The Expatriate Episode 3: Let's Get It On.

The bass reverberated through Wapi and his body moved involuntarily. It felt like it would almost rattle the loose change in his pocket. He surveyed the crowd to try and catch sight of Glenroy who had disappeared in search of drinks as soon as they'd arrived. They had only met and begun working together a few weeks ago but Wapi & Glenroy were becoming fast friends. Tonight they were moving in tandem. First a birthday partyhere at Glenroy's cousins place, then later a Salone wedding party to which Wapi had been invited.

Another tune started up and a chorus of whistles and screams went up to greet it. Wapi had loved reggae music back in Freetown but he'd never heard nor felt the music in this way before. This was reggae the London way. The London Jamaican way. Heavy. All around people had their fingers raised in the air and were moving towards the dancefloor. Well, the center of the room really. Wapi was trodden on so severely he feared for his new leather shoes. As he manouvered himself into a newly vacated wall space he saw Glenroy approaching with two cans of Special Brew. He was followed by two gorgeous looking girls and a guy the size of that munku boxer. What's his name? Frank Bruno. Glenroy introduced Wapi to his twin cousins Marva & Marcia, and then to Everton. The explanation of who Everton was got drowned out amid the noise.

Introductions completed Glenroy and Marcia went off to dance leaving Wapi between "Bruno" and Marva. Bruno lit a cigarette, leaned across Wapi and snapped his fingers at Marva gesturing towards the dancefloor. Wapi had friends whose requests for a dance could be somewhat crude but this guy was in a league of his own. Marva's response was to look Bruno up and down several times, and hold her space. "Bruno" realised she wasn't going to acquiesce and made a sucking sound with his teeth and walked off. Presumably to charm some more deserving young lady.

Marva was rocking gently to the music her back against the wall, her shoulder grazing lightly against Wapi. She was small and slim, what his friends would call "pocket-size." She was dressed in black leggings, a short black skirt, and a black top. Her long dreadlocks tied up in The Colours. Wapi noticed that most of the girls were wearing black but none was as stunning as Marva. She turned, catching him staring at her, and gave him the sweetest of smiles. Wapi was in a quandary. He wanted to ask her for a dance but was not prepared to "shoot crab." Besides, he was unsure where "Bruno" fitted in.

Soon the music stopped and the lights were switched on. A large cake was brought in from the kitchen and placed on a table in the center of the room. Glenroy & Marcia returned glistening from their exertions. Marva asked Wapi, "You want a drink?" "Yeah Special Brew." She turned to Glenroy, "Same yeah?" He nodded and the twins set off for the kitchen. "We'll just wait until they cut the cake and them make a move down to your session yeah?" He looked at Wapi who nodded his assent. When the girls reappeared with the drinks, Wapi noticed that Bruno was with them again. They watched the cake cutting formalities and each had a piece when the tray was passed round. Glenroy explained that Wapi was taking him to an African party. "You lot interested?" he asked without consulting Wapi. The twins looked at each other as if to consider. "Nah. We're settled 'ere." Everton's voice was as big as he was. The twins looked livid but said nothing.

Wapi and Glenroy said their goodbyes and headed for the door. Glenroy kept stopping to talk to people and occasionally introduce Wapi to other friends. At one point Marcia passed by and asked Glenroy for his car keys which he handed over without a thought. The guys finally got downstairs to the car and found the twins waiting for them. "Come on Glen man," Marva sounded anxious, "get a move on." During the drive they explained how Everton had taken Marva out for drinks a few weeks ago. He had wanted to "do a ting" with her but Marva was not interested. It seemed however that Everton wasn't a man to take no for an answer and was proving extremely difficult to shake off. "I don't even know why I webnt out with him in the first place," Marva complained. "The man so big and ugly and stupid looking, like like like..." she was lost for words. "Bruno" Wapi interjected and the whole car erupted into laughter. The girls had seated themselves so that Marcia was sitting in the front passenger seat next to her cousin Glenroy, while Marva and Wapi were at the back. As they laughed, Wapi noticed that despite the available space Marva sat quite close to him and wondered if there was any significance to this.

They were in the right area for the party and Martcia was navigating with the aid of an A to Z. With the book right up against her face she said, "It should be second left after the lights." It was. Glenroy dropped his passengers in front of the hall and went to find a parking space. As they waited for him, a group of young ladies emerged from the hall one of whom Wapi recognized immediately. "Wapi Johnson na yu yay dis?" It was Jeredine, an ex-girlfriend. Luk wey yu dry!" Wapi remembered why they hadn't lasted long. He was saved from getting any further into the conversation by the arrival of Glenroy. Suddenly, a scream from just inside the door, "Da Wapi. Hey, yu dae?" De Lenny. Okor broda" was Wapi's response. They hugged and shook each other warmly and Lenny led Wapi's group inside.

Wapi followed Lenny to the bar to get drinks for his friends and learned that they had missed most of the party as the hall was due to close in 5 minutes and only a half bottle of brandy had persuaded the caretaker to hold his fire for another half hour.

Wapi had just returned to his group with the drinks when the intro for the next record came over the sound system. "I've been really tryyyiing baby. trying to hold back these feelings for sooo long. But if you feeel like I feel baby, come on, oh come on ooooh" It was Marvin Gaye's Let's get It On. This was Wapi's golden opportunity. "Bruno" was out for the count having been abandoned at the birthday party and Wapi knew he should do something now. As he thought of his best approach he felt a tug at his sleeve. It was marva, who could hold back her feelings no longer. "Can we dance?" Yes they could as far as Wapi was concerned. They moved gently into each other, minds and bodies in a slow motion harmony. Everyone else was excluded. It remained that way for ballad after ballad, for the next hour until the caretaker prevailed and switched the hall lights on. Neither of them said anything as they came apart.

After taking a few addresses and promising to keep in touch Wapi led the way out. In the car, Glenroy mentioned that they could head to a nice Blues in Vauxhall. Marcia declined as she had to pick up her youth from her mums place. Marva who was now leaning on Wapi's arm said, "I've had enough. Drop me home please Glen." Wapi said nothing. As they pulled up in front of Marva's block she said "Laters to her sister and cousin and got out of the car. She turned to Wapi took a deep breath and said, "You can come in for coffee and a chat if you want. You can phone for a cab when you're ready to leave.." With Marva out on a limb like that Wapi could not hang about being embarrassed. He slid smoothly from the car and bade goodnight to Glenroy and Marcia. His friend gave him a wry smile. Marva took his arm and led him indoors.

Wapi woke up in an unfamiliar flat some hours later. He had just returned from the loo when he heard the doorbell. He froze. Seconds passed. It rang again. Still Marva did not stir. Against his better instincts Wapi tiptoed to the door and looked through the peephole. "Bruno!" He backed away in a reverse tiptoe, eased into the bedroom and gently shut the door. he slid back under the covers. At that moment Marva opened her eyes and saw him. Here smile and embrace were equally warm and Bruno was soon forgotten.



Glossary:

Munku: An idiot, retard or fool. Please don't use if you ever meet the real Frank Bruno.

The Colours: Red, Gold & Green colours of Rastafari.

Shoot Crab: A refusal of a dance, a kiss, a boy girl relationship, or any type of embarrassing refusal.

Na yu yay dis: Literally, "are these your eyes?" A greeting for someone you haven't seen in a long time.

Luk wey yu dry: "My how thin you are." Most often said in a derogatory tone.

Okor broda: Brother og the groom.

Blues: An all night dance usually held in unlicensed premises and musically dominated by reggae.

Laters: Goodnight, goodbye, see you soon, see you later.

Loo: Toilet or bathroom(US).