The Dreadlocked Barber

EPISODE 6

CHAPTER 8

The previous day leading to the morning after was not only a hive of activities at Verandah lodge, but also back at Jody’s Complex. The Centre bar never came short when it came to action. The entertainment hub which opened and shut its doors as per the enacted liquor regulations was the one and only drinking spot within Greenstone mall, which rendered it extremely busy not only during such times of the month, but virtually every day owing to the buying power of the boozers residing within and around its vicinity. Some would travel from afar to have some good time at this inviting bar. Apart from being known for its mature varieties of cocktails, it was also a place where the so called good girls frequented. You had to be given to self-control or be of high morals to resist the tempting looks and enticing skits that were associated with this drinking space. Its gorgeous bartenders complemented that client appeal with their enviable and commendable customer care. The owner, who also had a liquor restaurant in Soberlands, could only be seen for brief moments owing to his busy itinerary there. Having been a Head Chef in a five-star hotel for over a decade, he had taken advantage of his pension lump sum to venture into a food and beverage business. Being a footstep close to Mama’s kitchen inhibited him from rendering both food and beverage services within his business premises.

Anisha happened to be the Bar owner’s niece. Upon the opening of the Centre bar, her uncle begged her to resign so as to come and lit up things from the very onset. The offer entailed that she would get double of what she was being paid at a Jegasburg liquor restaurant where she had had a successful stint as supervisor. Her vibrant appeal in this line of business was second to none such that the owner of the place he left continued pestering for her missed services relentlessly, but she could not betray her uncle despite being tempted with an attractive package. She saw it bereft of logic to move back and forth for the sake of money. The Centre bar had been operating for 3 years since its opening, and Anisha served as its general overseer with two other girls going about the general routines as subordinates. A middle-aged masculine man handled the bar’s security issues. The bar was more or less her baby having been there from the onset. His uncle banked on her honest and intolerant behaviour. Thompson who was a good judge of business minded characters was quickly impressed by her overall posture. For all her strictness, she could not resist his predatory instincts as it did not take time before the two got into bed together. It was her strict professional code that appeased him the most such that he ended up trusting her with the custody of his saloon petty cash. She was very candid to keep records of every pen he got from Thompson, as much as she did with whatever she used from that miniature treasury. Their relationship in both accords was now spanning for almost two years. She found no problem with regard to continuing with it as she benefitted considerably from the kickbacks involved.

As Thompson and Lydia where busy having the time of their lives at Verandah lodge, she was also engulfed in a blast with Lisa and the other beautiful hairdresser. She was this kind of lady who was not interested in relationships that drained her through commitment. She often put most men off with her divided attention and flattery. She was also very dodgy and calculative, and was not given to making casual promises. She was the “I will tell you” kind of person, and that proved to be her subtle scapegoat trademark. It was that subtlety which made her unique and unpredictable. She was very good at soliciting for drinks from customers such that she could have more than a crate of savannas at her disposal. Such developments would render her the boss during windfall occasions like that of the previous night when Lisa and the beautiful hairdresser drank on her. The ladies had a party extravaganza that saw them locking themselves indoors as the regulated closing time of the bar struck. Having over 30 bottles of solicited savannas stored, the tree ladies only had to slept in the early hours of the morning upon Anisha’s plea that they needed at least three hours to detoxicate themselves before reporting for duty at the saloon later that morning. As in her case, she was her own boss in some way to be under stringent pressure to be sobre during duty owing to the nature of her workplace. All that mattered was regulating her encapsulation, which she managed from time to time without any difficulty. Above all, she was very strong and resistant to casual drunkenness such that she could take as much beer, as they had done, without showing signs of knocking.

The eventful night was also characterized by the peaching up of a m*******a dealer who regularly supplied Thompson. He was a smooth operator who had a knack of ensuring that his dealings were smartly kept under the carpet. Thompson was highly dependent on his powerful pot dope such that he would not go a day without rolling a joint. To guard against any craving inconveniences, he rather sourced his stuff in cobs than small quantities. However, he was this kind of fellow who only smoked the so called “heavy stuff” which rendered his preferences selective and secretive. In view of that, the backyard of his saloon became a monumental pot spot where he could take to during his saloon hours, although he could do so just once a day owing to the extreme strength of his preferred pot grades, let alone that smart conscience to avoid uncensored attention. The m*******a dealer had been instructed to give the merchandise to Anisha who in turn did the courtesy of paying him from Thompson’s petty cash treasury.

“Extend Greetings to Dread Thom” he uttered to Anisha as he lifted his backpack to take off.

‘’Will do so” she responded concisely as she often did.

“God bless Nubian Queen” he said these last complimentary ones as he got out of the spacious backroom which also served as Anisha’s office and bar cellar.

“Thanks” she briefly acknowledged as she placed Thompson’s merchandise in a secret place before rejoining Lisa and the beautiful hairdresser who had taken to the dance floor to do justice to some inviting house music the resident DJ had belted out.