“Okay, Sir.” Oliver agreed. Now, Peter, who wished to pull off the funeral clothes from him and set them ablaze, was embittered to see him smiling softly. Peter believed that he was full in his reasoning, and wished to see only smart people like him succeeding. Notwithstanding, Oliver marked the thumbs of as many people who were in the queue, and they were given a big fancy bag with assorted gifts. The recipients joyously unzipped it and displayed their gifts to the envy of others, who had no choice, but to queue up. Nevertheless, Shane and his colleagues joined the queue in trepidation and prepared for the worst. To their bewilderment, Oliver smiled at them and marked their thumbs, and they got the gifts. At last, everyone in the queue was gifted and the driver shut the tailboard of the trailer.
“Let's go, Oliver,” Barry announced. Oliver followed him, and they began to walk back to the dignitaries' stand.
“Where is our gift?” Oliver's mother looked at Oliver and asked. Meanwhile, Oliver was already far away from them. Now, his sister, who would not deign to queue before him, rushed after him, followed by her mother.
“Can't you get ours for us?” They shouted. Nevertheless, the policemen who were walking behind them stopped them and warned, “Go back. You are not permitted beyond this spot.”
They ignored the police and walked briskly to catch up with him, but the policemen were smarter than they could imagine. Before they took one more step beyond their territory, the police drew them back one after the other, and they landed on the ground. Meanwhile, Oliver and Barry had gained some distance and were unaware of what happened. Now, the elders, who were happy with their humongous gifts and food, felt insulted and intervened, “Woman, come here.” Oliver's mother and sister got up from the floor at once and rubbed their aching butts in shame. They walked up to the elders in trepidation and greeted them, “Our elders, we greet you. You sent for us,” his mother announced. Now, the elders had decided their ends even before they arrived, and one of them spoke. “For trying to cause disorderliness in the community and attempting to bring shame to us in the presence of the high dignitaries, you are hereby fined a goat each.”
As simple as the utterance was, it had a big implication, and the woman and her daughter were aware of it. Then, the mother tried to defend herself, “We merely wished to say hello to him, and the police pushed us down.”
“Is it an offense to greet my bother?” The sister added.
“Hey!” The other women screamed, and pointed out, “But we heard you asking for your gifts.”
“Were you not here when the gifts were shared orderly?” Another woman asked.
Then, the woman she called a prostitute a few minutes ago saw that as an opportunity to strike, and spoke, “Maybe she had started drinking like her husband.”
The crowd laughed at them, and they were disoriented. Meanwhile, the elders were too busy to listen to her defense. Incidentally, the utterances of the elders were like the law of the Medes and Persians, which was unalterable. To their annoyance, their father slash husband, Bertram, was there and ignorant of his environment because of the excess drink. He could not say a word to defend his family.
In all, the funeral was a massive success. The sky was friendly and everyone was happy, but none of the elders wished to die and be buried like Beck. They hoped for more funerals of that magnitude. The dignitaries left happily in their convoy. This time, Felix had joined his father in his car for moral support. Now, the staff members of the Blue Sea Oil and Gas Group were ready to return to the hotel. They were seated on the bus and waited for Susan, who was still with Sarah. They were giving the girls the last minutes of counseling and advised them on the need for skill acquisition.
“The boss, I suggest that we go. Mrs. Owens would arrange on how to bring her back later,” Silas, who was not aware of the General Manager's state of mind, proposed. Tony, who would not leave that village without Susan, ignored him. Now, everyone was seated on the bus. The General Manager was sitting behind the driver, the very place he sat when they were coming, and a management staff sat beside him. The management staff had relocated to the back and displaced Susan.
“Give her a call, Silas,” the General Manager instructed him.
“Okay, Sir.” He dialed her number and she picked up at once.
“Hello, Mr. Jack,” she greeted.
“Good day, Madam. We are waiting for you on the bus.”
“Oh! My God. I will join you soon,” she responded and cut. She was troubled about keeping her man waiting and nothing else. She picked up her purse and began to walk briskly to the bus. Unknown to her, some girls followed her. Her attention was on the bus, and she was unable to hear the girls.
“Aunty Susan,” the girls called out. When she got to the bus, she was shocked to see that the only seat available was beside her boss.
“Aunty Susan,” the girls called again. Now, she heard them and turned. To her bewilderment, she saw five of them.
“Yes, dear. How may I help you?” she asked. Presently, everyone focused on the girls to know their mission. Tony prayed that whatever it was would not keep her longer.
“Aunty Susan, you said you love me,” one of the girls asked with a sorrowful voice.
“Certainly, I love you,” she assured cheerfully.
“Can I get a parting hug from you?”
Silas, who was yet to get into the bus, shook his head in sympathy, while others were moved. Tony watched on. Then, Susan dropped her purse on the seat and spread her two hands apart. Then, the ten-year-old girl joyously walked into her arms and she gave her a tight hug.
“Aunty Susan loves you,” she assured her and did the same with the other girls, and they reciprocated, “We love you too. Our regards to your daughters.”
“I will. Thank you for your love. Goodbye.”
She joined them in the bus and the General Manager felt like kissing her. Before Silas could shut the door, they saw some aggressive pressmen running toward them with their cameras
“Aunty Susan,” they called out.
“Shut the door, Silas,” Tony ordered, and he obeyed.
“Thank you for your patience. I apologized that I kept you waiting,” she apologized.
“It was not your fault, Susan. It was the fault of these five Daughters of Susan, who must get a hug,” one of the staff members at the back, teased. They laughed happily and wished that the General Manager was not there so that they could chat more. Whatever the circumstances, Tony squeezed her left hand with his right hand, and she reciprocated.
In the City
Sharon woke up at 8 AM and was surprised to find herself in the ward and her baby was in the cot beside her. Not only that, there was another midwife beside her.
“Can I have something to eat?” I'm starving,” she requested after the greetings.