Chapter 03

Today is Friday, so I work from seven in the morning until half past noon, to be able to attend the park walk. I woke up in a good mood that morning, without knowing why.

I went down, greeted everyone, and did my morning routine. Before leaving for the office, my mother called me and said:

●Afsatou! Today, we all go to the park at the same time, don't be late this time.

●OK ma' don't worry, I told her while kissing her forehead.

I left for my car, this time full, don't worry. Arriving at the office, I came face to face with my best friend.

●Hello, how are you? I asked her.

●Hello, I'm fine, and you?

●Good too, how did it go?

●Not too bad, I must admit

She was supposed to pass her license yesterday, because madam still didn't have it.

●It's good, so you won't have to learn bus schedules anymore, I laugh.

●Ha ha, very funny, look how I laugh

●I know, I'm too funny.

●The worst thing is that there is worse than you.

●And who is it?

●Ahmed

●Tchip, go there.

We were in my office, so I chased him away and started working.

●I love you anyway, she says.

●Not me

●I will pretend to believe you

Once she was gone, I really started. We had a meeting at eight o'clock, so I was busy putting everything in order before they arrived. They were big customers, we had to put them in our pocket, and the company will only get better. We had to find common ground.

I was so focused that I didn't see the time pass. As I raised my head, I saw Hawa smile at me and inform me that the customers had arrived. They were waiting for us in the meeting room.

After two hours of negotiations, we finally agree on the clauses. To conclude the meeting and the contract, we greeted each other. They left with a smile and we returned to our offices, smiling too.

Hawa called me to remind me that we had another meeting that was already waiting for us, at the end of the corridor. I then turned back to get there.

●What a day, she breathed.

●You talk, I'm exhausted. I don't even have the strength to talk anymore

●You amaze me

We had just finished the second meeting, so we went to my office and settled there.

I didn't even describe this crazy woman: she's a little smaller than me, about one meter sixty-eight. She has a rather dark complexion, not totally black but not totally white either. She has been wearing the veil for fifteen years, since the same year as me. She is rather charismatic, and knows how to say what is needed when it is necessary. Finally, she is a real crazy.

●What are you doing today? I resumed.

●Well nothing special, why?

●With my family, we all go to the park together. You could come, I think then we'll go eat at the restaurant.

●Oh no, I wouldn't want to disturb.

●What are you talking about? You are part of the family, you are a sister to me, never say that again. So I don't even ask you for your opinion anymore, you come with me, that's all.

●As if I had the choice, with you.

●I like respect.

Then we both left laughing. It was already time to leave, so we picked up our things, and now we are heading home. Once they arrived, they were all ready, so Hawa and I rushed to my room to change, leaving the greetings for later. We entered the family 4x4, towards the park.

Arrived, my father and my brothers left for the lake side for a walk, while my mother, Hawa and my left for the flowers side.

After the walk, I went out before my mother and Hawa, who had gone to give alms. I was there, waiting for them, when someone hit me.

He was a man with a large size, who measured about one meter ninety, if not more. It was unintentional, and he narrowly caught up with me before I touched the ground. And there was like a kind of discharge. I freed myself from his arms as quickly as possible thanking him. Of course.

When I raised my head, I saw that he was already looking at me insistently. He plunged his gaze into mine, which I supported before I turned it away as soon as possible. He doesn't look at me anymore either, but no one moved either so we stayed like this for a good minute, until Hawa came to ask me what was going on.

I then came to my senses, thanking him again, and hurried to follow Hawa who kept asking me questions. But I didn't have the head for that. I was obsessed with those brown eyes that came back to my head even though I had only seen them for a few days. It was the first time, not counting those of my family, that I had been so close to a man.

We then left the park to go to the restaurant. Then we went home, after dropping Hawa off at her house and greeting her parents. Fortunately tomorrow is Saturday, because I wasn't attacking going to work too tired will know why.

As every time, we met in the living room to watch a movie. But that night, I was in the vapes, especially since the movie was rotten. Not to mention Ahmed and his jokes also rotten, and Oumar always so serious but funny. Is that done?

That being the fact that this time, I was not at all focused on the film. My mind was wanting towards this brown-eyed stranger.

Who was he?

And what was happening to me?

(Every Friday the park director organizes a charity walk which aims to raise funds donated by walkers for charitable associations.)