(...continued...)
“What do
you have in mind?”
“I will
think and tell you later.”
“Think? You
know you have suffered Blood Pressure issues in the past and you want to think?”
“Don’t
worry about me. I need to get to the root of this issue once and for all.”
Cynthia
came into the room and told them she was done cooking the soup.
“Who wants
to eat?” she asked.
“You girls
can eat,” their mother said. “I am not in the mood for food now.”
“Mummy this
is why I didn’t want to tell you.” Mabel said, “I don’t want you bothering yourself.”
“I will eat
later. Meanwhile what will you do about work tomorrow? Are you ready to face
your colleagues?”
“I was
thinking of taking sick leave.”
“Will they
approve it? You know how important you are at the office.”
“I will
call my supervisor when I get home.”
“Why not
call her now.”
“Network is
always bad here.”
“Check your
phone and know if there is network.”
“Okay.”
Mabel
checked her phone and there was network. She dialed her supervisor’s number and
she picked. After exchanging pleasantries, Mabel told her why she was calling.
Her supervisor told her she had heard what happened and intended giving her few
days off if she came the next day. She said Mabel could take some days off and asked
Mabel if she could make out time and see her in her house in the evening of the
following day. Mabel agreed, thanked her and then hung up.
“She agreed
to give me some days off,” Mabel told her mother.
“That’s
good,” her mother said. “That means you are sleeping here this night.”
“Mummy but...”
Mabel began to say.
“Shhh. I don’t
want to hear it. You are staying here. I need to keep an eye on you.”
“There is
no light here.”
“And so?”
“How will I
cope?”
“Is this
not where you grew up.”
“Mummy
things have changed.”
“We have a
generator.”
“The one
that is not working. Let me go and come back tomorrow morning.”
“No. You
are sleeping over here, and my decision is final.”
“Ok ma.”
Mabel
lay back on the bed.
“The
generator may start,” Cynthia said. “Let me try it and see.”
She went out to the backyard.
“Wait for
me,” Mabel said and followed her.
They
checked the generator. There was enough fuel to test whether it would start or
not. Cynthia tried but it didn’t respond. Then Mabel opted to try.
“No,”
Cynthia objected. “You will soil your cloth.”
“Don’t you
have clothes I can change with?”
“I do.” She
stepped aside and let Mabel try.
Mabel tried but the generator did
not respond also.
“Let me
call Chuka to come and help us,” Cynthia said and left Mabel still trying to make
it come on.
Cynthia
soon came back with Chuka their neighbor, who checked everything, and told them
what needed to be fixed and added.
“Where do I
get them?” Cynthia asked.
“Along the
express road,” he replied. “Not very far from here,”.
“Ok. How do
I locate the place?”
He opted to help them buy the
things needed to make the generator start.
“Thank you,”
Mabel said. “How much will it cost?”
He
told her how much.
“Come and
take money,” their mother who just came out of the backyard door said.
“Don’t
bother,” Mabel said. “I will give him money.”
“No my
dear. Let me handle it. I don’t want you to change your mind about the new
generator.”
They
laughed. She told Cynthia where to get the money. Cynthia brought it and gave
Chuka. He left. They sat outside waiting. They didn’t wait long and he came
back with a new plug, fuel and oil. He fixed the generator and put it on. It worked.
They thanked him. He made to return the change.
“No you can
keep it,” their mother said.
“Don’t
worry ma,” he said and forced the money into Cynthia’s hand. “It was my
pleasure helping because of Cynthia.”
Mabel
gave Cynthia a funny look.
“You didn’t
tell me,” she said, laughing.
“She is
still doing shakara for me,” he said, then he turned to Cynthia and
said, “If I can give you light, I will do anything for you.”
“Go away joor,” Cynthia said.
They
laughed and he left. They went inside, only to perceive the smell of smoke
everywhere.
(...to be continued...)
Nedu Isaac
For the continuation, click here
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