Monthly Series

Does The Outfit Make The Person?

Episode Two

As he dragged the straws of the broom across the sparkling marbled foor, Jabari felt the vibrations of his cell phone which had been placed in the back pocket of his navy-blue janitorial uniform. He quickly switched the broom handle to one hand as he used the other to pull out his phone. At first glance he knew right away that it was an urgent message from one of the hotel guests. The message had come from his manager. “A guest wants room service” the message read. The Golden Palace Hotel had a model that says, “never keep the guest waiting for more than five minutes if possible.” Jabari knew that he had to act quickly. He closed his phone and swiftly gathered the debris from the broken glass that had shattered across the lobby floor. With the pieces of glass securely wrapped in a special trash bag, he returned the broom and disposes the trash bag. The second message from his manager read, “customer from room 581 orders one red rose, 2 casava, sweet potatoes, with yams, fried eggs, and red gravy breakfast tray. The order also included 2 glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a box of condoms. Jabari was not familiar with the word “condom.” He wanted to make sure the order was completed correctly. He called his manager to clarify the order and asked where he could find the thing called “condoms.” His manager was surprised by the naivety of the nineteen-yearold, six-foot two inch tall, strikingly handsome, dark chocolaty brown skin, university students’ ignorance. She burst into laughter when she heard his question. Feeling embarrassed, and confused, Jabari asked if he had said something wrong. Imani, the hotel manager remembered that Jabari had come from a nearby village and had been sheltered from city life his entire life. Knowing this she tried to control her laughter and apologize to the young man.

“The condoms are kept in the hotel gift shop on the first floor. Just ask the clerk and he will get them for you,” she said. Jabari was already in the hotel lobby and had gone there to clean up after a customer accidentally dropped a glass of water. In the gift shop, the clerk showed him where the condoms were kept and begged it after charging it to room 581.

The elevator stopped on the second floor, where the guest meals were prepared. As the elevato’s doors opened, a soft aroma of herbs and spices coming from the guest kitchen penetrated his nostrils which delighted his tast buds. The kitchen staff had the food waiting in a silver chafing dish placed on a pushcart with a single red rose and beverage. Jabari gently knocked on the door of room 581. His jaw dropped as the door opened quickly. He had recognized the young woman standing on the other side of the door waring one of the hotel’s terrycloth monogramed bathrobes. Her name was Dalilah, she stood five feet tall, and bear footed.

Does The Outfit Make The Person?

“What, what are you doing in this room?” He whispered.

“What are you doing here,” she shouted nervously in reply. “Anyway, I’m glad you found out. I’m tired of pretending to be your girlfriend, you are a poor village trash.” She rolled her eyes and looked away.

“Found out what? Dalilah, why are you saying these things? What’s going on here?”

Just then, a young fellow walked out of the bathroom and headed towards the door. He had heard their exchange and wanted to know what was happening. The young man’s name was Cali, he also wore a bathrobe and bedroom slippers.

“Jabari,” said Cali, with a slight grin as he moved closer to the young woman and put his harms around her waist. “I knew you were nothing but a poor working class village boy,” he repeated.

Jabari knew the young man. He was a fellow student. The three of them attended the university.

“What are you doing in this room with my girl?” Jabari shouted, noticeably angry.

“Your girl? Did you really think someone like her would be with you once she found out how poor you are?”

Jabari rushed toward Cali, but Dalilah raised her hand and shouted at Jabari to stop.

“I am no longer your girlfriend. I pretended to like you because you were nice to me, but you are too poor for me. It’s embarrassing walking around campus with someone like you. You wear old clothes; you don’t even have a car. Most of the students here are from rich families. You are a nobody. Someone told me that your parents are farmers, and your mother is a market woman. They can’t afford to pay your school fees that’s why you work here.”

Her words penetrated his soul, while he fought back the river of tears that had welled up in his eyes. His anger slowly turned to sadness as he turned away to leave the room. Just then, Cali threw money at him.

“Don’t forget your tip, use it to buy yourself some new clothes.” Cali slammed the hotel room door behind Jabari.

At age nineteen Jabari found himself in a strange land with no money and only three friends. His three friends were also his roommates at one of the most prestigious universities in the Kingdom of Nahoura. Nahoura was the capital of Zim a minute country located on the east coast of Africa. Jabari was born in the village of Ticom. He was an heir to the throne of Eze. His family was one of the wealthy families in Africa.

From a very young age his family knew that Jabari would one day rule their kingdom. But, every king had to prove that they were worthy of holding such a prestigious title. Every King had to live outside that kingdom for seven years without any support from the family. The young prince was unmoved by his sudden poverty. His new lifestyle humbled him. He took pride in his job as a janitor at the Golden Palace Hotel. However, he could not understand why his classmates put such emphasis on wealth. Most importantly, he could not understand why his girlfriend chose to say such evil thing and why did she leave him. Jabari knew that he would inherit the throne and many people would depend on him.

Growing up Jabari was the child who played with the children of his servants. He never felt better than them. Many times he would give his playmates valuable gifts and food. Now, his classmates were unaware of the prince position in life and they saw him as a poor peasant farm boy from a near by village.

To be continued: