Almost at our house, I saw my mother leaning out against the door. She was talking to a man. She look so weak. I wonder how important the conversation is that she had to come out in her weak state.
Then I glanced at the man she was talking to. He looked familiar but I couldn't make out of it because he was facing my mother and I can only see his back. But the familiarity is strong.
'Who is that with mother? Christian asked curiously "I don't...." I was cut off by Christine. "Shit! That's the landlord! Gosh what is he saying to mum?
I ran towards them with my siblings following from behind. I know how annoying and frustrating the man can be. I don't want him stressing my mother or even worsening her condition.
I reached them and my mother looked relieved to see us. I was right. He was stressing her. I felt angry about this. He is supposed to consider her condition and just wait for us to come back or better still leave. How would he? He doesn't care. All he wants is his pay.
"Mum" she looked at me, about to say something when he decided to interrupt. "Elma" He smiles. As if it was pleasing to have him here. "I was just talking to your mother about the..." "The rent? I know" I cut him off angrily but he wasn't upset about my behavior. "Yes. Glad you know. So when am I getting it? "
I sighed. "Sir we haven't raised the money yet. I beg that you give us some days if possible weeks" I noticed how my last words changed his mood. He shifted from a smiling face to an angry face.
"Is this supposed to be some kind of a joke or something? Weeks?!" He should as if it was one of the disgusting words even to be heard.
Looking at me with anger and disdain. I won't lie but it scared me a little but the thought of my family chased away my fears and I know that's just what I needed to handle things.
"Sir we are not joking. We don't have money. Our mother is sick and we can't afford money for her treatment" my sister spoke up but I motioned that she let me handle this.
"Well.. if you can't afford to pay me my money then prepare to live on the damn streets!" He yelled making the four of us to flinch at the sound of his voice. " Sir please... Ta..take it easy please... We will I'll pay you" my mother spoke up weakly and I hated all this happening now.
"Mrs Patrick I want my money now. You owe me for more than three freaking months! I won't have such stupid Mercy on you people! You knew you can't afford the smallest house in Sinon yet you came to live in it. I know that your family are the poorest but I didn't know that you are also senseless!" He yelled again.
This time I wasn't the only one that got angered but my siblings also
"Look sir you..." I stopped my mother from talking and moved closer to the landlord. "Elma.." my mother called but I raised my right hand. I don't want her interfering. I looked straight into his eyes. He had clear brown eyes and little wrinkles on his face. He was looking at me with anger and I didn't care if he is same age as my father. He was insulting my family and that is what I don't take for jokes.
"With all due you respect sir, you don't have to insult us. We might be poor but we are also humans like you not animals."I spoke with a whole lot courage in my voice but deep down was a little bit of fear but glad I could suppress it.
"You dare talk to me like that? You little.." "Mind your words Sir!" My brother snapped "Don't insult my elder sister and my family"
The landlord smirked in an evil way and I was not pleased with the fact that my brother was defending me because I prefer to deal with our matters alone and not allow any of my family get involved. I don't like it when they are insulted talk more of getting into trouble. I rather be the one in trouble knowing that they are safe
"I see that you, even the youngest among you all" he looked at Christian and then to all of us. "have grown wings that you could talk to me the way you please, regardless of the fact that you owe me money" I rolled my eyes to his statement. His eyes fell on me and I looked at him waiting to hear what he has to say. What else does he has to say other than 'i will kick you out of my house'
"I will kick you out of my house!" He yelled. Just as I imagined. "Please ignore her. She is just a child." My mother spoked up again in her weak tune. I felt both pain and anger. She reminded me of my place as just an Eighteen year old and should'nt be talking to an elder like that.
"This is between me, my husband and you. Leave my children out of this. We will pay you the money. Just give us few days" she pleaded and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She was lean and looking washed out. Her sickness is getting worse.
"I want my money in four days and after that four days and I don't get my money.." he smirks "I won't hesitate to throw you and your worthless children out of my damn house!" He yells. I was angry at all his insults. My siblings were also not taking it likely.
"You are lucky I still have some mercies to spare but just for your sake Mrs Patrick" "Thank you sir" she sighed
He looked at me with venom in his eyes and walk out. I sighed and turn to my mother who just had a blank face and slowly entered inside. Christine assisted her and my brother followed them. I was the only one outside.
Thinking about how we are supposed to raise money in four days. That man didn't spare us at all. Talking about mercies, he just added to our burden. Cause with a deadline this is going to be hard but I will have to try. My family can't be on the streets. No. I have to work harder than I do and I have to do it fast. Oh God please.. I looked up the sky... I have begged and begged. Can he even hear me? This is not how his children are supposed to be living. We are in abject poverty and it's breaking my heart. My mum is seriously ill. And my dad... gosh. I can't even say worse. He is always away.
At first we thought he was out hustling but not when I heard from some gossipers that he usually drink at the most popular store in town. I couldn't believe them until he came back home extremely wasted.
He continued coming back home every night in the same state. The man has gotten to my siblings nerves. Am still hoping that he change. We need him, I need him to help out in our situation. Am going to convince him to use his drink money to pay for our rent. Of course I know, that will be very difficult. So frustrating.
I was tired getting tired of all the thoughts coming up on my head. The stress is too much and a big threat for my age. I need to stop but I can't. Family needs me. Oh God I will do anything to bring us out of this poverty.
About to enter the house when I felt something. I looked afar and I sight a familiar person approaching in a abnormal way..... my dad. He was wasted. It's half past three in the afternoon why is he... I sighed rubbing my temple in frustration.
He fell to the ground and there he passed out.
Oh man...
"Christian!" I yelled out my brother's name. I need his help to bring dad inside. He is still lying on the ground along the road and we have to carry him out of the road."Sis why are you..." I cut him off"Dad on the ground, let's go get him"I ran ahead. Christian followed me behind. "Why does he always has to humiliate us like this sis? Look at him" Christian points his fingers at our father "Who gets drunk at noon?""Just help me with him okay? There is no time for complains" Christian shutted up and did as I said.My words were void of any emotions but at a point I just didn't know what to feel. Frustration or anger as I looked at my father on the ground.How could he allow himself to be useless? How did he end up like this? Wasted and drunk? Gosh...he is making things hard for me.I didn't know how long I have been wondering in my thoughts till Christian called me out "sis what's wrong?" I sighed and nodded."Nothing let's carry him home already" I bend down to pick him up but C
Jones POV"Ruby!" I yelled out her name but she ignored me walking away angrily. I definitely know how she can be when she is angry. I ran following her till I was able to get a hold of her hand."Calm down baby geez" I said trying to sound as apologetic as I can"Get your damn hand away from me Jones" she snapped grabbing her hand away from my grip. She is way too upset with me."Who do you think you are huh? What exactly do you take me for?" She was looking at me with those cute green eyes filled with anger and I think love. Don't blame me, she is mad at me but she is also madly in love with me."Baby please" I put my palms together pleading. "I am so so so sorry okay? I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Just don't..."Don't give me shit Jones" she cut me off. I sighed."We haven't seen each other for the pasted damn weeks. I agreed to this freaking date thinking that you will do better but yet you made it worse by coming late?!Do you think am a ball or something you can play with
Elma's POVFive thirty in the morning, am ready to do something to raise the money for our rent. My family are still sound asleep, I didn't want to wake them or tell them about my plans. I just want to do this alone. I don't like them suffering. I have to do this without them and am sure that when I go out there I will surely find something to do that will earn me some money. Without them being with me, I will be able to concentrate and work harder bearing in mind that this is for my family. Yes they give me some much strength. I really cannot live without them cause they are like the air that I breathe.Come on El, this is for your family.I stepped out of the house quietly after grabbing my small worn out bag and hung it on my shoulders. Not wanting to wake anyone, I closed the door gently and moved out.Walking along the road, last night's drama came to my mind. After Christian and I had carried dad inside, he woke up around nine pm yesterday. My mother was beside him yesterday. S
Did he just... Am I hearing things?"Um... Sir are you serious? He smiled and said "I am" he put his hands inside his drawer and brought some money. "Here's the advance and a little more for the help you gave me today" I was still shocked, I never saw this coming. He is actually offering me a job and paying advance geez, aren't that a miracle?"Here you go" he said handing me the money. I couldn't help but stare at it in his hand. That was more than enough, I could pay the rent and use the remaining for something else. How is it that I made the money for our rent in a day? double OMG!"Aren't you going to take it?"Oh!"I snapped out of my thoughts and collected the money but still couldn't believe it. This man was a not only nice but generous too."Thank you very much sir, you don't know how much you helped me, am so so grateful sir!" I knelt down before thanking him, I thought good people were scarce in this world but I was wrong.But this was too much. I helped him just a day and h
Elma's POV"Where did you get all these money from El?" My mother asked. I knew what she was thinking. That i got it illegally or by other possible dubious means. She could think anything but I don't blame her, how I got the money was still shocking to me."I have told you mum"I said"But sis the story is awkward" Christine said looking at Christian."Yeah sis, how could that be?" Christian asked. These twins share same sensitivity."Look, it's the truth okay? I couldn't believe it either" Mum kept staring at me. The woman is finding it hard to believe.I sighed "mum I didn't do anything thing illegal to get this money. Besides, you know your child."I said trying to convince her."This is serious, I didn't know there are still good people in this world" she said looking at the money in disbelief."I thought the same thing mum" I said"Doesn't he have any children or family to take care of?" Christian asked."That's the point, the man has no one except himself." I said and the all real
Elma's POV"Bye guys" I left the house after bidding my family goodbye, I couldn't afford to be late that's why I didn't eat breakfast but mum insisted I carry the food to work. She packaged it in a lunch box.Mum was worrying too much besides I don't like taking breakfast but I had to so as not to make her worry too much. Am glad she is recovering little by little, am becoming tired of her weak side.The road was as quiet as usual. It's just 5:30am, there are no much people around. Just a few people.The morning smell so good. Maybe it's because things are becoming to turn around for my family and I.I hope we get lots of customers today, i can't wait to see Mr Benson's happy face once he sells all his fishes. I just like seeing people happy. Mum scolds me sometimes about that, she said I should think about my happiness first before others but that seems hard.My day was starting to go well not until I bumped into someone. Shit.. that one person I hated with passion in this town."C
Elma's POVIt was 10:00am, Sunday morning. I didn't go to work today cause Mr Benson kept the day sacred. He said he spends the day cleaning up his house, resting and visit his wife in the cemetery. I offered to help out in the cleaning but he insisted I stay at home and rest. I have been working there for three days now and it has been nothing but fun. Mr Benson was very happy since the passed three days. He still calls me his lucky charm. According to him, he hasn't made so much like he did since I started working for him. I was very glad that I brought happiness to his heart, he is such a kind man.There wasn't much to do at home, my siblings finished all the work. I had finished cooking, served my mum and siblings. Dad isn't always around even on Sundays that is suppose to be family bonding time. I guess the man will never change.I finished eating so I decided to go and buy mum's remaining drugs. Am very happy that mum is getting better and we have also paid our rent so no troubl
"Please come sit" she moved to the couch as I followed her from behind. I sat opposite her."Um, here is your phone" I gave her the phone. She collected it happily."Oh dear, thank you very much. I don't know what I would have done without this phone, it has lots of important documents in it.""Well, I suggest you be careful cause there are lots of thieves around and they don't have a heart." I said and someone spoke up from the stairs."Please tell her my dear"Felicia and I looked towards the direction where the voice spoke from and I saw a lady decending the stairs.She could be up to forty to fifty or less. I couldn't say because she looked very beautiful and had a nice skin. I don't think she is that old. She also has a striking resemblance with Felicia and Jones. Must be their mother or.."Oh come on mum, it doesn't happen all the time"She is their mother. What a family of beauty in a mansion of beauties."Yeah tell me. I could remember vividly not up to a month ago you misplac