GWEH (Go Away)

19. Taxi Stand

Last Week's Ending: "Even if he nuh nyam (eat) it, Jermaine will dine because honey, you are a whole snack. As a matter of fact, you are a full meal. Take a look at yourself. You nuh see how you sexy and beautiful, and I am not just saying that because you are my daughter." Mommy hopped off the stool and came to look me up and down before taking the steam cap off my head. "Weh granny a go? Wait until tomorrow when I get you refined. You a go mad them!"

***

I don't know how I managed to make time catch up with me. Especially since I wake before the sun even rises but now I have twenty-nine minutes to get to campus when I don't even at the taxi stand yet, and it will take twenty minutes max to reach school without stopping. Knowing these taxi drivers in my area won't leave until they have the vehicle past its capacity, then, there is a high chance that they will stop to pick up more or let off passengers along the route.

Not to mention the traffic.

What a day to be late, the first day of school, and my first impression seems like it's going to be tardy one. It looks like my goose is thoroughly cooked.

It's just because I had my head in the clouds all morning, enjoying the way my life slightly spun on the right axis. Yesterday evening, mommy washed my clothes in her washer and hung them on the line, but then it started to rain, so she spun them in the dryer, which surprised me because she rarely used the dryer since she said it took too much electricity. Then this morning she had waked before me and pressed then and made me breakfast. It's these little things in life that I am happy for. Cheryl Evans made me breakfast! I done die and gone to heaven and my mother is now an angel. A nice one. That's so strange.

All the good treatment I was getting made me feel like an airhead walking on cloud nine to the point that I lost track of time.

"And look how me a waste more." Time is money and I am broke like a old dog. Feeling panicked, I rushed to grab my bag from the bed, leaving my tool bin since today was just orientation.

On my way out of the bedroom, I saw my reflection and did a double take while I forgot for a minute that I was short on time. I had to admire myself. Unlike my high school uniform, I made my college uniform to hug my body, accentuating my curves. At first, I was going to make it baggy, but when I tried it on in front of Mommy last night, she convinced me to make it into a fitted uniform. Now, I am glad I did because it makes me feel a bit confident.

No more hiding. My first step towards the spotlight.

My gaze traveled further down my attire. The mocha stockings and low-wedge black suede shoes looked great as well. Overall, everything Mommy picked out for me was complementary, indicating her shopping decisions were well-considered. It's puzzling, though. She hadn't done these things for me for two years, but suddenly, now that I'm older, she's doing it again. It seemed suspicious, but I chose to believe that God had simply softened her heart towards me.

Speaking of which, let me tell her that I am leaving.

"Mommy, I am—" I began to say while walking out to the sitting room where I left Mommy, but she cut me off.

"Are you ready? Tamara looks really neat. Take this," Mom said as she pushed money and my keys into my hand. "Come on, you're running late." She hurried me through the door, across our tiny matchbox of a veranda, and out through the grill. To my surprise, Mom locked up behind us and followed me to the bus stop.