by Gloria Obizu
I don’t even believe it’s all because of me you came out here ‘cause I know something is up with you Wallis, she said. All the money! Come on! You just don’t wanna give me the whole pix. Anyways say what you wanna say.
All I ask from you is to listen! Isabel when I found you, I knew I found my soul mate and from that point began plotting our life together. Marriage, kids and a good home filled with all good things we can afford. But I need you to get us this design. I know we have come a long way considering everything that happened. I understand both of us have done some bad in the past but we got another chance and we need to make it count or we get into trouble and lose out and I don’t want to see this happen. Baby! I want you to start acting like the beautiful woman and wife you truly are and I don’t think that’s asking for too much.
Isabel took to self-defense as always. Are you saying I don’t act like a woman or what? She reacted.
Knowing the task ahead is a tough one Wallis continued buttering the whole thing. What I’m saying is this, I want to start seeing more of good feminine attributes in that beautiful girl I chose to make my wife, he said in calculated thoughts and in such a calm and loving manner that will sensitize any woman favorably. I’ve heard the opportunity of relating with some Christian women through this new church I attend and have also spent some time with the pastor and his family and noticed how these women go about things and that gives me the idea of what a good woman should be. Mrs. Ache, the pastor’s wife is a good example. She is kind, soft spoken and unassuming. This woman practically reads her husband’s needs in his eyes and always makes sure those needs are met. She is available when her husband needs her and serves the needs of her family diligently. She never ever talks back at him and because of that, I’ve never seen them ague over anything. Not for once! I understand that is because she trusts and relies on him completely because his love for her is guaranteed but I don’t think I deserve less. She is gentle and carries herself with pride and dignity and that is what you call a God fearing woman. Most of all, she never leaves her home for an outing without her husband’s consent and returns home late at night. And I see both of them work hand in hand at all times. It’s amazing! Sometimes I try to figure that extra thing they have together which is not in our relationship.
Wait a minute Wallis. Isabel cut in quickly. Are you trying to compare me with some old fashioned pastor’s wife?
I’m telling you what I see not comparing you with anybody, Wallis continued in calm disposition. Besides she is not old fashioned. Nothing about her suggests that.
You are defending her now, right? Isabel continued.
I’m saying she is doing things the way they are supposed to be done, continued Wallis in desperate effort to try to make her reason along with him. If you ask me I’ll say Mrs. Ache is a sample of the meaning of a true modern woman. Baby, I’m doing this because I want things to change for good for us, otherwise why should I care? A good woman closes her eyes and follows her mind blindly and I can tell you for sure that a good man is not the stupid one ‘cause he always thinks and acts right. He may fumble along the way, he could make his own share of mistakes, but he will always go where his heart rests. Let’s work together, build our own good home and succeed in it rather than make the kind of mistake that will course all we’ve labored this far, Wallis continued.
What kind of mistake do you mean? She retorted. That I don’t act like that old fashioned woman you call your pastor’s wife doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing, okay?
Quit calling that woman names Isabel, Wallis said, a little agitated now. Modernization does not mean great cloths, all sorts of makeups, doing drugs, wild out door indulgences and all that goes with it. It is being sensible as to succeed in all you do and land safely at the end of the day. It sounds to me like improvement rather than discard the ways of our grand folks. Human needs never changed but remained the same with some variants and true modernity stream from our past.
I see! You are trying to make a zombie of me and that is not gonna happen, okay? If you want someone at your beck and call, you got the wrong woman in Isabel.
I simply want you to make some changes in some ways for my sake, that all! I’m not trying to judge you or anything like that but I know that sometimes you get carried away by stuff so easily and by that you tend to forget things that matter.
You are now going into accusations and stuff like you used to do back in LA, Isabel continued.
No! I’m now a changed man! How many times will I tell you that? I used to be bad, I mean real bad at some point in my life, no doubt about that. But like I said before, I’m so grateful to God for giving me what I consider a second chance and I need to make it count. You can also go back to school if you want since we ain’t starting having kids yet. If you don’t want that, then we consider starting a family right away. The kids will probably keep you occupied and help us grow up faster. Isn’t it always said that parents grow with their kids? Let’s make our own babies and grow with them! Perhaps that will help us fill the void missing in our lives and also help us learn how to do things better, Wallis continued doing all he could trying to convince an unrelenting wife
Kids! Isabel exclaimed.
Yes kids! Wallis responded. And for that to happen, Isabel, you need to go slow on this drug thing or stop taking it completely, okay? We can go for counseling if you want so you can get all the help you need. Fortunately, the church I go to have a counseling section for those who want to quit drugs and I’m sure you’ll get the help you want if you are ready.
Douse your fears ‘cause I’m not planning to start having kids now, okay? She snapped again. May be someday I’ll probably consider going back to school but I don’t want none of it right now. I’m still young. Just turned twenty-five and don’t consider that too old to start anything or start panicking if I don’t have kids. Things can only happen when I’m ready, okay? I never had the kind of chance I’ve now before and I owe it to you that this is happening but you must also allow me some peace of mind to enjoy it. Let me be myself and do what I wanna do the way I wanna do it! Wallis, I’m sick and tired of people trying to lead my life ‘cause that’s how they ruin you, okay? You think I’m dumb, right? But I do know that when you grow with your mistakes and learn from them you do things better, so stop forcing other people’s style on me ‘cause that’s not gonna work.
But do you even consider for one minute that drugs are not really one of the best things in life? Beside people die while still waiting to learn from their mistakes! So it’s better learnt from a teacher quicker.
Wait a minute! What are you talking about? We used to do these things together, don’t we? So don’t come up with that bullshit about how drugs ain’t good for nobody ‘cause you quit, okay? I don’t even care about what you think anymore ‘cause all I need is be myself.
You must begin to care Isabel! If not for yourself, for me! The Interpol is an international arm of the law where by the world police work as a unit so that no matter where you committed a crime and escaped to some other place, the police all over the world have the right to arrest you wherever and whenever you are found ‘cause you’re what is called a fugitive. I’ve said this many times. The South African Police like Police all over the world are also searching for us just like the LAPD. The difference is that while we live here, we wear a different identity but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to be very careful. No one escapes the almost perfect long arm of the LAPD, I don’t care who you may be. It may take time but at the end of the day, they gonna find you and they gonna put you away. So far we’ve been lucky but we may be living on borrowed time and how long it’s gonna last I don’t know. If you ask me, I think we should keep it the lucky way and the way we run our lives here will decide how we end up. If the South African Police gets you just one time, I mean just one time, that will be the end of it all.
How is that gonna happen, eh? Isabe
l asked.
It could happen with these people you party and do drugs with because you can’t trust them. Under the influence a lot can happen, Wallis continued. You can even reveal your true identity and somebody might decide to check it out because today’s world is simply put a small world netted on a web. With the internet and what it does, finding someone has never been easier. Beside people get killed in drug parties all the time and I’m not ready to lose you just yet, okay? If it’s not you that get killed you could witness murder and that’s not good either. Babe it’s so hard for me to keep quiet and watch you go the way of self-destruct!
It’s hard for me too.
Let’s get it all sorted out then. Come with me to go see this Reverend and his wife. They will guide us since they are more experienced in these things. We do need help urgently! Wallis was on his knees holding his wife’s hand while he made this statement but her reaction was spontaneous. Hell no! She shouted out loud and stood up from the bed. I don’t ever wanna mess with that man and his wife ’cause I’m not interested in their bullshit. But I’m not stopping you from being with them if that’s what you think is right for you so go ahead, she said and left to go sleep in another room. Soon, her mind took to another direction cause every word uttered by Wallis that night was nothing different from heavy rain on a rock, it didn’t break it. All the time he was speaking Isabel’s mind dangled like a pendulum and now that she found herself alone, it settled on more pressing issues.
She’s been seeing Billy Mfelele since the party at Penney’s place and invitation for another visit will be due on Wednesday, few days from now. And for her, this seemed a better thing to get occupied with than all the crap coming out of Wallis rap as she concluded. So with Wallis out of the way, she now concentrated on her plans.
She’ll need some new cloths and will have to fix herself real good because the scene of her meeting with Billy is going to change so she needs to dance along. Previously all their get together have been in a five star hotel where the guy had a special suit permanently reserved for himself and she loved that so much. But this time Billy is taking her to his home for the first time and she can’t wait to see what the place looks like.
In the mid-morning of Tuesday she left for town. The major patron in fashion shops she become was quite familiar with where the bests could be found. Her hair was first to receive the much desired attention, then the manicure and pedicure followed before she went shopping around for cloths. She chose the right colors she thought would reflect the occasion and mood she anticipated and caped it all with a bottle of her favorite cologne. Penney has opened her eyes to the tastes of men in South Africa to make it easier for her finding her needs.
At home latter, a rehearsal with satisfactory outcome followed before she took off everything and had them hidden away before Wallis got home. Yet he couldn’t help but notice the sudden transformation is his wife’s new kind of hair style in something more elevating than he ever saw her wear. He also noticed her well made up nails too and how she transformed to even more beautiful woman. Unable to swallow all and keep quit he spoke his mind again.
Hey! Babe what are you up to this time? Is another party on the way?
Why do you want to know? Isabel tried to stop him shut but Wallis continued. ‘Cause you belong to me babe and I’m interested in everything you do.
Wallis you amuse me sometimes, she dribbles as she tries to make up a story. Then, all of a sudden, some idea jumped to her mind. Penney’s friend had a new baby and we are going to see her in the hospital tomorrow.
To someone like Wallis of the present that was good news so he lent his support. I like that, he said. What hospital?
She will let me know when I get to her place, she responded .
Please get home on time. Don’t you forget that! Babe I’ve been starving and want you to make me my favorite meal tomorrow.
Don’t worry about it! I’ll do what I can to be back early, okay? She gave him a kiss and pulled the sheets up to cover her entire body. Wallis chose to say his prayers as usual before going to bed.
Sleeping into Wednesday was all that she wished for and was happy Wallis didn’t drag matters.
At noon of the next day she left home for Billy’s house. The direction is not too far apart from Penney’s home ‘cause it was also located in the general rich folks area and because she is now really used to the environment, she got to her destination without much difficulties. And now inside the building, Isabel by habit was again feeding her eyes with all the materials before her.
If she thought Penney’s place was beautiful, the room she was looking at right now can be described as nothing but fantastic. Everything set up and placed exactly where they should be in a beautiful home. The furnishing was really marvelous and very appealing to her too. After all, she summed it up when she turned to Billy, baby this is the kind of a place fit for a man like you, she said with some pride and sense of accomplishment that Billy did her the honor of bringing her to his home.
Thanks! What kind of drink do you want? He asked.
Ain’t you showing me round?
Billy conceded and took her round the mildly but sensually scented house in a mini tour that terminated in his bedroom.
Now in his room, Isabel’ felt a little bit intimidated by the size and beauty of it also. So large was the room that Isabel compared it to a hall with every part of it attended and richly occupied with the best of materials. The single bed in the room was larger than the conventional king size that Isabel called it Emperor Bed. It was made up in a sheet of red and blue designs on a gray background and she found that really appealing. Unable to resist, she throw her entire body on it even before Billy could say a thing. This is truly the rich man’s world babe, she exclaimed giggling. Do you know what that reminds me?
No! Billy responded.
Some music and it goes like this. Money! Money! Money! You truly make a rich man’s day so special, she affirmed.
Billy chuckled. I know the song and that’s not really how it goes.
It’s all the same babe! I’m intoxicated by all the beauty around me right now, she said as she stood up and started pacing around. There were lots of provisions in the room too. Drinks, drugs, food, snack of all sorts and all in the best of quality. What a motherfucking dude Isabel thought. He has it all! Everything that money can buy, Billy has it.
Come here! Billy’s demanded and she obeyed like someone in a trance. And both lay in bed caressing for a while before she spoke again. Champaign to toast our first day at your place!
Sure thing babe! Billy said and grabbed a battle of Champaign from a pile of drinks, pop it went to Isabel’s appreciation and they toasted to a beautiful house and love.
What kind of ‘Snow’ you got. She was referring to cocaine.
Different kinds! Billy said in all eagerness of a culprit.
Then bring it on babe! She continued in excitement.
Billy sprang on his feet to get one of his house helps to handle that part. In no time the lady placed a special glass cup filled with cocaine on a table, left the room and Isabel continued from there. Now the couple went into real business with each of them trying to outdo the other because for the kind of partner she aspires, Isabel found her match in Billy. But Billy check mated that at a point when he said, Babe, time for level two. Her eyes immediately turned to his side as she left the remaining cocaine on the tray while awaiting further instructions. Billy took his time so she decided to speak instead.
Hey! I think these are really good! Never found it so cool. Just like what we had at Penney’s party! She was referring to the drugs and now speaking in a drowsy manner.
Babe my house is the drugs main stream Billy continued. All the stuff you get at Penney’s place come from here ‘cause this place is the headquarters of one of the main drug cartel in Jozi and Billy here; pointing at himself, is the
king baron. I say who gets what stuff!
Cool! Isabel reacted and in her mind Billy became something like the CEO of this huge company. Suddenly he handed her a bikini. Put on this, he said. We are going to continue with a ride on the pool.
Sounds kind of exiting! Isabel said, grabbed the cloth and sprang on her feet. How did you figure my size? She asked the moment she discovered it was a perfect fit.
Don’t ask questions. Just put it on. Billy said and he meant it. In a short while, he led the way to the pool area and Isabel trailed behind. And now outside, sprawling area of another beauty confronted her that she swore the place looked like an entirely different world altogether. And in all sincerity she never believed there are houses where such huge edifice in form of swimming pool exists. The ground surrounding it she thought looked like two soccer fields knitted together and decorated in beautiful flowers and trees. The grass so neatly trimmed that walking on bare feet you feel nothing but smoothness.
There were also many other girls in the compound and every one of them beautiful and so perfectly fitted for their swim outfits. She was amazed by how some people leave so good and thrilled that eventually she became part of her own dream. As she approached with the king of the house all attention shifted in their direction and she chose to bask in its euphoria. But as soon as she stepped out there, she left Billy’s side and threw herself into the pool with a bang.
UMMMM! Feels good, she shouted out. She is not a pro on the pool but she could pass bye like any other person who has done it quite a lot and she swam like she has never done before because in truth this is one of the things she is been missing. It’s her first time getting in a pool since she came to South Africa and that has been years. She tried all sorts of styles that she could remember until she got tired and walked out like a princes raped in towel.