ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (57 page)

Wow! I hope everything works well for him!

I hope so too. You know how hard it is for me to cry, right?

Yeah! I know the kind of stuff you are made of Isabel!

But when Wallis was here and I saw him cry, babe, I didn’t know how it happened but I felt it, tears trickling down my chicks and I just let it flow. Even when this thing happened to me, I mean when the Doctor told me that I I’m down with AIDS, my world came crashing on me yet I didn’t cry but felt like someone who has been sleeping for years but woke up so suddenly. Or a large piece of wood was taken off my eyes that day and I could see everything just the way they are meant to be. I’ve gone through grieving, denial, anger and all that but now I accept my faith ‘cause nothing I do will change anything. As for Wallis, I pray for him every day for some reasons. Anyways, it’s all too late now.

No Isabel. One thing I learnt is this; it is never too late to make a turnaround! And you know what comes with that? Peace of mind. You can even make a baby if you really want. There are spam banks all over the places these days you know. All you need is get the right kind of help. Wallis is ok ha? I mean he is not HIV positive too?

Yes! I didn’t give it to him and I didn’t get it from him for sure. I’m sure we already separated before I got this and I know it came from all that wild parties we used to have. With needles and drugs flying around and all the nasty things we did, I tell you anything was possible. Babe that was one hell of a crazy time!

What about the guy Billy. Love caught up with you there ha?

Not really! I kind of liked him a lot, get what I ‘m saying? But wasn’t in love, understand? He was rich beyond measure so I had just about anything I wanted. I got to drive in really good cars and enjoyed a cozy home. There was this Benz convertible I got form him, girl I tell you some, it’s one of the world’s best and the best that ever happened to me. The luxury in it sipped right through my entire being and left a kind of taste that lingers a life time. He was the lord Baron in a drug cartel so we really had some good stuff too. When it comes to getting high Billy was a pro and supplied me with real good quality stuff, the kinds I only tasted with Billy. And the parties, my goodness! We had so many that I lost count and every one of them lavishing! I had it good with him in some ways while it lasted. Oh yes, it was let’s say, bitter sweet!

Wow! Girl you’ve been around ha? How did you meet Billy?

I met this lady named Penney at a restaurant and we started talking and she invited me to her house for a party and Billy was there. Girl, some babe sure know how to leave the life and I can say that for Penney. Carissa, you need to see that babe’s place, is like a world on its own. Anyways talking about Penney will make another book so let’s leave that for now.

You and Billy been talking since you came back, ha?

No! He is dead! That’s what the Police told me, Isabel said.

For real! What happened?

He didn’t die of AIDS though, ‘cause he got shot by the Police, understand? And for that I think he was more lucky than me, get what I am saying? It was the day I myself got shot too and the whole thing that brought me here happened that he too got shot and killed. But what I think he just wanted out. The guy had a whole army in his house and when the Police came calling he with his men fought back and he did it knowing he was gonna get shot anyways ‘cause that’s the way he wanted it. I know he wouldn’t like to live and face up with a life where he couldn’t call shorts like he was used to! Oh no! Either AIDS or jail would have been too humiliating for Billy so he chose the easy way, the devil, rather than jump into the deep blue sea.

You got shot too?

Yeah! Right here on my leg! But is all healed now! Look! I can wriggle me toes now, before that was impossible. Carissa had to move closer to watch that. Wow! She exclaimed. What about all your stuff in Billy’s place? Could you get them out? She continued

No chance! Everything happened so fast, understand? The Police, I passed out, woke up in a hospital and everything. Suddenly, all this talk about bringing me back to the States started and I thought it wasn’t gonna happen but then I found myself on the airplane and here I am. But I talked to Wallis about my stuff though. What I don’t know is how he can help.

No! That’s the wrong way to go about it, Carissa said. You need to keep Wallis out of this, understand? What you need is talk to the Police. Tell them the whole truth about this Billy of a guy and all the things you left in his place. I’m sure they have a way with this kind of thing.

I already did but I’m not so hopeful. My main thing is my money. I and the guy opened this joint account and I had a whole lot of money put into it. Anyways, the money is no use to either of us anymore. Billy is dead and I don’t think I have much long to live, Isabel continued.

No! Don’t say that! You don’t know what tomorrow brings. By some kind of miracle someone might find a cure for AIDS anytime. It could happen today, tomorrow, next week, you don’t know. So don’t you ever give up, okay?

I don’t really care anymore.

The reason is you’re not being positive and that’s not how you survive a storm!

It’s not all hopeless though ‘cause something good still came out of all we did, don’t you think so? Look at you and how you turned out Carissa. That goes to say we were not wrong in every way. You made it!

Babe it wasn’t always easy for me ‘cause I went through hell! It was really tough out there, Carissa said. You see, when you left I was confused and didn’t know where to turn. And then I lost my job too ‘cause you know what my boss Hela Gupter is like, right? Then I had no choice but go in search of my Aunt but she already sold her house and moved.

Are you serious?

Yeah! Worse still, those that bought the house didn’t even know where she moved. And I tell you some babe that was one of the worst days of my life. Anyways, eventually I talked to Tasha and with her help I got me some two brand new roommates. When I got hooked up with those girls, they kind of talked me into this brothel job and I had to do it. I needed to survive somehow you know since there was nothing else I did that made ends meet, so I joined them.

And how did it work for you?

I thought it was the easy way out, but was it? No it wasn’t! It gave me the money but by all the wrong means. Then a lot of wired things began to happen. In that kind of business you meet a lot of bad girls and surprisingly angels too. Anyways, I was on this job for a long time until real bad stuff that could have caused me my life started happening so I began plotting my exit. And when Tasha died I knew I was done for good.

Tasha died?

Yeah! She is been long gone.

What happened?

One of those weird stories that have to do with the kind of job we were doing. It’s a complex thing that only those in that sort of business will understand.

Wow! Poor Tasha! She was a real cool babe! I remember how she helped out with everything at that bath day party that ruined everything.

Let’s not talk about her anymore, okay? Anyway, because of all the wired things happening to me at that time, I got into this serious depressive mood that refused to yield. And to make me feel better a new girl I met at the club, Angela, invited me along with two guys to go dancing at a night club you know. One of those guys we went dancing with that night became my husband.

Are you serious? Did you guys have a wedding and all that?

Ehen! It was a church thing! But that was the day I truly missed you Isabel. I wished you were there, get what I’m saying? Even my Aunt surprised me and showed up ‘cause my husband worked so hard until we found her, sent the invitation and forgot it but she came. She has aged a lot but she managed and came with her Care-Taker. You know the way I used to say that I’m never lucky with things and stuff? You know what I am talking about ha?

Yeah! ‘Cause you’ll be scared all the time and shit! I understood your fears though ‘cause they were justified.

I Know! I guess God piled up my goodies and gave them all to me in one whole piece. Ray is a gift from heaven and I thank God for that.

What about your mom? Was she at the wedding!

We couldn’t find her but we are still looking. I haven’t given up though, in spite of all. Ray is working so hard on it and I know we shall find her one day. We are getting close. Carissa continued.

Carissa you did great! Isabel continued. I myself have learnt so much in months since this thing started than I have known in my entire life. I guess you get to a stage where all that matter is family and stuff, ha? How many kids do you have?

Two! Christiana and her brother Felix!

Pay special attention to the girl though. Have your eyes on her at all times.

I understand but I think both of my kids need special attention. I and my husband make sure they get the best we can afford.

You stepped up in a lot of ways you know. I remembered you couldn’t even spell my name in those days Carissa but all that has changed.

Carissa chuckled before she said; my schooling did it for me! First, I went, got me my GED and then went for CNA. And she laughs again. Isabel managed a laugh also. And now I’m working on my RN.

Go girl! How is the program working for you?

Not bad at all. My husband helps with that too. And guess who’s been teaching me math in school?

Who?

Denyse Goldman! Now Denyse Jacobs!

No, she is not? You mean the same Denyse we used to hang out with?

Yeah! The same Denyse Goldman you know! I kind of wasn’t sure it was her initially ‘cause she completely changed. She turned out with this sophistication thing that kind of threw me off balance because we didn’t know her like that. She was nothing but a girl we benched for side attractions in those days, you remember?

Yeah?

And now, boom, here comes this very sophisticated pretty lady with high class manners and all that and I’m like, wait a minute! This dame reminds me of someone from the past. I checked her out and I was right. Then we started talking and we’ve been talking since then. She remembers everything.

Really!

Oh yes! She is a Doctor now. Not a doctor of medicine but she holds a PHD in Nursing and I hear she is as smart as an owl. I never liked Math but because of her, I picked up interest and she encourages me a whole lot.

I knew that babe was up to something!

Yeah! “One Hundred Great American Women Achievers,” Dr. Denyse Jacobs reporting for duty, Carissa said and both of them laughed for a while.

You gonna be one of them soon, ha? Isabel said.

Still working on it! My RN first, and then I’ll go for my Masters. Fortunately I’ve got my man with me.

That kind of makes it easier, ha? Know what I think, Isabel asked rhetorically. May be this is the way our lives were meant to play out, understand? Probably you wouldn’t have met your husband if I didn’t leave the time I did.

Who knows! The silver lining thing back again, ha? You may be right!

Baby! My greatest wish right now is that you’ll stay here with me till I go but then your family needs you more than I do.

I know! Don’t worry! I’ll always be here ‘cause you aren’t going anywhere. I’m sure my family will understand you also need me. Is there anything you want me to get you when next I’ll be here?

I can’t think of anything right now. I guess AIDS takes everything from you before it turns around and kills you.

Why can’t they find a cure for this thing? Carissa said.

They need funding. Finding a cure requires a lot of research and that cost lots of money. People need to put out more money in founding for lots and lots of researches on AIDS. Anyways I already have it in mind that when I die, whatever is left in my account and that is if someone could locate my money, should go into finding a cure for AIDS.

I hope you take your meds, ‘cause those in the market these days help a lot. AIDS patients now live a normal like anyone in the society ‘cause it’s something that has come to stay and we must learn to cope.

I know! I pray they make the drugs we have now a whole lot and cheaply available to everyone who needs them. They do help a lot, no doubt. Still AIDs remains a life sentence! So, guys beware!

Carissa bent her head to the floor struggling to control her tears and after a long while, she won. Don’t bug yourself so much with stuff, okay? You need all the strength you can to continue the fight.

Thanks for the encouragement Carissa. But sometimes, I think it would’ve been better I died that day Police shot me at Billy’s, Isabel added.

No! There is a reason for everything. If you ask me I’ll say you stayed alive so we can meet again, get what I’m saying? But remember this; I’ll never lose faith in you, okay? I and my family will be praying for you, alright. We are never gonna leave you lonely. Right now, am gonna call my husband to come pick us up but I’ll always be here to see you. Here is my number, and she wrote it on a piece of paper and handed it over to Isabel. If you need anything, call and I’ll see to it that you get what you want, okay? I’m gonna leave my number with your medical staff too so they can call me whenever they need someone to stand for you, okay?

Thanks a lot babe! When shall I see you again? Isabel asked.