Chapter 1
"Sob sob", I heard crying in the dark alley as I walked back from school. I always pass through this path as it it the shortest route home. I walk forward and meet a dark afro haired girl sitting in the middle of the alley. Should I approach her or not, I mumbled? I raise my head only to notice her looking at me as tears trailed down her face, guess I'll have to approach her after all, I said in my head.
...h...hello, I stuttered, why are you sitting here crying, I asked, walking towards her steadily as she looked scared and was shivering, probably due to the cold as it was winter. My name is Kevin what is yours, I asked.
She looked up at me with her eyes red as if to show me how long she has probably been crying. My...my.....my....sniffs...my name is Selena, she says. Why are you crying, are you hurt? No I was robbed, "sob sob", she says crying again. I came here from my village to visit my sister, I set of yesterday from village C to continue my education in as my village does not have a high school. I reached the City this morning with a paper that has my sister's address to try and find her, and I met this guy who said he knows the address and will take me there, with me not knowing any better I followed him till we reached this alley where he robbed me of all my belongings, which hardly contained anything now I don't know how or where to go. "Sob sob"... she started crying again after telling me her story. I bent down and helped her up, stop crying, I'll help you fi d your sister and I promise I'm not a thief.
Do you still have the paper with the address, I questioned. I saw her search through her pocket and remove a very, well how I do I put it in a polite way, sheet of some sort with fading ink on it. My house is just by the alley, it's very late now I don't think you'll be able to get a car to get you to your sister's place, I live with my parents so how about you stay the night with us and I help you get to your sister's tomorrow morning. She looked at me skeptically as if to check if I'm telling the truth , but it wasn't as if she had a choice as this place is scary at this time of the night for a young lady and pretty as her. She nodded slowly and trailed behind me as we walked to my house.
We reached my house within the next 15 minutes only to meet my angry mum in front of the door. Where have you been Kevin, she asked.
I'm sorry mum I was kept back at practice, humph, are you sure you were not at the café playing games? She squinted her eyes at me . N..no mum I really was kept back because of practice. Okay, and that was when she noticed that someone was behind me, who is she and where are you bringing her to, I told mum about all she told me and her heart softened for Selena. Young girl come closer, she beckoned, Selena timidly moved in front of me to my mum's view and my mum patted her back whiles saying, it is going to be fine okay, come inside it's cold hot here. We entered the house and it seemed my dad was working overtime today too. Kevin, show her the bathroom and get her hot water, my dear, my mum said to Selena go take and shower so you don't catch a cold, I'll go bring you new clothes from downstairs. I watched as she went inside the bathroom I had showed her earlier . My mum came back up with the clothes in hand and knocked on the door, I've put the clothes in front of the door, wear it when your done. My mum the left to go continue preparing dinner in the kitchen. I went to my room to change and take a shower too as it was really cold, I don't want to catch a cold, I whispered to my self . I came out to meet mum and Selena already seated at the table. Will dad be coming, I asked. No he says he'll be working till morning , she answered. Okay now let's eat, eat a lot okay, my mum said to Selena, okay ma'am she answered. After dinner I showed her the room she will stay in for the night and told her to make herself at home, she thanked me and closed the door.
Kevin come here I have something to tell you, mum called me, what I asked ,can't it wait till tomorrow, I'm very tired from practice.
Oh, sorry I forgot mum said okay I'll tell you in the morning, go to sleep make sure you set your alarm so you don't miss class. Okay mum I responded.
I woke up with a start to my blaring alarm, I almost slept in.
I heard a knock on my, get up Kevin, you have to send Selena to her address before you go to school, if you don't hurry you will miss your first class. I jumped up from the bed, did a quick morning routine and got to the table for breakfast, Selena was already there thanking mum for her hospitality, and I told her to hurry and we left as I was getting late. We took the bus to the neighbourhood on her address and we walked up a small hill. We reached the house on her address and I knocked, it was opened by a lady in her thirties, sister, Selena cried out, Selena where have you been, I have been waiting for you since yesterday. She recounted what happened to her sister who thanked me and mum. I waved and left as I was late for school.