ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (37 page)

Who are they? Rita asked.

You know who I’m talking about don’t you? Cindy responded in anger.

Are you saying my friends did it? Rita asked.

Who else, ah? Baby we got to face the truth, alright? I just told you about the experience I had with one of them one day.

Why didn’t you tell me about it when it happened? Rita was addressing Cindy directly.

I didn’t wanna hurt you, okay? Besides I wasn’t thinking they gonna get this far! Cindy continued.

And what does that translate to? Rita reacted.

I told you my stuff are missing, didn’t I? Come-on Rita! I went out with that bitch over there and when we came back our stuffs were gone. You and your friends were the only ones in this house when we left and I know you didn’t do it ‘cause I’ve been with you for ten years and I can vouch for you anytime. Now, your friends are gone and our things gone too, so what happened? Did anyone else come in here?

I don’t know! I left them for a while to go get some stuff from the store, okay? They could have gone somewhere, left the door unlocked and someone sneaked into the house. Rita responded in subdued temperament.

No one sneaked in from anywhere. We’ve been leaving here long enough to know that people around here don’t operate that way, continued Cindy.

Ok! What do you guys intend to do? Rita asked.

I don’t know. I just want my stuff back especially my bracelet, Cindy said.

What about you Carissa.

Rita, I don’t even know you guys operate this way, understand?

Here you go again, Cindy reacted. Who are you guys? Wasn’t I and you that went out together and came back together? Your stuff is missing so are mine, okay? What’s wrong with you Carissa?

Don’t start with me again Cindy! I promise you I’ll get that thing you’re looking for if you continue pushing.

Girls that’s enough!! Rita screamed. I suggest we keep all these on hold till I find out who did this. And if Daisy and jinni stole anything from here, I’ll make sure I get it back. You’ll see! We don’t want the Police in this, Right?

I don’t want the Police. I just want my bracelet back I don’t even care about those two bitches and what they do, understand? Once I get my stuff, they can both jump into the sea for all I care, Cindy continued.

I don’t want the Police too as long as I get all my stuff back, Carissa added.

Then leave it to me. I’m gonna find out what happened. If it is true these girls stole something in my apartment I’ll make them pay, Rita said.

I don’t know how you’ll do that. But we wait and see!

Cindy wait and see, okay? I’m going back to my room if you’ll excuse me, Rita said and walked away.

What Rita didn’t tell Cindy and Carissa though was about a third girl who shared apartment with Daisy and Jinni, Paula. She never get along with her room mates and talks real mean about them to anyone who cares to listen and Rita wonders why. She hopes that one day she’ll have the chance to talk to this other girl to see what is going on, so she got her phone number. And thinking this is that right time to give her a call, she dialed Paula the next day.

Do you remember me? Rita asked after self-introduction. And of-course Paula has not forgotten so they got talking.

I’ll like us to meet concerning something very important to me, Rita informed her.

Paula wanted to know what the whole thing is all about but Rita wasn’t ready to sell out ahead of time. After some persuasion Paula agreed to a meeting. When do you want us to it, she wanted to know.

Today! Rita said, but Paula wasn’t ready. No! Not today, she responded. I’m busy right now fixing myself in a Salon and don’t know how long that’s gonna take but tomorrow will be fine. Rita accepted and pegged the time at 10am. A little bit early for me though said Paula, but I’ll see you tomorrow. Where do we meet anyways?

Not at your place though ‘cause I don’t want your roommate to know about this!

It has to do with those two, ha? Paula said.

Wait till I see you then I’ll tell you all about it. We meet at the McDonalds close to my house. Here is my address and she read it out to Paula. The store is on your left if you are coming from your end. You can’t miss it. Rita concluded.

9:30 am the next day, Cindy was sitting on the couch in the living room watching the TV when Rita walked in. I’m going for shopping, she announced.

What about your friends, have you spoken to them? Cindy asked

I’m doing something about it, okay!

You better do whatever you have to do fast ‘cause Jerome is back already and I don’t know what I’ll say to him about the bracelet.

Don’t worry Cindy! I’m taking care of business. She said and left the room.

She got to the MacDonald’s, ordered for her favorite meal, eating and watching out for Paula. It took quite a while before she joined and ordered salad.

Paula I’m so sorry I have to bother you, Rita started. Listen, I’ve certain concerns about your room mates.

I already guessed. When I saw you with those two I knew sooner than letter something was gonna happen and you’ll find out what nasty bitches they really are.

Yeah! I noticed you don’t get along with them, what happened? What kind of girls are they really, Rita probed.

They are nothing but nasty little bitches! Paula began. It was the worst mistake of my life sharing apartment with them, seriously! At first they were nice, understand? Real cool I tell you, but I didn’t know they were just putting up a face.

That’s how it happened to me too at start! Rita exclaimed.

And with Doris, and so with Tina! Yeah! That’s how they operate. They are what you call chameleon. They do everything possible to get into somebody and once you give them the chance, that’s it. Pop, there true colors show up and it’s not been funny.

How long you’ve been living with them?

Two years. Paula said. But right now I’m searching for new roommates. I should have left long ago but finding good roommates is so hard these days, understand? People are becoming meaner to each other and I don’t think is good for all of us. At the end everybody suffer but none ever tells you he is hurting. All it requires is a little sacrifice, you know treat the other person the way you expect to be treated, but selfish people are all over the place these days. Anyways I’m still looking ‘cause it’s the best means for every starter.

You know what I wanna know? What is it about them that make you feel the way you do? Rita continued.

Everything! They steal, lie, cheat, do all sorts of nasty stuff in one mind. They are really nasty little witches. They can do anything for money. They are ready to do anything to get at someone and take all his money and won’t mind whether the person is dead after words or still alive but in the hospital somewhere with a heart attack. Do you know what they did to me one time?

What?

Ok picture this! They stole some stuff from somewhere and the fellow they stole from reported the matter to the Police. But guess what? Before the police could get here they went and craftily hid their loot in my room. When the Police eventually came around and searched their rooms they found nothing. Nothing! Can you see that? Latter, I don’t know what happened but I think the case was dropped and they got out without a scratch. But then one day, I was giving my room a cleanup when I discovered the stolen stuff hidden in a corner of my room I won’t even remember to hide anything myself. Girl, I was in shock!

Uh! And what did you do? Rita asked anxious to hear more.

I went to talk to them about it but they denied everything. “We don’t even know what you’re talking about.” That was what that Daisy told me. You know, I didn’t wanna push so hard with the matter ‘cause I know what they are like. They could have me so roped in that I’ll end up in jail like I was the one that stole the stuff for real, understand? So I played it down.

You didn’t talk to them about it again? Rita continued probing.

No. I just left all the stuff the way I found them, watching to see what happens. And one day I came back from work and noticed that the whole thing was gone. Immediately I knew that those bitches took them back. But did they care? No! They still put up bold faces and carried on in the house like nothing happened. I don’t get it! I still kept my cool and said nothing to them and they never ever said anything to me on that matter either till this day. I don’t feel secured living with them anymore.

This is worse than I thought! Rita added.

Listen to this. When I moved in with them newly, my boyfriend used to come around and you know, I thought they were nice girls because of the way they would be acting like everything was cool and stuff. So thinking we were all on the same page I introduced my man to them. Then, all of a sudden, they started doing stuff behind my back.

Wow! That’s really nasty!

They’re rotten like that! A lot of my precious stuff gets missing every time. They even got as disparate as stealing from my friends who come here to visit, understand? And because of those two crazy fools’ some of my friend don’t come visiting no more. All my friends know what is going on and want me to get away from them ‘cause they think I’m nuts shearing apartment with them.

Me too! I think you should do all you can to move out!

Now Rita listens! I’m also saying the same thing to you, keep away from those two, get what I’m saying? You don’t wanna deal with people like that, okay? I ain’t even tripping about this! When I saw you at our place the first time, I wanted to warn you but I just wasn’t sure how you’ll take it. Know what I mean?

Here is my main thing. They spent last weekend at my end, Rita said.

And what did they steal this time? Paula reacted.

Although they took nothing from me but my roommates said their things are missing.

They did it! Paula said ardently. This is not the first time it’s happening and is not gonna be the last. That’s why I call them two little smart thieves! They are so bad that once they see what they like they’re not gonna get it out of their messed up minds until they take it. Oh yeah! Sometimes I think it even gives them some kind of a kick or something to go stealing other people’s stuff. They are really crazy.

This time they are not gonna get away with it ‘cause I happen to have two crazy roommates too and they want their stuff back.

Let me tell you a secret! There are some big boxes in Daisy’s room. I hear them moving stuff around in there sometimes. I guess that’s where they hide all kinds of things they take from people and I don’t see what you can do to make them return what already gone into those boxes.

Do me a favor, Rita continued. Let me into the house when they go to work.

That will be a hard thing to do.

But do it anyways. There must be a payback day for those two somehow, Rita bellowed. We can’t let them continue. No! It’s got to be stop! If someone gets back at them hard enough may be they’ll probably learn to start acting right. Because of those two I’m gonna lose my earnings for one night but I won’t even mind. I wanna go into their room and take back all that they stole from us and I’m not gonna hide it from them. They will know I did it and discover the other kind of a thief. Oh yes they will! One who steals and shows up with her loot. Alright! We’ll see who will be laughing last!

High me five babe! I know what you mean! But how are you gonna do that? Paula wanted to know.

Wait and see! Rita said.

You got to be careful though. I’m warning you because you don’t know what they are really like. If by any chance they catch you in their room, you are gone for good. They’ll call the cops on you and lie that the things they don’t even own are missing. They’ll even say they never seen you before, lie on how you broke into their room from the blues and stole their stuff and what are you gonna do? Deny it? The cops are not gonna believe you if they find you in their room.

Don’t worry! I already had it all worked out, understand? Rita continued. Besides, I’ve got no choice but find a way of getting those things back otherwise I’m sunk. I‘ve been with one of my roommates for ten years and she is hurting so bad right now because of what these girls did and I don’t like that one bit. After so much coaxing, Paula agreed to play along. “Know what?” “I’m gonna let you into the house but first promise me you won’t tell anybody about this ‘cause I don’t want to get in any of those girls shit anymore, understand.” “I just want a clean break and never look back” Once she got the assurance from Rita, Paula was ready. When are you coming? She finally asked.

You know what? The way I’m feeling right now, I wanna do it tonight if that is ok by you.

That’s ok! But how are you gonna get into Daisy’s room ‘cause both of them always lock their doors. Always! You know that little thing about how thieves like to hide their own stuff, ha? She said. But Rita already had answer to that even before she asked. No worries at all Rita, said. Let’s be real here, there is a thief in every one of us and I’m gonna make good my stealing antics this time around. What time do you guys normally leave home? She asked.

Somewhere around 6pm but because of you I’ll have a little change of plan tonight. I suggest you come to our place latter, say at about mid night. What I’ll do is go to the club at 6 as usual and then come back at about midnight to let you in and return to the club so they’ll see me like I was there all the time. You see, if I do it that way they are not gonna suspect anything, Paula said to seal the deal. And she did exactly as she promised. At about 11pm, she left her bit at the brothel where she and her roommates worked headed for home and fortunately she didn’t have to wait for too long before Rita showed up, she opened the door to let her into the house and soon after returned to the club.