Outside Maame

Part 2

"No," I reply.

"Then what you talk about?" he asks.

"I don't want anyone to know about him."

"I don't repeat secrets. Am not a snitch."

"If you do, it won't be good."

"Thanks for bringing me here."

"If I knew you'd come here I would've never offered you a ride."

"I can't find my fault."

"I didn't say you have one."

"We're both in a place that we don't deserve to be in."

"My father's a bad person."

"I think he does his best."

He nods. I met him just fifteen minutes ago. He is my stepmother's brother. He is attracted to me. But all my interests on him that was initially there jumped out of the window the moment I drive into the garage. He is not to be blamed though. His sister is the one I truly hate. My mother just got well from a serious illness. This bitch was her nurse. My father, the dog that he is, fucked this bitch behind my mother's back. Good for him, none of his children love him now.

"This used to be a church," I tell Laadan.

"Explains the gate at the front then, Maame," he replies.

"I still don't understand why we're here."

"It's not a bad place to be."

"I feel like we misuse public property."

"Let's see when God gives you His blessings."

"I think He already did."

"I'm sorry to hear about your mother."

"Don't be. She's well off with herself."

"I'll like to meet her."

"Go straight to the basement."

"Maybe you can introduce us."

"He got a good deal on the church," I state.

"The church's huge and all the properties around it," he replies.

"The town's too small for potential competitors."

"I wonder why you stay here."

"Because of my mother. All my siblings are here for her."

"You can move out with her."

"She doesn't leave the basement."

"Let's see if I can change that."

"You just arrived here for an hour."

"Wherever I go, I make a change before I leave."

"Then I pray you leave soon."

Laadan pulls a shirt out of his suitcase and walks it to the closet. It is hard for me to imagine him as my uncle. Though he is four years older than me. I guess I have to accept it like the many things I accept. He is cute. If it is not for the boy I kissed yesterday, I would have considered to eye Laadan. But that boy put the bar up pretty high. My worst mistake is to tell Laadan about him. I did not know I would drop him at my own home. Fate is a strange thing.