Intricacies of a young love.

Angel's life had swiftly bounced back to normal. She loved the way things were really flowing and getting back to truck. She loved it. Her relationship with George was blossoming and seemed to be picking up again after the recent stumble.Claire was slowly recuperating and grew healthier each and every day. She was steadily blossoming into womanhood.She was also becoming more focused and determined in life with her usual optimism.

Angela really enjoyed the company that Claire always gave her. Far from her physical growth, She was rapidly increasing in wisdom and mental stature to the extent of even giving fairly mature advice to her big sister. Angela loved it . She new that with such kind of impeccable life skills, Claire would find it easier to maneuver through life challenges. She was sure that she would not only perform in her studies and be graded nicely but also be graded well in non academic life.

Even as they were preparing dinner one day, when Angela was busy dusting the floor and Claire concentrating on the cooking ,they each felt the warm presence of each other. Claire particularly, felt an irresistible connection and bond from her sister. This sister played both the role of the mother and that one of a fostering sister. She was always there for her whenever she needed help in whatever issues in her life. She couldn't resist the ardour that her big sister was instilling in her . She looked forward to becoming such a personage or even better.

Dipping a spoon into one of the steaming pots and slightly scooping a half filled spoon of beans, she threw it into her mouth and made a judgement that they were well salted. She slid her hand to the nobs on the heater and carefully reduced it's heat so that a low humming sound emanated from the pot of beans rather than the initial bubbling sound. Besides it were two other pots. She could see the steaming Pishori rice from one of them was already done and decided to put it off. The other pot had a nearly bubbling tea and she decided to wait for some minutes to switch it off too before she embarked on chatting with her sister. Cooking and concentrating with other stuff had always proven to be almost impossible to Claire even after her sister had tried so diligently, to instill the skill in her.

It was when Angela was almost finishing dusting the kitchen room that the tea finally bubbled and Claire cought it right on time to switch off from the heater. She leaned her back lazily on the oven nearby , hands crossed about her chest and her leg intertwined but still supported her by the heels. She glared and Angela meticulously without saying a word. She thought of her worth .She thought of how this bank clerk can just be contented with mopping the house for herself yet she had the means of employing someone to do it.

" Angie My sister! Why do you just decide once and employ a house help?" asked Claire passionately and proceeded. " You'll wear yourself out with house chores." As if she did not hear what her sister suggested, Angela continued for a minute then dipping the mopper into the bucket of water, she pushed it aside near the door post .She then sauntered towards Claire. " I'm thankful you do help me . I think it's not a big deal that we should consider assigning somebody else." She replied while propping herself a little bit high with her hands so that she could sit on the table-like platform formed by a chest of drawers and cupboards. She sighed loudly as she finally settled on top. She now had a vantage point of looking directly towards Claire."Why do you think we should get a house girl? I mean are we unable to keep this house by ourselves?"

" No! It's just my concern that you usually struggle when I'm at school." Claire picked with compassion.

Angela laughed slightly and then biting herl lips she looked at Claire in the eyes ." Don't be worried about that dear. It's not usually a tedious job to me. I can always balance myself."

"Remember you're a clerk Angie! Don't be straining yourself so much. " Claire advised.

" I know that!"

" And on that point. I forgot to ask you something important Angie!"

"What's that?" Angela probed.

"Soon I'll be finishing my high school education, which career do you think I can well best fit in?" Claire questioned with interest.

"Claire! Matters of career do not go well if you let other people decide it for you. Not even your parents. It must come from deep within. What you really love. "

"So what should I do?"

"Just take time to listen to yourself. Choose whatever feels fulfilling to you generally."

" I think I can make a great chemical engineer. I just feel that . My teacher had once told me that."

" Woow! That's marvelous to hear." Angela commented happily and continued, " But don't be an enemy of maths and chemistry. You need to be a guru in those disciplines." Claire internalized what her sister had told her. She knew it was going to be true with what her teacher had told her. "I'll work smart on that! I love chemistry of all." She boasted and for a moment, She caressed her fingers on her chin as if she was trying to recall something important. "I think after all career matters it will be the best time for me to have my 'George ' right?"

"George?? Your George?" bewildered Angela as if she didn't hear what Claire said.

"Ooh! I mean my fiance like you. I don't mean your George!" Claire rejoined in a playful laughter. Angela glanced her with surprise and confusion She did not like to hear such thing from her. She at first thought Claire was always wise. But engaging and having the mind to indulge into the intricacies of young love would mean a distraction to her concentration of her studies. She was not going to tolerate that given the fact that she is the one who pays her school fees.

"But wait!" Angela peeked seriously, "By the way who is ...Ka ...Ke... Oh! yes! Kelly? I now remember. Who is he?"

Claire looked at her sister merrily thinking that she was obviously happy by it. " Kelly is my boyfriend! I think I told you that day." She explained.

"Please give me more explanation to this." Angela requested with a tone of perturbation starting to rise in her.

"Kelly is a boyfriend whom Maggie introduced me to. In our class no one fails to know that Maggie can do anything to secure somebody a boyfriend. She is my friend and I said why not!" Claire recounted still in joy.

"You said why not? Claire! Claire! Claire! Watch out !" Angela shouted back at her.

"What's wrong?" Claire exchanged now having picked up the clue that her sister was not in for beaming smiles for it.

"Have you ever seen him? Do you have his pictures?" Angela interrogated irritably.

" We have never meet but we usually talk. Sometimes he calls me. Sometimes he video calls me. I have only his pictures in my phone. "

" Well! Go get me your phone I need those pictures. " Angela ordered furiously. She was clicking loudly even when Claire ran timidly into her room to bring her phone.

Angela wondered what devil had suddenly gotten into her younger sister. She turned to the cooking pot and switched off the remaining burner that had the beans. She was angry beyond words .She felt like her energy and her efforts to educate Claire were being lost. She regretted buying her a phone and wished that she had no phone at all.

" Here it is!" Claire whispered in fear. She recalled the days when she was young and Angela would punish her whenever she did fishy behaviors. She remembered her strokes. They were the most painful but what she dreaded most was her unannounced and charged slap. She knew she might as well receive one if she doesn't become careful.

" Show me the pictures? I don't want the phone. I want the pictures idiot!" Angela bubbled. Claire swiped her phone with fear and located Kelly's picture.

Angela was not by any means convinced how Claire could easily fall into the trap of love with a goon. The picture revealed a bearded boy that seemed years older than Claire. He had bulging cheeks that had been stuffed with leaving Khat. Green soup oozed from the corner of his mouth and had a characteristic bloodshot wide eyes. He had a shaggy navy blue base ball cape. Angela winced at the picture. She did not want to scrutinize it further.

"This is what you call fiance Claire? Why don't you wait until you grow up and find a decent man in your life?" quizzed Angela. Claire looked at her with tears. She never expected such a reaction from Angela. She meant to defend that she loved him by conventional wisdom restricted her. Angela cursed and warned her for such a stupid decision. She alluded how adolescental urges can stray one away from the true purpose in life .