4 Sparks

CHAPTER 4

"What are we doing in this store, miss?" Sara asked her friend, already getting impatient, after walking round the city all day in vain looking for jobs, it seemed all the stores, restaurant and bars were unwilling to hire 16 year old girls without a sure guarantor and reasonable resume.

She was famished, tired and stressed out from going round all day without any success, she just wanted to go back home to the shelter.

"Didn't you see the poster sign placed outside , where a job vacancy was advertised?" Ariel asked.

"If I hear you right, you said job vacancy right, and if I had read the poster correctly, it read job vacancy for just one person, and we don't even match the criteria, and requirements written down....it read and I quote, application for the post of an 18 year old sales boy/girl needed with at least an original high school certificate and recommendable surety that is guarantor, which you know we don't even have."

Sara replied already frustrated and moving away from the store, turning to the roadside.

Dragging her back inside the store forcefully, Ariel slammed the store's door shut and turned to face her friend fiercely.

"We've got just two (2) years to save money to fend for ourselves after we leave the shelter, and if we give up like this without trying, then we are going to be so broke, hungry and deprived without hope you wouldn't even know when you starve to death."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Sara asked.

Seeing the defiant look on her friend's face, Sara knew she would not be able to dissuade or discourage Ariel anymore, but she decided to try her luck.

"It means that, if we don't look for any part-time work to do and save money, then we are going to live under bridges, sleep inside cartons, search trash cans for food and beg also, is that what you want Sara?." Ariel answered quickly.

"Hmmmpph, i just don't want to argue with you now, cause you are somewhat right, let's just try our luck as you say then."

Sara answered and brought down her shoulders in mock defeat.

She began to follow Ariel slowly, she had no choice in the matter, when her friend wanted something she always got her way, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Looking forward and glancing round the big store, Sara immediately stopped, she had just gotten the shock of her life, staring straight at her was Christian, the guy she had met on her way to school earlier this week.

"Oh my God, Ariel that's him, oh we really have to go back this instant, right to where we came from." Sara said albeit hurriedly.

"Go back to where?, Who self, ehhhh, stop shaking like a fish out of water and struggling to breathe, just talk to me girl." Ariel inquired, already becoming impatient.

"Remember Christian, the guy I told you about, the one I bumped into, he's staring right at me, he's at the reception's desk, God we just have to go back, I am literally going to die of embarrassment right now." She squirmed.

"Oh my God, is that him, he is so gorgeous, and he is even dressed like a worker here at this store, can't you see God has buttered our bread, Sara look here, we are not missing this opportunity for anything in the world, I don't care what you think or say about it."

Ariel left her friend and hurried to the front desk and Sara had no choice but to follow her.

*******

She was coming, Christian could feel it, he didn't even know where or what to say to her, he was lost for words just like the other day.

She was so pretty, in her faded blue dungarees and white stretchy top, her light brown skin glowing effortlessly, she was so beautiful it made his heart ache in a good way.

Following closely at her friend's heels and walking way too slowly, he knew she had already seen him and was feeling shy.

"Hello." Her pretty friend said as they both approached the desk, waving her hands excitedly.

Judging by her composure and expression, the way she talked and kept bouncing on her toes excitedly, it seemed Sara had already told her about him.

"Hi, pretty ladies how can we be of help to you, you guys need something or what?" Daniel answered smiling goofily.

Christian cursed and sighed inwardly at his friend's flirty manner of approach, although he was naturally blessed with that, he sure knew how to charm women.

Clearing his throat, Christian flashed a smile at Sara and began to speak.

"Hey Sara right, how nice to meet you again, love." he winked at her in a flirty way and smiled, and he achieved a reaction, cause she blushed uncontrollably, her round cheeks developing cute little red patches all over.