Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

Theresa Obum looked around the flat and wondered why she was so alone? Why had her social life suddenly fizzled out and gone flat like expired Coca Cola? Why wasn’t anybody calling her again? She, who had always been the mover, the one who had always arranged the digs and hang outs. Why was it that her life had gone silent since Simisola had disappeared? At least in the early days, the close friends who had known of the kidnapping had called her often to know if Simi had been returned safely.

Tessy had been so embarrassed when she had been informed by a random, low class friend that Simi had been brought back home. Worse still, Simi had refused to pick up her calls or return the missed calls she was sure to have seen by now.

To make matters worse, the moment their friends realised that Tessy was not in the loop about Simi’s return nor had the scoop on how the return had happened, her phone had gone silent.

One or two scragglers had tried to reach Simi through her and the moment she’d needed to come up with a story to make it seem she was still connected, even they had stopped calling.

It was annoying that in spite of her best efforts, her whole life revolved around Simisola and her largesse. She wondered if she would be asked to move out of the apartment since Anita had gone AWOL and Aduke had become a permanent feature at her rich Alhaji’s house. She, who had always thought that she was one of the Rich Kids of LasGidi was now the one who had become the outsider. Her bank balance was on the verge of turning red because the costs of living a good life in Gidi had begun to bite.

To add to all her worries, the Splinkeji post about this forthcoming party by the Owen Brownes was not helping matters. She might as well consider herself a persona non grata if that party happened without her. She had always prized herself as the closest to Simisola Owen Browne so, if she was not at that party, she knew that she was officially off the social circuit.

She, who had planned that this summer was going to be spent in Spain, with Simi and Anita in tow could not believe that there was nothing planned yet. She had thought that by now, Simi would have disturbed her dad for his private jet and made him pay for a villa in Spain. She had already planned for the Instagram pics and had even begun a diet since March for this summer.

It seemed her hopes were about to be dashed big time!

Tessy took a step onto the balcony and looked at Lasgidi from the high-rise, she wondered if she would have to move back to the derelict family house in Ikoyi, with no car, no glitz or glam life and worse still and a name whose glory was long lost. She pondered on her situation and knew she had to make a move fast. She was unwilling to lose her status. It was time to call her mother.

That old cat was always up to name dropping tricks, perhaps she could get an idea or two off her.
‘Hallo mummy’ said Tessy as the call was picked
‘theresa!!! Na wa o. You just left me here without even coming to check up on me’ said her mum.
‘Mummy, my heart and mind have been with you, but you know how these things can be’ responded Tessy. It was an old game they played with each other. Both always sounded as though they were too busy for family.
‘I hear thy have found your friend’ said her mother
‘Who told you?’ asked Tess irritated that her mother probably knew before her too.

‘I’m wired in this LasGidi, my dear. Eh, bia Tessy, I’ve been meaning to ask you something o, there is one wig that the girls all had when we went on our trip to London, I would like to get it too. All of them said they did it at DaniJo’s Salon.

I really want it o’ Tessy knew a request like this had been bound to happen and this was why she always avoided her mother’s calls. Her mother expected her to meet up with all her needs. Her siblilngs had formed a barrier to fence the old lady and her big eyes off.

‘DaniJo’s Salon? Do you know how expensive he is, mummy?’ asked Tessy
‘But the hair is nice, Tessy. It will be great to get it. It is value for money. I cannot be the only one without it oh’ said her mum
‘Hmm… I will see what I can do. I’m broke mummy’ responded Tessy truthfully.
‘Broke? You are a pretty young lady about town, perhaps your boyfriend will buy it for you’ teased her mum
Tessy burst into laughter ‘Which boyfriend mummy? I’ve not had a single toaster since I broke up with Emeke’ said Tessy
‘Whaaaaat? That’s almost two years ago!’ exclaimed her mum
‘Yes. Anyway, that is not why I called you’ she said, quickly changing the topic
‘Ehhh, you are not growing younger o’ said her mum
‘Stop stating the obvious. Marriage is not on my mind for now, I’m only 27’ said Tessy
‘Twenty -gini? Have you forgotten I’m the one who birthed you? asked her mom,
‘I did not call for this’ said Tessy angrily.
‘Ok why did you call?’ asked Mrs. Obum
‘Do you know the Owen Brownes?’ asked Tessy
‘Of course! I know the old wife, not this new puppet. The old wife and I were members of the same charity committee in our hey days. We used to determine who was relevant in this society.

That committee was powerful. I cannot even remember what happened to disband us but I think it was when her husband began to follow the daughter of one of the other ladies who refused to call the young girl to order.

That was when the crack opened up, because we all took sides. Yoruba women can be so disappointing! I don’t know why the lady did not call her daughter off’ reminisced Mrs. Obum
‘Whose side were you on, mummy? Asked Tessy. She needed to know this so that she could use it as a strategy to get her friend back.
‘Mrs Owen Browne, of course. I’m always on the path of truth. No small girl should do that to her mother’s friend, and no woman should encourage her daughter to do that. If it was another random man, maybe it won’t matter, but it was too close for comfort’ judged Mrs Obum.

‘Good. Are you still in touch with her? She’s in town and she’s having a big society party which we need to be seen at’ said Tessy
‘Eh, really? What will I wear?’ responded her mum, excited.
‘Do we even have invites?’ asked Tessy
‘Your friend can get us in’ said her mum simply
‘She’s not talking to me right now, for reasons best known to her’ said Tessy
‘It doesn’t matter, we will still go there! Give me some time to make some calls. I will see what I can do. Biko, send me call credit o’ said her mum
‘Mummy, this isn’t about seeing what you can do, it is about ensuring that you do it quickly.

Remember, how great Simi has been to me? If you want that hair, you should work towards it’ said Tessy quickly, before she dropped the call. It was good to get her mother in on the plan.

She knew that in spite of having her mum on her side, she needed a plan B. She would not be dumped prematurely by any so called friend. The plan B would involve Belinda Splinkeji.