My Precious

FIFTEEN

Fear gripped Grace. She has never been this scared all her life. She wiped the tears from her face as she went to the racing area.

"Precious!" She called as she looked around.

"Mummy." Precious called back.

Grace quickly traced the area which her voice sounded from. She turned around and saw Precious waving to her with a wide smile. She was with a little girl and a man. She heaved a sigh of relieve and walked briskly towards them.

"Good afternoon, Sir." Grace greeted the gentleman who Precious was with.

He smiled and replied her greetings.

"Have been searching all over for you." Grace said to Precious and beckoned to her with her eyes to come over to her side. Precious obliged.

"Oh. I apologise ma. Your daughter is quite interesting and captivating." He said to Grace.

"Hmm." Grace mumbled and held Precious hand tight.

"Mummy, this is my classmate Tina from school and her uncle." Precious said.

"Hello Tina." Grace said as the girl who looked the same age as Precious smiled.

"Nice to meet you sir." Grace said.

"The pleasure is all mine. I'm Tobi."

"Grace."

"Nice and this is Precious." He said playfully as he tickled Precious who let out a loud laugh.

Grace was uncomfortable.

"Uhm. Okay. Thank you. We would be leaving now. It was nice meeting you and your daughter." Grace said.

"Niece." Precious corrected.

"Right. Bye Tina."

"Bye bye aunty."

"Bye Uncle Tobi. Hope to see you next time and you better be ready for the battle." Precious said waving to him as they walked away.

"Really? Precious! You just walk away with random strangers without my permission." Grace said as they got into the car.

Precious chewed  on her candy.

"He's not a stranger. You know him too."

Grace looked at her as she nodded.

"He was the one that gave me your purse at the talent show in my school when you threw it on the floor." Precious said as she danced to no rhythm.

"Why are you so happy?' Grace asked as they walked to the car. She could not but have to notice the level of happiness Precious had reached.

" Did you see his dimples?"

"No." Grace said as she open the car door for Precious.

"It was so visible and deep. How couldn't you have seen that?" Precious said as she climbed into the car.

"Maybe it is not as deep as you think."

"I think it is really deep and nice. Remember baby Ronke at the orphanage, you know how her dimple is. We can say his is deeper than hers." Precious argued on.

Grace knows if she continue to insist she didn't see his dimples, Precious would go on and on and right now, arguing with Precious is not on her plate today.

"Okay, you win. His dimples were deep." She said in surrender.

"Really deep." Precious added.

Grace looked at her, then looked away. The look told Precious to shut up and she understood it was time to be quiet. Grace heaved as she drove on, she was sad. Her heart was heavy. How can they do that to her? She had worked her ass for this company, she had given them all of her. Was this what Mr. Abba meant when he was giving that speech? The break was just a feigned motive. She has too start all over, she can't stay for two months with no source of income. She has to search for work, a place where she would be appreciated. Somewhere she would be loved and her worth would be valued.