Carolina:
When I returned home after an unsuccessful job hunt, I found my mother, Lilian Edmond, standing on the veranda.
"Carolina, you are 26 years old. Yet, you have no work or boyfriend. You cannot continue to eat in this house with us. Get out!" My mother shouted, glaring at me as she refused to let me in.
"Mom," I stood in front of her, looking at her face.
My mother was a 48-year-old, light-skinned, chubby woman. She was tall, dressed in a short blue dress and a pair of black slippers, while I am 26 years old.
I was wearing a faded yellow top and an old brown skirt that I had owned for ages.
"Carolina, you are not entering this house tonight. Go back and look for a job. If you do not find one, then do not come home. If your father and I had known that sending you to the university was a waste, we wouldn't have wasted our money and could have saved it for your younger siblings. How do you expect us to continue to feed a grown woman like you? If you do not want to work, then remain outside!" My mother went back into the rented apartment and slammed the door in my face. I stood outside, looking at the closed door, and some of the neighbors peering at me.
I graduated with a degree in business administration, but so far, I haven't been able to secure a good job. The city was tough, and finding a good job had been unsuccessful.
My parents had five children, and I am the eldest sibling, with two younger sisters and two young brothers. At 26 years old, I have nothing serious going on in my life.
Sighing, I turned to walk back to the road. My mother shoulders all our family responsibilities, as my father was just a deadbeat who doesn't truly care. He comes home to eat, and we might not see him for days.
I stood by the roadside, looking at the busy road and the different cars passing by. It was after 8 pm, and I had gone to every employment agency, but nothing had worked out.
Shutting my eyes painfully, I reached for my phone to call my best friend, Lucy Campbell. She works at a club, and I'm sure she can help me get money to take care of my bills.
"Hello, Lucy," I said once she picked up.
"Carolina. What's wrong?" Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm homeless. Can I come and stay at your place?" I asked her, trying to fight back my sobs.
"Why? What happened with your family again? Your mom threw you out? This is 8 pm. How can she send you away at night?" Lucy asked, and I tried not to sniff.
"I can't blame her. The economy is too hard now, and Mom is trying her best. I need to get a job. If I can find one for tonight, I don't mind," I told her, finally letting the tears fall.
"It's alright, Caro. Actually, I'm at work now. Can you come to The Blues Club? It's the biggest club in town. I'll try to speak to my boss and see if he'll hire you. But you must speak like a local, like me. That way, my boss can employ you. Also, you must be friendly with the male clients. You'll have to endure their touch and how they interact with you," Lucy said.
"Really? I have to do all that to get the job? Will it involve kissing or anything?" I asked, my heart pounding.
"No. What's wrong with you, Carolina? You'll just have to put on a smiling face. Well, you know that you're a pretty woman, so some of the men might want to ask you out," she said, and I thought about it.
"I don't have a problem with that. What matters is that I earn money, even if it means selling my body. I feel like a failure right now," I told Lucy as I sobbed.
"It's okay, Caro. You're not a failure. Where are you? Start coming over. Do you have your transport fare, or should I lend you some money? Although I don't have money to give you right now. My elder sister's wedding is next month, and I need to make preparations for it," Lucy said.
"Alright. I'll pay you back. Please, help me, Lucy. You're the only best friend I have," I told her, and she laughed over the phone with her contagious laughter.
"Don't mention that. I'm sure I'm not your only friend. Anyway, I'll send the money to you. Get here quickly," Lucy gave me a final ultimatum, and she knew how I had been trying to get a job with no success.
I sighed, pacing about the road, and I got a message alert of 5000. I smiled, as the money was more than I needed, but I knew I had to pay Lucy back.
Looking ahead at the road, I hailed a taxi and told the driver, "To The Blues Club."
The taxi driver looked at me from head to toe.
"Are you sure you're going to the blues club dressed like that?" He eyed me suspiciously, and I frowned.
"Why? I'm going there to meet a friend of mine," I told him, and he shrugged.
"Get into the car. That's not my problem. But your bill is 1500," the taxi driver said.
"Why? Isn't it 500?" I asked him, before entering the car, and his eyes darkened.
"You can walk. Why get on a taxi?" he said to me coldly, and I frowned.
"It's fine. Take me to the club," I told him, as I entered. He nodded, started the car, and drove off to The Blues Club.