You can only become accomplished at something you love.

I don't know who made that quote but it is perfectly true.

There is also this one that says happiness is loving your job.

That is so perfect too.

Even though I couldn't relate freely or adapt to anything, I easily found a refuge in Mama B's salon. I found another safe zone other than my mother's bosom.

I don't know the source of the euphoria running through my system but I know it had something to do with the hair I was making.

The beautiful purple twist that arranged itself in any form was really a good sight to behold. It looked as if it was a robot's lifetime work, and I couldn't help but wonder if I had made them.

I was good at making hair, and I knew it.

What I didn't know however, is if  my happiness was really from being good with hair making, or the acceptance that came with it.

The acceptance was something I loved undoubtably, but I always shy away from it when I sense it around the corner.

I liked that customers were always asking for me, and when they sang my praises, my legs wobbled.

I finished the last strand and added a some last touches. The outcome was amazing like I expected.

"I am done with your hair, ma." I tapped the woman who had slept off already.

I don't how she slept comfortably, but she did. Mama B said my hands were soothing on scalps, that's why most people sleep when I make their hair. But I still can't believe she slept through out the whole process.

"So soon?" She sat up quickly. "Are you sure you made_" She stopped when she saw her herself in the mirror.

"Did you make this alone?" She asked when she was done checking her hair.

I nodded.

"Are you a stylist or an apprentice?"

"An apprentice, ma."

"Wow. Mama B did a good job on you. I must acknowledge that."

"Thank you ma." I appreciated. “Let me get Mama B for your bill.”

As if on cue, Mama B bounced in.

"I see you are done," She started.

"Yes, I was about to come get you..." I trailed off, then curtseied and walked away a little bit from them, but still within earshot.

Mama B always wanted us far away from her customers when billing them, the reason for which I don't know. It's not like I wanted to be there anyways.

"The Mama B herself!" The woman hailed.

I could picture my boss just smiling sheepishly in return.

"How much am I paying you?" The woman asked.

"It's just twenty thousand naira, ma." Mama B's resolute voice reached me. Shyness always fled her when it came to money matters.

"What is that? Did I braid my whole brain? What's with the overcharging?" The woman snorted.

"Mummy, I am not overcharging you na, look at the hair yourself. The twist is so tight and firm. I gave you my best girl, even when others have booked her since ooo," Mama B explained.

"Yes, I see that, she really did a good job."

"And besides, this is the first time we will be seeing you after you came back from abroad, you should show us love as your returning gift." Mama B added.

"Ehn, you should have told me that instead." The woman answered.

"Thank you ma," Mama B said a minute later and I guessed she had given her the money already.

"You are welcome." The woman answered, " What's that your girl's name again?"

"Idera."

"Yes, I want Idera to always make hair when I come." The woman said as they walked in the direction of the door.

"Ah, Idera won't be here for long, she is leaving for school."

"Eeyah, I met her at the wrong time then. Where is she schooling?"

"University of Ilorin."

"Wow, it is still in Ilorin here."

"Yes, it is here in Ilo_"

"Infact, it isn't even far from my house. Do you know that I stay at Tanke, the University's students area?"

"Ehen?"

"Yes. My house is so close to the school that my daughter who also got addmission to the school doesn't need to get accommodation. She goes from home."

"Wow."

"Where is she staying in school? She can come make hair for me if she is comfortable with that."

"Well, she hasn't gotten a place to stay yet. She has some things to settle first." Mama B's voice switched to a soft one.

"Ehen, hope it is nothing much?"

"Not really."

"She can stay with me if she wants. As you know, I am not based here, and that would mean my daughter getting a companion."

"That's a good offer. Please let me get her opinion on it."

Is she kidding me? What opinion was she talking about?

"Idera." Mama B called out.

"Yes boss," I answered and moved swiftly to them outside the shop.

"I was discussing some things this kind woman, and she just asked if you would like to stay at her place in Tanke during your school sessions." Mama B inform.

"What do you think about it?" The woman followed Mama B up. "Mind you, it's just a favor for a friend, I am not asking for money."

Of course, I know.

"I'm interested, ma. Thank you so much, Ma." I said, try to mask my excitement with a calm face.

"You know what? I will give your boss a call for further discussions. I have to get going right now." She smiled at us as  she stole glances at her wrist watch.

"Okay, Ma." I told her.

"Thank you Ma." I said along with Mama B.

"You are welcome. And do tell your parents about it." She said as she hurried away.

"Yes, she will." Mama B shouted after her.

We walked back to the shop before Mama B left me to talk to a neighbor.

I felt empty as I took my seat, I knew I wanted to be happy about the offer, but there was also the lurking bitterness of not wanting to go to school there, the collision of the two made me neutral.

The shop was empty, an uncommon thing. Most of the days, it was filled with life. Life from people who came to make hair or we, apprentices. Mondays were always like this for us though. Dry.

But not this dry though. My colleagues that always made it lively were at my boss's house, washing the towels we used in shop. How the six of them excluding me always managed to turn a place to a market was beyond me.

I didn't like the fact that they were not here. For the past few days, I dreaded being alone, I dreaded silence.

At this point, I was afraid of thinking. Thinking about my worries. Worries that had it source in the remembrance of whom I was. Which is what I do when I am alone.

I decided to go meet the others. And then, Mama B walked in.

"Congratulations," She said as she  drew a chair to sit opposite me. "Or won't you be taking her up on the offer?"

"Yes, I will." I answered, fidgeting my fingers. For an unknown reason, I avoided eye contact with her.

"I am so happy for you." She moved forward to hug me.

"Thank you." I murmured into her shoulders.

Mama B and I bonded very well than any of her apprentices. I guessed it was because of the timid nature we both shared when she had wasn't discussing money issues. We carried a talent of understanding each other without spoken words. It's not like we've had normal or real heartfelt conversations. Infact, I can count the numbers of words we've said to each other since we met three years ago, and greetings would take most counts.

But she did understand me and my actions very well. She even gave me a special name; Adaba which was the Yoruba name of a dove. She said she got the name from my attitude.

I didn't like the name a bit, I never wanted to be gentle, but I liked the fact that it was a special thing to someone.

"Come see something." She released me from her grip and led me to her second shop where hair materials were sold.

"That's for you." She pointed to a large heap of provisions that lay on the floor.

It took me a lot of seconds to register what she said, and when I did, my jaw dropped as I went on my knees.

The things before me were so much, ranging from different beverages to foodstuffs, hair and body creams, and toiletries.

"It from Dara's Mom and Helen." She informed me.

Those were her friends, and never in a million years had I expected this from them. They were generous, but I didn't expect this amount of generousity to get to me.

"Wh....why are... why did they do this?" I stuttered. That was the only thing I could bring myself to say.

"Because you deserve it, Adaba." She replied as she crouched down to my level. "You are loved and wanted."

I am loved and wanted.

Those words weighed more to me. It was of great importance to my life.

I don't know why she chose those exacts word at this exact time. It was as if she knew my thoughts all along since we never had any conversation pertaining to it.

A lone tear which I quickly wiped slipped out of my eye.

A tear that was consumed with sadness.

Sadness that I couldn't bring myself to really believe everything I just heard.

If it was true, why did people not want to associate with me? Why did they think of me as nothing? Why weren't they attracted to me at first sight?

"Did you ask them to do it?" I asked not out of courage but for the thirst for assurance.

"Why would I do that? " She rolled her eyes at me. "They did it because they like you. Just like that kind woman offered you accommodation out of the blue. We don't know her that well, I don't even know her name."

They liked me for what I had to offer rather.

"I also have a gift for you." She said excitedly and my eyes snapped in her direction. "And I don't want you to cry when you see it."

She definitely saw the the tear that escaped my eye earlier.

She sank her hands into her pockets and brought out an envelope. She grabbed my hands and wrapped them around the envelope.

"It's your school fees. One hundred thousand naira." She added.

My brain went blank and tears blocked my vision.

Maybe I was really loved and wanted. Maybe it wasn't about what I had to offer.

"You are a good soul Adaba, you are." Her voice brought me back.

"A hundred thousand Naira. This is too much. " My voice came out as a whisper.

"No it's not. Compared to the amount you made for me, and the praise you earned me, it's nothing."

I rammed into her body and the tears fell freely as I sobbed into her body.

I was loved and wanted.

Even if the crowd didn't want me, I was loved and wanted by specific people.

That was good.

When my sobbing subsided, Mama B cleared her throat noisily.

I looked up at her burst into laughter. She join in.

Her eyes conveyed the message. They teased me for crying.

I was loved and wanted.