ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND

by Gloria Obizu

  Still feeding her eyes, with all that is presented before her, the familiar voice of the hostess foisted distraction.

  Hi Loretta! So you made it! Penney said as she approached. I was almost losing hope you’ll be here tonight! And by now she was close enough for a hug. As soon as that happened, Isabel took to immediate assessment of Penney’s outfit, ending up with Woo! Babe you look so good I almost didn’t recognize you!

  Thank you! You look even more gorgeous! Come with me. I’m going to introduce you to the party, continued Penney who took her by the hand and she followed.

  Silent! Silent! Penney began. Everybody, meet my friend and the latest addition to the house, Loretta…….. I’m so sorry but please remind me of your last name again, she whispered to Isabel.

  Rowland!

  Yeah! Rowland! It is been like two years we‘ve been talking but today is her first day at the Mansion so welcome Loretta Rowland to the house! Guys, please be good to her tonight and everyone endorsed in various designs.

  A guy named Billy immediately took to peculiar interest in the new comer as he turned and whispered to another guy sitting close by, isn’t she pretty? And being one of the most important guests out there at Penney’s place, his approval meant a lot to the party.

  Returning to Isabel, Penney continued. Babe, make yourself as comfortable as you would in your own home, okay? Penney’s place is everybody’s home. I’ll like to show you round since this is your first time, okay? Are you ready?

  Oh yeah! Let’s do it babe! Isabel said before a small tour that introduced her to all of the essential areas of the house began. While it lasted she was intrigued by one of the rooms, designated ‘Changing Room’ because of its content. Here, lay different kinds of costumes representing all kinds of professionals. There were uniforms for fire men, sailors, soldiers, policemen, Doctors, nurses and others. For the nurses, is not the kind she was used to back home in the US but the real thing handed down by Florence Nightingale herself. Not able to image why these uniforms are in the room, she turned to her guest for answers. What are these for?

  Oh! I can see you are a fresher at Penney’s party scene.

  I wanna start learning! Isabel responded excitedly.

  That will come up later in the show, okay? When we get to that part, this whole house will go electric, Penney demonstrated with her hand. And all the cloths busy doing their jobs. Relax babe! It’s too early for probing.

  Isabel liked everything she saw nevertheless. The carvings and sculptures in the house presented of very special quality as a compliment. But it was the paintings displayed on the walls that intrigued her most. She has flair for the arts but never gives the attention required for expression and now she tried relating with these unique works on deeper level. She couldn’t interpret their intricacies and complexities yet the blend in color and the general beauty they displayed are obvious to all eyes. By her assessment, these must be products from some of the world’s best painters and something about each of them aroused a kind of curiosity in her and she struggled with understanding what makes works of art so unique by connecting with her own inherent qualities. She settled for it, approaching and giving each the special attention it deserved. She thought one particular painting was strange but still appealing to her in some ways. It was a display of a man in a pool of his own blood with his two hands crossed on his chest and both of his eyes still open. A name written in blood red attached somewhere on the frame completed the gruesome site. She couldn’t hold on much longer on that, so she quickly moved her eyes and went for another. This one had a name too but it was everything regular. A beautiful work set in the olden days, probably in the medieval world of a lady carrying some fading roses in a basket and she also tried to interpret what that represented but couldn’t quite figure it out. The roses are pink, so what? That was much she could do before shifting her eyes to a corner of the frame, and saw the name Giuseppe, tried to read it out but still couldn’t pronounce the words right. She was still struggling with that when a maid approached and with curtsy she said ‘Madam Dinner is ready’. Isabel left every other thing and immediately hurried away to the dining room.

  The way the tables were laid out in Penney Dinning can make another story and Isabel didn’t miss that part either. Several layers arranged in ascending order based on seize. Some with gold base and some with silver depending on what they carry. The first table contained the starters like vegies, all sorts and loads and loads of them. The second the main dish, and there were so many varieties from African to Continental dishes. And the third contained some of the best desert any chef can offer in cakes and other sweets in different designs. The fourth table amazed her a little bit but she loved the idea. There were hard drugs of all brands, marijuana, heroin, cocaine in all sorts of mixtures and blends that even though she considered herself a pro in the act, she never had the privilege of using some of these. The drugs took the most beautiful of all the tables in the room like a king or something, Isabel thought, yet she couldn’t help but wonder about the boldness in having drugs laid out in the open like that. What if the police decide to raid the place and land everyone in jail? Oh, the house is well guarded from intruders by many men outside. This understanding was reassuring enough to ease her mind ‘cause she still did have a feint knowledge that the fugitive of Wallis’s imagination is that someone who attracts the police presence like flies to feces even though she is not totally convinced she is one.

  It was a buffet, the way she knew it way back in LA at the Chinese and the Home Towns she used to frequent with Wallis, so she adjusted so easily.

  Isabel is not the type to care so much about weight watching when there is good food, wine and good company and so caution went with winds as she ate and drank all she could. She wanted to taste almost everything because most were new to her and she did. What a fun crowd to be with, she uttered as she sat down after dinner sniffing some cocaine and sipping from a glass of some kind of concoction.

  Everybody was on the same page right at the moment. The food and wine well received and feeding finally done with, now, drugs went hand in hand with drinks and all raped up in good music as the real partying in the definition of this peculiar crowd began and continued. With everyone intoxicated now, nobody could say for sure he could account for further actions as the party stepped further. And like everyone in the crowd, Isabel was also almost out of touch with reality at this side of the court.

  Now, in her stupor, she saw her, not the Penney that welcomed her into Mansion on the Hill but a Police woman in her full amour heading her direction and Isabel chuckled, stood up from her seat to embrace Penney. Both giggling, staggered a bit before falling into the waiting hands of the well-padded expensive rug. The girls remained in the same position for a while before Isabel came to a sitting position. Scents of exquisite incenses were quite arousal, sending her further and further into deeper day dreams. By now it was another version of Mansion on the Hill presented before her. Doctors, firemen, Police officers, nurses and others were everywhere wriggling like worms all over the floor and Isabel wriggled with the rest. Amidst this ecstasy, a hand surfaced, grabbed her and she staggered along with Dr Billy. But just then the lights went off and both of them just lay where ever they found themselves until her illusion faded completely.

  Madam! Madam! Madam! Awakening from a long drawn slumber, she sat up on a bed. Where are mine? She thought, and tried a quick assessment of her immediate environment. The first thing she noticed was her body covered in quilt and she threw that off to expose her nakedness. My goodness! She uttered struggling to cover her nude. Where are my? She addresses the maid who said nothing. Then she began working on her own, retracing her every steps from the time she left her home yesterday evening to this dawn of a new day. A party! The long drive! Mansion on the Hill! Penney! And then Billy came to the forefront. With the sheet wrapped over her body, she stood up and became more hurried. What time is
it? She asked the maid again.

  About 5: am madam!

  Where are my cloths ‘cause I need to leave right away?

  They are right here, Madam.

  Can I just have them please?

  The maid handed her the clothes with the rest of her stuff and Isabel dressed up hurriedly, left the room without the knowledge of the whereabouts of Penney or Billy and so began her journey back home.

  Again alone, relatively sane now, Wallis suddenly came into the picture but the party scene and some of its futures fought for prominence and won. The pride she felt right now that she mingled in such a crowd as that at the Mansion on the Hill last night was overwhelming. It was a crowd so rich in varieties of the kind of things she personally considers the best in life. The food! Huh! real nice, she shouted out loud. Then the drugs came up. Isabel has had a lot of doings with drugs but the ones of last night were very special, she contended. They were kind of strong but cool! You don’t feel the stuff kick in so fast like some cheap drugs but took their time and allowed you time to enjoy the blitz in a good stuff. But the thing is when you get knocked, you go stupor, and when you come crashing after the effect, you go totally down and out baby, and you lay flat like a log!

  But even with her state at the moment which has not completely pulled through excessive indulgence of last night, she still had enough sense to know that a peace of her most have been lost in that beautiful building. She knew now that there is no way she could account for everything that happened at the Mansion for some part of the night. She could sort of recall the process but not the outcome of some of the events that went on. Thinking about what extra things that might have happened brought Billy once more to the fore front and she gave him the prominence that knocked Wallis out of the picture for good. That was Billy, the man that must have taken that something she lost at The Mansion. By recollections, his voice echoed in words that sounded so sweet to her ears, but words she has no way of saying there true meanings right now. It wasn’t bad with Billy at all she concluded, ‘cause he was a cool guy in every sense of the word. But will I ever see him again? She contemplated on this till her final drive into her home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was the beam of the head lamps on the walls that informed Wallis that Isabel is finally home. Looking at the time peace it sort of surprised him it is already passed 5:30am in the morning. He got home from the Business Men council Fund raising luncheon himself at about 1 am but hardly found the peace of mind to fall sleep, so he stayed awake in a mind of turmoil.

  Isabel came into the house and immediately took to the direction of her changing room. She was going to put away a pause but on a second thought decided to go through the content to make sure she didn’t lose more than she thought was taken from her at the Mansion and that was when she saw it. A pink envelop with the word Loretta written on top in very beautiful hand writing and she knew it came with her from the party. Her first instinct was look around to confirm she was alone and she was. Greedily she tore it open and inside was a well folded pink writing pad. She opened it and what she saw blew her mind completely.

  Baby you belong to my kingdom. Here is my cell number. 421 900 88140. Call soon! Billy Mfelele.

  My goodness! She mimed, looked around again but no one was watching. She thought of destroying the note but couldn’t ‘cause this is the only piece of Billy she could hold on to right now so she chose to keep it and had it hidden inside her favorite secret place in a Closet . That dealt with, Wallis again returned to the picture but he has to wait until after she showered. She took a very long time to allow herself time enough to get completely back all her senses that went with the party before she stepped out of shower, dressed for bed and tip toed into the bed room.

  Wallis lay still in bed in his worries but none of the issues troubling him right now was coming from the function he too attended last night. He was with Pena at the New Concept Business Council fund raising event like he’s been doing quite often and it proved rewarding as usual. A Christian Band, ‘The Brothers Divine played so beautifully that he swore Christian songs are some of the best tunes ever written even though he never knew it that way.

  His was a luncheon on a cocktail that afforded people the chance to move freely and take full advantage of it to exploit business opportunities. And mingling like everybody, he noticed a popular fellow in the crowd who everybody wanted to share a word with and Wallis figured there must be good reasons for that so he bided his time to make contact with the guy also. Finally he saw his chance and grabbed it fast.

  Hi! I’m Barry Pickles, he said with stretched out hands. The man reciprocated. I can see you’re quite popular with the crowd, what’s the secret? Continued Wallis.

  He laughs. Huh Yu the guy said with a hand shake.

  Pleased to meet Yu. You must be Chinese.

  Yea! What about you?

  I’m from the United States, Wallis responded.

  I used to leave in the US before I moved over here. Yu said.

  Chinatown!

  Yea!

  What made you leave? Wallis wanted to know.

  Probably the same reason you came out here, said Yu

  You don’t wanna say that Wallis added. And they laughed over that.

  Have you met my wife by any chance? Yu continued.

  No!

  Huh looked around the room in search of his woman but she was nowhere in sight. I’m sure she is somewhere chattering but I’ll make sure I introduce you as time goes by.

  You must be new to the Council. Wallis continued.

  No! Actually I’m one of the founding members of the organization. Why did you ask? Yu added.

  I’ve been in several council meetings and we’re just meeting for the first time, isn’t that odd? Wallis added.

  Oh that! I was away to China for about two years. Sort of business trip mixed with family matters. Yu tried to explain.

  And how was your trip?

  Quit successful, Yu said with some sense of pride. I can’t believe how things are beginning to change in China. Everybody is now rich and business is booming over there. I think I’m already considering going back home.

  You guys are serious minded, you’ve got the crowd and almost everyone is hard working but in my understanding some of the most misunderstood creatures in the world. I personally admire the Chinese for their creativity, diligence and contributions to the world. I think a lot of people could use clues from you guys. Now tell me, what’s your line of business?

  I and my wife run a store in down town Jozi, Yu said.

  Great! How is business over there? Wallis continued.

  Oh wonderful! Huh answered beaming with smile. What seemed to work for me is this; I’ve a small department whose job it is to find out goods in demand at any time of the year. You know, I capitalize on the idea of people and vogue to run my business and whatever people seek for at any particular time, we go all out and have it well stocked. Apart from that we produce some of the goods we market on our own. We e re-circle at time. In short we do anything it takes to break even, Yu continued.

  Interesting! Seems like I’m talking with the right guy here! Wallis said in excitement. You see, I run a grocery store too but I’ve the feeling the space is underutilized. Sales wise, I’m not complaining at all because we are doing so well so far. The only problem is that I rented a very big place, a four story building to be precise and I’m yet to use it to full advantage.

  Then go for more goods. Ladies line is great. You can even add men’s and children’s line also because these things sell fast and make you more profit too. You can do electronics and other house hold items. You know, something like Wall Mart in the US. And you do recognize that Wall Mart is one of the greatest businesses in the World, right?

  I know what you mean! I’m beginning to feel better already but to be honest to
you; I’ve no means of getting anywhere near Wall Mart competitively. Wallis said.

  That’s one of the things this gathering tonight represents. There are lots of people and organizations here looking for partnership in different fields and if you can get to work with one or two companies you guys can make Wall Mart come true in your own way. You must feel every space quickly otherwise your property is underutilized and that doesn’t make good business sense at all. Yu said.

  I know! I think I prefer a solo sort of thing for now though. What I might have to do is increase my volume of trade like you suggested. You know, add more goods.

  Good thinking! Yu acknowledged. It’s a very easy thing to do if you know the source of supply. Here, this is my business card! Call me next week so we can arrange another meeting, then I’ll give you more guidelines and all the information you want as well as very good whole sale sources for the products you want to stock up. Another thing you may need to watch is how you arrange your stock. You see, the success in marketing goods lie not only on stocking up verities of items but also on their arrangements. When people know they will find what they are looking for in a short amount of time without having to wonder about aimlessly, they always come back.