Thou shall not steal

7.

~WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?~

"My friend would you hurry up there!"

"Yes ma!" I replied limping over with the heavy sack bag in my arm.

Yes, I now walked with a limp even several long weeks after the beating. That night after beating me, mother used my leg as a step on her way to bed. I think something broke, I heard a pop sound and I screamed. I regretted it immediately because, she turned back and repeated her action two more times before finally heading to her bed. A big dark circle formed around my ankle like a fat black rubber band a few days later.

Did I also mention it was also swelling by the day?

My leg looked like a loaf of chocolate bread, just a little wobbly to be bread.My mother was well aware of the scar and swelling, yet she ignored it. In fact, I was glad she did. Why? Because I knew she'd use it as an excuse to hit me. My father ignored me completely, he was still too busy getting on mothers good side, I knew he would soon strike again and steal from her.

Arnyway, I'm fine. It hurts me even when I stir in my sleep but, I have learnt from experience to ignore the pain till the wounds finally disappeared. Although, this was my first injury with a swelling.

"My friend will you hurry up!"

"Yes ma!" I answered, just realizing that she had moved three stalls ahead.

I held my bag tight in my left hand and like I've been doing these past days; I move my left leg forward and then bend low enough for my left hand to touch my knee so, I can lift up my right leg, to prevent it from touching the floor. This was my new mode of movement and it would've been a lot easier with this sack bag. The sack bag added too much weight to my left leg. The weight threw me off balance, making my right feet graze the floor. Boy did that hurt!

"I'm here," I said joining her.

"Ah-ah mummy Nma? Ehhhh! Long time!" The trader exclaimed.

"Mama Bobo, nah you be this?" Mother replied gleefully as she hugged her.

I didn't know the lady and quite frankly I wasn't interested in knowing her. So, I looked to the scenery behind me. My eyes landed on a popcorn maker and its seller. I could smell the delicious, sugary goodness from where I stood and it made me drool. I fixed my gaze on a bag of his popcorn as if my eyes could somehow teleport the popcorn to me.

That's when I saw him.

Even in a brand new teeshirt and a golden chain, I could still tell who it was.

It was Uche.

He stood down the line where we came from, looking around nervously like he was waiting for someone. I could see his hands shaking from where I stood and his eyes roaming around but, he could not see me.

"What is he doing here?" I asked myself. Uche's mom never sent him to the market before, she did all that herself so, it baffled me to see him here.

I turned away and scoffed. "He should go and hug transformer," I muttered to myself.

He wasn't my problem and so I refused to care about him! Yet, I found myself staring back at him.

"Nma, what is your problem?" I chided myself as I turned the opposite direction.

I fought hard against, looking at him but, somehow I still did. I gave up. Uche and I were just too close for me to ignore him. I shrugged and continued to watch him. Then, I saw a relieved smile this time around, just as bandana boy arrived.

"Wha—Uche!" I snapped when I saw him hand Uche a bag.

Uche and him talked for a while, Uche looked unsure while bandana boy looked impatient. Their dialogue ended with the other boy hitting Uche's head and pushing him.