Tales of A Single Mum

Episode Five

...It was my first Christmas as a single mom. My dearest BFF Sally Balarabe asked me to come over with the kids for the Christmas holiday. I was excited about coming to Lagos for a while to relax. The kids were also happy to be going to aunt Sally’s. So we packed up our bags on the 23rd of December and got on a bus. Three hours later, we eventually walked into Sally’s street in Surulere, exhausted from our journey. Sally had a feast prepared in waiting. Her parents were so happy to see us. Sally’s mother took me to her bedroom to speak with me privately about my divorce. She listened silently only interrupting me a few times to say “It will not be better for him” in true Nigerian fashion.

After a shower, we stuffed ourselves with food and the kids went to sit in front of the TV.

“Let’s go out tonight Jare.” Sally suggested. “There’s a new club called Sip, we can hang out with some of my friends till momma’s call” we both laughed at our old secondary school saying.

‘’That sounds like fun, but who would watch the kids? And I didn’t bring anything appropriate to wear.” I pointed out.

“My mom will baby sit. Don’t worry I’ll find you something hot enough to burn some hearts” We both laughed.

Sally ransacked her closet and got me an emerald green turtle neck dress that stopped just below my buttocks. It was fully covered in the front but open all the way to the waist at the back.

“Lord have mercy” She said putting her hands on her head, when I stepped out of the bathroom.

“’ MAGS look at you. You’re like something out of vogue. No one would believe you have kids.” I laughed at her expression and thanked her for her compliments as she wriggled into an equally tight white number and we were ready. Sally mom told me not to worry about the kids and ordered me to go out and have lots of fun.

We got into Sally’s car and as we drove through the night I stared out of the window like a little child. The city lights danced, casting beautiful shadows as the car sped on. I tried to remember the last time I had been out as Sally rambled on about something or the other. During the four years of my marriage I had never been anywhere with my ex-husband. I had spent four years indoors being a hermit, I did not entertain my friends for fear that they would find out the truth about my marriage. I didn’t want anyone to hear the yelling, to see the bruises on my face, I didn’t want them to know the poor living conditions, the empty kitchen cupboards and the leaking roof. I did not want them to know how many nights we went without food and how even on those nights I got physically abused. For four years I had died inside with every new day until I could take no more.

“Earth to Mags! We’re here. Where did your mind go? Please carry your handbag jare, let’s go in.”

Sally had got me the highest heels she could find and I got out of the car unsteadily and wobbled to the gate. I could hear the music spilling from inside the club. I held on to Sally’s right arm as I made my way in hoping in my mind that I wouldn’t make a fool of myself by falling or breaking an ankle.

We got into the club and Sally’s friends who had already arrived summoned us to their table. A guy walked up to me and asked me for a dance. I looked at Sally unsure and she moved her lips and issued a threat that sounded something like “Dance or I will kill you”

I wobbled to the dance floor wishing I had worn a pair of flat shoes so that I could truly enjoy my evening. My feet ached and they kept bending to the sides. By now Sally and the others were on the dancefloor gyrating and hooting to every new song. She looked at me and gave me the thumbs up. I smiled through my pain. My feet were killing me! I couldn’t remember the name of the guy I was dancing with, something that stared with a ‘D’. Daniel or was it Dotun? At that point I didn’t care, he was grinding too close to my body and the room suddenly felt very stuffy. I just wanted to sit down and take off the offending heels. He bent his head towards my ear and said.

“You’re beautiful. can I get your number?”. Number ke? I thought. I don’t want to see you after tonight Dimeji or Dipo. I just want you to go away.

Sally came over to me a worried look on her face. “Are you okay Mags?’

“I’m fine I just need to sit down. My feet are killing me”

‘’ Sorry hun, beauty is pain!”’ She said smiling.

“Can we leave soon?” I asked.

‘Yeah sure. Let me tell the others were leaving”

We said our goodbyes and I walked to the car barefooted, holding Sally’s arm again. On the drive back home, Sally gave me a lesson on how to ooze s*x appeal while I happily watched the city lights without listening. When we got home, we let ourselves in. The kids were asleep with Sally’s mom. I jumped into the shower and scrubbed all traces of Dipo from my body. As I snuggled into a very welcoming bed, I smiled at the events of the evening. Despite the shoe mishap, the evening had been a perfect start to my holiday. There was just one thing that would make it even more perfect. I picked up the phone from the night stand and called Kristof.

Namaste!