The African trinkets

Twice

Twice by Little Dragon

Twice I turn my back on you 

I fell flat on my face but didn't loose 

Tell me where would I go 

Tell me what led you on I'd love to know

Was it the blue night 

Gone fragile 

Was it both men 

In wonder steady gone under 

Was it the light ways 

So frightening 

Was it two wills 

One mirror holding us dearer now

Thought I had an answer once 

But your random ways swept me along 

Colossal signs so I got lost 

With so many lovers singing soft

Was it the blue night 

Gone fragile 

Was it both men 

In wonder steady gone under 

Was it the light ways 

So frightening 

Was it two wills 

One mirror holding us dearer now

Nolia knew that there was no better distraction than the one that the late master Tate created. Lance was off to the bank and Victoria and her female beau, Wanda, had scurried off to do God knows what. No one would miss Nolia if she just disappeared for a few hours. Nolia tied her apron around her waist, knowing that her letter was inside the front pocket, worn boots and a thin jacket. It would have been a warm, comfortable two hour journey by carriage or horse but Nolia was on foot and she knew that the journey to Phillip's estate would be at least three hours long.

Nolia revised all she wanted to say to Phillip: how she would introduce the letter and how she would conclude. She walked the busy streets with the preparation in her mind and the weight of the consequence on her shoulders. Nolia knew that she had Lance as a back up plan but that very fact is what made her gut twist. Lying to Lance about something like this was wrong, it was beyond wrong; it was cruel. Lance was so trusting of her; not a single doubt crossed his mind when she deceived him. The elation that possessed him for those few moments when he heard the news broke her heart and she knew, in that very moment, that she couldn't go through with it.

Before she knew it three hours had come and gone and she was at Phillip's manor which was more gargantuan and monstrous than the Tate's. Nolia knew better than to knock on the front door so she crept around the manor to the servant kitchen door. She tapped and waited for someone to receive her. Nolia watched a hunched an old woman rigorously scrub the immaculate kitchen tiles. Nolia knocked again.

"I heard you the first time." The woman said with a croaky, low voice, "I'm ignoring you for a reason. Go ahead and guess what that reason is." She stood up, walked to the open door with a pale and threw it out in front of Nolia.

The dirty water seemed to freeze the moment it hit the hem of Nolia's coat, "I'm not here to play guessing games."

"Oh, of course not. You're here to make another disgusting mess in my pantry. Shall I call for master Phillip for would you prefer to act like a lady and go back home." The older woman never looked at Nolia instead she took a broom and a dust pan in her hand and turned around to escape into the house, "Are you coming or going?" She spat over her shoulder.