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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