“So what do you think of Rihanna?” I asked Romeo.
“Random question huh?” he asked back
“Yea” I laughed “Lots of boys say she’s beyond pretty.”
He stopped dancing and put his fingers to his chin.
“Those boys are right” he said grinning “and she reminds me of you” he said smiling but not flirting.
I looked at him in a real weird way because I thought Rihanna was real pretty.
“You think I got a big head?” I asked laughing because I was joking.
“Yea, how did you guess” he replied
“Hey!!” I said hitting him playfully
“I’m joking you don’t have a big head in fact your head is beautiful” he said with a cheeky grin on his face, that’s what I liked bout Romeo, he was always smiling.
“You really think so” I said battering my eyelashes
“Think what?” asked Kerisha, the crew had come to see what we were talking about, I looked at Romeo and quickly shook my head, as sign as ‘don’t tell them’, he got the message because he quickly said “Oh nothing.”
After we finished painting we had to sweep the floor, by then we were all tired but we had to do it. We then used sprit to scrub the paint of the floor. After that we mopped the floor then we rested. I was so tired. All the boys went to the boys’ room to wash their hands and all the girls went to the girls’ room to wash their hands. We were all scrubbing out our hands when Kerisha finally came out with it. I knew it was bugging her for a while;
“Khia, do you like Romeo?”
All the girls looked at me.
“No. why do you ask” I asked
“Well for a start you’re always with him, you guys are inseparable” she declared
“Yea we are pretty close. Does that bother you?” I asked
“Well kind of, because I’ve been trying to get with him for a while now” she replied
“Well I’m sorry if I’m getting in the way but I and Romeo are just friends nothing more” I stated
“Then that’s all right then” she gave me a fake smile
“Cool” I turned back around and continued washing my hands, I didn’t want any trouble. I never thought me and Kerisha were ever cool but I kept on doubting it, I guess I knew then for sure.
Romeo’s point of view
In the boy’s room:
“…so your really not feeling Khia, because if you aren’t I want her, she’s nice man” said Dre.
“Nah man it’s not even like that with her” I said reassuring him
“Mmmmmm” said Ty
“I swear man, ey Dre you can have her I think you will make a great couple.
End of Romeo’s point of view
The rest of the day we didn’t do any work, it was all good. We were in our last lesson and it was nearly home time, I couldn’t wait because Romeo and I were gonna go and shoot some hoops.
Our last lesson was Drama; we were doing Romeo & Juliet. Romeo was Romeo and Chenelle was Juliet. Mrs. Fecter didn’t just choose Romeo to be Romeo just because his name was Romeo, she choose him because he had real talent in acting. Mrs. Fecter gave me the role of Juliet’s maid. We were going to act it out at the next talent show and that was at Christmas.
Finally the bell went and everybody fled from their classrooms.
“So we still on for tonight then?” asked Romeo
“For sure, for sure” I said smiling “I’d love to kick your ass at a game of one on one” I added
“Khia Khia Khia, do you really think you can beat me, you’ve seen me play right?” he asked
“Well you’ve seen me play too and I can kick your dusty ass”
“No you can’t, i’m too good, girl i’ma show you who the man”
“Well we’ll see won’t we, you got your gear?” I asked
“Yea” he said patting his Nike sports bag.
“Cool, we are going to my house first because I need to change into my new b-ball gear, its fine and it looks fine on me. Even if it wasn’t it would still look good on me, I mean you know how I rock shit” I said cheesing.
“I hope so because I am not walking on road with some tramp” he said laughing
“Oh you got jokes” I said smiling
We walked out of the school to unlock our electric scooters; mine was blue and Romeo’s one was red.
5
One on One
We arrived at my house around 15 past 3. I was really happy that none of the crew saw us; they were all gone by the time I and Romeo got out of the school building, I guess the words ‘summer vacation’ got them all excited inside.
I knew I had nothing to hide because nothing was going on between me and Romeo. He was my best friend, but they didn’t believe me.
When we got into my house, my mum was laying on the couch with a blanket over her, eating a big tube of ice cream watching Opera.
“Hey mum, how come your not at work, you didn’t get fired did you?” I asked
“Nah baby, nothing like that, I wasn’t feeling to good so my boss gave me the rest of the day off” answered mum
“Oh ok because you know if you got fired we’d have to move because it’s hard to get jobs. You look depressed laying there eating ice cream and watching Opera, mama that’s sad.”
She didn’t pay any attention to me but I knew she heard me. I decided to get on her nerves a little.
‘Mama I don’t think laying down and eating ice cream is a good combination, your going to get fat”
She gave me the rudest look ever, I started laughing.
“Girl why you telling me?” she said, giving me a look that said she was the grown up and not me.
“Well what’s wrong with you anyways?” I asked feeling her forehead, checking for her temperature.
“I have a tummy bug” she answered, eyes glued to the cable
“And you’re eating ice cream!” I said astonished
“Say another word Khia and I’ll kick you out of this house” my mother said
I had finally cracked her, I smiled to myself.
“Ok ok sheesh, mum Romeo’s here, we are going to play ball at the courts”
“Hey Ms. Williams”
“Hey darling how are you?” my mother asked Romeo
“I’m good” he replied
“And how is your dad?”
“He’s cool” he said
“All right say hi to him for me when you get home ok?”
“All right”
Romeo’s dad had a barbeque two weeks back and mum and I were invited, the whole neighbourhood was invited. The barbeque was great.
“Mum, we are going to get something to eat now”
“All right its 17 past 3 now so make sure you’re back by 9:30”
“10:30”
“10:10”
“Done! Bye mum”
“Bye baby”
Romeo and I walked out of the living room.
“She still treats me like a baby” I said to him
“I HEARD THAT!” My mum shouted back.
I and Romeo started laughing. We went into the kitchen; Romeo went to sit at the counter. I opened the fridge.
“You want anything to eat?” I asked
“Nah I’m cool I had a big meal at lunch”
“All right” I took out some salad and salad cream for myself, then closed then fridge.
“Is that all you girls ever eat, leaves?” he asked looking at me “oh I need to watch my figure” he said in a girl’s voice
“Yea well we do like to watch our figures; you boys just stuff yourselves silly”
“It’s my mama’s chicken for me man Mmmmmm” he said smiling
“What ever”
“You know what, I wwwwaannnnnt… some juice” he said giving me the grin.
I rolled my eyes, went to the draw pulled it open and took out a fork.
“WOMAN! Didn’t you hear me, I said I want some juice” He said trying to act all serious
I kissed my teeth then closed the draw and went to sit at the counter.
“Woman, I said get me some juice” he carried on
I finally cracked “Boy don’t let me fork out your eye, I swear I’ll do damage, you’ll be walking around looking like Houston, now get it yourself”
“All right iight calm down, girl you’re too aggressive”
He got up from his seat and went to the fridge and opened it.
“I bet if you asked Kerisha to get your juice for you, she would be more than happy to” I said, eyes on my salad
“Why you say that?” he asked, taking the orange juice out of the fridge
I looked at him “Don’t act like you don’t know”
“Know what?” he asked, getting a glass from the cupboard
“Isn’t it obvious?” I said
“She likes me?” he asked, pouring the juice into the glass
“Romeo what did I just say” I said getting annoyed
“You didn’t say she liked me”
“But I….. You know what never mind I can’t be bothered to argue with you Ro”
‘Yea, I know I’m so irresistible, I’m just too fine’
“Boy don’t flatter yourself....” he smiled “…..You know what and your fine self best hurry up and finish your juice because we are taking too long”
“Girl you best be careful with that fork”
I smiled.
Romeo drank his juice in one go and I put my salad carton in the bin and my fork in the sink.
“I’m going to change; I’ll take you to the guest room so you can change.”
Romeo put his glass in the sink.
“Iight” he said smiling
He took his bag and followed me up the stairs, I turned right.
“Here it is” I said opening the door for him, he went in.
“Aren’t you going to join me, I thought we were going to get busy” he said giving me that cheeky grin
“Shut up” and with that I closed the door behind me.
I went into my room. I opened my wardrobe and clothes came piling out ‘DANM’ I thought, I really need to do some summer cleaning; I know I said that the last time but it was worse this time. I got out my new basketball gear, it was so sexy. The jersey was red and white and it was fitted. It had to strings on each side to pull and the shorts was the same colour and it had strings too. I then got my red converses out. I had to change quickly; I figured Romeo had finished changing. I was sitting on my chair in front of my dressing table doing my hair, when I heard a knock on my door.
“WHO IS IT?!” I shouted
Romeo popped his head around the door.
“You ready yet?” he asked
“As you can see I am not ready yet” I replied
“We going to the basketball court Khia, not a fucking fashion show”
“Iight man, calm down, give me two minutes ok?”
“All right” he said coming in, he sat on my bed and started bouncing on it “nice bed”
“Who said you could come in?” I asked
“Me, hurry up and do your hair man” he said changing the subject.
“Ok ok”
He saw my basketball and bent down to get it out.
“I’m ready now” I said standing up
Romeo was wearing his Lakers jersey with the letters ‘R-o-m-e-o’ on the back of it, his Lakers shorts and his matching cap, he wore yellow converses. His arms were so muscular, made me melt just looking at it.
“Bout time” Romeo said turning his body around to face me
I don’t think Romeo believed me when I said my b-ball gear looked fine on me.
“DAMN girl you wasn’t lying when you said it looked fine on you” he said staring at me then he licked his lips
“I told you so” I said cheesing, I put on my red converses
“Yea you told me so, and you also told me that you were going to kick my ass at b-ball and that shit is defiantly not going to happen”
“What ever, lets go” I grabbed my keys, my mp3 player and my phone from my dressing table. I didn’t want to take my sunglasses because I would look over dressed.
We went down stairs, I opened the door.
“Bye mum” I said
“Bye Ms. Williams.” Romeo said
“Bye guys” she reminded me “remember Khia home by 10:10 and don’t give me any silly excuses because you got a phone and a watch.”
“Yea yea.” I said shaking my head
I and Romeo got out of the house and I closed the door behind me. We then got on our electric scooters.
“Give me the ball.” I said putting the keys in my scooter
“Nah its iight, I’ll hold it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked
He reassured me ‘yea.’
“Iight, lets bounce.” I said
We went to the nearest b-ball court, which took about ten minutes. I put my mp3 on loud speaker so that Romeo could listen; we were rapping and singing along to ‘Touch it (remix)’ by Busta Rhymes. When we got to the courts some boys were leaving.
“That’s good we got the court to ourselves because I wasn’t looking to share.” I said to him
“Yea I know, you still think you can kick my ass?” he asked with a cheeky grin on his face.
“For sure, for sure.” I said grinning back
We chained our scooters, and then we went onto the court.
“Let’s do this.” said Romeo
“Ok, give me the ball.”
“Why?” he asked
“Remember ladies first.” I said
“Girl you ain’t no lady, you’re an aggressive bitch.”
“Is that so? GIVE ME THE FUCKING BALL YOU PRICK!” I demanded
He quickly passed the ball to me.
“All right man, stop scaring me” he said acting like he was scared
I started smiling. “The first to ten, and we are only playing with one hoop.”
I passed the ball to him then he passed it back, I started dribbling the ball, he was getting close, he barged into me. I stopped.
“Oh my bad” he said smiling
I ran turned, jumped and shot, it went in.
“Two zit, where’s the D?” I asked
“Oh don’t worry its coming.” he replied
I passed the ball to him then he passed it back, I pretended that I was going to throw the ball, he turned then I threw the ball towards the hoop.
“Four zit, you said that the D was coming, where is it?” I said smiling
“Ha ha, you got jokes, 1minute.” he said
“Ok.”
He took off his jersey.
“Oh so you think you can distract me huh?” I asked
I was staring him out. His six packs were so toned.
“Nah, i’m hot” he replied
“Sure you are” i said disbelievingly
I passed the ball to him then he passed it back, we were looking in each others eyes by now, smiling.
“Mmmmmm.” I said, one hand on my chin and the other bouncing the ball.
“Mmmmmm what?” he asked
He tried taking the ball off of me but I swapped hands.
“Why are you trying it?” I asked, screwing my face
“What? We playing b-ball not how many times can you bounce the ball” he said with a pinch of annoyance in his voice.
“Awwww don’t hate the player hate the game” I said teasing.
Just then he smacked the ball out of my hand, he pulled a face and then he shot.
“Awwww, what, you was saying?”
I went silent.
‘Oh what cat got your tongue?’ he asked teasing.
He passed me the ball then I passed it back. He shot.
“4-4.’ he said
He passed the ball to me then I passed it back, he dribbled the ball and then he shot, he missed; I took the rebound and put it up. I put 6 fingers up then I put up 4. I smiled.
“It’s just luck.” he said angrily
“And you’re just a bad loser, give me the ball.” I said teasing him.
“We’ll see who the loser is at the end.” he said passing the ball to me.
“Yea we will see.” I said bouncing the ball.
I started dribbling the ball to the hoop he was guarding me, I jumped up and shot, it went it.
“8-4.”
He passed the ball to me. I started dribbling the ball the hoop.
“Oh no you don’t.” he said running to me
I jumped up and shot; he jumped up and caught the ball then he put it in.
“Safe.” he said smiling “6-8”
I passed the ball to him; he started bouncing the ball then he shot it. The ball went in the hoop.
“8-8” Romeo said.
He bent down, knees on the ball.
“Are you trying to flatten my ball?” I asked.
“Nah I’m just tired.” he replied.
“If you say so” I said raising my eyebrows
“I do.” he said slightly rude.
I was too tired to argue, he was just mad because he was losing.
“Give me the ball fool” I said “so I can check you”
“Who you calling a fool?” he asked.
“You’re the only person in this court, so just give me the ball so we can finish this.” I said annoyed
“You’re not even worth my punches.” he shot back.
“Oh please, you would never lay a hand on me” I said challenging him, he passed me the ball then I passed it back, he shot but he missed, I ran to get the ball I put it up.
“10-8 I WON!” I started jumping up and down.
“Yea, because I let you win”
I wasn’t having any of it. ‘Whatever loser, jus get over it.’
“You ain’t so why should I?” he asked
“I will.”
“Liar”
“One day Romeo, one day, all is possible” I said smiling “I’m thirsty, lets go to the shop” he suggested
“Good idea”
Romeo picked up the ball. We walked out of the court then I and Romeo unchained our scooters.
We arrived at the shops at 10 past 6 because I remember checking my phone and telling Romeo that I had four hours to go.
“Its early man, how about we go and check what’s happening at the park because I know lots of people are going to be there” he said getting off his scooter
“Nah, I don’t feel like ……..” I hesitated “running into Kerisha and them lot”
“Why not” he asked
“Lately I’ve just been feeling like I aint part of the group, you know?”
“Nah I don’t know, how bout we go to my place and you tell me about it and I’ll treat you to some hot coco. Ok?” he said comforting me.
“All right but it’s too early for hot coco.” I stated
“It’s never too early for hot coco.” he disagreed
“If you say so” I said
“I do.” he said
Romeo went inside the shop, I saw him pick up two giant crisp, two pick-a-mix, two cherry cokes and a big packet of marshmallows.
He shouted “Want anything?”
“Yes please, a bottle of water” I answered
“I think I’ll have the same” he said
He saw me going for my pocket.
“Nah that’s alright I got it.” he said
“Well well, looks like you’re dinning me.” I said smiling
He smiled back. Romeo paid the shop keeper.
“Are you ready?” he asked
“Yea yea, let’s bounce!”
“Lets” he said
It took us ten minutes to get to his house.
“All right we have got lots of time.” Romeo said.
He unlocked his garage and we both walked our scooters into the garage to lock them. We got out of the garage then he locked it. He then unlocked his front door, we went in, and he dropped his sports bag on the floor.
“DAD, IM HOME!” he exclaimed
No-one answered. Romeo lives with his dad; his mum and dad are separated and are getting a divorce soon. Romeo’s dad has a girlfriend but she hasn’t moved in YET! At least that’s what Romeo says, because he knows shes going to move in soon.
I followed Romeo into the kitchen. He found a note on the fridge, he read it out loud. Romeo, I have gone out with Natalie. There is some Macaroni in the fridge heat it up if your hungry, I will be home late so don’t wait up. From Dad.
“Who wants macaroni when you can have crisps and coke” he said beaming
“Why did you buy all of that junk, I saw you buying them but I couldn’t be bothered to lecture you about it”
“Now you are?” he asked
“Macaroni is healthy and that’s what you should be eating, not junk like that.” I said.
“Oh live a little, I mean it’s not like I’m gonna die of diabetes.” he stated.
“You don’t know that, I bet you’ve been eating all this junk nearly all your life.’
“Now that’s not true, I started when I came to live with my dad” he said smiling.
Those words made me laugh, because mothers will never let their sons eat junk food whereas fathers spoil their sons rotten.
He finally said “Come on you lets go to my room and talk”
I followed him to his room. I sat on his bed, I started bouncing on it.
“Comfy” I said
“Who said you could sit on my bed?” he asked
“I did” I answered back
“I’m going to have a shower, I won’t be long”
“All right” I said
While he was gone I had a peak through his draws, I saw that he was reading ‘Noughts & Crosses’, I didn’t think he was the kind to read. I had read that book months back and I had also read the sequence to it ‘Knife Edge’, it was really good. I heard that it was trilogy. I was in search for the third book.
He came in with just a towel on his waist and bedroom slippers on his feet, he looked real sexy. He pulled one of his draws open and took out a neatly folded grey track suit and then went back to his bathroom.
He came out fully dressed and jumped on his bed.
“Where’s my hot coco?” I asked
“I thought it was too early for hot coco” he said mocking me
“Nah it’s never too late for hot coco” I said smiling
“What ever” he said jumping of his bed, he opened the door and went out.
I could hear him running down the stairs. Five minutes pasted and he still wasn’t up so I got off the bed and opened the door, he was half way up the stairs. “What’s taking you so long?” I asked
“I don’t want to spill any hot coco on my dad’s carpet because it probably cost a lot”
“How much do you think it cost” I said with my arms folded
“A lot because my dad doesn’t buy any cheep stuff”
I kissed my teeth.
“Can’t you help? Look at you standing there like I’m your personal slave”
“Calm down man I’m coming”
“Hurry up then”
“Boy don’t tell me to hurry”
“All right then you aint getting any hot coco I can drink two mugs”
I looked at him, he was serious I ran down the stairs.
“That’s what I thought and if you spill some you’re defiantly cleaning it up because I certainly won’t be doing it”
“Ok mum keep your hair on” I said taking the Mick out of him
“Whatever man”
We finally got to the top of the stairs and into Romeo’s room. We put our mugs of hot coco on his bed side table. We both then jumped on his bed.
“Ok so what’s up?” he asked
“I don’t know, lately I’ve just been feeling left out you know, like I aint a part of the group”
“Oh” he said
“I know Kerisha didn’t like me but for some reason that didn’t bother me until now”
“Well why do you think that she don’t like you?” he asked
“Because she thinks I and you have something going on, and I’ve told her that you and I are just close friends but she doesn’t believe me or maybe she just doesn’t want to believe me”
“I’m glad that you take me as a close friend” he said trying to comfort me “She’s just hating don’t take any notice of her”
“Yea that’s what I have been trying to do but she always has the erg to bring up the subject ‘me and you’ and sometimes I really feel like telling her straight up that you and I aren’t an item so she should back off, but I don’t want no trouble because if I start something the crew are going to get involved, you understand? I guess world just isn’t fair”
I was completely upset by now.
“Khia why are you letting Kerisha get to you, your just letting her win, as I said she’s just a hater, and I mean she just hating because your beautiful and she thinks you’ve got me and trust me you would have me if we didn’t have such a close friendship’ he put his arm around me comforting me “and don’t worry you might even get away with not seeing her all this summer” he said reassuring me.
“I don’t know about that, but I’m gonna try and forget about this” I said reassured.
“Cool drink up before it gets cold” he said passing me a mug of hot coco, I sipped it slowly, it was still very hot. I was so glad that I had let everything out; telling Romeo about my insecurity.
“Thanks” I said to him
“For what?” he asked
“For being here for me, you know”
“Aaahhh man that’s all right that’s what friends are for” with that he winked at me.
Romeo’s point of view.
I had never seen Khia that upset before and it was all because of that bitch Kerisha, why did she have to act like that? I didn’t even want her, I felt like telling her to back off but I also wanted to respect Khia’s wishes so that’s what I did.
End.
“So you don’t like Kerisha then?” I asked
“Nah, I don’t want a bitch as a wifey you know?”
“Yea”
“When I do find a wifey you will be the first to know” he smiled at me
I smiled back at him “Joker”
“How about you, you got anyone in mind?” Romeo asked
“Nah” I replied, I started drinking my hot chocolate.
“Well then Dre likes you” he said smiling at me
“Well how you know that?” I asked
“Well he is my boy, he told me today”
“He did?” I asked
“Yes man, so what do think of him?” he asked
I guess Romeo being nice to me didn’t last very long
“He’s nice I guess” I answered
“So do you like him?”
Not really “yea”
“All right then here’s his number’ Romeo got his phone and searched for Dre’s numba. “got it”
“Wait, why are you giving me his number, if he likes me he should be the one to call me”
“Your right, next time I see him I will give him your number”
I looked at the time on my phone it was nine o’clock, rah time goes so fast.
“You want to watch a movie?” Romeo asked
“Yea sure, what do you have?”
Romeo got up off the bed to check for his DVDs “I have waist deep, ATL, the seat filler, The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift …”
“The Fast and the Furious”
“Good choice, it’s a good movie”
I and Romeo sat on his bed watching the film and laughed at the funny bits.
Romeo had dropped me home. I put my key into the key hole and turned the key until the door opened; I pulled my key from the key hole and walked in quietly, trying not to make a single sound, I turned around to shut the door as I did that the door made a loud creak.
“Khia is that you?”
By the looks of it my mother hadn’t gone up to bed; she was probably waiting for my arrival, which I had made on time; 10:10 exact. All the lights had been turned off.
“Yea mama it’s me” I answered
“Are you hungry baby?”
I locked the door.
“Nah I’m good, I’m going to take a shower than I’m going to bed” I headed for the stairs “are you sleeping here tonight?” I asked
“Yea I think so seeing as I can’t move, I’m getting old. Good night baby I love you”
“Good night mama, I love you too” I smiled knowing that she couldn’t see me.
I continued up the stairs.
6
No Fair
I woke up to Saturday morning; I smiled remembering my two favourite words ‘summer vacation’. I got out of bed and walked to the window, I shifted the curtain to the side; the sun nearly blinded me. There were kids outside: some riding bicycles, some just playing about and some were even having water fights. What a lovely day out I thought, my phone’s ring tone had broken my thoughts. I picked it up and checked the caller ID but it was withheld.
“Hey who’s this?” I asked
I heard a deep familiar voice reply “It’s me Romeo my minutes are finished so I’m using my dad’s”
“O ok what’s up?”
“Well I got a free house and everyone is coming over you know just to chill watch movies, listen to music”
“O so everyone’s going to be there?” I asked
“If you’re wondering if Kerisha’s going to be there, she isn’t” he answered
“How come?” I asked
“Because she’s got this tummy bug, Chenelle told me that it’s quite serious”
“O good I will there ASAP’ Romeo laughed ‘No I mean it’s good that she’s not coming not because she’s got the bug”
“All right then peace”
“1”
We both hung up, I checked the time; it was 1:38, wow I slept for long.
When I had finished in the bathroom I looked for an outfit to wear; I choose my denim booty shorts with my light blue and white top, with my white trainers with the light blue tick. I had put my hair in a pony tail and my rebook white and blue hat, I had it on to the side. I was all matching, colour coordinated. I checked myself in he mirror there was a few things missing, I then added some jewellery; a sliver necklace with a cross, and a sliver bracelet to my wrist. I picked up my sunglasses from my dressing table and put it on. I then checked myself in the mirror again, I smiled to myself.
I collected my keys and my phone from my dressing table then I ran downstairs. My mum was dressed in home clothes and in her hand held two dusters.
She spoke “And where do you think you are going Miss Thang?”
“To Romeo’s everyone is going to be-”
She interrupted “Romeo, you’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately”
“Mum everyone’s going to be there”
‘Ok but your not’
“WHAT!”
“It’s time for some summer cleaning” she held one of the dusters to me
“But mama I can’t miss it”
“Listen Khia you’ve got the whole of the summer holidays to be with your friends”
“But-”
She interrupted me again “No buts Khia, get upstairs and change”
“Why can’t we do it tomorrow?” I protested
“No because tomorrow we are busy”
I raised my eyebrow “WE?”
“Yes WE, we’re going to your aunt Janet’s for a visit”
“So when were you going to tell me this mum, tomorrow, I can’t believe you mum”
“You haven’t seen Mikiyah in a long time”
Mikiyah is my baby cousin and my mother knows how much I adore her, she was manipulating me.
I tried to reason with her “But mum you’ve always told me to give you some notice if I want to go out why you can’t do the same with stuff like this, mum I’m not a baby”
“I don’t remember you giving me any notice about you going out today”
“That’s because I didn’t know until this morning,” I pleaded; “mum please let me go”
“KHIA SHANICE WILLIAMS THIS IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION, now you get your behind up those stairs and change out of those clothes, do you hear me?”
I heard her all right, she was shouting like the house had just caught on fire, I frowned at her and started to walk up the stair when she said “Nice outfit”
“Whatever” I said angrily
“What was that Khia?” she asked knowing exactly what I said
“Nothing” I replied, with that I stomped up the stairs.
When I got to my room I called Romeo.
“Hello”
“Yea Khia, are you coming now?”
“Sorry Romeo I won’t be able to make it, my mum asked me to do summer cleaning can you believe it?”
“Damn you’re going to miss out on a great day you know”
“I know” I winged “don’t remind me”
“But do you think it will take all day to clean?” he asked
“I don’t know maybe she just wants to spent some ‘quality time’ with me know seeing as she’s always working” I replied
“Mmmmmm yea, ok I’ll phone you later. Hold tight”
“Bye”
He hung up. ‘Damn’ I thought, I wish I could go. I walked to my window and looked out to see children still playing out, I signed. I just stood there then I heard my mother shouting from the bottom of the stairs; “KHIA HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO CHANGE OUT OF YOUR CLOTHES!!”
“I’VE NEARLY FINISHED!” I shouted back
I returned downstairs fully dressed in home clothes.
“The duster is on the couch” my mother said
So that day I stayed home cleaning with my mum, she also made me clear out my wardrobe but I guess it wasn’t hat bad. Romeo phoned me as he said and told me what went on. The next day I went with my mum to my aunt Janet’s, it was good seeing her and my cousin Mikiyah, shes grown and she is so adorable. It took like four hours for us to get there and back, by the time I got back I was exhausted. As soon as I got back my phone started ringing, I checked the caller ID, and it was Chenelle.
I answered my phone; “what’s up girl?’
“Nothing much” she replied “What about you?” she asked back
“Everything’s cool, I heard that I missed quite an exciting night.”
“Yea you did but there’s going to be more of those nights coming up very soon, get me”
“For real, so how’s Kerisha doing?”
I wasn’t really concerned but I felt the need to ask.
“Shes pretty ill but the doctor says she coming round, I was with her the whole day today”
“O ok”
“On Tuesday we are all going to the cinema, are you down?” She asked
“Sure, what are we going to watch?” I asked
“That new movie with Christina Milian; ‘Pulse’, have you heard of it”
“Nah but it sounds good though”
“Cool I’ll talk to you later”
“Bye”
She hung up. I went to take a shower even though I was very tired, after that I creamed myself with my coco butter then I took out ma neatly folded pj’s from my drawer, after I finished changing I went to say good night to my mother, she was in her room. I knocked on her door; “Come in” I poked my head around the door.
“Good night mama”
“Come here, give me a hug” I went and did as she said she apologised “I’m sorry for being so hard on you Khia”
“It’s cool mum”
“Ok, I’ll leave you some money for tomorrow”
I got off her bed and walked to the door and once more I said: “Good night”
“Good night baby”
I walked back to my room. I climbed onto my bed and snuggled up then my phone started to ring I reached out to my bed side table to where my phone was, I checked my caller ID; it was Romeo. I answered it.
“Hey”
“Hey, are you sleeping?”
“I was just about to be”
“O ok can you corn row my hair tomorrow, I can’t be bothered to take the train all the way to my mums”
“Yea ok but your going to pay me, I aint doing it for free”
“Ok whatever go and sleep”
“Eh don’t get rude before I change my mind”
“Whatever be at my house by 12 peace out”
“You giving me a time too”
“Yea good night”
“Bye”
How rude, could he be any ruder? Damn.
7
So Confused
I woke up to my alarm, I had forgotten to take it off recurrent, I smacked the alarm hitting the off button. It was only 7:30, I turned around and went back to sleep.
Three hours later I woke up, I got into the shower and when I finished I decided to wear the outfit that I didn’t get to wear two days before, I left my hair out this time. I went downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat; I was hungry for some reason. I looked in the bread bin, in there were; sliced bread, home made bread and croissants, I decided to go with the croissants. I went to open the fridge, I started looking for the orange juice, when my phone started ringing, I check for the caller ID, and it was mum.
“Hi mum”
“Hey, what are you doing?” she asked
“I’m eating” I replied
“You’re eating?” she asked with disbelief
“Yea mum it’s the afternoon”
“Are you going out?”
“Yea, you didn’t expect me to stay home did you?”
“So where are you going?” she asked completely ignoring my question
“Out” I answered
“Out where?” she asked with a bit of annoyance in her voice
“Romeo’s” I answered
“Romeo’s? Don’t you have any girls to play with?”
“I do but Romeo’s better company; he’s just a friend mum”
“Ok just don’t hang about the streets like a street rat, ok?
“Ok mum, anything else?” I asked with no patience at all
“Yea, there’s ten pounds in the draw I expect change and don’t forget to lock the door”
“Ok bye mum” and with that I hung up.
Damn she’s so annoying. I found the orange juice and poured me a glass, I then checked the time; it was 3 minutes to 11 so I decided to log on to the internet, I hadn’t been on msn for a long time. I checked my email first then I logged onto msn. There was no-one online; everyone was probably out, it being a hot day and all. I logged off the internet and watched MTV instead. I was in the middle of watching ‘Love’ by Keyshia Cole when my phone started ringing, it was Romeo.
“Hi”
“Hi are you still coming?” he asked me
“Yea for sure, you want me to come now?” I asked
“Yea it’s 11:30; you can come now if you want”
“Ok I will be there in 10 to 15 minutes”
“Cool, bless”
“1”
I turned off the TV and headed upstairs to my room, I collected my sunglasses, keys and my mp3 player from my dressing table. I ran back downstairs to the kitchen, opened the draw picked up the ten pound note and stuffed it into my pocket. When I got out of my house I locked the door as my mother had told me to (not that I wasn’t going to do it if she hadn’t have told me). I decided to walk that day simply because I was tired of using my scooter all the time.
When I arrived I rang the bell, about 5 seconds later Romeo answered the door. He was dressed in denim skater shorts a long sleeved blue shirt and a white short sleeved shirt over his blue shirt, for footwear he had on white and blue basketball trainers, around his neck he wore his sliver chain with the capital letter ‘R’ hanging from it. A blue hat was sitting on his afro, I have to say he was looking on point that day and I noticed him noticing me, from his facial expression I could tell he was thinking the same thing about me as I was thinking about him. We just smiled at each other discomfort ably.
“Come on in” he moved aside for me to enter, I stepped into his house.
“Is anyone in?” I asked him
“Yea my dad’s in his room he’s going out”
“O ok”
We went into the front room, I sat on the couch, and then Romeo’s dad entered the room.
“Hello Khia, how are you doing?”
“I’m fine thanks how about you Mr Barret”
“I’m good say hello to your mum for me”
“Ok”
“Romeo I’m going now, I’ll be home late”
“Ok dad bye”
Romeo is the spitting image of his dad.
“See you later Khia”
“Bye Mr. Barret”
He winked at me then walked out of the front room, soon after we heard the front door shut. Romeo took his hat off.
“Boy when you washed your hair why didn’t you cream it” I asked him
“Because I couldn’t” he said slightly rude
“Just go and get me some hair cream and a thin comb”
Without another word he left the room, seconds later he came back with cream and a comb in his hands.
“Sit on the floor then” I demanded
“No you stand up I sit”
“No my back’s gonna hurt”
“And my arse is gonna hurt”
“Romeo if you don’t sit on the floor I ain’t doing your hair so think about it”
Romeo rolled his eyes and sat on the floor in between my legs he put his arms on my bare thighs, I was so mad inside I wanted to slap his head but I controlled my temper, instead I started being rough with his hair
“Oww do you mind”
I ignored him and continued on his hair, when I finished creaming his hair I started on the cornrows. Romeo changed the TV channel to sports.
“Come on Romeo I don’t wanna watch sports put it on something we both like MTV base”
“But I’m watching this”
“Ok but I need to listen to some music I’m getting bored”
Romeo sighed then he said “Fine”
“Thanks” I said in a sweet voice
I got to the middle of his hair when the video ‘Lean wid it rock wid it’ came on, that was my song back then so of course I had to dance.
I got excited “O my god Romeo turn it up this is my song turn it up”
Romeo sighed again and did as I told him. I got up from the couch and started dancing; doing the ‘lean wid it rock wid it’, Romeo sat there smiling at me I smiled back at him.
“Boy, get up here”
He gets up and before you know we’re both doing the ‘lean wid it rock it’ and just mucking about, the next song that came on was ‘Push It’ by ‘Salt ‘N’ Pepper’.
I said “You know about these tunes”
Romeo came behind me; dancing, he started singing along to the song it was funny.
“Ooooo baby baby baby, baby baby, push it push it real good”
I burst out laughing
He smiled at me “What? You got me into it”
We continued dancing; pushing it real good. When the song finished we sat down and I continued on his hair.
“You know you got issues right?” I asked
“Why have I got issues?” he asked back
“Because one minute you’re nice to me then the next minute you’re pulling an attitude”
“Well that’s how you girls are like why can’t I be like that”
“Because that’s not the way it should be”
“Oh so your being sexist now”
“Nah I’m telling you how I feel”
“Ok”
Then there was silence so I decided to break it because I knew he wouldn’t; “Are you going cinema tomorrow?”
“Yeah, how about you?” he asked
“Yea its gonna be really fun all of us together”
“You mean us without Kerisha”
I ignored what he said.
“So what time are we going?” I asked
He explained; “Well Chenelle told me that we are all meeting up at her house around 5:30 because the film starts at 5 past 6”
“Shit I forgot to tell my mum damn she’s gonna be pissed”
“Yeah but we going in the evening”
I had a few more cornrows to do when Romeo started rubbing my right thigh. I grabbed a bit of his hair and jerked it to the side so I could see his face.
“Oww Khia that hurts”
I raised my right eyebrow “Boy what are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
“It looks like your rubbing my thigh”
He smiled that cheeky smile “Yeah that’s right”
“Ok but why”
“Because it feels good”
“Ok but I’m your friend your not suppose to rub my thigh Romeo”
He was still doing it.
“Nah it’s a friendly rub”
“It doesn’t feel like that to me its feels more like a sexual rub”
“I’m sorry I just had to, I’m a man I got needs”
I shook my head. “Correction you’re a boy plus I don’t help the needy”
“Ok”
He stopped but he kept on doing it once in a while, I just remember feeling really confused at that point. Did that mean he was attracted to me? I already knew that he thought I was pretty but thinking that some one was pretty and being attracted to them is totally different right?
When I finished the cornrows I got up and said; “I need to go I just remembered that I got some things to do”
He got up too.
“Oh I thought that maybe we could watch some movies, there’s some really good-”
I interrupted him; ‘Maybe we could do that another time’
He gave me a quick smile and said sure. I really needed to escape from him, I needed to think I was so confused, so we said our goodbyes and I left. I went home and stayed there, just thinking... wait I didn’t know what to think I mean my closest friend was rubbing my thigh, what did that mean? I bet it was nothing to him but it was something to me. He got me thinking that he liked me.
My mum came soon after, I went to ask her if I could go cinema, she was in the kitchen making dinner; it was rice and beans and jerk chicken. She had leant all the Caribbean dishes from my grandma; she’s St. Lucian and my grandfather is Nigerian. I walked in she turned around and smiled at me.
‘Looks like my baby’s got an apatite today, dinner is nearly finished’
I smiled at her.
‘Baby set the plates please’
I did as I was told. I was scared to ask her because I didn’t want her to say no but I knew I had to come out with it.
‘Mum’
‘Yeah’ she didn’t turn to look at me
‘Can I go cinema tomorrow?’
‘Well who’s going?’
‘Every one of my friends’
‘I see, and how come I didn’t know about this earlier Khia?’
‘I forgot Ma, I’m sorry’
‘What time are you going?’ she asked
‘Around five’ I answered
‘Ok but I want you home at 10’
‘Thanks mum, you’re the best’
I was so happy she said yes, I hugged her.
‘Ok I will leave you some money tomorrow’
Then we sat down to eat, might I add that the food was exquisite.
Later that night I got a phone call from Romeo, when I checked the caller ID I hesitated before answering it.
“Hey”
“Khia I just wanna say that I’m sorry for you know”
“Yeah it’s cool”
“Friends?”
“Friends”
“I’ll see you tomorrow come round mines so we can go to Chenelle’s house together”
“All right see ya later”
Damn that boy is mix up. Oh well, now I knew that he didn’t like me my mind was clear again.
8
Mother’s aye
That night I got another phone call, this time it was from Kelly, I hadn’t spoken to her since school.
‘Hey girl’
‘Hey, how you been?’ I asked her
‘Ok, hey are you still on for tomorrow?’ she asked
‘Yeah, how can I miss it, its going to be real fun, all of us together’ I answered
‘Well not quite, I mean Kerisha isn’t coming’
I pretended to remember ‘Oh yeah, I know that’s a shame, is it that bad?’ I asked
‘Yeah but she’s coming round, I saw her today’ she replied
‘Oh ok’
‘Anyway the reason I called you was to invite to my 15th birthday party, it’s a pool party’
Kelly is the youngest of the group
‘Oh ok, your mum’s letting you have a party?’ I asked
‘Yeah but the catch is that she’s going to be next door’ she replied
I laughed ‘Mum’s aye’
‘Yeah, it’s going to be pretty big’
‘Cool, I will defiantly be there’
‘Ok, so you’ll get an invitation in the post ok?’
‘Ok’
‘So I’ll see you tomorrow then’
‘Yeah peace out girl’
‘1’
I hanged up. I went to have a bath then I changed into my pjs, then I heard my mum call me from her room. I quickly ran to her room and knocked on her door.
‘Come in baby’
I turned the knob then went in.
‘Come here’ she said patting the bed ‘lets watch a DVD’
I got into her bed, her covers smelled so nice.
‘Ok, what are we watching?’ I asked
‘Honey’ she answered
‘Ma we’ve watched that so many times’
‘Well we are going to watch it again’
I rolled my eyes. She pressed play on the remote. I snuggled up to her and she put her arm around me. I started telling her about Kelly’s pool party.
‘When is it?’ she asked
‘On the 8th of August, she’s going post an invitation’ I replied
‘A pool party’ she said raising her eyebrows
‘Yes ma a pool party’
‘With boys?’ she asked
‘Yes with boys’ I answered
‘Her mum’s letting her have a pool party with boys, what ever happened to sleepovers with just girls’
‘Times have changed ma and anyway her mum trusts her’
‘Are you trying to imply something?’ she asked raising her eyebrow again
I quickly shook my head.
‘Oh yeah ma I need to get a bikini’
‘A what?’ she asked
‘A bikini for the pool party’ I answered
‘Your getting a swim suit not no bikini, there is going to be horny boys walking round in that party’
I couldn’t believe she just said that, my mouth opened in total shock.
‘Ma your not suppose to say that’ I said
She started laughing then I started laughing.
‘Ok how about a tankini?’ I asked
‘I’ll think about it’
It went silent then she started talking.
‘Khia’ I turned to face her ‘I’m so sorry that I’m hard on you sometimes, it’s just that you’re my only daughter and your growing up so fast I’m so scared of loosing you, I know I’m going to have to let you go sometime but I’m not ready’
‘I know mama but I’m not going anywhere’ I smiled at her.
‘Good’ she said.
I know it must have been hard for her to say all of that, and I loved her even more for saying that she needed me.
9
A New Friend
I woke up in my mother’s bed; she wasn’t there though, so I figured that she had gone to work. I must have dozed off and she probably didn’t want to wake me. I looked at the time; it was 13 past 12, I had been asleep for long. I jumped out of the bed and ran downstairs to the kitchen to find a note on the counter, it said; Baby I’m at work, 15 pounds is in the draw, have fun and remember home by 10. I smiled and threw the note in the bin. I ran upstairs to brush my teeth, I was feeling peckish, then I went back downstairs to make my breakfast, I took it up to my room and logged on to msn, I swear everyone was on that day. They were popping up saying hi. I guess everyone was lazing around because we had lots of time to go until cinema. A big conversation was created, it was so jokes, and Shandrea was making me laugh the most. I changed my status from online to busy; I had to find something to wear. This time when I opened my wardrobe clothes didn’t come pilling out instead was neatly folded in its place. I decided to go with my casual knee length shorts, a really nice top and sandals. I ironed my outfit and laid it on my bed to prevent them from getting creased.
After that I soaked myself in a bubble bath, listening to some slow jams on my ipod, it really relaxed me. When I finished bathing I dried myself off and rapped my towel around my body and went back to the computer, most of the crew had gone, and the only people that were on were Chantay, Romeo, Ty, J.J and J.D but I didn’t bother to talk to them. I used the spare time that I had to complete some of my coursework. When four o’clock came I decided to get ready, I took my plates down to wash them, when I had finished I went back up to get dressed and to pursue perfection, I really HAD to take my time. I also added my cross chain, bracelets and rings, and to complete it I added my new perfume Gucci ‘Envy me’. Twenty minutes later I was finished and should I include that I was looking real nice. I went back on msn to tell Romeo that I was going to roll over to his house, I didn’t give him time to reply. I shut the computer off. I then collected my keys, sunglasses and my phone and put them in my bag.
When I arrived at his house I rang the bell, six seconds later Romeo was at the door inviting me in.
‘Wow you look…’
‘Great’ I finished his sentence off for him.
‘Yeah you look great’
I smiled ‘Thanks so do you’
Romeo was rocking a black and blue stripy sweatshirt, baggy jeans and black knickers with blue stitching and on his head he wore a black cap with the New York logo in blue. He smelled so good, he always did but this time it was different. We walked into his living room; I went and sat on the couch.
‘Your dad’s not in?’ I asked
‘Nah he’s never in?’
‘Let me see your hair’
Romeo removed his hat.
‘Who done it, looks really nice’ I said
‘Yeah I know’ he said touching his braids and smiling ‘a very good friend of mine done it for me’
I smiled back at him. It was still a bit awkward between us after what happened the other day. Romeo changed the channel to choice fm, Usher’s ‘Do it to me’ was playing. Romeo started winning and smiling with seduction in his eyes, he came up to me, and at first I thought he was joking. I nervously looked up at him, he held his hand out to me and I took it and before I knew it he was behind me, we were wining, I could feel his breath up against my neck. I was thinking what the fuck is nigga this playing at, here he goes making me confused again but still it kind of felt good I closed my eyes and let it happen. When I opened my eyes Romeo was in front of me, we looked into each other’s eyes, he drew his face closer to mine and before I knew it our lips were touching, I quickly moved my head back, I felt that it was wrong, because we were suppose to be friends.
‘Romeo what are you doing, we are friends’
‘I’m sorry’ he put his head down and left the room.
I was left there feeling confused and stunned and I also felt like shit. It was so unexpected, I signed. I heard the front door open.
He shouted ‘Khia lets go’
I turned off the TV and headed to the door, Romeo held the front door open for me. I avoided eye contact with him. We walked to the bus stop and caught a bus to Chenelle’s house. The journey to Chenelle’s was in complete silence, being with him felt so weird. How dare he put me in that position? I must have called him a bastard 100 times in my mind. The incident that had happened was running through my mind non stop, the feeling of confusion was so deep. The dumb bastard is so mixed up. Ok people’s feelings do change but why so unexpectedly? Why couldn’t he have given me a warning?
When we arrived at Chenelle’s house, it was as if nothing happened. Chenelle opened the door to us and lead us to the front room to where, Ty, Kelly, Chantay, Dre, T, and J.D were talking and laughing.
‘Hey guys’ I said to them all.
Dre winked at me and everyone else said hi, Romeo went over to his boys to greet them.
‘Shandrea always has to be the late one’ we all laughed because it was 99% true ‘1 minute people, I’m going to phone her, I’ll be right back’ said Kelly.
Dre gestured me to come to him, I smiled uneasily, and walked to him.
‘What’s up?’ he asked
‘Nothing much, just been chilling’ I answered ‘how about you?’ I asked
‘Pretty much the same, so how come you haven’t phoned me?’ he said
I screwed my face. ‘I thought you were going to call me’ I said emphasising the word ‘you’
He laughed ‘Well I had the impression that you were going to call me, it looks like butt head over there got it wrong’ he said nodding his head to Romeo.
I turned around to find Romeo staring at me, I turned back to Dre. ‘Yea’
‘What’s up with him?’ Dre asked
‘I have no idea’ I lied
Kelly came into the room and told us that Shandrea would be meeting us at the cinema. So we left Chenelle’s house and caught the bus with the quickest route to Lake View.
When we arrived at the cinema Shandrea was at the entrance.
‘How did you get here so fast’ asked Ty
‘My brother dropped me off, seeing as I was running late’ she replied
‘As usual’ Chenelle and Kelly both said
‘Well I’m here, so let’s go in’ she said already walking in.
‘Sounds like a good idea to me’ J.J said.
We went to pay for our tickets. I was next in line to buy a ticket.
‘Can I have a ticket for Pulse please?’ I asked politely
The lady behind the counter typed something into the computer in front of her. ‘That will be £3.80’ she said.
I reached into my pocket to get my money out when I heard Dre say ‘I’ll get that’
‘No its ok I got it’ I said
‘No I insist’ he said
‘Ok’ I said and smiled
He smiled back, turned to the lady and said ‘In that case can I have two tickets for Pulse’
Again the lady behind the counter typed something into the computer ‘That will be £7.60 please’
Dre handed her a ten pound note and the lady gave Dre two tickets and his change.
I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it so I just let him pay for me, Romeo was behind Dre with his hands in his jean pockets staring hard at me, and I knew exactly what he was thinking, ‘What the fuck are you playing at??’
I stared right back at him as to say ‘None of your fucking business’, he looked away then looked down at the floor. The girls simply smiled at me and with embarrassment I smiled back.
When we all finished paying for our tickets we went to the food court. We all bought pop corn, drinks, sweets and chocolate, the whole works. We just went crazy.
We walked into the screen, the adverts were playing. We took our seats at the very top on the left hand side, we all sat in the same row, and I sat in between Ro and Dre, Ro being on my right and Dre being on my left. I placed my bag of pop corn and my goodies on my lap and put my drink in the cup holder. There was tension clouding up the air, I took a deep breath in and a deep breath out, it relaxed me a little.
‘Are you comfortable?’ Dre asked
‘Yeah I’m good’ I answered
Finally the movie started everyone was making a lot of noise especially Shandrea because she was the one cracking jokes. Romeo leaned forward and said ‘Listen yeah I’m not looking to get kicked out so can you guys be quiet’
Shandrea tried to whisper ‘What’s up his arse?’
J.J shrugged and Kelly said ‘Yeah he has been so quiet today’
Every agreed.
‘Leave him alone he’s probably upset about something, you know he’s only quiet when something’s up’ Chenelle said.
I sighed, how did everything get so complicated, how did everything go from being totally sweet and innocent to something completely different, sour and complex. I tried to focus on the film but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t, my thoughts just kept on taking over my mind. Dre yawned and put his arm around me, I turned ma head to see him smiling at me, and I smiled back and pretended to be focused on the film.
To tell the truth I didn’t have any feelings for Dre, and I did feel kind of guilty for leading him on but I just wanted to get back at Ro. Him having feelings for me changed everything, it changed our friendship and I didn’t like it, at that time I wasn’t sure if I liked him like that, I just wanted to get back at him for making me feel confused.
When the film finished we went to Mc D’s. I and Dre were at the back of the ordering line having a conversation. When my time came to order, I ordered a bacon cheese burger meal. Dre tried to pay for me but I wouldn’t let him.
‘This isn’t a date you know’ I said
‘So how about we have a real date’ he said smiling
I paid for my meal and said ‘I’ll think about it’
We sat in Mc D’s eating and talking about how much we wanted Kerisha to get better, well everyone else did, I just listened.
When we finished at Mc D’s we all went our separate ways well not exactly because I was with Dre. We exchanged numbers and he wanted to walk me home, how could I refuse?
‘Ok we are here now, thanks for walking me’
‘It’s ok’ he smiled ‘I could do anything for you’
I didn’t know what to say so I just smiled.
‘Ok bye’
‘So I don’t get a hug?’ he asked surprised
‘No’ I said being cheeky ‘I’m joking’ I went towards him, we embraced and then he kissed me on my cheek.
‘Bye’ I said
He waved. When I entered the house my mum was up in my face.
‘Who was that?’ she asked with her arms folded
‘Yeah I had a great time thanks’ I said not answering her question
‘I didn’t ask about your time at the cinema, I asked-’
I cut her off ‘A friend mum, I am allowed to have friends right?’ I said getting a bit agitated; she was in her annoying mood.
‘I do not like the attitude Khia’
I relaxed and sighed ‘I’m sorry mum really I am, I’m just a bit stressed out’ I held my thumb and forefinger to the bridge of my nose.
‘Stressed out? How old are you again? I thought you would be happy seeing as you got a kiss from that boy, and I hope that’s all you’ve been getting’
‘I’m going to sleep mum, goodnight’
‘Ok I’m sorry lets talk about it’ she said getting all motherly
‘Another time momma, I’m really tired’
‘Ok goodnight’ she kissed me on my forehead.
10
A New Boyfriend
‘We are going to dinner tomorrow’ my mum said coming down the stairs.
‘There you go again with the “we”’ I said walking to the living room with a bowl of coco pops in my hands.
She hit me playfully ‘At least I’m giving you notice, we got a table booked for 8 O’clock’
‘Well what if I have plans?’ I asked changing the channel to Trouble.
‘Well you don’t, plus I want you to meet someone’
I rose my eyebrow at her ‘Wow this must be really serious if you want me to meet him’
‘Yeah I guess it is’ she said slowly and very meaningfully.
‘Ok I’ll go’
‘You didn’t have a choice anyway’ she said walking to the kitchen.
I shook my head; mothers are so annoying but at the same time the most important person in our lives.
‘What have you got planned for today’ my mum asked from the kitchen.
‘Oh well I thought I would just laze around today’ I answered.
‘I thought you’d be spending the day with your soul mate’ she laughed.
By soul mate she was referring to Romeo, I ignored her.
‘Wait come to think of it’ she said coming into the living room ‘you two haven’t been hanging out these couple of days’
She came to sit next to me on the sofa.
‘Well we ain’t Siamese twins you know’ I said getting irritated.
‘Well’ she said mocking me ‘you could have fooled me’
I frowned at while she sipped her coffee.
‘I think I might go out after all’ I said getting up.
‘Wow it’s that bad’ she said putting her mug on the table.
‘Nothings going on’
She raised her eyebrow at me as to say you could have fooled me. ‘Well whatever it is, it will blow over’
I muttered ‘I hope so’ and sat back down.
It was clear that my mum’s new boyfriend was causing her happy mood which was making me unhappy because I liked it better when she was serious.
‘Mum’
‘Yeah’
‘Tell me about dad’
She turned to look at me and touched my hair.
‘Please’ I pleaded.
‘Well…he was tall, dark and handsome’ she smiled ‘I couldn’t believe he choose me because they were so many girls after him’ I nodded ‘anyway he was smart intelligent caring and sincere’ my mother had tears in her eyes and so did I.
‘Even though he came from a poor background he always did the right thing, he wanted to make it and he did, he got a scholarship to university and that’s where we met, he was nothing like the people he hung around with, he was different and when I realised that I feel in love and from then it was the two of us against the world. We never did get a chance to get married, we was going to but then I got pregnant with you and when you came into the world’ she held my hands ‘it was the best day of our lives’ a tear dropped onto our hands ‘he loved you so much, you never wanted to leave his side, you were daddy’s little girl. We did decide to get married when you were one years old but he started to get sick real sick’ she sniffed ‘No one knew what was wrong with him, they ran more tests and then he was diagnosed with liver cancer, he had lost so much weight and had lost his appetite and he was in so much pain, he was deteriating in front of my eyes. The doctors said it was too late to cure the tumour because it was too big’ we were both crying ‘I still wanted to get married, do you know what he told me he told me that he didn’t want me to be a widow. Khia I want you to know that he loved you so much he did’
‘I wish I could remember him mum’
She held my face ‘It’s not your fault’
‘I know’ I said ‘You loved him a lot didn’t you’
‘Yeah I did, I still do’
We cried together for what seemed like a long time.
