Mabel stepped closer, lowering her voice with cold insult. “Chance for what? You even look like a husband snatcher. I don’t want girls like you near my man. Get out.”
Angela tried again, but Mabel pushed the door wider and drove her back out of the compound.
Angela walked away slowly, her chest aching.
Just then, a car entered the compound. A young man stepped out. His name was Jeff, the owner of the house. He noticed the sad girl leaving and frowned.
“Who was that?”
Mabel rolled her eyes. “Just one poor girl who came for interview late. I chased her away.”
Jeff looked at her. “That’s the reason? Mabel, that’s not nice. We really need help in this house.”
“So what?” Mabel snapped. “I don’t like dirty girls around you.”
Jeff shook his head and said nothing more, but he kept thinking about the look on Angela’s face as she walked away.
Angela returned home tired and empty-handed. Their small room was quiet except for the rough sound of her mother’s breathing. Her mother sat up slowly when she saw her.
“My daughter, you’re back early. How did it go?”
Angela sat beside her and took her hand.
“Mama… they didn’t take me. The woman chased me out.”
Her mother’s face fell instantly. “Oh no. Angela… what will we do now? My medicine is almost finished.”
Angela gripped her hand firmly. “Don’t worry, Mama. I will keep trying. I will find another job.”
Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “Sometimes I fear I am a burden to you.”
Angela shook her head hard. “Never say that. You are my blessing. I will keep going, no matter how many places I have to trek.”
Two days later, Angela was still moving from street to street, asking for work wherever she could. Her legs hurt, but she kept going. On one of those roads, she saw the same old man again—Papa James—sitting quietly near a kiosk.
