Save Shade

8

A knock at the door draws her attention from the book placed on her lap; a huge leather coated photo album containing several pictures of herself, her father and a woman who has a striking resemblance with herself. She hurriedly wipes away a lone tear and goes out to open the door dressed in a blue and red colored Ankara material short gown having a U-shaped neckline and two large sized pockets just below the waist line. She checks the peephole for the intruder as is surprised to see Keziah carrying a black colored backpack with her arms folded and lips twitched in worry.
   She hurriedly opens the door and squeals in happiness as the short girl wraps her arms around her happily too.
"How did you get this place?" Shade asks as they come inside and settle on one of the chaise lounges adjacent to the '42' inches flat screen television present in the living room.
  Keziah looks around in awe before a smile crosses her face as she turns back to reply her friend.
  "Holy Spirit directed me. Simple! But this your house is so beautiful. Like..." She trails off staring at the black tiled glittery floor with a wine colored rug laying just at the center of the entire room to the glass made dining table and it's blue colored chairs, the tiled way to the kitchen, the golden colored railing holding the stairs leading to a different space.
  "Where does that place lead to? I'm asking since I can see rooms at that other end."
Shade lets out a small chuckle before replying, "That's my dad's office away from office. Just his workspace, a library, a mini living room and an open space for recreation sha. You can see it from outside though."
  "Well, I didn't. See me thinking I have a beautiful house."
  "Really? See this girl o, it's just because my Dad is an architect na. So he designed the place himself." She explains still looking squarely at jet friend.
"That's really nice. But then, I came with notes for you so you won't miss out too much."
  "See me thinking you came around to see my face." She complains feigning hurt as she collects the maxi sized customized notes from her friend and starts to scrutinize some of them.
  "You guys have written a few notes o. How will I finish this one before tomorrow like this?"
"You can't finish it before tomorrow. When you're not a machine. So that should be eight abi?" Keziah asks making Shade recount the books on after the other. She nods her head in confirmation urging Keziah to continue.
  "Okay. Take five let me help you with three. I ought to take more but I have stuff to do at home."
"Thanks. Let me give you Biology, Economics and Physics then. I can copy the others just fine."
  "Lazybones. What's left in the other notes for you to copy then?"
  "Words o. Words that form notes." She replies and takes the notes into her room. She then picks up the photo album and places it on the mini bookshelf present in the room just adjacent to the bed and window side. She drops the notes on the bed with care and leaves the room for the kitchen.
  Moving towards the L shaped counter top, she picks a ceramic plate from its rack and goes to the aluminum pot where she dishes a full meal of spaghetti, plantain and fish sauce. She picks up a golden colored spoon and returns to the living room to meet Keziah bent over a note on a glass stool placed before her and already copying words from the one placed on her lap into it.
"So fast?"
"Yes. I will be leaving very soon actually."
  "Okay. Eat before you leave sha." She drops the plate on the remaining space on the stool and packs up the notes.
"Ah! Shade nau. Who said I'm hungry?"
  "I can see it in your eyes."
"What can they see in your eyes. You know I don't eat like that na. Well, I eat so you don't have choice. Better be fast so you can go on time.
  "Thanks anyways. Where is your step mother by the way?"
"She went somewhere with her mother."
  "Oh okay. Hope everything is fine with you sha?"
  "I'm good. Trust me." She replied barring her teeth in a childish way. She then stands up and disappears to the kitchen to later reappear with a glass of water and a bottle of soft drink for Keziah.
  "That's for you."
"Thanks bestie."
"Who is your bestie? Better eat your food."
  "Ah. Issokay. Be ready to repeat that statement or hear a replay from me anytime soon." Keziah retorts donning a smirk as she munches the meal.
  The next fifteen minutes is spent with Keziah eating and Shade writing before Keziah drops the now empty plate and drinks water afterwards.
  "Thanks so much Shade. Where is the kitchen?"
"Abegi no dey form good girl for me. Is it not you? Give me the plate jare." Shade replies her taking the plate to the kitchen.
  "So I am not a good girl niyen o?" Keziah attacks her friend immediately the latter steps into the living room again.
"Be the judge of that." The latter replies just as the door locks turns and clicks open. Keziah turns to look at her in question as she puts on a smile and replies the unasked question.
  "It's Auntie Abeni."
  True to her words, Abeni comes in as Keziah immediately stands up to greet her.
"Good afternoon ma."
"Good afternoon Auntie Abeni." Shade greets too.
  She looks at Keziah in disgust and turns to face Shade.
  "And who is she?"
  "A friend. From school."
"And when did your friends start coming over? You couldn't even take permission."
  "No ma. I didn't tell her I would be coming." Keziah answers in place of her friend making Abeni glare at her in anger.
  "So you go about paying people impromptu visits right?"
  "No ma. I'm sorry if I came at the wrong time." She pleads looking at Shade with a frown set across her face. She packs her bag picking the said notes from earlier and readies herself to leave.
  "Thanks for having me over Shade. Thank you ma. Goodbye ma." She says waving at Shade as she leaves the house.
  Just as she steps outside, she heaves a sigh of relief. "I thought she said everything is fine. It doesn't look like anything is fine. Is she trying to hide it from me? Holy Spirit what is going on?"
  She questions aloud as she sends the gateman a short smile and bades him bye.

Hi family. May didn't go as planned but here we are with another opportunity in our hands to make June different and achievement filled. So join me as we board the boats of Save Shade once again 😁😁😁. Thanks so much as you share, vote 🌟 and comment. This chapter is dedicated to Olohundare thanks for the votes. You're sincerely appreciated.
   Hope you have your goals for June written? It's not just enough to write goals, it's the part of you struggling to actually work through those goals and smile at the end of the month. Keep moving! No parking! No stopping! No loitering! Christ has our back 💃💃💃. Much love family. Updates will now be on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Probably two chapters per day. I never can tell. Do take good care of yourself 💌. I really care. You can always slide into my dm if you have anything to share.

  Yours in Ink; Bethel ™