You can keep as quiet as you like but one of these days, somebody is going to find you.
- Haruki Murakani

            Early bird gets the waffles, mama used to always say, even when there was no waffle. I still got up earlier than the rest of my brothers because the early bird always got something except on Sundays when we didn't have anything until after the church service.

"Yo reverend. Preparing for the service already?" Tyler was always loud even first thing in the morning and I knew our brothers would be up soon.
"It's almost time to leave". I replied, slipping on my old dress shirt that was lined with mismatched buttons.

"It's 8:00am". Greg said, folding his hands beneath his head, his long legs barely contained by his little mattress.
"It's 8:45 and mama said we have to be there before 9". I sat on my bed close to the door and pulled on my shoes.

"Mama said we have to be there by 9". Tyler tried to mimick me and the twins laughed, finally rousing Trevor, our oldest brother who just got off his bed and strutted to the bathroom. I followed closely behind him but went down to the living room instead.

      Mama was seated on the centre table humming with Pokello, my little sister knelt between her legs. She was trying to tame Kello's wild curls. Pokello was only two years old but her beauty was undeniable and mom was always excited to enhance it in any way she could.

Pops said she had always wanted a daughter to gossip with even as we all knew Tyler was the better gossiper. I think she just wanted to braid hair and tell girl stories.

"Morning mama". I greeted as I pulled a lock of my sister's hair, earning myself a surprisingly hard swat.
Mom freed one of her hands to pull me close, giggle my short hair and place a quick kiss on my forehead.

I'd never admit it but I think she knew how much I loved her forehead kisses even though it earned me the mama's boy tag from my brothers who thought it was gross.

"Your brothers still in bed?"
"No but they just got up".
"Those little... Tyler! Greg! Chris! Y'all better get your asses dressed this minute if you don't want hell rained down on you this morning!"

Mama was African and could be strict and scary, Pops said it was a trait she got from her papa. We didn't know him, we didn't know any of her family members because mama said we didn't need them. They hadn't been in support of her and Pops union.

Her papa said he was rough, not good enough to be the father of her children but mama was already carrying Trevor. They weren't at the wedding, weren't there when Trevor was named, didn't care when they moved away so she moved on but I think she still cared.

         She finally managed to make Kello's hair look less like a forest and helped me button up my shirt. My brothers came tumbling down in a few minutes, barely dressed. Mom sighed as they dashed out the door, picked up Pokello and I walked ahead of her to the church down the street. Pops never came to church with us, mama said he needed his rest after working the entire weekend.

The St. Paul's Anglican church was the only church around our neighborhood so every Sunday morning was like a barbecue party with people exchanging greetings and stories about what they had gotten up to during the week. My brothers ran off to find their friends but I stuck with mom and Kelli and we took our seats somewhere in the middle.

My mom didn't greet a lot of people, she had a habit of minding her business and said she knew they talked trash about her when she wasn't there. The choir started the hymns and we sang along with Pokello bouncing on her heels like it was circular music.

Shortly after, the reverend climbed the altar and began the blessing. I watched mama close her eyes, I already knew she was going to pray for my pops, then her family but mostly her children. She'd pray for the strength to raise us right, she'd pray for the grace to do His will, she'd ask God to provide and she'd call him Chineke.

My mom wasn't only religious, she was doctrinal. That is why even after six children, she still wasn't on birth control.

*

 
   The itch was stronger this morning, much more so that I felt like sticking a knife down my throat. Thank God for years of practice, I managed to keep my shit together and get ready for work, spurred on by the knowledge that Kazeem would have a remedy for me but the idiot wasn't at the garage.

His shift wasn't until when I was clocking out and God forbid he stopped by for my sake. I decided to get breakfast, after which I went about my work like a robot, mind blank, head empty.

     The honk started off at about the same time it had the day before, this time I could hear it much louder because I was in the pit fixing an exhaust pipe. I knew no one was going to attend to him, Luke was an ass and Hero was busy on a huge dump he had been working on all week.

I climbed out of the pit and wiped my hands on my trunks. He was out of the car but leaned through the window so his hand was still on the horn. He had on baby blue shorts today and a white shirt.

"Any problem?"I asked from behind him.
He got startled for some reason and seemed to forget the position he was in because he struggled for a few seconds, hitting some body parts in the process.

"Hi lifesaver". He was massaging the back of his head but could still generate a megawatt grin. If my stare was as empty as I had been feeling, he didn't seem affected.
"Car trouble." He pointed to the shiny pink ride.
"What is it this time? The tyres look good".

"I don't know". He gave me a shy smile and I folded my arms across my chest with a sigh.
"It's been producing some weird noises all day". He explained.
"In what area?"
"I think it's coming from the engine".
"Open it up". I instructed, going in for an inspection even as I already had a good guess what the problem was.

"You just need an oil change". I told him.
"Oh". Was all he could come up with. He sighed when he saw my expression.
"I don't know anything about cars".
"Except how to drive them".
"I didn't want to be driven around all my life".

"Wouldn't that be a shame?"
I grabbed a jack and stands and began lifting the car.
"Thanks for doing this".
A few seconds passed.
"I'm Albert by the way, call me Albie".

   Oil changes were a constant in the garage, I had done enough to be able to finish it at a much lesser time.
"How long have you lived here? All your life, I'm guessing. It's like that for most of the locals". Like before, he wasn't going to let me work in silence.

"I get why people would want to grow a family here, I mean despite being dominated by blacks, the place is peaceful enough, I mean I haven't witnessed any street fights".

"Good job attributing violence to black people. Leave it to just the negros to start streetfights right?' He had managed to capture my attention and a bit of annoyance as I let the oil drain into the pan.
"I.. I didn't mean it like that". He stuttered. "I'm just saying the town is peaceful is all".

I decided to ignore him but that didn't sit well with him because in no time, he was talking again.
"Must be nice having a summer job. I had huge plans for this summer but to be honest it's been a huge let down. Most of my friends from school returned home and the ones left behind are nerdy poles who are already halfway through next semester's work ".

"Not a summer job".
"Oh. So you are here all year then, still surprised I hadn't met you before in school. Part time program?"
"Not everyone is a student dude".
"Right, sorry". He fell quiet for almost a minute.

"I wish I had gone home, yunno. I mean, I love it here but everywhere I go, it's like people are driving me away with their stares or fake smiles".

I understood that. The town was peaceful mostly because the people here were of similar social standards. So when you dressed like Albert and drove a pink car, you drew attention and judgemental stares.

I got out from under the vehicle, checked the oil level, took off my gloves and wiped my hands down.
"You're good".
I had been expecting the smile but it still surprised me how bright it was.
"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it".

"You are paying for it. Appreciation not needed".
"Still. No one else would've attended to me".
I shrugged.
"Tell you what. Why don't you let me buy you a drink?" His smile had somehow widened.
"I don't know you and you don't know my name".

"True but I don't get the judgey vibe from you, a bit of indifference but I can work with that anddd you look like you could use a break".
My shift was practically over and I had covered my hours at the site but I still had to see Kazeem.

On cue, my phone buzzed beside the pit, I hurried to check it. It was Kazeem, he was skipping work but he'd drop my stuff off at my place later.
"Son of a..." I looked up to see Albert curiously watching me.
"You are right, I need a drink".

"That's the spirit!" I scoffed at his enthusiasm.
"Why don't you finish up with the cashier while I get changed?"
"Gotcha".

       The pub wasn't packed but it wasn't empty, I guess most people felt more deserving of a few bottles of beer after a week of working. Albert got a bottle of stout and I got myself a glass of bourbon. I was content with tuning the guy out but my eyes kept flickering to a bunch of obvious teenagers getting drunk at 3pm so I decided to indulge him for distraction.

He talked at length about beaches and pools and when I mentioned my construction work, he switched to houses and furniture while I sat there, listening to the best of my ability with another glass of bourbon and a shot of tequila.

He was telling me the reason why he came all the way from New York just for school and why he hadn't gone home for the summer when I got a call from an unknown number. I sighed before answering, thinking it was the usual person but the voice was different, sultry.

"Hello handsome".
"You have a name?"
"It's Monique, you get my chocolate?"
I facepalmed. I wasn't even going to ask how she got my number.
"Look I appreciate the whole stalkerish attention but this gonna be our last talk".

She chuckled like I was a toddler who just babbled cute gibberish.
"I knew you were hard to get the second time".
I ended the call and thankfully she didn't call back immediately so I blocked it.
"Secret admirer?" Albert asked, taking a sip from his still half filled bottle.

"This one knows nothing about secrecy".
His laughter only reduced to a smile when the bartender approached us, again. He had olive skin and an accent my foggy brain refused to place.
"You guys want anything else?" He smiled at us but mostly at Albert.

"Nah. We'd tell you if we did".
"Alrighty, coz I'm about to head out".
"What? You're my favorite man here". Albert whined and the bartender smirked.
"Maybe you should have my number then for whenever you need my services".

They stared at each other for a while with silly smiles until the other guy disappeared behind the bar.
It had been obvious, I should have noticed it but I was thick headed and always needed more than a few clues.

"You are...gay?" I blurted out and Albert seemed a little surprised by the question.
"Yeah.. I thought it was obvious. My parents say I'm a walking stereotype".

I didn't mind that Albert was gay but I wondered if that was the reason he brought me here, if I gave off the wrong vibes. Maybe, somehow he had seen it. He stared at me for a while then his eyes widened a fraction.

"I'm not hitting on you. I have a boyfriend".

--------------------------------------------------------
See you on Monday!