THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 11 – 20
EPISODE 14
Kathleen looked around her to make sure the dog, Pandora was no where in sight before hurrying out through the gate. Being out now and walking down the street she couldn’t help feeling out of place in her outfit. This was the kind of neighborhood where you always had to be fresh. She looked down at her dull shapeless gown and could swear that anyone who would see her would assume she was an house girl.
She had never been one to care about her physical appearance but now she remembered she had failed to wash her face or even check her hair in the mirror to know how rough it looked. It was bad enough that she had failed to even take her phone with her, else she would have used her phone’s camera to check her appearance.
The further she walked the more she realized that going out to buy something without even asking her boss for directions was a very bad idea. Cars kept driving past her but she couldn’t bring herself to stop any and ask them for directions to where she could buy bread. She was very sure the people in this estate weren’t the type to eat bread and mineral like bricklayers, and even if they ate bread it would be those fresh ShopRite type.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 11 – 20
After walking for sometime a car pulled up beside her and the window on the passenger side went down, “Hello!” A good-looking young guy asked with a pleasant smile.
“Hello!” Kathy responded self-consciously trying hard not to place her hand over her mouth. She just realized she was yet to brush too. Now all that Sharon always told her made sense to her. Sharon always said in Lagos you should never be caught unfresh since you never know when the right man might approach you, and Kathy had been of the opinion that the right man would like her whichever way he meets her. But now she highly doubted that the right man would want to die of bad morning breath.
The man’s eyes roamed over her face taking in her dishevelled appearance, “I take it whatever brought you out directly from bed this morning must be very important?” He asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.
Kathleen wanted to snap at him or say something rude, but seeing the kind smile on his face and remembering what Sharon had said about being more approachable she tried to relax, and smiled back at him, “Yes it is a matter of life and death.”
The young man was taken aback by her beautiful smile, “Wow! You have a really lovely smile, I’m Chuka.” He said, extending his hand.
“Thanks. I’m Kathleen.”
“No please. I prefer the native name. You do have one right?” He asked curiously making Kathleen frown.
“I’m Ngozi.” She said, looking around to make sure one or two persons around were watching them just in case she turned into a yam or chicken after shaking him. This was still Nigeria after all.
“Ngozi? You’re Igbo?”
“No. I’m from Delta.”
“Really? Me too. Where in Delta?” He asked excitedly, happy to see his Deltan sister in Lagos.
“Kwale.”
“Come on! It’s a lie.” He said with happy laughter making Kathleen look at him curiously.
“Don’t tell me you’re from kwale too.” She asked suspiciously.
“No, I’m from Obiaruku, but my grand mother is from Kwale. We are one. We speak one language. You’re my sister.” Chuka said making Kathleen smile despite herself.
“What are you doing here? You’re not an househelp, are you?” He asked looking at her with interest.
“I knew someone was going to mistake me for a house girl today.” Kathy complained wearily making Chuka chuckle.
“Where are you going to dressed like this?” He asked looking her over once again.
“I was very hungry, I’m looking for somewhere to buy bread and mineral or something.” Kathy explained. She was getting tired of just standing under the morning sun and talking to him while he was comfortably seated in his air-conditioned Camry.
“I don’t think you’ll be able to get anything around here. I could just drive you to somewhere around and bring you back in.” He offered.
Kathy looked at him doubtfully not sure she wanted to get into the car of a stranger. Brother or no brother what if he was a ritualist? Shey even sons use their mothers for money ritual? What if she runs mad after getting out of the car and people start posting videos of her all over the internet calling her a runs girl? Different thoughts ran through Kathy’s mind in the split of a second.
“You don’t have to worry too much, I’m not a ritualist I promise.” Chuka said with a grin.
“As if it is written on one’s forehead, abi if you were one you would say so.” Kathy said making Chuka laugh some more.
“So if I’m a ritualist this is the kind of small car I’ll be driving abi? I’m an Uber driver jare, I came to drop a passenger.” He explained before opening the door for her to get in. Kathy prayed silently before finally entering the car.
“So you live here with your boyfriend abi you’re married?” Chuka asked curiously as he drove off.
“I live in my boss’ boys quarters. I work in the company and babysit his daughter part-time.” Kathy said, not seeing any need to go into the details of why she was living in her boss’ boys quarter.
“Oh! That’s nice. So why are you buying bread and mineral? I was happy to have met my sister and was planning that be coming to eat free food in your house until you said you wanted to buy bread and mineral.” Chuka complained making Kathy giggle.
“I’m still settling in, I just moved in.” Kathy said, making sure her mouth was turned to the side Everytime she spoke. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she had mouth odour.
She got out of the car when he stopped in front of a shop outside the estate for her to buy what she needed, and then she returned and he reversed the car and drove into the estate again, “So you don’t go to church? Why are you working on a Sunday morning?” Kathy asked after sometime.
“I’m Catholic and I usually attend first mass.” He explained without bothering to ask why she didn’t go to church herself, since it was obvious she had just woken up from sleep.
“Do you mind if I have your number? We can keep in touch and maybe hang out once in a while if you don’t mind.” Chuka said immediately he stopped in front of Pete’s gate.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 11 – 20
After giving him her number she got out of the car and waved at him. She waited until he had driven off before turning to see an angry Pete who was glaring at her.
Kathleen couldn’t help wondering why he was glaring at her in that manner. Had something happened in her absence? Was she the one he was glaring at or probably someone else annoyed him? Why was he outside anyway? She wondered as she approached him, suddenly feeling grateful that the mineral and yale bread she had gotten were hidden in the black nylon bag she had gotten from the sales lady.
“Where are you coming from?” Pete growled making her turn to look behind her, perhaps he was talking to someone else.
“Me?” She asked, pointing to herself when she didn’t see anyone else behind her.
“Who was that?” He asked again, ignoring her question.
“Did the contract I signed also say I am answerable to you and I have to explain my activities to you outside work?” Kathleen asked with a confused frown as she tried not to sound irritated or angry with him.
“You live under my roof so I at least deserve to know that much.” Pete said through gritted teeth making Kathleen suck in her breath.
“Under your roof?” Perhaps this was the time to put him in his place. It was often said that a beggar has no choice, but she wasn’t a beggar and neither was she without a choice, being here under his roof was more for his benefit and that of his daughter than hers after all.
She raised a hand before Pete could say anything, “I suppose you must think I’ve become your child or ward since you gave me free accomodation? Would I need to inform you of all my movements had I paid the rent in full?” Kathleen asked making Pete grit his teeth.
“I’m sorry I was unreasonably concerned about your well-being. It won’t happen again.” Pete apologized and returned to his house without waiting for another word.
Kathleen scoffed as she watched him walk away. Was he thinking she would start feeling guilty because he had apologized? She wondered in amusement as she headed for her apartment.
She realized she had failed to shut her door when she left the compound earlier because she had assumed she would easily get a place to buy herself bread and mineral. She stopped by the entrance when she noticed the tray of food which was sitting covered on her table. Her body started reacting to whatever was covered on the tray even before she slid off the foil paper. Her stomach rumbled hungrily and her mouth started secreting more saliva at the sight of the fancy red breakable plate which was filled with jollof rice which looked and smelt like the typical Nigerian party jollof rice. There was another plate containing two big laps of chicken and fried plantain which had been diced like it was more for fancy than for food.
He had brought her food? She wondered with a frown. That still didn’t give him the right to talk to her like that, she thought before looking down at the nylon in her hand. The bread and mineral suddenly looked very unappealing to her. She decided she was just going to eat the food and then thank him when she returns the dishes. As far as she was concerned she didn’t owe him an apology for pointing out to him that she wasn’t his child.
She quickly dumped the nylon on the table and picked up the spoon he had left her on the tray, just as she scooped her first spoon of rice, Pete knocked on her door and she stood up to get the door since she had shut it when she walked in. He was probably here to apologise properly, she thought as she opened the door.
Pete took one look at the spoon in her hand and could tell she was about to start eating so without saying a word to her he headed for the tray of food and picked it up.
“Wh—at are you doing?” Kathleen asked in confusion.
“I beg your pardon?” Pete asked with a slightly raised brow. He knew what he was about to do was very petty, but he intended to do it regardless.
He had wanted to apologise to her properly for transferring his aggression to her the previous day and for also being mean to the point of rudeness, so he had woken up early to fix breakfast, especially when he realized she would probably be tired after cleaning up her room the previous evening, and he had also remembered there were no cooking utensils in the house for her to fix anything for herself. He had finished cooking and dished out her share of the food, hoping to see the smile of gratitude on her face when he presents the food to her with his apology, but he had knocked on her door but had gotten no response. He had walked into the house and dropped the food on the table scared that something might have happened to her, especially since he had heard her phone ringing ceaselessly as he approached. He had very worried when he searched all over the house for her and couldn’t find her. Different thoughts had been running through his mind as he searched for her, only for the ungrateful lady to return and tell him he had no right to be worried.
“What are you doing?” Kathleen asked when she noticed he was heading for the door with the tray of food.
“You’re a full grown adult. You’re not my child or my ward and as such I shouldn’t be trying to feed you. Here was I hurrying down here to apologise for bringing you free food. I actually thought you’d feel insulted I brought you free food simply because you live under my roof for free.” Pete said with a derogatory smile. while Kathleen watched him in disbelief as he walked past her.
“You possibly can’t be this petty, can you?” She asked when he plucked his spoon from her hand.
“I am petty, and petty is me. Enjoy your breakfast.” He said with a cool smile, eyeing the mineral and bread on the table as he walked away.
Kathleen’s mouth was hanging open in shock as she watched him walk away. She returned her attention to the mineral and bread and scowled distastefully at it while her stomach rumbled in protest. She was almost tempted to call him back and tell him God will punish him and he will roast in hell, but she winced instead.
“My mouth will not kill me.” She cried as she returned to her seat to force down the bread and mineral down her throat.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 11 – 20
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