SONDER
Rebecca was late for work.
Again.
She had set her alarm for 5am
and then 5:10am
and then 5:20 am
and then 5:30 am
and then….
well….
No one could say she didn’t put in any effort at all.
But the medication always made her exhausted beyond comprehension.
The tiredness lasted throughout the day and only dissipated at around lunch time. So , of course, people at work thought she was lazy.
It didn’t help that her father had helped her get the job.
It didn’t help that she was absolutely stunning too.
Something about being a woman and being rich and being beautiful seemed to rankle too many people’s feathers. As if it was her fault.
Rebecca’s driver stopped right in front of the office and she picked her bag.
“Thank you Uncle Max.”
He nodded at her “See you in the evening”
Rebecca got out of the car and hurried towards the entrance of the building.
With her new shoes squeaking on the tiles and her blonde braids flying behind her , she ran to the elevator and almost slammed into Efe.
Efe’s eyes widened as Rebecca almost bumped into her. She stopped the elevator for her with a push of a button and as Rebecca walked in, frantic, Efe walked out.
They locked eyes before the elevator closed and took Rebecca up to the fourth floor where she would apologize for being late.
Again.
Efe scoffed. In that split second, she noticed Rebecca’s new shoes and she hated herself for it.
She would like some new shoes too…or clothes.
The blue shirt she was wearing had seen far better days.
She turned and started to make her way slowly out of the building.
She had finished her overtime shift.
Something for a little more money.
Anything for a little more money.
Their fridge had stopped working yesterday and if she didn’t have some money by the weekend to fix it, she and her sister would be eating their dreams and imaginations for the next week.
Efe waved to the security man who had been making eyes at her for the past two months . A giggle and a smile got her lunch once a week.
She wasn’t proud of it, who would be?
But she was not a bad person.
She reached the bus stop and took her seat .
Weariness attacked her in a way that left her almost breathless.
She had been at the bus stop for more than 5 minutes when the message came through.
Her heart pounded within her as she looked at her phone screen.
Like the sun peeking through the clouds after a stormy day Efe finally smiled for the first time that day.
Her sister had passed her exams. No more remedial classes. No more PTA meetings.
Tears sprang in her eyes.
Her sister!
She was so proud of her.
What could she do for her?
Hm, she could not afford lunch at a restaurant but….but …. chocolate would not hurt.
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Yes, chocolate would not hurt at all.
A trotro suddenly pulled up as she was lost in her musings.
She heard the trotro mate shout “Accra, 37, Accra, 37!”
She gathered her bag and entered the bus. She sat in the back seat. She had wanted the seat closest to the window but someone was already in it. He smelled like porridge.
She greeted him and then she sat down next to him, smiling widely.
He didn’t respond, he only nodded.
The bus started.
James watched the smiley woman with the faded blue shirt get off at the next stop.
He wondered what it was that had made her so happy.
He sighed.
His grandmother had forgotten his name today .
He was helping her with her wheat porridge and for a strange scary second, she paused and looked at him.
“Who are you?”
He paused and then he laughed nervously.
Almost like the wind blowing, she frowned and then she came to herself. She laughed too and then she put the spoon in her mouth.
But there was fear behind her eyes. She couldn’t fool him.
He sighed again.
He hoped it was just a one off situation.
She had to be fine.
He had no one else.
James got down at the next bus stop .
It was close to that large mansion everyone in the neighbourhood spoke about.
They talked about the man and his booming influence in the IT sector and how his wife could not still be that beautiful at 50 years.
It was ehancement surgery maybe. They had the money.
As he walked infront of the house, admiring it’s architecture. He heard a honk. It drew him out of his fascination and he shifted to the side. A car pulled up to the gate.
He watched in slight wonder as the gate opened by itself and the car went through.
Oh…. would someone come back and close it?
Should he?
Ah, he should mind his business.
But still….
He walked closer to the gate and suddenly the daughter of the mansion came back to the gate.
James did his best not to tell lies and he quickly admitted to himself that she was beautiful. Almost intimidating with her blonde braids and firm gaze.
They locked eyes.
She smiled a little and nodded once.
“Good evening”
He smiled back.
“Good evening”
She went in a bit further and closed the door.
James took a breath. He turned and continued walking. He wanted to buy some bread for his grandmother at the junction.
She had surprised him a little. Some people said she was stuck up. But she had smiled at him and greeted too.
She seemed quite nice.
What was her name again?
Oh yes.
Rebecca.
Her name was Rebecca.
