Ties

                            TIES

by Virginia Asenath

I jerked out of bed angrily. This wasn’t what I bargained for but who am I to choose. Life never gives us a chance to choose what we want.

           ‘Why did you have to do that?’ I asked calmly.

           ‘Who are you to question my dos and don’ts? Now get your lazy self out of my bed, go out there and bring me money,’ she shouted.

           ‘I lost my job, where will I get money from?’ tears were already clouding my sight.

'Who cares, if you don't bring me money don't show your ugly self in this house again,' she yelled and pushed me towards the bathroom.

I hit my leg on the wall.

'Better,' she said and gave me a glare.

I sighed and headed to the bathroom due to her glare.

After the normal routine I sat on the table and waited for breakfast. My stomach was already complaining after not being taken care of since yesterday. l felt week and very soon i may fall. I took a glass of water and rested my head on the table to rest and think of what next to do.

           ‘Are you still here?’ I stood up on hearing that all familiar voice. 

'I'm hungry,' i said softly.

'And who cares? Just leave, if i come back and find you here you'll regret it,' she said and walked out.

I walked along the road hitting anything I could find, maybe to ease the pain, anger and frustration.

I knocked for the second time at Julia’s door before she opened.

           ‘Are you okay?’ she looked at me keenly. I wanted to lie but my stomach betrayed me.

           ‘Not again, that woman is really testing my patience. Come in,’ she moved back and ushered me in.

           ‘Give me a moment I finish dressing up. There is food in the kitchen,’ she walked out as I headed for the kitchen.

The sweet aroma that welcomed me made my mouth to water. I attacked the food like the hungry lioness that I was.

           ‘Thank you,’ I said to her smiling.

           ‘We are putting an end to her drama today,’ she said sternly.

           ‘What are we going to do?’ I asked.

She came closer and whispered her plan to me. I couldn’t help but laugh.

           ‘Are you sure it will work?’

           ‘Of course, just do your part and leave the rest to me,’ she said and I smiled.

           ‘I need to go and look for money?’ I suggested picking up my bag.

           ‘Go to my room and sleep, I’m going to work. Once I come back I give you the money. I won’t take long,’ she said and I went to bed smiling.

If what she is planning succeeds, then am going back to college.

                      ****

           ‘Wake up,’ I heard her tap me.

           ‘What’s the time?’ I asked rubbing my eyes.

           ‘3:00PM,’ she showed me the watch.

           ‘What!’

           ‘Time to execute our plan,’ she said with a smile.

I got down from the bed and I felt strong. I think rest was what I needed.

I strolled home and Mercy was seated outside the house being fanned by our neighbor’s kid.

Who does that? I mean how do you punish someone’s kid, just because you have little money and they don’t.

I walked to where they were and took the fan.

           ‘You can go home,’ I said to the child as he ran away.

           ‘How could you?’ she yelled.

           ‘Can you go and give birth? Stop mistreating people’s children. For crying out loud that child is human. He will grow up hating people. Is that what you want?' I asked and she sighed.

If eyes could kill, i would be dead meat by now.

           ‘Where is the money?’ I dipped my hand into the bag and gave her half of what Julia gave me. I hid the remaining.

           ‘Let me check the bag?’ I handed it to her and she returned afterwards.

           ‘This is too small, no food for you,’ she said and went inside.

I went to my room and started checking the time.

At eight my phone beeped.

Julia

           ‘I’m out, open the window for me.’

I opened my window and she came in.

           ‘This door leads to her room and in her room, there is a door that leads to the sitting room,’ I said and he nodded.

I followed her as she entered her room. She placed the speaker there as we both left.

We sat on the bed as we watched everything going on using her phone. She played the recording and increased the volume, just the right one to scare her.

She woke up due to the noise of footsteps. She looked around but saw nothing as she went back to sleep. She woke up again and lit the lamp.

           ‘Look who is looking for me?’ the voice said. It was scary, I need to ask her where she got the voice from.

She searched everywhere including under the bed but found nothing.

           ‘Now listen carefully, just because am silent doesn’t mean am scared. You have done enough damage. I didn’t come here to play games, all the money my daughter has been giving you I want you to give her back by the end of the week. Stop searching am not under the bed, we are going to make a deal and if you breach the contract am killing you. I’m her mom. First don’t mention to anyone that you heard from me and secondly stop mistreating my daughter. Have I made myself clear?’

Everywhere was silent as I hold my breath waiting for her reply. She took long as we started looking at each other. I heard some sounds like those played in horror movies and looking at the phone, I saw her seated on the floor trembling.

           ‘Do you want to die?’

           ‘No, please don’t kill me,’

           ‘Do as I say,’

           ‘I won’t bother her again,’

           ‘Good girl, now go back and sleep. Tomorrow morning she needs a good breakfast. Remember am watching your back,’

She climbed on bed and didn’t sleep.

We looked at each other and hugged.

           ‘Friends forever,’ we chorused.

We laughed together at how our little trick worked.

I love my friend so much. She has always been there for me and is like a sister. Friend is that one person that can share in your problems, happy moments, painful moments, adventurous times and all life brings without getting tired. He or she can read you as a book. Its rare to find true ones, treasure the one you have.

I woke up the next morning and found breakfast ready.