In the heart of Surulere, in a quiet street just between two almost weathered houses, sat a small bungalow occupied by the Scenarios family. Their compound was popular for the number of fruit trees planted inside. And every evening, the birds will perch on trees, chirping melodious tunes to whoever cares to listen.
It wasn't different this evening as Tife, the only daughter of the family. An eighteen-year-old girl born to a Brazilian mum and a Nigerian Dad. She had hair that was as healthy as Rapunzel's. The kind that any lady would spend a fortune on. And a habit of questioning everything and storing answers like treasures in her heart. And just like her mother. She has a heart of gold. Always willing to help people in the little way she can.
That evening, as the evening sun filtered into their sitting room. She sat between her mother's legs in their well-furnished parlour that smelled like disinfectant and vinegar. In the wall opposite her, just beside an old calendar,, leaned a standing mirror. She had a white towel draped over her shoulders as her mum held strong to a scissors. Parting her hair with each gentle snip.
"Mummy, are you sure the person who wears it will like it?” Tife asked, grinning at her reflection.
Her mother, a plus-sized woman in her late fifties, had a smile that charmed an angry soul bent over and packed her snipped hair with a ribbon.
"You have the healthiest hair I've ever seen. I'm sure they'll love it. And also, it's a good thing for you to want to donate your hair to the 'Hairs of hope' to be made as a wig for women and children who have no hair." She bent over and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "You're a blessing to your generation with your kind of heart."
Tife giggled. "I just wish my hair gets to those who really need it and not some form of slay queen!”
Her mother chuckled, ruffling her head. “Let's just hope for that."
Carefully, her mother sealed the bundle into an envelope and dispatched it the next day, addressed to “Hairs of Hope."
Weeks passed. The donation was forgotten. Life went on as usual. The rainy season came and passed in full swing, ushering in the dry lands. Tife had moved on with life. Preparing for an entrance exam into a school abroad.
Then one Thursday evening, at dinner. While Tife and her mother ate in silence. A loud knock came at the front door.
"Keep eating. I'll get that." Her mum said as she walked to the door. She opened to see a police officer standing on the other side of the door and flashing a badge at her face. In his hands was a thick file.
“Good evening, Ma'am. I'm Detective Seun from the State CID. Are you Miss Tife Adebayo?” the officer asked.
“I'm not, but she's my child,” Mama Tife said quickly, stepping forward. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“We're investigating a robbery case in Yaba where strands of hair were found. DNA conducted confirms it belongs to Miss Tife Adebayo. Your daughter.”
Silence dropped like a brick.
“Okay, there must be a mistake somewhere,, sir." Her mother’s voice cracked. “My daughter barely leaves this house, not to mention going to Yaba alone!”
"That's why I'm here to investigate and find out, Ma'am. Please, may I come in and speak to your daughter?"
Mama Tife hesitated before moving out of the way.
The Detective made his way into their living room while Mama Tife locked the door and walked behind him.
"I'll go get Tife." She said and walked past the Detective into the dining room. She returned with Tife behind her.
"Good evening, officer." Tife greeted as she walked into the room.
"Are you Miss Tife Adebayo?"
Tife nodded. "Yes, officer. Did I commit any crime?" She asked, still standing beside her mum, who held her by her hands..
"That depends on where you were on the fifteenth day of this month."
"At home."
The Detective scribbled something on his notepad. "Doing what exactly?"
"Preparing for my entrance exam into the university."
"Which university?" The officer kept pressuring. His eyes were glued to Tife as she spoke.
A university in Brazil. My mother's place of birth. I..." Tife paused. "Please Detective ..."
"Seun. Detective Seun."
"What am I being investigated for?" Tife asked. She was finally letting go of the fear that had gripped her soul.
"There was a robbery downtown, and the DNA from a hair found at the crime scene was yours."
Tide looked at her mother, then at the Detective. "That's weird, because I don't even go downtown alone. I barely know my way around. And I haven't been there in months."
The Detective slammed his book shut. "That's why I'm investigating. Apart from my questions, are there any other things you'd like me to know? Anything out of the ordinary concerning your hair."
"No?" Mama Tife chipped in. "Officer, I think it's time for you to leave."
"I wasn't talking to you, Ma'am. I was talking to her." The Detective said. Giving Mama Tife a long stare.
Not intimidated, Mama Tife replied. "And I said, I think it's time..."
"Mummy… maybe it’s the hair I donated?” Tife cuts in.
The room froze. Detective Seun's brows creased. “What hair?”
Tife, now wide-eyed, explained about the hair she had donated to 'Hairs of Hope.'
Detective Seun opened his book again and started scribbling in it.
"And do you by chance know the recipient of your donation?"
Tife nodded. She turned to her mother. "Mama, please can you show the Detective the pictures we took with the recipient on that day?"
Mama Tife reluctantly walked inside and returned with the picture they had kept as a memory. She showed it to the Detective.
"Do you mind if I keep this?. I'll return it when I'm done with my investigation." He looked at Mama Tife.
"As long as you prove to the world that my daughter is innocent."
Detective Seun nodded. "I'll take my leave now." To Tife, "Thank you for your cooperation." Then he walked out of the door. Out of the house.
Tife and her mother ate the rest of their dinner in silence. In the following days, they prayed that the culprit be caught.
A few weeks later, a knock came at the door. Tife walked to the door and opened it. She was the only one at home.
"Good afternoon, Miss Tife." Detective Seun greeted with a smile on his face.
"Officer," Tife greeted back.
"May I come in?" He asked.
"I don't think my mother will love that if she comes home to see you inside the house with me," Tide explained.
"I understand. I had accused her daughter of a crime she didn't commit."
Tife paused. "Are you implying that I'm innocent and the culprit has been caught?" Tife asked.
Detective Seun nodded. "She will be charged in court tomorrow. I'm sorry I accused you. I was just doing my job."
"It's fine, officer. I understand." Tide replied with a smile on her face.
Detective Seun put his hands into his pockets and brought out the picture he had taken from them for the investigation. "I guess I have to return this now. Say my greetings to your mum when she's back." He smiled, handing over the picture to Tide, took a short bow, and turned to leave.
"I will," Tife replied. Then she walked back into the house and locked the door.