Two Princes and a choice

Chapter Eighteen

Hayley hobbled into the living room, the climb upstairs had been tough for her and she had to limp up the lengthy stairs but if she could walk on both legs it wouldn’t seem lengthy. The light in the living room was off and the only light coming in was the yellow lights from the kitchen. Hibiscus was in there.

This place was exactly how she had remembered it; it still smelt of spice plants and pottery as she recalled Hibiscus hide out was above the living room. She shuffled to the kitchen and Hibiscus was there rummaging through cupboards. On the counter there was a pot of KFC’s chicken when Hayley peeped into it she saw it was eaten halfway.

‘Did you eat half in a day?’ she asked from her friend, Hibiscus loved chicken like craze.

‘Nah, Charta made me promise not too eaten more than two chicken per day because Kunle told him I was growing weight,’ she stood up holding a big bottle of Final’s soda pop and dropped it on the counter top. ‘Load of s**t if you ask me, I’ve got perfect genes even if I don’t know where it comes from I’ll slightly bigger than slender and much thinner than plump.’

Hayley smiled, ‘I don’t doubt that, where you eating when I called?’ she inquired.

‘Yes, a few spicy puck and drumsticks. Now it’s your turn to explain, how did you end up with that guy?’

It took two minutes to explain to Hibiscus who listened with rapt attention and after gave her comments.

‘You know I never liked her, her eyes freak me out and what were you thinking roaming about you should have come straight to my house r gone to Lois’.’ She chided.

‘You know Lois had gone to Kano to meet her uncle and frankly it never occurred to me that I should come here until the boy offered to take me to his house.’

‘And what is the boy’s name?’ Hibiscus asked. Hayley blinked her eyes looking blank, ‘you don’t know your saviour’s name typical of you Hay. But seriously you have to be careful if he had not come at that time who knows what would have happened and I don’t think your brawling skills will help you out because those are Ibadan drunks.’

‘Jeez you sound like my mother,’ Hayley remarked.

‘Really, damn I’m sounding more and more like Charta every day but it’ll not be only me to nag you. You owe Darryl a call and others as well.’

‘Say what?’

Hibiscus walked to a cabinet to bring out a first aid box. ‘Darryl called me earlier today saying he has been trying your number and you are not picking up he sounded worried so I had to call the others.

Hayley checked her phone sure enough she had fifty missed calls, thirty from Darryl. ‘Thirty!’

‘Darryl is persistent when it comes to you, you know that, I just called eight times to see if the operator will get pissed off and say nothing again with all that calling.’ She fingered her shell necklace for a long time and then tapped on the work place, ‘come on sit, and let’s have a look at your ankle.’

Hayley sat on the counter and gently folded up her jeans’ leg. It was purple swollen and ugly.

‘You need to shower first,’ Hibiscus said, ‘come on.’

Hayley hobbled on after Hibiscus down the hall, she heard snoring from different room and finally came to stop before Hibiscus’. She pushed it open and they stepped in.

The room was slightly big and was done in pale gold, the wall papers of pottery and fields of different colours of hibiscuses. Potteries filled the room hanging from the ceilings on shelf that were on the wall and tiled on the floor. Hibiscus had done the tiles herself and filled it on the floors. It had on the picture of the nine of them with hands over their shoulders, their favourite things: animals, flowers, fruits and food, were all around them and they hall had on clothes in match of their favourite colours.

There was also a painting of the nine of them and one of Hayley and Darryl, a drawing she had drawn of the nine of them. Hayley sank into the bed she fingered the quilt. Allyson had made that and embroidered all their names onto the fabric and also their favourite flowers in each of their favourite colours. Allyson had given all of them as gift for 2018’s Christmas. Cat’s latest edition of the MUSES a graphic novel about them was lying open on the bed, she picked it up and flipped it open. Hibiscus cartoon self was yelling at them her mouth extra wide open and her arms flaying.

‘It looks just like you,’ Hayley teased turning the book to show her.

‘Sure, I could transform to that it you push it,’ Hibiscus said, ‘well hot water’s ready so get in and wash up the puke off you. I’ll be in the kitchen.’ She said and left.

Hayley hobbled over the place when she was through taking a look at everything touching everything. On a chest she saw several copies of Diane’s novel and Cat’s graphic novels. There was an entire shelf donated to hers and Sharon’s paintings, and another for Isabella’s sculptures and Nana’s Papier-mâché heads and jar pot.

Finally she sat on the bed, her head was pounding, God she groaned and placed her palm to her head and gently massaged it, her hand ran across the cut on her forehead and she winced. Which type of situation had she gotten herself into? And ugh! She needs a shower.

Hayley left the bathroom’s door open while she showered and she couldn’t help but sing in the shower but a softly as she could the warm water was a blissful relieve to her body. She had washed her t-shirt with some detergent she had found in the cabinet above the sink and spread it on the sink to dry. She scrubbed her body of dirt and sweat and relaxed under the spray of warm water forgetting all that happened today. She suddenly felt tired.

But she remembered as she wore another top and the Ankara patch jeans Allyson had made for her this past birthday. Sitting on the edge of the bed she picked her phone to call Darryl first and clear his mind obviously he was very worried and agitated but he calmed down at her voice and when he asked for the reason she hung up. Darryl would not like it if she heard what happened to her, sometimes he could be very overprotective as a friend and made her wonder if she had two fathers instead of one.

Hayley called the others as well and they were happy to hear her voice before finally calling her mum.

****

‘I’m worried John,’ Anna announced to her husband sitting up from the bed.

‘Of what?’ he asked.

‘Of Hayley, my body doesn’t feel right. Particularly my stomach you know that is a sign, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I’m well aware of that story.’

‘It’s not a story, it’s true. My back is hurting as well.’

‘That’s from too much work.’

‘No it’s not.’

‘Okay, if you are ready call her.’ He suggested.

‘I have called Taiwo she’s not picking up and Hayley’s number is unavailable.’ She stood up and began to pace. ‘I shouldn’t have let her go, I should have gone instead.’

John was about to say to her that what she shouldn’t do is wear the carpet out with her pacing when his phone rang. It was Hayley.

‘Hi dad,’ she said.

‘Hayley, good evening daughter, you picked the right time to call. Your mum is about to wear a path through my carpet.’ At the mention of Hayley’s name Anna had run to his side. ‘Oh you are fine.’ He took the phone away from his ear ‘she says she is fine,’ he whispered to his wife. ‘Oh, are you at Taiwo’s? Really? That’s great. I’ll give your mother the phone.’

Hayley smiled when her mother spoke. ‘Are you ok? Why didn’t you call sooner? You put me through a lot of worry.’

‘Sorry mum, but I was busy with her so I couldn’t call you.’

‘Are you with her now?’

‘No she’s asleep.’

‘So what did she say?’

‘Taiwo,’ Hayley blinked back tears and swallowed the sob rising from her throat. ‘Taiwo said I’ve gotten taller but more skinny, she said I’ve become more pretty. She too has become a little plump.’ Hayley swallowed again bit on her lip and thought if she could continue with the lie. ‘She said she has no money right now, that she’s sorry but will send it whenever she gets money.’

Hibiscus had appeared by the door and her hand was on the knob ready to push open when she heard the lie. She waited and listened to what next she would say, Hayley rarely tells lies but once she did it would seem as if she was a grand master at it. She could tell that she was about to cry from her tone, she could easily tell since she was surrounded by simpering girls who cared for dresses and boys and cry at the slightest provocation.

‘Oh did she?’

Hayley could hear disappointment in her mother’s voice and could barely control her need to cry. ‘Yes, she also said I can stay till whenever I want. But I’ll be back by Sunday or Monday.’

Hibiscus smiled at her lie. Stay her arse.

‘Bye mum.’

She heard her sniffle then a beep which showed that the call had ended. She pushed the door open.

Hayley was putting her phone away when she entered.

‘I was about to come to the kitchen,’ she told her. She eyed the plate in Hibiscus hand

‘Not to worry, eat first we’ll take care of wounds later,’ she handed it over to her; Hayley was looking relaxed but fatigued.

‘Thanks,’ she took it from her.

‘It’s nothing,’ he waved her gratitude away. ‘I was thinking maybe to bring ice-cream alone but something tells me you wouldn’t appreciate it now.’

‘It’ll appreciate it any time,’ she told her taking a bite out of the chicken.

‘Was that your mum?’ she asked sitting crossed legged on the bed.

‘Yes,’ she took another bite.

‘You are a very good liar, I keep saying let’s have a lying competition.’

‘So you’ll whoop my butt,’ she shook her head, ‘not a chance.’

‘Try dragging you through the mud of shame.’

They both laughed.

‘Shouldn’t you have told her the truth, I mean she’s bound to find out.’

‘I’m not ready to tell her the truth now, she’ll be crushed.’

‘You’ll be crushed when she figures out that you lied to her.’

‘I know, but I can’t tell her not now.’

‘Eat up so I can treat your wounds and force pills down your throat.’

She shifted and settled on her sprained ankle and winced again. ‘Don’t you have injections?’ Hayley hated pills with such ferociousness.

‘I’ll be in the kitchen waiting.’

Hibiscus was pouring out soda form the big bottle into a tumbler when she appeared holding the plate of food looking less scared. She set it on the counter. He chuckled.

‘You cleaned your plate.’

‘I had appetite,’ she told her.

She chuckled. ’Seriously! Do you want a second helping it could help you put some meat on that pile of bone. You look frail and it’s good for your organs.’

‘Great but can I have some bread with it and a huge bowl of water; it’s so spicy it cuts the tongue in half.’

Hibiscus smiled. ‘It’s time we apply aid on your cuts before it gets infected.’ He pulled out a first aid box from a cabinet. ‘Here, sit on the counter.’

‘Aye aye doctor Hibby,’ she gave her a mock salute and sat down on the counter. ‘You’re sure you don’t wanna be a doctor?’ she asked as Hibiscus took out a bottle of surgical spirits from the box.

‘No, I prefer pottery to doctors and injections.’ She tipped a little spirits on a ball of cotton wool. She cleaned away the area with a cotton wool and with another piece dabbed in methylated spirit dabbed the cut with it. Hayley winced, it stung and she felt her eyes watered. She remembered Taiwo and relapsed into a brooding silence.

‘Stop looking like that or you’ll burn a hole in my chest.’

Hayley who hadn’t realized that she was staring intently at his chest looked up. ‘Hmm?’

‘Your gaze is so intense; you could drill through a mile deep soil with those.’

She giggled.

‘Please stop thinking of your bug eyed cousin.’

‘She’s not bug eyed,’ Hayley protested but at her friend’s raised eyebrow kept quiet. ‘Maybe she had,’ she said quietly. ‘I just can’t believe her attitude is that ugly.’

‘Yeah,’ Hibiscus raised the bruised ankle and grimace, contorting her face in a mark of half displeasure, ‘speaking about ugly don’t you think your ankle would receive first price if there ever was a competition.’

Hayley resisted the urge to tuck her ankle out of sight, it was swollen and marked with red and purple bruises but she just snorted. ‘No wonder you don’t want to be a doctor your nursing attitude stinks.’

Hibiscus just smiled and massaged the ankle, ‘your ankle would need a doctor but I’ll do all that I can.’

‘Okay, thanks a lot’ Hayley was swinging her alright leg back and forth.

Hibiscus brought out an adhesive bandage out of the box and wrapped it around her ankle, ‘that should do for now just make sure your foot gets all the per cent of the pillows instead of your head.’

‘Gotcha,’ Hayley said with a happy smile, no matter how awful this day had been she was happy it was beginning to right itself.

Hibiscus took out a non-scarring band aid and plastered it on her cheek. ‘Let’s see,’ she pretended to think for a while. ‘You can eat it another helping of chicken with me so if Charta ask how the entire tub of chicken was over in two days I’ll tell her that you are another lover of chicken, that way you’ll get fattened,’ she said with a disapproving look at her jutting collar bones before she continued, ‘and I don’t get to eat lettuce and cucumber for a whole month.’

‘You have a flaw in your plan,’ she told her.

‘What?’

‘What gave you the idea that I would lie to Charta?’

‘Ice-cream did,’ Hibiscus answered taking out another band aid and applying it onto her forehead. ‘I got two whole buckets waiting in the refrigerator.’

‘Why are you buying ice-cream your best snack is chicken?’ Hayley wanted to know.

She closed the first aid box, ‘I’m trying to find out if I can like any other thing apart from chicken but it turned I don’t like pizza or chocolate or sweets like chicken and ice-cream,’ she put on an expression of distaste, ‘the taste of that thing can give you diabetes.’

Hayley’s face creased in annoyance. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’ she demanded sharply.

Hibiscus shrugged, ‘it’s just that I can understand why you never grow fat that thing draws fat from your body too much. You need meat woman.’

‘Oh and devouring too much chicken is not good for the body excuse me for not wanting to be a huge mass waddling amoeba woman,’ she retorted.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘That it won’t kill you to have salad once in a while,’ she fired.

They both stared at each other in annoyance and then burst into laughter

‘Oh, I bet you’ll grow leaves and vine if you eat veggies too much or become sick,’ Hayley said laughing.

‘Maybe become green,’ Hibiscus laughed and her eyes went down to the bracelet on her friend’s left wrist. ‘So ice-cream and chicken?’ she asked.

‘You betcha,’ Hayley answered.

****

Tan was in his study upstairs reading Alex Haley’s roots and jotting down some things about it, he was a fan of arts and most especially literature in English. He loved the hidden meanings that are usually embedded in the story lines. As a child he loved listening to his Aunt Tabitha’s tales by the moonlight and loved answering the questions that came after the tale if he got it correctly he had won a weekend with them during school term instead of waiting for the holidays or a new video game and sort.

His mother had never had time for that, she believed she was sophisticated but Tan viewed his Aunt as more sophisticated and even took her as his mother.

But tonight his mind wasn’t in what he was reading it kept going back to what happened today, to the girl he had help and it puzzled him the ways the mind worked. It wasn’t a special thing to help someone in need so why did the event kept recurring in his mind. It wasn’t as if he was ever going to see her again what’s gone is gone. His phablet rang. He brought it out and checked the caller ID. It was Jon. Moving away from the window, he answered the call.

‘Hey Jon, my man.’ he said smiling then his smile dropped. ‘You are what?’