KELENNA

The Guys

We got to work almost immediately, after she had instructed Chinelo on what to do and she left.

I asked madam why she was screaming at the stairs, trust me I tried, but I could not just shut my mouth, wasn't she just returning from the hospital?

And her response was very curt and vague, I almost didn't hear it but I caught words like "Didn't make it... husband had... come... did say..."

Whenever that husband of hers was mentioned it was never anything positive. So, she didn't go to the maternity again and came here with waist pain instead, courtesy of her husband? Nawa oh.

Chinelo came back with the food, dressed very...'appropriately'... like she had mistaken this tailoring shop for a movie audition, and was giving me some crazy looks.

The reason she wasted time was probably because she spent more time dressing up the way she did for a reason I'll have to pretend that I don't know about.

She dropped the flask with two sharp lines "Here it is aunt Victoria, and uncle said you should just forget about it." Before leaving.

Seriously what's wrong with this girl?

And Victoria... so that is my madam's name, almost my name sake though, don't ask me why I don't know her name, it's not an automatic knowledge and I've had no need for it.

After packaging the clothes to be delivered to a school, I rubbed my temples slightly and sighed.

I was still having a mild head ache, but I have to get going now, I already have the addre—

"What's wrong with you Kelenna?"

I flinched a visibly, not because I was afraid or anything, I was startled because I didn't expect Mrs. Victoria to suddenly be in front of me with a suspicious and concerned look on her face.

My reaction even further deepened her frown.

"Did you lose a screw or two on your head?"

"...."

Who asks that to a person who doesn't seem well? And she has such an honest look on her face that it's hard to interpret it as ridicule.

"Ma, I am fi—"

"Fine. I know, of course you are, but you know sometimes you need to restock on some things, is your health part of them now?"

I pressed my lips together, this woman is starting to talk to me my way these days, and she be doing it with all firmness.

Now that I think about it, the heck is this the way I do sound? Yo crazy me.

"No ma, my health is very fine." I smiled, but she just stared hard at me, as if daring me to repeat the lie I just told, but... I didn't lie, no? Or did I?

"Really aunt, I'm okay. Vic is good."

That already left my lips before I realized, Vic is good? That's what I usually told my mom whenever she starts to worry too much. Why did I say that to her?

She raised a brow, a little taken aback by the mention of Vic, she doesn't know my name is Victor.

"Aunt Victoria, it's just a small head—"

"Kelenna..."

"Um... Alright... but it's really nothing ma, because I... I...did drink alcohol yesterday and woke up feeling like five years had passed."

"Which one?"

"Huh?"

"Which one did you drink?"

"Legend."

"Legend..??"

"Yes...about half of it I think, I don't even know."

"And you have it this bad?"

"My body and alcohol have a long-standing disagreement, we're not on speaking terms."

"Then why did you take it? Since you know it's not good for you why then did you still go ahead to drink it Kelenna?"

"The guys ma! They were just bragging about their stamina like it's first class certificate, and when they offered me a drink, do you expect me to be like no thanks, I'll get drunk?"

"Yes."

"You do?"

"Exactly."

"But it's not that easy, it's embarrassing."

"You know what Kelenna?"

"No I don't know anything."

"Oh shut up." She rolled her eyes.

"Done." I made a zipping up gesture.

"Where's that cloth you attempted last week?"

"It's still on the machine, badly sewn." I cringed at the blunder I did.

"I know, but that's the beauty of it."

Beauty? What beauty?

"Iron it well today, so it at least look neat, that will be what you wear to work from tomorrow."

What?! No! No! Tax me instead, I know I'm broke but I'd happily borrow to pay than wear that!

"Next time you should know better than to do things you can't afford to because of peer pressure."

She said that with a stern tone.

Let's go back the old way now please? Twenty lashes... a verdict... whatever at all, just not that thing I sew! It's sooo bad, and it'll look like I'm trying to advertise my incompetent skills.

I swear I really do know better now!

"Please aunt Victoria, please, please please, we're actually name sakes oh, you know? My name is Victor, don't do this to your name sake please?"

"I'm not having that Kelenna, here..." She handed me two thousand naira "...go buy your lunch before you go, that's initially why I came looking for you."

She always gave me money for lunch, almost everyday, refusing the money is not even an option because she would not agree to my refusal. And she made sure I actually bought the food and ate it.

She moved into the other shop and I followed behind her, still pleading for my dear life, jeez, so this lady can be this mean.

She finally relented when I said "Please double double queen... I have learnt my lesson and I'm filling a case against alcohol if it gets close to me again."

"What about when you get close to it yourself?"

"I'll still sue it, doesn't matter, it's close is it's close."

She laughed.

"Is your name really Victor?" She gave me a side eye.

"Yes ma. My name is Victor Kelenna!"

"This boy... Alright, don't wear it again, but make another attempt tomorrow, I'll guide you. And if you do it well you can start going home earlier than 5:30 p.m."

Ehh? Going home earlier? I don't want to, how can I leave all the work for her hear and go home. I know I don't know much yet but things are easier with two hands, and it's not like I have anything doing at home.

"Really? I'm not going home though but thank you!"

"And Kelenna try and change."

"It's part of the long-term plan ma, if that's your concern I've got it covered."

I mean I'll have to change eventually right? Into what or who though, I have no idea.

"Mtcheeeew, I mean you should dress like this more."

"Oh, ok then... not my usual preference though, but anything for my double queen, runway vibes from now it is... hehe, I don't mind."

...