Chapter 4
2528 Words
Chapter 4
It is Friday night and Sandy’s friends call her to go out. Normally each weekend they would call her because she knew a lot of bars and night clubs, and knew all the roads pretty well.
It was normal for Sandy to walk into night clubs and get surrounded by guys within seconds, but she herself had other things on her mind like finishing her studies, making her bosses proud by delivering good results and high profitability, and guys were the last thing on her mind.
Sandy had this habit to talk and dance with guys and in general enjoy her night out but the minute she left the night club she would go straight to a rubbish bin and threw all the telephone numbers given to her by guys.
Her friends were not very happy about this. They always questioned her as to how come all these guys come to you. Why don’t you give one of them a chance?
“Why would I need a guy in my life, when my life is full? I have great parents, good friends that I can hang with, and I have no one to dictate to me about what I can or can’t do”. Sandy would reply.
One day Sandy’s best friend Mona said, “I wish I could be like you but at times I really feel lonely.”
“Who said we can all like the same things. We are all different and Mona from the bottom of my heart, I hope one of these days you find someone really nice.” Sandy Said.
That Friday Sandy did accept the invitation. They all went to a night club and had loads of fun. On Sunday Mona calls Sandy and asks her if they can have lunch? Sandy accepted but said, “It has to be somewhere close by because I made plans with my parents in the afternoon.”
Mona picks Sandy up at twelve noon. On their way to restaurant Mona said, “Sandy, Friday night I did not want to say anything in front of the others but because you are the only friend that I trust and share things with. I want you to meet someone and since we were going for lunch, I asked him to join us at the restaurant.”
Sandy laughed. “Oh my god finally I am going to get rid of you.”
“Not now, not tomorrow and not in a hundred years, you can get rid of me.” Mona laughed back.
“What is he like?”
“He is kind and caring. Since I meet him my life has changed. He fills that empty spot in my life.”
“What about looks?” Sandy asked
“You should know. I only like nice looking guys.”
While they were giggling about this, a very nice looking guy walked in. Sandy said “Mona check that one out. If you look at this guy I think you will change your mind about the guy you are dating.”
Mona turns around and waves at the guy while telling Sandy. “i***t that is him”
Steve was his name. He walked to the table, gave a kiss to Mona on her cheek and offers his hand to Sandy while saying, “Hi, I am Steve.”
After an hour of discussion and having lunch Sandy went to the ladies to freshen up,
Mona followed her to find out what she thinks of Steve.
“Hey Sandy what do you think?” Mona called out.
“Well I got to admit, I really like the restaurant and love the food.”
“Come on silly. I was not talking about that. I am asking about Steve.”
He seems like a nice guy and the respect he has for you is amazing. Please do not make him run away.” Sandy replied
“In your dreams, girl, you know Sandy; I hope that you find someone nice like him.” Mona continued “You mean a lot to me and I want to see you happy.”
“But you know I am happy the way I am. Where am I going to fit a guy in my life between my busy work, mum, dad and studying. It barely leaves me time to think.”
These things might look enough for now, Mona said. But the time will come when you will feel the pain of loneliness.”
“Mona are you really looking after Steve here? While we are chatting all this time, poor Steve is sitting at the table.”
Mona laughed and said. “Oh yes I forgot about him”
Finally the two girls went back to the table. Steve rose from the table. As he was pulling out the chair for Mona he said, “My god girls it looks like you were having a good chat in the bathroom. You were gone for a very long time.”
The girls apologized and made a few funny comments about the girl’s room.
While Sandy is out with Mona, Joshua arrives at his parent’s house as planned Don and Donna were surprised to see him and his wife. They were excite to see them and did not question him.
“Mum where is Sandy? I thought she is normally home.” Joshua asked
Donna without any hesitation replied “Mona took her out for lunch.”
“How are your sisters Josh? Have you seen your brother lately?” Don asked
“They are all well. I saw them all last week.” Joshua replied
“It looks like everybody is so busy with their lives because we do not see much of anybody these days. Lucky Sandy takes us out some times and when she has free time she spends it with us and sometimes even takes us out for dinner or drinks. Donna implied.
Don agreeing with his wife said, “Yes it is true. The poor girl does know how to look after us, while attempting to finish her studies. Not to mention her demanding job.
Cindy then got involved. “Oh so Sandy is working and studying now. We thought that she stays home and looks after you.”
Don with a funny look turned and looked at Cindy then he carried on by saying, “We are not helpless. We don’t need anyone to stay home to look after us, plus if her brothers and sisters would have kept in touch with her they would have known how wonderful she is. None of you know of how successful she is. The promotions she has received are beyond belief.”
Donna feels the situation is getting much too tense and tries to change the subject. “Is anyone hungry? I do not know why but today I cooked for over ten people. I must have known we would have visitors.”
Joshua replied, “No thanks we can’t stay that long”
“Josh don’t tell me that you do not miss my cooking? Anyway I will not have my son walking out of here without having lunch with us.”
Joshua felt his mother’s pain and said. “Yes Mum I do miss your cooking. Let me make a phone call and then we can have lunch.”
Cindy followed Joshua outside “Josh how long you are planning to stay? Your i***t sister will be back soon. I really don’t want to talk to her.”
“Please leave it there, Cindy. A part from Sandy being nice to you, what has she done to deserve this kind of hate?”Joshua asked
“If I knew you would do this I would not have agreed to come here in the first place.”
Joshua for the first time stood up for himself by saying. “Well you know what? If you are not happy you can leave.”
Cindy then goes back in and waits for Joshua to make his phone call, while Donna was preparing the table for lunch.
They all sit around the table. “The food smells so good Mum” Joshua said
“I hope it tastes as good.” Donna replied.
Don joined the conversation by saying. “No one has ever complained because you always make the best food.”
When they finished lunch they move to the tea room.
While Donna is making the tea Sandy walks in “Oh my god is that really you?” While running towards Josh she drops her bag on the floor, then she grabbed Joshua cuddled him and gave him so many kisses. She then goes towards Cindy and kisses her on cheeks.
“How was lunch Sandy?” “Don asked
“Not as good as yours. If I knew Josh and Cindy were coming I wouldn’t have gone.”
Cindy tries to be smart so she says “Tell us Sandy how is work?”
“You know work is work and there is nothing new.”
“But for us it is new. We didn’t know you are working. What do you do?”
“I get paid for something but I do not know what. All I know is that I am earning my living and that is it.”
“Do not underestimate her.”Don jumped into the conversation. “You know, Sandy got promoted. Right now, she is relieving the directors for three months.”
Cindy and Joshua looked at each other and put their heads down. It looked like they were embarrassed because only those two knew what was going on behind Sandy.
Don felt the shame look on their faces so he kept quite.
Sandy felt the tension and said, “Come on Josh tell us about yourself and what are you up to?”
“Nothing more than what I have been doing all my life. Replied Josh
Cindy quickly jumped by saying, “Josh has always been a CEO. There is no higher position than his.”
“What about you Cindy? Are you working?” Sandy asked
Cindy tried to change the subject by saying, “Josh we have to leave now. Remember you cancelled our lunch appointment. We really have to make the other one.”
Sandy was smart. She did not try to get an answer for her question because she did not want to embarrass Cindy more than that.
Joshua and Cindy then got up, said good by to everyone and left.
Monday morning, Sandy went to work. This Monday was to be different from any other Monday. She gets to work before everyone else and opens the doors. She sat behind her desk and from her window, stared at the empty store thinking I have to meet the director’s approval by increasing the sales. She stayed at her desk for quite a while making plans, until she noticed the first employee arriving. She ran to the door and greeted every one of them as they walked through the door. They were all shocked as to how down to earth she was.
When she let the last employee in she went outside to take a big breath. As she was admiring the fresh morning breeze she saw an old man looking in rubbish for food. Her heart stopped. She could not believe at this time and age people live in poverty.
Tears filled Sandy’s eyes. She ran to the man and said, “Please stop looking through the rubbish.” The then looked at her and said, “What do you know about hunger? I am hungry and need food”.
“Just stop and wait a minute. I will bring you food.” She quickly ran inside, grabbed her bag, bought some food and gave it to the man.
“Thank you Mam.” the old man said. “I am sorry if I was rude to you. Before I was hungry and when you approached me I thought you wanted to condemn me like everyone else.
Sandy turned around and said to him. “Who am I to condemn you?” She then walked back to work.
It was around ten am when two of her senior staff knocked on her door. Sandy asked them to come in. Rebecca and Sullivan walked in with some papers in their hands and sat in the chairs
Sandy said, “What is up?”
Rebecca then handed the papers to Sandy by saying. We have given Susan a warning which will be followed by a termination.”
“Susan?” Sandy called out.
“Yes, Susan. She has been late every morning and now she pretends that she is sick. Even when she is at work she is not productive.” Sullivan replied
“Have you talked to her to see what her problem is?” Sandy asked
“No everyone knows the rules, but Susan is ignoring them. Rebecca replied
Sandy looks at Rebecca with anger and says. “Sometimes we have to spend time and find out what the problem is. If we fire everyone that seems funny without finding out the cause, we will be left with no employees.”
Sullivan tries to back Rebecca by saying. “We are only following the rules.”
Sandy grabs the papers and says. “Thanks I will look into this. Do not take any further actions against Susan before consulting me.”
When Rebecca and Sullivan left her office Sandy went for her routine check. When she got to the section where Susan was working, she paused for a while watching Susan. After a few minutes she goes directly to Susan.
“Hi Susan how are?”
“Good thanks for asking” Susan Replied
“That is good” Sandy said
While walking away Sandy turns around to have a second look. That’s when she sees Susan leaning on the bench in front of her, so she decides to go back and investigate.
“Is everything ok”? Sandy asked
“Yes everything is fine.” Susan Replies
“Then why were you bending over the bench?” Sandy asked
Susan’s tears started rushing down on her face
“Sorry, I did not mean to make you cry.”
“Sandy I am so sorry to take your time. I know how busy you are.”
“Do not worry about me. Tell me about yourself?”
Susan then starts telling Sandy how she left her country and followed the guy she loved. When she got here he took her home but his parents refused to let her stay there. Away from their vision he placed her in the shed and would sneak her in and out of there. Nor did she have no money to rent a place, apart from her boyfriend, she doesn’t know anyone.
“I found this job to help me save enough money to rent a place but a few days ago his parents found out that I was living in their shed. They came and kicked me out. I sneak around and sleep in the store cellars. Recently some people found out and dobbed me in. I received a warning from Rebecca and Sullivan but I really don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Oh my god I am really homeless.” said Susan before she cracks into tears.
“Does your man work?” Sandy asked.
“He was before I got here but when all these things happened to me he quit his job so he can look after me.”
“Well I can offer your man a job, but you have to promise not to let anyone know about this. When he starts working here, you have to pretend that you have just met. In the meantime just stay in the cellar until you two have enough money to rent a place.”
Susan pinched herself while Sandy was talking. She was asked why you did that.
She replied. “I am making sure that I am awake and this is not a dream. Sandy, I seriously am so thankful to you.”
“Don’t forget your promise” Sandy said while walking away
The next morning Susan got to work early. Her face was glowing out of happiness and no one knew what had happened to make her feel so good.
Sandy went to Susan slowly and said, “Well what your man thought about my offer?
“My god” Susan replied. “He was so happy and said when we rent a place and settle down we should get married.”
The next day Susan’s boyfriend (Martin) meet with Sandy she was pleased to hire him straight away due to an open position in the store room.
- Writer
