Aisha

“STOOOP!!!!!”

Aisha stomped hard on the brakes, bringing the rickety Datsun to a screeching halt in the middle of the pedestrian crossing. The lights were red, how had she missed that?

In the periphery of her vision, Imo’s jowls quivered. His head bobbled round to face her, eyes wide behind his round owlish glasses.

“Pull up after the intersection, we’re done.” His voice cracked with a clashing mix of finality and anxiety. 

Aisha rolled her eyes internally as she slowly pulled up into a hidden alley way. She knew what this meant. She’d failed, again! The sunlight bounced off the silver cross hanging on the rear-view mirror, reflecting off Imo’s glasses as he filled out the driver’s practical examination form.

“You’ve failed again Aisha. It’s three months before you can try again.” He shoved a copy of the examination marking sheet in her face, “You should be used to buses by now, find one!”

“Whatever Imo!” Aisha had had enough of his holier-than-though attitude, “I’ll pass one day and it definitely won’t be under your shitty tutelage!”

Form in hand, Aisha exited the car, she could feel her phone vibrating in her pocket. Imo, her examiner, tore off in a trail of suffocating exhaust fumes. Waving away the toxic black fumes, she pulled out her phone. Her gut clenched with dread when she saw ‘MUM’ flashing across the cracked screen.

“She must have a sixth sense or something. ” Aisha muttered sullenly to herself as she pocketed the flashing phone. She’d deal with the impending drama later tonight.

It was still early in the day, Aisha was considering calling Hawa to meet up in the city, when a rubbish bag thumped noisily out of a nearby dumpster, startling her. Temporarily distracted from her crisis, she circled the bin curiously. At the adjunct of the two dirty old buildings a little round door slowly materialized.

“What on ear- AAaah!!!”Aisha shrieked when a four-foot kangaroo tapped her shoulder.

It wore a bright yellow checked waistcoat and a lovely flower crown adorned with wisteria and jasmine. The sweet scent had attracted some bees, which buzzed pleasantly around the wreathe.

“Hello Aisha. You’re right on time,” the kangaroo said, peering up at her through its spectacles, a solemn look about its narrow face.

The kangaroo hopped over to the door, as it reached forwards a golden handle appeared just in time for it to twist open the door. The chic kangaroo hopped through the door and disappeared into the darkness.

Aisha stood stock still, incredulously gazing at the little golden flecks floating aimlessly about her head as she re-evaluated every decision in her life that had brought to this moment. She knew it was never a good idea to light up a blunt before exams, but she’d never had this side effect before. Vaguely she remembered stories her father had told her of her late great grandmother, whom he’d witnessed conversing very seriously with thin air. Maybe she liked weed too?

She was still deep in thought when the kangaroo reappeared at the door.

“It only just occurred to me that we haven’t been formally introduced.” It seemed to be smiling.

“We haven’t?” Aisha wondered if kangaroos could smile and why she was talking to the kangaroo. What kind of joint had she inhaled? .

” Waru,is my name.” It paused, as if giving Aisha time to digest this new information.

“Waaaarrruuuuu.” Aisha let the name roll off her tongue, rolling the r and prolonging the vowels.

“We weren’t sure if you would indeed come, but now that you’re here we’re glad we never stopped believing you would come.” Waru’s brown eyes were serious now, “Please come with me, we haven’t much time.”

Waru stretched out its paw towards her.

Surprising mostly herself, Aisha grasped the soft, furry, outstretched paw. Aisha stepped into the darkness, glancing behind in time to see the small, round door disappear into thin air.