The twins haven't been going to school for some couple of months because of their school fees. They were in their third year in MayDeen Junior high school. They had been sent back home and return to school when their fees have been fully paid. They were fifteen years old. Mrs. Taylor, their mother also noticed how nonchalant they were, watching movies, playing games.... It annoyed her that she had to shut down on most of the things they would enjoy on a free day since they weren't going to school.
Mrs Taylor found a new job which wasn't paying much. She was a cleaner in an old organization. One poor thing was how belittled the cleaners were looked down on.
One fateful day while Mrs Taylor was washing up the toilet, a young entrepreneur wanted to make use of it. She let in the dressed, young man who seem to be in his early thirties. When he was done, she was surprised at what his messy shoes had done to the tiles which she had just washed.
"Sir, this isn't fair. I was told you to wipe off the dirts from the soles of your shoes on this......." She pointed at a rug close to the door but she was rudely interrupted.
"You're not my boss. So, do not tell me what to do. What are you then? What do they pay you for?" His oblongated face stretched in a distorted way.
"Yes I know. You're not my boss." She agreed to that.
"What?" He seemed pissed, baffled at what she had just said.
"I said you're not my boss." She repeated, wiping off the sweats from her brows with the back of her hand. "But you should at least empathize with me, even just a little. Please, next time I would appreciate......,"
"Will you be quiet! Who are you to tell me what to do? Don't worry, since you're not happy and grateful for this little job of yours...." He hissed, snapped his fingers in an angered gesture then walked away, stomping his feets as he walked out.
After that incident, Mrs Taylor lost her job. The young man had been the friend to her boss. When the boss had heard what had transpired between his friend and his employee, he had to sack his cleaner with immediate effect. Mrs Taylor's head swirled, it ached her in an attempt to think of what next to do. This was her third job she had lost, she felt as if she was pulled to the edge of a cliff, dangling at the tip of it.
It was definitely the end of the world for her. Nothing was working for her. She sat on the pavement block by the bus stop as other passengers walked past to board a coming bus. She couldn't think straight. What would she do?
Heavy black clouds began to form in the sky, a cold, chilly wind blew closely by, yet she sat oblivious of the change of weather.
She doesn't care anymore. Let it fall. Let the rain fall, she told herself.
*******
A Mr James got into his car quickly as he glanced quickly at the sky. He was in a haste to get home before the rain pour out. He always hated the thought of being drenched by the rain. He was exhausted from the day's work and he knew how badly he needed some rest. Infact, some vacation would do him a lot of good, he told himself.
The rain started with a drizzle, then poured out abruptly like a damaged dam.
"What the hell...." Mr. James exclaimed as he started the ignition. He glanced at his rear mirror as he reversed out from his parking lot and drove down to the bus stop.
He stopped his car as people raced across the road helter scatter. He thought to park his car at the side of the road till the rain lessened. The rain was getting rather aggressive, he recalled how some drivers had lost control in such a rain as this. His hand drummed lightly on the steering wheel, watching as other cars drove past him after the gaggle. He was silently praying for the rain to stop. His eyes glanced sideways, looked ahead then suddenly back at what his eyes had seen earlier on. A fragile woman was sitting out on the pavement, doused under the frantic downpour.
"What is wrong with her?" He asked himself.
"Is she dead?" He studied her closely, squinting his eyes for closer view. She was sitting, narrowly bended on one part of her body, barely leaning sideways with her eyes opened. Her hand bag was beside her, battered by the angered rain.
His instinct told him to check her out. She could be dead. He laughed within himself, cautioning himself to mind his business. He shut his eyes briefly trying to thwart out the image of her. Yet, he could sketch her in his head, her naked eyes and halfway opened mouth. Seconds flew by, he opened his eyes and still saw her there.
"Silly woman, get up. You might catch a cold." He silently said as if talking to her.
He cast his eyes to the backseat and was bemused how a umbrella was sitting in it. How did it get there? He must have forgotten to place it back behind the door in his house. He remembered using it the last time it had rained. He looked at the black umbrella again, glanced at the windscreen towards where the woman sat then back at the steering wheel.
He must help her, he said to himself. He pushed the door opened as he picked up the umbrella. The wind blew again as he stepped out from the car pushing his umbrella almost out of his hand. The icy rain bruised his face that he clutched the umbrella more firmly which he held, cussing himself while he was trying to help a woman he barely knew.