Aunt Shadè called her brother to assure him that his daughter landed safely, his reply was ' yes '.
Toni and Adebisi sat on the bed talking about their futures, Adebisi explained that she wanted to study something related to skin and beauty so she would have enough knowledge to start her own cosmetics line for people of colour. Toni also shared the same passion for beauty, a spark was lit and they begun to discuss their cosmetics line as if it were already there. They spoke of success without obstacles as they felt indestructible in their moment.
Adebisi disclosed that she loved to design clothes and showed Toni her secret sketches. Adebisi felt like she was showing Toni her soul and saying 'here, judge.' No one knew about those sketches because she was scared of judgement. She knew if anyone criticized it her heart will break. Fortunately for her, Toni thought it was " fresh, chic, elegant, never been done before beautiful, could be a big thing, and it is just amazing."
Adebisi was flying, they then talked about opening a small boutique in New York to showcase the designs. Toni asked what she'd want to call it and she answered, "Roúde."
Toni asked what it meant an Adebisi said it didn't mean anything, it just sounded nice.
The girls had a very strong bonding moment, they felt so happy with each other.
"You're my best friend." Adebisi stated.
"But we literally just met." Toni laughed.
"Yeah we just met, but you cheered me so much you became my best friend."
Adebisi remembered the gifts her family had given her to give aunt Shadè and Toni so she begun to unpack them. Toni and her mother received an overwhelming amount of gifts from all their relatives and promised to visit Nigeria in the holidays.
___________
"Adi." Aunt Shadè called out.
"Try to rest, I'll wake you up to eat."
"Yes auntie." Adebisi said, already feeling her body sink in the soft mattress and sheets.
"It's like clouds." Adi mumbled.
"I'll get you some sweat pants, you can't sleep in that." Toni said.
"You mean tracksuit bottoms." Adebisi corrected.
"What?" Toni asked disappearing into her walk- in closet.
"This." Adebisi took the pants Toni was giving her.
"Tracksuit bottoms?" Toni asked confused.
"Yes, these are called tracksuit bottoms in English." Adebisi said putting them on.
Toni thought for a while then remembered that she hadn't given Adi a shirt but her small body had already disappeared in the king size bed. Toni lay down as well as she was so tired from waking up at five a.m. out of excitement.
Toni hadn't met her extended family ever, they all lived in either Saudi Arabia or Nigeria. Being an only child she grew up feeling very lonely, she never had a best friend or even a close friend. She did have friends however, many many friends but she didn't consider them as such, to her they were only people she talked to. Most she forgot after high school and did not keep in touch with. She was so happy that Adi was coming, she'd finally meet her cousin and now best friend. With that thought she fell asleep with a smile.
Aunt Shadè thought about her niece and her brother, she noticed the similarities in their characters. They had the same walk, same serious, mean mask over the cheery, sensitive, vulnerable child inside them. They are so similar they could be one, you would think they would be best of friends but the tension between them was suffocating. It worried her but she was happy her daughter finally met a family member and might have a friend for once.
Adebisi was not fully asleep, she could hear aunt Shadè start the blender in the kitchen. She was in a state of semi consciousness, she could hear and see everything but couldn't react. Her mind was elsewhere, in its favourite place, Debi' s Playhouse where she lived her fantasies every day, it was like a drug that she couldn't do with out. It had the same effect as a drug, temporary, delusional happiness.
In Debi' s Playhouse, she was happy, her father didn't hate her, she had not made the mistakes she did in the past and was the perfect daughter. In Debi' s Playhouse it was all roses, smiles, sun shine, butterflies, all things nice.
On the worst days of her life, Debi' s Playhouse was her escape, on days when she had made mistakes, her perfect version in Debi' s Playhouse had not. When she was struggling, Debi had already made it in her Playhouse. Debi' s Playhouse was the high before the torture of her nightmares, the ones made up of reality.
