AFRICAN SHORT STORIES(MYTHOLOGY,SUPERNATURAL, BELIEFS)

COLOUR ME WHITE

Alice Magata was Tanzanian, blessed like majority of Tanzanian women with curves hugging in all the right places, back and front, a tiny waist and dark ebony skin covered with cheap Vaseline oil that glistened against the hot African sun. She was miraculous, large lush lips and long lashed brown sultry gaze, almond shaped chocolate eyes and if that wasn’t enough, her smile was stunning, the white of her teeth in stark contrast with the dark of her skin. She moved with ease each hip in full swing assure thing for attracting attention, a woman’s walk to accommodate the load on her back and sides. How can any man resist? Especially a white man. Having proposed and of course he being white (the popular expectation and widely held belief that all white people have money and true love from movies no doubt) she accepted his request of being his wife, why would any black girl refuse, a white man all to herself, she can gloat and show him off to all her jealous friends and other women. The wedding plans on full speed, her gown ordered and fitted beautifully to size her blessed parts she hugged her fiancé at the airport, he had to tie a few loose strings up in Europe then as soon as he returns the wedding shall take place. Who knows where the thought came from, having decided to surprise her man and her obvious future life in the prestigious Europe Alice Magata, dark skinned beauty opted to use chemicals to lighten her skin colour to correspond with her man’s white skin. this was a success, no longer did her skin held any trace of it once ebony origins, it was an un-natural pale almost yellow tone with slight darkening of her knuckles, the only indication of her once dark glory. The day arrived; she raced to the airport and waited eagerly for her white wealthy fiancé to arrive. Finally, he appeared, he looked around the airport, searching for her. Excitement streaming all over her body Alice waved, how lucky can she get? a man that has money and loves her. She waved once more, and having caught his attention she ran to him. He gazed on in confusion, wondering who this woman could possibly be. “I’m Alice sweetheart” she smiled once he voiced his concern after an uncomfortable hug, recognition dawned in his eyes and with it horror. Stunned Alice shifted back, what was the matter with him?

“Your not Alice” his tone was cold, icy even as he looked at her once more, and frowning at what he saw, where was the natural dark skin? The smile that shone soo bright? “…the Alice I left was black and beautiful” with that he side stepped Alice without a backward glance. The wedding was off.