The window cleaner

A friend indeed.

Two girls had already ran into the tampolene room and asked her mother for the first aid box.

" But Ramlah is not present. Isn't she at the facility at this moment?" Asked her mother who was rather surprised.

" Ma, Ramlah was already  on her way, when the  locals rushed in two young men who had been attacked by a bull. Their injuries are very much severe." Said one of the little girls who had taken hold of the first aid box that contained all of Ramlahs medical possession.

" Severe you say. Waste no time and take it to her. I will be out as soon as the pain in my legs allow me to take a step." Said Ramlahs mother .who wasn't surprise at her daughters decision. She knew very well that Ramlah was an embodiment of selflessness and always tried to solve the problem of others before her own.

Not wanting to look odd to the crowd, Zaynaba reluctantly joined her friend and the two little girls in tending to the wounds of the the young men who appeared to be peasant farmers from the sorrounding suburbs of the town. Since they were many normads in the villages, cases of bull attacks were quite common among the locals. The vitamin K injections which Ramlah had administered to the two men had helped greatly in cloting the blood, thereby stopping the bleeding. But since she had no zylocaine injection to numb the pain from the piercing stitching needles. She had to give them handkerchiefs to place in their mouth as means to surpress their piercing screams from attracting more crowd that already encircled them.

[Hours Later]

It was almost midnight as stictching up the wounds of the young men had taken longer than Ramlah had expected. What baffled Zaynaba the most was that after receiving treatments from Ramlah. The two men bowed their head in shame and pleaded for her to give them a few days to sell off thier harvest.after which they could pay her for her services.

" I will have to hold you two to your words. As you can see. I have exhausted all my cotton well and bandages in treating your wounds. I will need to restock for the next emergency. Please do not forget to pay up as soon as you sell off your farm produce. " Said Ramlah without an ounce of anger or disappointment in her voice.

" Thank you very much Ramlah. May God bless your kind heart." Said the two men in Unison as they bowed their head in appreciation before being aided on top a ricksaw which towed them back to their houses.

" Good gracious is this how you operate your business .you really needed a job more than I thought and I'm afraid you have blown the opportunity. I just pray that other cleaners cover up for my absence if not I will be in deep trouble. " Said Zaynaba as she washed her hands. And cleaned the blood stains on her body.

" So that's it i guess . I have blown my chance to get a job and just to think I got not even a scent for it. How do I cope if all this locals don't pay up their bills . All my stocks are almost finished." Said Ramlah almost breaking down in tears. As it was only when she had finished tending to the patients needs , that she realised the magnitude of the opportunity she had missed . This made her feel sorry for herself and she sat down on the beach sand and cried quietly.

" Do not be sad my dear . It's not the end of the road. The day is still too young to be written off. Get up we going to see the Doctor right away. " Said Zaynaba as he picked up the file which now had stains of blood around it. "

" But Zaynaba. I have goofed on the first impressions. Turning out late to an appointment. I feel bad about my life .I tell you . I really do." Said Ramlah as her sobs became louder. Zaynaba knew that it wasn't the personal benefits of the job that bothered her, it was the pain of loosing an opportunity of securing a good job to fend for her siblings, that made her bitter and Sad.

" Doctor Allen is a Kind man. I am sure he will see reasons to your delay. It's always better to be late than never showing up at all. Now get up and be strong for your parents. " Said Zaynaba as she held her friends hand and dragged her up.

" If I have to drag you through the streets of Salda Kalif, I will not hesitate to do so . As long as I'm dragging you to a better life .

Said Zaynaba with a comforting smile to her friend.

" Thank you Zaynaba, you have been a pillar in my life since I came to Salda Kalif. You are a friend in deed. Let's hurry and catch a bus before it's too late." Said Ramlah as she sniffed , wiped her tears and returned her friends smile.

The two friends were in luck to catch the last train that left for the town . This meant they had to pay less in transport fare as the buses were more costlier to ply. Darkness was gradually eloping the town and it was only a matter of time before full darkness had decended upon Salda Kalif. As soon as the train stopped all the passengers began to alight and the two young girls also hurriedly followed suit.

" It's really been a while since I came to the main town. " Said Ramlah in air of nervousness.

" Well , I come here on a daily basis. There is really nothing spectacular about the Town. It's beautiful and that's just that . I prefer the peaceful slums which are more quiet and filled with friendly people. Out hear, all men are strangers to each other . Everyone thinks for his self and for his self alone. " Said Zaynaba as she held tightly to the hands of her friend and hurried towards the facility which was about ten minutes walk from the rail station.

Soon they had arrived at the facility and the two girls headed straight to Doctor Allens office. Where he sat reviewing some files.

" Good evening Sir. This is my friend Ramlah. The nurse from under bridge. I'm sorry she came late sir . She had no money for transport and hard to treck down here on foot. " Said Zaynaba in a rush of words.

" Oh how sad . Well Zaynaba , i think your friend can speak right.?" Said Doctor Allen who was still engulfed with the files on his table.

" Yes sir. She can. " Said Zaynaba and signalled Ramlah to speak.

" Good evening Doctor Allen. I am sorry I had to come late. Please forgive my negligence." Said Ramlah almost sturtering in fear.

" You had no transport fare and trecked down here all the way from the suburbs. Hmm . Is that really so my dear." Said Doctor Allen and raised his head for the first time to catch a glimpse of the girls. "

Ramlah was mute for a while. She was in a vox pop between compromising her home training and betraying a friend. She concluded that Zaynabas lie was harmless and needed no defending.

" No sir." She said and looked down in guilt having betrayed her friends information by answering contratry .

" Well then tell me why you are late." Said doctor Allen and sighed relexingly.

" We were already on our way to the facility about two hour ago , when the locals had rushed in two men that had been attacked by a bull. Their injuries were severe and I couldn't garner the strength to abandon them even though I knew it may cost me a chance to get a job. Their injuries were in multiple regions thus, both stictching and dressing took up most of our time. Forgive us sir. We are sorry about that." Said Ramlah and bowed her head so as to avoid the vicious eyes of Zaynaba who was furious that her friend had betrayed her.