The lost

It was a Monday morning, the weather was cold and rain was falling heavily. I put on my rain coat, brought out my umbrella, opened it and put it over my head. I was out for a job interview, I needed a job, mom had been sick for the past two months and the doctor said we need to deposit a sum of $100 before he can start the treatment. Mom has a heart disease and kidney problem, so I have to get a job to be able to pay for her treatment. Dad died a year ago of stroke and my elder brother, Thomas left the house since dad died- he couldn't cope with the way things were. Now, I'm left with my two younger sister Nina , Beth and my mom to cater for. Mom was a tailor before she got sick and I usually use her sewing machine to sew and earn a little money for sustenance but it wasn't enough. Nina and Beth have to go to school, Nina is in highschool while Beth is in grade 5. Nina's school principal called me last week and told me if she doesn't come with her school fees she won't be allowed in the school. That's why I wrote application to different companies. One of the places I wrote an application to a library called me for an interview. That's why I ran off for the interview in this heavy rain, praying I'm accepted because I really need this. I don't know if my prayers would be answered because it has been long since I last went to my catholic Church. On the way to the interview I met a little girl walking and shivering, I looked at her and wondered how her parents could leave her all alone. I called her "Little girl wait come join me under the umbrella " she didn't answer maybe she taught I wanted to harm her because she ran off fast before I could call her again. Before I knew, she was off and I couldn't see her again. I looked at my watch and the time was 7:14 and the interview was by 8:00. I started walking fast . A car passed by me causing water to splash on my coat.

"Hey man, can't you drive carefully?"

The man driving didn't wait to listen to me, he just drove away. I got to a place and I saw the little girl again sitting down near the road crying. I thought of leaving her alone but then I thought again, what if it were my sister. I went to sit beside her and sheltered her from the rain with my umbrella, all her clothes were soaked with the rain.

"Hey pretty girl where are your parents?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean by you don't know? What made you to be out in the heavy rain?". "My mom has travelled and my dad left for work early this morning, my nanny also went out and I followed her without her knowing and now I am lost." She burst into tears.

"Oh sorry. Do you know the colour of your house or your gate ?"

"No I don't. Please help me I want to go to my mummy and daddy."

I asked her to get up and we started walking together. I thought of taking her to the police station but I checked my time and it was 7:45am. I decided I would take her with for the interview . We walked on silently to the library with me praying earnestly to get there in time. I was happy when I got there , I closed the umbrella and held the little girl's hand standing in front of the door. I dropped my umbrella and knocked the glass door but the door opened without a doorman, making me face the laughing people inside. I was red with embarrassment as I entered.

One of the ladies there asked me for the little girl's name, then I realized I never asked the girl her name. I ignored the lady's question and went inside. I saw a man inside and asked him where to go for the interview . He asked me to go up stairs. I hurriedly climbed the stairs and I met up to ten people waiting to be interviewed. I jumped them on a chair with the little girl and asked for her name. She replied, Moriana. I told her I love her name. Before I knew, the people were done for the interview and it was my turn. I told Moriana to be a good girl and stay at that place and wait for me to be back. I straightened my dress and went inside. I entered the office and I saw a man dressed in a white shirt and a wine colored tie knoted round his thin neck. Through his glasses, he watched me. I greeted him, sat down on a chair in front of him and submitted my files. He collected the files and opened

it my heart was beating fast and I started to pray that he would accept me. He dropped the files on the table before him and began to watch me closely.

"Have you ever worked in a library or school before?" he asked me.

I was nervous, "No sir, I never worked in a library or school but I did teach little children a long time ago. "

The man looked at me and shook his head, "Well you are good to go. I will call you to know if you are accepted or not."

"Thank you sir " .

Getting out of the office, I couldn't find Moriana where I left her. "Where has this little girl gone to ?"

I went to meet the man i asked about the interview if he saw the little girl I came inside with but he said he didn't see her pass. I went outside the library to see if she might have gone out for something. I was still looking around to see if I could find her when I saw a man in a black cloth and black boots. He used a hood to cover his face. He looked suspicious to me, I started walking slowly towards him so he wouldn't notice me but he turned back and caught me walking towards him. Immediately, he ran off the street and entered a bus that was approaching on its four wheels . In the bus, there were lot of children and I was sure Moriana must also be among them and now I knew the man was a kidnapper or children trafficker. I started running after the bus and water splashed all over my body but i didn't care at all. All I wanted was to get to the bus. I couldn't meet with to the bus, so I brought out my phone, dialed the number of a police station, the phone rang but no one picked it. I called again, no one picked it.

"How can a police officer be so careless so as to leave his phone somewhere without caring about it. What if there is an emergency and now there is an emergency."

I took my phone and called again then someone picked but it was a woman .

"Hello good evening, what do you want?"

"What does a person call a police officer for ? "

"What did you say?"

"Nothing I was just saying I've got a problem , I need some of your police men. I just saw a child trafficker and I want your men to follow."

" Oh! Really? Uhmm I am sorry. The police sergeant isn't around right now he's gonna be back tomorrow, I am sorry I can't help you."

"Hey, you can't tell me that. Aren't you a police officer? Right now, the lives of a lot children are in danger, aren't you a mother ?"

"See, I understand am a mother but I have my own problems to face. I can't risk my life for some children that aren't mine , I got a lot of things to do with my life."

"So you'll rather let them die just because they aren't your children?"

"How many times do I have to explain this? I really do not care, I have only one child and I know my ex-husband is going to keep her safe, so 6why should I worry about other people's children?"

" Alright. You suit yourself bitch. "

" Why would you call me that? "

I cut the call , I started walking home slowly and thinking of the mess I got myself into after all the problems I have already.