THE SUITOR

The journey was smooth and quiet, Clara kept mute and tried to enjoy the ride, even the trees the pass did not do justice to relieve her mind, she tries to make the trees cause a distraction so she could get her mind off what she is thinking. Her father on the other hand kept his hands on the steering and his face on the road as he thinks of his company that is about to crumble.

The journey lasted for thirty minute, they finally got to the village witch resident.

The village witch reside at the outskirt of the village of Urze, where Clara Father comes from, she has been the one people come to whenever they have issue of fertility, or any illness disturbing them.

She also confirm the marriage of maiden. She makes sure the suitor they bring is the right one which they are ordained to be bethroded to. She lives in a hut, and the village king had pleaded with her to come and live in the palace and perform her rituals from the palace. She had refused the king's request and told him she prefers the outskirt of the village, as where she resides holds the powers of the village, and the her coming to the palace will not make her function well spiritually.

"stay in the car, while I go and inform the village witch that I am here to see her"

Clara, stayed in the car as she waits for her father. Her mind keeps wondering what they are discussing as each minute her father spents, seems like years to her..

"Anderson, you have changed so much, you look so worried, seat here" the witch said as she stands up to serve Mr Anderson a cup of tea.

"I am not here for tea, please help me" a worried Mr Anderson says kneeling.

"will you reject my kind offer because of the little problem you are facing?"

"I am sorry wise one" Mr Anderson says as he accepts the tea from the witch. "this tea was given to me this morning, the king had sent his guard to deliver this to me, and you are the first I am sharing this with" the witch says as she sips her tea.

"thank you, I appreciate wise one"

"but, where is your adopted daughter?" says the witch with no atom of surprise.

"how do you know I am here with her?" says a shocked Mr Anderson.

The witch gave a smirk and sip her tea.

"I have no solution to your problem, your daughter is not from this village, I do not have power to another blood from another land"

A confused Mr Anderson suddenly went weak, as he had earlier reflected on how the wise one had said his problem is a small issue.

"my business is about to crumble...". He was cut short by the witch with a loud laugh

"Mr Anderson go, your problem will get solved"

" Investors are on my neck"

another laugh erupted from the witch.

" Go"

..

A waiting Clara who felt as though she had waited for a thousand years, could not help with the wait any longer as she took out her smartphone and begin to chat her friend Shila

Once again Clara wished she was like Shila who could have sex with just anyone without even seeking approval from anyone, Clara felt Shila was free like a bird while she was like an hostage.

Shila asked about Clara as she hasn't been seen in school, Clara told her she had to attend some event at her father's town. Her best friend Shila took to mounting Clara on the recent dude she had sex with, who got her disappointed after bragging on how good her was. At this Clara gave a loud laugh, and for the first time she felt she hadn't laughed in ages.

Her chitchat with her best friend was interrupted by her father, as he approached the car and got in, only to start the car to go home..

"Papa, are we done here" a surprised Clara asked.

"Yes dear" Mr Anderson says as he drives home

They got home after thirty minute, the ride home was quiet as it had been.

"Welcome home darling" Mrs Anderson who had been waiting patiently for her husband and daughter.

" Go upstairs and pack your thing Clara, we leave for our home in the next two hours"..

Clara feeling confused do as she was told without asking any question.

"Tell me what is the matter?, Tell me"

"we leave for our home, and just hope for the best, the village witch have no solution to our predicament because Clara is not from this soil".

Hearing this Mrs Anderson asks her husband to keep his voice low as Clara mustn't find out.

"So what do we do now"

"Nothing, we just wait and hope for the best"

"How many months did the investors give you?"

"Three months"

"We still have time on our hands"

"Maybe".

"we will be fine, Anderson forte will not crumble" a reassuring Mrs Anderson says.

The family had not eaten all morning, and no one seem to say they feel hungry so as not to feel as though the issue at hand did not get to them. Mrs Anderson who knew her husband had ulcer, and is one Disturbed by the matter suggests they have a meal before they leave.. the only meal in the house was oat cereals and milk.

They ate In silence as they get prepared leave the village.

The rode back home In their red Lexus car, the journey was smooth and quiet, Clara tries to make what she sees on the road distract her and keep her mind off the problem at hand, but it was only a futile exercise.

as they approach their home, they entered with a long face. Clara went straight to her room as she would not to listen to the argument that seem to be boiling between her parents.

It hasn't been long that the Anderson family settled in their home, when they heard a knock at the door, Mr Anderson made for the door, on opening it he saw a tall young man at the door and he asked who he wished to see.

" I am here to seek for the hand of Clara Anderson, she is my bride to be" the young man say with his right arm in the air, and a light under his arm which reads her name.