Loud Places

chapter 2

Thanks to Michael Honourable for his insight
Esther Bamidele for her share of thought.
Pearl🙌
Happy reading.
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An unfamiliar sound blared at my ear, as I tried hard to cover up from the morning cold...
ring!ring!ring!

Ruby! I panicked, as I saw her with my alarm clock close to my ear.

hahahaha!, 'sorry', she said in between a laugh, 'it's 5:30am, you should prepare for school and besides it's friday,#TGIF', she said mimicking mum's voice.

Before I could respond, still in my sleepy state, I heard the door slam aloud behind her as she left .

I tried hard not to think about last night, as I lifted myself off the sheets, a spontaneous stretch occurred as I headed for the bathroom, staring at the white tiled design in my bathroom as it a gave off my reflection , I did an awfully karate combo, my work out for 3years now guess it's not helping at all, Uncle Micheal, mom's brother put me through  with that,  but guess it was better working out with him.

I put on the shower, the water ran through me as I screamed....
'Cold!', remembering I didn't put the water heater switch on, to turn the cold water warm. The chilled water felt  like brain freeze , but only on my back.

It took about five minutes to wash up, my body, I felt heavy as I stroke the soapy sponge on my bare skin, I put the shower on again, to lavage the soap lather from my skin .

I walked back to the room with a towel round my waist, as I headed for my wardrobe that has a mirror attached to it...I took a look at my reflection and one could notice that I have an almost striking resemblance of my dad, his fair light skin, a bit flat nose, Raven black hair, slightly pink lips, straight athletic legs and wow! , I am sprouting a beard, nice of a 16 year old, 'except for the straight face and dark brown eyes ' I got from mum

Why do I have his looks(dad)?, I thought

'Francis, breakfast!', I heard Ruby call,
staring at the clock it was 6:20am, 'geez!, it felt like 5 minutes ' I said aloud.

I hurriedly applied lotion to my skin and hair, I took out my school uniform from the wardrobe, In 2minutes I was done , taking a quick peek in the mirro..
the white button long sleeve shirt, with well knotted wine Coloured tie, tucked in to the plain black pants and black well polished Brooklyn shoe, with my white socks slightly out ...'I am ready, FSTC here we go!'

I heard REAPER, by Sia, playing from the stereo in the living room. 'She calms me and she passes great messages 'I remember mum arguing with Ruby to cover up here fantical side and , Mum fancies her so much.

Mum dressed in her sky blue nurse outfit and Ruby on the feminine version of my uniform, white short sleeve, black skirt that stops at her knee.
Looking at them they look like twins, chocolate skin, same shape of lip that seems like they want steal a kiss in the wind, slightly pink lips , slim body structure , slightly bowed leg except Ruby has dad's round face and bright brown eyes .....a Glamour of beauty , dad did well to find a beauty like mum, I quickly shook dad's thought out again.

They were seated at the dinning room, the dinning room contains five leather black chair and a big round glass table in the middle of them, fresh flowers in a flower vase which mom changes every three days , thanks to Mr.Kenddy, the gardener who lives close by, and also a family enlarged photo of us huge on the sky blue painted walls....I got furious setting my gaze on Dad's smiling face as he enclosed Ruby in his left hand and rods my hair with his right and mum hugging me from behind.

'What a dad!,' I thought angrily

'Enough with the milk!,' mum yelled at Ruby In Igbo.
Sorry Nne, she replied .

Good morning mum, I pecked her, Our normal  routine when ever we weak up. Mom tried to shake me off with a you are late look.  I and Ruby's special hand shake that ends with the hit the quad.
ooh!, Ruby holwed loud.

'stop that you both and eat', mum cautioned us as she spoke with a tenor like voice.
'Oya eat your breakfast'.

Hmmm
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I and ruby waited for mum as she ran back to our apartment, she forgot her car keys,
'classic mum,' Ruby chuckled as mum ran to the apartment.

'what's up Lil gwans',I heard Mr. Kennedy call out to us as he carried a basket of Roses and tulips, He owns a small garden across our flat and unique  flowers.

Mr Kennedy has dreadlock, really long locks. Dark in complexion, tall and well built stature. most word of his ends with muahn or gwan, he is so good at patouah(jamican slang)

We're cool, I said trying to speak in Jamaican accent, I failed  so much at it. I

'Whata wrong with ya eyes Francis, is it that bully again?,' Mr Kennedy asked.  I quickly bent my head so he won't see my slightly bruised eye, but was already  late . A rapid feeling of
being miserable filled me, I was unable to say a word.

'Yes,Same story sir', Ruby  said.

'Listen Francis, you're good gwan, but never let anyone hit you gwan!, I know lil gwan like you's scared, but trash talk that bombomclack!, that would crash that bully like Jericho and babilonia wall ok. And never forget  to  make references of the crazy gwan deficiency like his smell, shape and whatever you see,' he said widening his eyes, which almost turned blood shot.
I was still not used to Mr Kennedy accent. I struggled to simplify his words so I won't be confused.

'goosebumps' , Ruby whispered to me. Nugging me abit

'Shut up,' I said rolling my eyes at her .
'ok Mr Kennedy, I will try,' I replied Mr Kennedy.

'Respect muahn,' Mr Kennedy replied back.

'boyaka! boyaka!gwan!,' ruby piped in, this made Mr Kennedy laugh so loud.

'Hello Mr Kennedy Kumar, sorry we got to run' , mum greeted

'Hello Mrs Jane, you know time flies,' He greeted mum putting on a 'hugemogosuard' smile, almost like he is waiting for a selfie shot.

she got Into the Red Toyota Camry, I rode shotgun , ruby at the back.
'Good bye Mr Kennedy'

'Good bye gwan, and don't forget what I taught you gwan, may the force be with you', he spoke as he bidded goodbye.

'What?,' Mum questioned with wide eye.

'Its nothing mum, oh look at the time....,' I tried changing the topic

'I know you stole the quote from star wars', Ruby joke referring to Mr Kennedy quote as mum drove off .

YE by Burna boy was playing from the car stereo as mum drove us to school, she beats her hands on steering to the rhythm of his song as she mumbled the lyrics.

I stared at the Billboard close to the Tejuosho Mall that contains ads like:
one naija, na we dey here
Wazobia fm 95.1
Panadol extra, be baba ooooo

I felt the wind on my face as mom drove towards the yaba road, i drifted to last nights event, the conversation i had with my father as I closed my eyes to reminisce......

What have I done?, Did he deserve that?, I thought.
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Geez, another cliffhanger, sorry!
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Perpie thank you so much.
Pearl and Michael thanks for the editorial work