42JIDEEveryone was dressed in formal clothing outside the restaurant. The party had begun three hours ago and yet, Ivory was not in sight. The high, middle and low class people chattered and got acquainted. Everyone seemed to be getting along. Except me. My eyes kept dashing to the gate anytime someone made an entrance. Where could she be? Was she still mad at me about the kiss? It was not that I did not want to; damn she was too attractive for her own good. But I was not sure if she was into PDA? I did not wish to choke her. Or force her into doing what she did not want, no matter the circumstance. I needed her to ease me into her life."Lover boy, where is lover girl?" Kofi asked behind me.I turned to face him and growled. "Quit calling me that.""It is time to cut the ribbon and she is not here yet?" He asked me."I guess we both know the answer to that," I sarcastically cut in. "Mr. Kevin would soon go ninja on everyone. He would think this is one of our pranks," he rambled.

44IVORY"What is happening?" Jide asked. "What did I do?"They ignored him and when he tried resisting, an officer kicked him behind his knees, rendering him to the floor. "What? What is happening?" I asked, gingerly; the flurry of activities making me dizzy. "Ma'am, you both would have to come with us to the station," one of the officers said. "But we have a flight to catch," I responded. "You would have to come with us, ma'am," he insisted and I obliged. "Let him go. Uncuff him," I commanded. "I am sorry ma'am but we can't. A hardened criminal like him should be chained too," the same man replied. "What are you saying? Jide has done nothing wrong," I defended."What lies has someone fed you guys about me?" Jide asked, fury burning in his eyes."Everything would be cleared at the station," they assured us.We followed them silently, me worried and confused, Jide glaring and seething. I would not blame him, he was the one in the handcuff paraded as a criminal. I wanted to pluc

46IVORYI woke to find only me on the bed. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up on the bed and stretched, smiling. I blushed as the memories of Jide's strong arms holding me flashed through my mind. This was the first time in five years I had felt comfortable sharing my bed with someone else. My phone dinged on the bedside table and I retrieved it. I noticed it had connected to the WiFi and there were so many notifications. I perused them and replied most. They were from Aunt Joan, Mother, Cassidy and some of the new friends I gave my contact to at the farm and orphanage. There was none from Grandma. I looked around the room to find it empty. There was not even a sound coming from the bathroom. Where did Jide go off to? I got out the bed and threw my night robe over my skimpy night wear and made my way to the balcony to watch the sun rise. Leaning on the railing, I looked up to the blue sky. There was a tinge of yellow over the horizon where the sun was peeking its way awake. I looked dow

48IVORYWhen we got into the house, Jide's mother sat me on a sofa and said something to Jide in Igbo before disappearing into an adjoining door. Jide sat beside me with a heavy sigh and a warm smile. "What did she say?" I asked him. "She is preparing a meal for us," he said. "What did you tell her about me? She was excited to see me," I asked. "Told her you were a friend. People here really like whites. That is why you garner a lot of stares," he explained and I blushed. "I would really love to have a bath right now. I am all sweaty and sticky. God. How could they pack us all like sardines into that tiny space without enough ventilation or even an AC?" I complained. Jide laughed out loud and muttered something in his language. "Are you mocking me?" I asked him. He smiled and took me into his arms. "Of course not." He kissed my hair. "It was just an 'I told you so' statement."I leaned into his hold. "I have to say you were right on this one. Damn. What is with the roads? It

50IVORYThe number of kicks I received last night from Adanna's horrible sleeping positions were uncountable. When I finally got a peaceful sleep was in the early hours of the morning when I thought Adanna had awoken and left the bed for me. I slept until the sheets were pulled from underneath me and I landed on the floor. Why was this familiar? Oh. This was exactly what Makena did to me on my first day in the farm. I opened my eyes and rubbed my forehead. Adanna was standing above me with her feet wide apart. I looked at the time and it was 5:30am. "Is this how you use to sreeping in your fada house in ala oyibo?" I thought she asked me. "Can you just go away? The fuck." I swore and stood, rubbing my throbbing side. She exclaimed something in Igbo before referring to me. "I cannot goes away. You is a bad visitors. You is here sreeping while Mama Jide dey do the work. After you go come chop. There are a no food for a lazy mans."I can't possibly deal with this my whole stay her