"So... Where are you from?" Ella asked Kathleen after a while, when the car was becoming too quiet for her liking.
"Really? You don't look or act like it. I have a couple of friends from there, they're always so loud and funny." Ella said with a grin as she turned to spare Kathleen a glance.
"I suppose it's a general opinion that every one from Delta state is supposed to be loud and funny? It's not your fault, it's the comedians I blame, always cracking jokes about Warri, thus making Deltans feel they owe it to the world to be funny." Kathleen said dryly making Ella giggle.
"Come on, don't take it personally."
"You seem cool though. I thought rich people like you are always full of yourself." Kathleen said honestly, "Please do you mind if I wind down the window? I really don't care about the AC much. It feels like trapped air." Kathleen explained.
"Sure. Feel free to wind down if it'll make you feel more comfortable." Ella said before looking at Amanda through the rearview mirror, "Mandy you've been so quiet, are you okay back there?"
"Yes aunty, I'm just busy with my phone." Amanda called out distractedly.
"These oyibo children sef." Ella said with a sigh making Kathleen giggle.
"You really don't sound like an ajebutter (rich spoilt kid) sha." Kathleen observed.
"That's what everyone keeps saying. Maybe it's because I don't hang out much with people from similar background. It annoys my mom to no end." Ella said with an amused laughter.
Kathleen let go of her reservations and relaxed further the more she conversed with Ella, "I need to confess and apologize for something."
"What is that?" Ella asked curiously.
"You know, when I saw you get out of your car, and your dressing, I kind of assumed you were one of those 'Small girls with big God' (Rich girls who have sex with wealthy older men in order to afford a grand lifestyle) And I thought you were the one that spent the night with him." Before Kat could finish speaking Ella was laughing uncontrollably.
"Small girl with big God ke! Not everyone that dresses this way is like that, you know? And not everyone that dresses decently like you is good either. I actually have friends who are virgins yet dress worse than I do..."
"Aunty what is virgin?" Amanda asked from the backseat.
"I thought you were busy with your phone?" Kathleen asked, turning in her seat to look at Amanda who was looking at them with rapt attention.
"I was, but not anymore." Amanda said with a shrug. Their discussion sounded more interesting than whatever she was busy with.
"You are her caretaker abi? You have a lot of work to do on her since my brother seems m not to be paying attention to her character in relation to our Yoruba culture." Ella said, before it suddenly occured to her that Kathleen had just said something important.
"Hold on, did he bring that girl home? How did you know he spent the night with someone?" She asked curiously.
"I overheard him on the phone."
"Oh! I see. You look like an half-caste though. Are either of your parents from a foreign country?" Ella asked curiously.
"No. They're both from Delta state."
"You're really pretty. So apart from this babysitting job what else do you do?" Ella asked curiously. Maybe if she didn't have another job she could employ her to work for her.
"She works for daddy." Amanda chipped in.
"You do? You work at my father's company? Why then are you working as Amanda's caretaker?" Ella asked with new interest now. It was beginning to add up. How else could Pete have found such a pretty and well educated babysitter?
"I need the extra money. I'm the first child and I have four younger siblings I need to cater for." Kathleen explained, "This stays between us both right? Your brother doesn't need to know anything I tell you." She asked.
"I think you should be directing that to Amanda not me. We aren't just two in the car after all." Ella reminded her.
Kathleen turned to look at Amanda, "You can't tell your dad about anything we discuss, friends don't snitch on each other."
"We are really friends?" Amanda asked with an eager smile.
"Yes. So you have to keep my secrets secret, and I will keep yours too if you have any." Kathleen added.
"Okay then. I promise to keep your secret. I cross my heart." Amanda said, raising both hands to her chest in a cross sign.
"We are here." Ella announced as she drove into an estate and parked the car in front of a really pretty flat.
"Why don't you all live together? Like your house isn't all that far from your brother's place and he has so many empty rooms, so why don't you live with him instead of paying the rent?" Kathleen asked as they all got out of the car and headed for Ella's apartment.
"We all need our privacy, besides we aren't paying for the houses. They're all dad's properties." Ella explained as she pressed the doorbell button and waited for her househelp to open the door.
A beautiful light skinned young girl, who looked like she was in a late teenage years hurried outside, "Welcome aunty." She greeted politely as she quickly opened the gate.
"Angela, meet my friend Kathleen. Kat, this is Angela my househelp." Ella said as they took off their foot wears and walked into the house.
If Kathleen had forgotten for a brief moment that Ella was way out of her class, she was just reminded again now. Looking around Ella's little mansion, decorated with the best of furnitures and designs she could tell that Ella was doing well for herself.
"Welcome aunty Kat, what can I offer you?" Angela asked with a polite smile.
Kathleen looked Angela over and couldn't help noticing how well taken care of she looked. She was even wearing a human hair. House girl? Human hair? This was definitely not your regular 'Ekaete' (Housegirl) She mused. "A glass of water will do, thanks." Kathleen said before turning to look at Ella.
"Have you had something to eat? I could get you something to eat while you check out the clothes." Ella offered.
Everytime she assumed she had figured out Ella's nature, Ella seemed to show her something else, "I'm okay ma'am. Thanks ma'am." Kathleen said, making Ella roll her eyes.
"What is with the ma'am all of a sudden? Abeg drop your bag and come with me jare. Do you call your friends ma'am? Abi you're looking for my mouth?" Ella asked looking slightly annoyed with her as she led the way to her bedroom.