manus manum lavat ~ Xaahira&Tallie

I woke up to chatter in coming from the kitchen right below my room.

It was a Sunday morning, well afternoon, for crying out loud. Some of us were at work till around seven or was it eight? I don’t really know, but Saturday nights were always my busiest night of the week. No one worked on a Sunday and there was no school, so all the kittens came out to play. If I was out chasing the bag for the good of the family, the least they could do is be considerate and let a girl get some beauty sleep. The only reason those drugs sell is because I sell them the idea that I could make them me. Xaahira Mahdavi, goddess of districts one’s sin city.

As I sat up in my large circular bed, the room span, and I felt the blood drop from my face. Seconds felt like eternities as I grasped onto the sheets clinging for my dear life. I needed water, or maybe a mimosa, same thing really. I swung my legs and took another second before pushing myself off my bed. My floor littered with clothes to the point where you could no longer see the blood red carpet underneath. My bare feet kicked a few dresses and other items of clothing to the side as I made my way to my walk in the closet. Same principle there, clothes everywhere but the shelves they were meant to be in. I tripped over a pair of hot pink stilettos, giving a little shriek that was enough to make my head reel in agony. Stumbling through my closet in order to regain my balance I finally found what I was searching for. A long black, feathered dressing gown.

All wrapped up and my hair brushed back into a bun, I slipped on the pink heels that caused me such an inconvenience only moments earlier. I grabbed my long golden cigarette holder resembling a skeletal arm and placed a smoke inside the hand lighting it up. My left-hand glides along the railing of the grand staircase as my right hand brings the cigarette to my mouth. Part one of the ultimate hangover revival, nicotine. Part two was alcohol that was hardly ten steps away from my thirst ridden grasp.

All heads turned towards me; the voices fell silent as I entered the room. My mother was not the slightest bit amused; it was written all over her face and folded arms. We had visitors from seven, every once in a while, my cousin and uncle would come to district one on family business. Sometimes there were big family meeting and other times their skills were needed for a job. It must be latter, I would know if there were a family meeting, I am usually the topic of concern. My mothers disapproving glare lingered as I make my way to the alcohol refrigerator.

”Will you at least say hello, Xaahira?” Mother scolded. I turned my body around slowly with the champagne secured in my hand. I knew they must have been discussing something important and I really did not want to get involved. I longed so dearly to be invisible for a second, a mere spirit haunting the house drinking her woes away. I twirled my wrist, creating a ring of smoke around body, ”Good morning uncle dearest. Good morning cousin dearest. Mother”.

Gosh a girl really could use a vacation from all of this. If only there was a way, I could escape my luxurious prison where I was forced to work night and day.

There it was! My lightbulb moment. All of a sudden, my day just got a whole lot better. I finished mixing myself my ever so deserved mimosa and held it in the same hand as my cigarette. The adults chatted aways as Tallie listened carefully. She always took her family duties so seriously, to her it was her ticket out of misery and she was going to be mine. I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the kitchen exit into the next room, ignoring the confusion coming from the adults.

I poised myself on the emerald green chaise longue as I took a sip from my drink with my cousin standing still in front of me. Just like in the clubs, I only aspired to make business while acting like royalty. All that was missing were individuals on either side of me with large fans making sure I did not overheat.

”Oh Tallie dear, while the adults talk shop, I think it is time we bargain our own little exchange.” Dramatic pause for another sip of my mimosa and the last hit of my cigarette. ”You see, I love the family. I love running the clubs. Yet there is only so much sugar a heart can take before it breaks. I need you to get me a traveling visa for seven so I can escape my mother’s grasp every now and then. In return, I say we hit the shops. Anything you want Tallie dear. The world is your oyster. ”