CRUSH [ACT FOUR 2]
1383 Words
SCENE THREE
The meeting comes to an end and they all stand up, attending to other things, individually.
Evelyn : [Walks towards the door on a call] okay. I’ll soon be back [She hangs ups. Two ladies walk beside her]
Shade: I knew even though nobody goes, she must go, just during that short period of getting the information.
Lillian : why won’t she attend, when her husband is no more and there is no child, not talking of children, she has no excuse not to attend [They titters and walk past her]
Evelyn : [Incensed, she stops. ‘Really’, she snorts] they are now even saying it to my face. This is becoming unbearable for me [She signs and tries relaxing]
Adaobi: Why just standing? [She glances at Evelyn] you can just pull off their hair.
Evelyn: [Smiles, she turns her gaze at Adaobi, who was standing beside her] no. I’m about to go.
Adaobi: not everyone will talk good about you and some will use your weakness against you to ease themselves, no matter how decent you try to be. Hope you are aware of that?
Evelyn: [Smiles and nods] yes, you are right.
Adaobi: good, let’s go [They walk together] so the Whites were in the meeting?
Evelyn: yes, even Indians and Arabians, all were represented at the meeting.
Adaobi: [In awe] seriously? I really wanted to come, but I already fixed a board meeting and I was expecting a visitor also, that was why I didn’t make it.
Evelyn: okay. Your reasons are genuine. You just have to put it in writing. I hope next year we will all be there, being there alone was boring [They chuckle]
Adaobi: sure.
[Curtain falls]
SCENE FOUR
She gets to the bus-stop and stands to one side. Looking round, she sees him standing by a car staring at her, he weaves, she smiles and approaches him.
Dave: [Glance at his wrist-watch, then at her] nice timing, 4:o’clock at the doth
Cleo: [Smiles] my time is my wealth, I don’t joke with it [She gaze at him, his eyes was on her]
Dave: You look gorgeous.
Cleo: [Grins] I always have [He opens the car back right door for her, she enters. He goes to the other side and a man opens the door for him, he enters. She glances at the man, then at him] who is that? [The man enters the driver’s seat] oh.
Dave: my driver [She nods] I’ve never seen you from hair to toe, not until now. You were always at your stand.
Cleo: [Smiles] that’s true. Well now you have.
Dave: yeah… and damn, you are so elegant.
Cleo: [Glance at him, his eyes are on her] enough… thank you [They both smile] don’t you know how to drive?
Dave: [Snorts] why not, I can. But if I’m the one driving I won’t be able to look at you this well [He stares at her]
Cleo: [Grins] I get it [She looks away warily]
Dave: [Whistle and the driver pass him a flower from the front seat] this is for you [He stretches it to her]
Cleo: [Looks at him, collects it and smiles] thank you [She takes a scent of it] roses, I like it.
Dave: I guessed so, most beautiful girls love it.
Cleo: Mmm… it’s perceptible you are good at treating beautiful girls well.
Dave: kind of [He looks at her with a play-boy expression, she snorts, he smiles] worry less, am really selective than you can imagine [He looks into her eyes, she blinks]
Cleo: who said I’m worried, everyone has what people don’t believe about them, so that’s your dealing, others have theirs [She smile and place the flower on her laps]
Dave: and I hope one day those dealings will be of your concern [She sees in his eyes that he really meant those words and it makes her feel emotionally timid] let the dating begin [He signals the driver and they move]
Cleo: So where are we headed to?
Dave: the cinema [‘so you won’t be able to ask me jamb question about myself’]
Cleo: Okay [‘great, because I don’t even want to chat with you and I’ve never been to a cinema before’. She smile, he did same too]
[Curtain falls]
SCENE FIVE
Her phone rings, she quickly goes to pick the phone from the table, looks at the name of the caller and becomes despondent, for it was not who she was expecting. She picks it.
Crystal: Hello Dora, how may I help you?
Dora: [Rests on the balcony] Crystal, please what is the formula you used for that uncle’s question?
Crystal: check your mathematics textbook page hundred and twenty-three, example four, roman figure three, you will see it there [A knock comes through the door, she goes to the door and opens it. He comes in]
Dora: [Stands right, eased] thank you very much Crystal, you are a genius.
Crystal: thank you for thanking me [She hangs-up and drops the phone on the table] welcome big-bro, how was work today? [He sits down, she sits close to him]
Joshua: [Turns on the television] fine dear [He takes a glimpse at the room door] where’s your elder sister? She is supposed to be back from Mrs. Evelyn’s house by now.
Crystal: yes she is back, but went out.
Joshua: [Evoke, he glances at her] maybe she went to Nanny’s house. Did she prepare anything before going out?
Crystal: [Nervous] no wonder she didn’t tell me where she was going, anytime she wants to go to Nanny’s house, she won’t tell me so I won’t follow her [She hiss, looks at Joshua, who gives her a gaze of “is-that-what-I-asked-you”] your own food is in the kitchen.
Joshua: Then go and bring it, I am hungry.
Crystal: okay sir [She goes into the kitchen to bring the food. Her phone rings]
Joshua: [Picks up the phone, expecting it to be Amanda, but it wasn’t] who is Jerk? [Surprise] Jerk? Crystal! Ah.
Crystal: [Rushes out, with the food, drops it on the table. The call ends. She collects the phone] this is your food, please excuse me [She goes to the room and lies down on the bed]
Martins: [Seated on a sofa in his room] why is she not picking up [He calls again]
Crystal: why is he not calling back [Her phone rings. She relaxes well and clears her throat, then waits for a while before picking] hello.
Martins: Hello, how have you been?
Crystal: Fine, and you?
Martins: good. Hope you know who is on the line?
Crystal: no [Martins sits up] but you sound like a boy I broke his phone screen guard.
Martins: [Smiles and relaxes back] it’s obvious you didn’t save my number, that will double your debt.
Crystal: [Snorts] it can’t. The only way my debt would have been doubled was if I didn’t know you are the one on the line. That was the deal.
Martins: [Snigger. ‘Wise girl’] so how did you know it’s me, if you didn’t save my number?
Crystal: I never said I didn’t save your number, I don’t know your name, so I don’t know who is talking. But why won’t I recall that rude voice, just in the space of twenty-six hours [She looks at the wall clock] thirty-five minutes, eight seconds.
Matins: [Astound. ‘Wow’] Does that mean you’ve noticed my voice?
Crystal: Kind of, well it’s something I can easily do, so are you now ready to tell me what I am paying back with?
Martins: no, I just called to be sure if my debtor is alright.
Crystal: [Smiles] seriously?
Martin: Yap and I can sense that you are.
Crystal: So when will it be?
Martins: I will tell you when the time comes.
Crystal: But I want you to tell me before the time comes, so I will prepare it.
Martins: don’t worry, that won’t be a problem.
Crystal: Okay, if you say so.
Martins: yes. Bye for now [He ends the call. Stands up and bounce on his bed] her voice is as beautiful as she is.
Crystal: [Holds her phone] I think my paying back won’t be a stress [She smiles]
[Curtain falls]
- Writer
