Chapter one

Why should I give you this job?"

"Cause I want it badly"

"That isn't one of the requisites. Do you even know that?"

" Well, cause I can do it!" Kyrie said throwing her hands wide.

"Your resume, it didn't state that you have any experience in care giving."

"Yeah… that's deliberate…look I'm a natural care giver. I didn't feel I have to put it on paper to make it believable. Common I ooze it...aren't you feeling it already?"

Her confidence almost threw Hakeem off. "I don't care. You have failed the interview."

"hol on. Hol on … Either way, I'm still gonna get a second chance."

"This window opportunity had been open for six weeks. In all that time, you are the eighteenth applicant who have failed. Please shut the door behind you when you leave."

But, there was something about this particular young woman Hakeem was determined to see. So, he applied patience. A virtue he had often doubted he possessed.

Immediately, Kyrie stood up to protest, "listen sir, if you are meaning whether I am a certified care giver, then I concede. I am not! Hmm mm not in a professional way. But I have practically done that all my life. I took care of my grand pa in his old age before he kicked the bucket! At twenty-five I had to return home to single handedly take care of my father when he survived an auto crash, with broken legs. I enjoyed all the shitty work without being paid. You know what, I run it happily. So you should give me the job. I'm the best candidate.

Hakeem paused for a moment, then looked at her through his rimless Stepper glasses.

"Did I tell you I'm also a baby-sitter… yes, my younger sister. I was six years old when my mother put to bed … Guess what? Throughout her work time after the baby took her first walk, I saw to that. I fed her. I cleaned her up! Oh Lisa she is raising a beautiful family in Texas." Kyrie concluded smiling profusely.

Hakeem liked the honesty in her voice. Unlike the others who had come, her boldness awed him. Within a split second, he imagined her doing a business presentation in well-starched tuxedo jacket and a pair of fine trousers. He let the thoughts fizzle away.

"I will do my job diligently."

Hakeem stood on his feet to leave. "Nice try, but I'm sorry."

"Ok I have a kid on child support sir," she clapped her hand and said when Hakeem had taken some steps away. "I need to work harder to fulfil my responsibility. That boy depends on me, since his father isn't living up to expectations. If I don't raise money by the end of this month, I would be done for."

Hakeem smiled. Now she has been able to impress her. "Good! He called Coco, her father's personal assistant to seek her opinion on the new girl. Coco walked in from the next room. She looked at Kyrie again, before nodding. "yes, I can work with her," Coco said. She likes her mannerisms. Her very black hair. The curly hair line. The neatly trimmed brows.

"Walk with me."

Coco joined him. They left Kyrie in the living room.

"Why do you prefer her?

"She pays attention to little things, unlike the others. She turned off the running tap in the garden, she put off the lit cigarette on the door mat, threw it in the trash bin before she got in. In the dinning, there was a glass of water on the table, she first washed her hand, then she placed the glass on the table mat.

"Meaning she prioritizes hygiene?"

"All these are pointing to one thing- That at every given time, she is aware of her environment."

"Do you think father will like her? "

"Yes."

"Except that she didn't go to college."

"Hmm… that will be hard. Your father rarely likes anyone."

"Father can't continue to reject them as they come. I hope he likes this one."

Hakeem returned and asked Kyrie to follow him.

"I will go straight to the point- your job will be to take care of Mr. Roberts my old father who is bed- bound."

"So sorry."

"I need you to pay attention now instead of being a talkative.

"ha-ha I know what you're doing."

"I am going to give you a chance. I need you to do more than caring. He has shut everyone out since that terrible incident he sustained doing his favourite sports."

"Which is?" Kyrie cuts in.

"Snow skating and mountain climbing."

"How did it happen?"

"Exhaustion," Hakeem racked his brain. "…I don't remember everything. His late friend who was climbing next to him then said that his hand or leg slipped through backwards. You know, kind of a part of the rock he stepped on broke off, so… so…" Hakeem's eye lids were shut for a moment. He will never agree that he hasn't healed from the incident and the events that followed it. So, he disliked to enter into conversations that would trigger the emotions.

"You know we can actually take a break from that story." Kyrie suggested when she noticed his countenance.

As they moved deep into the building, Hakeem could not help but stare at the powerful interior of the river side mansion. The chandelier. The furniture. The flooring. The doors. The large curvy TV. It felt surreal. Then comes a sharp pain in her heart. She felt like she had done little in life. Yes, Kyrie has been a street hustler who has jumped on every legitimate opportunity that would earn her money - you can't take that away from her. Just like you can't take away the emptiness her son's father makes her feel whenever he was around, for not amounting to something in life.

She imagined her boy growing in that perfect kind of environment.

Once they got to Mr. Roberts' door, she made a silent prayer. She must cease this opportunity or go back to the streets where she came from.