CHARLES AND HIS TWIN SISTER(6)
Yes we use to follow our mummy to the farm to harvest yam and plantain. My grandmother had a small farm in the village where she usually plant and harvest both yams and plantain. Mummy use to take us there to join them and work. But mummy is no more, our grandmother us no more.. Charles said. Annie squatted in-between them, holding their hands.
Yes we use to go to the farm with our grandma and mummy. I miss my mummy..
Rachel muttered, frowning her face and clutching her hands.
It’s okay dear. I’m so sorry. I also lost my parents many years ago. The only daughter I had, peer pressure made her to leave home. She’s now doing all sort of fetish things to get money. She hadn’t taken my advise even once. Success should be 27 by now. I worked hard to ensure that she finished secondary school and proceed to university. When she reached her 200 level, she told me that education was too difficult for her and that she couldn’t continue. You’re both young, and you might not grasp what I’m saying… She told them and went inside to get a dish with some bananas on it, brought out a small bench and placed the bowl in their middle telling them to eat.
Mrs Annie’s house was inside the community and a little sparse; the back looked like a dead end because it was overgrown with shrubs, giving it the appearance of a farm.. Only few persons pass there once in a while.
An old man that was passing by waved her and she greeted him “Mingwor Papa.” and he responded. “Vrendo. How body Na.” They’re fine papa… Annie replied. The man carried the banga back on his head supporting it with his cutlass before leaving. It appeared that he was returning from the farm. The children ate the bananas and Annie told them to bathe and rest.
Charles and Co. The remaining bananas are for sale okay. Tomorrow I’ll start taking you people round, showing you how to hawk. So that in case I’m not around you people can be able to sell. You know if I don’t work I can’t eat. As for the farm, I’ll be the only one going to the farm for now. Tomorrow work have started understood…
Yes ma… They answered and nodded.
When she and the children were outdoors cutting water leaf to cook in the afternoon, immunisation personnel approached. They immunised Rachael and Charles by painting their index fingers and giving them few droplets of liquid to swallow. Although Annie told them that she’s okay. They only painted her left thumb greeted her, wrote on her wall with their pink chalk and left.
After tutoring the children and hawking with them for approximately two weeks, she placed some few bunches of bananas and oranges in the wheelbarrow for Charles placed placed some in the small tray for Rachael for them to hawk and make some sales that was on Friday morning around 8:15am.
Remember what I told you, don’t go too far okay? Don’t sell on credit ooo. Once they tell you, they don’t have money, tell them your Madam will refuse. Tell them your Madam said that you shouldn’t sell on credit. I didn’t pluck them from trees. I bought them from the market. Rachel and Charles hope you’re hearing?..
Yes Ma… They said, Rachael was already nodding her head.
Alright as you can see I’m going to the farm to plant some cassava stems. When you come back, warm the remaining soup in the kitchen with the little firewood and serve soup for yourselves and eat. I’ve already made some Eba…. She said, locked the door and gave them the keys, she picked her cutlass and left.
The children also left and began hawking.
Banana..
Oranges..
Buy your cheap bananas.
Banana..
Rachel and Charles were just doing it exactly how madam Annie taught them. The few persons that stopped them said that the bananas were to expensive. The children informed them that’s how their madam advised them to sell them and they proceeded to the streets to hawk.
A man on crazy jean with white singlet and dark cap called Rachael from a distance
Hey! fine gal…
Rachel halted and approached him at the front of his house where he was polishing his shoes.
Good morning sir. You want to buy Orange? Rachel questioned him as he approached her. Charles had already parked his wheelbarrow and observing him….
