Must Read: The Rich Kids Of LAGOS (16+)… Part 16

Addy sat at the desk, she wondered if it was right to feel the way she did – one part excited and one part worried. She felt good, yet scared. What would this man ask in return for this largesse? Aduke was no fool, she knew $3k was a lot of money especially with the current exchange rates. She knew that there had to be more to this game. She wondered if Alhaji Gabbo had recognised her from that night at the house or if this was just a mere coincidence.
Aduke heard a car park and peeked out of the window, hoping to see Tessy alight from the vehicle but it was one of their regulars – Mrs Peters. She was here for a full body massage. She wondered what was taking Tessy so long. She needed to share this excitement with someone.
She decided to pass time by writing down a list of things she would use the money for. She knew she had to prioritise because she had so many needs. Aduke put pen to paper and created her list.
1. I would pay back all the money I owe the Spa. She knew this was number one priority for her Aunty must not meet the finances in this state.
2. I would send some money to Mama at home. “If I can send her some money to manage for about six months, it would be great” thought Aduke.
3. I would buy some more clothes. ‘I don’t want to keep borrowing shirts, dresses and tops from my friends’. She felt this was a good idea too and put it on her list.
4. I would visit Modupe Cole Memorial School, Akoka. As she wrote that on her list, her hand faltered. Aduke realised that it had been a long time since she had visited the school. She was suddenly awash with guilt from the fact that she had put this at the bottom of her list. Deep within her, she knew that this should have been the first item on her list.
This was because Addy had an unbreakable bond with that school, a school set up for mentally and physically challenged children. She remembered that she had promised to build one just like it. She recalled the first time she had stepped in there, after her older brother, Akanni, had enrolled there. She was surprised to see so many of them there, living in a happy place.
She knew that having Akanni as an older brother was one of the reasons why she had matured so early on in life. It was hard when you had an older sibling continually dependent on you. Akanni had been born with Downs Syndrome and even though it was an obvious case, Aduke’s parents had visited every hospital they could afford in order to seek treatment.
They had also gone to all the white garment churches in LasGidi and environs to seek the face of God. Till this day, it was one of the reasons why Aduke didn’t like to listen to choruses. It reminded her of the many times she had knelt with Akanni, in the middle of a circle, formed by men and women bedecked in white garments and colourful belts, clapping and chanting prayers to a God that didn’t seem interested in their prayers for healing.
Aduke had heard that her father, the senior Akanni Shapade, a staff of the National Shipping Line had been very offended when he realised that all was not right with his first child. A son he had been so proud to present to the world as his heir. He had believed that this was a curse placed on he and his wife, Anike. He was certain that it was the handiwork of the detractors in the village who hadn’t wanted him to come to Lagos.
So grave was their jealousy for him that when he had gotten his appointment as a clerk, some people in the village had refused to congratulate him. Akanni Senior was therefore even more determined to heal his son of this terrible curse placed upon him. His wife, Anike was more practical and therefore, they fought often over the issue. Aduke grew up hearing her parents argue over the management of Akanni’s predicament. So, the day Akanni turned eight, his mother enrolled him at the Modupe Cole Memorial School certain that her son, like many others before him, was capable of learning a useful craft.
Aduke remembered the first night Akanni had slept over at the school’s boarding facility. She, a six year old, had felt guilty for feeling free because she knew she didn’t need to look out for anybody. She had wondered that night at this freedom, enjoyed by families who had no kids with mental or physical difficulties. She shamefully realised that she liked the freedom and knew that a life devoid of Akanni’s innocent needfulness could be enjoyable.
Unfortunately, she soon got to know what living without Akanni would be like. One day, two years later, he was home for the weekend. However, that day, because his family was no longer used to monitoring him around the clock, he wandered out of their room and parlour apartment and onto the main road. It was the shouts of the neighbours that alerted them to the fact that something might be wrong.
‘Mama Akanni! Aduke! wey your mama? Something don happen o!’ Their neighbour, Mama Ada, a portly Igbo woman ran to the back of the house where she, her mum and dad were relaxing, with tears streaming down her face. It was Mama Ada who told her parents that Akanni had been in an accident. Her mother had dashed into their inner room to check on her son who was truly not there. They quickly rushed to the road and saw a huge crowd gathered around an immobile body.
She saw him lying on the floor groaning in obvious pains. None of the taxis they initially flagged down were willing to help. They all claimed to have had a bad experience with mobs who assumed they were responsible for the accident. Finally, as Akanni’s groans got weaker they got him into taxi. It was in that taxi that his groans ceased. Her ever innocent brother had gone, silently departed from them.
Tears coursed down Aduke’s face as she remembered that sad day. She got up and locked the office door just to ensure nobody saw her crying. She paused to look at a reflection of herself in the mirror and wondered if she she was still the same person. She wondered if she had begun to lose the essence of the person that she really was.
She also remembered the day she had told Peter this story and she recalled how he had cried with her whilst telling her it was okay, how their tears had intermingled and how he had suggested that they should always take a monthly token to the school in memory of her late brother. She had jumped at the idea with joy and both of them had always visited the centre once a month, with gifts for the kids.
Peter had begun to take an interest in one of the young girls there and she had teased him that he fancied the girl. She smiled at the memory. Peter had brought her so much joy. Aduke remembered that Peter had even toyed with the idea that once they were married, they could adopt one of the children and pay his/her way throughout school. She had balked at that idea because she felt he did not understand the realities of managing a child with difficulties.
‘Oh Peter, I miss you so much’. thought Aduke.
Aduke remembered living at home after Akanni died. It had been surprising to realise that Akanni, who had been the problem, also seemed to have been the glue that kept the family together. Her father soon took to drinking and her mother to eating excessively. Perhaps it was the effect of the loss of a child on the poor couple. It was many years later before she realised that her had parents blamed themselves for not supervising Akanni enough that day. She had blamed herself too.
Aduke walked to the desk and crossed out the list. She wrote a new one and re-prioritised the things to do. She had not been to the school since she and Peter fought. She had to go there. Perhaps if she and Peter ever became friends again, he would come with her again. This thought made her smile and she suddenly felt better. Her memories of Peter always made her feel so good.
**********
Addy decided to re-apply some powder to clear her tear tracks but heard a knock as soon as she started.
‘Yes who is that?’ asked Aduke
‘Its Tessy, what was your SOS call about? You know I dont get out till 1pm except there is mont to be made’ said a voice that belonged to Tessy
‘Oh Tess, wait I will open up now.’ Aduke opened the door
‘Why did you lock your…..’ Tessy stopped mid flow as she saw the huge floral arrangements.
‘Whats going on here? Who sent all these roses to you? Who sends this amount of flowers to one woman? Was it a delivery error? Ohhh pink roses, my favourite’ she said in a rush of excitement
Aduke just leaned back and watched her friend’s reaction for she was no longer as excited as she had been
‘Wait don’t tell me, I’d like to guess. I hope it isn’t that foolish Chijoke because Chinenye will kill you. I saw the way he was looking at you that night. He could have eaten you up’ her first guess was the same as Aduke’s
‘Or could it be that man that relentlessy chased our car just to get your phone number the day we went with Simi to pick up a new TV from Park n Shop?’ Aduke, who had forgotten the encounter just smiled wanly.
‘Ok, Addy, I’m too excited to guess, tell me who is it?’ Tessy finally gave up
‘Why dont you read the tag on the flowers’ suggested Addy
‘There is a tag? Why didn’t you just tell me?’ As she read the tag, her brow furrowed some more ‘D.G? Who the heck is that?’ asked a confused Tessy
Aduke crossed her arms and watched Tessy, the way an adult would watch an innocent child, benevolently
‘Can’t you answer? who is D.G?’ persisted Tessy
‘Danladi Gabbo’ responded Aduke with a straight face
It was the first time Aduke would ever see Tessy at a loss for words
‘The one from that night or another? This is big news, let me seat down first’ Tessy was gobsmacked as she hadn’t expected all of this so soon.
As she tried to seat on the visitor’s chair, her attention was drawn to the black case for Addy’s new Chanel bag and she leapt up again
‘This came with it too?You gotta be kidding me! Did you go out to meet him behind my back that night? Why is he showering you with so many gifts? asked a shocked Tessy
‘Of course not, you know I’ve been indoors all day and night. But seriously, I have wondered the same thing to myself’ responded Aduke
‘Well quit wondering and enjoy the ride girrrrl. You could well be on your way to something big. I am excited for you. This is a beautiful bag. I don’t have to check if its real. DG would not know how to buy a fake if his life depended on it. In LasGidi circles, he’s known as ‘Alhaji Too Much Money’ and he has been known to buy his girlfriends houses in VGC, VI or Lekki Phase 1. Play your cards well my love’ said Tess excitedly
‘But how do I explain these things to Simi and Anita? wondered Aduke aloud
‘Those two, will they even notice? Leave the flowers here in the office and wear your bag home. If they ask, say ‘oh this old thing’?’ They will leave you alone.’ said Tess
‘And anyway, they can’t see you just now. They are busy making up and loving each other right now’ added Tessy
‘The way you make it sound, one would think they were boyfriend and girlfriend’ giggled Aduke
Tessy looked at Aduke, perhaps trying to decipher if she was as dense as she’d just sounded
‘Don’t be dumb, they ARE boyfriend and girlfriend’ said Tessy
‘How do you mean?’ whispered Aduke
‘They are lesbians. don’t you see it? Gosh, Addy you are dumb! The both of us are just in that flat to give them some legitimacy and make the apartment look like a girls’ hang out. Speaking of which, you need to play your cards right, see if Alhaji can get you a place and we can move out. People have begun to paint us with the same brush as the dykes’ said Tessy
‘You mean people know that they are lesbians???’ Aduke’s shock was all over her face
‘Of course this is Las Gidi everyone knows the colour of your g-string panties. I need to go ok?’ And with that, she flounced out of the office, just as if she had vaporised.