PIECES

I asked myself the same question multiple times. Isn’t it best to forgo this occasion, what’s the worst that could happen? But even with my repetitive questions, I knew I had to go. 

Kehlani always has the best story to tell of us. One time, we were both trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes. It was a crazy one, because we had this silly fight about pets right before entering the elevator, so we were giving each other this silent treatment and the elevator stopped! I could feel the fear in her breathing. She doesn’t like the dark, she doesn’t like the silent treatment, and she has seen a lot of movies where people get trapped in an elevator for hours. So, I knew what her thought process was. I moved closer to her and held her by the hand, she turned to face me and she was completely in my arms. Did I mention I was slightly bigger than her, so I was able to wrap my hands around her entirely. With some soothing words, she calmed down while we waited for the rescue team. 

Shortly after we got out of the elevator, and we sort of forgot why we got into an argument in the first place. The funny thing about this elevator story is that Kehlani has a different version of it. Honestly, you may like her version better. Just wait till I get to her party and hear it from her. 

She clocked 29 last Tuesday and she decided to throw a party today. Yeah, that face you had on, I had it too and I even asked the same question; why? I mean, everyone throws a party for their 30th, 35th maybe, 40th etc… but 29th? Huh, to each his own, right? She probably has her reason for not wanting to wait for one more year. 

Shoot! I didn’t tell you we had a fall out right? Well, we did, I still don’t know why… gradually we just started drifting apart. One excuse after the other. If it’s not the kids today, it is work, it’s always something. Probably comes with growth, you live on the other side of the town, everyone is busy with work, and one is busy with both work and creating a family of her own. You don’t have time to do things you do in college, the other friend taking a piss because you miss a couple of shows, events, vacations… Yeah, Kehlani, I’m sorry, I didn’t make it to the girls’ vacation, who would I leave my 4-year-old with? I’m sorry I didn’t make that show between my two demanding jobs. I’m sorry I’m a single mum of 2 kids trying to juggle life with little or no help. The last conversation we had before she called to invite me to her birthday was mostly an argument. Typical of her to blame me for everything!

That was why, not only was I surprised to get an invitation to her party, considering we almost tore our shirts off fighting over the phone, but I was also shocked that she was throwing a party for her 29th birthday. She had major plans for her 30th. What could have gone wrong? She’s trying to celebrate the two, or maybe she’s dying? OMG! She’s dying! Or am I just being paranoid? So many questions, concerns, and worries. Which brings me back to the beginning. Attending the party, if this sitter decides to show up anytime. 

I hadn’t been to any occasion in a long while, and I wasn’t even confident in my outfit, but at least I was honoring the invite. It’s a rainy day, most stores are closed, and fewer cars are on the road… it’s about to be a long ride. I put on some music, and I slowly drove across town, vibing to some old-school jams while I anticipated seeing my best friend who isn’t mine anymore but not estranged, hoping to get some sort of closure.

In between singing along to songs and getting lost in thought, I drove past where I was meant to turn. That’s just great! The normal thing would be to exit from the next one right, well I just did and it’s not leading me back to the road. Not funny because I plied this road when I was on this part of the town, so what seemed to have changed? Before I turn myself into a crazy person, I better use my map. 

Okay, my map has brought me to the end of the road but not where I am going, what am I doing wrong? How did I find myself in the middle of nowhere? “Take a deep breath Lina” … breathe in and out… Okay, let’s do this one more time. This map better not mess with me, or did I get the address wrong? 

Don’t look back, just drop your phone and give me your purse and keys. I dare not look back. With a pointed tool on my waist and a stench from the bottomless pit of hell, I dare not look back. I dropped everything as instructed shakingly, my eyes were shut and I just kept muttering “Please don’t shoot, just take everything” I heard them laughing at me. One said “This car looks like it has a tracker and could be traced back to us, the other said, we sell it before it gets tracked. He replied, “Do you know if they track it immediately, also do you have a buyer? I suggest we take the purse as usual and get out of here. I stood there shakingly listening to them argue, obviously amateurs but I still dare not open my eyes, amateurs or not. I stopped hearing their voices after a while, I opened one eye and then the other and noticed they had gone with everything but the car. 

I hurried into the car, and for a while, I didn’t know what to do. I must leave this place whether I knew where I was going or not, then I realized these idiots left with my car key! What? They left with the key and not the car, along with my phone and purse and whatever other way I could get out of there! Who are these people, Lord God? I should have stayed back, I should have listened to my gut. This is bad, bad. I’m stranded in the middle of nowhere. I don’t have a phone to call anyone, I can’t move the car anywhere. What if these fools come back? Is this how I meet you, Lord? 

Wonderful!