Jagua Nana

‘So you say you wan’ ten poun’ for de trinket?’ she murmured, injecting a secretive note of intimacy into her voice. ‘Eh?’

‘Yes … er … oh, yes!’

‘But you know de whole thin’ don’ worth more than five pound. I only goin’ to give you five pound. Das all I got.’ She smiled up at him, tilting her face upwards to gaze into his eyes. He was nervous. She saw that.

She rose, put aside the mirror and came and stood near him so that he could see all of her and smell her. She came and put her hands on his ear lobes and stroked them. ‘You good lookin’. You wan’ to cheat poor woman like me. I only goin’ to give you £5.’

‘Madam, I been like you so much. Das why I follow you from de Club. I mean, I like you so much. If you wan’ de trinkets …’

‘You be fine boy. Wha’s your name?’

‘Dennis. Dennis Odoma. I got a group of frien’. We use to do business togedder. You know what ah mean. Business. Sometime we can get trinket like dis three times in one week, is all by lucky. One of my frien’, he’s de taxi driver. And de odder three, dey are de business men. De agent.’ He laughed and struck a pose. ‘When we get somethin’, sometime dem can travel far to Port Harcourt or Onitsha to sell de thin’ and return for Lagos in two-three day. And de Police will be wastin’ de time here for Lagos … Am de leader. When I get somethin’ like dis dat I like I keep it for myself … I also got one gal frien’, Sabina. Phew! She’s too fine, but I like big woman like you, to keep for outside. I never seen wonderful woman like you. As you walk, is wonderful. As you dress, is Jagwa-ful.’

Timidly he placed a hand on her left shoulder. She put her hand over his and lifted it to her breast. She could feel the shiver of fire run through him.

‘You like me, so? You like Jagwa-woman? Jagwa woman cos’ plenty money. You be only small pickin’ of yesterday. Jagua woman is for men in de Senior Service. For Contractor and Politician. You ever see Jagua woman with young man like you who don’ put on tie? You just put on shirt and trousers and you don’ wear robe, or gold chain round your neck and you come to me and say, I like Jagwa woman. Dem don’t like Jagwa woman with sweet-mouth. I already got one boy who talk sweet-mouth. You just come late, so you mus’ bring somethin’.’

‘I like you, Ma. You fine too much.’

‘I fine, but I mus’ pay mah rent! I fine, but I must chop and wear fine cloth.’ She leaned against him.

‘I love you, Ma.’ She felt his hot hand, massaging her left breast. He leaned on her hair, smothering it with kisses.

‘Gently, don’ rough me. Senior Service man never use’ to rough lady. Contractor never use’ to rough lady. Jagwa woman must be handle’ gently, with respect.’

‘Yes, Ma. But your breast stand like dat of virgin.’

‘Like your gal frien’ breast?’

‘Fine pass! Fine pass my gal frien’ breast. I love you, Ma. Since I seen you … Since you comin’ to de Tropicana with one young man.’

‘Freddie, my darlin’ Freddie. He gone to U.K. for study de law.’

‘Since dat time, I been like you, but I fear—’

‘What work you doin’ in Lagos?’

‘Ah got no work. Am an independent man.’

‘And you got money to give Jagwa woman?’

‘I love you, Ma. God kin help me fin’ somethin’ to please you. If you like de trinket, Ma … You kin take am.’

‘I tenk you,’ said Jagua. She took out the box again and ran the tips of her fingers over the glittering surfaces. She put the earrings on and admired them in the mirror. ‘Tell me, Mr. Dennis. I no understan’ de kind of business you say you an’ your friends doin’. I mean, you tell me about your frien’ who drive taxi and the other frien’ that he got, and you tell me about your gal friend, but … I begin to wonder. Tell me true, Dennis.’ She took his head in her hands and kissed his lips. ‘What kind business you doin’? If you breakin’ house, is no shame. I know plenty people who’s in de business. Dem gather in de Tropicana. Yes, I use’ to see dem. If is so, den when you got gold like dis one, you kin bring and we kin do business. You see?’

‘Yes,’ murmured Dennis, seeking another kiss.

‘You kin come here. I will give you small sweet somethin’. I know what you want! An’ you kin get am from me, sweet pass your gal frien’ who got no experience of de men. I will give you sweet somethin’ to turn your head, you kin almos’ drive your gal frien’ away! Have no fear, you safe wit’ me. Your gal frien’ will not know. Even self, your wife! She kin see me and we pass an’ salute, and she kin not know. Das what Jagua woman is for. She kin keep de secret of de men, and nobody fit find out. You hear dat. You safe with me, if you give me what I want.’

‘Ah promise.’ She kissed him with fire on her lips. His hand went limp under her chemise for a moment. Then the strength returned and he tore it open and saw the Venus of a body. ‘God done make you Jagwa.’

‘Gently!’ whispered Jagua. ‘I been dancing dis night. I jus’ return from travel, an’ I tire. I tell you, I be woman for Senior Service men; and Contractor and—’

‘I won’t handle you rough, I promise. True!’

She liked the dark frown on his face. ‘Freddie never rough with me. Freddie’s a gentleman.’

‘Who’s Freddie? Oh, you mean de man in Englan’? Yes, I use to see you and him in de Tropicana, and I always jealous.’