"ADE'S JOURNAL", 30

   Live and direct from Lagos city, the clouds spill and pour and cough unapologetically. Too much to do and too little time, makes the eager crowd race and rush to meet their deadline. The time to resume work, especially before the boss come in. To the bus that gets you across the Third Mainland Bridge, just before seven. Any time after that and we are definitely late, they grumble. As the determined worker bees talk about  the unnecessary traffic they face on their way to make a living.
  I just missed this crowd and I desperately want to see how fashion forward, Lagosians have gone.
Of course they didn't disappoint and as I step out of the cramped mini bus, the feast of fabrics begin.
I see that six pieces skirts are still in and the peplum reigns supreme and I can clearly see that gowns have replaced the jeans wearing culture and flared three quarters sleeves are preferred. My eyes digest and munch on men that love the Ankara shirts made to look like short sleeve versions of office shirts. And of course, midi gowns and maxis reign supreme. It was interesting to see raw sewn crudely made clothes and perfectly tailored bespoke outfits, brush and pass one another. It was beautiful to see many different fabrics tested and so many fails and guess what, so much more achieve lovely finishing and that perfect outfit.
  I was truly on the best street fashion runway and as I walked from CMS to Idumota Lagos, I stroll on the freshly tarred road and take in how past and current trends are transmitted into Beautiful outfits for all shapes and sizes. My beautiful mind caught a new kind of fire and as minute raindrops blown by the intense Lagoon breeze, splashed my flushed face. I paused, got out my design pad and pencil down the words raindrops, wind and vultures.
I almost bump into a harsh scavenging bird pecking with head buried deep in a nylon, as if it was a caucus. As it fed, I could see the black feathers of its massive bulk hiding beneath the yellow nylon and just like that..... The skirt took shape in my head like a dream on a whimsical runway....

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 29

   Chirp tonight, so I know that life brews out there. Croak tonight and spawn the next generation and as I silently wait for your approval, I watch the lone flightless ant bat away the last petal of wings and stump on them. How did I miss their flight and the bright light that calls us here. Where did the others go, as I stood motionless, transfixed and life swung fast by.
Something Sweet Not Sour, lingers in the moisture choking air all around me. And for the first time a long time, I'm wide awake. I'm not going to just lay down here and count all my missed opportunities, I am going to shake off the doubt and fly...

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 28

   Icy cold wind hit gently at my warm moist face, it a fabulous relief on this ho thursday morning. I am on my way and I have to admit that I am totally knackered. The week has been hectic and to crown it all up,I have a migraine. One that goes away if I tilt my head in a certain way. My box pleat are even and as I take a gentle but swift stride, it exposes the silk spiral organza butterfly Patten's between my maroon red Ankara fabric. The princess dart does a lot to flatter my top and as the third woman stops to admire my beautiful design. I smile and tell her it's mine.
I've waited a long time for this day and yes, it is not my first design. But it's the first time I have worn and walked on the street with my clothes on. It's me just walking a d enjoying the cold morning. This is Lagos, we don't get many cold mornings, so I will enjoy this one. It's also a time for me to reflect on my life and my plans. Some of my plans have been completed and others linger on in my hyper active gumption. My pencil drawings all stare at me in folders of two hundreds each, all made for an exhibition I haven't done. My fashion illustrations could be published in three full volumes now and my runway collection can't wait to be stitched together forever.
What about my screenplays and production projects? My head swoons as I like up on my aching head all that I need to be done, this year and then the next and then. ..

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 27

     Early but noisy frogs croak as if it was night and the clouds refuse to cooperate and release the cooling sun, hidden and far out of sight. This day is here and I really have nothing on my mind, it's been like that since I started sleepwalking again. I've been exhausted and I only sleep with sleep aids and it makes me worry about my liver. I can't help but over think and dwell on stuff my body takes in. Right now, I'm supposed to be asleep. I think I did for four hours but that's it. No need to pretend or try to force myself, I say and jump out of bed.
I am looking at Celine's collection of clothes. The ones she made for me and this jumpsuit leaps at me. It's simple and delicious and it's what I'm going to wear for my date. I hear footsteps and freeze, as if I have been caught. It's actually Ajoke waking up for a stroke of dawn snack. The girl just can't add weight for Africa. If I eat as much as she did, I would add ten kilograms easy. She stops by my room door and opens the slightly open door. She was worried and holding her breath and a mayonnaise and cheese dripping burger with fresh lettuce that awakens my sleeping taste buds. She was relieved I as I blinked she tells me that's how she knows I am not sleep walking. I hold up the jumpsuit to my skin and she gasps. We both hear footsteps and freeze and then listen and when we were sure no one was coming, we burst out laughing. This our date that requires us Dodging Eve's Fire and will definitely get us in trouble. I exhaled long and hard and then nod my head, she was right....

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 26

  It's that time again, I wrap the gele in even layers over my three strand twist braids. My jewelry is gold and loud and my lace is champagne and gold, yes it's almost like Zuhair Murad or Elie Saab picked the lace. I liked the pale stripped almost invisible silver stripes that meet the gold zigzag patterns. Best of all, I am glad I could finish making all four fabrics in the two weeks I had to do it. I love the complements and love that everyone agrees it's haute couture with my unique signature on it. I got confirmation for more work and iLike that they understand that for now, it's just four outfits I can make per month. Minus my collection of course, today was just getting better and better.
Until, an hour later... We were still waiting for the groom to arrive as the Lagos billionaires and millionaires showed up. Ajoke and I laughed at some of the costumes they had on and admired others.
Two additional hours later and we didn't smell his brake lights. Ajoke was calling Celine to inform her of the scandal brewing, I wanted to leave but Ajoke insisted we see the end of this wedding with the Imam looking lost, the bride in tears and a realization that none of the groimsmgr showed up....

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 25

   As in, it was a cool evening and I was expecting my man. He was going to walk in holding freshly squeezed orange juice and my little slightly lit lamp would just brighten our night. Or so I thought, tonight did not go as planned. I do not know why men don't have that radar that says, woman on a mission. This lady is on a serious mission, always around my man and I.
Kilode?
There is no trick I have not tried, no negative body language I have not spewed her way. The babe shaaa no want free, I tire ooooo. In fact, the latest blunder my man has made is to say he can't make it tonight and has sent this pest to replace him. You see men and their cluelessness, I will not hide my disdain for her like Ade said I should. I will not warn her to my man's face like Ajoke said I should and nor will I set his children against her like Nnoye says. Instead, I will be civil and ask her, what exactly she wants.
The answer throws me off and my Ladies need to hear it all....

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 24

   Injustice has many guises, but this has got to be unique to here. I am still in shock and unsure of what I am feeling right now, hope is gone and I mean literarily. To get inside my head, you need to hear me out.
My salary is twenty thousand a month, exactly what it costs to transport my miserable self to work, yet I take it. How? I just stay on the office premises and beg every one that passes through the gate I guard, for money. I live with the disgust people throw at me and off the joy of generous givers. There is no dignity in what I do, but it's better than been a lazy Nigerian. To make matters worse, the agency that pays me and employed me owes me three months at a time. Their excuse, they fix the joint forty people salary to gain an interest that allows them keep us employed. It is a human rights violation, to withhold our earnings illegally. Yet, that is what employers get away with in this country.
Before now, I didn't mind. I tell myself that it is a way for me to save my hard earned salary. I have a wife that sells rice, beans and fish to my colleagues and the work I keeps us fed and there's a little profit. The harsh reality is that our daughter, Hope is sick. I have begged, cried and borrowed to keep my only child alive. This is the second month and I have my salary now, but the doctor says it's too late. The typiod has perforated her brain and like they predicted, she squeezed my little hand for the last time. Hope is truly dead and as I cry at work and tell my horrible tragedy...

"ADE'S JOURNAL", 23

   Knock on my head again and you will see what I will do to you. Crawl up my many hairs springing up and standing at attention on my chocolaty dark skin and I will crush those your spiny little limbs. Clips that hurt with little pressure as I nimble on my soaked nails that bend easily underneath my peachy pink tongue. The cravings are higher now because I haven't eaten, but the disappointment my taste buds feel quench the hunger pangs that reach up and out to collect the dark delight coming their way. The cake is bland and the vanilla frosting tastes like lime saturated strawberries. My taste buds are all over the place and only one thing can soothe the desires it longs for. It's dark chocolate and as soon as it hits me I melt and sink into a milky way...