Birthday or death day

An odd sense of Deja-vu flooded my senses as I made my way downstairs in the dead of the night.

The light shuffling, I had heard was what brought me down here and without thinking too much I made my decision.

My heart did an involuntary squeeze when I didn’t see a figure sitting on the couch or something. I mentally reprimanded myself because of what I was thinking and moved on into the kitchen.

Surprisingly, no one was there but my mums phone sat on the dining table slightly dim as if it was quickly forgotten.

“mum” I called out wondering why she will be up so late when most times she slept like a rock.

A ringing sound dragged my attention to the phone as a text message dropped. I ignored it at first but my nagging curious mind made me want to check it. It was probably just network providers, so I did.

Your cash transfer to Mr. Davis Konni of account number 134598760 has been made – legion bank.

My eyes widened as I took in the text message and suddenly the phone became ten times heavier than it was in my hand.

“Tamar” I looked up to find my mum looking at me with wide eyes but it quickly changed to a reprimanding one.

“don’t you know it is rude to check people’s phone without their permissions”

I barely heard anything as she spoke. The loud ringing in my ears made me disoriented and a little confused.

“mum” I choked out.

She looked away guilt etched on her features.

“it’s not what you think Tamar it really is not I just…” she stopped wringing her fingers nervously.

“just last night Rita had asked you if she could start paying off her college fees and you said that you had used the money for other things. Other things, that we never saw or you never explained”

“he just called and I needed to…”

“to what mum, to give him money? He is not even here but he is still controlling you”

“he is not controlling me” she said angry.

“really? What do you call leaving you for 15 years and refusing to divorce just because he needs to access the meagre amount you make every month, what do you call the drunken visits he still makes here and you allow all in the hope of seeing him again, what do you call the number of times you sacrificed us and yourself just so you can keep sponsoring his spending spree”.

“your father is in a really bad place right now and he needs someone who cares for him and and…” she looked away again not knowing what to say.

“he’s been in a bad place for 15 years mum” I shouted.

“you are not caring for him mum you are throwing our lives and yours away for him”.

“he will pay me back, he promised” she said defensively.

“and you believed him?” I said frustrated with her.

She closed her eyes looking really tired.

I felt pity course through me at the sight of her. She looked like a woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders and he didn’t even care what he was doing to her, to us.

I didn’t know what to say to her again. I couldn’t exactly say that she should stop. It was her life and her money she could do whatever she wanted to with it. I looked at her again hoping that one day she will get her final breakthrough from him, from his control and finally come to the realization that he wasn’t good for her or for us.

I turned away with a heavy heart wondering if this breakthrough was really it for us or we were just running around in circles.

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“I’m still surprised you want to go to see your mum at work”

“its her birthday dummy I want to surprise her”

“I know but didn’t you tell her happy birthday at home”

“I didn’t I wanted to make it look like I forgot” I said grinning.

“what of the rest” George mentioned a sour look crossing his features as he swerved the car to the right avoiding a large pothole.

“Rita, Evan and Mira said they had sent her a text while Christy is at work”

“aren’t you supposed to be at work to”.

“work isn’t moving at mama p’s so the in between time we get is so much”

“hmmm” he grimaced

“what is really happening there”.

“I don’t know is like the customers have vanished even the very good ones” I said a puzzled look on my face.

the shop had gone into some sort of dormant state for some time now.

I didn’t really understand what was going on. I was half expecting Mama P to say that she was laying us off but she still managed to pay for us for little or no work done.

“and the funny thing is that Mama P doesn’t seem to be bothered” I didn’t know I had said that out loud until George turned and gazed at me waiting for the red light to turn green.

“wow, does she want to close the shop or what?”.

“I don’t think so if she does, she would have started hinting it and I think what she is most concerned with is buying the new sparkly yarn that just came out”.

George snickered at that just as the red light turned green.

The company came into view. It stood tall and intimidating, looking down on the other smaller businesses that surrounded it. The place was filled with bustling, pedaling and people trying to shove things into our faces to buy through the window of the car. George quickly wind up blocking people from flashing their wares at us.

“I really don’t like coming to this place” George muttered his face sour.

“sorry” I said giving him a sheepish smile.

He smiled back

“you didn’t let me finish, but if it’s you I will drive you wherever you want to go”

I smiled at that “thank you”.

We made our way into the building expertly turning down the numerous people who has told us to buy teeth whiteners or soap that changes your skin color.

Large pillars were the highlight of the building. It was old and medieval looking but still had some sort of modern edge to it. Red bricks formed the base but as it progressed higher, glass windows and walls replaced the bricks. The glass window panes were tinted making it hard to see through.

“this place has been owned by the same family for generations I wonder why it was sold”

“maybe they moved on or something” George muttered disoriented by the number of people.

I gave him a look as if to say ‘really’

“or maybe they offer was too much they couldn’t pass it up”

‘maybe’

The large reception was revealed as soon as the double doors were opened. A wide semi-circle table stood with several people on tiny speakers behind it. All looked immaculately dressed as the received and gave orders.

My lack of concentration on where I was going almost caused me to fall when I bumped into a man carrying a large box filled with stacks of papers. I quickly apologized while still trying to keep up with George’s long strides. People were walking everywhere. Some with boxes of precious stones, others with expensive jewelry carefully crafted by the best hands while some were holding office papers looking professional and all.

I ignored the receptionist who stood behind a white counter and walked straight down the large hallway to the very back where I will take the elevator to the cleaner’s room.

“what of if she is working”

I shook my head “this is break time”

Doors lined the hallway as we walked through it but only one was my destination. The double doors at the end of the hallway was made solely of wood and you could hear sounds already coming through it. I hitched my bag higher as George opened the doors noisily. I glared at him and he ignored it.

It was another round of noise as we entered the room. Brooms, mops and several other cleaning equipment lined the shelves and cupboards. Cleaners in red uniforms and black caps littered everywhere, some trying to grab brooms, others towel while some were just gossiping.

“hey Tamar what are you doing there”

I turned to see Mary-Ann moving towards me towels stacked up on her hand. She was a burly woman with slim hands but a kind smile. She gave me a hug as far as the mountain of towels would allow her.

“I came to see my mum”

“she’s in the back” she said smiling.

I went to a secluded corner of the room and pulled out the tiny cake the size of my palm. George quickly put the lone candle atop it and lighted it.

The door to the back room busted upon. Rows upon rows of lockers lined the walls. we finally found her at the back-end sipping water from a bottle.

“happy birthday to you” George started singing off-key.

She looked up surprise taking over her features.

“Oh, my Tamar what are you doing here”.

I placed the cake on the table carefully. Smiling at her.

“you shouldn’t have” her hand found her mouth as she regarded us still singing happy birthday.

“make a wish mum”

I placed the cake on her hand and she blew out the candle carefully placing it down.

“let me get a knife”

*somewhere in the building*

He drummed his hand on the table irritated by the sheer stupidity and vainness of humans as he looked around the uncomfortable office.

“do you think she will ever come”

“no, she seems determined to stay away from the supernatural”

“so, what is your next move”

He regarded the lowly servant as he stood shakily asking him questions that he would never dare to ask at least not in this realm. His eyes turned dark and the servant noticed because his fretfulness increased significantly.

His eyes quickly changed from dark to vibrant when the whooshing, calming sound of wind blew, bringing some peace to his tortured soul. He gripped the arm rest of the chair so tightly, his knuckles turned white. The effect was immediate as he felt something leave his already trembling body and something settle. It was a sweet feeling something he had wanted for so long. His closed eyes suddenly flew open and without a word the lowly servant already knew.

“she was here”.

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We packed the few drinks and cake that had remained from our small party stuffing it into the bag as my mum talked with Mary-Ann.

“see you sometime” Mary-Ann said a kind smile in place.

“okay, bye” I waved as George half snatched half collected the bag from me. My mum smiled while waving us as we started to walk out of the room.

“wait!” I stumbled a little at the sound of my mum’s voice a little surprised. I turned and found her deathly still a stiff smile on her face. I watched her wondering what had happened in the space of seconds. Her eyes were unfocused and I wondered if she was having one of her moments when she logged out of everything but still managed to tell us what to do.

“are you alright” her smile grew impossibly wider as she shook her head.

“yes, yes I am”

“I know this is unlike me but the boss has done so much for us is it not right for you to maybe” she shrugged robotically “thank him”

I smiled unsurely but nonetheless “of course I will if you want me too”.

I looked at George wondering if he was noticing what was happening, and he was, the puzzled look on his face was a dead giveaway.

“I do” she said hastily.

I turned away slowly stealing glances at my mother.

It was in the elevator before George spoke

“that was weird” he stated.

I nodded unsure of what to tell him.

After several stairs and elevator rides, we made it to the very top floor. This was a whole different world. Everywhere was intricately designed and the white and black theme gave it an intimidating outlook.

Coolness hit me as I glide through the smooth floors.

“is it possible for me to see the boss” I said to the pretty receptionist behind the black oak wood counter.

“enter” she said mysteriously a big smile in place as she gestured to the large doors.

“I will wait here” George muttered eyeing the receptionist suspiciously. I smiled and went into the room.

I met vacancy. The office was quiet and I was starting to wonder where the man was. perhaps, he is not around or he is in the wash room. I looked around standing awkwardly in the middle of the office.

I prepared myself for a very respectful courtesy when I heard a door opening from the left side of the room

It must be the boss I thought.

I plastered a big smile on my face but it froze when the door opened to reveal the person at the other side.

It was him.