It was like every other Saturday morning. Just that this Saturday it felt like everyone had dirty clothes to wash. I bent over the line in the back of our compound where we spread our washed clothes to dry. I was so engrossed in getting stains off my white blouse that I barely noticed the children chasing after deflated footballs in the compound.
It was just the kind of chaotic scene that only Lagos could perfect. And somehow, I found comfort in it which was so unlike me.
Just when I got up to spread clothes on the line, I heard Mama Chinedu's back door squeak open. I turned and looked to see the ever-young woman flashing her beautiful dentition at me in the perfect morning smile I've ever seen someone give.
“Zerah! You're so early today, do you want to travel?” she asked, still wearing her beautiful smile. She was carrying a bucket filled with washed clothes In her hands.
I chuckled. "No ma'am. I just wanted to do them this early. I have some grocery shopping to do later in the day".
"I see". She nodded her head as her gaze focused on an empty spot to spread her clothes.
"Good morning, Ma'am", I greeted, realizing it was the first thing I should have done.
"Good morning, my daughter", she replied as she spread the first clothes on the line. It was a beautiful white lace gown. I could have sworn it was a wedding gown.
"That's a nice gown, Ma'am. Was it your wedding gown" I joked. Picking up my bucket, which was now empty, and turned it over to let the tiny drop of water run out. Then I watched as Mama Chinedu smiled.
"Wedding gown?" She laughed out loud. Her voice was tiny and too feminine.
I stood there and stared at her in admiration of her beautiful dentition. Sometimes, I was jealous of it, and I didn't hide it from her that I loved her dentition.
"It's so beautiful. One could think it's a wedding dress". I said.
"Yes, it is beautiful, but it isn't my wedding dress. It's just a random dress my husband bought for me on one of his trips abroad." She picked another cloth from her bucket. "My wedding dress is way heavier and more beautiful than this. Its upper body was covered with shiny stones that sparkled under the lights. It stopped at my waist, and then it flowed down. The tail was so long that it needed two people to help me with it. My friends couldn't stop talking about it and you needed to see me in it. I looked like snow white from the fairy tale".
As she spoke you could see the dreamy pride in her eyes as her lips curled into a soft smile. You could tell that she was momentarily transported back to that beautiful day.
"Wow! You must have looked beautiful that day," I replied, smiling sheepishly, still with my empty bucket in my hands. I was done washing but couldn't just bring myself to stop listening to Mama Chinedu's gist.
"I was beautiful that day. So was my groom, Papa Chinedu. When I saw him standing at the altar in his grey suit, broad-shouldered and looking impossibly handsome with a smile that was brighter than the sun. I knew I had made the right choice and couldn't just stop drooling at how such a fine young man was mine forever," she concluded.
By now I was already lost in a distant gaze, with a wistful smile and softened eyes. Lost in a daydream that wasn’t mine but one I wished could be. You wouldn't blame me, it was the effect of the way Mama Chinedu told of her special day. I was so lost in my Dreamland that I didn't notice that Mama Chinedu was done spreading her clothes on the line.
I was brought back to reality with a tap from Mama Chinedu.
“Zerah!” she called.
I jumped in fear, almost dropping my bucket. "Sorry, Ma'am", I apologized.
She laughed instead of a reply. "Were you trying to steal my day in your mind?" She asked.
"You should be a writer, Ma'am", I replied, walking towards the door of my apartment. Washed all over me was shame that Mama Chinedu caught me daydreaming as she narrated her wedding day to me.
Mama Chinedu continued laughing. "Aww, silly girl", she joked. "Get out of my day. Stop stealing my day in your head," she playfully said, still laughing. I could feel her eyes on me.
"I'll see you later, Ma'am", I replied with a smile. I quickly got to my door, opened it and got inside. Then I leaned against the closed door, shook my head and laughed at myself.
Later in the day, cuddled up on my sofa while trying to see my favourite TV show, Friends. I heard a knock on the door. I got up and dragged my feet to the door. I opened it to see Mama Chinedu standing there.
"Good evening, Ma'am", I greeted.
"Here. It's yours now," she said, handing over a bag to me as she turned and walked back to her apartment.
"What's this Ma'am?" I yelled out to her.
"You'll see," she turned and yelled back with a smile on her face.
Quickly, I dipped my hands into the bag to see its contents. Pulling it out was the white gown Mama Chinedu had washed in the morning. I looked up to yell out my thank you but she was already inside her house and had shut her door.
I walked back inside my apartment and picked up my phone. Then I texted her on WhatsApp
"Thank you, Ma'am, but you didn't have to".
I threw my phone on the sofa and tried putting on the clothes. A beep on my phone and I checked to see a reply from Mama Chinedu.
"I had to so that you'll stop stealing my day in your head", she added a few laughing emojis.
I smiled to myself. If only life had more people like her.