WAY BACK HOME

THE PROMISE

Inspector, please this ain't fair he can't just be arrested for no valid reason, it is unjust. I said in a rush to the inspector who was instructing his men to put Danny in the prison cell. Excuse me ma, we are doing our job OK, the Inspector said in a commanding tune, not understanding nor pleasant. You'r doing your job? is this how to do your job? arresting someone under no offence really? I said back commandingly in a no-joking manner, as I was more serious and angry as I could ever be. Ma, he has been arrested under the accusation of harassment, the inspector said to me as he went to have his seat. And am sure you know that the accusation is no joke? he asked rhetorically, looking directly at me., whe...... well yes but what prove is there that he harrassed? and by the way, he didn't harrass any one. You can have my word on that. Look, Hannah, I am sure you know your dad is the one that registered the complaint against him, not me and he is a straight forward person, so I need no prove to his word the Inspector said to me strictly. Yeah I know, I know my dad lodged the complaint but it is not true. OK, Danny has done nothing wrong, he didn't harrass me or anyone in any sort of way. In fact, he was harrassed by my dad's men. Miss Hannah, please you should understand that we are not working on your words but your dads', the inspector said angrily as he closed his file as if he was irritated by my sight. But sir since my dad lodged the complaint, I can withdraw it right away since I am his daughter and the complaint was lodged on my behest. I said to the inspector as I wiped my tears, hoping that it would work out that way and not caring if he was irritated by my sight or not. After all, all I want is to just bail Danny out cuz seeing him in that situation makes me want to cry, it feels like I am the one in there. Miss Hannah, I don't think you understand. Your dad lodged the complaint, not you, and on his orders no one can bail him out except him. Hope you have got that now. He said strictly has he stood up and left my presence.

Danny! I said as I ran to the cell where Danny was kept to see him. Am sorry, am really, really sorry it my fault my dad put you here and i can't even be of help to let you out. Have tried bailing you out but the inspector is mean and strict that he doesn't care of the fact that you did't do anything and then he said that my dad said you can't be bailed out by anyone except him I said crying. Come on Ann don't cry Danny said consoling me. You can just go and try to make your father understand by talking to him nicely and am sure he would listen and let me out ok, He added. You don't know my dad like I do. The fact of him saying that you can't be bailed out except through him means that he won't let you out so easily. My dad is really complicated and he won't listen to anyone I said in a very sad tune. But I can talk to my mom. Yeah, mom loves me and she would understand. I said as the idea had just blurted out. Let me go and talk to mom. I am sure I would understand and do something about it OK, I said to Danny in a consoling voice, assuring him that I would be back with good news. OK, then Danny said not looking so happy. Well, who in their right senses would be happy in such a situation?

Mom!! Mummy!! I called out, angry. Ma'am your mom is not home. She went to see a friend of hers. She said she would be back late in the night, Maria, one of our workers, said to me. OK thanks, um, wait ! I called her back. Did she tell you the time she said she would be back? She said latest by 9:00pm. Ok! I said and went up to my room angrily, still furious with what my dad had done. I called up people I know could help me with the situation but nothing was working. I started crying as I had no idea what to do next.

Pii......m was the sound of a car horn at the gate. I looked over to see whose car it was from my room's window. It was my dad. I took a deep breath and cleaned my tears off and angrily went down stairs.

Dad, hope you're happy now, I said at the top of my voice furiously. Then I bounced down the stairs with boldness like I was going to go and fight a war or so.

Look, whatever I did was for you OK? You won't understand now till later in the future and you will thank me for that.

For me, you say it so casually, like you know what I want or like you understand my feelings or you probably know what I feel, more than I myself, the owner of the feelings I said and, wipe the tears that slide down my face off, breathing heavily out of anger.

Like I said, you won't understand and, yes, know one can u better than the man that watched you grow up.

Really? So, where is that man today? I said, stopping my dad from walking out on me.

Hannah, I said, let not talk about it, respect that so I won't lose it with you. He said angrily. I was muted by those words for a minute while standing like someone who was paused with a remote.

I want you to lose it with me, I said in a loud voice, challenging my dad, after I remembered that Danny was counting on me. My dad stopped and looked at me.

What did you say?

Yes, dad, I mean it. I want you to lose it with me. You are punishing an innocent person and that to for the crime of loving your only daughter and wanting and willing to make her happy. So, yes, loose it with me, I said, crying.

What is going on here? my mom asked, curious to know what was going on, standing right in front of the entrance door. I've never been this elated to see my mom. I wiped off my tears and ran to give her a hug first.

Sweetheart, what is wrong? she asked, concerned.

M..... om mom, I said, trying to hold my tears back. Dad...... dad he arrested Danny based on false accusations. Those words came out with so much pain. He told the inspector that Danny harassed me, which was not so, and dad also refused bail for Danny. Mom, you know what, if Danny doesn't get released on time, the probability is he is going to court, which is not good at all. I blurted to my mom while crying my eyes out. My dad walked out on us as I was talking to my mom.

Sweetheart, don't cry. Wipe those tears, my mom said as she wiped them off for me. I would talk to your dad OK, worry not. She said and assured me with a smile.

Unable to sleep through the whole night, wondering what Danny would be going through. I picked up my bag and car keys at 6am and went off to meet Danny. On my way out, I met with my dad, who tried to stop me, but this time I was more stubborn than ever as I didn't pay heed to anything he had to say.

Madam! one of the police men called out to me. What! I yelled out to him. Em..... you can't go in it not visiting hour yet. does it look like i care if it visiting hour or not? no right? so f**k off my way cuz am going I said going in.

Inspector sir, she isn't listening Sir I told her not to go yet but she went in either way.

"Don't worry, let her go" the inspector said to the police man like there was a thought going on in his head.

I'm so sorry I am late. Look, I brought breakfast for you I bought on my way here. That is why I came late. Please eat something OK. You see, I spoke to my dad but he didn't budge, but then, my mom assured me she would talk to him after I explained everything to her. I said with a smile of hope. Take and eat OK, I said to him, passing the food to him through the bar space.

How can I eat when my mom is home? Probably worried sick about me not knowing the condition I am in. Sorry I can't, okay?

I know, I understand, but then if you don't eat, your mom won;t be happy when she sees you, especially when you would look lean, so eat, at least for her sake. I picked a spoon full of food and I tried to feed it to him hoping what I said was convincing enough and you know if you eat I would go and check on her OK. Finally, he was convinced enough and he ate, but not very well, but it was more than enough though.

Ann! He called me back. Yes I stopped. Please promise me you won't let my mom know that I am in jail. If not, she would be worried about it, which is not good for her health.

I placed my hands on his and promised him that I wouldn't let her know and that I would put things right.

Danny! I promise I will set things right, you will be out of here. And yes, I promise I will take care of you till things are put into place. After giving him my word, I left with full confidence in myself and in my promise.