Chapter Two: "Aunt Pauline's Drama Club"
Zoe's heart sank as she stood in front of her aunt's apartment door. It was a modest building, though a little...eccentric. The door was painted an alarming shade of lavender, which Zoe was sure wasn't a color on any legitimate color wheel. She knocked.
A voice from inside shouted, "Hold on! I'm coming! I'm coming! I just need to find my good wig!"
Zoe rolled her eyes, half-laughing. Of course. Aunt Pauline was never underdressed, even for the mailman.
The door swung open, revealing Aunt Pauline in all her glory. She was wearing a silk robe with an embroidered image of an owl wearing sunglasses and holding a martini, along with a headscarf that looked like it was straight out of a 1970s soap opera.
"My dear!" Aunt Pauline gasped, pulling Zoe into a dramatic hug. "You look... like you've been through a war zone! Did you finally put that fire out? I told you not to microwave popcorn after dark!"
Zoe couldn't help but laugh. "Aunt Pauline, it wasn't the popcorn."
"Never trust popcorn at night," Aunt Pauline said wisely, patting her niece on the back. "It can smell fear."
Zoe blinked. "I'm pretty sure that's... not how popcorn works."
"Of course it is! And that's why you're staying with me now! No one has more luck than Aunt Pauline. Look at my life!" She threw open her arms dramatically, as if to display an invisible trophy. "I have a fabulous collection of wigs, a man who brings me fried chicken every Sunday, and—"
Zoe cut in. "And your neighbor, Mr. Kibet, who keeps asking you to 'keep it down' when you sing in the shower."
Aunt Pauline waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, that man just needs a hobby! Which reminds me—have you heard the new church choir rehearsal schedule? I'm leading next week's practice, darling. It's going to be legendary. We're doing 'Amazing Grace' with a twist—I'm adding a jazz piano arrangement. Very urban gospel. The congregation will faint. Mark my words."
Zoe could feel her sanity slowly evaporating. "Aunt Pauline, I just survived a gas explosion. I'm not ready to join your choir."
"Nonsense! You'll be fabulous. You have the voice of an angel... a very moody angel, but still, an angel. Now, come in and make yourself comfortable. This is your new home until... well, until you blow something else up, I suppose."
Zoe stepped inside, and immediately, the chaos that was Aunt Pauline's home hit her like a freight train. The living room was a mishmash of antique furniture, mismatched cushions, and framed photos of Pauline posing in various dramatic costumes—one of which was her in a full Cleopatra outfit, holding a fake snake.
"So, where's the guest room?" Zoe asked, trying to make sense of the madness.
"Oh, sweetie," Aunt Pauline said, guiding her to the only available space, which was a loveseat covered in a blanket of sequins. "This is your room."
Zoe blinked. "Wait, what? The loveseat?"
"Yes, darling. You're a modern woman. I'm sure you'll make do. And don't worry about the rest of the house. I only have a few projects going on."
Zoe looked around. There was a half-finished scrapbook of Pauline's "glory days" as a high school drama teacher. There were also piles of old playbills, some dusty curtains, and what looked like an abandoned bowl of mashed potatoes on the kitchen counter.
Aunt Pauline continued, "Oh, and by the way, you're helping me with the community garden project. I signed you up. We're planting roses this week. You're going to love it!"
Zoe's eyes widened. "What community garden?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? We're planting roses at the church. You'll meet some of the best people in the neighborhood. Mrs. Wanjiru, for example—she's the lady who keeps a parrot that talks too much. We all love her. And then there's Doreen, the one who—"
"Wait, you signed me up for gardening? I don't even know how to plant a flower, Aunt Pauline!"
"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll teach you. Besides, with your background as an 'influencer,' you're practically an expert on pretending to know things. You can make it look fabulous for Instagram." Aunt Pauline grinned. "Get ready, darling. It's going to be an adventure!"
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Later That Evening...
Zoe was lying on the sequined loveseat, trying to get comfortable, when Aunt Pauline stormed in with a tray of "snacks"—or, rather, what Zoe recognized as a pile of reheated chips and the world's smallest portion of chicken nuggets, which, when put together, resembled a sad attempt at a meal.
"Look, I know you're stressed," Aunt Pauline said, her face full of seriousness as she placed the tray in front of Zoe. "But nothing fixes a crisis like comfort food."
Zoe sighed, taking a tiny chicken nugget and inspecting it. "Aunt Pauline, this is... small. Like, too small. These nuggets are basically crumbs."
"They're gourmet. I got them from the deli. They're tiny because they're fancy. Now, don't get all dramatic on me. You'll get used to it." Aunt Pauline plopped down on the couch next to her, adjusting her scarf.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Zoe mumbled, picking up her phone to check her messages. "Anyway, I've got a brand deal meeting tomorrow. It's for a beauty product line, so I really need to be on top of my game."
Aunt Pauline gasped. "Beauty?! Oh honey, don't stress! You have the perfect 'natural glow.'"
Zoe, who had been trying to get some decent sleep between the giggles of Aunt Pauline's choir rehearsals and the faint sounds of Mr. Kibet complaining through the walls, wondered if the glow was from exhaustion... or from the last explosion.
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End of Episode Two: "Aunt Pauline's Drama Club