HEART OF GOLD

It was a hot May afternoon, in the heart of Sokoto State in the Northern part of Nigeria.  At the new site somewhere in the outskirts of the town where a new 45 meter telecommunication mast was installed. Work on the site had been ongoing for quite sometime now. 25 years old Tony, a telecommunication engineer, was working on top of the mast a moment ago but then decided to climb down to get himself something to drink - his sweat soaked clothes was an indication that the sun was very hot up there.  Lifting up his head, he saw a girl approaching, hawking soft drinks - she had a medium sized plastic basin on her head with different brands of soft drinks neatly arranged inside, kept chilled by ice blocks - just the way soft drink vendors hawk their wares in this part of the world. What incite his interest was that the drinks in her basin were arranged in an orderly manner in the order of their brands. She wouldn't be more than twelve years old. Dressed with old pieces of clothes and an old pair of flip flops that seemed to have seen better days. Dark skinned with deep blue eyes. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, one would say that she has the height to go with her slender feature. As she came closer, he couldn't help but to take in her  appearance. Her clothes were clean, finger neatly trimmed and legs clean and well oiled with no trace of foot marks on her toes. No doubt, the girl had a neat and orderly personality behind those old clothes. A child this young should be in school and not on the street hawking. Something must be wrong somewhere.  He couldn't comprehend why any parent in their right senses would allow their child to go through this at such a tender age.  "Buy your soft drink," she called out, snapping him out of his thought. It was then he remembered that he had something more important to be worried about - like the need to tackle the monstrous thirst that invaded his focus and spoiled his concentration; the very reason he came down the mast. So, he beckoned her over. "Good morning sir," she greeted in a strong Hausa accent as he helped her put down her wares. "Thank you, how much do you sell your minerals?" "150 Naira for one." "Can I have a bottle of coke and 7up please?" Oh, that guy and 7up, a thought of Alex popped up in his mind, he loves 7up too much for his own good. Switching back his attention to the girl who was still busy sorting out his request, he asked, "What is your name?" "Miriam," was her abrupt response.  "And how old are you, Miriam?" She stretched out the minerals in her now hands to him, not so tactfully evading his question as she said, "take your mineral, it is 300 Naira you will give me sir." Wow! He didn't see that coming. Although he was not too surprised by her reaction because it was not uncommon among ladies in this vicinity to have such cold disposition toward strangers, especially toward men but coming from a child, wow! This mannerism flows deep. "Oh that's rude." He frowned. "Sorry sir. I didn't mean it like that oh... it's just that I have to go now."  Gesturing towards her basin which was still full, she said, "see, I just started market oh, I still have many minerals to sell." "It's OK," he nodded in understanding, satisfied by her explanation. He then brought out his wallet and handed her a 500 Naira note.  "Abba, customer!" she exclaimed still with the strong accent, "me I don’t have change oh, see," She said, zipping open the money bag that was strapped by a rope to her waist in an attempt to show him it's content. "Keep the change," Tony interrupted. "No oh!" She shook her head. "I can not keep it oh." Looking around in search of somewhere to make change, she said, "let me ask people around whether they will give me change." This girl is cultured, she seems like the type that doesn't accept gifts from people she does not trust. He thought.  A strong urge within prompted him to help her in any little way he could, so he tried a more diplomatic approach.  "Don't worry Miriam," he began, putting on the best innocent smile he could muster, "I mean no harm, consider me a friend." For a while she stared right into his eyes warily, checking out he could be trusted. Seeming to be satisfied by her findings, she smiled broadly and collected the money bending one of her knees in a way of appreciation, "Thank you sir." "You are welcome." She then picked up her basin and left. "Buy your mineral," she kept calling out until she disappeared into the distance. Wow! So much courage and strength of character from a little girl! She acts too mature for her age.  "Tonero my man," Alex call jostled reality back to his busy mind.  "Look at you. The way you look right now, someone who doesn't know you may conclude you are a paedophile." Alex studied him a little further, and gestured with a wave of the index finger in front of his face, "I know that look on your face, Tony. I know you have a knack for helping people but whatever you are thinking right now, forget it." While ignoring what he said, Tony threw him the bottle of 7up, "here, have this." "Ah 7up!" Alex exclaimed as he caught it with ease, raised the bottle to his eye level and stared at it like a recovered treasure long lost, "thank you man, you are the best." "What's up with you and 7up?" Tony chortled as he unscrewed the cover of his drink and took a sip. "Would you blame me?" Came Alex's blatant reply as he did the same with his 7up. "This is the first time I am setting my eyes on 7up since we came here. This thing is really scarce here, you know," he lamented. A brief moment of silence passed between them. "I kind of wonder why such a young girl like that would be victimised this way," Tony spoke up stirring the discussion back to the earlier topic. He was about taking another sip, with the bottle of drink already on his lip when Alex's response came, "how do you mean?" Tony retracted and asked, "You saw her hawking, right?" "Yeah, no one with eyes can miss that," came Alex's sarcastic response as he  took another sip from his drink. "A child her age is supposed to be in school at a time like this, and not on the street hawking," Tony said with a very serious expression mixed with concern. "Well." Alex shrugged. Holding Tony' s gaze for a cople of minutes with a look that screamed 'I dare you to do anything stupid,' he added  "she certainly has her story to tell, as we all do." Alex drank up the remainder of his drink and disposed the bottle in the waste bin nearby and said, "Let's get back to work, we've spent so much time here already." With this said, he left.  Tony disposed the now empty bottle of his drink and climbed back up the mast to resume his work also. *** *** "Miriam! Miriam!" Standing in front of the entrance door to Miriam's house, Amed called. "Amed!" Miriam called back with excitement lacing her voice. "I am coming. Please wait for me, let me arrange my things." "Be fast, the others are already waiting, they sent me to come and get you." Just then, she came out wiping her hand on her dress. She just washed them a moment ago. "OK, I have finished, let's go." Amed was one of her few friends. Besides Musa and Rashidat, Amed was the only other friend from school that sticked even after the unexpected termination of her education three years ago.  Miriam liked Amed so much for one simple reason, Amed never judged her. His father, Alhaji Danjuma was one of the richest cattle farmers around who owns the biggest ranch in Sokoto. As a son of such a rich man, who would think Amed would associate with the likes of Mariam? Even with all the 'choose your class' sermon his mother continuously pestered him with and the disapproving glare she never failed to throw at Miriam any time she found them together, Amed never stop making out time to spend with her and the twins, Musa and Rashidat. Hand in hand, they ran off to their meeting spot, a place they chose to meet after school  for bonding between all four of them. They met here daily apart from Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. It was a cool spot under a mango tree not too far from her house, there the twins were already waiting. "You make us wait for you again." Rashidat pouted. Rashidat was well known for her dramatic tendency. "Leave Miriam alone, Rashidat," her twin quipped, "we all know that things are not easy with her right now." "Well, I am here now, so let's start." Miriam said. So, they started by playing a spelling game, after which Amed brought out his English text book from his portable bag which had been lying under the tree. This they took turns to read, savoring their moments together. Miriam always looked forward to this; she loved their time together so much, that's how she'd managed to improve her vocabulary and spoken English this far. A/N: What do you think of Tony & Alex. Please comment, like, add to your library and follow if you like the story.