it was drizzling slightly as Nene Ekpo crossed the busy street.
she put her hands to her face and listed all her chores for the day. she had to pick up her youngest brother from his nursery school, take him home, go to the market to grind pepper in preparation for dinner, and do her school assignments.
I'll get round to everything somehow. first things first.
the nanny at mother's joy nursery school had a sour expression on her face when Nene arrived.
'you are late,' she said.
'i'm sorry.' Nene replied.
her brother gave a shout of joy when he saw her and ran towards her. she embraced him tightly. 'sorry I'm late. I bought you some sweets. here.'
clutching his hand tightly, they set off.
her parents had a lot of confidence in her. ' Nene is a good girl,'
everybody said. even her teachers at school and the people at her father's church said so. she came early to school and helped in the children's section in church. she helped her mother clean and tidy the house and care for her younger brother. she could proudly bake delicious cake and prepare a fine dish of local stews. she had personally have her life to Christ when she was eight years old and church was very important to her. she knew it had kept her from doing a lot of things her schoolmates did. but lately things were changing. nowadays she found herself staring at the mirror more often. always a plumb, small-eyed girl with short hair bound in thread tied back. plump neck, plump arms, and plump, slightly bowed legs. even her chest was plump, which always embarrassed her. she hates the way some of the boys at school glared at it.
of course it wasn't how one looked that matters. it was how one was inside. she hates having to remind herself of that.
I wish I were pretty. I'm plain Jane.
Efua dropped by later that evening while Nene was in the kitchen.
'hello Nene,' she stopped. I'm sorry about what I said earlier today. can I come in? there's no one at my house. you busy?'
'never mind' Nene said warmly. 'come inside. I'm cooking with my mum in the kitchen. come and join us.'
Efua hesitated a little before following Nene to the kitchen.
'good evening ma'
'nice to mee you ,dear' Mrs Ekpo said over the pot of stew on the cooker, which steamed and bubbled. 'hope things are going well. now just help me watch the meat boiling there. that's a good girl.'
Efua picked up the pot cover gingerly while Nene brought down the plates.
' your mum's very nice,' Efua told Nene later on after the dinner.
'its so natural being around her.'
'youe mum must be nice too,' Nene ventured.
'oh yes,' Efua said quickly. 'you know she's a businesswoman; busy and all that.'
'you should meet Jimi's mum, she's very nice too. maybe if you are nicer to Jimi, you can,' Nene said. 'you know, he doesn't mean any harm. even though he's friends with caro.'
Nene wondered why she said that last bit.
Efua pursed her lips and said noting, a dark expression on her face.
later that night, as Nene thought it over, she wondered why Efua seemed to dislike Jimi. actually, it seemed she wasn't particularly interested in being friends with anybody. Nene wondered why she had mentioned Caro. it wasn't a nice thing to do. Caro could be mean sometimes. she often referred to Nene as 'sister Nene' and had once called her a 'fashion blunder'. it occurred to Nene that Caro probably dislike the way Jimi has always been nutty about her.
she has been friends with Jimi and Ansa since primary school and she knew everything about them. Ansa, small and thin with his nervous gestures, often confided in her about many things. he seemed so slow, shy and quiet, but boy, could he draw! perhaps that was why they were close: neither of them was physically attractive, but they were both talented. she was well known in the choir at church and school for possessing a lovely soprano voice. Nene was not pretty, but listening to her sing or speak made people think she was.
Jimi was a different matter altogether. rowdy, but not rough, sometimes thoughtless. he was never unkind. so bright and sporty . she knew all about his troubles with his brother wole and the problems with his parents. 'nene is my best girlfriend,' he had always said.
during the last year Jimi had changed. he had suddenly grown tall. with his bright , intelligent eyes and dreamy smile, all the girls were drawn to him. Jimi was fond of the girls too-except her.
Jimi and Efua, there's something fishy going on there, Nene suddenly thought. Efua was by far the prettiest girl in the senior class. she was already causing some commotion. Jimi was always staring at her.
he has never looked at me like that. Nene tried to put away such disturbing thoughts. she was a pastor's daughter and not supposed to think about such things .
her door opened suddenly. it was her youngest brother.
'sister Nene,' he murmured. 'please, can you make me some more custard?'