Please Break My Heart. Episode 12
Paul’s disappearance, Jake’s trip to the Bahamas and a new office all in one week has summarised my week. I reached for my bathrobe as I turned off the shower. The weekend for me would be busy with Dora’s coming-out party around the corner. I fetched my laptop and got ready to tidy up my office duties from the week, I would take the time to chat with Jake, if it would not disturb his personal retreat. “Here we go,” I said excitedly as I logged on. There was a light tap on the door. What did Dora want? I thought. “It’s open”
“Hi Darlene” she said as she closed the door slightly.
“Hello” I replied closing my laptop. She stared at me with a kind smile. “Please sit,” I said quickly.
“Thanks” she replied. Dora cleared her throat. “Dad said that I could see you concerning a coming-out event, I really didn’t understand him.”
In this case, I did not know how to answer Dora’s question without offending her. “No offence meant, but in this case a coming-out event is for a newly accepted child,” I said touching my nose. Dora swallowed. “I didn’t mean any harm with that,” I said. Dora did not seem to mind too much, she just smiled. Moreover, with every smile of Dora, I felt like an evil big sister who was unwilling to accept my younger sister.
“Dora...your coming-out event is to introduce you to other elite families, let me just say what people on the outside will call the top shots” I started. “up until now, I have been Sir Williams’ only child and the socialite only knows me as his daughter, but with recent events, you are also his daughter” I stuttered. I just found it impossible to call Dora ‘sister’. I sighed. Dora cleared her throat as if she meant I should continue with the explanation.
“So, that means, you have to be officially recognised by the public so that if in recent times, you are spotted with him, you won’t be regarded as a younger lover, if you know what I mean” I concluded, taking a deep breath.
“You are having a tough time accepting me” she started. She got me! I am having a hell of time with that fact. “I won’t say that I don’t understand how you feel, because, I were in Dad’s shoes, I won’t bring me to the house yet.” My Point! If Sir Williams had any iota of kindness, he would not have rubbed Dora on me so early. It seems like my ‘little sister’ skipped on that bad gene from my Dad.
“Dora, I will make an effort,” I said honestly. “It might just take a little while”
“I understand that you are not the type that lets in on people to soon, but I will be patient because I know that you have got a great person inside that I can’t wait to meet,” she said, standing up.
Needless to say, Dora could have knocked me over with a feather. She knew how to put those words together. Now I feel like the villain, and the only thing I can think about is getting in her good books. “Look Dora, about the coming-out event, you just tell me when you want it and I will organise it”
She smiled.
“All I need is for you to accept me, who cares about the society?” she replied and left.
Who is Dora? What is she doing to me? She is inside my head and trying to make me feel bad. I could not work anymore so I turned off the lights and slept.
“Breakfast is ready,” Dora announced as she came in.
This felt too good to be true. Dora was everywhere in my life, I really could not understand why. “Is it morning already?” I asked.
“Yup!” she replied. I stared at her with my eyebrows raised. “Potatoes and Scrambled eggs”
That wowed me. “I will be down in fifteen minutes” I replied, slipping into my slippers. It did not take me ten minutes to join them at the dining hall. Hail the power of Potato and Scrambled eggs! “Morning Dad” I said as I took my seat. “Hey Dora”
“How is the plan for the coming-out party?” Dad asked.
“I am quite busy in the coming week, we have got a very important meeting this week, so the coming-out party might be next week” I replied, taking a bite of the Potato.
“Well...ok...so the Ade-Cole Annual meeting is this week, right?” he asked.
“Yes, and I happen to be actively involved, so I am occupied” I replied. “But I will ensure that Dora’s party is a success, you can be sure of that”
“You left for work pretty late yesterday, what happened?” Dad asked. Did he have to ask me such a question now? I thought.
“I work up late” I replied shabbily.
If I told Dad that Jake was away at the Bahamas, he would make a joke out of it, and I did not want that done before Dora. He was always of the opinion that I should be detached from Jake. I hurried my breakfast as I was trying to avoid Dad’s next question which I felt was lurking around his mouth.
“Why didn’t Jake pick you?” he asked.
This is what I did not want. I was immediately saved by my phone, which rang out loudly to interrupt our breakfast. I dashed into the hallway to pick the call. It was Dare’s. “Morning Darlene” he said. “Good morning” I replied. “If it is not too much of a trouble I will like to meet you over lunch,” he said. That sounded forthright. “Is it really important?” I asked. “It’s just lunch, but you can cancel out if you want to, I thought you might want to hang out” he replied. “No thanks, I would be busy around that time”
I retired to my bedroom and got ready to have my bath. Why did Dare want to have lunch with me anyway? “I thought you might want to hang out” I mimicked. Whom did he think would be his amusement instrument or play toy? I have to start my driving lessons effectively. Jake’s absence made me feel useless, and I have to put an end to it. I called a driving school in the neighbourhood and set up an appointment for twelve noon.
By twelve noon, I stood before my teacher.
“Welcome to our driving school” he said, leading me to the car.
“Thank you” I replied, trying to catch up with his pace. “Could you please slow down?”
“I am sorry, forgive my negligence.” He said, stopping abruptly. “This is your new ride”
The car was simply an embarrassment. I remember calling Jake’s former car a jalopy, I admit to have exaggerated about the state of Jake’s car, but this car looked all wobbly and afraid to get on the road. “Are you sure about this?” I asked as I paced round the Volkswagen beetle car of the oldest edition. The Yoruba people of Nigeria called the car ‘Ijapa’ because of its resemblance to the animal-Tortoise and its slow movement.
“I know you may not like this car because of your status,” he said looking at me.
“Excuse me? What do you mean by status?” I asked feeling offended.
“It is no news that you are Sir Williams’ daughter and I know that this car might look ridiculous for you to be taking your lessons in, also...”
“Look Mr...” I shouted, cutting him off.
“Dan, as in Daniel” he replied.
“I don’t care whatever your name is, you don’t know me and so you have no right to judge me,” I yelled angrily.
“I did not mean to offend you, I am sorry” he replied.
“Whatever your intentions were, it didn’t go down well” I replied furiously. My noise must have attracted other teachers at Badmus Driving School that people stared at us.
I saw a man approaching us. Daniel’s face looked disturbed. “I am so sorry Ms. Williams, what has this boy done?” he asked. I looked at Daniel’s face that wore fear of being punished by his boss. At that moment, I knew I had to make a choice that might either jeopardise his job or keep him there. Yet still, I was genuinely offended and uninterested to continue with the lessons.
“I will be back later for my lessons” I replied, clutching my bag to my arm.
“Please Ms. Williams, let me send for another teacher,” He begged.
“No, I will be back tomorrow, I have to be somewhere else” I replied and left hastily.
Status or no status I could ride in any car, I was only concerned about the type of car used for training, and I did not feel comfortable with it. Why did he have to talk about my family? I tried not to think about it as I strolled home, but it was almost impossible. As I approached the gate, I saw a tall man speaking to Dora, I could not see him clearly, but I thought he looked familiar. Is that Dare? I thought.
Please Break My Heart. Episode 13
Darlene” Dora called as I walked in. I turned with a fake smile but it was enough to convince Dora and her guest. He did not look familiar after all; I do not know him. “Meet Kolapo, my boyfriend” she introduced. ‘Boyfriend,’ I thought.
“Hello, I am Darlene” I said, stretching out my hand.
“Nice to meet you, I am Kolapo, but I’d rather you call me KP” he replied, coolly taking the handshake.
“Alright KP” I replied with a smile. “Are you guys heading out?” I asked, staring at the car, which had its front door open.
‘Now Dora is taking over the grocery duties’, I thought. I guess I am being negligent of my traditional duties and it was due to Jake’s absence, if he were available, we would have picked the groceries together. I was not in the mood to tag along. “No, I have to work, see you when you return” I replied and left them.
I was going to have the house to myself for the rest of the afternoon. Dad has joined up with his friends for a day golf-tourney, and with Dora and KP out to the grocery; it meant the house was available for me. It is not as though the availability of the house would add anything to my ‘boring lifestyle’, but I would take the opportunity to drown myself. I am not an alcoholic, so drowning will not imply ‘boozing’. I was in dire need of a swim. As the water touched my skin, it took away my thoughts. Such therapy! I said aloud as I swam across the pool.
“Ms Darlene, you have a visitor,” the house cleaner said as she approached.
“Visitor?” I asked. I was not expecting anyone. I racked my brain thinking of who could be visiting.
“His name is Daniel,” she said. “He says he is your teacher from the driving school”
“Yea...right” I scoffed. “Now what does he want?” “Keep him in the living room, will be with him soon”. I could almost let out a scream. I decided to swim to refresh my thought, but Daniel’s reappearance might just add some fuel to it. I hurried to my room to get dressed before returning to the living room to meet him.
“Sorry about what happened earlier ma’am” he said.
Seemed to me as if Daniel now knew his place, the ‘ma’am’ in his greeting signified it. “Its fine” I replied taking my seat. “How may I help you?”
“I want you to please return for your lessons,” he said
“I am no longer in the mood today, maybe next week” I replied.
“Please ma’am, I will be fired if you do not return and I will be ruined,” he begged, getting on his knees.
I have never liked a compromising position. “I will just grab my bag” I said and left for my room. We strolled down the street, the driving school was just five minutes from the house so we could just take a walk, and I guessed my teacher could start to shove the ‘status’ thought aside. He pushed the gate open and led me to a Range Rover SUV. “I’ll be right back” he said and dashed into the building. I stared at the car and shook my head in disdain. “You are such an extremist,” I said as he approached me.
“I don’t understand you” he replied, opening the door.
“Who uses a Range Rover Sport for driving lessons?” I asked. “I can see that you are still on about the status thing”
“No ma’am, I just felt that the Volkswagen Beetle might be faulty” he replied.
Daniel did not have to explain any further. It was obvious that he was trying to make up what happened earlier, but what did a Range Rover SUV have to do with this. I understand that we humans are of insatiable wants, but was an SUV not too glamorous for learning.
“I will need you to move to the driver’s seat,” he said.
I obeyed. Learning had to start with obedience. I trained for about two hours and when it was over, I had a good knowledge of the basics. “Thanks a lot,” I said as I handed him the key.
“Can I take you out to dinner to make up for what happened?” he asked, biting his lips.
JESUS! I could not believe what I just heard. Daniel was asking me out to dinner. I stared at him with the ‘are you serious’ look. “Dinner?” I asked.
“Yes Dinner, but I must warn you, it won’t be at Golden gate or any one of those fancy places, but it will be cool” he replied smiling.
“I don’t think I am up for an adventure” I replied.
“It will be spontaneous, something different from what you are used to” he replied. “Just think about it”
I could say Daniel had so much nerve. Going out to dinner with Daniel might not be such a bad idea even though I really did not know him, he cannot be worse than the guys I already know. I took a quick glance at my wristwatch.
“7pm” he said smiling.
Now I was sceptical, if I go out by 7pm, I might be too tired to go to Church tomorrow and I already got a text from the Church that I have skipped Service in the last few weeks. “I am not sure, maybe some other time” I replied, with squinted eyeballs.
“I will fetch you by 7pm” he replied. “We won’t be long” he assured.
I gave him no reply and walked out of the driving school. My phone beeped. I had a message from Jake. “What does he want?” I said aloud as I scrolled through. ‘Hope I am not missed? Love you! Jake x’, his message read. I smiled as I returned the Phone to my bag. Jake had no idea of what I had been through in his absence and I could not wait to fill him in on his return from the Bahamas.
I had dinner with the family. I left instructions that Daniel shouldn’t be allowed in; I was not ready for any silly adventures. He might have been disappointed but I am not ready to miss Church for the fifth consecutive week. I might not be God’s perfect daughter, but I still have to be in his good books.
“I am happy to see that you came to Church today, Praise God,” Pastor Ben said.
“Hallelujah Pastor” I replied, nodding my head casually. I wished Pastor Ben could spare me the after service sermon, I was on my way out of Church when he stopped me.
“Do you remember when you were still a little girl and you used to lead the Choir?” he asked.
Now I officially stuck with Pastor Ben. It has been years since I was responsible in the Church; this has been my Church since I was a little girl. If Pastor Ben did not remind me, I had actually forgotten that I used to sing, even though it has been a while. “Did I have a good voice?”
“Oh my child, it was the best I heard in the Church those days” he replied. “I think you should do it again,” he added quickly.
It felt good to hear that I used to have a good voice, but all that is in the past. “I am not sure Pastor”
“You need to use your talent for God child, and now that you are still young. The day is still young and you can work for God, night cometh when no one will be able to work. I know you may have the world at your feet now, you are beautiful, young, and with so much power and cash at your disposal, but you still need God in your game plan” he concluded, patting me lightly on the shoulder and returned into the Church.
Pastor Ben’s last words struck me and it felt as though those were the words meant for me from the Church today. I hailed a cab and rode home ruminating over Pastor Ben’s word. I am not sure if I am up to the task that Pastor Ben posed.
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