KELENNA

Seam Ripper

Aunt Victoria moved to the other side of the table and picked up a piece of chalk. "You see this design?"

"Yes."

"You're going to mark this section before you join it."

I stopped. "Again?"

"Yes, again." She scoffed at the look on my face.

"But I've already marked it."

"You marked the first section. This is the second."

"Alright..."

She handed me the chalk. "The pattern has to meet properly when you join the pieces. If you guess, the design will shift."

I took the chalk and studied the fabric.

The piece I was working on was more complicated than the first things she'd made me practice on. There were curved sections, folded edges and a decorative panel that had to sit neatly against the main body of the cloth.

I had spent almost an hour just getting the markings right. Now I understand why she'd made me repeat the basics so many times.

"Here?"

"No."

I pouted. "Why?"

"You're measuring from the wrong edge."

I looked again.... Ahh, she was right!

"Tailoring is like mathematics with suffering."

She laughed. "What does that even mean?"

"I don't even know."

"Then you have to be perfect at it."

"I will, but why?"

"You've suffered enough already."

"Madam."

"What?"

"That's not motivational. And I'm actually pretty good at maths."

"It wasn't supposed to be. And it's good that you're smart, so don't worry you'll master this with time."

I nodded my head and continued marking.

"Measure from the seam line," she instructed. "Not the raw edge."

I adjusted the ruler. "Two inches?"

"One and a half."

"Okay one and a half." I affirmed.

"Then mark it here."

I made the mark.

"Now the other side."

I measured again.

"Same?"

"Yes."

I paused. "Aunt?"

"Hmm?"

"Why does everything have to be exactly the same?"

She looked at me as though I'd just asked why water was wet. I know right? I want to test this idea on a cloth I plan to make for Jide, with different measurements at the edges. Hehe...

"Because if one side is different from the other, the person wearing it will notice."

"What if they don't?"

"I will."

"What if you don't?"

"Kelenna..." She glared at me.

"Sorry..." I smiled and bent over the fabric again. After marking both sides, I positioned the pieces together.

"Before you sew, pin it."

I reached for the pins. "How many?"

"Enough to hold it."

"That's not a number aunt."

"Okay, take 200 pins."

"Alright I'll -" I paused, realizing what she had just said...the number didn't register on my head before.

"200...?"

She laughed under her breath. I just placed the first pin.

"Too far." She pointed out.

I moved it.

"Closer."

I moved it again. "Here?"

She nodded. "Now put another one here."

I followed her instruction.

"Good. Now don't sew over the pins."

"I know."

"You're going to say that and then-"

"I won't." Omo, can I just shut up?!

"Good then, let's see."

I started the machine. The needle moved rapidly, catching the thread through the layers of fabric. My eyes followed the seam line ahead of me instead of the needle.

Slowly. Carefully. The curve came up. I eased off the move.

"Don't stop."

"But-"

"Just slow down."

I slowed down. The fabric turned beneath my fingers. The seam followed the marked line. I reached the end and lifted my foot.

Aunt Victoria leaned over to inspect it. She was quiet.

I waited patiently...

She checked the inside, then the outside, then the seam allowance. Finally, she nodded. "Not bad."

I sat up straight. "Not bad?"

"Don't start Kelenna."

"I just made a complex design and you gave me 'not bad'?"

"You want me to lie?"

"No, but you can exaggerate a little nah."

She smiled. "You're improving."

That sounded better. "Thank you."

She took the fabric from me and examined the joining point again. "You still need to work on your hand movements. Your stitches are better now, but your speed changes whenever you get nervous."

"I don't get nervous."

She looked at me. I looked away. "Okay. Sometimes I do."

"That's why I keep telling you not to rush."

I nodded.

She returned the fabric. "Unpick this section."

I stared at her. "Why?"

"Because it's slightly uneven."

"But you said it was not bad."

"It isn't."

"Then why am I unpicking it?" I whined. Why am I being so naughty today?

"Because you're not learning to make something that is merely not bad."

She pointed at the seam. "You're learning to make something you'd be proud to put your name on."

I looked at the fabric again. I'd better shut it for real this time. Though aunt doesn't look like she's pissed with my childish behavior.

I reached for the seam ripper. "Okay."

Aunt Victoria smiled faintly and moved toward the fabrics section. "And Kelenna?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't be afraid of making mistakes."

I looked up. "You'll correct them faster when you stop trying so hard not to make them."

I smiled. "I will keep that in mind, ma."

"I hope you're not about to go about repeating it daily and disturbing my ears. Don't make me regret saying it this kid."

"Too late. I'm writing it down."

"With what?"

I looked around. "My brain."

She rolled her eyes. "Just unpick the seam Kelenna"

"You're not leaving?"

"No I'll be here steady for the next two days, I have an urgent suit and tuxedos order to work on."

"Okay." I said quietly and bent back over my work.

.

.

.

Bigi's engagement party! Omo, I almost forgot about that one oh. It should have happened by now sef, but I met Bigi today and apologized for missing it. He told me not to worry—it had been shifted by another two weeks anyway. He said if it hadn't, he would have come to tell me himself a day or two before the ceremony.

I closed the door behind me and removed my footwear. Then did my occasional rubbish—standing at the door and flinging my bag into the room right from there... that's after removing my phone though.

Where's Jideka this time around?

Coming home to see textbooks scattered on the table, a diary at the center with a tea cup beside it, a laptop tossed on the bed and two other bags containing familiar clothes and some materials was new. It was different from the usual sight of Jideka either pretending to be asleep, eating or occupied with his phone.

He was already getting well though, and thankfully hadn't gone anywhere. He'd just kept resting at home obediently.

"Jideka...?"

"Over here!"