WHEN THE SKY IS BLUE

CHAPTER TWO

ZAINAB: ( walks  in)  Mama, I've been wanting to ask you a question. Why don't you get married again? It's already a year since we left baba and you still allowing the wound he left in your heart to affect you. Don't tell me that you are still in love with him pha.

MRS MUKTAR: Yarinya na ( my daughter) , thank you for looking out for me. But you still very young to understand my predicament. Which man will agree to marry me with three kids and I can't even give birth again , I need to take care of you and your siblings. I don't need a man to make me happy, you my kids are enough for me.

MARYAM: ( walks in crying) wayoo, mama is this how this  year will go and I will still not be able to go to the university? All my mates are already in school and here I am , I don't even know my fate in this life.

MRS MUKTAR: My child, am deeply sorry. I will try my best and see that you don't sit at home this year. I will work  extra or better still I will go and do some other job. But Maryam if you insist on going to school nahim and zainab will have to stop schooling.

MARYAM: Subhanallahi, mama it's not up to that level . I myself will look for a job then send myself to university. I can't allow my siblings to stay at home ai ba dace ba (it's not good ). And am sorry I don't want you to think about anything that will make you fall sick.

ZAINAB:    Aunty Maryam , mu gode sosai ( thank you). And I promise that we will be forever be grateful for your kind gesture . let's have a group hug and be grateful life(  both Maryam and their mother comes in for the hug).

MARYAM: It's been one month since I've been looking for a decent job even as a sales girl or house maid. Let me just go down the street and get bread and butter am terribly hungry. ( sights a signboard): HOUSEHELP IS NEEDED). Alhamdulillahi, let me check maybe luck will be on my side today. (knocks the gate).

BASHIRU( GATEMAN) : (opens gate), who be that? Who you wan see? Ahbi, you look for job ne?

MARYAM: Good day sir,  I came to look for job, I saw a board that say's a house help is needed in this house that is why I came . please I promise to serve this family.

  BASHIRU: Okay, come inside you are lucky that both my OGA and MADAM are at home, that way you will be interviewed and I pray that you are lucky enough to be employed( walks in)

MR RICHARD: Bashiru, how are you this morning? And who's this pretty young girl beside you? Kar ka gayamu ce wa za ka yi aure ( don't tell me you  want to get married)

BASHIRU : Oga no ooh, this young lady came by looking for the post of the house help mummy kept outside. She said she needed the job so I had no option than to let her in.

MR RICHARD: Oh mind my manners darling, please have your seat and I'll call my wife to attend to you. Bashiru you can go back to your post and please clean the car before I get all ready for work. ( calls  his wife) darling , we have a visitor please come and attend to her.

MRS RICHARD: Baby, you called for ( leans in for a kiss). Is she the one who came looking for a job? Because if she is, then the job is all for her alone. I feel so attracted to her she has one of the most beautiful smile I've seen so far. What's your  name dear?

MARYAM: I've been quiet all these while looking at this wonderful couples exchanging pleasantries. My name is MARYAM MUKTAR , I live few blocks away with my mother and my two siblings. You don't know how grateful I am with this job that you've given me. May god continue to bless you and your entire family. I also promise do a very neat and good job.

MR AND MRS RICHARD: You are mostly welcome, you can also start by weekend. (brings out envelope ) here, take this as your transportation fee. When coming by the weekend, we will make more arrangement for your salary and how many times you'll be coming in to work. Please send my heartwarming regards to your mother and siblings.

MARYAM: You've become my helper from today, I will definitely be here by weekend to resume work. Please sir any amount you pay me as salary is enough for me , just take me as a child and I'll be forever grateful for gesture. Have a good day sir and ma ( walks home happly).

                     MARYAM'S RESIDENCE

NAHIM: This food is really delicious, aunty Maryam can surely cook. Am sure her future husband will be a lucky man having her as wife. ( licks his little fingers as devours the rice and chicken stew in front of him).

ZAINAB:  Nahim kena, he loves food so much that he can't control his tongue whenever he sight food (turns to Maryam) kai, this your new boss must be very rich for them to give such amount of money just as transportation fees. I just hope they continue to be good people to us at least our lives will be in a better shape a bit.

MARYAM: Please leave nahim alone, yes they are very rich and most importantly they are nice and old couple. In fact, they said that I can resume work by the weekend. And before I forget when mama is back I will also gist her and give her the remaining money so she'll use to do any other thing she wants to use it for after balancing both you and nahim school fees .

MRS MUKTAR: Aslam aleeykum, looks like my kids are having some fun and they are look so happy. Who did ceremony in the area?

NAHIM: ( runs to hug his mother). Nobody did any ceremony ooh, aunty Maryam got a good job and it looks like her employers are nice people.

MARYAM: Yes mama,  I got a job as a house help of one MR AND MRS RICHARD. Whly, mama they are nice people ( gives her bundle of money), here take this money and balance my siblings fee , I used part of it to buy little foodstuffs in the house.

MRS MUKTAR: Alhamdullahi, they must be very nice people. We'll surely try and pay them visit to show our appreciation. Am happy our lives is much better without that evil father of yours, it's late already let's offer our prayers then go to sleep.

               MR AND MRS RICHARD RESIDENCE

MARYAM: ( walks in) . Good morning sir and ma. Am deeply sorry that I came In late today I had to help my mother at home before coming down here and I had to trek since there is shortage of motorcycles this morning.

MR RICHARD: Oh Maryam  it's okay.  we all live in this Gombe, and I myself I've been a victim of these bad road the only thing is that the government are not willing to do anything about. No need for you to apologize to us.

MRS RICHARD: Good morning young lady, I heard all what you've been discussing with my husband  it's no problem.
And another thing Maryam, I would like to correct on few things; as long as you want to continue to work for me, you will have to call me and my husband, daddy and mummy because you are just like a daughter to us in this house. In fact , my older son is studying in London and he should be back any moment from now , his junior sister, rose will be back soon too after finishing her examinations. But , before that I'd like it if you are already used to this family so when they are back you'll be able to communicate easily with them.

MR RICHARD: And don't hesitate to ask us for anything or if ever you need our help in any way at any given time.

MARYAM: Thank you both mummy and daddy, am so grateful and I will never betray this trust that you both have in me. I will always be of good behavior and my mother sends her greetings to you and daddy.

MRS RICHARD: Okay, we'll be off for work in few minutes. I made some extra breakfasts In case you are hungry feel comfortable. I will see in the evening. You can use the house phone to call if you need anything ( walks out with her husband). Ml