STICK IN THE VINE

Chapter 9

Shawty clicks on the enter key on her laptop and a sheen of pink courses through the wire tubes that wrap round the the bag from top to down, she clicks again and its daples with purple. She stitches the bag together with some peeled barks she'd gathered from the heap, knee high, on the floor . Deft with the white thread and needle, working her way through the edges.

She finishes, and crashes on the stool and smiling in exasperation as the little pink light effuses round the bag.

If you see this, it's like the bag was never brown but pink ,or purple or purple and pink as it changes. I'm the only one still in the mood of celebrations, as Shawty sidles back to the laptop, trying to add some other combinations of colours. But it doesn't work ,

so she ambles for the hundred and fortieth or hundred and fiftieth . bag, I lost count after hundred and ten, when we hear rummaging of keys. We look up at the time, it's Six in the morning, it must be the office cleaners. Shawty darts to the bathroom, I sit on the visitor's swivel chair. I hear clattering and cleaning down downstairs, people going into the different offices to clean.

Twenty minutes later, footsteps rise up the stairs, Shawty's done, dressed in a black pencil skirt and white button down shirt, packs up her laptop, the pink bag and some other equipments, in a box , collects her car keys ,stepping on slightly below the knew high of leather detritus, she heads for the door; but meets the middle age red head woman by the threshold.

" Morn..morn ma'am." She says stuttering.

" Morning Anne." Shawty says quickly, frisking down stairs. Anne stands , ushering Shawty down with her eyes, she turns to the office and gives the python gasp. I call it python gasp ;because it's the same kind of gasp you'd give if you trugde down to your bathroom in the morning and you see four big pythons on the toilet seat.

Shawty walks to her car, her make up doesn't completely hide the deep dark lines form beneath her puffy eyes. The car revvs in reverse ,out of the curb.

The sun's rearing it's head to break dawn. The clouds carrying the orange tinge of sunrise, drifting past, as we purr down the road.

Shawty drives to a restaurant. Diners intermittently turning their heads to look at her alone on the sofa, close to the window. She just can't hide behind dark round eye glasses only, she's just as recognisable. She didn't finish her food and dawdle over tea, checking in at her wrist watch, like she's calculating the time it'll take to clear out the debris in the office.

After so much glancing at our table, some came over, sitting beside her to take photos ,some autographs, some just to tell her how much they love the company's products and some to pitch themselves.

" wow,honey, you have such beautiful nails". A skinny silky white lady with pink hair that'd introduced herself as Clio ,her face heavy with make up amd long eye lashes fluttering with great rapidity due to excitement says,

"Thanks." Shawty says

Clio holds out her hands and raises Shawty's fingers.

" Honey, they're just so cute."

Still holding Shawty's fingers, she rummages in her purse. I can see Shawty,trying to get free of her hand in miniscule effort of retraction, but Clio still holds firm, searching her purse, I'd also be scared, what if she's a psychotic patient, now having a bang disorder, what if she wants to cut it off?

She comes up with a business card.

" I own a beauty spa , I do hair, nails, toe nails, massage, makeup and everything." She presses the card into Shawty's palm, pointing to indicate the location and her mobile.

"Uh, honey, gonna do it free for you, anytime, because you have really beautiful nails, most beautiful, I've ever seen." She says with a leer.

" Okay, thanks, I will get through, to you, Clio, nice meeting you need to go now, okay?"

" Okay honey, bye bye." She says lasciviously.

Shawty takes the Catrophil in the car, looking at the rear view mirror as she swallows. She drives out of the curb, skimming past the early morning joggers, cyclists, teenagers pushing against skate boards, and those jostling to work.

The detritus haven't been fully cleared, Anne and two other cleaners are heaping the waste into large brown boxes.Nora, Racheal and Brian are also present . Brian folding in arms to his chest, Racheal pacing in small circles, staring at the debris being cleared up,hands on her hip, Nora just leans against the wall.

"Thought you booked a hotel?" Racheal says to Nora, slicing through the silence , except you can't call it silence, there is clearing going on.

"Yes, Palmos. Sent her room number and all."

" so why did she stay here?" Racheal asks, looking disconcerted .

" I don't know, this." Nora says, nudging at the ruins on the office tiles.

" I know, but were you not just drafting designs yesterday?"

"Yes, we just did, yesterday

Shawty walks in, her hills clanging to her table.

"Morning everyone." Shawty says, looking into Racheal's stare, mouth lopsided, head tilted, hands crossed on her chest. Shawty smiles, the veins of her head throbbing, her head she pounding from insomnia as she lands her BWF on the table, walking round to her swivel chair.

They all respond, Anne looking up periodically at Shawty from the detritus, like she's cursing Shawty for doing this to her.

" Morning, Shawty." Brain says, taking astep closer to the table.

"Why did you sleep here last night?" Racheal asks, still folding her arms. Em, that's a wrong question to ask or really presumptuous because she didn't sleep.

"Ah, yes, Racheal, I got those meds. They worked great, thank you." Shawty says, stealing short glances at Nora who's standing aloof behind Racheal and Brian

"So?" Racheal says, scowling a little at Shawty.

"So?" Shawty says, holding up the the stare at Racheal.

" Fine, we do not have much time on our outside. " Shawty says, hoisting herself up to the upright safe at the corner , the keypads voicing with each press of the password, before the safe finally snaps, Shawty opening it up to bring out the bag -that's having a slight touch of purple but mostly colours of the the combination of fabrics she'd used in stitching it up, and laptop, slamming safe door with her heel.

Anne and the two cleaners are done with cleaning, and have carried out the boxes. But Anne stays, searching the floor like her ear studs fell off when they're actually in her ears.

"Thank you Anne, you can go." Shawty says, pausing for her to take her leave."

Racheal and Nora watch her as she recites " Yes ma'am." Out of the door, while Brian's keen on the bag in Shawty's holding.

" If Compatz is suing us for working on the BWF, then we must show them we can do something better." She says, connecting the extending wires from the bag to the ports of the laptop. She does a few clicking ,and the bag seeps out a polished purple shimmer, no trace of the colours of the rag fabrics.

She turns, clicks on the laptop and watches, finger on her mouth. Pink round blotch sparse the purple.

Brian's eyes widen, but drop not long after. He swallow, his adam's apple slides up, dropping involuntarily downward. Racheal's jaw drops, releasing her hands from the chest, drifting eagerly towards the glossy purple bag.

"Wow. How, how did you do this in a day, like a night? Like did you have like a hundred people working with you?" Rachel says examining the bag.

"This is beautiful Shawty, really beautiful." Racheal adds, drawing closer, colouring up in admiration, while Brian keeps mute.

" Did you sleep at all?" Nora speaks up, seeming unconcerend with Rachel's reactions at the hmm, hmm, it doesn't have a name yet.

Racheal rises, realising she's lost control of her self.

" yes, Shawty, you're working too hard , you should take a break, leave, relax," Rachel tries to deadpan, but in a softer voice she says

"Okay?"

"I.." Shawty springs up clutching her hands both her mouth and stomach, dashing, not like dashing but moving really quickly on her heels, bends over to the bathroom.

Nora rushes after her, but Shawty slams the door before she could get to her.Shawty starts the water, that's to cover up the discharge noises that's going on inside. She finishes, stops the water, comes out ,clutching on to the left side or her upper stomach.

"It'd take a while before the drugs work fully, you should take a break. "

"Yeah I know." Shawty says wiping her mouth with a tissue roll.

Brian had moved closer to the bag, examining it.Shawty smiles.

" What's left is powering without the laptop ."

" I figured."Brian says, staring into the laptop.

" I will do it in a bit, got distracted."

" Yeah it's amazing." Brian says, but his voice low and thick.

Shawty scowls and is about to speak when a knock raps on the door.Coming in, she's the one. Who?Shawty's mum, Mrs Rawlings.

I knew she was going to come. She wasn't going to sit back since she saw the heliverdizine. Shawty,you got to stop all these and tell her what's wrong with you? I learnt, and learnt hard when people, especially interest in what's wrong with you, keeping away from them isn't going to solve nothing. Tell them, and you'd marvel how lucky you're to have them beside you.

"Good morning ma, how're you today?."Nora says, helping Mrs. Rawlings tuck out the chair. She exchanges handshakes with Racheal and Brain , before finally looking up at Shawty, whose face holds that comforting smile that'd lit up a town.

"Good morning, I'm fine.Thank you how are you all?"

"Very fine ma." Racheal says, motioning her finger to shawty that she'll be back, holding Brian by the wrist, out.

Nora looks down, and locks eyes with Mrs. Rawlings's briefly, like a line of connection has been established, Mrs. Rawlings nods and smiles, Nora does the same before heading out. Shawty washes her hands over her face.

Exhaling loudly she says

"Mum ?why are you here? "

"Came to get vegetables and Turkey. Also, also, did my nails, take a look ." She says, showing her well trimmed fingers to shawty, almost blushing.

"They're beautiful, you're beautiful mum, but you could show me when I'm back home."

Shaking her head vigorously.

"Uhn, uhn, nah, wanted you to see it now, you're gonna be tired when you come back in a week's time." Raising her lips in a smirk at this, giving that knowing look that shawty didn't go anywhere.

" And it won't be new anymore, I want you to see it while it's new." She says, looking round the office.

Deep. Really, deep, I sit on the chair close to her, cusp my hand in the little crevice made between her hand and the arm of the chair. Have you ever stared at a person. Don't want to say your friend's mum, maybe that neighbor you go hang out with,and you feel that real warmth you were welcomed with, that you forget you ever have a home, that you begin to claim theirs as yours?

If didn't, I did . Whatever syndrome you'd call it.Running from home to home syndrome? I had it.

" mum, You look beautiful, I'd tell you any day, any time." Shawty says, moving her legs under the table

Mrs Rawlings giving the hearty smile

"Oh,please."She giggles as Shawty tilts head smiling at her , still moving her legs .

" Danielle?" She says in a tone that changes the atmosphere in the room.

"Mum, am not Danielle and don't ask questions here mum, let's get home." Shawty says glaring at her mum, hoping she'd oblige. It hurts me when I hear shawty say that. It may be true, but you don't have to always stick it down her throat, loosen up and help me with a part of existence, just answer it. Answer my name.

"Danielle, do you have liver problems?"

Shawty, tell her , she deserves to know, she loves you.

"No! No mum, I don't. Where did you get that from? The press?" Shawty says, eyes fluttering, legs stop moving.

"No, saw your medicine.Heliverdizine."

Shawty says, rubbing her forehead.

"Mum, it's a test drug from one of the pharma companies I'm investing in.It's just there." I look at her, into her watery blue eyes.Lying is your specialty Shawty, but aren't bad at selecting among the truth .

Mrs.Rawlings sighs,

" I believe you, "clutching her purse, rising slowly, murmuring some words. Shawty folds her arms, moving her crossed legs so it'd rotate the swirvel chair.

" when are you coming home, I know you have no meetings. " Raising her head. Got you Shawty, you don't have to look down at your skirt, they're clean.

"Soon, mum, got alot of work to do."

"Ugh, really? Hmn." Mrs Rawlings smirks , holds her purse tightly and leaves for the door.

"Mum!" Shawty raises her hands, and drops them in the table, startling the goldfish.

Hope she doesn't get a heart attack on her way out. Shawty cut this crap and go after your mum. She rubs her forehead, stares blankly at the goldfish and shakes her head, like she's driving away the thought of going after .Fine, I'll go.

" I'll call you when I'll be coming. " Nora says in a low conclusive voice. , Mrs Rawlings nods. Patting Nora gently on the shoulder.

"Okay,have a nice day."

This isn't good, Nora is going to tell her. What's going to happen now? Shawty,what are you going do?

The entrance door downstairs had barely parted for her to walk out, when Shawty comes out of the room, with the purple bag or specimen in her hand and Nora slinks into the open door of an office at the sight of shawty. Shawty goes down the stairs, to the product development centre. She stands at the threshold, before a group of people ,drawing and discussing their designs of what she's already done,in the small round tables.

A brunette lady walks over to Shawty, with sheets of papers in her hand.

" Good morning, Shawty. "She says grinning.

"Morning, Ellen, how're you?"

"I'm fine, see what I got." Still grinning, passes her designs to Shawty.

Shawty takes a look at it.

"Wow, they're beautiful Ellen, okay." She hands back the paper, gazing left and right at how people are working hard on what she's already done.

" Everyone come around. " beckoning at those on the small round tables to join the large one. Stools shift, people stick pencils in the corners of their mouths, some fold their hands at the sight of the bag Shawty had placed on the table, grimacing in curiosity.

The door opens, Brian trotting in.

"Morning everyone." Shawty says.

"Morning." They answer in different pitches from basses to auto and trebles.

" Yesterday, we gathered here to discuss a new idea we'd be working on for." Shawty raises her head, breathing in some courage.

" Yeah." They all say, some still folding arms, some pressing against the table.

" We have it already. " Shawty says, touching a pad inside the bag. The purple begins to spot with pink. She touches the pad again, it turns completely pink.

Wow. I look at it again, I love it. Why aren't your jaws dropping ? I raise my head to look at their faces , round the room. They're staring blankly, Clara grimacing. What's happening?

"Since you've sourced it out to another firm, why did you tell us?" Clara says, her pink rimmed glasses glaring at Shawty. Ooh , ooh, she..

"I didn't source it ou.." Shawty says, but gets interrupted.

I walk to Shawty's side, holding her still hand.Can you guys please take it easy on her ? She hasn't slept in two days, her head is pounding really hot and hard. You don't want to be in her shoes.

" yeah, I wouldn't . I would haven't burnt time on these." Ellen says, clearly disappointed her designs aren't going to be useful, and seeming to munch words under her breath, that she'd have burnt that time clubbing.

"You didn't..."

" These drafts are going to be useless then." A guy, Sean,on a red top and jet black hair ,standing right next to Shawty says,sticking his five fingers into the paper in his hand.

Brain's glares, his elbow resting on the hand he'd crossed on his chest . That was what he meant by the thick and low voice he'd used in responding to Shawty in the office.He was disappointed.

Hope he isn't feeling the way he felt when he was at Derod, being left out of something good. Something, important. Denying his hunger to be part of something life changing.

The murmuring and blurting continues round the round room. Shawty's looking at them all in the eyes. Her eyes revolving round the world of this round table, spinning , wanting to catch up with every piece of what's being said. But what happens when you spin round a spining world ?When you stop, you lurch left, you lurch right, you lurch forward, then you....

Bam!!! Something, Someone, Shawty crashes, loosing grip of my invisible hand, falling like pastries, lurching backward. But gets caught half way down by the Sean. Shawty's passed out.

The room falls silent, moments when you wish you could stop an event from happening by your glare. But you can't, so they begin to skid towards her.

Shawty!!! Get up, please. Nora and Rachel barge into the room.

" Call the ambulance now, " Rachel yells.

"No, don't. " Nora retorts. What do you mean b***h?

" paps everywhere."

Pointing at the brown door on the left hand side of the room, Nora says " Sean, lift her through back door, to the second gate, I will be there with the car." Nora says. No, no, please guys, do not leave her with her. To be clear, do not leave Shawty in the car with Nora.

"Are you sure, Nora? "Clara says,the muscles of her forehead , creases. Arching downward like she's going to lift Shawty, hands trembling.

"Yes, Clara, Sean, now!" Nora yelps,the hard muscled Sean hoists her from the floor, a few persons assist him in balancing her on his arms, even escorting him out in dispair, until Nora ordered them back, so as to avoid attention. Ellen who has been blowing hair into Shawty, had turned red, her face wet.

"We did that to her. " Ellen says, crossing her arm over her nose.

"No, you didn't." Rachel says, trying to control her state of trembling, plonking after Nora, her straight legs like Shawty's taking long strides, her thin waist swishing.

" Nora, we need to talk." Rachel, says, a hand on her thin waist, the other pointing down at a chair.

"Rachel, not now." Nora manages to say, as she scrambles for some of Shawty's things.

"What..."

" Rachel , not, now." Nora groans, stopping herself from yelling.

She picks up her jacket finally and dashes out on her silver heels. Rachel sighs, both hands on the waist.

Nora throttles on her lexus .If I didn't know what she was up to, I'd have found the expression on her face believable, jaw slightly drop, hands gripping too tightly on the wheels in fear or anxiety.

I float out of the car, finding it hard to decipher between expressions on her face.Sean bursts out through the back gate at the same time Nora rounds the corner . He carries her, her head slightly displaced,the white of her eyes showing from the half closed eyebrows. Nora speeds up, marches on the brake . The car has barely jerked to a halt when Nora dashes out to open the back door for him.