Share
Chapter seven
SEVEN
Cross Legged I stand outside the lantern shop. I do not know if I am too early or too late. Many people pass by. They throw a quick glance at the shop and pass. If the owner of the shop has changed her mind about hiring me, I would try again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.
Working in this place could be a foolish decision. It is. But there is something about this place that has pulled me in and kept me amidst the dangers involved.
My eyes move around the environment brightly illuminated with solar lights, then I move my butt to the floor close to the entrance of the shop. The locks are simple; just a padlock which an iron rod or stone can break apart.
Soon, I see her approaching. She is no longer putting on what she was putting on at noon. Then she wore a blue jean with white shirt and a hat. Now she is in trousers with a see through net shirt that reveals her whi
Related chapters
Caged Chapter Eight
EIGHTSomeone is touching my leg. I first felt it from my sleep. I slowly open my eyes and note where I slept close to the television. I note that I slept. My spirit lifts even as I watch the boots that crossed over my leg. The person puts off the television and walks towards the couch designated to me. He lifts the teddy and I immediately scramble to my feet. ‘’Drop. it.’’He first tilts his head as he checks out the knife in my hand, he then studies the teddy bear. His eyes return to me quickly. ‘’Who are you?’’‘’Who are you?’’ I return to him.He shakes his head and scoffs. ‘’One of Zuri’s nuisances.’’He drops the teddy and turns away. I do not mind being called a nuisance. With the way he begins to pull his t-shirt over his head, it is established that Zuri is the lantern s
Caged Chapter Nine
NINEThe lantern shop now has a different look. I stand outside and admire the best models displayed at the window. Anyone would want to stop and check out a piece or two here. I am wearing joggers and a round neck t-shirt Zuri gave me with an ugly sandals she bought around the shop. The sandals has double crossings that reminds me of the Spartans.‘’I told you it's cool,’’ I say as I walk into the shop.She claps her hands together with her full teeth on display. ‘’Yeah?’’I nod with a smile. Contrary to our thoughts and her excitement, people are not flooding in as expected. They just come in twos and look around but buy nothing. I have food and a comfortable place to return to. None of the sales made here is enough of my business but I love to excel. Lack of productivity infuriates me.My personal assessment of my grades ha
Caged Chapter Ten
TENHeavy boots enter the sitting room. I wonder how I never hear that door opening when he comes home. What sort of work is it that makes him return home past midnight?He stands in front of my couch for a while then moves to the television. I keep my eyes half closed as I watch him in the dark room. He turns and looks at me before turning off the television. I wonder if he is trying to annoy me by turning off the television all the time.I grit my teeth and hold in all of my resentment. He picks a book I left out of the pile. His gaze returns to me then he returns the book to its place.He walks to the couch and lightly pats my feet. It is like he is trying to wake me up. His hands are cold against my warm feet. I have to act like I am in a deep slumber so I do not move. He walks out of the sitting room.I wait to hear his room door close but I hear nothing. Soon he
Caged Chapter Eleven
ELEVENI am in my new room when Zuri's door opens. She walks down to my room, slightly opens the door and throws in her head. "Hey."I wave in return and she goes out. Her footsteps move to the sitting room. I know she is about to watch that silly military movie where car burning looks like the fire is a ball beside the car.Soon I hear the sounds coming from it - very noisy gun shots, bomb explosions and shouts which are too exaggerated and unnecessary.I lie down and pull a pillow over my head. Before my eyes is a wallpaper of a popular musician. He is posed around a car without shirt and three women wearing just bras and panties. I don't know who started it but it was hard now to see a musician posed without nude women.In Kent's room, he too had a wallpaper of a rapper covering every corner of his room. I have never understood the reasoning behind these wallpapers used to dec
Caged Chapter Twelve
TWELVEZuri leads the way. She seems to know the bouncers at the door. Just a wink at them and we are in. I have been to a club before and this place, if it is a club. It is a different kind of club; it seems like a sex club.At a corner by the bar was a girl performing fellatio on a man on her knees while the man held her hair in one hand, and held a cigarette in the other hand.From Zuri's gait I can see the excitement bubbling in her to be here. She stops at the bar and looks around. I also pose and look around. There is a booth at the far end. Two girls played with themselves to entertain the men seated there who had ladies sitting astride and rocking their bodies back and forth on them. All were still clothed but I could tell they were actually skin to skin.Zuri turns and hands me a glass of lucid drink. I sniff it as I continue walking behind her. I have been seeing faces here and
Caged Chapter Thirteen
THIRTEENThere is a thing they do every weekend. I do not why no one told me that earlier. But I am sitting at my usual spot beside the stool in the parlor when Zuri skips in."They are here!" She says like we talked about "they" coming.I get up and stand beside the television and wait. She fumbles with the chain that links the door to the wall then moves the bolt.Once the door opens, there are shouts and plenty of heads. I walk away to my room. I stand close to the window and look down. There is nothing much to see but a laundry line.The door bursts open and I know it is Zuri. She stands there for a while then begins to walk closer to the window. I turn around."I hope you understand what happened last night was for you," she says.I raise an eyebrow and frown. " What was for me?"She sig
Caged Chapter Fourteen
FOURTEENI slowly turn and let out a laugh when I fully face him. "How long have you been there?"He begins to move in. " Long enough to see a different part of you."Suddenly lacking words, I walk to the chips and pick it from the floor then I return to the window and begin to chew carelessly with my eyes in his direction.Dwayne keeps his palms on the back of the long Sofa, facing the television - facing me."Where is your family?" he asks.I say nothing."Were you married, Imani?"That question makes me smile and then I exhale. Some of the weight dissolves and spreads again inside me returning to their crooks."Well, did you have a child?"I do not understand the pamphlet his questions are coming from. The absurdity is pushing me to laugh out loud. He seems to be randomly t
Caged Chapter Fifteen
FIFTEENToday, Zuri sold two lanterns. I was not there when she sold them but I can spot that something has been removed. She sold one from the "Memory" and another from the non VIP group." Where did you go?" Zuri throws to me as she writes.I shrug and look around. She pauses her writing as if that was the attention she thought I needed. When she stared that way, it made her look like her brother though she is a darker shade."Do you think you can manage this place?" She asks, already closing the ledger before her. " I need to do something.""Yes I can."I'm wearing my Spartan sandals and it slides easily against concrete so I slide over to the counter.Zuri arranges her bag while I take her seat. She hands me some money. "You can buy something to eat."I nod."Don't mess it up," s
Latest chapter
