WAZOBIA: A Tale of Two worlds

Fausti

Mum and Nonso had already left before I realised I didn't really know my way around definitely. And I didn't want to take chances.

I was at a nearby shop. I figured I had to buy a bunch of goodies to give my hosts and hostesses once I got there.

Faustina would help me. She practically knew everywhere in the village, and she would be great company too
I ran back to the house with my bag of goodies
"Fausti! Fausti hon!" I had grown very attached to her in the two days I had been home, and was the only one I knew who called her Fausti.

"Aunty! You've not gone yet?" She ran out of the backyard to meet me in her short dress and slippers.

"I need a tour guide" I smiled and held her hand playfully.

Her eyes widened and then she suddenly looked confused.

"Aunty, ken ka bu tour guide?"

I giggled,"I mean I need you to show me around. Things have changed, I'm not sure I can find my way so well "

"Oh!" Her eyes widened again and she skipped in glee.

"Go and change your dress let's go"

She frowned, "Why? Its okay naw"

"Nah, the colour's faded, wear something else. Maybe jeans and a tee shirt."

"Okay" She ran back into the house and was out almost immediately in blue jeans and a pink tee shirt.

"I'm ready" she spun around to show herself to me after locking the door.

I laughed. "I see you didn't ditch the slippers"

"Hm!" She hung her head.

I laughed again. She hadn't taken them off since I gave them to her the day I came.

Faustina looked down and smiled cheekily, then she took my hand.

"Let's go"

* * *

Feelings of nostalgia once again invaded me as I trekked the dirt road of our village. We were now about to cross the street where the village boys were playing soccer, as usual; and women gathered at the salon to do a mixture of excellent hair weaving handwork and contagious gossip. There wasn't much stress in life for them here.

I stared at one of the women at the shop, bending her head obediently to the will of the hairdresser, who seemed to apply all her effort and physical strength into pleating those Ghanian weaves, of course, they had to be tight. The woman barely flinched or disturbed the hairdresser even as she gossiped contentedly.

I would come over here and redo my hair. I said to myself, patting my four week old, white box braids.

They seem a good place.

I was lucky. After all what better place to have your hair braided than back home in Africa. It was cheap and of better quality; which meant they would last long enough.

"Aunty Sim!"

Faustina jerked me out of my thoughts as she pulled my toward two girls that looked about her age.

The girls greeted themselves in a playful way, shaking their waists and clapping their hands. I could hear the jingle of the waistbeads underneath their shirts. Fausti would make one for me once we got home. Maybe even one for Sarah, she'd love that.

Fausti smiled up at me before I could eben wander any farther with my thoughts; she wanted to introduce he friends.

"Aunty Sim, this is Chizaram and Onyinye"

The two girls, Chizaram and Onyinye, greeted me in Igbo, calling me 'aunty' at the end.

"Hello girls! You're Fausti's friends?" I asked, although of was quite obvious.

"Yes" they nodded.

"Its great to see you guys. I and Fausti are taking a tour of the village, where are you guys off to?"

Fausti jumped in before the girls could answer.

"Don't mind them, they're going to spend all their pocket money on clothes and jewellery and snacks." She huffed.

They both stared at Fausti; annoyance evident in their black pupils.

I giggled

"You guys go have fun" I handed each of them a one thousand naira note.

They jumped all over themselves, shaking their waistbeads again; said thank you an ran off excitedly.

Fausti looked at me wide eyed and with an open mouth.

"What?"

"You shouldn't have given them that money Aunty Sim"'

" why?":

She looked back the way the girls went and sighed, then looked at me again.

"Nothing"

I thought on Fausti's words and shrugged. What much hurt could there be in giving two hyper teenagers some money? I brushed off any consequences but prayed for protection just in case.

I walked slowly and realised that Fausti had gripped my hand tighter than usual, digging her fingers into my flesh.

I winced. "Ow, Fausti, what is it?"
She bit her lower lip; but not fearfully or painfully, in fact, she was smiling. Shyly though. Fausti was never shy.

I followed Fausti's mesmerized gaze to the 'football field' where it rested in a tall, very dark boy who was probably older then Fausti, perspiration falling down his neck as he was now chasing after the ball, desperately trying not to gt tackled by an opponent player.

I looked back at Fausti, thinking she would recognize me again but no. She just kept on staring at the boy, eyes following his every movement.

I sighed, wishing I could tell Fausti that this boy was jut another scam brought to the world, that he would do her nothing but harm. That he would rape her of her joy and happiness. That she would end up with a torn heart. That she would end up - abused.

My temperament got the better of me so that I didn't realise when I forcefully jerked Fausti away, regaining attention.

"C'mon let's go"

A very confused and embarrassed Fausti met my eyes once she had come back to Earth.

I forced myself to smile up at Fausti again, she looked relieved and smiled back.

"His name is Daniel .... I like him."

I didn't respond to Fausti, I couldn't. Another fake smile etched itself on my lips just so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.