CHAPTER TWO — A PENNYWORTH LIFE.

Chapter 02

A PENNYWORTH LIFE.

Brianna's POV.

“Come down from there, Jason; you'll fall.” I warned, turning to face him as he stood on the armrest of couch while holding my cellphone to my ear with a hand. “Listen to me, Jason.”

“Is there a problem?” — the curious voice came from the other end of the line.

“No, it's nothing, sir.” I said, exhaling sharply as I turned my face away from him. “So, you were saying?”

“Alright. Like I said, for these reasons the company—”

“Can you just listen to me Jason and come down from there!” I yelled, my voice almost rising to a scream. “You'll fall if you keep jumping on that.”

“Miss Brooks, are you there?”

“Yes sir, I am.” I said, exhaling sharply as I pushed my fingers through my hair. “I am so sorry sir. However, can you repeat what you were saying?”

“The company has decided that—”

“Mom… mom?”

“What is it Jason!” I thundered, turning back to face him as a flash of temper lighted my eyes.

He froze, rooted to the spot with downturned lips. From the look on his face, I knew it was only a matter of time before he would break down in tears. I didn't mean to scare or raise my voice at him that way, but he was just being a distraction.

If only he had listened and given me just a few minutes to sort things out, then I wouldn't have raised my voice at him like that.

“Can you give me a few minutes, sir?” I said, as I broke off a sigh and tossed my head down. “I need to attend to something important right now; I'll give you a call as soon as I'm done.”

That said, I hung up the call, dropped my cellphone on the table by the window side and then scrubbed a hand over my face.

I'd only left my seat to use the restroom, and I was certain that I don't even use up to a minute in there. Or maybe, I did. However, if I hadn't gone to use the restroom when I did, who knows what would have happened to me.

I guess I would have been told things like, 'You should have just stayed back at home if you knew you weren't strong enough to work'.

But then again, by the time I returned, I found some staffs gathered around; some cops were present too.

If it wasn't for Tracy, then I wouldn't have known that someone unidentified carted away some goods worth over a thousand dollars.

To me, it didn't just sound absurd. It was. Because how was it possible that with the amount of customers present in the mart at that particular time, no one saw or could identify the person who did that. Not even a single one of them.

In my opinion, I believe that someone, perhaps a customer present in the mart at that moment was an accomplice. Because no matter how hard I thought about it, it just didn't make any sense to me.

Besides, to think that the CCTV camera couldn't capture the face of whoever it was that carted away with the goods just seemed suspicious.

And just earlier on the phone with Mr Yang — the managing director of the mart, I wanted to know the conclusion of the meeting which was held behind close doors after the incident.

But Jason wouldn't just allow me listen to him clearly. Although, he called me aside a few minutes after the incident and told me that I would have to take the blame by accepting a thirty percent deduction from my pay each month in order to make up for the goods that were stolen.

However, he didn't even care to mention to me the item or items as the case may be that were stolen. But then, I get to take the blame and punishment for whatever it was. It just didn't make any sense.

If someone came in, and carted away some goods and no one, not even the surveillance cameras could capture him, then how in the world is that my fault?

Although, he asked me to leave. But how could I do that? I couldn't. Instead, I stayed around till he returned. But all he said was that he would talk to the Williams family — the owners of the mart.

But then again, I knew his response was going to be the same: there would be a thirty percent deduction from my pay.

In the meantime, I drew in a deep, calming breath and wiped my face with the back of my hand. I didn't even know when a tear rolled down my cheeks.

“I am so sorry, Jason.” I said, turning to face him with an apologetic look in my eyes as I leaned my butt against the table while gripping the sides. “I didn't mean to raise my voice at you; I just had a bad day at work. However, it doesn't mean that I had to raise my voice at you. I'm sorry.”

“It's empty mom.” he said, with downturned lips as his throat tightened with tears. “I can't find the packet of omelette mix in the kitchen.”

“No, it should be there.” I said, crinkling my face at the words. “I am sure I kept some in the cupboard for tonight.”

I strode toward the kitchen. As I got in, I opened the cupboard hanging on the wall, and scanned it. However, there was nothing in there. I lowered my legs and opened the cupboard on the floor. But then, it was the same. There was nothing.

Gripping the doors of the cupboard on the floor, I closed my eyes and exhaled sharply as I recalled that I was mistaken. I was actually contemplating keeping it. However, I ended making it all for the both of us to eat the previous night.

I got on my feet, and took a few steps towards him.

“Uhm, Jason.” I started, lowering my knees to the floor and forcing a smile through my lips as my eyes became moist with tears. “I just recalled we ate it all last night,”

As the words left my lips, his stomach grumbled.

“I am sure I have some money left for us to get something to eat tonight” I added, stroking his hair gently. “Just give me a moment, alright? I'll go get it.”

“Alright mom.” he said, his face to the ground.

“Wait for me in the sitting room, I'll join you soon.” I righted myself and watched him as he exited the kitchen.

I turned my face away as if to gather my thoughts. But I only did that to wipe the tears on my face. If anything, I couldn't stand the sight of my son going hungry again. Or better still, going to bed on an empty stomach. Not for the third time in five days.

As I turned to leave the kitchen, I noticed that the cupboard hanging on the wall was still open, so I returned to close it before leaving the kitchen. However, as I got to my room, I settled on the bed for a moment, before reaching for my bag which was at arm's length.

Opening the zipper, I searched the bag with a hand. However, I couldn't find the last dollar note which I kept in there.

I turned it over, and poured out the contents on the bed: lip gloss, credit card, wet wipes, pill box, keys, receipts and some pens. Having done that, I scattered it all across the bed, searching for that dollar note which was my only hope.

“Damn.” I ran a hand through my hair as I recalled that used it to get airtime which I used to call Mr Yang earlier.

Holding my head in my hands, I scoured my mind for a possible solution. For one, I couldn't allow Jason go to bed on an empty stomach, not tonight.

With that thought in mind, I righted myself from the bed and exited my room. Approaching the sitting room, I found him lying on the couch with a hand under his head. As I moved closer, I realized that he'd fallen asleep.

“I am so sorry sweetie.” I said, dropping a kiss on his forehead as I stroked his hair gently. “You don't deserve to suffer like this.”

After staring at him for a moment with a brief smile on my lips, I withdrew myself and turned my attention to the door. Even though he was asleep, I had to get something for him to eat.

I exited the house and walked down to Hayley's place which was just two blocks away from mine. Within some seconds, I arrived at her place.

“Hayley?” I called, knocking on the door. “Are you in?”

Although, it wasn't my first time coming to her place, but I was certain that I hadn't seen a doorbell on the wall before. Nonetheless, I pushed it and took a step backward, hoping that she would come out.

As I glanced down at the highway from the balcony, I rubbed my hands over my exposed arms and exhaled sharply. Before long, the door latch clicked.

“Brianna?” she called, as she stepped out. “What are you doing here?”

“I–I am so sorry to disturb you.” I said, with an apologetic look in my eyes. “However, I need your help. Can you lend me some money, please? Jason hasn't had anything to eat all day. And I don't want him to go to bed on an empty stomach.”

“Alright, just wait here.” she said, closing the door as she returned in.

I blew some air into my palms and rubbed them together. Before long, the door was opened and she came out.

“Here,” she said, extending a hand towards me with some dollar notes in her grip. “It's not much, but it's something you can manage.”

“Thank you.” I said, blinking back tears as I received it from her. “I know that I shouldn't be asking from you but—”

“Hey,” she said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I am not complaining. Besides, what are friends for?”

“Thank you.” I said, forcing a smile through my lips as a tear trickled down the side of my nose. “I should get going now.”

I'd only taken one, two and was about to take the third step when I heard my name. I turned back to her.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Can you make it to Mrs Em's by 8pm tomorrow?” she asked, raising a brow.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. There's nothing wrong.” she said, shaking her head with a smile. “I don't know how you'll feel about it, but I've got an offer for you.”