CHAPTER 5
Omar accompanied christopher back to his car. He watched him as he drives off and vanished into thin air. Still confused of how to rate his character, should he just conclude that his affectionate behavior and the sympathy he exhibited few minutes ago was just mere pretence ? Or he is really different from his kind ? . he has been very nice to him from the very first day he met him. He never showed any sign of despise against him nor felt uneasy whenever he talks with him. He relates with him so well like he has been an old time friend. His attitude is strange to him. It frightens him everytime, for he does not trust any white. he thought maybe this might be just a way to lure him and make him become a prisoner in his farm. Omar knows he was going to be answering series of questions if he should go back inside so he decided to go back to the shop and save himself the questions .
" And where you go Omar ? Come back inside me have things to ask you" his mother yelled from behind . he paused himself and gave out a loud sigh before walking back inside.
" you no tell we what happened when you visit him that day ? "
" he want me to work as manager in his farm. him say me no work at all me only look people and direct them. Him say him pay me money every month and him give me whatever from farm ." he let out a sigh before continuing
" me no trust him ummi ( mother ), me think him be lie to deceive me "
" me trust him " his mother replies confidently
" you trust him ummi( mother ), why ?"
" because I see chrislapher as good man. Him no show pride, him be kind and show care to people him no know. Is hard for people to show all this except him be have good heart. So me believe he wish you good. Remember Hassan say not everybody be bad . Me believe him be good to you so work for him. "
" you saw(sure) ummi (mother) ? "
" go tomorrow I permit you " he accepted with a nod.
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He made a tap tap on the gate. This time he wasn't scared but he wished he didn't get to meet Christopher's woman at home . he heard a squeak from the other side of the gate.
" Oh mister you came back, how are you doing ?" The security man smiled as he asks him
" you remember me ?" He asked surprised , he wanted to reintroduce himself. It's been three weeks gone now, how could he have still remembered him.
" yes of course I remember you. You are Omar, the guy from the ghetto and you are still wearing the same shirt of last time, that made it more easier for me to recognize you. Please come in "
He rolled his eyes when he was reminded that he didn't change his clothes. That is why hauwa always likes to choose for him because he doesn't care .
" is sir christoph in home ? "
" yes he is, just got in " he nodded and walked to the entrance door. He made a knock on the door, waiting to be granted permission but he got no response so he kept on knocking after every 2minutes. The security finds his act very funny
" just got in the door is not locked " he advised him
" no me religion no permit to go in somebody home except they tells you to come in, so I continue to knock ". The security agreed to his words. It is not proper indeed to barge into a person's house without their permission, it is rude and unacceptable. Omar made a knock again, this time he heard footsteps coming from behind the door, he maintained his balance . when the door opened he didn't wish to see the face standing in front of him.
" can I help you ?" She asked with a sneer in her voice
" good afternoon ma'am "
" I asked you a question "
" me want to see sir christoph "
" he is not at home so you can leave "
" please ma him tells me ------- "
" I have endured your stinky mouth enough I said leave , now !!"
" I am at home !! " Christopher screamed from inside. He rushed down and saw Omar standing
" Oh my, I never expected you today please come in " he nodded and followed him inside.
" what can I offer you please ?" Lady Morgana raised a questioning eyebrow as he said that
" no thank you sir Christoph"
" NO NO NO. Your mother said in your religion it is good to offer guest a good treatment and so it is in mine. So whatever I bring for you, you must take it ". He walked to the dinning room and took an apple juice and cookies from the fridge and placed them in front of his stool. Omar shyly ate from it. he felt it not in his stomach because he was eating in fear , knowing that the lady sitting opposite him is glaring . meanwhile morgana was fuming inside, she was raged and felt uncomfortable knowing that he was offered a juice with their cup.
" we are going to break that cup when he is through with it " she threatened. Christopher didn't give her a listening ear.he pretended like thus heard nothing .
" we can go when you are done eating" he informed Omar .
" so how is your mother and siblings doing ? " he asked concerned
" they do fine sir "
" may I ask where you are taking him to Christopher ?" Morgana said briskly
" To my farm " he replied without looking at her
" To do what ? "
" To oversee it for me . I am always occupied in my schedules "
" you want this thing! To be in charge of your farm ? "
" his name is Omar. And whoever I choose to oversee my farm is my business not yours " she glared at him and moved her eyes back to Omar who wished she could just leave the sitting room.
" And what is your level of qualification ? " she asked
" me get no level ma'am, me no go school ". She hissed and turned to Christopher
" you want an illiterate to manage your farm! ? How absurd you are "
" when will you learn to stop being insensitive and care about people feelings when you talk ?" Christopher replied her with so much irritation in his voice. Omar felt uneasy sitting down when morgana keeps glaring at him every second. He informed Christopher that he was ready, so they both drove off to the farm. It was a large farm where he grows different agricultural products in large quantities. He saw a lot of whites working and few blacks. Christopher summoned all his workers and announced to them that Omar is now in control and he should be respected the same way they show respect to him. They all pledge to be of good conduct towards Omar. Omar was completely astound, he is just a commoner why would he receive this great honor? Christopher dismissed the gathering and turned to Omar
" if anyone of them show any act of disrespect or arrogance please let me know."
" sir, why you no take one of this white man and make him controller? Why me that go no school? "
" because I want to use someone i trust and i trust you Omar "
He smiled with tears rolling down his cheek. ever since he met him he had never trusted him. He is aware of his kindness but he never trust him at all not until this very moment.
" please stop crying Omar "
" thank you sir ".
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For four months that he have worked with Christopher he finds him very peaceful, kind and true. He has been wrong about him all this while, thinking his good acts was mere pretence. He is really a different man and all the whites working with him were also very nice except steven. Steven had this evil impression towards him, always isolating himself from him or other blacks . some of the workers said that he is very supercilious and arrogant. Some say he is jealous that Christopher didn't make him the manager. Omar didn't doubt their words following the way he never follows his orders or accept any of his opinions but still he kept his rude behaviors hidden from Christopher. Omar kept to the promise he made to his brother that when he gets his first salary he was going to enroll him in school. he gave his mother some money but every school they took him to rejected him either because of his race or religion. So Christopher helped out, he took Hassan by himself and registered him in a school dominated by whites through his influence. He also changed their house in the ghetto, he couldn't rent them a house in the whites street but he restructured their house and gave hauwa (Omar's mother) some money to start a business of her own. He was like an angel sent to bless the family of Imran.
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" you first day at school, try to be good " kwairah advice her little brother but she noticed that he was not looking happy at all.
" what's wrong Hassan why you no happy ? You no like school again ? If you no like you can stay with me, me too no like school " she felt a bang on her head, she screeched with pain
" shut up you lazy mouth. So because you hate school you don't want you brother to go, lazy girl " kwairah frowned and moved away from her brother .
" what's wrong Hassan why you sad ?" Their mother asked calmly
" me fear ummi(mother), me like to go but me see many white that day you and sir chrislapher takes me there "
" Me warrior no be scared okay, you be strong like me and the prophet (PBUH) you know prophet have many people who hate him but him be strong hmm so you too be strong, okay me warrior " he nodded and smiled
" you know you school is far a small so come quick you no go late for first day "
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When they entered the school they saw a large crowd of white children even hauwa felt worried knowing that her 10 year old child was going to stay with children who don't like him for 9 hours . she didn't know where to take him to, they were many classes so she do not know the right one that is his. She saw a lady that she suspected is a teacher in the school so she went closer to her
" hello ma, please me child is new where me take him ? "
The lady looked at her in wonder, she dressed in shabby clothes and a veil covering almost her body.
" have you seen the headmaster ? "
" who be headmaster ? " she asked back
" madam he is a man heading a school, so if you haven't let me take you there "
" that will be good of you, thank you ". She took her to the headmasters office . hauwa is feeling so uncomfortable, but she has to be strong for her child.
" Good morning sir " the lady greeted a man sitting on a directors chair
" morning miss Jennifer, how may I help you ?"
" this woman is here to see you "
" okay thank you, you can go now "
She nodded and left his office .
" please madam do take a seat " hauwa moved closer and sat on the opposite chair to his .
" what can I do for you madam ? "
" me come here last time with sir chrislapher to put me son in you school "
" you mean Dr Christopher?"
" yes sir "
" oh yes I remembered. We need to give him some tests to determine his class "
" me son never go school before, he no know any test sir "
" okay, that won't be a problem we will put him in a trial class after one month he will be given a test if he performs very well, then we will give him a class but if he doesn't we will have to drop him . we want clever kids in our school I hope you understand madam? ''
" me son is clever but for a child that go no school before one month is small for teach him "
" okay then a two months trial, I'm only doing this because of Dr Christopher "
" me know thank you sir "
" you can go now madam I will take him to his class you don't have to worry ."
" please make him safe for me "
" it is our duty to keep the children safe you don't have to worry madam". She nodded and bade Hassan a farewell