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.
Mel:
OMG we are having a wicked time! Nelson and Jordan are really funny. I c y u like him. Laura’s been keeping him company as they both love rollercoasters. Wish u
were here. X
Oh great. That’s all I need.
Chapter 11
School Run – Makeeda Style
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
‘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.
Mel:
OMG we are having a wicked time! Nelson and Jordan are really funny. I c y u like him. Laura’s been keeping him company as they both love rollercoasters. Wish u
were here. X
Oh great. That’s all I need.
Chapter 11
School Run – Makeeda Style
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
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