" Why are we here, Diana? We shouldn't be here. We might get into trouble." Mashgad said worried.
" Don't be scared now, I have everything under control." Diana replied.
" We're in your father's stable, Diana. We shouldn't be here. Let's leave from here now." Mashgad said, urging her to leave with him.
" I'm disappointed in you, Mashgad. I thought you were a though Kid. Didn't I tell you I have everything under control?"
" But..."
" Stop complaining, and give me a hand."Diana ordered. Together they set a horse loose. " Today, I'm going to teach you how to ride a horse. Rule number one, make sure you listen and wait for my orders. Secondly, Don't try to act Smart with me. Thirdly, go back to rule number one. Do you understand!" Diana said in an authoritative tone. She looked really tough at the moment.
Although Diana was a girl, she never behaves like one. She behaves like a boy.
" Yes Diana." Mashgad muttered. A slap landed on the back of his head. Mashgad screemed in pain. Looking at Diana, there was no trace of remorse in her eyes, Instead she scowled.
" Next time when I talk to you, you reply audibly. Do you understand!"
" Yes!" This time Mashgad yelled.
" Good boy!" Diana praised tapping on his shoulder.
" What do we have here, I see you too are up to no good. I will report you to the stable master, he will deal with the both of you."
" Shut up! Gad. why are you here?" Diana questioned.
" I should be the one asking you that question. What are doing here with this slave?" Gad gave Mashgad a disgusting look.
" Why we're here is non of you business, little brother. If you dare make any trouble for Mashgad, I will break those legs of yourself. I will advise that you mind your business and stay away from ours." She gave Gad a hard glare.
" You should be ashamed of yourself, sister. You could make friends with anyone else in Melan. But instead, you chose to befriend a colored person. Colored people are nothing but slaves. Why do you degrade yourself to their level." Gad replied. His gaze never left Mashgad.
Mashgad clenched his fist, trying to calm himself down. After what happened two years ago, Mashgad had learned to tolerate him.
" Gad, you should leave from here now or I will teach you a lesson." Diana warned. Although Diana was a girl, she was really good at fighting. She was not the kind of girl you want to mess with. Seeing the expression on her face, Gad was frightened. He couldn't understand why his sister liked and protected Mashgad. She is the only person in the whole of Melan who is friends with a colored person.
" You should be careful, sister. He might infect you with some kind of disease." Gad said with a smirk on his face. He gave Mashgad one last glance before walking away.
" Don't let him get to you. He is just a bully. Don't worry Mashgad, as long as I'm here, I will not let any harm come to you." She taps on his shoulder. " We should get started."
She indeed kept her promise. As long she was around, nobody dared to harm him. Mashgad and Diana's friendship grew stronger as the years went by. A lot of people were not in support of their friendship, with their parents included. But Diana didn't care about their opinion, she loved him like a brother.
Gad didn't stop creating troubles for Mashgad, his haterad for him grew as the years went by. But Mashgad tolerated him, because of his parents, and Diana. He didn't want their lives to be more difficult than it already was.
Mashgad and Eli didn't agree in so many things. Eli treated him coldly. Mashgad didn't like him either. He sees him as a disappointment. Most times when Eli returned home drunk, he will let out his frustrations on poor Mashgad, he will beat him up at times when Tema wasn't there to rescue him. From the age of seven, he did most of Eli's job in the plantation. All Eli could do was to get himself drunk and sleep all day. He was completely useless.