Chapter 3

"Come on Rora you won't even spend up to an hour, just to say hello and keep me company" he kept pleading till she accepted.

They parted ways when they got to a junction, Aurora bid him goodbye and walked towards their house.

She got to their house and met her mother sampling her fruit on the little table in front of their house.

She collected the basket of fruit from her and started setting it. "Go in and rest for a while mama, I'll stay here for you till evening," she said and her mother thanked her before going into the house to rest.

Aurora finished setting the fruits and sat under the shade looking across the street to see a man sharing food to some kids. She sighed and shook her head on seeing the kids struggle to get hold of a plastic bag.

She could remember the time when she used to come to areas like this with her father when he was still alive.

 They would share food and money to the less privileged and never had she thought she would one day live here and feed on picking people's pockets.

She stayed in her mother's shade selling the fruits to kids and women who would occasionally come to buy one thing or the other.

****

It's evening and she's on her way to Craig's workplace. She walked down the street and crossed the room then took the part that led to the coffee shop. 

She saw the wine bar Craig was talking about. It was beautiful and newly built. She doesn't want to go spoil her mood by going there because she knew she could never get the job.

It's either they are no longer hiring staff or they would collect her number and promise to call her back.

 She would end up waiting the entire week and month without receiving any call from them and when she returns, they tell her she came late or isn't qualified for the job.

She sighed and looked away from the new bar and walked down further till she got to Craig's workplace. She pushed open the door and walked into the coffee shop, her eyes roaming about the shop.

She checked out the people in the shop and tried to know if there was anyone who kept their thing carelessly but it seems every one of them was careful not to drop their bag on the table.

"Hey Rora, over here" Craig called waving at her and she smiled a little before moving to him. 

"I didn't know you would come," he said smiling widely and pouring out coffee for a customer.

"Yeah I did come, I didn't want you to cry," Aurora said sarcastically, her eyes still surveying the shop which was filled with people.

"Do you need help?" She asked Craig. Perhaps she could start from serving and from there check out the customers well to see if she could get anything.

"Yeah, that couple over there" Craig pointed and Aurora nodded staring at the couple who were busy playing romance and not paying attention. 

The lady's bag was on the table while she bent over the man whispering to his ear and laughing out.

"Okay, I'll do that" Aurora muttered and took the tray, swiftly headed to the table. "Your coffee ma'am," she said and the woman waved at her to drop it but continued talking into her partner's ear less concerned.

Aurora bent slightly and dropped the coffee then looked around to see everyone was focused on their business then she swiftly dipped her hand into the lady's bag, collected her wallet, hid it In her pant pocket then straightened up and walked back to the counter to meet the glaring eyes of Craig.

"I saw that Aurora, do you have to do that in my working place?" Craig whispered glaring at her. "You don't expect me not to, I need to eat and that lady doesn't need it, she looked rich" Aurora muttered and Craig frowned.

He understands she needed to eat and provide for her family but stealing isn't the only option. He had tried to talk her out from it but she would never listen to him and would always say she needed the money more than the owner.

"What if you get caught, Rora?" You never can tell, someone might be looking at you while you do that" He said deepening his frown.

"What do you take me for?" A kid? Come on I'm so smart at what I do so don't drag it, sign out and let's get out of here" Aurora muttered shooting him a stare.

Craig checked his wristwatch and seeing it was already his off time, he nodded and walked in to sign out.

He returned and they both walked out of the coffee shop and headed home. They got to the new wine bar and Craig dragged Aurora to a stop.

"Come on let's just try this one Aurora, you never can tell and they might just pick you. I really don't like the fact that you pickpockets, it annoys me" Craig said and Aurora scoffed but still followed him in anyways.

They got into the wine bar which was really beautiful and doesn't look like what was seen in the slums. The decor was beautiful and the tables and chairs were arranged neatly.

"Hey please can we talk to you?" Craig asked a girl who wore an apron, obviously a waiter.

 "Yeah, what do you want?" She asked looking in a hurry to serve other customers.

"We want to know if there's any vacancy here," said Craig and the girl simply pointed at the counter and hastily walked out on them.

"Bruh, I don't like this, can't we just get out of here and forget about this work thing, I know it would still be the old talk"Aurora muttered in annoyance.

"No we ain't leaving Rora, we would try it out first before concluding, we are already in so let's go over to the counter the girl pointed at," Craig said tugging at her hands and pulling her towards the counter.