THE DREADLOCK LADY - EPISODES 4 - 6

Episode Four 

The fresh green leaves on the  mango trees lining the school's entrance are swaying gently to the cool morning breeze. The sun's rays are yet to get hotter. I shuffle by two ladies leaning on their jeeps, which I presume should be parents of the pupils I coach. I recognize the other lady. The lady with the wig and figure like maltex bottle from the lounge. 

"Good morning!" I greet mildly praying the other lady doesn't recall my face. I wonder why I'm getting worried when I didn't insult her.

"Good morning!" They chorus in return. 

"Hello my dear" the other one prompts me. 

She is the plump dark lady who has her voluptuous body well packaged in her knee length denim dress.

"You are the one coaching our children in grade 4?" She questions. Her voice, placid. 

"Yes ma!" I reply smiling molar to molar feeling proud and gaze briefly at the concrete walkway where she's pacing towards me.

"You are doing a great job! And to think that you're not an employee of the school but just do this philanthropically is commendable. I'm Bumi's mother!"

"Yes, I was trying to place the face all along" 

"Bumi tells me a lot about you keep up the good work!"

"Thanks ma!"

"Where do you work?"

"I work as a media assistant in a media firm" I respond still feeding my eyes with the glittering stones around the curvy neckline of her dress and the bangles clinging around her arm.

"Good,  here's my card. Feel free to call me in case you need any help."

"Ok ma!"

"Currently, there's an opening ongoing in my firm as a social media strategist. I believe you can forward your C.v to me."

My voice shoots up. 

"Thank you ma. I will!"

I keep massaging the complementary card within my palms as I hurry to meet the pupils. 

"Senior partner, Abey Cosmetics and Hair Products!" I read out from the card and smile. I wonder what it would be like working as a social media strategist. I would be coming up with new stories and ideas to earn Visibility and Engagement for their firm.

I hope it would be better enough to make me leave my current establishment. 

*** 

I sit tight next to four other applicants the following Monday.

The next applicant arrives the reception where the security guard ushers him to sit next to me. He advances towards us where I and the four other applicants are already seated. 

The reception is a spacious room with glass doors. 

The tiles are sparkling clean. 

I wear my dreads in a bun with dot earrings, a straight navy blue dress and cream blazers matching my cream pumps. 

"Hello!" The new guy greets me.The nice fragrance of his perfume mildly hits my nose and evades the whole seat space as he sits.

"Hello!" I respond trying to be courteous. 

"Have you people been addressed?" His eyebrows raises in an appealing way. 

"We were told to wait here for a while that we're expecting three more persons to join us.  Now you're here I guess that beats it to two."

He nods. Soon enough he begins swiping  his phone, surfing the net I suppose. I cut a side eye view of his appearance  once more. His cute hair cut. He has a flat side that's accentuating his neat corporate outfit of shirt and trousers. I try to focus more on the glass doors watching out for the other persons while enjoying the nice view of a handsome bronzed brawny sitting by me. 

The two other persons join us sooner  than expected. My eyes grow big when I see Grace.

She glares at me and just sits down next to the other guy. 

My heart pounds fast. If we both get picked, it would be a disaster and it happens right after the interview that we would be working together.

"Grace!" I chase her after we've been dismissed. 

"Why are you spreading rumours about me as a boyfriend snatcher?" 

"What are you then?" Grace runs her gaze at me from up to bottom. 

"I won't have you accuse me falsely again. For whatever reason. For all the time we would intern here, make sure,  you don't go saying negative things about me because you don't have proof!"

Grace claps her hands and stares at me.

"You now want to threaten me in addition to your offense!"

I yell at her.

"I'm not threatening you. Just stay clear of my path and mind your business." 

I pace faster away from her leaving her to process what I've just told her. I only hope she adheres to it. I can envision her staring at me, from up to bottom but I care less.

Episode Five.

Chibueze gets  off the tree he's been leaning on once he sights Grace.

Grace is strolling out of her compound into the street  of their estate. The surrounding is serene with well trimmed lawns and tall slender trees station next to each other.

"Why are you acting like this, Grace?" Chibueze sounds soulful. His brown eyes looking troubled. He's casually dressed in palm slippers, juggers and T- shirt. His height towers slightly above hers once he's closer to her.

Grace grins. 

"Chibueze, you dare question me? I don't have words for you. You're not even remorseful!"

"Why should I?  when I did nothing wrong!" He yells in despair. He's about taking her hands in his when she hits him off.

"I have photos of you and Nengi after you have had a nice time together and you are here, acting like a saint!"

Chibueze's eyes widen. He points his fingers at her. 

"Look here, that's enough! That you have photos of us doesn't prove anything. If you want us breaking up over this then it's fine! Have it your way but to accuse us of having an affair,  that is what I won't take!"

Grace nods.

"I wonder why you would choose her over us." Grace lambasts. 

Chibueze brushes both arms over his head.

"You're crazy!"

"I'm I? Excuse you I'm not the crazy one here!" She sighs and  paces off leaving him perplexed. 

Chibueze plants both arms on his waist and shake his head in despair. 

*** 

"I don't know why I took this job! I regret it!" I confess to Nana sitting next to her on the swing. 

The breeze is rustling pieces of leaves on the ground to a corner on the school's playground . We are just chilling, after an interesting session with the pupils. 

"Bumi's mom only did you a favour. At least you don't have to continue with the story that has cost you your friendship with Grace!" Nana advices while enjoying a huge scoop from her cup of ice cream. She's trying to maintain balance on the swing by only leaning slightly on the swing. 

"Do you have anything to worry?" I question. 

"Sure, I have to get back to the Salon in time."

I nod. 

"I think I'll be going with you. I want to dye the tip of my dreads and maybe plait the front into cornrows."

"No problem,  let's get going then" She licks off the last  scoop and thrashes her empty ice cream cup into the big steel bin by the corner. 

We board a taxi and head for the salon.

The smell of different sweet smelling  hair products greet my nose once we get in.

While sitting on the black cushion, I study the way one of the stylist weave seamlessly, slim loose twists on a mannequin's head.

Nana beckons on me to come sit on one of the single chairs infront of the styling mirror.  She has changed her dress into her work polo that has Hair_by_zil scribbled on it in a stylish fashion. 

I sit facing the big mirror observing how my skin glows as the fluorescent light hit me. The sepia undertone of my skin becomes evident alongside my well lined eyebrows. I play with a strand of my dreads while I wait for Nana to begin with the dyeing. 

"Which colour will you want?" She questions placing 3 different hair dyes before me. 

"I'll love bright red!"

Nana sticks her hands out to cover her mouth in a rush. I didn't have to turn to see her. I only watch her from the mirror. 

"You'll do that to your natural dreads? You coach kids, I just hope their parents don't start seeing you as a bad influence!" She voices before picking the two others I didn't want and finding her way back to where she brought them from - The inner part of the salon where their hair products are stored. 

"Just because I coach kids doesn't mean I can't be more funky with my looks!"

The smallish stature stylist glances briefly at me but she doesn't take her hands off the braids she's making. It's as if she has given me her own response by merely glancing at me.

"Or don't you think so?" I channel the question to her.

She smiles briefly. 

"It depends." 

"I bless God I'm not alone on this!" Nana concurs while she's sashaying back to me holding two white containers. 

"I don't think so." I affirm. 

"No problem. Let's get your hair dyed then!"

I sit put while she's mixing the white powdery stuff with a liquid chemical. All I crave is the the finished look. The fresh lift the bright colour would add to my face.

Episode Six. 

It's 9.am in the morning and my first day at work. I sit quietly at the reception as I am the first to arrive. Grace comes next and to my surprise,  the brawny guy too. It's shocking to me that we are the only ones who seem to be here after the interview. 

The H.R would be addressing us today. That's the information I got from the receptionist before sitting. I notice as she steps in, the plump dark lady with Bumi's mother who looks like she's in her late 30's. Her stilettos are quite high and I fear she might fall if she doesn't take care though her dress fits perfectly on her figure and makes her look a bit taller.

She ushers us into a conference room where another man takes over. I love the vibe he displays as he tries to make us get comfortable and settle in as we take our seats. 

"What's your name?" His courteous voice prompts me. 

"Nengiye Kalio!" I reply smiling. 

"Wow, you're from the south?" 

"Yes Sir"

"You can call me Mr Davies!"

"Ok" I nod.

He smiles jokingly standing before the projector stand. 

"There should be a Tamuno before your name or something because I know most people from your area bear that before their names." He speaks while typing briefly on his laptop's keyboard. 

"Yes!" I blush.

"Ok, next person." He points to Grace.

"Grace Walter!" 

"You're also South?"

"Yes Mr Davies!" She responds in a friendly tone.

"Wow. How about you young man, you're south too?"

"Partly south!" Comes his deep Male voice.

"Really?" Mr Davies raises his brow.

"I'm Teju Joseph!"

"Ok, let's get started then!" Mr Davies announces and with that begins the staff orientation. 

We are served small chops and little packs of fruit juice.

I nibble slowly on my small chops while I jot things on my note pad.

I am in my own world as Grace and Teju seem to be getting along. Occasionally,  I'll sight her wispher into his ears something that makes him smile and prompts  him to  reply in low tones.

They are acting like they've known each other before now.

"Miss Kalio, can I  glance through your notes?" He asks me once we dismiss. 

"I'll prefer Nengi." I correct him.

"Ok, Nengi. Thank you!"

"Teju once you're done, meet me up outside" Grace informs him, casually heading for the door.

"Alright, Grace. All I see is Grace!" He sings. 

His singing tickles Grace to some unexplainable laughter. I find the joke to be out of this world though he's singing voice is good. It's similar to Chibueze's. I recall Chibueze singing some of his lines from his new album to me during the interview. 

Once he's done, I retrieve my note and dash out before he can say Jack. I didn't want anyone calling me a boyfriend snatcher again. I just can't stand it.

*** 

"Babe how did your first day go?" Nana questions sitting on her parlour's couch.

She has a nice purple hair sash over her natural afro while she slouches on the sofa, throwing in fat puffy popcorns into her mouth. 

"Ok!" I reply as I curl up on the couch, next to her. 

I place my  head on the soft feathery throw pillow. My eyes are dull as they focus on the centre rug underneath the glass table.

"Just that!" Nana yells pausing her munching.

I yawn and pull myself  to sit upright. 

 "Nana I'm tired. I'll gist you more about it later!" I reply.

"You really hate this job, I can tell! Come let me restyle your dreads! You didn't tell me how many persons admired your new hair tint!" She giggle with a sort of sparkle in her eyes and resumes her chewing.

I smile and get to sitting at her feet. 

I admire as her toe nails are well manicured and coat with dark purple nail polish before sitting fully. 

She pulls out her phone and begins swiping with one hand while she's picking up single popcorns with the other.

"There's a certain way I want to restyle your hair that I did for one lady recently at the salon!"

"Really. Let me see!" I jolt to my feet and peep at her screen. 

"Wow, you've really improved!" I comment and pat her back.

She gives way to a dimpled smile. 

Mrs Onyenanu, a poised middle aged lady, plods into the house with heavy sack bags. Nana drops her phone at the sight of her mother and rushes to assist her with the bags.

"Good evening ma!" I greet mildly.

Her large eyes roam at me from head to toe as she cuddles her daughter briefly. 

"Nengiye congratulations! Your friend told me of your new job.  Keep at it ehn. I hope you are praying for her to go for service this year so she can come and join you too and work!" Comes her deep feminine voice. 

"Yes ma. I  pray so!"

"Ok, congratulations once again ehn!"

"Thank you!" I reply, blushing. 

"Mom, please I'll join you in the kitchen briefly after seeing her off!" Nana quickly adds after relieving her of the bags. 

"No problem! Just don't take too long!" She nods.

I watch as they both vamoose into the kitchen and only Nana resurfaces again.

"Quick, let me restyle your hair and escort you before she would remember me!" Nana spells out in a frenzy. 

She gets my hair restyled with half of my dreads slanting in front and the rest pulling backwards in a bun. We run into Teju as we stroll out into the open quite street.

As He whines down his car glass and we get to see inside his cozy Camry, we also get hit by the blasting of some afro beats playing from his car radio. 

"Hello Nengi. Where are you guys headed?" He poses while his hands are beating slightly against the steering and he's nodding gently to the rhythm.

"Hello, I'm Nana!" Nana overtakes me and extends her arm for a handshake. 

"I'm Nengi's friend and you are?"

"I'm Teju her colleague at work!" Teju replies with a nice smile while shaking her arm.

"Oh! Nice to meet you!" Nana blushes.

I pinch Nana from behind while smiling at Teju and make her retreat from shaking him.

"I think I'll join you now! Nana you should get going!" I tease 

She nods and waves at us.

I wonder why she acted like that. I feel my heart pounding in my chest when he engages the gear and drives off. 

"I'll get down at the next junction." I inform him clutching my purse tightly and occasionally stare out the window to the open street. Staring at any random thing,  boutiques, food stores and sign posts.

"Ok. You went to pay your friend a visit!"

"Just as it looks, right and you?"

"Also, just as it looks!" He replies. 

We are able to hold snatches of other conversations about ourselves briefly before I alight at the junction. As I watch him drive away, I can understand why Grace will fight to keep him for herself. His friendly and charming personality is simply irresistible.

Thanks for  reading.  Please send me a mail @diepiriyerita@gmail.com if you wish to have this story in full.