AGE( it is just a number)
Princess Juliet
Episode 1
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Meet Hazel Dakota
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A cold sweat broke out of my forehead and I mopped it away with my fore arm….
Opening my mouth , I tried to say something but didn’t find my voice ….
Are you deaf? My employer ,Mrs Martin barked at me and I shook my head nervously
Good! Then tell me , how did you loose this much money? She asked, tou-ching the account book
I erm er don’t erm . I stuttered not knowing what to say
I was confused as well!
What the hell are you saying? are you trying to say you don’t know how $ 1000 got missing? She half yelled and I swallowed ha-rd
I thought you were a good girl Hazel but now I know better, you are nothing but a pathetic thief! She retorted angrily
No ma! I am not thief . I said trying to defend myself and she scoffed
Then tell me, did the money suddenly grow wings and fly ? She asked in sarcasm
I remained quiet , lost in my own thoughts
The only time I left my duty was when Donna s£nt me on an errand to…… wait! What if she knows something about the money?
And as if re-ading my mind , Mrs Martins asked
Do you by any chance leave your duty post today?
I exhaled de-eply, this was the only chance I have got to vindicate myself
Yes ma, Donna s£nt me on ….. I tried to say but she bu-tted in
Donna! And why would you drag my daughter into this mess? Are you trying to say my daughter stole the money! She retorted in a huff and I bit my lowerl-ips trying to st©p the tears from rolling down…
You are not only a thief Hazel , you are also a pathetic liar . She accused
having said that , she picked up her purse from the table , opened it and brou-ght out a few cash
Take this. She said , handing the money to me
I looked at the money and then at her
What should I do with it? I asked confusedly
That is your pay off . She answered rudely
Pay off! I repeated staring at the few dollars I was holding and that was when the realisation hit me , I have just been fired!!!!
Immediately, I went down on my knees and clutched ti-ghtly to her clothes
You can’t do this ma! You really nee-d to believe me! I know nothing about the money . I pleaded but she did not budge instead she kicked my hands off her clothes and then stood up
I don’t want to see you here when I am back or else I will call the cops . She threatened
plea-se ma don’t do this to me. I pleaded as the tears rolled down but it was of no use as she walked out of the mall ignoring my plea-s……
I watched her go and exhaled de-eply
What will I do now? I wondered , staring at the three $20 note I was holding….
$60! It was not even up to my monthly pay
Standing up, I dusted my knees and walked slowly to the counter …
I am sorry Hazel. My p@rtner who had been watching the happenings quietly said and I broke down in tears
I didn’t do it Mike , I didn’t steal the money ….
I know you didn’t do it. he agreed with me
Then why didn’t you defend me in front of Mrs Martins? I asked , ban-ging my fist on the table and he exhaled de-eply …….
You Should know Mrs Martin does not go back on her words so there would be no point in doing that . he explained
Oh yeah! he is right
Picking up my purse from the table , I turned to leave when he suddenly asked…
What do you intend on doing now?
I turned to face him and then sighed
I really don’t know , no one would want to employ a high school dropout like me . I blurted out and immediately regretted it ……..
Erm I mean who would erm where would I see another job within a short period of time ? I asked trying to ease the awkward silence between us and he smiled lightly
I c@m£ across a job vacancy on my way to work this morning but I don’t know if you would like it . he started
Vacancy! What is the job all about? I asked trying not to sound so desperate….
And without saying a word , he opened the drawer in front of him , brou-ght out a flyer and handed it to me ……
I stared at the flyer and went throu-gh it
It was a vacancy for the post of a ” personal maid”
Personal maid! I muttered and then looked up at mike
Can you do it? he asked with a small smile and I shrugged
I guess I can!
I am sorry Hazel but this is the only vacancy I know of . he apologised again , I could tell he was feeling guilty
No Mike! it is alright . I as-sured and he smiled lightly
I guess being a maid is not that bad ! he said trying to make a joke but it c@m£ out dryly…….
I chuckled nervously
I nee-d to be on my way now , I wouldn’t want Mrs Martins to meet me here when she comes back .
Okay Hazel! He said softly and then faced the customer who nee-ded his attention ….
Staring at the flyer I was holding , I walked slowly out of the mall…
The address of the house was boldly written on it and as for the pay , it’s space was blank ……
I sighed
Personal maid! there would be no harm in trying!!!!
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I got out of the mall just in time to see Donna alighting from a big car
And without thinking, I rushed to her and held unto her clothes ti-ghtly
Why did you do it? I asked with anger
She looked at my hands on her cloth , her b©yfri£ndwho is seated in the car and then at me….
What are you doing Hazel! Are you trying to disgrace me in front of my b©yfri£nd? She asked in a huff
Why did you do it? I repeated and she huffed
What are you even talking about?
$1000 got missing today , why did you take it? I asked bluntly and she laughed
Is that why you are all worked up , it is my mother’s mall so I have all right to take whatever I want . She defended herself and my heart churned in pain
Then call to tell her about it . I insisted but as expected, she didn’t listen instead , she pushed me off her and then adjusted her clothes
It is not my fault you were born poor ! She retorted, glaring at me and I gulped ha-rd , ma-king a sound
She was right , I was just an helpless poor girl … oh lest I forget! Let me introduce myself…..
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I am Hazel Dakota a twenty one years old girl who dropped out of high school
I am white , blue eyes, petite in stature which make most people mistake me for a teenager , funny isn’t!!!!!
Hmmmh I live with my sick mother and a 13 year old teenage sister who is still in middle school ….
My dad is late , he died when I was in s£nior year at high school and I hope this explains why I dropped out of school …..
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On getting home , I found my kid sister Alexia outside
She was leaning on the wall and was looking here and there with a bewildered look on her face
And on seeing me , she rushed to me
Hazel! She called with a trembling voice and I bec@m£ alarmed
Are you alright? Is mother alright? What is wrong? I asked in a rush
It is mother, her medication just got finished and I am worried that she might…….she paused, breathing ha-rd and I patted her to calm her down
Does mother knows about the finished drugs ? I asked calmly
No, she thinks it still remains little. She answered, shaking her head
Good!
I opened my purse and brou-ght out two of the $20 note
Take it and go get mother drug . I instructed, handing the money to her …….
But how did you get this? Have you been paid half of your salary? She asked staring at the money
Yes. I lied and without saying anything more, she scurried out of the small compound….
I walked into the house and met my mom in the sitting room
She was laying down on a small foam placed in front of the old worn out sofa with her eyes wi-de opened
Hi mom! I greeted , sitting down on the floor and she smiled weakly
Hazel! how are you? She asked , fixing her gaze on me
I looked away
I am fine mum! I answered and she sighed
She held unto the sofa to sit up and I supported her by holding her w@!st ……..
Are you worried about finding a new job ? She suddenly asked and I froze
how did you know about it mother? I inquired
Your boss called to inform me. She replied and I bit my lowerl-ips
Damn her and her basket mouth . I cursed silently……
I know how you feel Hazel but I believe you didn’t steal the money . She quic-kly added
Sure mom! and ……guess what? I said trying to lighten up the mood
And what is that? She asked with a curious look and I grinned
Tada! I exclaimed, placing the flyer in front of her……
She went throu-gh it and her eyes grew wi-de
Personal maid! She muttered as she closed her eyes
Mum! Are you alright? plea-se open your eyes . I pleaded and when she did , I saw her the tears
My mom was crying , she was clearly not happy about the job …..:
Mum!I called softly and she took my hands into hers
I am sorry for ma-king you go throu-gh this , I am sorry for not being there for you and your sister . She apologised
No mom , it is not your fault . I as-sured and she smiled lightly
I will be fine . I added
She was quiet for a while and then she exhaled de-eply
So have you gotten the Job? She asked but I shook my head
I will go over to the house tomorrow and if the vacancy is still on, I will give it a sh0t ……
Alright baby!
I shifted my gaze back to the flyer and sighed
Will I get the job? If yes , will the pay be good?
I just hope it is because my mum really nee-ds better treatment ….
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TBC