by Boadi, Lilly
“You say it yourself; you are addressed the way you are dressed.”
“But mom, you surprise me! You of all people should know that appearances are sometimes deceptive. Her dressing isn’t her?! She’s something different inside from her appearance - she is a good person!” defended Haida.
“Oh, so you already know her so well? If she’s really that decent inside, she should show it on the outside too. You cannot be one thing in the inside and another on the outside; in fact, only hypocrites do that. The outside is more or less a reflection of who you really are in the inside. I am not God to know who a person is in the inside, so it is with you, and the only way to know a person is what he portrays outside. Have you soon forgotten what Jesus said, ‘you will know them by their fruits’….?”
“Stop preaching mom!” Haida held her hand up rudely. “You simply cannot judge a person just by the way she dresses!”
“I’m not judging her just by her dressing, but by my instincts too; in fact the right word is ‘discerning’ and not ‘judging’”.
“So, what else are your instincts telling you about her, mom, apart from the fact that she is a harlot!?” with arms folded, Haida actually snapped sardonically this time. She felt her mom was not making any sense at all.
“I don’t know much, but what I know is that she would steal her way into your Mellis’ heart slowly and one day take him away from you”. She was old enough to know a type like Kelly; she would be too good a type like her to ignore the charms of a cute man like Mellis.
“A prophetess now, mom? You amaze me! For God’s sake, she doesn’t even know Mellis; they’ve never met before” said Haida naively. She looked like she wanted to cry.
Mrs. Morgan walked towards Haida and took her hand “My dear” she said softly, looking into her eyes “the instincts of a woman and more so of a mother, never lie….”
“But why don’t you like Kelly? She’s a good and kind person. See, she buys Jolly and I gifts each time she comes around”.
“That is just a camouflage, dear. One thing is I can see hypocrisy written all over her. She must be up to something, but exactly what, I don’t know….do you think a type like her would find a friend like that in you? She might be feigning friendship with you just for her selfish reasons…”
Haida felt her mom was too far out of the way
“…I know you are a good person Phoebe, but the world isn’t as you really see it. The majority aren’t as good as you are. I only think you should be very watchful about so called friends like her” said Mrs. Morgan into the eyes of her vulnerable daughter.
Having enough of it, Haida pulled her hands out of her mother’s, turned and walked slowly to her room without looking back. She sat on her bed, confused and in deep thought. Jolly came in immediately and sat beside her.
“I heard mom” she said, “I know Kelly is a nice person, but I must confess sometimes I wonder why she’s being so nice to us”.
Jolly only added to her confusion and she asked her to excuse her to be alone. Everyone seemed to have a question mark about Kelly - Kiara, Jolly and even her mom. She seemed to be the only fan of Kelly. But why didn’t she see her like the others? Was she really that naive? The chiming of her phone woke her from her thoughts.
“Hello” she managed to sound normal.
“Hi girl, are you ok now?” that was Kelly.
“Yes I’m better. Talking to you did me a lot of good. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention. Glad you’re better now.” Kelly sounded ok but Haida thought she should apologize once more to her.
“Kelly, I’m sorry once again for my mother’s behaviour….”
“Are you still worrying your head about that? Guess we should be thinking of how to get you better from the din at your workplace and not to add this to your worries. Trust me, I’m ok. Every old woman seems to have a question mark about almost everyone. I think she’s only protecting you, and you should be glad to have had a mother like her.”
“Thanks for being understanding” Haida sighed with satisfaction.
“You know what? I’d like to pick you up from work tomorrow, have some fun and get over those worries you are having. I’ve a surprise for you!” Kelly said ecstatically
“Really? That’ll be fine if only it would really heal my wounds of worries” said Haida.
“Trust me, I know it will! Besides, I wouldn’t like to come to your house at least, for now. I want your mom to have a good impression about me first, you know”.
Since Haida couldn’t see her, she couldn’t read the expression on her face as she said this, but she trusted she was really ok.
“Phoebe, you have a call” shouted Mrs. Morgan.
“Let me call you back, Kelly….” Haida came straight to the hall after putting Kelly off. “Hello?”
“Hi sweetheart” said Mellis, “your cell phone has been engaged for the past ten minutes; who’s trying to take my place?” he asked jovially.
“Oh, it’s this friend of mine I talked about to you the other day - Kelly - you remember?”
“Ah, yes I do remember.” “Guess I was so much into our conversion I hardly noticed another call coming through…. I’m sorry”
“You seem to be so fond of her. I don’t hear you talk about Kiara that much of late. Hoping she’s not taking her place?”
“Of course not!” Haida smiled. “I really like her, yes. She’s so kind and good, and she’s really pretty and adorable” and she teased “any guy at all would fall in love with her at the first sight you know”
“Probably not me. I don’t think she’s as nearly as beautiful as you are, my dear. Do you know you are the most beautiful woman on earth?”
“Stop flattering me, will you?”
“I mean that. I think I’d like to meet this beauty friend of yours, just to make sure she’s not putting a bad one on my angel”
“Ah, I think she’s strange when it comes to you”
“What? She knows me?”
“She knows your picture. She says you remind her of someone - probably a true lover - ‘cause she took just one look at your picture and burst out in tears. I think whichever lover it was really hurt her badly. Matter-of-factly, she’d be glad if she didn’t see you, at least for now”
“What have I gotten to do with her pain when I don’t even know her?”
“Don’t you get it? You are a copycat of this lover of hers!”
“I agree she’s a strange one. Anyway, enough of her. Let’s talk about us. What about going to this place with me tomorrow evening? It’s a surprise and I know you’d love it!”
“Surprises everywhere!” exclaimed Haida “Is something going on in town that I don’t know of?”
“Who’s given you a surprise?”
“Kelly. She just told me she has a surprise for me tomorrow evening too”
“See what I’m saying? She’s really taking my place” said Mellis, truly jealous.
“No dear” Haida laughed. “Please let me meet this appointment with her. It’s the first time I’ll be going out with her. I promise she won’t get in our way again, please” she cried.
“If that’ll make you happy, then it’s fine with me. Maybe I may not need to go at all if you aren’t coming along”
“Oh no, you can still go and have fun? Where are you going anyway?”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise, and you mustn’t know, in case you change your mind and go with me”
“But you can still go ahead without me”
“Nope! I would lie in bed, think about you all night before I fall asleep, and then dream about you alone”
“Ooh that’s so sweet. I’d call you soon as I’m back ok…?”
Kelly! That brought Kelly into Mellis’ thoughts. It’s strange that for almost a month now he’s not heard from her. He was actually expecting her to at least give him a call after that morning, despite what happened, for he knew she would still ran back to him despite all odds. Maybe the girl has really seen
sense this time and has advised herself concerning the two of them. Or perhaps something unfavourable was happening to her. But if the latter was true, his mom would have told him. He couldn’t be so sure anyways, for his mother was still refusing to be in talking terms with him. Moreover, he wasn’t the least prepared to call Kelly, believing that refusing to call her would gradually wane their relationship, even so as he was far from her. But who was this Kelly, just a moment in Haida’s life, who could convince her to go out in the evening with her, when Kiara and he had not been able to do that much for so long a time?
TWO
Haida was prepared for the day, believing that it was going to be a happy one for her. She actually woke up this morning and felt a surge of happiness within her - something she didn’t know where it was coming from. Maybe, it was because she had decided she was going to make herself happy today, especially thinking about the fun she’d be having with Kelly later on in the day. Kelly has really brought some happiness into her life; she has expressed total commitment to her happiness. Kelly is always on her neck trying to help her erase all sorrowful scenes in her life and capture anything at all that brought her happiness. She has been a real friend to her within this short time. She has been showing deep concern, care and sisterly love in an extra ordinary manner that it has taken Haida by surprise.
Haida went about her work at the office in good spirits, eagerly waiting for the clock to tick to 5pm. It was said that happiness or sorrow lies in the power of the mind. She had decided to find happiness today, and she had succeeded in her quest in a way. Maybe, this is what she must be doing everyday.
At close of work, Kiara found her in the washroom, changing all over.
“Where are you off to this evening?” asked Kiara, surprised. She burst into laughter when Haida pulled off the high-heeled boots from the cute paper bag. “What’s this for, girl? Partying?” she asked.
“Probably. I’m not sure” said Haida, busily dressing up. Fact is, she didn’t know where she was going with Kelly, but Kelly had ended her statement with, “and please don’t forget your dancing shoes”. However, knowing Kelly was the fun type, she believed there was going to be lots of fun wherever they’d be going.
“How can you be unsure of where you’re going? Did Mellis decide to surprise you?”
“Err…yes, yes. He just told me to put on my dancing shoes, as if I had them!”
“But this is ok. I’m only hoping you don’t fall off in that. Looks good on you. Mellis knows exactly what fits you”
“Not mine, it’s Jolly’s”. That was far understandable.
“Must get going then. Give Mellis a kiss for me and have fun, ok?” said Kiara, and kissing each other on the cheek, she left in a hurry.
For once, Haida felt guilt with her friend; she had never lied in such a manner to Kiara, but she couldn’t possibly tell her Kelly was the one she was spending the evening with - she’d be mad and offended. Fact is Haida had told Kelly to pick her up around 5.30. By then, Kiara would have left the office. On Friday evenings, Kiara attended piano lessons. She’s a talented singer and wants to combine playing the piano with her singing; she dreams of doing a piece of her own very soon - something she hopes to do alongside the piano - and so nothing comes between her piano lessons and her. Yes, Kelly has been exceptionally nice to her and she has noticed this overflowing love and care from her is gradually pulling her away from Kiara. Haida has actually been feeling like a traitor towards Kiara, and of late, this has been bothering her immensely. She has realized she felt happier and livelier with Kelly than with Kiara, and this sincere sentiment only increases her disloyalty conscience. But she truly loved the company of Kelly.
Kelly got to Trinity Co premises on time. Upon seeing Haida, she opened her mouth wide in admiration.
“You look great!” she said “This is exactly the right dressing for the evening”
“Oh really? Thanks” said Haida, and then looking Kelly over “You look good too”
Kelly wore a short sateen straight dress and a pencil heel half shoe, laced up to her knee, whiles Haida was in a tight sleeveless top which protruded her breast and a flair skirt, slightly above knee, with her high boots almost at her knee. Haida felt fat in the dressing. She knew her weight of 188lbs made her a little overweight as compared to her height of 5.4”, and that her figure was attractive enough, yet she felt a bit uncomfortable, being beside Kelly who had such an enviable gorgeous model-like figure. She saw how almost all the men had their eyes on Kelly when she appeared, and for a moment, wished she had her kind of figure. But Kelly’s comments had boost her confidence though - afterall she didn’t have big belly that made her shapeless; she had nice big wide hips, cute big butts and cute waist that gave her an attractive coca-cola shape. She also revealed nice legs and beautiful skin and light brown complexion - lighter than Mellis’.
Again, in the attire, Haida felt like Jolly, and for a time, tried to understand her. She felt smart and partying spirit brooding over her. This was exactly how Jolly dressed up most of the time, when she went out in the evenings for fun or for a party. If Jolly did it and her father said nothing bad about it, then she felt it was ok for her to go out and have fun in the evenings too. Besides, she had lots on her mind that she yearned to ease away. After all, most people with worries went out and had fun and left a greater percentage of their worries at wherever they went, if not all. With that, she believed wherever Kelly was taking her to would take her worries away. Moreover, she had thought she was being too hard on herself. Kelly had told her this before, when she had said she wasn’t used to going out and having fun, and she had thought through and realized it might be true. She was glad her boyfriend understood her and did not disturb her with numerous outings, especially one with buddies. But Kelly’s words had put a little fear in her. She had said, “I guess yours truly loves to go out and have fun. He might be ok with you for now, but how long do you think he can cope with your isolated personality?”
“He understands, and I have faith in him that he wouldn’t ever find it a problem” Haida had defended.
“Yes, you are right to have faith in your man; yes he may seem understanding and may respect your personality, but that would not stop him from going out and having fun - you cannot change a personality he’s taken on for years, remember that!”
“That’s ok with me, at least, when I know he’d do nothing uncalled for at such outings”
“You really believe that!? It never crosses your mind that he would have a partner or more during such outings? It’d be so cunning of him to make you believe he goes out all alone!” Kelly said impetuously.
“With friends, I guess, and that’s alright with me, Kelly” said Haida with much confidence.
“You really have so much trust in your man, don’t you? But I’m sorry to say certain things are inevitable, and one of them is that your man definitely has a woman or more, who beautifies his side at such outings!”
“Not my Mellis” said Haida with a broad smile “he would never be unfaithful in anyway”
‘How naive!’ thought Kelly. “He might not want to hurt your feelings by being persistent about what you’re not used to but he enjoys doing. And mind you my dear, you can hardly know if your man’s cheating on you, especially an experienced one like your sweetheart!” Kelly said with sarcasm.
Could it be that Mellis was really upset about her non-exuberance and finds her boring, but only hides his true feelings because he doesn’t want to hurt her? She had thought. Could Kelly really be right - could Mellis really cheat on her? Maybe she needed to learn to adjust herself to suit Mellis.
As Kelly and Haida made their way to the elevator, all eyes were on them. There were few of the staff members who were yet getting ready to leave for the weekend. The ‘uuus’ and ‘wows’ were enough to make Haida feel uncomfortable. What could they be thinking of her? Of course, thanks to Kelly, her dressing mode had changed this evening; she was looking hot and sexy.
“You look
great” “That’s gorgeous” “You look pretty”. Haida could only say ‘thanks’ to the many compliments she was receiving. She wished she could reach the elevator and hide herself. As they finally reached it, Haida gasped in dismay “My phone!” she said.
“Where’s it” asked Kelly.
“At the washroom”.
Without watching, Haida turned in a rush and collided with Meg. ‘Oh no!’ thought Haida. She had tried her best to avoid any embarrassment from her, but what had she done now? Looking away, she waited patiently for Meg to rain insults at her, but all she did was to look her over with pure hatred in her eyes. Haida swallowed hard the pain of that hating stare. Eventually, she couldn’t take the sarcastic stare anymore, and so she turned and rushed to the washroom. Kelly slunk off after Meg. When she had reached about twenty feet away, Meg felt a light tap on her shoulder. She didn’t know why she should entertain a friend of her rival and so she was unwelcoming.
Haida came back and saw the scene of the two ladies together and gazed at them in dismay. As Kelly talked, Meg’s face kept beaming with smiles and that confused Haida the more.
“What was that about?” asked Haida, when Kelly joined her.
“No, I think you have to tell me something….Wait, that look was one of a kind and I guess I wasn’t mistaking who she is” said Kelly.
“Well yes, that’s her - Meg” said Haida and looked down with upset.
“Hey” said Kelly lifting Haida’s chin “you don’t have to let her get you down. You must stand up to her….”
“I am a culprit here, am I not?” said Haida guiltily
Kelly got her point, and sighed.
“But what were you doing chatting happily with her when you knew who she was?” asked Haida.
“Just trying to get acquainted with her to deal with her on your behalf. Such freaks put me off!” said Kelly contemptuously and that showed in her walk.
“I don’t want any more problems with her. I want to pay off my existing debts, not to add some more!”
Kelly stood still “You don’t owe her…!” she said into Haida’s face