I Never Left You

36. Wilted

The pressure of exams ahead is in and I still feel I haven't done enough reading. Am glad last week is in history cause I don't know if I could deal with more drama  at the moment. I badly need the highest concentration I can get. I unplug the earphones  out of my ears, get out of my library seat and stretch kicking the chair next to me in the process. Good chance I grab it before it could fall and make the loudest noise here. I don't want to risk being kicked out of the library at this time.
Three hours of sleep are enough for me to summarize earth anatomy. My neck is killing me and my stomach is growling with hunger. Looks like the brain depleted all the glucose I had consumed in the morning. With the weather being too cold, I can't disagree more. As am packing my books ready to treat myself to a good meal, my phone vibrates with Mr. Moosby calling. When I hit the end call button, my appetite instantly disappears and I rush to the orphanage.
All our hardwork went to waste. The crops were destroyed. I was last here on Thursday and they were all starting to sprout so I couldn't understand why everything looks wilted and dried up now. I sit down on the pavement trying to comprehend what could have taken place. Something must have happened to these plants. And why did it have to be at this time. As am scrolling through google trying to find out what could have wilted most of the crops, Ray's text pops up:
Ray: Hey babe, mind me stealing you for lunch. You must be bored with reading already.
Me: true, am done reading but appetite is at zero
Ray: What's wrong
Me: I send him a pic of the garden with no signs of life.
Ray: Am coming over right away. Don't move.
I continue to google but in vain. Nothing can explain what could have happened to the crops. we had done everything the way it had to be done, from crop spacing to putting a shade. "Hi Claire", I say when I raise my eyes from the phone. I can't tell how long she's been standing here, her doll never leaves her side. Claire is a pretty girl.Today her red hair is tied in two long pony tails,shes usually talkative but today she's awfully quiet. I carry her and her doll on my lap. Placing in phone in my behind jean pocket ."What's wrong today Claire?" I try to ask her but no reply. She's looking at me with sad eyes. "Did anybody hurt you dear?" am now worried. She shakes her head. "Okay, if you tell me what the problem is, I will go buy you ice cream at the canteen", I try to sweet talk her. "bad barbie" she says pointing to the garden. "Bad barbie? What do you mean Claire? " I try as hard as I can to interprete what she's saying but I can't.
"She sprayed water on the plants"she says.
"OK let's go buy you ice cream", I say to her and a smile plasters on her face immediately.
"Yeah" she shoots one of her fists in the air. I put her down and we walk to the canteen. Ray calls in when am half way my ice cream. "I can't find you, where are you hiding" I hear him pout on the phone.
"Let me come find you" I say and leave my ice cream to Claire and head out to find Ray.
"Hey" I say when I find him observing the dried leaves.
"Did you know that spraying vegetables when they are still very young is not healthy for their growth" Ray responds.
"I didn't know that but since there seemed  to be no signs of any pests I hadn't thought about spraying." I inform him. "Oooooh" he gives the garden one last move and we go to our cars.
At the restaurant, I scold Ray over our tacos for picking me up. I try to explain it was a waste of fuel but he claims it was a romantic move. We continue discussing the environmental harm as we enjoy our meal.
Ray's POV
When Ra sent me that pic,  I knew she must be having a nervous breakdown at that moment.she planted that garden with her full energy. So I rushed to personally pick her, though she cant stop harassing and scolding for all the carbon emissions I did.
We eat our tacos and get to discuss how best to pass the incoming exams. Am on Google trying to find which pesticide could have been used on her crops. She may not have done it but someone intentionally did it. I didn't want to add to her worries so am going to investigate this privately.
"Ra, do you wish to ever get away?" I ask her.
"Meaning" she looks up from her phone
"I was hoping we could leave the states after exams, maybe go somewhere"
"Oooh you mean like traveling!" her face lights up. "I would love to do that, but I doubt we can travel with Christa yet. She would be a handful." she suddenly sulks on remembering she has to travel.
"That wouldn't be trouble, our mums could take turns baby sitting. Didn't you see the way my mum couldn't keep her hands away from her. Those two adore their granddaughter." I try to convince her. " please come with me, it would be fun to get out of here. We can go somewhere warm and escape the snow"
"Alright, I guess we go can but not this soon. First we need to read and write the exams then I need to replant that garden before the season passes and also solve the case of the wilted crops. So I don't know if I will have much time left." she reasons and her reasoning is valid.