Chapter Two

My curiosity set in as I watched my mum's every move. I wanted to know what it is she does that she said I don't want to know because of course, I was dying to know.

My mum had a friend, Tessa whom I have never met but I will always find my mum on long calls with her. She leaves very early in the morning and comes back late at night but will make sure we have something to eat for the day. Sometimes she will stay at home during the day and will leave late at night.

One fateful night, I decided to follow behind her to see where she goes and what she does.

It was a successful one. I followed behind her as she moved five blocks away from home. She was on her Bluetooth making her less aware of me because one thing my mum has is a strong instinct, she made a quick call and waited for five minutes, then a car stopped nearby as she went close to them, she gave them a parcel she had been hiding in her jacket all the while and they gave her some money, after a small talk with one of them, they drove off.

 My mum no longer worked for Make It Highschool because they paid the non-academic staff very poorly. She had to quit and she entered the streets properly. One thing I found out that night was that my mum is a street walker, I mean, she delivers drugs and weeds from Tessa whom I assume is her boss to these people, she will take the money to Tessa wherever she stays and get her own cuts. I felt so bad because it broke me, having my mum do these things is just too much for me to take. And in Claudia, when caught doing illegal jobs like this is a very very crucial case and also can be a deadly one when you are not of high status. I feared for my mum's life so I thought of something and I carried it out.

One night my mum was home, thanks to God. I waited till she slept and I took her phone. I dialed Tessa's line. She picked up

I went outside far away from my mum's hearing to answer the call,

"Bitch I need you to stop anything you are doing with Mary. She is a mother and I am sure you are aware of that. If you put my mum in trouble. I will find.."

She hung up. I was happy because although I didn't get to finish, I drove my point home. I tiptoed inside, deleted the dial and dropped the phone where I saw it.   

The next day, my mum got a text from Tessa telling her that her services was no longer needed.

My mum became confused and had to call Tessa.

I was sitting down at the dinning table with Yuvonne and some how, Yuvonne knew I knew something, her eyes said it all and I was trying to avoid her piercing eyes.

" Tessa what's with the text? Was it for me?

I have a delivery this morning. what happened?"

Few seconds later, my mum turned to me with the phone still on her ears, She looked at me like I stole from her and she was looking like she was going to kill me.

" What the hell did you do, Hel?" 

" I am sorry mum. I was just.."

"Shut the fuck up!"

she cut in approaching the table as I stood up very scared and ready to run for my life.

" Do you know what you did? I guess not. I will tell you, you just threw us out of this house. This delivery was supposed to pay our rent."

She said as she left the table for her room in anger.

" Look what you've done, Hel, we've lost dad now the house too. You are unbelievable"

Yuvonne said as she took her food to the room, obviously angry with me too.

At this point I don't know what to do. I didn't think of the outcome before dialing Tessa last night. I sat there at the table very angry with myself too.

The next month came and mum did not find something to do yet. So, we got kicked out of the house. It was all my fault, that one call took away our home and I felt bad, stupid and foolish for ever thinking of doing that.

Well, I don't know if we were lucky or not, but we found an old warehouse that had been long forgotten and abandoned. It was a government property so we packed in there, the roof was very old and leaking, so I had to fix it myself just to make up for what I did. The warehouse was not bad after all. I mean I was thinking we will be sleeping on the road, it was that bad. My mum later joined a small group of armed robbers because there was no decent job she could get. she never went to high school so she had no certificate.

I was really scared but I knew I blew my chance of talking her out of anything the day I dialed Tessa. So, I had to accept my fate and stand by her.

One day I entered her room to spend sometime with her. I saw her packing some weapon and setting up her guns and magazines.

" Going to work tonight?" I asked moving towards her

"Yeah, tonight is a big one. I am feeling nervous about it. You know the little ops have been feeding us. But this one is getting us out of here for good and when I get the money I will take us out of here and start a new life somewhere. I owe you that, Hel." 

Yuvonne came in and sat beside mum. As she looked at me , I nodded towards her.

"Mum, I had a dream last night, I have been waiting to tell you"

"Let's hear it babe" Mum said as she continued packing up.

"I saw you burn up in a big fire out break"

Yuvonne said.

Mum stopped abruptly, trying to digest what Yuvonne said. Few seconds later, she shook it off and held Yuvonne.

"Oh come on sweetie, it's just a dream. This place is beginning to affect you. Don't worry, if I come back we will be leaving here for good hmm?"

"Mum are you for real?"

Yuvonne asked in amazement

" I promise honey. It is" Mum assured her as she kissed her temple, looking at Yuvonne's face mum sensed a sudden change of mood.

"What's the problem Vonne?"

"So many promises unfulfilled, dad promised to come back, but he never did" Yuvonne said in a very shaky voice

"Darling, I am not promising you, I am promising myself. I will get us out of here. Stay positive,Vonne. I love you"

Mum stood up, looked at me as a drop of tears came down her left eye, she gave me a long hug, whispering to me to take care of Yuvonne. She gave me a pat on the back and left for the operation.

I watched as mum fade in to the city. I took Yuvonne inside and prayed for mum to come back safe.

A text came to my phone, I opened it. It was from mum. Reading it up, I froze.

* I had the same dream like Yuvonne last night. But I must take the risk in other to survive. It is what I do. If anything happens, never forget, you are HEL MARY and I love you.*