CHAPTER 2 THE SCARY LETTER

Sleeping Melissa was woken up by a knock on the door. She quickly checked the time on the wall clock even though she couldn't tell the reason she checked the time. Her sisters wouldn't need to knock to enter. Ad she opened the door she met a post man.

"Good afternoon ma'am" the man greeted.

"Afternoon sir. May I help you?"

The look she gave the man was inquisitive enough even without her asking. Sudden fear gripped her, she felt as if a bowl of cold water wasdropoed on her.

"I'm to deliver this to Miss Melissa O'Dell" the man said politely.

"I'm Melissa O'Dell" she replied softly.

She was trying not to be delirious as the man placed the Bron envelope on her stretched hand. He gave her a pen to sign throat she received it on his note pad.

She thanked the man and he left.

Melissa looked at the envelope and sweat begin to cascade down her face. The last time she received something from a post man it was a court summon but this envelope was quite bigger. They were charged to court by their irresponsible uncle. He is Melissa's mother only brother and relative. He claimed that the house belongs to him and his sister, tendering fake papers. This really shook them and if not for their fathers lawyer (who was also a blossom friend), they would have lost the house and be homeless. If this should be another court summon, they are dimmed to fail because now they are grown ups and also their fathers lawyer is presently out of the country and they didn't have an idea when he is going to be back neither do they have money to hire a lawyer. This thought alone gave Melissa fever. She began to shiver an caught instant headache.

She was so scared of the truth that she couldn't bring herself to open the envelope. She knew if she opens it she might get a heart attack.

Thanks to God her sisters came in not quite long. They were amazed to see her perspiring that much. Tyndall ran quickly to her.

"Big sis, what's wrong?" She asked with concern.

"Why are you sweating this much?" Somaria added.

Melissa raised the envelope in her hand.

"What's in there?" Tyndall asked collecting it.

"I don't know. I've not opened it" she replied palely.

Somaria caught Melissa's fear. "Hope it's not what we received some years back?" Her voice weavered.

"That's exactly my fear" Melissa said wanely.

Tyndall looked at the two ladies and shook her head.

"Poppycock" she snapped. "You two is are already white on the reason you never know. Must every news be negative? What a fragile heart you two have. You are already worked up on nothing. Even if it's what you think, the did has already been done. The next thing is solution not getting pale" she scolded.

"It's not like that. You know dad's lawyer is out of the country, who will we call?" Somaria said.

"We call God" she replied. "See just calm, with the feeling of this envelope I don't think court will serve someone the volume of this document. Let's open it before concluding and getting paranoid on nothing" she said tearing the paper open.

The first thing she brought out was currency notes.

"Money!" The three chorused.

"You see?" Tyndall told them as they sighed in release of their fearful heart.

The two placed their hands on their chest to show their sign of relief.

"Who could send me money?" Melissa asked with a thoughtful look.

"Maybe Belani decided to compensate you for what he did" Somaria replied.

"Belani is a devil without a heart" Melissa disagreed.

"Yeah that's true. Moreover, where on earth is Belani going to get this amount from? Won't it ruin his business?"

Tyndall mocked although it was an exaggeration.

"Ah Tyndall!" Somaria laughed.

"How much is the money?" Melissa asked.

Tyndall quickly counted and widen her eyes.

"Fifty thousand dollars" she replied stunned at the amount.

"Fifty thousand!!!!" The two screamed.

"C'mon sisters you are shouting" she said smiling.

"Who on earth could send me such money" Melissa asked in shock.

"This is here for us to find out" she flipped the letter in her hand.

"Give it to me let me read" Somaria said quickly wanting to collect the it but Tyndall refused.

"I was the one bold enough to open it so I'm also the one worthy of reading the letter" she declined.

"Fine read it" Somaria gave up.

Tyndall opened the letter but didn't read out. The words in the letter were few but very tangible.

"Don't be selfish Tyndall, read it out" Somaria said with uneasiness.

"Somaria can you please lend me your glasses, I think I'm seeing nonsense here" she said innocently, looking vigorously at the paper with perturbation.

They never believed her because she is a drama Queen and can exaggerate things to the highest level.

"Are you trying to mock me?" Somaria frowned.

"What are you seeing?" Melissa questioned anxiously.

"Wow this is unbelievable" Tyndall shouted. "Please see for yourselves because I think I've just seen an imagination not the real content of this paper"

She threw the paper to them as if it just burnt her.

Somaria and Melissa quickly took the paper and both looked into it at the same time. They were short of words that the three of them just looked at each other astonishly.

"I never applied for any job like this" Melissa broke the silence.

The paper contained AB appointment letter into a company and also the money was for her to get a befitting office wear and come for her interview the following day. This was really shocking especially the name of the company.

"Is this really true?" Somaria asked still flabbergasted.

"I don't think I've heard or seen such thing in my entire life" Tyndall pronounced her words gently as if it is a fragile thing.

"Wait ladies, don't you think this might be a mistake?" Somaria asked.

The rest exchanged look as if they've just got into the senero.

"It might be" Melissa replied nodding.

"Hey, let's be positive here. This is a good thing, so let's be careful in making decision. Verification will be very useful here" Tyndall said quickly before they concluded.

"Yes you are right" Somaria agreed.

"Ain't you thinking that this might be scam. Check the dollars if it's fake" Melissa said.

"This isn't fake. If they want ti scam anyone not us because almost everyone that knows us knows that we are poor and we don't have what they want. Don't say anything negative again. Just go there and verify if they gave the wrong folk or not" she said blankly as she was eyeing the money. "At least let's thank God for this cash" she added.

Melissa smiled.

"Let's prepare you for your trip tomorrow and we should expect the good of it" Somaria said.

"Since there's a lot of money, we can do that easily. We can even rent you a car" Tyndall jubilates.

Melissa raise her finger. "We aren't spending a dime from that money" Melissa demured.

"Why?" The girls asked.

"Because we aren't certain if the money is ment for me or not. I can't spend it and later they will ask for refund and I won't be able to get it immediately. I don't want trouble" she explained her fears.

"Big sis we are talking about the D-foundation here not any other company. That company is the number one in this whole country, what will fifty thousand do to them. Bet of with me, if it is a mistake, all they will do is to apologise for the inconvenience and let you go. You don't have anything to be afraid of. As for this cash, it is a plus on your purse" Tyndall assured.

"Try to understand me girls. Some things cants be predicted. You might thing it's nothing to them but they might demand for refund. What will do then? I really don't want to cause trouble for anyone" she coerced gently.

"Ok we agree but what will you wear to that kind of place because I won't let you go there without being properly dressed" Tyndall said authoritatively.

"Must I wear what they demanded?"

"Hey ma'am! Don't try to insinuate that you want to wear those your nun clothes. You know I don't in anyway fancy those clothes" Tyndall shouted.

"Why shout?" Melissa asked. "I still have some nice wears I can jump into" she said with pride that her sisters don't buy.

"Melissa, don't let us argue here. Those your clothes is out of the issue on ground. Just corporate and let things be done" Somaria lectures.

"I'm sticking to not spending that money" she gave a stubborn look.

"Accepted, then provide the money to buy new ones. There are still lot of close that are nice with cheaper price" Somaria suggested.

"I think that will be better" she agreed. Will ten dollars be enough?" She asked innocently.

"Ten dollars!!" Her sisters screamed and she gave them a weird look.

"Come off it Big sis. It's not enough at all. We are going to get you an official wear not a house wear which also includes shoes and accessories. Do you think your ten dollars will get that?" Tyndall asked smiling mockingly at her sister.

"Ma'am we will be needing at least we would be needing a hundred dollars" Somaria said.

"Wow! That's too much to spend" she shook her head.

"Big sis I don't think you have any idea of where you are going to" Tyndall scoffed.

"Even if you aren't going to dress to their standard, wear something accepted to the general public" Somaria lectured again.

"Alright I've heard you. I'll empty my savings for you. Is that enough?"

The ladies smiled.

"Sure it is" Tyndall quickly replied.

"But remember girls, no groceries for this week" she threatened.

Tyndall burst into laughter while Somaria smiled.

"What of the one we brought in now?"

"Give me your card so I can get going before it's dark" Somaria asserted.

Melissa handed her the credit card. "Please spend wisely" it was !ore of a command than plea.

"You know I will" she replied with a smile.

"Don't be late and don't go too far" she warned.

"Ain't you coming with us?" Tyndall asked.

"Yes I'm not. You guys know my size, just go get it" she replied.

"Ok then" Tyndall said happily.

"Tyndall, i don't think you should go. You know I need to gather some things. Stay and help me out".

Tyndall frowned. "Big sis that's cruel. You know how much I love to shop and Somaria can't do it alone" she declined sadly.

"I do know sugar but I mustn't overwork myself so as to be in the right mind tomorrow. Moreover if you leave who will help with my hair? You must have been so tired if you are back" she said to her with a cajoling smile.

The sound of 'my hair' already hooked Tyndall down. She loves to touch Melissa's extremely long and full hair. Both Somaria and Tyndall didn't get that hair, although they had theirs cascading down their shoulders but Melissa has hers cascading down her hips and it's also way silky than theirs. Thousands of time has Tyndall sang praises of that hair and how she wishes it's hers but Melissa didn't see the big deal about it. She wished to cut it short but her sisters won't allow that.

While they were younger that she cut her hair and sold it to a wig company, Tyndall cried for days and made her promise not to do that again. Ever since Tyndall is the one taking care of the hair as if it's hers.

"Yes that's true. We need to work on how it could be styled nicely. Somaria just make sure you choose a nice cloth okay?"

She quickly moved closer to Melissa and start to touch her hair like a professional stylist.

"That's all she knows. Just go open a beauty shop" Somaria mocked.

"Will be more than grateful if that's your next mission for me. It will be the nicest thing you will ever do" she mimicked Somaria's mocking voice. "Just remember to get a shampoo' she called at already leaving Somaria.

Somaria halt.

"What about the one inside?" Melissa asked.

"That one smells lime and that smell isn't befitting the place you are going to. I need a nice smell like rose or lavender" she gave a quick explanation before Melissa objects.

"Is that really necessary?" Melissa complained.

"Of course it is necessary" Tyndall replied firmly. "Don't you know good smell attracts people" she quoted.

"Then it's deodorant that she needs to buy not shampoo" Melissa said.

"In that case, so as to manage fund, I still have the shampoo and purfume that Ju..... an." Somaria hesitated when she saw the frown on Melissa's face. "... gave me. It's the same product and sure do have a really nice smell" she said looking at frowning Melissa.

"Wow! That's a brilliant idea" Tyndall jumped in elation.

"No you shouldn't do that" Melissa disagreed and this got Tyndall frowning. "Those will be quite expensive and I don't think you've used it at all. Just go get cheaper ones. You shouldn't give out what a friend gave to you" she was with authority ringing in her voice.

"You are more than a friend and you deserve anything. So, don't argue you are having it" Somaria asserted with same authority.

"May I use it too?" Tyndall asked.

"No you are not allowed to use it and I'm serious" she snapped.

Somaria hurried out while Tyndall dragged her sister inside.