If only......(Part 3)

IF ONLY (CHAPTER4)

The sun was shining brightly that afternoon, porters were going up and down ready for someone to call them, and others were busily working. Many of the porters had babies tied with a cloth at their backs, others were pregnant and few of them weren’t either pregnant nor with babies. This was due to the fact that many of them had been raped because they slept at unauthorized places were men easily saw them. Hawkers were busily displaying their wares, market women were shouting on top of their voices calling people to buy their items. Those who stayed near the market found it difficult to rest after a tired day because of the hustle and bustle in the market.

Delomi wiped the sweat on her face with her dress. She had been busily working since morning and she hadn’t even had her breakfast. She looked in her purse. She just had 15 kads, enough to buy a piece of bread and a cup of coffee. “Okay, after I finish running this errand I will go and buy something to eat from Mrs. Ferty’s coffee shop.

“Hello Mrs. Ferty’’

“Hello Delomi, how are you and the baby?’’

“Which baby?”

“The one in your stomach”

“Ah! We are all fine; I want a cup of coffee and a piece of bread.”

“Here you are and here is your change”

“Thanks.”

Delomi went to sit on the old bench near the shop and slowly ate her breakfast. “Oh, I’m really tired” she murmured to herself. Just then a nice looking gentleman approached her.

“Good afternoon, madam”

“Good afternoon sir, please can I help you?”

“Yes, please I want to discuss a matter with you but I don’t think here is a suitable place, can I meet you in your house?’’

Delomi giggled, this man was getting crazy, she slept in front of kiosks and she had not even yet dreamt about getting a proper place to sleep. Nevertheless, this young man was standing in front of her, talking about a house.

“Please, it seems you’ve got the wrong person” Delomi replied.

“No madam, I don’t really mean your house, I mean any place a little more private than here, by the way aren’t you the porter named Delomi and isn’t your guardian Auntie Alayu, aren’t you seventeen years of age?”

Delomi jumped to her feet, this man knew more about her than she thought. What was the matter? It was barely three months since she started working there as a porter. Had she got into trouble? “O!” she prayed in her mind “please bring me good news and not bad news.”

“Sir, please what is the matter? Is there any trouble?” she asked, with fear in her voice.

“Cool down young woman, I’m bringing you good tidings of joy. Anyway, please where can I meet you again?”

Delomi bowed down her head, kept quiet for sometime, thinking about the possible place to meet. She finally rose up her head and with a mixture of surprise and excitement in her voice said, “Can we meet near Auntie Ceci’s chop bar or opposite the mechanics?”

“The garden near Auntie Ceci’s chop bar will definitely be the best place to meet. But mind you, do not bring anyone apart from auntie Alayu along, don’t worry I will not harm you in anyway or form.”

“We shall meet at 5pm. Also, do not tell anyone apart from auntie Alayu about this meeting for your own safety. Ok?”

“Ok sir”

“Thank you very much; anyway, my full name is Richard Asderti, what about yours?

“Delomi Gesawyuni Anyowe”

“Bye Delomi.”

“Bye Richard.”

Delomi returned to work. At exactly 4:30 pm, she went to look for auntie Alayu. She was sitting near the kiosk where they slept.

“Hey Delomi, what are you doing here around this time, won’t you go and work or are you tired?”

“No, I am just coming to discuss something with you.

Delomi told the woman everything about her conversation with the man. After she finished, auntie Alayu said “Then let us go and wait for him”

Watch out for part 4 of this story.