Growing Yams in London (14 page)

‘Makeeda, I’ve been all over Oxford Street for the clothes and kitchen utensils, East Street Market for her tights and then Kilburn for her hair stuff!’

‘Oh,’ I said, trying not to snigger.

‘Plus, I did this all without a car, on a Sunday! It’s crazy!’ Tanisha said, literally throwing the bags into the boot.

‘Come on, I’ll get you some rice,’ I said, throwing my arm across her shoulder.

I went straight to the kitchen and got Tanisha some food, whilst she went around greeting everyone. Although none of the people were relatives from her side of the family, most of them knew
her.

I walked into the living room to a buzz of Twi and people staring at her excitedly.

‘
Ei Tanisha ni? Wo maame wo hen?
’ said an elderly woman.

The room went silent. I knew ‘
maame
’ meant mother. I looked around and couldn’t see Mum, Dad, Aunt Grace, or Auntie Anita or Uncle Larry. Tanisha was alone. I was
rooted to the spot. I wanted to do something to help, like usher Tanisha away, or explain to the woman that Aunt Jennifer had died, but the words just wouldn’t come. I felt guilty. I knew I
was betraying my cousin.

‘She died,’ Tanisha replied.

‘
Kos
ε
Nyame w
ɔ
h
ɔ
!
’ the elderly woman added.

It was a phrase I’d heard Aunt Grace use often. It meant something like: ‘My sympathies, God is there for you.’

Suddenly Dad was there, whispering to Tanisha, and she left the room.

‘Makeeda, go and sit with Tanisha,’ Dad said.

I nodded and he smiled.

We sat in the corridor in silence. I wanted to tell her that it was OK to cry but, because I still felt so jealous of her relationship with Mum, I couldn’t bring myself to.

I was still clutching her plate of food, minutes later, when Delphy and Kofi came strolling up.

‘Mum said you have to get our coats,’ Delphina said.

‘Oh,’ I said.

I didn’t want to leave Tanisha but then I saw Mum heading our way. When I returned, Tanisha was almost herself again. I couldn’t help but feel left out when I saw Mum hugging and
whispering to her.

We said our goodbyes and drove home. Tanisha was staying with us before leaving for Ghana. The only conversation in the car was between Dad and Delphina. I looked between Tanisha and Mum, who
were silently staring out of the car; both thinking about the same person. Dad later told me that the old woman at the party had no idea that Auntie Jennifer had died.

Just before we got home my phone beeped.

Oh great. That’s all I need.

I stared at Mum. She was dressed in a navy blue trouser suit and cream blouse. I noticed that she had on the earrings Dad had bought for her fortieth birthday and was wearing a
lot more make-up than usual. Something big was going on.

‘Did you hear me?’ she asked.

‘Er . . . I have less than forty-five minutes to get ready for school, and you want me to take Delphy by bus?’

‘Yes.’

‘Great!’ I said, hiding under my duvet. Usually Mum drove us to Wealdstone where she dropped Delphy at school, while I caught the bus into Harrow.

‘Makeeda, now! And don’t wake Tanisha up,’ Mum said, ripping the duvet off the bed and leaving.

I looked over at Tanisha, fast asleep in the fold-out bed on the other side of my room. She was leaving for Ghana that night, so was spending the day doing last-minute shopping then hanging out
with us after school.

‘Fine,’ I said, and stormed off to the bathroom.

I had no idea what was going on and, to be honest, Mum’s attitude had killed off any curiosity I had.

Around forty-five minutes later, Delphy and I were chasing after the 186 bus. Surprisingly, it wasn’t packed, so we were able to get seats next to each other.

‘Makeeda, can I have some of the sweets you’ve got in your pocket, please?’

‘How did you know?’

I reluctantly pulled out my pack of strawberry-flavoured lollipops. I was strictly a chocolate girl, but Tanisha had bought them for me as it reminded her of the summer we spent in Brighton as
kids.

‘Actually, I’ll let you have them if you tell me what Mum’s up to.’

‘OK,’ Delphina said, placing a hand over the bag. ‘Well . . .’

I could see her grip tightening, so I tightened mine. I don’t trust my sister.

‘Makeeda?’ she said, realising I wasn’t quite ready to let go.

‘Tell me then.’

‘OK, she’s thinking of teaching history . . .’

‘Where?’ I said loosening my grip.

Mum had done a PGCE a year ago and the first thing I did at her graduation was make her promise never to teach at my school. I remember she smiled.

‘At some college in Manchester,’ Delphy said, successfully snatching the bag from me.

‘You’re lying!’ I said, mortified. ‘That would mean we’d have to move.’

‘It’s our stop,’ she said, getting up.

As we started walking towards Delphy’s school, my mobile beeped with a message.

This had to be a joke. Although it was on my way to school, I didn’t like the way he asked.

‘Who’s that?’ asked Delphy.

‘None of your business,’ I said.

I agreed to meet him because I felt guilty about not being able to see him over the weekend.

‘Well, tell me about Mum then.’

‘She had a meeting with her boss.’

‘Is that it? Why did you lie to me?’

Delphina just shook the bag of lollies in my face and grinned.

‘Whatever,’ I said.

My phone beeped again. This time it was Bharti, but I didn’t open it as Delphina’s tie distracted me.

‘Did you tie this yourself?’ I asked.

‘Yes,’ she said, pushing my hand away from it. ‘Shouldn’t you see who your text is from? I can do it for you,’ Delphy said, reaching for my phone.

‘Nice try, Delphy,’ I said, turning my phone off.

‘But there’s nothing wrong with my tie,’ Delphy moaned.

‘It’s terrible! If Miss Greenwood sees it, she’ll make you redo it in front of your class.’

I wasn’t lying. She was a mean woman and I’d seen her do it to a girl in my class when I was Delphy’s age.

A panicked-looking Delphina stared back at me.

‘Come here, then,’ I said and redid her tie on myself, then placed it over her head and tucked it behind her dark green pinafore.

‘Thanks, Makeeda,’ she said, smiling. ‘I’m sorry I lied.’

‘What are you up to? You never apologise,’ I said suspiciously.

‘Do you have change for a pound?’ Delphina asked.

‘Yes,’ I said, waiting until she gave me the pound coin first.

‘Thanks,’ she said, smiling as she placed the change into a small plastic box.

‘Fess up or I’m telling Mum . . .’

‘Oh look, there’s Daniel!’ she said, racing off through the school gates.

I knew she was up to something but I didn’t have time to find out.

I walked down the road to McD’s to find Nelson in a sweatshirt and jeans, sitting in the corner with Jordan and Laura who were in their school uniform. What are they doing here? I
wondered.

‘Hey, Makeeda!’ Jordan yelled, calling me over.

‘Hiya!’ I waved to them, giving a smile.

‘Morning,’ Nelson said, standing up to kiss me on the cheek.

At least he and Jordan were pleased to see me. Laura gave me a dirty look. I added my coat to the pile stacked up between Jordan and Nelson.

‘How come you’re not going to school?’ I asked.

‘Oooh . . . Someone’s in trouble,’ Jordan said, in between mouthfuls of pancake.

‘Shut up, Jordan!’ Nelson said. ‘I just didn’t fancy it today.’

‘Oh right,’ I said. I thought it a bit weird but, then again, I really didn’t want to look a nerd.

‘Hey, how come you didn’t come to Chessington with us?’ Jordan asked me.

‘I . . .’

‘Makeeda obviously had a better offer,’ Laura interrupted.

‘I had a family thing to go to,’ I replied.

‘Yeah, Mel told me,’ Nelson said.

‘Sounds like you two don’t talk to each other much,’ Laura added.

She had a point. Nelson never told me about going to Chessington, Mel did. It felt like he wasn’t really bothered about me not being there. He invited me here and didn’t tell me we
wouldn’t be alone. Plus, I didn’t tell him about the outdooring.

‘Hey, remember when we got chucked off that ride?’ Laura said.

‘Yeah, and you got into an argument with that guy and we all had to leg it before the security men caught us!’ Jordan added, and they all fell about laughing.

‘What about Mel throwing up after that rollercoaster?’ Nelson added, causing more laughter.

I was surprised as she could usually handle the fastest rides.

‘Uh huh, she was all, “I can handle anything”, then started throwing up after the ride,’ Jordan said, laughing.

I smiled, but I didn’t laugh. It really annoyed me that I couldn’t share in the joke and Laura knew it. I looked at my watch; I had ten minutes to get to school. I didn’t fancy
catching the bus with Laura.

‘I’d better go,’ I said suddenly.

‘Can’t you stay for a bit? Do you want a drink?’ Nelson asked.

‘No, I can’t miss school. I’ve got to see my history teacher.’

‘Oh right,’ he said, heading off to the counter.

‘Can’t you be late?’ Laura asked.

‘I already am. Aren’t you going in?’ I asked her.

‘I’ve got a dentist appointment at eleven so I won’t get in till, oohh, after midday!’ she said smiling and flicking her hair. Laura was queen of the well-timed hair
flicks.

‘Nice!’ Jordan said, impressed.

‘See ya!’ I replied.

I expected Nelson to follow me, but he was still at the counter so I left.

I had reached the bus stop when he came running after me.

‘Why didn’t you say goodbye?’ he said.

‘You seemed busy.’

‘Are you pissed off with me?’

‘No. Not really,’ I lied.

I didn’t want to come across as needy or anything, but I did want to see him alone. Plus we hadn’t spoken or text messaged each other in ages.

‘Yeah you are. Is it because of Chessington?’

‘No,’ I lied.

‘I wanted to see you this weekend, Makeeda, but you said you were busy.’

‘I know, but I just thought . . . I thought that you invited me here because we hadn’t seen each other over the weekend!’ I said, slightly louder than I would’ve liked. I
was angry because he didn’t seem bothered.

Nelson didn’t respond immediately, instead he looked away from me. I suddenly felt nervous. Was he going to dump me for being too clingy?

‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘It would’ve been better if it was just you and me.’

‘Yeah,’ I said and, to my relief, he smiled at me.

‘I, um . . . missed you . . . I mean it was rubbish without you there,’ he said, looking embarrassed.

‘Yeah?’ I said, smiling.

‘Yeah. I mean, I don’t know if you’d pretend to like rollercoasters, like your mate Mel,’ he said, grinning.

‘Ohmigod! That’s so rude. FYI – I love rollercoasters.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ he said, so I hit him on the arm. ‘Do you want to meet up later? I could come to your house for a change?’

‘Um . . . it’s not a good idea. My cousin’s leaving for Ghana tonight, so we’re having a family night,’ I said.

‘Oh, right.’

He was clearly disappointed, but there was no way I was going to let him anywhere near my house – or, more importantly, my parents.

My bus pulled up alongside us and I made my way to the queue.

‘I’ll text you later,’ he said, kissing me on the cheek.

‘OK.’

I took my seat and saw him staring back at me from the pavement. He looked odd standing there dressed casually amongst commuters in coats and smart clothing. I could see that he was cold as he
wasn’t wearing his jacket, but it was the way he was staring at me that unnerved me. It made me think that he could see straight through me. Like he knew that I was lying to my parents, and
that was why I never invited him to my house. The bus pulled away and he waved goodbye but I was left feeling guilty.

I managed to slip into assembly next to Bharti, giving my form tutor the excuse of waking up late. She must have been in a good mood because she didn’t give me the usual
automatic detention.

Bharti barely looked in my direction, until we were heading back to our form rooms for our first lesson.

‘Bharti?’ I said, grabbing her arm.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘What’s up?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Hey, Makeeda, have you seen Laura?’ Mel asked.

‘Yeah, she was in McD’s with Nelson and Jordan this morning. She said she had a dentist appointment.’