Friday, September 2, 2011

Handful of Sand Chapter 39 Page 1

It was Monday on the first week of the happy summer holidays. No school. No homework. No hours of lessons in class. Sandy did not have to worry about her future either - it was not yet time, since her exam results would not be out until the next day.

There were, however, extra chores to do.

There had always been a lot more work to do at home every summer. With the warm weather of the season, it was the perfect time to clean and fix things around the house.

The windows needed wiping. The carpets needed vacuuming. The curtains needed washing. The mattresses needed dusting and cleaning. The furnitures needed polishing. The stove and kitchen appliances... well, something had to be done about the thick greasy layers of dirt on everything in there.

Ewww...

Oh, and there was more to be done outside. The grass needed to be weeded and mowed. The swing needed to be oiled. The wooden fence needed to be mended. The roof needed to be retiled. The storage shed needed to be rebuilt.

Fortunately, Sandy did not have to do anything outdoors that day. The sky was dark and threatened to bring rain. Still, there was plenty for her to do within the house.

By the afternoon, Sandy was already slumped on the couch, dead tired. Not only had she the dishes to wash after lunch, she also had the pots and pans to do. On her own.

Momma Lois was busy with paperwork. Celeste was out on her summer job. That rich orphan Juneida was at her uncle's. And Ditz had to look after Petra. That left Sandy to do most of the chores, except for the cooking. And no one had yet dared to try Sandy's cooking. Not if they could avoid it.

The cops were still outside, keeping watch on her. According to Selina, it would last only until Friday the following week. Sandy expected to get her money then so she could bid her life of poverty goodbye. Her fortune would come true and she would live happily ever after.

Petra laughed.

The toddler was seated on the carpet, watching Ditz make funny faces at her. Thank goodness Sandy did not have to change diapers. Ditz was capable of handling Petra's basic needs without her help.

There was a sudden crack of thunder, accompanied by a cry of fright.

Sandy raised her head to check on the younger girls.

Ditz was sobbing with her hands covering her face. "Thunders are scary!"

Petra was patting the middle-schooler's knee, trying to reassure her that it was okay.

Outside, the rain started pelting the roof. Each time thunder announced itself, Ditz jumped and shivered in fright. Petra stayed by her the whole time. Sandy, however, closed her eyes and relaxed on the sofa. She needed her rest. She would have more chores later.

The doorbell rang.

Sandy ignored it. She was too lazy to get up. Ditz was still cowering on the carpet and Petra definitely could not reach the doorknob.

The doorbell rang again.

After a third time, Momma Lois called from her office, "Sandy, get the door!" Her voice was clearly audible, despite the rain outside and the fact that the office door was closed.

Sandy lazily rolled off the sofa and onto her feet.

The doorbell once more demanded her attention. That time, it was followed by a shout of, "Open up, police!"

Sandy immediately hurried to open the door.

There were two police officers there in dripping-wet raincoat. "Took you long enough," the first officer grumbled, "Where's Ms Sailles? We need to speak to her."

To Sandy, it just felt inappropriate to call Momma Lois 'Ms Sailles'.

"She's in her office," Sandy replied.

"I'm here," Momma Lois announced from the door of her office, which was next to the front entrance, "How can I help?"

"Can we speak to you in private?" the same officer said as he shook some of the rain away.

The cops discussed something with Momma Lois in the latter's office for a few minutes. When they came out, the first thing Momma Lois said was an order to Sandy, "Child, pack your things. You're going on a trip for a while."

"What's going on?" Sandy asked.

"There are some very bad people out to get you," Momma Lois told her.

"Hasn't there always?"

"This time, they're out to kill you," Momma Lois added.

Sandy stared at her. Okay, that was not good. If she were kidnapped, the police could rescue her. If she was murdered, however, that would not be so easy to fix.

"Now go pack your things," Momma Lois urged her, "You're going somewhere safe for a while."

"No fair, I want to go too!" Ditz demanded from the doorway to the living room.

Then the thunder boomed again.

Ditz shrieked and dove under the computer desk.

***

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