Mama's head turned from the cloth she was folding to her closed door. A sound came from outside.
She had woken with a slight headache and went to the kitchen to drink water from the clay pot. It was then that she noticed the maid was not around. It was still early in the morning, and only a few maids were out. None of them knew where Sheby was. This was unlike her; Sheby was usually at her door before Mama even woke up. Mama was worried.
And now, when she heard the slight noise from outside her door, the worry lessened. "Sheby?" The faint noise stopped abruptly, as if the person outside had heard her and stopped moving. But still, no reply came.
"Sheby?" This time, she left the cloth she was folding on the bed, then clasped her hands together as she walked towards the door. Her mind was thinking of who could be there. Was it Safiya? Is she back?
