Chapter 4

The black car stood out from amongst the rest. It screamed of luxury .

I took glances at it from where I was working with the expectation of seeing who was inside.

No one appeared till I was done with my shift.

I waved goodbye to my boss. He was a nice aged man.

He never really bothered me and he  understood my situation.

I left the shop and hurriedly proceeded to get on the next bus for the night.

The headlights of the black car stopped me in my tracks .

Few minutes later, a figure walked towards me.

It was a lady in a suit.

I was confused with anxiety.

I didn’t recognize her cause I didn’t know who she was.

“ It’s a nice evening isn’t it?” She asked me blandly

My confusion increased

“ Yeah?” I muttered as she tilted her head and scrutinized me with her blue eyes.

“ Here” she said ,stretching out a card

I accepted the card

“Shiva Global” I stated

“You must have heard of it.” She said

It was a popular business company but I really wasn’t the type to care . If they aren’t paying me , I honestly don’t care.

“ The best in the business industry “ she continued

“ Well , good luck “ I said , shoving the card into the pocket of her coat and moving on

She followed behind , surprisingly keeping up with my pace

“ What do you want?” I asked with a huff as I paused in my tracks

“ Not me, the boss” she stated

“ The boss?…” I asked waiting for more information

“ Yes he wants to meet with you” she continued

“ Do I look like I’ll have anything to do with the boss?”  I sarcastically asked with a frown

“Clearly no” she stated

“However, he sent me to find you and pass this information and I, Natasha does not  question the boss” she continued

“ Well Natasha ,tell the boss to meet me himself, I’m not following a stranger anywhere to meet some weird creep that calls himself the boss” I stated as I hurriedly walked to catch up with the bus.

I peered from the window, the weird woman was watching the bus go while talking on the phone

With a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes and took a short nap on the way home ending the thought of the weird occurrence I just had.

“Hey” I said as I walked into the house with Stan in the kitchen.

“ Hey “ he replied as he passed me a plate of lasagna .

“ You cooked?” I questioned

“Mum mostly “ he said as I looked in shock

“ Yeah , that means she’s getting better I guess” he stated as he continued cleaning the kitchen

“ Guess?, this calls for a celebration Stan” I said

“ yeah but remember what happened the last

 time?” he reminded

She fell sick again and it was worse than before. We really had our hopes high that she was no more sick.

“ True, hopefully it won’t be like the last time” I said

“ Yh. I pray so” he said as I concentrated on the tasty food

“ It’s that time of the month again” I heard Stan say with a sigh

I looked up in confusion till he dropped the mails

Bills. Bills . Bills . Bills

I was so tired

This phase was always so heavy on me

I picked each of the mails at a time , calculating the total for the month

“ Rent and Utilities are priorities “ I stated as I kept them at a side

“ Well I guess we could do rent and electricity for now “ I stated knowing that will empty the savings I kept.

“ The rest I’ll figure out along the way” I continued

“ I could help with water” Stan stated

“ How?” I asked

“I’ve been saving from my job” he stated

“ You got a job and you didn’t tell me ??” I shrieked

“ yeah cause i knew you’ll react this way” he replied

“ We need all the help we can get and we are all the help we have” he stated

As I nodded in understanding

“ what job?”

“ nothing much, I mow lawns round the neighborhood mostly , mom’s usually asleep so it keeps me busy”he stated

“ since when?”I asked

“ it’s been three months “ he stated

“ I didn’t notice “I stated with a frown.

 I was disappointed. Disappointed in myself . I’ve been focusing on the shop so much since mom got worse.

“ I’m sorry, I’ve been a bad sister “ I said to him as I held his hands in mine

“ It’s not your fault “ he said with a smile

“ I’m pretty good at hiding things , you don’t come home early and you hate the garage ever since dad” he stated

He wasn’t wrong. Even if my afternoon shift ends early , I usually ask to work overtime for some extra pay and I hate seeing dad’s things anywhere and they sit everywhere in the garage.

I sighed in understanding before I washed the dish I ate with

“ Thank you, Stan” I stated

“It’s cool. You do it ,so it’s good we do it now” he stated supportively

I smiled and grabbed an apple.

“Goodnight, if you need me I’ll be in my room” I said as I climbed the stairs heading to my mother’s room.

She was asleep.

I usually came home to her resting.

My sight caught the Bible at her drawer

It had been long I  said a prayer.

I walked in quietly.

Grabbed the Bible and scanned through.

Psalm 23 was the first chapter I remembered

I sat at the edge of the bed

Reading it aloud, my heart felt heavy .

I didn’t even know if He could still hear my prayers.

We were never strictly religious, but there was once a time we went to the chapel on Sundays as a family.

Things were so different now.

“ Amen” I heard a calm voice say, as i turned to see my mom smiling at me .

She patted the side of the bed and I came closer to her for a hug

“ It’s okay baby “ she said while stroking my head as I cried .

“ I’m so proud of you “ she told me as I wiped my tears .

“Me  too. You’re so strong” I told her with a sad smile . She’s been fighting cancer for a year now

“ yet you’re the strongest person I know.

You and Stan. I love you guys so much “ she said with a slight cough .

 I passed her a glass of water from the table.

“Thank you” she said after taking few sips

“ The lasagna was good” i complimented as she smiled

She looked so tired.

I covered her with the blanket properly with a kiss on the cheek I wished her a goodnight.

Switching off the reading lamp, I headed to my room.

I showered and called Paris, for our daily conversation.

We decided to make such dedication as a way of keeping in touch despite school, distance or family issues.

It’s been helpful, her voice helps me sleep easier at night . She was such a gem in my life.

It wasn’t long before I drifted into sleep in the midst of Paris’ talk about her annoying professor .