Chapter three

Two days ago.

A black woman with slender legs and long arms, black curly hair, like the natural hair of an African woman, ran past the numerous children in the first room, answering their greetings with her bright smile.

She entered another room, a smaller one. She tried to catch her breath, placing a palm on her chest.

"Good morning, Mrs Evans," she said, walking to the wooden table that had broken edges.

"Good morning, Olivia. You seem… unsettled. Anything the matter?"

"Oh." She chuckled. "Not really. Is Madeline around?"

"Of course!" Her tiny voice rang. "Just go inside, you will see her. She's a little busy with kids, but I'm sure she will listen to you."

"Thank you, Mrs Evans." she breathed back and went to the next room.

Little chatterings of children, filled the room that was meant for an office. Each of them held a book they called 'reader' and sang every word they saw in the book in unison. They had this serenity they showed when they sang in numbers. Madeline Miller– held a long pencil, moving her hands up and down like an opera instructor. The smile on her face was priceless.

She was her best friend, she stood beside the door until Madeline finalized the session with the children.

"Didn't know you were going to teach them how to sing," Olivia commented.

"Well, Mr Bradford shared the idea with me, and…" she took deep breaths in and out. “It has been going well."

"And the kids are becoming more in number, you will need to look for a new house for your orphanage." She sat down, dragging another seat next to her.

Madeline sighed. "That has been on my mind, but we are low on money. The promise the government told us has–"

"Not been fulfilled?" Olivia asked bringing out a white envelope.

"Yea, I have tried writing emails and all sorts, but no answer."

Then she looked at Olivia's hand and caught the mysterious smile she had curved on her brown lips.

"What is it? Why are you smiling like that, Olivia?"

"Have this." Madeline didn't take it, keeping her eyes on her best friend. "Stop looking at me as if I have planned your kidnapping. Take it!"

"Ok. Ok." She collected the letter, opened it and read through it. "A new job?"

Olivia's smile widened. "Yep, my mum is a friend of the maid there, she told me the maid will be busy taking care of her sister and they need–"

"You are not seriously saying I should work as a maid when I have kids to take care of."

"It's not maid per–say. Madeline, they have a kid there, and she is just five–"

"What of her parents? Her relations? Livie, I can't leave my orphanage. Take a look! Who am I going to hand this over to."

"Mrs Evans. She will do it excellently well." Olivia immediately answered. "The focal point of this work is the kid, not others… Think about it, Madie."  she pleaded.

Madeline sighed. "I don't know, really–"

"The pay is good. You are not working there forever, just for a few months. You can use the money for the growth of your orphanage."

Madeline laughed at how her best friend kept convincing her. "Alright. I'll talk to mum about it. Is that fine?"

Olivia scratched the back of her head and looked at nothing in particular. Madeline noticed it.

"Now, what?"

"Oh, me? Nothing. The thing is I have already told your mum, and she accepted." she responded, with her fingers moving to and fro on her hair.

"Olivia!" Madeline laughed loudly. "You are something else!"

"I know. I know." her smile shone brightly.

"So when do I resume?"

"Phew! That was a quick decision! Well, everything is in the letter, and the number of the maid, in case you need to call her." She clasped her hands in glee.

Madeline smiled and hugged her best friend. "Thank you, Livie. You have always been there for me."

"We are sisters, aren't we?" She smiled.

Madeline nodded, "Yes we are."

***

Presently.

"Good morning, Mrs Evans." Madeline walked quickly to her office.

"Good morning, dear. You look quite happy today." her rough cheeks folded up with her smile.

"Oh. Mrs Evans. I just feel today is going to be a good day. I'll be meeting Mr Hill for the charity fund he promised." she responded with her beaming face.

"Oh, my. I can't believe I forgot. That's why you are in haste. I wish luck, dear." Her motherly voice rang across the room.

"Thank you, Mrs Evans, let me get the files and I'll be on my way. Do well to take care of the kids for me. Two volunteers are already on their way."

"You worry too much. Go on! There's no time to waste. Chop chop."

She chuckled, hurried inside and took the files already arranged on her table. She walked out in her local suit and high heels and smoothened her long black hair before she halted a taxi.

The east side of London always had the busiest of days on Wednesdays. The cars had been at a standstill for hours before the road became free for the cars to pass.

Madeline kept checking her watch and tapping her palm on her lap, from the window, she saw the house she was going to. She paid off the taxi and was about to cross when a car swerved to her left side and packed aggressively with the headlamps fluctuating.

She stood transfixed in the middle of the road for a minute before she gathered the files that had littered on the tarred road.

"Are you blind or you don't know how to watch before you cross?" a bass voice rang from behind her.

She turned back, slightly shaking but put up a bold face. He was tall, had muscular hands and a chiselled face, with a dangerously outlined face.

"Now, I'm sure she's deaf!" He growled lightly.

Her eyes shuttered quickly snapping her from her thoughts. "Excuse me, sir, that's not a way to talk to someone you almost hit." She blurted in anger.

"And who are you to tell me how to talk to anyone I talk to?"

"Robinson…" a man stepped down from the car. He wasn't as tall as this man that stood before her with insults. "We are already late for the meeting, let's go."

"You are extremely rude, Mr Whatever your name is. Learn how to talk calmly to strangers." She said and walked away from there as quickly as she could.

"Women… so stupid in the mind," Robinson muttered under his breath, entered his car and drove off.