''Heard you were sent to the infirmary Caleb says to me as I hung my bag on the nail.''So it seems.'' I reply dropping next to him in the three in one sofa in the living room. Don't you have any homework Bee?. I have. Maths. Do you need help with it? What do you think? I sat up looking at him. Well..'' Baa..'' Kwesi's baby voice calls out to me breaking the uncomfortable silence between Caleb and I. I pick him up stuffing him with kisses. Who misses me? . Kwasi. Who loves me ?Kwesi. Unconsciously,my mind drifts off to a distant memory. ''There she is'' . Dad scoops me up into his arms. ''My sea baby''. Who loves you more? Daddy. I'd reply with giggles filling my cheeks. Who has pretty eyes? Me . Yayyy. Who misses me ? Me. That's my girl. Put her down Jones,you are spoiling her. Mom would say everytime with a playful smile on her face. She is my star Angie. She has made all of these possible. Dad told me how my birth changed their lives. The day I was born was the day he was promoted as manager for Cab bank, the family moved into a fully furnished house courtesy of the bank. Mom quit her job as a receptionist because she wanted to dedicate her time to us and care for us very well. Everything was going on well. We had the best of clothes, food and attended the best of schools.
But nothing good stays for long. Maybe just maybe if I hadn't asked dad for the barbie doll he would be alive. There she was,ten years old, selfish brat with all smiles as she waited at the other end of the road for her dad to cross over with her barbie doll in hand.
A trailer from the inner lane crushed into dad . There was a screeching noise from the trailer,she watched as her first love fell to the other road where a royal motorcycle run him over again.Daddddyyy.....daaaaa, her ten years old voice screamed crossing the road like a banshee. Behold there he laid on the tarred road with a cracked skull and a missing limb. His eyes bore into mine, cold. She touched his face,the people stared while she cried. Their cameras made noise mixed with all the ohs and ahs. What a wicked world! Someone said. In that moment I had my first real encounter with my demons. Baaba!! Release your hold on kwasi. Herh! I could hear mom and Caleb's voice but all I can see is blood. You won't kill my son like you did your father. That was all my inner self needed to hear,I was brought back into the world. What is wrong with you? Are you mad? Ma screamed at me while Kwasi wailed the world down. Answer me, what is it you want?. ''Bee.'' I turned to Caleb,in his eyes I could see the monster I am becoming. Betty stood by the door leading to the porch. I rushed passed her. I need to hide , from myself and the demons chasing me.
Alena's POV;
And miss Aba came out but it was too late for Coral to save herself. It didn't end there mama, she went ahead to faking having an illness, mom you should have seen her,it was scary and funny. So did you go apologize to your teacher and explained everything to her?'' Alena '' Mom called me out with a stern look. No. No? Why ? Because Mara said it wasn't needed. You are to always lead by example. I know mama but.. No buts, I brought you up to know right from wrong. You and your friends lied to your madam. Poor teacher,she must have suffered a lot. Your new friends are interesting. Nash don't spew nonsense. Mom,it is the truth. Her old friends were the meanest of girls to have ever existed. I like them Lena. Well,I don't. Do they go to church? I looked up from the kitchen counter to mom. My face told her everything. Oh God , Alena. What happened to godly friends? Mom,you should meet them. They are so warm and nice. Very sincere and they don't make fun of my baby teeth or the fact that I have small pot belly and I'm chubby. You are cute baby , brave, smart and you don't have a pot belly. It's all part of growing up. ''Mom is lying to you Lena''. Well Dave ,you are just jealous that I'm cute and you are not. I made a face at Dave who sat opposite of me. He was picking out the beans for lunch tomorrow while Nash helped ma with supper. I'm grateful to God for my family. I can't imagine a world without them.
Hafiz's POV
Since our first encounter Miss ' queer lives matter ' hasn't been to the place where we met . Not that I want to see her or anything . Maybe a little. It's lonely sometimes and it's not everyday you get to meet people who are genuinely full of wonder. I kicked the stone infront of the stairs. Mom was in the porch with her mind zoning in and out. Like every other days we fight,we both pretend nothing happened and we move on . Your drugs are here. I said dropping the rubber bag on the small side table by her. One of her customers brought her a recliner. I'll forever appreciate her customers. Since everything from our former home was ceased,we had to start anew. Mom's customers helped her find a single room with porch and helped pay all her hospital bills. Dad was gone, mom abandoned her family in the name of love. Dad was disowned by his parents even before he married my mom, so basically I have only my mom. Sometimes, they come around to occupy her and on days where she isn't feeling depressed she braids their hair. Mom has a high chance of recovery and I'll fight till I see her back on her feet. Even if it's the last thing I do before I die. Picking her hands slowly, bring it to my cheek. ''Haz, Haz. Where is my golden retriever? Haz darling. Mom,I'm here. With mom standing in the living room I'd hide in the master bedroom. Come find me. I will baby. There he is . Mom would pick me up and twirl me around. Haz darling. I'd looking into her brown eyes filled with so much love for me. Jazz. Yes Haz darling. I lobe you. She would then laugh at my baby voice and would stroke my cheeks gently. We weren't rich but we had our basic means of survival. Mom worked hard everyday. I always wrote about her in my essays. My superwoman." A tear strolled from my eyes to my cheeks. Mom.. My voice broke as her hand moved to wipe my tears. I didn't know how much I had missed her touch. I looked up and she was looking at me,her darling and not the Kamal version. Mom ,I ..I
Assalamualaikum. A loud voice greeted. A voice I know so well. I cleared my throat while whipping my tear stained face. Aunt Fati. I said going in for a hug . I brought out the plastic chair , stationing it opposite mom. Jasmine. How are you ? She asked mom in hausa. I'm blessed sis . How is the family and everyone. That's how their conversation begun. I made my way out of their presence heading towards Zongo hoping to see a certain someone and rid my mind of certain worries.
