CHAPTER 8
I watched in awe as my principal - Mr. Silas shook my Mother's hand with a huge grin plastered on his face in response to the attention he was attracting from students that hung around his office door.
"How do we repay this..this act of heroism,"
"Oh no, please. I don't intend to get any special attention by coming here or doing any of this. I hoped to be of help and that I did," my Mother replied. She looked so important and so foreign to my normal version of her. This was new to me - new to us. Our gaze is fixed on the new version of our Mother. Of course, she does cool amazing things we've witnessed. However, this one thing is glued to my mind to never leave.
"If you would excuse me, sir, I would like to take my girls home now," she said with a smile.
"Oh yes! Of course! Please," He released her hand. She nods and we walked past the crowd of students hanging around the office.
"An applause for our Ladonna's Mother everyone!" Joe's voice hollered. His voice startled me. He clapped and beamed, others followed suit and clapped. The school has never witnessed anything like this. Something so different, neither have I witnessed Alice so out of control.
"Ah," she laughed. "Please, no need," she tapped Joe's shoulder lightly in appreciation. "Thank you all. Let's all set our minds for everything good as students, alright?"
"Yes Mah!" they all chimed in.
"Let's go," she turned to us and we followed right behind her. What happened today might seem minor and maybe a passing moment for some people. However, for me, this is a moment in my life I would never forget.
"Let's go eat at Mama Gabby's," My Mother suggested. Unlike how I felt, my Mother acted as if her heroic deed was a thing of the past. I had questions I needed to ask. I wanted to ask her how she did what she did with such calmness and gracefulness and didn't falter - or how she knew tactics like this, also, she's a partner of 'Hope' with *the* Doreen Asher. The only woman I was ever impressed by until my Mother that is.
"Ladonna," she glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
"Yes, Maa.." I blinked rapidly. Disrupted from my thoughts.
"I told you she was distracted. As always," Emily said in a murmur.
"Don't ask me any questions." my Mother warned.
"Yes, please don't," Emily chimed in.
"But I have questions."
"It can wait after we eat, can't it Maa?" Emily pleaded with cold eyes.
"It should."
"Do I get to decide what we eat?" I asked with wide eyes.
"We already did while you were deep in thought," Emily replied as she browsed through a cooking book she had just discovered beside her seat.
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
"The chicken melts in my mouth like butter. I have to admit that the seasoning is just spectacular. I'll have to borrow the recipe to cook some for us at home," Emily said between bites as she gave her fair and honest critique of Mama Gabby's cooking. She seemed to be in a good mood for her to be saying more than one word. Only things of interest drive Emily to speak more than the usual snippy comments.
"The fried rice is a bit overcooked, a little more water could have steamed it to perfection," she concluded. Oblivious to how she has impressed Mama Gabby. Mama Gabby's lips split in a proud smile and so did my Mother's. We arrived thirty minutes earlier and sat at our usual spot in the restaurant. Turns out my Mother and Emily ordered the new dish on Mama Gabby's new menu, which was fried rice - it was different from the usual Jellof rice, chicken pepper soup, and others. I sat opposite my Mother, Mama Gabby, and Veronica. While I sat with a sour expression, the three have hearts in their eyes watching Emily do what she does best - Impress whoever she's with even if she's not doing anything at all. I suddenly want to be somewhere else but here. My eyes searched around for Gina. Why do look for her? Are we okay now? We didn't say much to each other before the whole ordeal in school. Still, I wanted her around, so I could feel better about not being the center of attention for once.
"She seems to know what she's doing," Mama Gabby beamed.
"Do you think you can join Gabby in the restaurant sometimes to learn a few things?" My Mother suggested, but Emily scrunched her brows in disapproval.
"No Maa, I don't want to spend my days and time working in a kitchen all day. I'd prefer to work in the office with a desk and a computer," she shrugged. Mama Gabby and my Mother raised their brows simultaneously at Emily's response.
"Why? To look 'cool?' As you say. 'Cause your opinion - I must confess sounds nothing in line with fulfillment."
"At all," my Mother agreed with a shake of her head and her lips turned down.
"No, it's because I can." Emily shrugged. "why become a cook-"
"Chef," mama Gabby chimed in.
"...when I can be anything else.
Considering how brilliant I am."
I simply watched the scene as I sipped my Coke. Veronica stood up from where she sat on the seat behind them and started stacking the plates, Emily immediately stood up to help just so she could avoid the conversation. There I sat, thinking what could lighten this day more than the thought of getting a good nap on my bed when suddenly I spotted a group of boys in red basketball shorts and red tank tops trooping into the restaurant. My eyes bulged out of their sockets at the sight before me. What in the world is Andrew doing here - well, not only him but the whole basketball team - Joe and his best friend Nelson among them?
"What to do? What to do?" I muttered as I nervously bit my nails. Two boys I have a strange connection - not that they know that though - but my knowledge of it is enough to make me uncomfortable. Andrew was a sight to behold, but I couldn't possibly admire his perfectly perfect sculpted coffee-colored skin and charming gap teeth when he smiled, at Joe in the room. The situation is complicated now that Joe has confessed his long-term feelings for me, which has got me in a bind.
"Ladonna! Is there a reason why you're furiously biting your nails?" My Mother scowled. I abruptly dropped my hands in the realization of what I was doing.
"None," I replied solemnly. She reluctantly went back to their unending conversation with Mama Gabby. I sighed. This was unlike before when I could easily greet the guys and not worry about someone being hurt. Now? Now, I was very careful about a particularly special friend, who - by my recent knowledge of his feelings for me - could be hypersensitive about his feelings. Joe suddenly stood up from his seat and matched toward our table, I abruptly stood up - almost losing my balance - and made a beeline for the kitchen door just behind our seats. Emily happens to be coming out of the kitchen. I grabbed her shoulders and dragged her to the last seat by the corner because any move I make Joe could spot me. She struggled to free herself from my persistent grip.
"What is wrong with you!"
"Hide me, hide me please!" I whispered.
"What is it now?" She glanced sideways at me. I grabbed her as she tried to stand up.
"Just sit still -"
"What -"
"See," I pointed toward where Joe stood chatting away with our Maa and Mama Gabby. Both women laughed about something he said, while he smiled with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"So? All I see is Joe goofing off as usual. I like Joe," she shrugged. I groaned. of course she would. He tells her all the nice things she wants to hear every time they meet.
"It's just.. forgets it, Just stay here and cover me till he's gone."
"How much?" She sat back down.
"What?" I frowned. I peeked at Joe - he was currently helping Veronica carry a tray filled with bottled water and some snacks.
"How much will you pay me to be your shield," she said with a straight face. I gasped.
"You monster -"
" I'm leaving," she deadpanned.
"Wait, wait, wait," I pleaded desperately grabbing her arm. She shrugged it off. Anyone watching would think I was begging for my life. Which I must admit is something close.
"I'll give you that skirt you begged me for -" she shook her head at my words.
"It's already out of style."
"Fine. I'll share my cookies with you -"
"Equal share and for a week."
"Fine." We were as we observed the boys munching on donuts and laughing loud enough to be heard outside the restaurant.
"Veronica give the boys more donuts!" Mama Gabby hollered and the boys hailed. "They need it for more if the hard work they do in school." They all chimed a 'thank you, Mah'. I groaned. What could be worse than this?
"Ladonna?! Emily!" My Mother called.
"That," Emily retorts. "Yes, Ma!" My eyes widen at her response. She shrugged as if she had no choice but to answer. I sighed. I made an inaudible sound of agony at the thought of passing by a group of boys sitting so close to the door.
"The deal is off Millie," I called after her. I followed her to our table. Our Mother was already standing, ready to go. As we approached her, our Mother frowned.
"Where are you two coming from? When did you even leave?" We looked at each other and didn't say a word. She sighed.
"Don't say anything, let's just go." We grabbed our bag packs and cardigan from our seats. I looked around in search of Mama Gabby and Gina. Where in the world was Gina?
"Where's Mama Gabby?"
"She went back to the kitchen. Too many orders," my Mother stated. "Let's go. I have somewhere I want to take you," she said with a small smile. I blinked rapidly in thought. Where could that be? If I'm correct is only the restaurant and the Bridge I know all of her favorite places, because we go together.
"Aren't you going to bid your best friend farewell?" Emily asked our Mother as we made our way out. While I tried to discreetly escape without the boys noticing.
"We already said our farewells, Millie." I tuned their conversations out and took a peek at the boys, just then my eyes caught Joe's. He's brows rose in surprise. He stood and started making his way toward me.
"Donna!" I pushed Millie repeatedly to get her to hurry out the door. Emily shrugged off my hand. It looked like our Mother was talking to someone.
"Stop right there!" Joe ordered. I stopped and turned to look at him. He looked exhausted - he usually does after practice. I always thought I say more words when I'm nervous, but then I asked myself when I started feeling nervous about Joe. He was just the 'Joe ' I know, no need to overthink and panic about it. I wondered how he will react when he takes a peek inside my head and see the thoughts running around. His accusing eyes pierce right into my soul. His hands were tucked inside his pockets. His expression was neutral. I had no way of knowing what he was thinking. He can be very hard to read when he wanted to. It frustrates me.
"I had no idea you were here," he said. His brows furrowed in confusion. "I thought only your Mother came because I was with her a while ago and -"
"I was with Gina!"
"But Gina is not here, I met her on my way here." I looked away from him, shuffling my feet nervously. He sighed and bowed his head, then looked up again "Donna, is there any chance that you're avoiding me? Because I said I liked -"
"Don't say it!" He blinked rapidly, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst. " wh..why will I avoid you?"
"You have every reason to."
"I don't think I know what you're talking about," I shrugged.
"I think you do. You're now so uncom -"
"I'm not," he scoffed. I folded my hands on my chest. A stance of protection, just in case he decides to come any closer and I'll end up feeling the heat radiating from him.
"Fine," he nervously scratched his head. " let's -"
"Excuse me," a voice I knew so well in my sleep - because I'd been imagining him calling my name over and over again. Andrew. He came into view. He stood right in front of me beside Joe. I was captivated by everything - that Is Andrew. Joe turned to Andrew - who was already staring at me with a small smile etched on his face.
"Hi Donna," he greeted me with a smile, revealing his gap teeth.
"Hello Andrew," my voice wavered - but in my mind, I thought I did great.
"Hey man! I'm still talking to you, Donna."
"Let's do that tomorrow," I dismissed him with a wave of my hand. My eyes were still fixed on Andrew. He scoffed.
"Sorry Joe, give me a minute with Donna," but Joe was determined to stay. I peeked at my Mother and Emily - who was currently talking to someone I couldn't see who was outside.
"I think you should come to our little get-together at my house tomorrow," he said with a nervous chuckle.
"You think I should come? or you're inviting me?"
"I think it's a date?" Joe's eyebrow rose in surprise. While I felt like this has been way overdue.
"I think you think too much," I tapped my chin in thought. " But I'll see if I can make time," I shrugged.
"Good," he let out a breath of relief.
"Okay. Bye!" I gave a little wave and made a three-sixty turn outside. My heart was beating And there stood Doreen Asher with my Mother, Emily, and Gina standing under the tree at the center of the restaurant. Gina waved at me to come over. I calculatingly walked over to them. That was Doreen Asher standing there. Alive. She's more real now than when she spoke in our school.
"Good afternoon Ma," I tried to appear calmer than how I felt inside.
"Your face looks familiar, you must be Ladonna. My God you've grown so much! Auntie Joyce!.." she said. with a surprised chuckle.
"Yes, she has," my Mother chimed in with a proud smile. I laughed nervously, unaware of what they were talking about.
"Gina here rambled about her friend on our way here, and every time she would call me."
"All good things I hope? Wait. Gina?" my brows furrowed in confusion. She nodded.
"She's my Aunt," Gina said with a grimace. My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Another secret!? She has got to be kidding me.
"It is okay. Gina's completely not to blame, I dislike attention. I hope she's forgiven?"
"Depends."
"These should make up for it then. Gina told me how brilliant you were and that you are the head girl.."
"Assistant," I chipped in. My mother glared at me.
"Still, I think it's hard work," she said with sudden interest.
"I don't do much," I shrugged. "Alice - the head girl, pretty much does everything. I'm just there when she needs an amazing speech to impress our school and do some odd jobs. Alice is the star."
"You don't say," she hummed. An amused smile played on her lips. My face burned with embarrassment. I think I spewed too much to a total stranger.
"Okay, now let's get to it," my Mother called our attention. "Let's go before it gets dark."
"Where?" Emily asked we piled into the car.
"To 'Hope foundation' my mother replied. My eyes widen. I stood up and leaned on her seat.
"Really?"
"Yes. It's time you see what I do in my free time." She started the car. Gina rode with her Aunt. A discovery that is still foreign to me.
"Maa, why do you think Gina didn't tell me about Mrs. Asher?" I asked, my gaze still fixed outside.
"Because she doesn't trust you anymore."
"Emily!" our Mother scolds. while I glared.
"It might be because Doreen has a very private life, and Gina didn't want to risk that. she knows how private her aunts want her life to be," I sighed.
"or maybe Millie is right. she hid one thing from me and I blew up, I wouldn't trust me either."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, things don't always go the way we want but the situation is not out of our hands completely, cheer up and makeup with her." silence fell upon us as I digested my Mother's words. We drove past houses and we were now, almost, out of civilization. We quietly sat in the car with nothing but the usual 'true colors' sung by Phil Collins playing on the radio. Its soft melody filled the car and the gentle breeze that would seep in now and then calmed me. Doreen's car was following right behind. We soon arrived at a colorful building, the road was still under construction. The red sand was in a heap by the side of the road. Apart from the caios everything was perfect. The buildings within the gates were three. A one-story house. It was fenced with a black gate. Emily gasped at the sight as we got out of the car. Doreen and Gina arrived right in time.
"This place is beautiful. You built all of it?!" Emily asked with wide eyes. Our Mother laughed.
"We have sponsors," we turned to Doreen's voice as they approached us. "They helped us with what we need from time to.."
"But we make most of the big decisions," our Mother concluded. "Come on let us take a closer look," she urged. As we drew closer to the gate. We started hearing noises, obviously children's voices.
"So who exactly lives in here?" I asked Doreen, as our Mother spoke with the security man while we waited for her.
"Children and teenagers. Though we only take in those we can afford, as you know our country isn't exactly stable. But we never run out of people that need all the help they can get," she shrugged. I listened with fascination.
"Why? Why the interest in this - I mean surely you can't help everyone," Emily questioned.
"Right. However, we can try to - okay!" She stuck a thumb out for my mother. "Let's go," she directed us towards the house as the security man unlocked the gate.
"But you're so young."
"You're never too young to make a difference Donna."
We entered the compound and I was surprised at the spaciousness of it. Some kids - about the age of seven, five of them we're playing outside, running around chasing each other.
"We make sure the older children try their possible best to train the younger ones," Our Mother explained. The house contained almost everything; a borehole, and swings at the other end of the fence. I could see a kitchen on the other side of the house. A small structured lady in her twenties, with thick-rimmed glasses, approached us. They spoke briefly with our Mother and she left with a wave.
"She's the caretaker," my Mother explained. The kids spotted us, they ran toward us shouting at the top of their lungs 'auntie! Auntie!' My Mother and Doreen had a huge smiles on their faces. The kids finally crushed them in a hug by holding onto their knees with their little hands - that was how far they could reach. We watched with smiles on our faces at their interactions. It was a beautiful sight how my Mother threw her head back in laughter. Her happiness was pure and true. Both of them. They loved what they do. I, Gina, and Emily walked ahead. We climbed the stairs that led to a hall - it was structured like a hostel. Bunk beds lined up opposite each other. Paintings of purple lavender flowers on the walls greeted us as we walked in. They followed behind us.
"Maa did you give the idea of lavenders?" I asked, an amused smile playing on my lips.
"Oh be quiet," she replied suppressing a smile of her own. My Mother loved the smell of lavender. I've never seen lavenders here in Nigeria, nevertheless, I've perceived the scent of her perfume enough to last me an entire lifetime. Some teenage girls were laying down on their beds giving us puzzled looks. They weren't many of them. They soon recognized the familiar faces and rushed over. They greeted in brief hugs and our Mother shooed them back to their business.
"We have a total of six teenage girls aged fourteen and fifteen. five children, two girls, and three boys. The teenage boys are about the same age as the girls. They have a different hall," Doreen explained.
"I think that's enough tour for today. Let's go home and rest," my Mother said as she started for the door.
"See you girls when I visit again," Doreen said with a smile.
"Thank you, Mah!" They replied with a smile of their own. We waved at the happy girls - well, to me they seemed.
Silenced settled in our midst as we all entered our car and drove home. I stared out the window deep in thought about growing up. The moments I had today were like bits and pieces of fleeting emotions. I felt like taking pictures of the moments in my memory for it to never leave.
♕ ♕ ♕
I sat on my bed writing in my journal about what I had encountered today. And I wondered what it meant to have good things happen to you in a matter of hours. Everything was too special for my brain to comprehend. I had to save it somehow. So I wrote it down and I enjoyed how the adrenaline rushed through me as I narrated in writing what had transpired between me and Andrew. Then my Mother and Doreen. Special people I must admit. My Mother? Well, I wished I had understood sooner why she pushed me to be a better person. The latter I wished I had met sooner to motivate me to push through this stage of my life where I wished everything was fast forward to greater days. I set the book aside and turned on my bed and faced the ceiling. I heaved a sigh. I wished I hadn't fought with Gina so I could tell her everything I'm feeling right now. Emily isn't one to listen to me blabber about my sudden interest in the future or how inspired I was today. Besides, she and Maa were busy cooking in the kitchen. They have always been able to flow with each other on every level. I was just the middleman. Emily would always act mature while I was the opposite. As I came out of the room, the voice of 'Simon Garfunkel's ' April' resounding in the house from the stereo.
"I've decided what I want to study Maa," I declared as I approached them. Their back was turned to me. Emily turned at the sound of my voice with her brows raised.
"Yes. Right. And I'm a chef," she deadpanned. Emily often said that if I was able to decide what my plans were for the future, she would then pursue being a chef. So I think my impulsive decisions now determine Millie's.
"Why the sudden motivation Donna girl," I shrugged.
"I just thought 'hey I think what Maa is doing is amazing' to support people like that and watch them grow is great. Now that I think about it, I've always been afraid of the future.." I swallowed.
"I know this," she mumbled with a nod.
"When I saw those kids being simple and simply being their shelves in a place they've only ever known as home - even when it not, then I knew that the value of life is in the people that don't complicate things in the circle of worrying about the future," I shrugged with wide eyes. The realization of what I said dawned on me.
"Soo.." Emily started with a bored stare.
"You don't want to be afraid of the future anymore?" My Mother asked with a solemn expression.
"I don't want to be."
She caressed my cheek with a smile and said, "so then, just live."