Chapter 3 Part 1

This blog will now be updated Mondays and Thursdays with Part 1 and 2 of each chapter. Hope you are enjoying it so far. More feedback welcome :).

I was woken early the next morning by my mobile ringing loudly.
‘Hey Bessie.’ That was Ose’s nickname for best friend.
‘Don’t call me that jo, I have no best friend’ I responded.

I was scarred from an incident I experienced during childhood when two of my favourite playmates came visiting. Teni was very spoilt and she always wanted to have her way. Ada and I would always give in to her demands because she made such a fuss. She got to pick out the best Barbie when we would role play at a tea party and she was always the princess in any play we acted out. We had gotten used to her but I could never forget one very special day. We had just finished a special tea party out of leaves and mud in the backyard. Suddenly, from nowhere, Teni turned to me and asked, ‘Zee who is your best friend’.
I saw the problem at hand but I didn’t want to hurt Ada’s feelings either so I came up with the best answer to make both parties happy.
‘Both of you are’.
There was intense rage in her eyes ‘What do you mean both of us are?’, she said slowly, ‘You can only have one best friend!’.
‘No I think its okay to have more than one Teni…’
‘No its not...its best friend…singular not plural’.
At this point I was tired of walking on eggshells, I was done. This girl was crazy.
‘Then I have none’ I said very loudly.
Before I knew it she hit the floor, wailing, screaming like I had killed her.
‘You can only have ONE, ONE, ONE’. I looked helplessly at Ada for help, she was just as dazed. The next thing our parents came running out to the back.
‘Teni darling, who did this to you’ her mom asked directing accusing looks my way’.
‘She hates me mummy, she said I’m not her friend’.
My mum was trying to calm her down too but Teni’s mum was already taking her in and left soon after.
As soon as they left ‘My mum and Ada’s said in unison. Good riddance to bad rubbish’.
Teni never came over again and she didn’t talk to me in school. I vowed never to have a best friend if it would cause so much trouble. What was wrong with just having friends?
‘Are you there? Did you hear what I said?’
‘Oh sorry’
‘A-D-D! I said are you okay?’
‘Yes I am, of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Because I know you Bessie, you were off last night’
‘I’m sorry’ I said remorsefully ‘I didn’t mean to be that way, I am truly excited about this!’
‘Glad to hear it, you know I’ll always be here for you no matter what. It won’t happen with you like your mom says’ she continued ‘You won’t get so angry and bitter that you can’t ever love anyone and no one wants to be friends with you because you become such a sadist, so you end up living alone in a flat far far far away’ we said the end together and burst out laughing.
‘Last last, you’ll live on my street and we can have tea parties but that won’t happen because you will meet someone too then we can buy a house in the same estate and live happily ever after.’
I listened to her laugh, it was like a nightingale singing. If I laughed more like that would I be engaged?

Ose was more attractive than beautiful. Her presence lit up any room she walked into, she was the kind that got the party going. Hurricane was what I called her. I met her at university and immediately, we got on like Oprah and Gayle. She was outgoing, boisterous, fun and the perfect planner while I, on the other hand, was shy, spontaneous, nonchalant and disorganized. We made a perfect pair and rubbed off each other. Together we were a force to reckon with. Now she was making a life changing decision and I knew it could affect our relationship.

‘What if you start talking about diapers and stuff and I can’t relate?’
‘You’ll relate ‘cos you will be changing your God daughters diapers, trust me’
‘Please stop fretting jo, I’d even understand if it wasn’t the two mad jesters talking! Bessie, give me more credit than that now. The only way this friendship is over is if you kill me’
‘Ok ok’ I responded laughing. I looked at the time 7.00am.
‘Shoot I have to get ready for work. Mrs. Briggs has a fitting this morning!’
‘Wow how can you deal with Mrs. Bomb this early in the morning?’
‘God gives me the patience I need because he’s the only one stopping me from committing murder’.

My mum rushed into the room, ‘Why aren’t you dressed yet? Mrs. Briggs is already on her way. You better get there before her’.
‘That woman gives me a headache! Why is she so difficult?’
‘She pays well and brings a lot of customers so you really can’t complain.’
‘I can oh, she’s like the devil incarnate. Always making impossible demands’
‘My dear, the customer is always right’
‘Not when I’m the customer’ I said annoyed.
‘Not at the banks, at the mall, at the cinema or even restaurants. Every one frowns here, they are always thinking ‘na ma papa own?’ It’s so annoying, there is no culture of customer service. The other day a manager at some bar told our friend to leave if he couldn’t find a seat!’
‘It’s because we are not really spoilt for choice, that’s why they behave the way we do, besides Rome wasn’t built in a day, things are changing.’
‘Not fast enough’ I said as she walked out of the room.

As I was getting dressed, I received a text from Ose

Bessie you are the Chief Bridesmaid just in case you didn’t know already. Like DUH!

‘Thanks for asking’ I laughed.

Finally, I put on my make up then assessed myself in the mirror. I was rocking my favorite patchwork skirt by Peridot and Ruby with an orange low-cut tee. It was good to support other young designers. ‘Fierce, Sexy’ I said to my reflection then I tried to laugh like Ose and ended up in a heap on floor, laughing hard till tears came to my eyes. I stood up abruptly when I heard my mother scream ‘Nosazena, get going already!!!’