The Summer Recall - Chapter 2

Kukua had passed on Tifa’s US phone number to me. I was nervous. This would be the first time I spoke to her in over two months. I missed her so much. I have been caught up with Marsha that communication between T and I had dwindled. The last time I spoke to her she was ‘talking’ to this guy she met through a friend online and he was also in the U. S. When I got into town my mom and my siblings had asked if Tee was coming into town. My family adored Latifah. My mom saw her as a second daughter and fought hard to convince my dad to let me keep trying to come to the UK. Even with all her convincing he still wouldn’t agree. , My mom did slyly tell me that she wishes I would work things out with Tifa. My siblings would often call Tee my girlfriend. I wonder why everyone thought Tee and I liked each other? We were just super close friends.

 Marsha sat next to me on the couch as we watched television. I was eager to go give Tee a call. I wanted to hear her voice and her laugh. I suddenly wished Marsha hadn’t come down with me. When I started making plans to come to the US for the summer, I had not included Marsha in my plans. I thought it would just be me and my family and  Tee and I could spend our nights talking, laughing and just hanging out like we did in the past. Besides, that had been the plan all along for her to spend the summer in Atlanta so we could spend time together. But, when Marsha asked me what I had planned to do once school was out, I had to let her know I was going to Atlanta. She proceeded to invite herself on the trip. I was a bit disappointed but tried to hype myself up with the possibility of her being with us this summer. When I had finally come round to the idea of Marsha joining me on the trip,  Tee messages me on MSN messenger to confirm she had bought a ticket and was spending her summer in Atlanta. I immediately started to hyperventilate. This was the summer Tee and I had planned to spend together and Marsha has ruined the plan by inviting herself on this trip. Tee and I can’t relieve the summer we had last year. I tried to convince Marsha that this summer wouldn’t be ideal for her to come down. I came up with an excuse that my mom had found me a job and I had to work crazy hours so I won’t have the chance to spend time with her. She wouldn’t budge. I now had to deal with Marsh and Tee in Atlanta at the same time. I was royally screwed.

I told Marsha, I had to use the bathroom and rushed upstairs so I could finally make the call to Tee. I felt bad that I had to lie to  Marsh but, it was the only way I could get some time alone without her suspecting a thing. I slowly dialled her number my fingers trembling. I didn’t realize how nervous I would be calling her. I heard the phone ringing, holding my breath with each ring… “Hello” I heard her say and I quickly responded before she put the phone down. “Hi Tee, it’s Dee”... "Oii oiii oiiiii look who finally decided to get in touch. Like dude are you trying to avoid me”? she chastised me. I chuckled, trust of course  Tee always found a way to check me.  “Before you say anything I know I’m the reason for the break in communications”. I wanted to take ownership before she continued with the chastising. She giggled. She knows that I know her so well and this would turn into a back and forth thing if I don’t own up to my distance.  “ I know I know I know, I have been MIA but it’s not because I didn’t want to talk to you, school got really crazy and I’m still trying to adjust to Canada. It's just been mad”. I told her. “Well the good thing is you are in Atlanta now and it looks like this summer is going to be really really fun, we definitely have to make the most of it.” She sounded hopeful, I didn’t want to bring up Marsha to ruin the mood. 

“Anyways”, she continued, “ Do you have any plans for July 4th weekend?” Before I had a chance to respond she continued.  “ My cousin Kojo is having a party on July 4th weekend in Maryland and he has asked me to invite my friends. I was hoping if you didn’t have any plans... you could come through?” She said hesitantly“ Yeah yeah sure", not bothering to check if I was free that weekend." Yeah, my boy, Jeremy and I had made plans to go down to Maryland that weekend because there are a lot of events happening in the Ghanaian community. I would ask him if he would like for us to come instead if that is ok with your cousin?” I heard a sigh of relief at the other end of the line. I could tell she was grateful I hadn’t brought up bringing Marsha. “ Ohh yeah for sure, I don’t think it will be a problem. I have already asked Kukua and she is bringing her girls so it should be a lot of fun as a group”. I agreed with her. Tee and I chatted a bit about school and life in Canada. Our plans for the summer and then realizing I had been on the phone for an hour, grateful for free evening calls. I had to quickly end the call before Marsha wondered why I was gone for so long. I quietly went downstairs to join Marsha on the couch. I luckily found her fast asleep. Hopefully, she had been asleep for a while and didn’t notice my long absence.