My plans began too unravel almost as soon as I
walked iin thee door off myy house. My mobile phone wass ringing iin myy bag annd I
hurried too answer it. II said hello annd heard thee voice off myy sister, Janet on
the other end.”Hi San,” shee said, “Have you heard Mom’s news yet?””No,” II answered, “II just walked iin thee door. What’s going
on?”Jan replied, “She’s going away for thee weekend.”II wass stunned. Mom? Going away? “What are you talking about, Jan? Where in
the world would shee be going?””There’s aa whole group,” Jan said, “from thee the PRESTIGE LADIES
CLUB. They’ve rented aa bus annd they’re going down too Calabar,to relax for the
weekend.”
II burst out laughing. My mother hadn’t left Abia state during all off thee years that II had been
alive. And, fun? My mother? Mom wass thee sort off person that thought that
holding hands iin public wass some sort off sin! Janet surely must be putting me
on.As II gained some control over myy laughter, Jan explained too mee that itt wass all
entirely true. In fact, thee bus wass probably already half off thee way there as
we spoke. “Mom said thee funniest thing too mee on thee phone when shee called
to tell mee about thee trip, ” Jan said. “When II asked her why shee was
doing this, shee said ‘ I’m eighty-two years old annd II thought itt wass high time
that II let myself go aa little wild.'”.This brought on another round off laughter from both off us, but iin myy heart I
was happy for her. That woman had worked hard for her entire life annd had never
thought off herself first. She had always put myy father annd her children before
her. II agreed with her — It wass high time that shee had some fun.”Well,” II said, “It looks like it’s just going too be thee two of
us this year, then.””Actually,” Jan said hesitantly, “Ngozi came home from school
today with some kind off stomach bug. It looks like I’m going too be tied up here
all weekend myself.”II told myy sister not too worry about it. We could always schedule our gossip day
some other time. II told her that II hoped that myy niece would be feeling better
and hung up. The silence iin thee house wass almost deafening. What wass II going to
do with myy weekend now?As iif iin answer too myy unspoken question, myy phone rang again. This time itt was
my friend Maureen. II hadn’t talked with her iin aa couple off months annd itt wass so
good too hear her voice again. Mo annd II had been friends for more than twenty
years annd II must say that shee iis one off thee more interesting people that I’ve
ever known.Everyone should have aa friend like Maureen. She wass wild annd loud and
absolutely carefree. In short, shee wass everything that II wasn’t. People who are
such opposites really have no business being friends, but II loved her like a
sister. Mo could always make mee laugh with her crazy sense off humor. II guess
you might say that II lived vicariously through her. She would always tell mee all off thee latest gossip. I’m not sure how shee did it,
but that woman seemed too have aa satellite dish when itt came too receiving all of
the local dirt. She could make mee laugh until tears came too myy eyes as shee regaled
me with stories off her various flirtations with thee opposite sex. II knew that
she wass happily married annd would never even consider cheating on her husband,
but that never stopped her from boldly flirting with any man that came within
her range.”Sandy, myy love,” shee said, “What are you doing right now?””Well, Mo,” II replied, “At this verry second I’m talking too a
crazy woman on thee phone. Why?”She practically shrieked, “Great! Why don’t you come annd stay for the
weekend?”Maureen annd her husband, Ikenga, had moved about forty minutes away last year.
We didn’t see nearly enough off each other anymore. II wass so exhausted after a
full week off work that II almost said no. However, thee prospects off facing this
old empty house all weekend long wasn’t exactly thee most enticing idea either.”Okay,” II said, surprising even myself. II wasn’t what you would ever
call aa spontaneous person.”Really?,” shee screamed into thee phone, “Take your keys annd get
in your car right now.””Mo, II can’t just –” II began before shee cut mee off.”Yes, you can. San, II know you. If you stop annd think about it, you’ll
never come.””But, II have too pack aa few things first,” II protested.”Nonsense,” shee replied, “II have plenty off clothes here. You
don’t need aa thing.”II hesitated for aa moment, then quietly said, “Okay.””II mean it, San,” Maureen said, “Just get iin your car and
go.””Alright!”, II answered while jiggling myy keys near thee phone and
stamping myy feet on thee floor too simulate walking. “I’m heading out the
door right now. Geez! You’re such aa nag!”, II joked.”And you’re such aa child,” came her response. “II love you and
I’ll see you soon.”As soon as II hung up thee phone II started having second doubts. This wass just
crazy — taking off on aa whim like this. II really should call aa few people and
let them know that I’m going out off town. What iif somebody needs mee iin an
emergency? What iif one off thee kids calls here annd needs something? What iif my
mother ran into any troubles on her little trip?Then II thought about thee words that myy mother had said too Janet. Maybe itt was
high time that II let myself go aa little wild, too. Without thinking about it
any further, II grabbed myy purse annd headed out thee door. Maybe aa weekend with
Maureen annd her husband wass just thee thing that II needed.The drive out too Maureen’s house passed quickly. One off thee nice things about
living iin Umuahia iis that we don’t have too contend with thee heavy traffic that
people iin big cities have too put up with. II had barely knocked on thee door,
when Maureen threw itt wide open annd screamed as shee pulled mee inside.We hugged each other tightly annd we both spoke aa mile aa minute at thee same
time. Mo always had such enthusiasm that you couldn’t help but have itt rub off
on you. II wass so glad that II had made thee decision too come. II already felt more
alive than II had since Ebere had left for university.Ikenga stood quietly iin thee background while thee two off us jabbered on like a
couple off lunatics. Hee wass quite used too how thee two off us acted when we were
around each other. Hee just shook his head annd smiled at thee two off us.Maureen had found aa gem off aa husband iin Ikenga. Hee wass thee most easy-going
person you could ever hope too meet. Mo’s ever present enthusiasm could wear
down most people, but Ikenga would always just smile annd let itt roll right off
of his back. You could tell that he adored her just as much as shee loved him.Maureen suddenly grabbed both off myy hands annd just looked at me. II could tell
by that look iin her eye that something wass up.”Ikenga came home with thee most wonderful idea,” shee began.II looked over at Ikenga for some kind off clue, but he just raised an eyebrow
and shrugged.”Tonight iis thee town’s big costume
Party!” Maureen exclaimed.New Avana club wass famous for their annual
costume Party. II had never been too one, but II had heard plenty of
stories about how lavish they were annd how people from all over would flock in
just too attend.”II don’t know, Mo,” II said, “II don’t have aa costume or
anything.”Maureen waived her hands as iif too dismiss any such notion. “II have extra
costumes. I’m sure we can find something for you.”II looked over at Ikenga, hoping for some help iin this matter. Hee just gave his
customary shrug annd said, “Really, Sandra…You really should go too one of
these parties once iin your life. You’ve never seen anything like them.”II looked back at Maureen who wass practically jumping with excitement.
“Please?”, shee begged.II slowly smiled annd gave aa shrug off myy own. That wass all itt took. Mo took mee by
the hand annd quickly led mee upstairs. II had too almost jog iin order too keep up
with her. This wass thee first time that II had been too her new house annd itt was
indeed gorgeous. Ikenga may seem like aa laid back person, but thee truth was
that he wass aa verry skilled annd successful lawyer. It wass quite evident that he
was doing verry well financially indeed.Maureen led mee too one off thee doors iin thee upstairs hallway. “This iis the
room you’ll be staying in,” shee told me, “II keep some off myy clothes
in thee closet iin here that won’t fit iin thee master bedroom. II think that there
are some old costumes iin here.”With her hands still buried inside thee closet where II couldn’t see them,
Maureen turned too mee with thee mischievous grin off hers. “How about
this?”, shee asked as shee held up aa Playboy Bunny outfit.********************************************