Alice

As I lay on the bed, I was surprised just how someone’s life could be changed just by some few events happening.

I kept pondering over and over, sleep evaded me and I was a little scared. It is not every day that you see someone get killed and disappear.

George had soon returned home some few hours ago and Christy had passed out beside me. Frankly speaking the raised my spirits just by them being there for me.

I finally sat up on the bed then turned on the small torch that sat beside the bed. I realized then that I had not opened my bag or checked my phone since I came back and that I did. I opened the bag and turned on my phone I tried to muffle the sound coming from it when it was coming to life by putting a blanket over it so that it would not disturb the person sleeping beside me.

It rang with numerous text messages from my mother, Christy, George, Mrs. P and even Alice but what surprised me was to see one from Rita. That was the first one I opened.

“Don’t come back at least mum will find it easier with one less mouth to feed”.

Well no surprise there. The rest where just ones asking me to come back, asking me where I was and some apology messages from my mum. They were a lot of missed calls from Mrs. Walter, Mrs. P and my mum.

My social media was buzzing but I could not check it I guess when one’s problem graduate from how many likes one has to disappearing acts you tend to lose interest. What caught my attention was a message from an unknown number. I immediately opened the message and the first person that came to my mind was the person who sent it.

“I hope your parents didn’t skin you sugar, 912 lapin street if you ever want to talk”

It was him and I did not know why but my heart did a light squeeze. I slept with that on my mind and a dreamless sleep.

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Three days had passed since I left Gabe and gotten that text message. I had fallen back to my normal routine: school and work. Nothing really changed apart from Christy and George disturbing me to go and talk with Gabe after showing them the text message.

I guess they would never know how bad it was when we parted ways. It was eating me alive. Anytime I thought about it, I couldn't help but feel all wrong.

Mrs. P had scolded me saying that I should have waited for B while Alice in all her sassy glory admitted to me that she was worried.

My mum was always on my case asking me questions that she never asked me before. Things like: how was school? do you have anybody that you will like me to meet? (referring to the boy I had spoken about in my letter), are you happy?

Honestly, I sometimes did not know what to answer to that but I answered anyway.

The note occupied a large portion of my thoughts. The mystery behind it was something I could not get past easily. How is it that the day I got missing a note was dropped with my name on it. The person who wrote replicated my handwriting so well, that I almost believed I wrote it.

Maybe I forgot when I wrote it but something as prominent as that, could never be something I forgot about.

The note did not hold any new information all we got from it was that the person who wrote the note was someone who knew about my family’s problem.

The nightmares did come back but this time it was different. This time, it was like I was running endlessly without even being chased.

Like any other sane person will do I had already started to make the connections. Christy and George had made the connections it was just up to me to act on it.

“Tamar could you take care of Ricky for me I have to be somewhere” Alice shouted bringing me back from my mind.

She came into view later with heavy make-up and scanty clothes clutching a big red bag as red as the lipstick slouched all over her lips.

“your still on your shift” I said giving her a disapproving look

“I know but business is slow and I am sure you will be able to handle the non-existent customers when they come” she answered looking in her mirror trying to add more lipstick to her already red lips and smacking them together.

“what should I tell mama P when she comes?”

“tell her that something came up” she said rolling her eyes “look if you do not want to do it just say it” she added quickly.

“of course, I do” I answered my eyes softening momentarily.

“Ricky, Ricky” she shouted looking bored and looking at her beaten down watch.

“yes momma” a little voice answered.

“Aunty Tamar will watch you. If you need anything just holler at her okay” she said moving out of the shop a little bit.

“okay momma” the voice answered again and like clockwork she was out the door but not before throwing a don’t get missing behind her back.

I watched her go: her head held high and if not for the cheap clothes she was wearing you will think she is some madame owning a big shop or mall.

My heart went out to her and the little guy she had with her. She did love him but old ways die hard and once or twice she slips into them. Like today, she was going to her ex-boyfriend’s place and also the father of her child Ricky. You may ask how I know but I know because of the dress she put on and the hope that you could see emanating from her eyes.

She never dressed up and personally I did not think she needed it. she was a beautiful woman with long black hair, bright eyes and a kind smile that is if you are able to dig up all the sass she displays and look harder.

She lets her guard down like the time she admitted that she was worried when I got missing or the time, she told mama P to cut out of her salary and give to me when my mum was sick even though she needed it to take care of her son.

She did not allow me to know though I found out accidentally through mama P’s not so quiet conversations. When I tried to thank her, she shushed me and told me never to speak about it till the day we die. Running out of the shop that day she did not look at me in the eye for days after my attempt to thank her. I always wondered why but you can’t get the answers to everything.

“Ricky please come here and sit down it will be easier to watch you” I shouted

He came in a couple of seconds later holding a drawing book and some color pencils.

I watched him silently as he picked up a stool at the back of the counter and sat down on it. Placing the drawing book on a make shift table he began to doodle away, drawing shapes and alphabets?

He was a quiet boy really quiet he never talked and he had this ancient look in his eyes a big contrast to his baby features. The five-year-old boy was obviously wiser than his age and George always said that he looked at him as if he was checking out his soul clawing out his biggest and darkest secret.

I smiled at that remembering the day when he said that.

His father, Alice’s ex-boyfriend had never wanted anything to do with the child or her. It was very painful to watch Alice go back there in a desperate attempt to show him what he his missing only to come back with run-down make-up and a sour attitude.

She loved him still and she used visits like this to remind him somewhat of what they shared. I don’t really know what happens when she goes but she comes back with an expression that saddens my heart greatly. I just hope she sees that the little artist I have as company is more than enough for her and she can find happiness in that real happiness but, I will always see a strong woman anytime I look at her.