Sister, Sister.

XVI: Truth

THREE MONTHS BEFORE

Karlie

As I zipped the silk mini-dress up my belly and over my lace-clad breasts, I imagined Jesse coming to the house and meeting my parents. Him, dressed in a button shirt and holding a rose. My parents, delighted to meet him.

Dad would shake his hands and quiz him strictly. Warn him to bring him back home before midnight. Mum would smile, waving at us, tell us to have a good time as Jesse zooms down the street in the yellow Mercedes.

I opened my eyes, chided myself for imagining the impossible. My parents would not encourage me to bring a boy home, it's a taboo. That would mean encouraging me to fornicate and have illegitimate babies (their words, not mine). Any boy Kat and I date would be secret and paraded to our parents as a casual,  nothing-more friend until we are ready to get married.

Krystal slinked into my bedroom, watching me with orb-eyes and open mouth.

"How do I look?" I asked him, twirling like I'm wearing a ball gown. Dangling earrings smashed against the sides of my neck like a wrecking ball.

"You look . . . six foot fat!" He exclaimed with giggles and hugs my thighs.

I scooped him up and kissed him on his dimple. "Thanks, sweetums," I said, using the nickname I gave him when he was a baby.

I dropped him on my chair, clipped on my wristwatch and charm bracelet I had had for years. Using the tip of my finger, I rubbed on some pineapple lip balm and clipped on some pearl barrettes in my hair.

Krystal played with a stud earring, trying to wear it in his ear.

"You can't wear that," I told him, stifling a giggle and taking the earring way.

"Why?" He whined, almost teary-eyed.

"Because your ears aren't pierced like mine."

He picked up the lavender incense stick I stole from Kat from my pencil holder. "It's burning," he said, pointing to the swirling smoke tendrils rising from one end of the stick.

"Don't touch it," I warned, "it's hot."

"Hot," he repeated, intrigued. Swiping the stick through the air like it is a magic wand.

My door flew open. Kat and Precious stepped in, wearing the same halter dress in different colours.

Precious gasped, her hands fly to her mouth.

Kat clucked her tongue, shaking her head.

"What's that?" I asked, a bit frightened, eyes darting around, searching for what they are looking at. My room was tidy, my bed was made. What were they staring at?

"Kat, you were not lying oh," Precious said, "she really wanted to go bareface."

"I told you," Kat replied smugly.

"Me?" I asked, hand on my chest.

"No, me." Precious rolled her eyes. "Sidon jor!" She pointed to the edge of my bed.

I scurried to take a seat, carrying Krystal on my lap. Krystal squirmed, then slinked out. I noticed he is not comfortable around Precious.

Kat grabbed my wrist, showing it to Precious. "It's because of me that she got the henna done."

"Can you imagine?" Precious gushed like it is absurd that I didn't want to get henna without Kat convincing me. "You are going on a date with Jesse and you are dressing like Christian mother!"

"Is my dress not fine?!" I exclaimed, exasperated.

She scruntinsed my dress through slits. "Yeah, you try."