked inside. She was wearing a pair of pajamas with a sleepi
Inside the bedroom of a couple in their early sixties, the woman was seated up on the bed beside her sleeping husband, her phone in her hands. She was watching a video that had surfaced online, with an exhausted expression on her face. “Not again.” She mumbled.” The video showed Andra dancing in her tomboy outfit at a stripper stand. The clubbists surrounded her, cheering her on as she entertained them. As she danced, she pulled off her oversized t-shirt to reveal her upper body clad in a sports bra, leaving her taut stomach exposed. The cheers from the people increased and the gleeful noisy sound forced the sleeping man to wake up. “Sorry dear,” Mrs. Duke apologized. “It’s just that, this video concerns us. Though I wish you would not have to see it. I mean, not again.” Mr. Duke sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. “Don’t tell me it’s Andra again.” He said as she brought the phone closer to him so that he would be able to easily view it. In the clip currently playing, an already int
Molly was on the bed sleeping when her phone started to ring. Upon checking, she saw a call from her uncle. Her heart skipped a beat because it was the wake of dawn and she could sense that something could be wrong. Her haunch told her it would have to do with Andra but she would not know until she received the call, hence, she picked the call. “Good morning uncle.” She greeted him upon taking the call. “There is nothing good about this morning.” He snapped. “Where is your sister? Where the hell is Andra?” “She…” Molly hesitated. She was going to speak the truth but could not bring herself to do so. “She’s fine.” “Fine, how?” Duke demanded. “So, this is how you’ve been supporting her errant ways, right?” “No, I’m not. That’s not true.” Molly sat up sharply on the bed, his anger driving home the seriousness of the situation. “Then, why are you lying to me?” he asked furiously. “Do you know what she has just done? Am I to believe that you’ve been in support of her stupid actions?
A pleading look took over Andra’s face as she implored Molly. “Please, I cannot face him alone.” She begged. “You need to come with me, please.” “What!” Molly exclaimed, unbelieving. “How can you expect that of me?” “Molly Please.” “No.” Molly said vehemently, “I will not do it because I warned you. Plus, he is angry with me already. So, carry your cross.” “Molly, please.” Andra pleaded again. “You know that you have a way with words and he kind of listens to you and you know it. So, please come with me and do your magic to calm him down on my behalf, please.” “I won’t.” Molly adamantly refused and started dressing the bed, her actions a message to Andra that she had dismissed the subject and there was no way that she was going to change her mind. “Please.” Andra pleaded. “No,” Molly said resolutely and concentrated on her task. “Never.” She added for emphasis. “Okay, an authentic semi-acoustic guitar from Fender,” Andra promised. Molly simply waved her aside and continued wit
The day outside was crisp and clear. Sunlight struggled to pour through Andra’s bedroom window but the light curtains obscured its efforts, giving the room a rather cozy glow even though it was daytime. Andra lay in her bed, covered in a duvet. She lay curled up on her side as she rested. Molly walked inside the room and saw Andra relaxed as she rested on the bed. She marveled at Andra’s current disposition. Molly was in casual house wear while Andra was in a night dress, her hair covered with a sleeping bonnet. “To be honest, Andra, I am surprised at your calmness after your father’s threat. You seem to have gotten over it.” Molly sat on the bed, ready to talk to her cousin even though the girl’s body language was impervious. “Well, I finally got to realize that it is not important.” She replied drowsily without looking at Molly. She had slept for a while and was just having a rest. She didn’t feel like starting her day yet. All she wanted was more rest, hence her impermeable bod
Molly was anxious as Andra kept staring at her in disbelief. “Say something.” She urged. “You’re just gaping at me.” “Why won’t I gape at you?” Andra responded. “Can you hear the words coming out of your mouth? That I should get a man?” “You should and I mean it.” “Listen, I have no intention of doing that. I’m not one of those girls who desire to get married in my twenties. I want to enjoy my single life. I will consider settling down from the age of thirty. That means, my enjoyment is just beginning.” “Stubborn tomboy,” Molly mumbled. Somehow this jibe often gave her some comfort because Andra’s views most times, exasperated her. “I heard that,” Andra informed her. Andra was used to the jibe. She knew that Molly often used it on her whenever she was adamant about something. “I know you did. But I insist you get your own man and bring him home before your father beats you to it.” “I will do no such thing.” Andra refused firmly. The drowsy feeling had completely left her and
Duke and Carla were riding in the back seat of their SUV. The driver drove smoothly along the streets around their residential area as he navigated the vehicle toward one of the main city roads. They passed by a billboard that featured Duke’s campaign poster. Across the road was his opponent’s campaign poster. Duke eyed both posters and sighed. “She is going to ruin my career.” He bitterly lamented.“I am beginning to see things the way you do,” Carla confessed as their vehicle progressed further.“I’m glad to hear that, Sweetheart,” Duke replied. “Anyway, I have been wondering where I can quickly find a young man who can be able to handle Andra. I mean, from what profession? Perhaps a uniformed person? Because he needs to be strong.”“Certainly, he needs to be.” Carla agreed.“Exactly. Perhaps a military man, air force, navy, or a cop.”“I agree that’s where you can find tough and disciplined guys, because of their training but you will agree with me that toughness can also do with
“Fine,” Duke replied. “Thanks.” “You’re welcome, Sir.” For the first time, Duke noticed his polished accent. The driver did not sound like an averagely educated person. He sounded well-educated and Duke could perceive an air of confidence oozing out of the young man. Duke often found that impression to be true about persons who are well-traveled or perhaps schooled outside the country. And in Auckland, only the wealthy could afford to school abroad. The only other persons who were opportune to school abroad were those who happened to be favored with private or government scholarships. “I hardly find people who sound well educated doing the job that you do,” Duke commented observantly. “Why do you assume that I am well educated, Sir?” “You speak well. You have a poised demeanor that is barely found in the uh…streets so to speak.” “Oh, thank you.” The young man replied without commenting on Duke’s words. Duke saw this as intelligence. The man was not ready to yap about his life