The Wife ESCAPED!

“Ah, when I heard it eh, I did not believe my ears,” Millicent said as she sat beside her friend just in front of her house.

“I don’t blame her,” Caro said, referring to her former boss. “It is her son that’s a thief. In fact, her entire family… her entire generation that’s a thief. Useless woman.”

“I’m so sorry, my sister. I know it must be very painful especially since you think that it was Michael…”

“I don’t think it, I know it. What I would do to that boy eh, hmm.”

“But look at the bright side of this. He will not be able to see your big bum bum and your six packs again.”

“Come, don’t annoy me o, Millicent!”

“Ah ah, why are you angry? What did I say that’s bad? But seriously o, what will you do now? Have you found another place?”

“If I’ve found another place, would I be sitting down here?”, Caro hissed.

And then she added in a low tone after a furtive glance at the house, “I don’t even think my Mummy would allow me to work anywhere again. I’m sure she’s happy that I lost this job.”

“Ah ah, why would you say that?”

“I’m telling you. Do you know how much persuasion I applied just to get her permission for this one?”

“Anyway, I know of one place like that. It’s a fashion business, but they’re looking for tailors that are hardworking and talented, so…”

“Where’s the place?”, Caro demanded eagerly.

“It’s somewhere around Bamson sha, but…”

“You know the place na, abi?”

“Sure.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“So you can take me there.”

“If you pay for transport for two of us.”

“No problem.”

When Caro and her friend were ready to do their investigative visit to the fashion venture, the girl lied to her guardian, who she now comfortably referred to as ‘Mummy’, that she was accompanying Millicent to go run an errand that her mother had sent her on. Mary approved of it and both girls set out on the journey.

It wasn’t a long ride by bus since that part of town had fairly good roads and within half an hour, they had arrived at their destination. An impressive mega building and an imposing sign of Tim&Olly – that was the sight which welcomed Caro and her friend. Caro was awed. She stayed closely behind, sweeping her eyes around the place as Millicent led her into the building. The interior presented a large, modern hall that spoke fashion and style in more ways than one. Everything from the ceiling to the window glasses told tales of beautiful colors and charming designs.

“Excuse me,” a young receptionist seated behind a marble desk called out to them. “Can I help you? Is there something you need?”

“Em… yes,” Millicent answered for both of them as she went to meet the receptionist while Caro focused on surveying her surroundings. “We heard that you guys are looking for talented and…”

“Oh! What are your names? First names only, please.”

“I’m Millicent. This is Caro.”

“Okay. Great. Um… all you need to do is go down a little and take the first right turn. Just ask anybody you see there for Stan.”

“Okay. Stan, right?”

“Yes. He’ll attend to you. Thank you for coming!”

“Thank you.”

And both girls went in search of Stan.

They were just about to take the turn when a young man coming from the opposite direction almost bumped into them.

“Oh sorry,” both parties apologized. But suddenly, the young man stared intently at them, especially Caro.

“Hey!”, he fairly exclaimed, smiling boyishly. “We meet again, huh?”

Caro stared at his face and it took her only milliseconds to recognize him. Mr. Cucumbers! She gave a long hiss and breezed past him. Her confused friend had no choice but to follow.

“Nice to see you again,” Timmy called after them, but got no response whatsoever.

“Do you know him?”, Millicent asked as she struggled to keep up with her marching friend.

“It’s one idiot like that, that used to buy cucumber when me and my Mummy were still selling in the market.”

“Ah ah slow down na. Where are you going there? They say we should ask somebody here. Ah.”

“Sorry jare,” Caro hissed as she came to a sudden halt just before the next turn. “It’s that useless idiot that just annoyed me.”

She stood and waited as Millicent called the attention of a tall young man who was making his way in the direction they had come.

“Excuse me, please. We’re looking for Stan. They told us we can find him here.”

“I’m Stan. What do you need?”

“Oh,” Millicent was a little taken aback. She had been expecting someone a bit older.

But she quickly recovered and said, “Em.. we heard that you people are looking for talented and hardworking tailors, that’s why we are here.”

Caro, who was now beside her friend, looked intently at Stan as if she could read his intended response on his face. But in fact, she was in suspense and hoping for a positive reply.

“So you girls are talented and hardworking?”, Stan asked interestedly.

“No o. Actually, yes. It’s my friend, Caro. I’m just… I’m still developing,” Millicent replied, pushing Caro forward.

“So you’re the talented and hardworking one and you’re the developing one.”

“Yes,” both girls nodded in unison.

“Great. Come with me, let’s go hunt down the T part of T&O.”

The girls tagged behind him as he led them back where they had come. Just as they rounded the corner, he came to a halt and smiled.

“Aha. There he is. Sir! Excuse me. Just a minute, please.”

The person he had called promptly left his discussion and began walking toward them with a smile on his face.

“Who’s he?”, Caro asked of Stan.

“Oh, him? He’s the co-owner. Or more offi…”

“Eh?! Co-owner? Of this place?”, Caro blurted in shock.

“Yeah,” Stan shrugged. “Is he too young or what?”

“Millicent, let’s go,” Caro simply said just as Timmy reached them.

“What’s up, Stan?”, he asked, smiling at the group.

“Millicent, let’s go na!”

Her confused friend was again forced to follow her lead.

“Nice meeting you again,” Timmy called after them as one friend dragged the other toward the exit. They ignored the receptionist’s questions and subsequently ended up outside the building.

Just as they stepped out into the street, Millicent sharply withdrew her arm.

“What was the meaning of that nonsense?”, she shouted angrily.

“Eh en? So you’re angry at me, eh? Me that supposed to be angry at you for taking me to that useless place w…”

“What useless place? So it’s a sin to help you, abi? You wanted work and I took you to a very good place and you’re…”

“Why can’t you take me to a better place that’s not owned by idiots?”, Caro retorted.

“This is the only place I know! If you don’t like it, go and look for another one yourself. Ungrateful thing. Just look at ho… how you disgraced me there. By the way, what did that guy even do to you… eh? What did he do to you, Mrs. Ice Queen?!”

Caro was shell shocked! “Millicent.. what did you just call me?”

But before Millicent could answer, she was already stomping away in the direction of the main road. To avoid being left behind and stranded, the older girl had to run after her, holding down her baggy blouse under her slightly large abdomen as the wind flapped it about.

*****

Caro was not deterred by the long wait. She could wait all day if it came down to it. She just needed to fix this today, once and for all. Any other person would think that this was not necessary since she had already gotten a job with a tailor close to her house, but not Caro. She was not one to leave any debt unpaid. She believed in returning favours just as she had received them.

As she sat on the window of the abandoned uncompleted building that was just beside the bush path, chewing noisily on a piece of sweet gum, she felt nothing but patience and calm. She had lied to her Mummy that she was going to visit Millicent, so she had enough time to do her thing and return home.

She first heard him before she saw him. He was talking on his phone as he navigated through the bush path. She did not care to listen to his conversation, all she wanted was to see him. So she waited until she could hear his shoes crunching down on stones and dry branches. He finished his phone call just before he came into view and was in the process of dialing another number when he saw her leave the uncompleted building to block his path.

“We meet again, huh?”, she said, aware she had just imitated someone, but could not remember who.

In response, he laughed a short derisive laughter. “You! What are you doing here? You’re now working in uncompleted building?”, he mocked.

“No o, Michael. I came to welcome you. And also to ask you one question.”

“What stupid question is that?”, he asked in an amused tone as he stood akimbo.

“I wanted to ask you,” Caro began, taking a few steps toward him, “just one simple question. Did you… or do you feel sorry for making me lose my job?”

“Eh?”, he blurted, bursting into another laughter. “Feel sorry, keh? I enjoyed it na! Didn’t I tell you that I’ll deal with you?”

“Yes, you told me,” Caro nodded.

“Ehen! So you can see who the man is. I don’t promise and fail.”

“Hmm. I would like to teach you another thing too.”

“Look, just get out of my way,” he hissed as he made his way around her, “I have somewhere to go.”

She let him go past her a few feet before she suddenly whirled around and grabbed him by the collar.

“I’ve not finished teaching you,” she said as she dragged him back.

“What’s the meaning of this nonsense? Will you leave my shirt alone!”

She let go of his collar, but before he could rearrange his shirt, she gave his legs a sweeping kick, sending him off his feet.

“Yey!”, he shouted in terror as he landed on his back. Swiftly, she straddled him and pinned him to the ground.

“Wi…”

She cut off his intended statement with a stinging slap.

“Ah!”, he screamed in pain, struggling unsuccessfully to get her off him. “What do you want na?!”

Her response was another stinging slap on the other cheek, quickly followed by another and another and then another. After five ear-ringing slaps, she stopped and pulled his ears with her fingernails. He burst into tears.

“Have you learnt your lesson yet? Are you sorry now?”

“Yes yes, I’m very sorry,” he sobbed.

With one final stinging slap, she got off him and stood aside.

“Oya, get up,” she ordered.

He staggered to his feet and she looked him up and down with scorn written all over her features.

“Now, who’s the man?”

“Ma?”

“I said, who is the man!”

“Y… you. It’s you.”

“Now, get out. Run!”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Picking up his fallen shoe, he raced down the bush path as if his life depended on it.