Defying Them

Chapter 2 - The best friend

Recap:

'You dont get it do you' i sighed at her, trying to mask my frustration and anger. 'We're not in Nigeria! I dont act that way! Never have and probably never will! This is me, Take it or leave it!' My mom's facial expression changed so fast, her eyes burning with fury.

'Bayo, talk to your daughter! I will not have her speak to me like that, especially in my own house!' I took my chance and legged it up the stairs grabbing a bottle of coke and some kitkats from the fridge, i sensed a long argument coming. 

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"Whooo!" I dived on to my bed; snacks in hand. I was safe, well for now anyway. Walking of my bed to shut the door I felt really guilty about mum, but then I realised she was probably fuming at me so I just let those feelings slide away. I mean I feel really sorry for her, she has this idea in her head of me being a perfect nigerian daughter, going to school, coming home and cooking loads of different types of soups with names i cant prounounce. I sighed to myself as i walked over to my bed and plopped myself on it.

   I wasn't that daughter and I didn't want to be. Don't get me wrong I have so much respect for my mum and our country and culture but I'm in Britain and some of the practises seem a little outdated. I am Nigerian and I love it, I love being black and acting ghetto with my friends. I laughed to myself as i remembered the time that me and Keisha my best friend were messing about and had an entire two hour conversation speaking with an american accent and her replying 'Damn right!' or 'Dang girl' to everything i said. But i'm not really that African.

  I mean come on, on my passport it says Black/British, I dont speak like i'm Nigerian, I barely know the language my mom speaks which is 'Yoruba', Ive spent every summer and christmas Holiday in Britain since i was born. (Mom lived here before me). She didn't bring me over here because she didnt want me to be influenced by their 'terrible ways'. Guess she regrets that now. 

  I rolled my eyes and picked up my blackberry and texted Keisha asking her if she wanted to come out with me tomorrow. I hoped she'd say yes and ignore the fact that it was two degrees outside and everywhere was covered in snow. I didnt care if it was freezing out there but there was no day i was spending a whole day with mom after that. Hell no!'

'Last friday night we went streaking in the park, skinny dipping in the dark' Keisha's voice rang out from my phone,  I laughed to myself and remembered when she had insisted on recording herself singing that so it could be her special text ringtone thingy then I'd always know it was her.

 I love Keisha, she's literally the best friend a girl could get.  She's black like me but her parents are Jamaican, she gets everything i tell her about my mom cuz her uncle married a nigerian woman, she always entertains me with stories about her. People always mistake me and her for sisters whenever we go out. I guess we sorta look alike. We both have long black hair (Most of it fake of course! Ive never been patient enough to grow my hair) Although i tend to wear mine in big wavy curls and hers is more straight. we have brown eyes, mine darker than hers, but in winter they turn very freaky and go quite light and see through, maintaining their colour but very clear, It freaks me out. We have the same nose although mine's pointier than hers. 

  I have very strong cheekbones which are probably my favourite thing about my face, they make me very photogenic so i dont (always) have to untag myself on facebook pictures. I've never really considered myself that beautiful. I know im pretty (im not gonna be one of those girls who keep saying they're ugly just to get attention) but im not drop dead beautiful and im okay with that because i hate when people get treated special just because of their appearance.

I looked at my phone and saw Keisha's text

'Sure bbe! cum on fb and tlk 2 me cuz im aint got credit!! :)) XXXxx' I chuckled at that, the girl is addicted to her phone! I picked up my laptop from where it was on my dresser and switched it on, rubbed my eyes and started planning tomorrow's outfit in my head.