GWEH (Go Away)

7. My Panties Are Missing

I tried to keep the creole to a minimum. I hope it's understandable.

Nieko started showing me bay bad face and told people how much he had done me out and left me. This boy doesn't know if I am a man or a woman.

People, including some of his conquests, came to me and asked me if the things they heard about me were true. Me being me, I don't clear the air. My response was that they should believe what they want to believe because whether I say yah or nah, unu minds are already made up about me and my character. I have nothing to prove to a soul.

My CAPE exams are officially over, but instead of being relieved, I am fretting. I have had nightmares that I missed the exams and other times, I dreamt the results came out, and I failed. Each experience felt so real.

I finished dressing up and spun in front of the mirror to check my outfit. I appreciated how the pleated dress concealed my curves, a measure I take to avoid catcalls. My hair was in a big bun on top of my head.
Pleased with my reflection, I spritzed on some perfume, then picked up my shoulder bag and keys. Before leaving, I ensured the door and grill were securely locked. Mom wasn't home; she was out selling cashpot and prepaid phone cards or possibly at a bingo game.

The scorching sun began to bake me shortly after I set out. Had I anticipated the intense heat of the morning, I would have opted to leave earlier or later in the afternoon. Regrettably, I didn't bring my umbrella, and it was too late to go back. It was a solid twenty-minute walk to reach downtown.

Since I had budgeted for only one fare, it made sense to wait until I'd purchased what I had intended to buy and carry the items by taxi.

I first went to the fabric store and bought five yards of silky shimmering pink material, white underlining, some laces, a zipper, a bottom, and threads. This is to sew a christening dress for a baby girl and a matching top for her mother.

I then went and bought toiletries, including skin and hair products, and then I made some laundry soap to wash tomorrow. I did not need to buy food since my mother kept her house stuck with groceries; that's one good thing about her. Actually, I take that both because I just remembered that I got plantains. I saw some nice-sized plantains that were irresistible to the eyes. I knew how much Mommy loved plantains, so I got her two hands of green plantains and three fingers of ripe ones.

Afterward, I made my last stop and purchased two fans, one for me and another for my mother, because if I ever go home with one, I know she would either take it for her own or she would mash it up just for spite. My birthgiver is vicious them way deh.

So yeah, it's either two fans or none at all. So, I made the wise choice and got two.

Afterward, I grabbed two cheese patties, a coco bread, and orange juice, then walked to the taxi stand. Luckily for me, there was a taxi that only wanted one more, and it was the front seat available, so I never had to get squeezed up back there. I watched the driver put my bags and the boxes of fans in the trunk of his station wagon taxi, and then I entered the passenger side.

I could not explain how happy I was when the taxi finally reached my spot. When I was going in, I saw my father leaning on that man's black matt car as if he owned it. When I said that man, I was referring to that dude who dropped me off at school a couple of weeks back, and yes, I still don't know his name because I forgot to ask. Anyways, the man was also there holding his newborn while talking to my father. What surprised me was that my father smiled at me while the guy winked at me.

Not putting much thought into it, I averted my gaze and struggled with my load to the gate. My mother was by the grill with Aunty Dion and two police officers.

"A weh you a come from?" Mommy asked me heatedly. This question caught me off guard because it is not like her to care where I go. I am a house mouse, and she is normally the one to try to force me to go out, which is why I was confused. Plus why are two police deh here?

"Man yard she go," Aunty Dion responded before I could even open my mouth.

"Good evening, Mommy," I said. "Good afternoon, officers." Only one thing runs through my mind: Mommy must have reported me missing or something because what's up with this greeting? "Mi go inna the down to get materials for a job and buy two fans," I finally answered her question, Mommy, while ignoring Aunty Dion's remark. Matter of fact, I ignored it in general because as far as I know she doesnot exist.

"So you couldn't lock up the place when you went out?" Mommy asked, even more angry than before.

"Mommy, mi lock the place. You know mi nah go nowhere without locking up." And that is the truth; I am really compulsive about double-checking the lock.

"So what is this?" She said, pointing at the padlock for the grill on the ground with a key still in it. It was that type of lock where you needed the key to both open and close it and the key chain looked like mine. Mommy had given me the key with the key chain, and she had the same one until a few weeks ago.

"I swear I lock it," I said, yet I was half doubting myself. But I recall locking the door and the grill and double-checking like I usually do before bagging the keys. I put the boxes down beside me, and I reached into my bag to see if I had imagined it all. My keys were in my bag. I took it out and showed her. "I locked it. But why is it on the floor?"

"That's how I came and saw it. I thought you left the place open for thieves." Mommy said while Aunty Dion took a look in her mouth, catching every word.

"Thieves?" I questioned the obvious.

"The TV gone off the wall, the laptop your grandmother gave you gone, and the little money weh mi have put down in deh gone."

"A muss joke this." I took my bag and the boxes inside, leaving my mother and her companions out there.

But it was not a joke. The apartment was in disarray, and the TV was indeed missing. I looked around and saw that the microwave, toaster, and blender were also gone. Other stuff was missing, but I could not tell for the moment. I quickly went to the room and checked the jewelry box my grandmother gave me. I had hidden the box in my panty drawer, but it was gone, along with the entire underwear drawer.

I rushed out and said, "My jewelry box is gone, and my panties are missing."

"But see yah?"