THE DREADLOCK LADY - EPISODES 1-3

Episode one.

The evening jams are really getting to me as I'm nodding to the thrilling Nigerian oldies tunes while sipping my soft drink by the poolside. Today is usually for oldies.

Other people are sitting too enjoying their drinks. Two ladies and a man are the prominent people I sight.

This D.J is really giving me the vibes. This must be why I crave coming to this particular bar down my street.

The ambience from the dim coloured lights and the way they revolve round would make me hide comfortably. Even if I happen to sight someone I know, I can choose to greet or ignore them.

Sitting by the pool side, I try to recall how I messed up yesterday. Just while I'm thinking and feeling terrible about messing up, I sight Grace advancing towards me.

Grace, Slim shady as we fondly call her isn't looking happy today. Her swift steps and frown are reflecting anger.

I decide it's better I stand to greet her and at least explain myself but while I'm getting on my feet, I don't know the demon that possessed her.

She pushes me into the nearby pool before I can say Jack!

My head is spinning. I struggle, flapping my hands and feet to gain balance and stay afloat.

"What was that for?" I question while wiping off the water from my face.

I'm drenched even within. My teeth gritting. I'm shivering cold.

"That's for trying to steal Chibueze from me!" Comes her harsh voice.

"I did nothing! Nothing happened between us!"

"Tell that to a mad person! Listen, if you ever step your feet in his house again! I'll show you the stuff I'm made of. I'll show you I'm from this town! You hear! Rubbish!"

She's whining her waist and zooming off.

I pull myself out of the pool. Wrap arms around myself. Still feeling terrible. I wish I can disappear and avoid all the stares.

"All these Olosho" I overhear a man sitting by the table, downing alcohol, exclaim even when I try to ignore him.

"See her hair sef, See the way she has messed up herself!" Another lady comments.

I tilt my head slightly in her direction. Her hair is no better than my cool dreads. Mine is short, dark and natural; hers is one nonsense wig that doesn't even suit her plump face. I loathe how short she is, like maltex bottle.

"Fine girl, sorry eh! Here, take this towel and clean yourself up!" The kind waiter opens up a big white towel that can wrap my slim figure twice. His eyes fill with pity. His ponk hair cut wears better giving him a funky look. He looks like he's seen this happen countless times to their customers.

I smile weakly.

"Thank you!" But I ignore him and head out.

I'll rather drip home wet in my thick jeans and shirt than have these people finish me with more harsh words. I can tell that I'm never going back there! Ever! This walk of shame is enough for one night! Let me get home safe and sleep, forgetting this never happened.

****

My room is in disarray this weekend.
First, I am too tired to arrange my clothes I had laundered the previous day.
I observe as they heap on the chair next to my bed. The floors are dull, begging for a little mopping to shine them up.
I caused this for myself is my conclusion as I lie flat on my bed.
A day before yesterday, in my usual way I decided to meet Chibueze in his house and interview him about his upcoming single song.
I had informed Grace and veered out but things got bizarre. I shouldn't have gone. My passion for what I do has blinded me. My quest for knowledge caused me this walk of shame. I was going to use his interview to couch an interesting blogpost.
See how I danced into the lion's den.
I get up and stare into my bedside mirror.
My eyes are sagging. My dreads disheveled.

I open the curtain, then the window and stare outside. The weather is dull, plain sky, lesser noises from cars zooming off.
Soon the compound would be busy, I better finish off my scribbling from the story I gathered so I'll be in time for the book reading today.
I enjoy spending time with these kids. They inspire me.
I pull myself towards the bathroom to perform the morning rituals - brushing, bathing, washing and styling my dreadlocks.




Episode Two

The walls of the classroom glitters against my eyes as I step in.
 Paintings of the sky and rainbows hang just beside the whiteboard.
Everything is well placed, mixing colours against each other.
The grade 4 pupils are playing round till they sight me and scramble for their seats.
I observe some of my notable pupils. Bumi, Ada and Hepzibah. Bumi has her hair in a bun today with her curls dangling as she moves to her seat. Ada's  tender brown skin is glowing as ever while Hepzibah's bright eyes is scanning  through  his book. He is the most  inquisitive one among all the grade 4 pupils.
"Good morning Aunty Nengi!" They greet me standing.
"Good morning everyone." I reply with a smile and they sit down again.
"Aunty I've finished reading the book you gave us , Who Moved my cheese" Bumi announces.
"Very good! Now, everyone would share the lessons they gained from the book before we introduce another one. "
"Yes!" She nods happily.
I settle down and cover up the circle of chairs and we begin the session after a brief prayer.
I tutor them on other social and life skills not regularly taught in school in the course our book talk.
"I wonder why Hem is being resistant to change in the book!" Hepzibah complains.
"Most persons are like that in life and that's why this book is urging us to learn from his mistakes. We should be ready to learn new skills and forge ahead instead of sticking with our old ways of doing things. Do we understand?" I question
"Yes!" Comes their chorus response.
Nana comes in and joins us. She's admiring us sitting from behind.  She wears her natural hair packed and tied into an afro puff with the aid of a tight black band. I can't wait to be done with the pupils to tell her about what happened to me yesterday.

"Babe, I admire what you're doing for these kids. Despite your work at the media, transcribing this and that,  striving to meet countless deadlines, you still spend your weekends coaching these kids. Your kind is rare!" Nana commends advancing towards me after we dismiss.
Her toffee brown skin glows and smells of nice scented coconut oil. Some of the oil from styling her natural hair I suppose.
"My dear. I'm just happy I'm privileged to help these kids while I can. Who taught us all these ones while we were in school ehn. But when we come out of school, we face life unprepared"
Nana nods.
I glance idly at the colourful scribbling of rhymes  and study quotes.  I observe again as the cardboard papers line on a large white board before I recall the previous day's happenings.
"That reminds me!" I exclaim tapping her.
"If you know what Grace did to me on Friday!"
"Grace, slim shady? What?"
"Let's sit and gist small!"
We wipe a desk clean  and sit facing one another.
Nana's eyes widen with expectations.
"What did she do? Tell me let me know how I'll fire her at the salon when I sight her!"
"Please don't. Don't go embarrassing her at your Hair_by_zil beauty salon."
"Ok. Spit it out!"
"Grace pushed me into the pool!"
Nana's mouth flings open.
"All my fault though. She thinks I slept with Chibueze!"
"But did you?"
"Of course I didn't! Some one must have sneaked in, photographed us or something and then forwarded it to her. I have never been humiliated like that in my entire life. I was practically dripping wet from top to bottom!"
Nana sighs
"So obviously you guys were in a compromising position!"
"I guess so. I woke up with his arms crossing over me but I had my clothes intact only my skirt was slightly up!"
Nana has a loud laugh.
"You're not serious. How are you going to convince her that nothing happened between you two while she was away!"
"My dear, why would I tell her I was going to interview him if I knew I would end up warming his bed!"
Nana sighs again.
"Sad! Anyway you can still try talking it over with her. I noticed she was cranky when she visited the salon for her hair do. Meanwhile, her latest weave style looked really cute on her. You needed to have seen her!"
"She has blocked me oh! She has blocked me from seeing her Status updates, even on Facebook."
"It's that serious!"
"Dear, let's start going. I have lot's of things to do!"
I scramble to my feet and she follows suit.
"Just cheer up!" Nana advices patting my back while we exit the classroom.









Episode Three.

In my office the following day being a Monday, I try to act lively and forget the woeful weekend's happenings.
The Heads of departments meetings are ongoing and it would take like centuries before they head back to their respective departments.
While  I sink into my chair, I occupy myself with swiping through the screenshots Nana sent me. I find Grace's hair to be very gorgeous.  She must have really stunned the hall as a wedding guest.  Considering the silky texture of her weave I can bet that it's original human hair. It's pretty straight, black and like 16inches length. The glueless frontal makes it look even more epic.
"Nengi this one you're so relaxed!" Dinmah cuts in walking in from the door.
"Nothing much o." I reply casually.
Dinmah's stilettos are making soft koi- koi sounds as they encounter the tiled floor. She's  holding her a cup of vegetable smoothie as she heads for her seat and begins to sip from it once she settles down.
"Seems you're done for the day! How was the weekend with the kids?" She questions as usual after a brief pause from relishing her smoothie while gazing  at me.
I nod.
"Great!"  still swiping my phone.
"Which book are you guys talking about this weekend? You should invite me sometime you know. Nana says you're doing a great job with them!"
I place my phone on the table and go back to working on my keyboard.
"We continue with Who moved my cheese,  hopefully we would begin with the Alchemist next week. I'm already pages gone!"
"Hmmm, interesting."
My phone buzzes.  It's Chibueze calling as I peep at it.
I wonder why he would be calling me but I choose not to ignore him.
"Hello!"
I glance briefly at Dinmah as she works away at her own laptop. We've got deadline to submit our reports for the previous week.
Her fingers clicks the mouse at intervals as she's acting like she's not paying attention to my phone conversation.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm good, you?"
"A bit worried,  Grace won't take my calls. Have you spoken with her lately?"
I feel a knot in my throat as I pause to think of a reasonable response.
"Not really!"
"I don't get. Grace is your friend!"
"Yes she is. See I'm busy right  now. Maybe you can leave her a message or something. See if she would respond!"
"I really want to know if she's ok and why she is ignoring me. Is there anything you know?"
I roll my eyes. "He shouldn't  be asking me silly questions about Grace. What's my business?" I think.
"Chibueze,  please try calling or texting her again. I believe she would respond to you, eventually. Let me get back to work!"
I end the call with a beep  and rub my head in despair.
"I hope all is well?" Comes dinmah's Mild voice.
I nod and get to my feet. I need fresh air from outside.
"Yes!" I manage to say before exiting the office.

***

"Why would she be spreading false rumours about me? If I ever sight her she won't like what I'll say to her!" I complain to Nana, later in the evening while sitting on the dinning table in Nana's family house.
"You should just pause with Chibueze's story or whatever you call it"
"This is total disruption to my work! We've been told to research new stories and I'm seriously counting on this one to add up in my story collection!" I voice out angrily.
Nana heaves a sigh and continues with the slicing of her orange in a circular pattern.  She cuts off a tiny bit and sucks it.
"You care?" She asks raising the other juicy part at me, totally ignoring my countenance.
"No! I would get hungry very fast if I have that!"
I take a deep breath, then pick up the fancy plastic apple among others in the wide vase on the dinning table.
"Of all times to enter into Grace's case! And she would hold her opinions about the whole matter so high!"
"If she doesn't want to accept that nothing happened shay it's her own cup of tea. Leave her there!"
"Where you not the one that told me that when she came to fix her nails,  she was talking me down in front of her clique! I'll go to her house,  seriously,  I'll take it out on her!"
"That won't be necessary,  trust me!" Nana advices.
"What would? Sitting and keeping mute? Acting like nothing is happening or what?"
Nana shakes her head and stares at me pitifully.
"I didn't tell you this so you can go and fight her!"
"Then why did you tell me?"
"Fighting her still won't make her change her mind. So you know" Nana carries the orange peels in the plate and heads for the kitchen leaving me to my thoughts while my frown lingers.
Nana and I are roughly in the same age bracket. I'm 21 while she's just 20. We've been friends for as long as I can remember even  before I  became friends with Grace or Grace wriggled her way into my life, but I think she doesn't get me on this one. I'm really mad at Grace.


Thanks for reading. The next episodes continue in the next blog post. Please comment and let me know what you think.