SCARLET
I
was trying to tie my hair when Twanda walked in. He was already dressed for
school.
Him:
hey… where is mom?
Me:
please there is something called knocking & she left already.
Him:
I'm sorry… do you think maybe what Uncle Dee was saying is true?
Me:
what he was saying was total bullshit! mom would never cheat
Him:
or maybe they picked me up from the dustbin?
I
started laughing.
Me:
yah.. maybe.
He
laughed.
Him:
I have a soccer game today.
Me:
I thought you quite?
Him:
not exactly. Can you please come?
Me:
I work the whole day/
Him:
the game is starting at lunch.. please
Me:
ok.
Him:
so yesterday.. The silver BMW X6 latest version which dropped you!
Me:
it was a lift I was offered
Him:
I wouldn't mind if you have a boyfriend who drives such a car!
Me:
can you go to school?
Him:
shit! I love that car.
Me:
bye!
Him:
these days you dress differently.
Me:
I don't want to scare customers off.
I
was wearing a reaped jean, a white vest that I had tucked in, a denim oversized
shirt unbuttoned with a vans sneaker not forgetting a cap.
Me:
I'm out!
I
walked out of my room, kissed Michelle who was eating on her cheek then left.
She was feeling much better today that mom even went to work. As I walked to
the bus stop I heard someone calling me that I stopped on my tracks &
looked around. It was Litia. The moment he reached me, he stepped out then we
did our own handshake.
Him:
where are you going?
Me:
town.. I found another job.
Him:
so you are juggling two jobs at once?
Me:
there's no other way.
Him:
yeah.. let me drop you.
I
got in his car & he started driving off.
Him:
I need a favor Carl.
Me:
ssup?
Him:
Sibo was arrested yesterday.
Sibo
is his girlfriend.
Me:
shit!
Him:
yeah, someone framed her.
Me:
that’s fucked up.
Him:
yeah.. & we had a deal we needed to make today.
I
kept quite & listened.
Him:
there is this guy we wanted to give a little visit… He stores money in the
house.
Me:
ohh ok?
Him:
Sibo was supposed to distract him as we took the cash so now since she's in
jail… we need to find another girl.
Me:
you want me to help you find a girl?
Him:
these days people ain't loyal so you never know.. We need someone we can trust
not to snitch on us.
Me:
wait.. & that person is me?
Him:
think about it… we talking fat money here
Me:
Litia!?
Him:
I know it’s not your style.. But it’s just a once off.
Me:
no! you must be kidding me!
Him:
it’s just a once off, you won't have to do much.. just distract him that’s all.
Me:
you want to put me in your illegal equation!
Him:
Carl... Please... You are the only one... come on... we from long back! I helped
you get the job at the bar. Come on.
Me:
so you want me to repay you for helping me get a job?
Him:
no… Carl you are my last stop right now.
Me:
whatever you are smoking is destroying your brains!
Him:
ok… you are forcing me to do this… how's Michelle?
Me:
you are going to use my family into this?
Him:
it’s your choice.. Either you do it or.
Me:
I thought we were friends
Him:
yes & friends help each other!
Me:
you bastard!
His
car was at the bus stop, he had long parked there. I got off luckily there was
a taxi. I got inside then the taxi drove away. I still couldn't believe he
wants me to be part of his illegal business. Illegal business is dangerous. It
always ends in either two ways & that is death or jail. All my life I vowed
to myself that I will never find myself doing illegal shit. I arrived at work
right on time. Antoinette & other workers were already in.
Antoinette:
hey.
Me:
hi.
I
got behind my counter.
Antoinette:
boss lady was here.
Me:
ohh.
Antoinette:
yeah… she just hired a manager for this place.
Me:
ok.
Antoinette:
some Lady called Mirajane.
Me:
ok.
Antoinette:
& there are flowers which came for you.
I
looked at her surprised.
Me:
for me?
Antoinette:
yeah.
She
took out some red roses from under her counter then hand them to me.
Me:
they are from?
Antoinette:
I don’t know.
They
were fresh flowers & smelt nice. There was a note. I took it out.
"Hope you didn't catch a
cold"
It
was Quinton & I was sure. I walked with the roses to the dustbin &
threw them in.
Antoinette:
what did you do that for?
Me:
I don't need them.
Antoinette:
they are beautiful.
Me:
who cares?
Antoinette:
I do!
She
walked to the dustbin & took them.
Antoinette:
I will keep them for myself.
Me:
whatever.
