IF AND ONLY IF

Untamed

Time flew so fast. It was already dusk and we were still at the pond. Crickets chirped in harmony as the retiring sun sprayed it's golden rays upon the water. It was the most beautiful sunset I'd ever seen.
"I think we should be on our way now. Your mom will so kill us" Sophie said and we both giggled as we found our way out of the pond.

I remember when I used to visit this pond with Elena. We would play in the water all day, sometimes it never ends till mom comes to look for us herself. Afterwhich we would receive the greatest scold of our lives.
Those days used to be one of the best days of my life.

"Will you be coming with me?" Sophie asked.
I was lost.
"Come with you? To where?" I wondered in confusion.
"You weren't listening to me all these while. I've been talking to myself all along" she frowned.
"No Sophie. It's not like that" "I'm sorry" I added and then offered her a soft smile.
"It's fine. I was only wondering if you would want to come with me to Salpedro"

What heck did she just say? Salpedro? No way I'm coming with her.

"I can't come. How can you even ask me to do that?"
"I'm not coming" I concluded, not even giving her a chance to speak.
"Please. Do it for me. Please" she begged
"No! I won't come with you. For heaven's sake we almost got killed the last time".
"But we weren't. Were we?"
"I can't believe you right now." I said, leaving her behind as I angrily walked away.
"It's not that serious...Wait for me" she said as she hastened her pace to catch up.
*******
I didn't say a word to her till we got to my house.
It still bothered me how selfish she could be to have brought up such an idea. Salpedro of all places.
"I think you should be going back now. Thank you for the escort" I muffled.
"Elena, don't tell me you're still angry. Okay fine, we're not going to Salpedro"
"It fine" I squeezed under my breath
"I thought I said I'm sorry..." she jokingly pushed my left shoulder in a bid to cheer me up.

"You better be sorry"  My mum yelled. Her countenance didn't look appealing at all.
"First you make her speak rudely to the chief, then get into a fight with the chief's son now you bring her back to me by this odd hour?"
"Mum she didn't...." I tried to explain but my mum interrupted.
"You're not allowed to speak!"   she angrily ordered. I've never seen her this angry before. Never!

"I'm sorry ma" Sophie pleaded, with her face to the ground.
"Be sorry for yourself. Now leave."
Sophie noded. I could see tears gathering in her eyes.
"I never want to see you any where near my daughter again. Do you here me?"
"Yes ma" she replied as she ran out of the compound.

"You" she turned towards me "I'll deal with you later. Now get inside"

I could see her entire body shivering in anger.
I couldn't hold back the tears that had already formed in my eyes. I ran straight to my room.

I layed on my bed, still wondering what in heaven's name had gotten into my mum.
I suddenly heard a knock. It was Papa Rico, my grandfather.
"Can I come in?" he asked faintly behind my door.
I wasn't in the right mood to talk to anyone but I couldn't refuse him entry into my room either. So I had to open the door for him.
"Ahh, clean your tears child." He warmly said as he offered me a warm hug.
He held my left hand and slowly led me towards the bed. "Come, come and sit with me" he said in his hoarse voice.
"You know I've always admired your energy. Right from when you were still a child. Always happy, always vibriant. A direct opposite of your sister." He looked at me and then smiled.
"papa Rico" I said as I returned the smile.
"No, no, I love your sister too but somehow you've always been my favourite."
"Do you remember my 70th birthday? Ah just like yesterday. You were only four years old then, I doubt you'll remember."
"I don't remember Papa Rico" I softly replied, wondering how on earth he expected me to remember something that happened fifteen years ago. I was only four.
"Then I'll tell you" he smiled.
********
15 years ago

The sweet taste of an innocent laugh. It was Elsa who was making all the noise, running around with Shag her golden retriver. It was chasing her around the big family compound. Biting her tenderly and playfully pulling her breaded hair.
"Ehyi" Mama suzzy shouted. "Enough with the running" she ordered and then gave a warm but intimidating smile.
"Okay mama" She replied and ran off to the backyard with her dog.
"Wait! Come have a cookie. Elsa" Mama suzzy called out in her old hoarse voice.
"I'm coming mama" she shouted from the back yard, still laughing and running.
"Here you go" She said as she handed her a butter cookie still hot from the fire. "Now no more playing around. Go get ready, they're waiting for us"
"Okay mama" she responded, still laughing, still running.
"I said no running. Elsa! Shag!"
That was a final warning and the two knew perfectly well that their little play had to stop to avoid being scolded. This is a day to celebrate. It is Papa Rico's birthday. No one wants to be scolded few minutes before a party.
"Let's go. No more running" Elsa whispered to Shag as they both slowly walked inside.
       Mama Suzzy saw this and smiled. Elsa reminds her of her younger self alot, all the vibrant energy and
untamed spirit. She immediately grew nostalgic, standing with a plate of hot cookies in her hand, watching Elsa and her dog as they disappeared into the room.
******'
"Which should I wear? The pink one or the blue one?" Elsa asked her dog who seemed not to understand what difference it made if she wears any of them.
"Just forget it. You have a very bad sense of fashion" she rolled her eyes.
"I'll go with the blue one. Papa Rico likes the colour blue." She concluded.

"Elsa? Are you ready?" Mama suzzy asked from outside
"Yes mama. Almost done"
"Meet me outside when you're done okay?"
"Okay Mama"
 
     She hurriedly wore her blue dress and complimented it with a black shoe and a blue bowtie.
"Perfect" She exclaimed and smiled.
"Oh one more thing" she yelled, running towards the wardrobe to get another bowtie. A pink one.
She wore it on Shag.
"Now we're set for the party" She smiled and went outside.

Mama suzzy saw what she wore her dog.
"The dog? Really?"
"Mama she likes it. You like it don't you?" she bent down to ask her friend who gave her a rather indifferent look.
"It's a bowtie. It's not meant for dogs"
She quickly noticed the frown growing on Elena's face. She knew the next thing that would follow was tears.
"It's fine. You can wear her the bow if you want"
"Thank you mama" Elena laughed.
"Let's go and join the rest" she said as Elsa nodded her an 'okay'.

Happiness filled Elsa's eyes when she saw Papa Rico dressed in a fine blue polo and blue jeans
"I told you he likes the colour blue" she said to Shag.
"Come, let the party begin. Our special guests are here" Papa Rico teased Elsa as she naively sat beside him, feeling nervous as all eyes fell on her
"I love your dress" He whispered into her ears
She instantly turned to face Shag, giving her that look that literally says
*I told you*

**********
Back to present day

"Papa, I miss shag" I muttered.
"I know you do"
"But that wasn't the reason for telling you this.
I wanted to remind you how energetic you were as a child. Don't let anyone quench down that fire. Your spirit is untamed, let it remain so"
"Thank you so much papa Rico. Thank you"