Valentine

Preface

It was dark in, and Bolanle knew it was like that because the attic has only one window. And she had no idea why papa didn't use the library much, he was a full time business man, always going on really long trips.

So, if mama turned it into her little laboratory overnight, it didn't matter;there didn't have to be permission taking of any sort or so. Papa certainly didn't even remember there was a library in his attic.

''The snow's got four feet mama",Bolanle announced when she opened the door to the library. She has heard it from the TV downstairs.

Mama was on her workout;a cheap Bowman singles she has bought from the O'Neal's store across the street. She was busy diluting the new 'gem' she spotted at the Juxtamore superi.

"Ugh", mama sighed.

Bolanle did well to shut the door behind her. Ola was probably asleep downstairs, and Naomi was probably in the laundry ironing a heap of uniforms . Bolanle skidded over to mama, putting her coat away to a shelf vertices. She inhaled sharply. Various fragrances of various perfumes hung stiff in the air. Each in it's own defined space waiting to be plunged into and inhaled. They were all good. The smells. The attic was warm.

She glanced surreptitiously at the wall clock close to the roof. It was past six pm and she should be in bed as mama earlier ordered.

But since Mama told her about the new stuff she got straight off the showcase. Bolanle was certain that going to bed meant sidling around her room or casting lazy glances at her homework whilst day dreaming of the captivating fragrances of the oils in the library up.

She quickly grabbed a stool and pulled it near to her mother. "...so that means, school is automatically off for tomorrow mama."

Mama nodded not looking up. Her hands were knotted in some serious work on the table. She carefully picked a stout glass bottle with shimmering golden liquid in it and transferred to a bowl of purple mauve liquid. The mixture hissed. Mama hastily put a transparent lid over the lot

She grumbled under the mask. Then she put the lid away. The mixture had turned brown, accompanied with it's new smell of freshness and flower gardens.

Although the library was stuffy with old heavy books, stacked in the tall shelves, the unwaning fragrance still prevailed.

"These smell a lot like fresh Davisee acorns", Bolanle squirmed, giggling.

She watched dip a rubber shielded finger into the liquid slowly.

Then she the liquid into steady brief circles, causing it to run in strong circular twirls.

After some time, mama pulled away and gazed intently. Bolanle fought herself to sit back and not dip her hands too.

"Dip and smell", she said, her eyes not leaving the brown watery fluid.

Mama stepped back and removed her nose mask. She gasped for fresh air. But all she got was witty mixed fragrances.

"You can't dip and smell when you're not sure whatever this is can't be toxic to your skin", Mama cautioned.

Dip and smell was a pattern used by mama to name her new hybrids. She would dip a finger into whatever it was and then drop it on her nose. Then slowly, the name would come, ensueing dramatically from her lips.

Bolanle nodded slowly, in concealed disappointment. For mama to be sure the mixture wasn't toxic, she would have to spend long hours in the library carrying out experiments with a headlamp strapped to her head. She didn't like to wait that long.

Mama spared her daughter quick glances.

"The new brand I bought at Juxtamore here", she said, pointing at a bluish liquid in a thick glass four corners bottle.

The name on it read 'spring'.

"It smells like heaven", Bolanle said.