WHO IS TO BLAME

Part 4

"The girl you saved earlier gave that note" said the little girl.

"Thanks princess" said Rashid

"Are you going to call her?" Asked Princess the little girl.

"I wont lie to you princess, i wont call her. As you know, i only saved her life just like i did for others who needed my help. She just has to thank God she is saved why does she need me to call her?" Said Rashid

"She wants to thank you personally" said princess

"Princess i dont want to get involved with rich people. She is fine and thats all that matters" said Rashid

"Whats wrong with rich people?" Asked princess

"You are too young to understand but we are the low class people. We cant associate with the rich. They are higher than us and they see us as servants only" said Rashid

"Are all the rich people the same?" Asked princess

"I dont think so princess but i know its 1% in a 100%. Can we eat peacefully now?" said Rashid.

"Atleast call her. Maybe she is among the 1%" said princess

"I'll think about it princess. Lets eat" said Rashid and the two sat down on their small table to eat.

Rashid never called Esther that night and it bothered Esther so much. Early the next morning, Rashid woke up very early and prepared princess for school. She was studying at Author memorial academy a private school. Rashid was doing his best to make sure his sister had the best education ever. He dint want princess to be like him.

"Rashid you have to come with me to school today" said princess

"Why princess? Is there a meeting?" Asked Rashid

"No but we have a new class teacher reporting today. All parents must know her so that they wont get confused during academic clinics and meetings. For that you have to put on good clothes and not those fishing clothes " explained Princess

"Okay i'll go change but i hope it wont take long. I have to get back to fishing" said Rashid

"I know brother. When will you open the fish butchery?" Asked princess

"Probably next month" said Rashid and the two left for school when Rashid had changed his clothes. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and black trouser which was his Sunday best and used to go to every meeting with it.

Esther on the other hand was ready for work and took her car out to roll. She was going to be a teacher for the first time. She was done with teaching practise and was just 22 years old. Such a young teacher in the best school in their county. She arrived and found that some parents had arrived with their children to meet her, the new teacher. The headteacher called her to his office immediately she arrived at the compound. Some of her to be students started to point fingers at her. She overheard what some of them said and just smiled.

"She is beautiful"

"She has worn a nice dress"

"I guess she is nice than our previous class teacher"

"Who said she is our new teacher?"

"Well, we've never seen her here so she must be the new teacher"

Thats what the students discussed as Esther followed the headteacher. When she was no where to be seen, thats when Rashid and princess arrived.

"I hope your teacher has arrived. I dont want to be late" said Rashid impatient

"Relax brother. I know she wont take long" said Princess as other parents still came in and sat next to them. Princess saw her bestfriend Precious and went to her. Rashid kept looking around to see the new teacher but couldn't see her. He decided to call his team mate and inform him that he was going to be late. Just then the headteacher called for a parade and all the students ran to the assembly as the grade 5 parents sat down waiting for the new teacher.

"The rest of the students, you can go back to class as i remain with the grade 5 students who have a new teacher. But before that, we'll all meet the new teacher so that we can all be free to associate with her and even ask questions. Madam please welcome" said the headteacher and Esther walked at the front of the parade.

"Good morning students. Am madam Esther Nyaboke but i'd prefer you call me madam Essie. Am the grade 5 new teacher but i'll also be taking English and CRE in grade 5. Maximum cooperation is all i need from you. Thank you" said Esther and stood aside. Rashid was not even concentrating and so he did not see Esther at the assembly. When the students dismissed, Esther was shown an office where she found a very beautiful desk and a very comfortable chair. The parents started going in one by one to see the teacher according to how they sat. Each parent went in with their child. Rashid's turn arrived and went in with princess. He was shocked to see the lady he saved from drowning. He dint know how to look at her when he dint call her. Esther was surprised to see princess but dint know the man was Rashid who saved his life.

"Hey i know you. You are that girl i met yesterday at the beach right?" Asked Esther

"Yes maam its me and this is my brother Rashid" said princess smiling.

"Oh nice to meet you. You saved my life and am so grateful" said Esther

"Its okay. I did what i thought was right. Can we continue with what brought us here" said Rashid who was in a rush.

"Okay but really am grateful. Anyway there is not much. I'll just give you my contact and you give me yours. We'll contact one another for the child's sake" said Esther

"Is this another way of her trying to call me?" Thought Rashid.

"What is are you thinking? I know i you never called me but am not trying to get your contact" said Esther as if she knew what he was thinking.

"Nothing like that but where do i write it down?" Asked Rashid and Esther gave him a book with parents contact where he wrote his contact.

"May i leave now?" Asked Rashid

"Yes you may and am madam Esther just to let you know " said Esther and Rashid quickly left for fishing after pecking princess. Before another parent went in, princess ran back into the office.

"Hey princess, how may i help you?" Asked Esther

"Am so sorry if my brother was rude to you. He is just in a hurry for work" said princess politely.

"Oh is that it? Its okay. What does he do anyway?" Asked Esther

"He is the best Fisherman in mnarani and the most hardworking. The most generous man on earth. He is my whole world" said princess happily

"Oh wow thats so incredible. What about your mom and dad?" Asked Esther.

"Rashid is my dad and is my mom. He took care of me ever since i was two years old when our parents died in a ship wreck. He dropped out of school ever since then and took care of me. He is my world" said princess

"How did you know all about this?" Asked Esther so amazed.

"Even though Rashid hid all of this from me, neighbours do talk and i accepted my truth. That is why i love and respect Rashid more than anyone in this world. Without him am nothing" said princess in tears and Esther hugged her so tight. Princess made her cry too.

"Dont worry Esther. If you ever lack anything dont hesitate to tell me" said Esther.

"Thank you madam Esther" said princess

"We'll meet in class. I've got to meet other parents" said Esther and saw the little pretty girl run to class happily. She really pitied her situation. Esther wondered her life without parents even though her parents were ever busy with work and work all day and night. They only talked about money.

Later that evening after school was over, Rashid delayed to pick up princess. Esther was not supposed to leave school unless all her students had left.

"I think Rashid is held up somewhere. Come i'll take you home" said Esther and opened the car for princess.

"I've never been in a car before dont talk about your Pajero madam" said princess honestly and was awed to be in the car.

"Well atleast you are in one now" said Esther smiling and drove the car according to princess's directions. They arrived at her home in no time.

"He is also not home. We'll check at the beach. I wonder what's keeping him" said princess so worried but just then they saw Rashid pulling a boat to the shore. He put his fishing nets so well and carried his fish heading home when he saw princess and her new teacher.

"Rashid, you dint pick up today. I missed you carrying me on your shoulders" said princess hugging him

"Am so sorry princess. I had not gotten any fish at all and without it you wouldn't have your supper. I had to stay alittle longer and then i finally made a catch for supper" said Rashid

"Its okay brother, madam Essie brought me home in her Pajero" said princess happily. Rashid couldnt face her after sounding rude in the morning.

"Thank you" said Rashid to Esther

"It doesnt even repay the favour you did after saving my life so its okay" said Esther smiling

"Am sorry i cant offer you anything but please come to my house. Its just nearby. I was so worried about princess. I dont know what i would do without her. Am nothing without her" said Rashid emotionally.

"She told me about that. The two of you have an unconditional love. I wish i experienced such kind of love. Anyway i'll visit your home next time. I have to go" said Esther

"Its okay i understand" said Rashid and they all turned to escort her to where her Pajero was.

"Oh my God!" Said Rashid immediately Esther turned to leave and he walked over to her and hugged her from behind.

"What..." started Esther but Rashid cut in. People around were already looking and princess wondered what her brother was doing.

"Thank you so much for bringing my sister home. I'll hug you like this until you arrive at your car because am so happy" said Rashid loud enough for everybody to hear. Esther was still in shock and dint know what Rashid was doing.

"Rashid has gone crazy" said one woman who was buying fish and the rest laughed along with her.

"Am sorry for doing this crazy act but actually your dress is stained. Just move on with me to your car and just smile" whispered Rashid to Esther's ear.

"Oh my God! Thank you so much" said Esther as she and Rashid walked to her car making up the hug.

"Rashid is the wisest man i've ever seen" said one man who was a good friend to Rashid. He had understood what Rashid was doing.Princess ran along beside them as they approached the car.

"Princess please get my sweater from the lines" said Rashid and princess ran to get it and brought it to him. He took and tied it around Esther's waist.

"This is my gift for bringing my sister home" said Rashid trying hard not to make princess understand anything.

"I'll keep it safe and thank you so much" said Esther and quickly got into her car to leave.

"Thank you for helping me with my homework" waved princess as Esther left and Rashid carried her into the house.

"I left my fish at the boat. I'll go get it as you take a shower" said Rashid and went out of the house. He was about to leave when his friend Mr Abubakar came and pat his shoulder.

"You handled the situation in a wise way my boy. Am so proud of you" said Mr Abubakar patting his shoulder again and this time Rashid smiled shyly. He got embarrassed at such situations but he was glad.

"Anne this Rashid is not just any man who saved my life. He saved my honour too" said Esther on her phone. She had arrived home and changed her clothes after a birth. She was thinking of Rashid when Anne called her up.

"What did he do this time?" Asked Anne

"If someone else would be in his shoes, he would have laughed at me but he dint do it" said Esther

"Tell me now. What did he do?" Said Anne impatient.

"I dint know that i had stained my dress when he suddenly hugged me from behind. When everyone turned to watch, he pretended to be thanking me for bringing his sister home. He saved me from embarrassment" said Esther excitedly.

"Oh wow! Thats awesome. I'll tell mercy about it but be careful Essie. Rashid might just make you sleepless" said Anne and hung up.

"She is crazy. I was just appreciating how a true gentleman he is" said Essie dropping her phone. She looked at Rashid's sweater and smiled. She then placed it well in her wardrobe. She had the best Night ever. She wanted to call him but she hesitated. Rashid on the other hand dint get bothered by anything. He had a normal night but Essie had a sleepless night. Princess slept wondering why her brother gave out his only sweater to a rich girl. She dint ask that night but early in the morning before she went to school, she had to ask her brother.

"Rashid, why did you give madam Esther your only sweater? She is rich and can buy alot of sweaters. Why give out yours?" Asked Princess really troubled.

"I was just helping her out princess. You wont understand right now but when you grow alittle older, i'll tell you and you will understand" said Rashid.

"Do you promise?" Asked princess.

"I promise my dear. Now run to school before you are late" said Rashid who was in his fishing attire. He took the girl out of the house and was surprised to see Essie waiting outside her car. This time it wasn't a pajero but rather a Lexus.

"Madam Essie" shouted princess happily and ran to hug her.

"Is this your other car?" Asked princess

"Yes its my birthday gift of last year from my mom" said Esther.

"Wow! Why are you here?" Asked Princess

"Your brother helped me alot yesterday and the other day. He first saved my life then saved my honour. Am here to try and return that favour by always picking you up everyday for school and bringing you home from school" said Esther simply looking at Rashid who wasnt bothered at all.

"Thank you! Bye Princess" said Rashid and left for fishing.

"Is your brother always like that?" Asked Esther when they were in the car.

"Like what?" Asked princess

"Forgive me but he behaves grouchy. He is always serious" said Esther and princess laughed.

"My brother is a sweet guy. Its just that he dislikes rich people. I dont know why but he says rich people are not our class and that poor people are just slaves of the rich" explained princess. They were now at the school gate.

"Thats bad to think coz all of us are humans. I've never disliked poor people nor have i judged them" said Esther hurt by Rashid's thinking.

"Maybe you can change how he thinks" said princess

"You are clever and bright. I'll try my best. Go to class i'll be there to read the register" said Esther after packing the car and they part ways. When Princess arrived in class, all eyes were on her.

"Aint you even ashamed of yourself?" Asked the richest girl in class called Brianna standing up.

"What did i do wrong for me to be ashamed?"asked princess sitting on her desk.

"Dont you know that poor people dont associate with the rich? How dare you drive in miss Essie's Lexus? Do you know how much it is? Its a very expensive car and only rich people drive in it not poor fishermen. Your brother cant even afford to buy himself proper clothes. Stay away from miss Essie. She associates with people like me, the rich" said little Brianna proudly and sat back at her chair.

"Tell her bestie! Poor fisher girl!" Said another girl beside Brianna. Her name was Stella the daughter of a surgeon. The whole class laughed at princess except of her bestfriend Precious. Princess was in tears as miss Essie almost reached her class. She heard everyone laugh and when they noticed her, they all sat down silently. Princess then walked infront of the class making miss Essie stand at the door watching what she wanted to say. She wiped her tears and her eyes were on Brianna.

"You are right Brianna, am poor and you are rich. But whats the difference between me and you when we study in the same school. Your uniform is just like mine. We all look the same. My brother is a fisherman and your father is a great business man the owner of Saffron Jewelery. But have you ever seen me going home for school fees? Some of you laugh at me and you are always sent home for fees yet my brother is a fisherman and am poor. If you guys are so rich, why are we in the same school? Why am i always at first position and not you rich people? My brother was right, the poor are just slaves of the rich. And he is also right in that only 1% of the rich people are kind hearted. You guys belong to the 99% heartless rich people but miss Essie is not among you. She is rich but kind hearted and thats why she dint despise me even when she knew i was poor. She let me drive in her car because she saw no difference between us. Afterall we are all humans aren't we? Yes am poor but if how you behave is what i called richness, then am proud to be poor" said princess and ended up crying again. Precious ran to her and hugged her in tears. Miss Essie couldnt hold back her tears anymore. She cried and ran to hug princess.

"You shouldn't despise people just because they are poor. We are all human beings. Being poor isn't a choice. No one wants to be poor and always remember that whats goes around comes around. Today you are rich but its your parent's money. You never know tommorrow where you will be. God forbid you might end up being poor so dont judge your friends. The Bible teaches us that we shouldn't judge because one day God will judge us himself. What's the need of pointing a finger while four others are pointing at you? All of you have to apologise to Princess. Am not happy with you today. You disappointed me! Apologise now!" Said miss Essie angry at how her students had misbehaved.

"Sorry princess" said the whole class in unison.

"I forgive you" said princess and smiled at miss Essie who hugged her.

"Where did God bring such a kind child ftom? I wish i met her earlier. Rashid had nurtured this little girl so well and all alone with no ones help. He is a great man who is every girl's dream" thought miss Essie before reading the register.

The day at school was normal but not for princess and Essie who kept thinking about each other. Essie kept thinking of how Rashid and princess have good values yet have been raised by no parents. She kept asking herself why some people lack values yet they have both parents raising them. Was it because good values come naturally?

Princess on the other hand kept thinking why a rich woman like miss Essie would be so close to a poor girl like her and treat her with alot of love. She kept asking herself why miss Essie wasnt like the other rich people who despise the poor. Why was she on her side? Was it because her brother did a favour to her or was it because she was just different? That evening as miss Essie dropped princess home, they were both silent until they arrived home. Rashid was home early and was already preparing supper.

"Hey princess how was school?" Asked Rashid hugging his little sister and took her school bag.

"It was nice" said princess lowly.

"Hey whats wrong?" Asked Rashid noticing how low his sister was.

"She is just tired. We took an extra class together just to finish her homework" lied miss Essie avoiding to tell what had really happened that morning.

"Oh really, thats good. Thank you so much ma'am Esther. Am almost done with supper, can you please join us? I've cooked alot of food. Please dont say no" said Rashid who was smiling that day. It wasn't so normal for him to smile that broadly.

"Princess go get a shower as i finish cooking. Food will be ready when you come back" said Rashid and rushed to the kitchen to check on the stew he was making. That day he cooked princess's favourite food Rice and beef stew. He was so happy.

"Miss Essie you lied to my brother. He has always taught me not to lie and only to say the truth. Am sorry but i will tell him the truth" said princess and ran inside the house before miss Essie said anything and followed her inside. The house was so simple with a radio on a table at the corner of what she saw to be a living room. There was just two old sofas in the living room and she sat comfortably on one as princess went to have her shower. There was an opening opposite to where she sat and it led to the kitchen where a small dining table with four chairs existed.

"The house is small but i hope you don't mind" said Rashid laying out the table for dinner.

"I dont mind. Its beautiful and clean. How do you manage all this?" Asked Essie

"Well thank you. I just wake up early and clean up before i wake princess up for school. When she prepares herself, i prepare breakfast for her" explained Rashid

"Wow! Princess is well behaved with good values. You raised her all alone and she is a wonderful girl. How do you do all this?" Asked miss Essie

"Well am glad she is a good girl but i really dont know how to answer your question. Maybe i just taught her what my late parents taught me" said Rashid

"They must have been good people" said miss Essie

"They were the best parents ever. We were not so rich but we were satisfied by what we had. A small mansion,Two boats and a small ship which earned us alot. We were happy until one day this man just arrived in town and wanted to claim our property. I was 17 but my parents dint tell me Everything but i wasnt blind. This man used his money and we were out of our own house. We had no place to stay and decided to live in our ship. My mom was nine months pregnant with princess and she gave birth in the ship. The ship which used to carry tourists and earn us money was now a home for us. We dint lose hope. We were still happy when princess came to life and we held a grand celebration at the beach. We had no enough money just alittle savings of my dad and i had to shift schools. From private i came to a public school. I thought the rich man would live us in peace now that he took our money and our mansion but no. I dint know and i still dont know what gradges he had with my family. I just wish i knew and solved it all. Maybe my parents wouldnt have died" said Rashid so sad

"What happened that day?" Asked miss Essie

"I had just come for halfterm holidays from school. I was in a boarding school. It was my final year in highschool but still in the first term. My parents had found a small house and bought it. They asked me to stay behind with princess as they went to pick some of our other belongings back in the ship. I waited for them but they never came back. Just news of their death came back. They had promised to hold a party at the ship for me. My birthday was just the next day. I was turning 19 but as an orphan. No one was ready to help me. I had to take care of princess all alone. I had to drop out from school and work. When she was three, i saw how bright she was and i took her to school where she joined grade one due to her brightness. Teachers loved her till today she is in grade 5 with just 7 year old. I wish all this was a dream but it isn't. But am happy to have princess with me. She is my everything and i only want to see her smile. Since you recently became her teacher, princess just talks about you and always smiles alot. Thank you ma'am Esther" said Rashid wiping a tear from his eyes.

"I promise you that i will always look after princess and its not because you saved my life but because i love her whole heartedly. She feels like my own" said Miss Essie Wiping a tear too. All this while, princess was at a corner listening to them and when she heard what miss Essie had just said, her heart melted. She got out and hugged miss essie in tears.

"You are so kind and my heart was right about you. You love me as your own and not as a favour" said princess crying in her arms.

"Hey we are not in a burial. We should all stop crying. Your brother was so happy when we came in so we shouldn't be crying" said Miss Essie and they all smiled wiping their tears.

"Rashid, miss Essie is a wonderful woman. Earlier at school people were talking ill about me just because we are poor but she took my side. She made all of them apologise to me" said Princess smiling and miss Essie shyd away.

"Thank you ma'am Esther. You are a great woman" said Rashid smiling broadly.

"Just call me Essie. Dont be so formal with me" said Esther.

"Okay ma'am Esther. I mean Essie. The food will get cold. Lets eat" said Rashid and they all went to the dinning table and he served them.

"Hey! My favourite food. Now tell me, why did you cook my favourite food? Its not yet my birthday" said princess as Rashid just smiled. Miss Essie watched him smiling and she smiled back. He had a contagious smile and his dimples made him look so cute. She couldnt stop looking at him. She wished to see him smile like that everyday.

"Will you answer or just smile? I wont eat unless you tell me" said princess

"Why dont you guess" said Rashid

"Okay i will guess. Fatuma is now your girlfriend" said princess and miss Essie's heart skipped abit.

"No silly" said Rashid still smiling

"Okay billy i'll try again. Its your birthday" said princess knowing that she was. Wrong

"Seriously?" Asked Rashid

"Come on brother am not good at guessing so just tell me" said princess sulking

"Remeber i told you that i would soon start my own business?" Asked Rashid

"Yeees. So?" Asked princess

"So Princess Halima Abdalla, my fish butchery is ready and it will begin as from sartuday" said Rashid happily.

"Oh Allah, am so happy brother. Am so so happy"said princess and jumped out of her chair to hug Rashid. Miss Essie was also happy for them.