First Post

Adio didn’t pay enough attention when his passenger settled into the backseat. If he did, he would have noticed her hair.

There is a boldness in being so natural, in greeting the world just as you are, and Adio saw that in her hairstyle. While he understood that hairstyles were getting more daring and creative by the day, her hair felt like freedom of expression taken too far.

She weaved her hair into large spikes that jotted out in all direction mimicking the sunshine.

“Good evening.” her bubbly self started out.

“Good evening, ma’am.” He replied.

“Come, sit here.” She continued, beckoning towards the backseat door.

“Excuse me.” Adio looked at the rearview mirror to see his passenger make space.

“Are you comfortable?

“Yes, I am. Thank you” Adio replied.

“No, not you, silly.” She chuckles.

Adio looked again at the rearview mirror, his neck bent awkwardly for focus.

“Looks like we got company. Looney tune!” Don chipped in. “By their hair ye shall know them.” he added.

Adio had started the journey, negotiating the car to avoid potholes on the Apapa/Ijora road, renowned for its perennial and deadly pits. He still didn’t understand what was happening in his backseat. Were there two passengers in the backseat or one? His passenger seems to be in animated conversation with no one in particular.

“Yeah, I know. You know you were right when you mentioned that Chris had a thing for Esther. I watched them closely today at the party. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. I envy the bitch.”

Silence. Adio could almost hear his eyeballs make a squishy-like sound as they turned around in their sockets.

“She is speaking to her “Donna”! Hahahahaha” Don’s annoying laugh rang through his ears. “This is indeed crazy, who would have thought that we could find a match.”

“Shut up Don. Her case appears to be a serious mental health condition.”

“I wonder if I could perhaps meet “Donna.”” Another round of annoying laughter accompanied the statement from Don.

“Just shut up, Don.”

Adio opted to watch and listen to his passenger.

“No, you can’t tell me that. I always knew Esther was a virgin. There is nothing you can tell me.” Her voice appeared tense.

“Is everything okay there, ma’am?”

“No, that is not true. I like Chris, but I am happy for Esther. Stop it.” She snapped.

Adio felt like he was the invisible person in the car. Her destination was still thirty minutes away and that was pretty much a long time. He was unsure how much of this diatribe he could accommodate.

“Ma’am! ”Ma’am!” Adio called out firmly.

The lady turned to Adio.

“You can call me Amanda.”