Chapter 5. I did it on my own

“My girl, don’t be too excited and too attached to your boss, don’t rely on rich peoples promises, because they can change their mind, and if that happens you will be in trouble,” Angela spoke with integration she rested, and took a deep breathe, held her daughters shoulders as she continued

“don’t take it the wrong way sweety, I am not saying it will happen, I just want you to be cautious, in case that happens in future.” She added in a small voice.

“what’s wrong mama?” searching her face, sadness and confusion swimming in her eyes.

“You sound hurt, have you been hurt before by a rich person?” she scanned her face

It was obvious she wanted what was best for her daughter, she was the one who will suffer most, she reminded her of the position she held in that house.

She smiled and moved closer, to give her a hug. As she whispered to her

“I have a feeling mercy is someone special to me,”

‘I don’t know why I feel so comfortable around her, it feels like she’s a sister I never had,’ she thought to herself.

“And I believes in my heart.” Amanda insisted.

Angela in surprise dropped the glass she was holding and broke it

The smashing sound travelled across the room and was heard by mercy.

She dropped down her head sets and rushed to the kitchen,

‘‘mom what is wrong with you?” Amanda asked softly

“what’s making you tremble like this, careful you might hurt yourself,’’ she spoke with digression. Amanda held her arm as she scolded her.

Mercy arrived and quickly went on to hold her hand, looked direct into her eyes, with the same tone Amanda used on her mercy repeated the same words.

“It’s okay girls don’t gang upon me girls, it was an honest mistake” she smiled up at them, her eyes shimmering with tears she was struggling to contain.

The girls were being sweet, they both cared for her, the similarity in their action was adorable

“Amanda will you please stay behind and help me.” she went close to her and told her

She gazed at her, alarming her not to get her hopes high with Mercy, they only have each other.

“Sweetheart we only have each other, there is no other special person in our life.”  

Amanda left but flippantly, she once more repeated the similar disputes.

“I still feel as though Mercy is my sister.” Angela throw down the shards of bifocals she was cleaning. Her eyebrows shot up and her face lit up with digression.

Amanda went back to her, she asked her if she was ok, Angela hid her emotions, she was worried with her daughter’s words, she told her she was just exhausted with the journey, she needed to lie down and rest for a while.

Amanda excused her to go rest, she finish the rest of the chores.

Angela went up to her room and locked her door, she rested her back on the door, as if she was hiding from something.

She walked towards her bed, took out her phone and dialed, she tried making a call, but had second thoughts.

Closed her eyes hard, she called out on her brother in pain.

‘No, it can’t be, the girls can’t be attached now, I can’t afford to lose this battle,’ she spoke to herself.

I can’t afford to let go now that we are here, my sister deserves justice, I need to know what happened to her, and why my brother left the country. She had been planning her moves carefully, it took her 9 years to put together the plan.

Angela was there for her mission, she had been hurting, she tried being strong for her daughters sake.

She busted out in tears. Calling out her brother name.

‘Josh, please show up, Amanda and I need you, send me a sign, I need to know if you are still alive.’ She begged with the heavens.

Hours later. Angela was still not awake, Amanda wriggled with the errands, she went up to the quarters and disemboweled them, she organized the rooms and spread the cribs well, cleaned the closet and dusted the window pens, Mercy studied her from a distance she revered her gusto. She operated nonstop without getting drained,

She went in and joined her.

“May I help you miss?” Amanda enquired; she was scrubbing underneath the bed.

“No, instead I’m here to help, where do I start.” She offered

“Okay start by….” She evoked her mother’s disputes, she dithered and got out of the bed. She stood up with respect and looked down, placing her hands in front on her thighs, she did not want to have a direct eye interaction with her.

“Well?” Mercy shrugged, showing off two dins of perfectly straight teeth as she smiled willingly.

“I’m already done, miss, you can just help me by keeping me company; tell me more about yourself.” She ducked the matter

‘But I want to learn how to work like you?’ she spoke in a low tone of pleading

Amanda, pulled the chair, the sound of it scraping against the floor could be heard clearly as the room suddenly went silent at her sudden action. she created a perfect diversion to snub her appeal.

“Come on.” Mercy was not budging,

Mercy went to the window and looked down; A car screeched in front of the entrance.

“Permission to leave, we have guests I will go open for them.”

“No, let me do that, keep on working.” Mercy offered.

Angela slept off leaving all the chores to Amanda.

‘It was Barack, he came from skating park, he dropped by to say hey, Is lunch ready? He is coming back.”

“Yes ma’am, I have already set the table.”

Mercy stood by and waited for her to speak to her. She moved her neck scanning her every move as she gutted the gaps.

“I need your help miss.”

“Yes please I am here, where do I start?” she asked  

“What should I prepare for dinner?”

“shouldn’t your mom do that? Her face covered in disbelieve.

“My mom is not feeling well,” Amanda clarified.

She felt bad, she wanted to   out, but ego won’t allow her, ‘how I’m I going to convince her? I just want to get close to her.’ She struck a subversion to get her accept her effort.

She smeared oil on the floor leading her to slip and fell down. With this it was a done deal, she wasn’t going to deny her help.

‘Ouch! That hurts.’ She shrieked out in ache; her joint were sore. She wriggled to rise up, skulked towards the wall to find her balance, the floor was slimy, the harder she fought the slimier she got.

Mercy observed her, she tried to hide her laughter but couldn’t contain, she busted out with derision.

“Madam independent, can I help you now?”  she cracked a joke

Amanda raised her brows with mortification, and gave her, her hand, she nodded in acceptance.

Mercy stretched out to reach on her, she tricked her and pulled her down as well.

They both lied down and felt comfortable as they giggled with satisfaction, they finally got a chance to have fun.

“Tsi, tsa.” Barack snapped with contempt

He interrupted their chit chat.

“I will be in the living room.” He eyed at Mercy.

Amanda stoop up and helped mercy, she scoured off the oil smeared on her signed well-designed dress.

“After you miss; I will go get the rag.” She meekly departed.

Mercy felt mortified for adding up on her misery, she smeared the floor on purpose in order to help her but instead.

She walked out in aversion, eaten up by her own actions, she walked to the room and smirked at Barack, her face covered in shame and guilt.

“What have you done?” Barack groaned

“Let’s eat.” She dodged the query

the aroma stroke them, salivating on the huge pots in front of them.

Amanda gutted slowly as she gazed at them, she watched them as they serve the meal, Barack was not comfortable with how she looked at them.

“Will you stop?” Barack glared at her with belligerence, she turned away and carried her pail and left.

Mercy was busy, she dint catch a whim of what was forging.

She looked up and saw his frown on his face, she slowly gazed towards the direction he was facing, ‘what is he up to now,’ she nodded in muddle

‘Why does he hate me, I just met him.’ Amanda spoke to herself.

He is handsome though; I like him a lot. She smiled

Mercy was preoccupied, she ate silently, it was not usual of her. She tapped her plate with the fork continuously, Barack watched her, he ignored her attitude, he was enjoying the meal.

She suddenly rose and went to the kitchen, she wanted to confess to her.

Barack nodded his head with empathy, ‘girls, I will never be able to understand her.’ As he continued.

Amanda moved around the kitchen with positiveness, she danced as she worked, she was excited of accomplishing the chores by her own, the positive interaction she had with mercy, raised her spirits.

Mercy was pleased to see her happy, she couldn’t afford ruining the joy of Amanda. She slowly walked away without her noticing her.