Is she in love with her boss?

"Boy problem?" Freda reiterated her mother's words.

Mrs. Rowan smiled broadly as she made her way towards Freda, nodding her head in delight. "So, tell me, do you have a boy in your life?" She inquired.

Freda, who had been working on her puzzle box, gradually raised her head. "Today, boys account for two-thirds of the special education population, and black and Latino males, in particular, face high rates of suspensions, expulsions, and incarceration." She stated as she forced a smile across her lips, staring at her mother.

Mrs. Rowan was not taken aback by Freda's declaration. She has been caring for Freda since she was a child, so she is familiar with the way Freda explains things.

"Dear, I'm wondering if you have a problem with a boy?" Her mother explained as she attempted to rephrase her statement.

Her coffee brown eyes were wide open as she stared at Frida, waiting for a response.

"Ohh! That." Freda muttered before returning her attention to her puzzle box.

She fiddled with it for a few moments before shifting her gaze to her father, who was standing beside her and waiting for her response.

Freda breathed out. "It's a guy problem I guess." She gave a flat response.

"OMG. Did you just hear our baby, honey? Honey, she has a guy problem." Her mother exclaimed with delight as she placed her hands besides her mouth, her eyes twinkling with delight.

She was visibly happy, and she abruptly closed the gap between her and Freda by placing her hands on Freda's shoulder. "Do you really mean what you just said, baby?" She inquired with delight.

Mrs. Rowan had never heard Freda say anything about a man. Mrs. Rowan sometimes wonders if her daughter will ever marry, so when her husband asked Freda why she came to visit them early, she guessed that she should just ask if it was a boy problem.

When Freda comes to visit, she usually comes at night.

Mrs. Rowan asked with repulsion, and she had no idea she was correct.

"So, who exactly is this guy?" Her mother inquired, her brow furrowed.

"Can I have something to eat? This afternoon, I didn't have my lunch." Freda declared as she attempted to avoid answering the previous question.

Her mother exhaled, knowing that whenever Freda avoids a conversation, it will be difficult for her to return to the conversation.

"I'll make you something to eat." Her mother shrugged, her shoulder slumped. She was eager to learn more about the man Freda was having problems with, but in the meantime she would simply allow Freda to open up to her.

Mrs. Freda prepared a delicious meal for Freda, and afterward, Freda thanked her parent's for the wonderful meal.

"Mom, why are you so pale?" Freda inquired of her mother who was sitting beside her in the dining chair.

Her mother appeared a little pale, so Freda had to enquire as to why. "She has diabetes, and we're trying to raise funds to put her in remission, which is when her blood glucose or blood sugar levels return to normal." Her father stated.

Freda breathed out. "Do you have enough money to pay for her medicine?" She asked her father, and seeing him shake his head sideways caused her to return her attention to her puzzle box.

"You don't have to be concerned about us. I'll look after your mother." Freda was reassured by Mr. Rowan.

"I'll look for a part-time job to supplement my income so that I can care for both of you. Despite the fact that I am not your biological child, you raised me, so the least I can do is repay you both for your generous spirit." As she rose from her seat, Freda said. "I need to get home now." She added as she looked at her father.

Her Dad nodded slightly, giving her permission to return home, because he knew that no matter what he said to her, Freda would still do what she wanted. "You should drive more cautiously, and mak…"

"Don't forget to come back some other time, okay? And by then, we can talk about that guy you mentioned earlier." Her mother chimed in.

Frida nodded, pushing her goggles backwards so they wouldn't fall off her face. "I'll. And the guy is my boss." She scribbled.

Because her parents couldn't understand her statement, the sound of cricket was heard playing in the background.

They were staring at her with their eyes wide open and their mouths slightly agape. Freda's statement had literally taken them by surprise.

Freda, on the other hand, didn't give her parents time to process what she had just said, instead fixing her backpack and exiting their home.

Mrs. Freda needed a few moments to process what her daughter had just said, but after blinking her eyes open, she was stunned to discover that Freda was no longer in the house.

"Honey. Does this imply that Freda has feelings for her boss?"

"Arrh… I'm not sure." Mr. Rowan shrugged as he messed up his hair before returning to his room.

Freda, on the other hand, drove her car all the way home.

She took a bath and then fell asleep after preparing for the night.

****

As Freda opened her eyes, the warm scent of a new day filled her lungs. It was only seven o'clock in the morning, and the early morning birds were awake, singing joyful songs.

Freda got out of bed and took a warm bath before changing into a pink long leather skirt that reached her ankles and a white long shirtsleeves shirt that ended beneath her buttocks.

She added some ointment to her already braided hair and wore a red long booth beneath her feet as she carried her backpack.

The booth reached her knee and looked great with her red hair.

Freda made a cup of tea and, after eating it with bread, rested for a while to allow her food to digest.

After ten minutes, she left her house in search of work because the CEO of her company had given her a day off and she had promised to help her father pay for her mother's treatment.

The money she received from the company will not be enough to cover her mother's treatment and her living expenses.

Freda decided not to drive her car because she was looking for part-time work, but little did she know that something tragic was in store for her.