TANNER
Why are you still here?
It's a question I asked myself two hours later. I brought this girl to this house because it's a place I know he'll never have use for again. This house is a place I don't want to be in at all if I can help it.
Yet, I find myself reluctant to leave the girl until I'm sure she's settled in.
"She's not your responsibility," I said out loud to the empty room. I need to be on my way....and two bottles of beer in hand too.
Job. I'll help her secure a job and then I'm gone. That decided, and I stepped out of the room.
"You're done with your bath and that of Jaimie's?" I asked staring at her on the bed.
She had put on a nicely fit simple dress from the clothes I bought for her. I don't know why I should feel pleased that the cloth fit but I did.
"Yes, I'm done." She replied in that soft voice of hers.
"I've decided to help you get a job," I stated.
Her eyes widened in sheer terror. She shook her head twice. "No! I can't."
She's really on the run then. "This job will be safe for you. You'll be working In a library. The owner, an old keeper is looking for a bookkeeper. If you're running from the law, that's the best place to work. Only a few customers go there."
She looked bewildered, then. "Why are you helping me?"
"I just want to," I stated automatically. My eyes glanced at the sleeping baby on the bed. I stared back at the mother.
"Thanks so much. I really appreciate it." She whispered at last.
"It's nothing." I started automatically and faced the door. "Let me show you directions to the Library. It's 40 kilometers from here. It's even trekkable." I said to her and she nodded.
She followed me out of the house. She stopped to stare at it, and I realized that it was the first time she's seeing where I brought her. Where she'll be leaving.
She stared at me with questions in her eyes. Probably wants to ask how a homeless beggar came about having an apartment. How he still roamed the street as if he has a roof to give out.
I ignored all the unasked questions. "You coming?"
She followed me. I observed that she was no longer limping as much as before. He walked for a while.
"When you get to the end of the street, you'll see a huge signboard written: 'WILSON'S LIBRARY & BOOK STORE.' When you get there, tell the keeper that you're here for the vacant job and he'll tell you when to resume. I've spoken with him already so he won't give you a hard time." I said to her.
She looked at the directions to the library that I'd pointed out to her and she started going toward the directions.
"Goodbye." She said to me. "And thank you."
I gave a curt nod. I watched her leave. Ready to be on my way, I suddenly remembered that the baby is alone at the house. I can't leave the child all alone.
Not my problem. I reminded myself.
Yet, I found myself retracting my steps to go stay with the little boy. That is until she comes back.
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JASAMINA
"Phew!" I sighed as soon as I got to the front of the library. I sat on the front stairs because I was totally out of breath. The library was not far, but I needed to rest because I'm still feeling a little weak.
The drunkard is a very good person. He's a savior. He bought me baby things, clothes, and footwear, and found me a house. Now, he's helping me with a job.
Does he work for Dale? The insecure and untrusting child inside me asked quietly.
I reviewed all our encounters and shook my head. No, this drunkard doesn't know me. It's obvious he doesn't want to be near me and my baby at all, but he still decided to help me.
After I had a little rest, I went inside. I saw the keeper and told him I was here for the vacant job.
He took one long look at me. He proceeded to tell me all the qualities of working there when I was to resume & that a man had already come there and told him that a lady would come for the vacant job later in the day and that I should dress properly while coming.
"Yes sir. I'll be able to do all that." I said to him as soon as he finished speaking. He was really an old keeper. He had almost even lost sight and he was using some old spectacles.
I had pity for him, but I was happy he was going to be paying me a minimal amount of money for the services I'm going to render. It's not a big money but it'll be enough to get me started again.
Suddenly, my future looked so bright. I really hope it'll remain this way and nobody will recognize me and Jaimie. I hope my husband will never find me again.
TANNER Counting my steps and movement as I paced in the sitting room waiting for her arrival. I was worried and restless. I've been sober for two days and when I might have avoided shutting off my thoughts, sometimes, it gets hard. But now, my mind is starting to go places that are forbidden. I want out. I need a beer. I yearned for it. It's the only thing giving me peace. The only thing keeping me sane. I heard movements outside, and I knew I would be her. I waited patiently for her to come inside. Glancing at the baby, the child is still sleeping peacefully. She entered the house and walked closer to me, I notice her face was having mixed feelings. Happiness. Sadness. Fear. "How was the job hunt?" I asked curtly. "I got the job." She answered softly, walking to her baby to take a closer look at the little life. "Good." Her eyes found me from across the room. "I don't know how to thank you...I don't know how to express my gratitude for all this..." She gestured her hands e
JASAMINA I'm giving Jaimie his evening bath smiling, the way he's growing is really surprising. He was giggling and playing with the soap. He stared at me and flashed gums without teeth in them. "Yaiii!" "Yaii!" I shot right back as I ran my hand all over his little body. I splashed little water on him and he laughed out loud. "You love playing with water, don't you?" I said splashing more water on him. I've never seen a child who loves water more like him. Not that I've seen many children of course. I'm the only child of my parents and I'm just twenty years old. I brought my mind back to the present and stared at my child good-naturedly. "Will you want me to put you back in the tub if I bring you out again?" "Yaii!" He beat his hand in the water, splashing it. I laughed a little and carried him out of the water. The smile cleared from his face, he cooed sounds as if in a complaint. "You'll be in the water again soon enough, young man," I promised him as we entered the s
ππVIVIANππ As soon as she stepped out of the bookstore, she shuffled through her handbag to get a hold of her phone. I needed to call the police right away. She needed to tell them who she had just seen. Jasamina McCully. The run-away wife of Ludale McCully. The wife of the state's congressman and a multi-millionaire who had absconded from home and had her husband searching frantically for her. And their baby. She wasn't mistaken in recognizing the lady even though she was hiding under a disguise. She lived almost close to where she resided with her husband so she does see them often. Moreover, the news of her disappearance was splashed all over the news and a huge sum of money was promised to whoever had news about her whereabouts. So, she couldn't afford to keep mute. She needed that money badly. A hundred thousand dollars would surely go a long way in clearing some of her outstanding bills. So, it was time for her to act fast. Before another person recognizes the lady
She stared at it for a full minute before she cocked her head to the side. "Well, it looks like Mina, the full-time employee." The woman frowned a little. "But she has black hair, unlike the lady in this picture." Now, we're getting somewhere, I thought. "Where is she? We need to specifically find her and search through her belongings." My colleague stated firmly, then continued, his face serious as he turned to Vivian. "Tell her what you told us." "She's not Mina. She's Jasamina McCully. The wife of Ludale McCully. She just dyed her hair black to cover up her identity. I live around here, so I know her very well. Even the baby is not a girl but a boy. And I overheard when she called him 'Jaimie'. That's the name of the McCully's son." Vivian explained to the people in the library. There were gasps and shouts. The customers and everyone looked so surprised apart from the old store owner. The part-timer stammered, stunned. "How...how...did you come up with this? I never even susp
When I was through, I quickly zipped the box and headed for Jamie, gently picking him up so he won't wake up and start bawling. With my box in my right hand and Jamie in the other, I made for the back door of the house that faced the other street. Seems the back door is now my savior. They have helped me to scamper off without being caught. I opened it with a force and scanned the area for any watchful eyes as I tiptoed out. Luckily for me, the coast was clear. Clear as crystal. I made my way out, walking as fast as I could, with my hair covering half of my face. "Let's check the back!" I heard one of the policemen say, and fear gripped me tightly. Just then, my distant neighbor, an older woman opened her door and gestured for me to hurry in. I didn't think it through, I held Jaimie tight and rushed into the woman's house. The side was neat and cozy. She locked the door instantly. "You're the wife of the congressman. I knew there was something familiar about you." The older woma
DOREEN RUTHERFORD I paced about the living room with a tall glass of wine in my hand. To say I was angry would be an understatement. I was in a rage....thinking about Jasamina. That girl will give me premature gray hairs at this point. Just minutes ago, the commissioner called and told us that she had been found a thousand miles away from her. She had been in disguise and working as a librarian. I was really happy. Finally, all this will be over. That girl that refused to grow up will be back in her husband's house. The next call that came ruined my happiness. Utterly ruined it. "She escaped! She took my son and escaped those incompetent fools!" Ludale had groaned in rage. What does Jasamina really want!? That little witch! Does she not care about her parent's happiness!? Does she wants us to go back to poverty!? "If the floor weren't tiles but carpets, you'll wear a hole to it," Mathew said as he entered the living room. I glanced at my husband and he isn't looking so happy
XIZAX. Xazix Dantes was having a very good sleep this morning when his friend barged in on him. He had been determined to ignore Petra and get his much-needed sleep, but his friend had refused to be ignored. "You just have to get you, Xax." Petra groaned, throwing a pillow at his face. Afterward, when Xazix found out that it was completely unavoidable, he woke up rather begrudgingly. "You'd better have a good reason for this, Petra." He groaned as he rose. "Or you'll have my head, I already know. Don't worry, I've got a pretty good reason." In the sitting room, Xazix flung himself on the couch. He swirled his wine in his cup, taking a long look at his friend Petra who had just told him something ridiculous. "Repeat what you just said." Xazix stated, staring pointedly at his wineglass. "The congressman, Ludale McCully, is in need of a professional bounty hunter to help him search for his runaway wife and his baby." "What does that have to do with me?" Petra shifted uncomfor
ππJASAMINA.ππ My legs hurt from constant walking and blisters had started forming on my leg. I clutched Jaime tightly to myself as I trudged on. I've lost track of which day it is. I feel like I've been walking on these streets forever. The shoulder I hang the leather of our portable traveling box hurts really bad, and my right arm hurts from holding Jaimie for a long time. Tears filled my eyes as I walked on. It's night again and I'm looking for a motel room to rent with the last money I have. At least, I know that I'm almost at my destination. I glanced at my poor baby and tears rained down my eyes. Jaimie is sick. He has an unusually hot temperature and he'd been really restless. He cries every little chance he gets, and the sound of it tears at my heart, knowing that there's nothing I can do to take the pain from him. In desperation, I rushed going to a pharmacy in the afternoon and had them examine him, not giving a damn about getting caught. The nurse had written down