Chapter Twenty

Ms. Morrey was frantic about the whereabouts of her granddaughter. It wasn’t like Albie to skitter around when she was sent on an errand. It had been four hours since she left and she had already been to the shop to check if she was there. She also spotted the boys playing on the field and they all told her they hadn’t seen her. Worried sick and exhausted, she and Marissa finally stopped at the diner and Naomi did her best to assure her that they’d find her. 

“I want to call the police, Naomi. It’s Southern Street we’re talking about! Nothing’s a coincidence,” the old lady tried to still herself. 

“And you can. I’ll also get the other cell women to be on the lookout for her, if anything.” Naomi replied. 

Marissa held her hands to give her support the little way she can. She was already feeling terrible for this whole thing happening because of her. 

Ms Morrey dialed the emergency number and waited for the receiver to pick up when she saw Albie emerge with Keisha from the entrance of the diner. She quickly placed the telephone hand back in its place. 

“Keisha…” Marissa said under her breath. This was the second time she saw her after the last time.

“Albie? Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you!” she yelled before she saw who she stood by. 

“You? Where did you take her? What did you do with her? Don’t tell me you took her to one of your shameless parties!” She bawled.

“Ms. Morrey please calm down. I’m sure there’s an explanation for this. Let’s not conclude just yet,” Naomi slipped an arm around her shoulders to calm her down. 

“Then why is she not saying anything?!” 

“Keisha, what happened?” Naomi asked calmly.

At this time, Keisha was already miffed at the old lady’s senseless accusations and didn’t think she really owed her an explanation. 

“Will you say something?!” Ms. Morrey felt her patience running out speedily. Keisha stared at her with bloodshot eyes and shifted from her to Marissa. 

“I don’t owe you any explanation, old lady, that’s even  if I knew,” she replied. 

“Albie, your grandmother is here. I think you should go with her,” she told the little girl still holding her gaze at the old lady. Albie couldn’t feel more betrayed. She really didn’t want to leave her side. 

“I don’t want to go now,” she cried from behind her, clinging to her uniform. For some reason Keisha felt the need to grant her that request and knew the trouble it’d cause but she thought it’d be best to back her up. 

“As you heard, she’s not willing to go with you now. I’ll take care of her and later, return her to you,” she said flatly.

Ms. Morrey could hardly believe what she was hearing. She thought she was going to explode in anger and she laughed to herself.

“Are you going to tell me what to do with my own granddaughter now? And what do you mean by taking care of her? Haven’t you done enough already?”

“Morrey, as you can see I’m well dressed for work and you’re taking too much of my time already with your drama. If you aren’t going to order, please use the door and like I said, I’ll return Albie to you when she’s ready…” 

Ms Morrey saw her rage dissolve into disdain. She took a closer look at the impudent girl in front of her and turned to Naomi.

“Naomi… you remember what you told me about this woman? I am certain you were wrong and still are. She can amount to nothing good and never will!” She spat out and stormed out of the diner  before Naomi could stop her. Marissa hurried after her to be sure she didn’t stumble, given how vexed she was. She couldn’t help but stare questionably at Keisha the whole time. Keisha had changed.

Naomi felt buried in the whole tension. She wasn’t going to say anything about the situation lest she loses the impudent girl she had managed to tame to a certain degree or the admirable friend she had made on the block through their cell meetings. 

“Keisha…  You know what, never mind. Just find something for the little girl. She looks like she can use some snacks,” she said, sliding her journal in the drawer. The whole evening had been too much for her to handle such that she lost the interest to journal anything now. 

“I’m on it, Naomi,” Keisha replied. She sent Albie to a good spot to sit and brought her hot chocolate with some tasty waffles. 

“I specially made them extra sweet for you. I hardly go out of my way to do stuff for people so make sure to down everything to the last bite,” she added. Albie nodded, rather out of nervousness than appreciation.

“You know I’m kidding, right” seeing the look of terror in the little girl’s eyes who nodded in reply. As she turned to address the other clients Albie apologized for what had happened.

“You’re quite smart for your age. But don’t worry about me. Your granny’s words don’t bite. Just finish your meal before it gets cold,” she winked at her and continued to the counter. Whatever Ms Morrey said to her is something she’s always heard and grown to accept. It’d be pointless to battle with them now. 

The hands of the clock moved like they were in a race. Louis didn’t even realize when it struck 10 and he was usually the last to leave and to lock up. His other colleagues did their last cleaning for the day and Keisha stayed behind the pc balancing the accounts. For an unknown reason Naomi chose to trust her with that duty and invested her time into teaching her that and very well, although it took quite a while for her to catch on.

“Still on these numbers thingy?” Feena emerged from nowhere. 

“Mmhm…” her eyes still searching for some keys on the keyboard.

“Is it too late to order a snack?” 

“It is. But we have some in our fridge,” punching in some digits. 

“I thought you were going to spend the night with Mr. Right?” She added.

“More like Mr. Wrong…” she maundered. 

“About time…. What happened with this one too?” 

“He hardly makes time for me these days. Always telling me he’s got project work and the like. And now all our dates have become church,” Keisha saw the creases forming on her face. She couldn’t afford not teasing.

“I see… I thought you had your own project work coming along, how far with that? Or you chose to take Mr. Wrong as a project now?”

“That’s not funny, Keisha”

“I didn’t say it was. I’m just asking questions”

She swung her legs while seated on one of the high stools and noticed Albie at the corner. 

“What’s wrong with her? She looks … not here,” she turned to get a better look.

“Your guess is as good as mine. Now take your lousy behind up the stairs before you get your little self in trouble. I don’t think you want a new nicky from Naomi,” Keisha shoved her away. Immediately she got to the door Mitch had just arrived on his motorcycle. How she wished Feena didn’t have to witness this.

“Mmmm. Look who’s here. Turns out there’s an agenda about to happen,” she mumbled.

“Hush it and be on your way!” Keisha warned.

“Can’t I say hi to my roommate’s boyfriend?”

“Out! Now!” She pointed to the door.

“Alright, greedy lady. Be grateful you’re my friend. I would have rid him of you,” she blew a kiss and left before Mitch could get in. 

“You’re back,” not sounding the least amused. 

“I told you I’d return,” Mitch said, seating himself on the high stool Feena sat in a few minutes ago. 

“While I’d love to play with you tonight, I’m sorry we have company…” she jerked her chin toward the little girl at the back.

“I never thought you had room for kids in your life,”

“Hahaha. Funny. I may not have some but they keep coming. The least I can do is paste a smile on my face when they do.” 

“I see. Perhaps there’s still hope for you to get better up there,” he looked away from her coyly waiting to hear her snide comments but she feigned ignorance and continued with rounding up her duties on the pc.

“Alright. All done. Time to go,” she called out to Albie who remained coiled in the corner picking at her meal. She took her tray and brought it to the kitchen. 

“She doesn’t look good…” 

“You can tell, huh?”  she sneered, turning off the lights and leading them out.

“Well… thanks for the snack earlier. I would have paid you back but apparently, you don’t like my mode of payment so…”

“Seriously, bus girl. There’s a child here”

“Oh… my bad. Totally forgot. Anyway if you’d like to join us upstairs, be my guest but I can’t promise anything else after that.”

“No thank you. While I’d like to think of this as an invitation, I can only feel threatened- and you don’t have to say anything else. I’m leaving,” he cut her before she could reply. She only smiled and said nothing. Albie stood by her side all that time still absent in her mind.

“Pastor Todd enjoyed your visit though and looks forward to the next one,” he finally added.

“You know we still have unfinished business with that hot pastor of yours, right?” 

“Keisha! Child alert!” Mitch shot her scolding look.

“Oh, right. Gotta go before I really poison your little mind like your grandma said.” She waved him goodbye and took Albie by the hand and left.

****

They finally arrived at the apartment and Feena had herself snuggled up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate, reading a book. She wondered why Albie was still with her.

“Everything good?”

“Mmmhm. She needs a place to ease off and you know her grandmother, I don’t have to point out what she’s good at,” Keisha loosened her hair and her work shirt. Albie sat at her usual spot still saying nothing. 

“I wouldn’t have believed that you’d ever babysit anyone, especially anyone related to that old crone,” she sipped. 

“Well… life happens. Just wondering what went wrong with our little fellow.”

“Do you want to talk now? About whatever happened?” She finally asked Albie. Albie felt that same chill through her stomach when she recalled what happened. She wasn’t sure if she could tell given the fears that plagued her. Keisha wished she could show more sympathy than she did but she was yet to understand that word for herself. 

“Or you’d want a private room?” She eyed Feena on the side. 

“Fine. I was already leaving anyway,” she got up and left for her room. 

 Keisha turned a seat in front of her and sat on it. As she studied her, she didn’t realize how much she cared for her until she saw how awful it was to see her cry.  

“I … guess it’s okay to cry if that’s what you want.”

A tear rolled down from the little girl’s eyes, then followed another and another until her face was flooded with them. She laid her head down and sobbed the whole time. Keisha would have traded being anywhere else but there, however she knew she was right where she was supposed to be. She gently rubbed her back, this time, less awkward than before.

“There was a girl some many years ago, who cried as much as you are doing right now. She wished people understood her tears like you probably do right now but don’t worry, maybe I can try to understand yours when I tell you her story,” she smiled. The thump that followed after saying that proved just how much that story still stung her heart.

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