A Pole Dancer in Neon

The cab stopped at suburb A that accommodated the middle class earners and barely rich. It was child friendly with a park that Binti frequented located 10 minutes away from the apartments she lived in. After paying their dues, the two girls dragged their colleague out of the vehicle and struggled to get her to her house on the fifth floor. The apartment did not have an elevator hence they had to bear with the climb. The climb was painfully hilarious and breath-taking literally, and not in a good way. By the time they got to the fifth floor, Binti's forehead had a bump and their arms, knees and elbows had scratches. It was the after effect of tumbling down, blocking another oncoming concussion and downright falling on their knees.

The door was closed with a bang as if it was the only way that their frustration could be quenched. The dead weight was let loose and it slumped on the carpeted floor, oblivious of the struggles her friends had gone through. Binti had a fear for closed spaces. Her choice of the apartment was influenced by the fact that it lacked elevators, had wide windows that allowed her to see the night sky and breathe easily and enough space to raise her potted plants. The windows that once had window bars and grilles as a burglar proof reinforcement had been adjusted by removing the bars and grilles, installing bullet proof translucent glass, installing an alarm system and planting thorny crawling plants by the wall to prevent anyone from accessing the balcony. The door was also made of bullet proof translucent glass. All this can be credited to Khalayi. Binti described it as taking advantage of the perks of her charity work.

Nasike cussed while they tried to change Binti into her pajamas and getting her to bed. Khalayi swore to look for another house for her regardless of the so-called convenience that Binti sang about. According to Binti, the stairs provided a form of exercise. Khalayi was apprehensive about the reason she gave since the stair climb contributed to only 5% of her top form which was shaped by the morning runs and evening walks. Being a cold night, the bedroom windows were closed. Like the windows at the dining room, they consisted mostly of glass; however, the balcony was sealed with bars that connected to the sixth floor, another reason for choosing that apartment. After dumping Binti on her bed and covering her up, the girls slumped on the king sized bed unable to move any further. Sleep caught up with them in a few minutes before they could even move over and bath or change into comfortable clothes.

The sun seeped through the windows hitting the bed and rested on three restless figures, rather, two uncomfortable figures and one figure that purred in contentment. Being the first to wake up, Khalayi felt like slapping the figure purring beside her. Actually, she would have but her aching bones prevented her from doing so. Nasike had also been stirred awake by the sun. As Nasike stretched, Khalayi skipped from the bed and ran to the bathroom. Nasike groaned in frustration knowing that her roommate will spend years in the bathroom. The savage spirit she had recently acquired from Nasike tempted her to slap Binti. She refrained from doing so and decided to locate the kitchen. She took cold water from the fridge and gulped it down thirstily. Though unhealthy, at that time all she desired was a cold drink. Afterwards she went on to whip up some breakfast for the three of them.

Binti was woken up by the not so subtle noises from the kitchen. Getting up from bed, a splitting headache made her groan and hold on to it. Her hand supporting the back of her head, she dragged her feet to the source of the noise.

'Awake and suffering', Nasike grinned as she banged the utensil around on purpose.

'Make it stop', Binti complained unable to think past her throbbing head.

Satisfied by the impact she made, she handed her a cup of ginger tea laced with honey. A sip of it relieved her headache a little and she strolled towards the balcony absent-minded. Nasike thought that she was too gullible for a psychiatrist as she continued to whip up some eggs, pancakes and preserved the orange smoothies she had just made. By the time she was done, Khalayi was already in the kitchen sampling the delicacies.

'Mother hen', Khalayi sniggered.

'It would go a long way if you helped me lay the table', Nasike snapped as she arranged the food on a tray.

The balcony being spacious with just enough furniture, they figured it would be better to eat from there as opposed to staying in the kitchen. By then, Binti's mind had cleared up and she was able to remember the stranger who had served her ginger tea.

'Nice tea', she said while looking at the young lady setting down food on the table.

'Lazy as always', she sniggered after eyeing Khalayi who was settled on the hammock.

'Nah, not lazy, just couldn't be bothered by that fest, milk and cereal would have done it for me; by the way, were you cooking for an army', Khalayi stated as she swung from the hammock and took a chair near Binti.

'That is coming from a foodie that is too lazy to cook', Nasike smirked.

'Cant be bothered by the process if I can by-pass it, can I', Khalayi answered in between mouthfuls.

Binti smiled wondering how Nasike got stuck in Khalayi's rut and version of friendship.

The breakfast passed by garnished by harmless banter and recollection of the previous night.

'What are you two thinking of doing after the college entrance exams at the end of the year?' Binti asked.

'Joining the mafia as their live-in hooker, you know, like how companies do with in-house lawyers', Khalayi answered.

'Pole dancer in Neon', Nasike deadpanned as they looked at each other and laughed.

'Nooooo way, seriously', Binti joined in the laughter.