It was already 7:00 PM when Mrs. Sade instructed her daughter to start packing up so they could head home. However, customers were still arriving, and she felt compelled to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, but we've just run out of akara, and I've closed for today," she explained to the lingering customers.
As they continued to pack, Mercy suddenly paused and gazed off into the distance. Her mother noticed her distracted demeanor and immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What's wrong? Are you sad?" Mrs. Sade asked.
"No, Mummy. I'm fine," Mercy replied softly.
Mrs. Sade, unconvinced, pressed on. "I don't believe you are fine. You look so sad, my child. What's troubling you? Is there something I should know?"
After a moment of hesitation, Mercy finally opened up about her unhappiness—she had been sent home from school for not paying her fees. Mrs. Sade's heart sank at this news, and she quickly tried to reassure her daughter.
"Don't feel bad, my child; everything will be alright," she encouraged.
"But our final exams are coming up soon, and I don't understand why all of this is happening to us now. How are we going to pay my school fees?" Mercy said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, my dear; I will take care of it. I'll work hard to ensure my only princess can go to school," Mrs. Sade said with a warm smile, gently holding Mercy's hand.
Wiping her tears, Mercy felt a sense of relief wash over her as her mother cheered her up. By 8:45 PM, the streets were quiet, and the other vendors beside Mrs. Sade's shop had already closed up for the night. She felt a twinge of fear creeping in, but she didn't want to alarm Mercy.
Lighting her small lamp, she asked Mercy to hold it as they made their way home.
When they arrived, exhaustion hit Mrs. Sade like a wave. The fifteen-minute walk from the shop to their house felt longer than usual, and she yearned for a restful night's sleep. Nevertheless, she managed to take a warm bath, and afterward, she prayed with Mercy before they both retired to their separate rooms.
YOU ARE READING
The Agony Of A Weeping Child
Mystery / ThrillerThis is the story of a Nigerian teenager who loses her inheritance after the death of her father and must navigate life's challenges without his support. It's a traditional narrative that takes readers through her journey of pain, hardship, and resi...
