Professor Fernandez Fenberdaz, the owner of the St. Helena health Center, had offered Ellaisaire a part-time job, which she accepted with no second thoughts. With an amorphous job description and a paltry remuneration package, she was seeing for herself, that the world out there was mean just like her teachers had been telling her. She nevertheless, kept her dreams alive, that someday, she will get a better job or maybe get confirmed to a full-time job here. Her prayer was answered and now her days turned to months and months turned to years.
Ellaisaire was happy seeing how her hands shaped St. Helena from a little-known backdoor clinic, a lot more dependent on providence than professionalism to a world-renowned medical hospital with a medical training school. She remembered times when there was no money at the end of the month to pay them. Then they would be paid in arrears. Times were difficult; their boss would tell them. Today St. Helena Medical Hospital had both an inpatient and outpatient wing. The St. Marion Mother Care Ward, an outgrowth of St. Helena, was fully equipped with ante and post-natal care. Laboratory tests of all kinds could be done.
She had the passion, the zeal, and the call and attributed these to a higher authority.
An authority not bestowed upon by human hands; an endowment heavenly in nature though earthly in stature.
How could she be wrong in accepting to work at St. Helena?
Things were changing. Her boss, Prof. Fernandez Fenberdaz, had acquired a new perspective on life as his huge profits brought him to a new plane on the socio-economic front. Decisions that he made leaning on providence, he now made based on professionalism. Where experience mattered, academic qualification had taken over. And now he was going to fire people whom he felt had overstayed their welcome. And this, he let members of staff know, in no uncertain terms. Ellaisaire took all these into account.
On her way home, Ellaisaire sat beside a middle-aged man. Probably, he, like many other travelers in this bus, was passing through a tough time as it was many a time, the talk of the town. Everybody was on their nerves' edge. Motorists weren't any more different. When you reached your house, you were more than tired. You needed a smile and maybe a firm handshake. If you were lucky, together with these, you would find a cup of tea. Though oftentimes, you found trouble.
Whenever Ellaisaire found Jose at home, she would also find a cup of tea. Her friends chided her that God was paying her back for the 8 years she endured while he was in prison.
To be honest, this couple had never known each other well. To say that God was paying her back while she knew she was not good enough, was inaccurate.
What will it be like for Ellaisaire today?
Ellaisaire signaled the bus conductor and was presently off the bus. Not having the time to mix and mingle with other women at Park View, she paced briskly to her house. And unlike the other days when she found Jose at home, today Jose was not in. She took a warm shower, helped herself to a cup of tea, and then put on an old faded dress that Jose greatly disliked. Ellaisaire was soon hosted in slumberland.
When you came to slumberland; the land of nod, you abandoned common sense at the gate. Here, you may walk in dressed halfway up or be in your birthday suit and no one will ask you why. If sweet dreams came, you slept in silence, if nightmares came, you must deal with them as they came. It is not for you to choose one or the other.
Meanwhile, her next-door neighbor Winter was getting head-to-head with her son. "How could he walk out on me?" She asked herself. Arms akimbo, she called out once again and waited. Then called out again when nothing happened, she walked into Sony's bedroom where she found him on the bed.
She said, "Sony, I have fought with my hands, nails, and teeth to ensure that there is a roof over you and you treat me like this?" Tell me if there is anything you sought from me that I never gave you? Have I not loved you with all my heart? Ever since I conceived you? Get up from that bed and come with me to the sitting room at once."
Sony got up from his bed and reluctantly followed his mother to the sitting room.
Sony's mother said, "Please sit down. I would like us to talk" added, "tell me why you walked out on me."
Sony kept quiet, she asked, "Do you comprehend your actions and what that means to me? Will you talk or will you not talk? Sony, I am speaking to you. Are you deaf?"
He said, "Mum since you have invited me for a walk on this path, I will gladly go with you. First, I want to let you know that you knew my itinerary. Second, I am not amused by the way you have been treating me. Third, it's about time you told me who and where my father is. Finally, from today henceforth, you will allow me space to do my things."
So horrified was Winter that she did not see Sony walk past her. Now looking through her window, the blazing sun scorched the already parched land.
She slid open the window panes. Presently, she moved to the balcony and was now looking down the city.
An occasional gust of wind raised dust across the sun-kissed field.