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“Miss, do you need help to get off the plane?” The poised air hostess says to me with a wide grin, bringing me back to the present.
“No,” I answer, getting up and grabbing my backpack. Everyone is long gone.
I’m alone. I make my way towards customs. I still have my US passport. Turns out my parents kept our passports in a safe deposit box in case of fire or theft. There was no box to protect them.Oh, I wish.
I follow the herd. When I get to the officer and he scans my passport, he returns a mystified look at me and then pushes a button. I should ask questions, but I remain standing. Just numb.
“Excuse me, Ms. Bankole.” I turn to the female officer speaking to me. “Come with me, please” I follow with no response. She takes me into a room. “Sit down,” she says. I sit as instructed without question.
She clicks and clicks on the computer. She then stamps my passport with all kinds of documents and stickers. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Rhanaz and I hope you enjoy our international school. I’m also sorry for your loss.” I blink at her wide eyes. How does she know I’m anorphan?Is the word spelled across my face in neon?
“Your guardian had to explain the reason for an expedited request for residency,” she explains.
“Thank you,” I say, but break down in tears. It’s as if she’d smashed the glass of numbness and I couldn’t control the excruciating pain that flooded my veins. I couldn’t control it in front of this stranger. I let it all out. She pulls me into a hug and lets me cry on her shoulder. I lose track of how long I spent crying. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“It’s okay dear, I can’t begin to understand what you are going through but do try and take each day as it comes.” I nod and grab my bag. She walks with me until I see Aunty Lara and Uncle Ray.
They are smiling. The officer stops and touches my shoulder. “Best of luck, Ms. Bankole. I’m positive Rhanaz will bring you smiles and joy.”
“Thank you again,” I say to her.
“You got this, remember to smile.” I nodded and raced to my new guardians.
The ones willing to take the orphaned teenager.After my parents’ burial, all other family members came up with excuses for why they couldn’t take me in. But Aunty Lara stood up for me, right in front of them.
“I have no plans to leave Jade with any of you. I already started working on her move to Rhanaz. She will stay with Mrs. Muyiwa, her mother’s best friend, till she comes to join me. You can all leave now.” Quietly, they each got up and left. “Good radiance,” she had said, shutting the door after the last one left.
“Welcome to Rhanaz, Jade,” both say, hugging me. We got my luggage, and I got in the car with them to my new home. I enjoyed watching the bright lights and beautiful buildings in Rhanaz. Truly a beauty at night. They asked about my flight.
“It was fine,” I answered, in a monotone, as we drove.
“That’s your new school.” Aunty Lara pointed out “Don’t worry, you rest the next few days and start on Monday.” I nodded and continued to look out the window. At the endless lines of palm trees, with lots of high-rise complexes and large freeway, it all looks glitzy. It felt like we were driving up a hill towards the water. I could see the blue water as we kept moving towards it.
Once we pulled up at the quaint house, Aunty Lara wouldn’t let go of me. She hugs me. “I will always be here for you, Jade,” she says. I nod and pull from the hug. We step right into the living room, which is tastefully decorated with an L-shaped leather couch with two end tables. Four aesthetic-styled pillows. A lamp is by the window and the entertainment system is set up by the wall that divides the living room from the dining room and the kitchen. To the left is a door with a guest bathroom and further down is another door and behind that door are the three bedrooms. Aunty and Uncle’s room comes with its own bathroom and the other two bedrooms share a bathroom. I noticed a small walk-in closet in my room. The room was set up for me with a twin bed, a desk, and carpet.
“We will go to Ikea to get some stuff for you to make it more you. A small garden and patio chairs are out in the back. You can see it all in the morning.”
“Thank you, Aunty,” I say, trying my best to show appreciation.
“We are happy to have you here, despite the situation and we will not leave you,” she pulls me into a hug. “We got you, Jadesola.”
“Thank you, Aunty.” I know I sound like a robot. But it’s all I could think of to say. I’m grateful but haunted by all the changes happening so quickly around me.
“I’ll leave you to shower, change, then come and eat. I ordered some food from a restaurant. I think you will like it.”
Uncle Ray brings my bags in just as Aunty Lara is leaving. He hugs me, too.
I take a moment to sit on the bed, staring at the green paint like it was going to speak to me. This is my room and new life for the next year or two. I said goodbye to Lagos and my friends. Tito and I cried at the airport. We both know it’s unlikely that I will ever return to Lagos. We’d promised to stay in touch with each other, but I have no clue how life would be for me in the next few years, but I must get up daily and keep going, like I didn’t just bury my parents.
I don’t have anyone in Lagos anymore, besides the Muyiwa family that showered me with love and welcomed me into their home, no questions asked.
While my father’s siblings were busy coming up with excuses for why they couldn’t take me into their home, Mrs. Muyiwa stood up saying she would take me, but Aunty Lara said I was coming with her. They had planned together on how to make life better for me.
I will forever be thankful to Mrs. Muyiwa and her family, who stood by me in the worst moment of my life. Mrs. Muyiwa, who wasn’t related to me, did more than said related family members who fought over my parents’ last possessions like hungry lions. I agree with Aunty Lara's “Good Riddance.”
I unzipped my bag to grab my sleepwear. I barely have any clothes. I was in school when our house burned down with my parents inside. Most of the stuff in the bag came from Tito’s closet. The only items that belong to me are stuff I had at school with me. Muyiwa’s family never leaves me alone in the house, someone always stays with me. I can see the concern in their eyes much as they try to hide but I am thankful someone is always beside me, though quiet most time. They stay close.
I let the water run with my tears. Until Aunty Lara knocked gently. “Jade, are you okay?”
