Chapter 2 Transformation

Tamar woke up early that morning and all she could think of was Claire, she wanted him to return back to South Africa soonest. She was happy that her plan to end the prostitute business will soon end. She called Alice the next day to inform her of her return. " Hello Alice, baby, I am now in love ,I will be getting married soon" she said as she showed her gap teeth. Alice told her she would be coming over to have a strict talk with her senses because according to her, Claire is just one of those guys who end up disappointing ladies.

After two hours, Alice arrived at Tamar apartment. As she got to the wooden door, she badge inside, pushing the door with force, she didn't knock. Tamar was shocked at her behavior and wasn't pleased. " Alice, is anything wrong with you " Tamar asked. " sit down, let me orient you well about the foolish mistake you just made thinking you won a trophy ". Tamar sat down and adjusted herself, ready to listen to the story. " Babe, how could you believe the lies of that guy over what I say, not all that glitters are gold so they say, this man won't come back, I can bet my business and all the men I have with it", Alice said. The room was silent for two minutes before Tamar burst into laughter, she laughed for 60 seconds while Alice was wondering what was wrong. " dear Alice, well this is just to inform you that I am out of the so called business you lured me into, look for girls for your business, and even if Claire doesn't come back, I will survived" she bluntly told Alice and stood up, she told Alice to leave her house and never returned. Alice left but before she did, she confidently told Tamar that she will soon get into trouble and seek for her help.

The moment Alice left, Tamar thought about it too, she wondered why Claire also didn't remember to ask for her contact since he would be away for a while. She still remembers the scent from his t.shirt that night as she cuddled her self close to him at the hotel. She believed that he will soon be back. " I will wait, I will wait for this love of mine to return and take me out of this" she said to herself.

With the money Claire gave her, she established her self in a business and also looked for a job as a sale market in the city of Johannesburg, she wanted Claire to be proud of her, she even wanted to relocate a place where memories of the past won't hunt her, but she then remembered that her apartment is the only way Claire could find her. She took a step to visit the manager at Pride Supermarket, she wore one of the old wears she had before she was introduced to the prostitute business. This one was decent enough, as she put on the cloth that morning, memories again flashes back suddenly, right there, she believed help has come for her. She quickly dressed up and left for the supermarket job. As she got to the junction of where she lived, she was shocked at the way people stare at her, they were definitely surprised at her new wears, Tamar was a lady who could dress half naked before she lives her apartment, she was known for that and that was the only way she could attract men to herself. She shamefully left the street quickly so as to attract side talk. While others were gimmicking and laughing, some were asking themselves about her sudden change, some even said maybe an angel had visited her the night before. As Tamar got to the Supermarket, she wasn't allowed to enter because everyone knew her and wouldn't want her to cause commotion, she told them her desire to work at super market and promised to be hardworking. " this is not a hotel or a disco party, we buy and sell here,we work here miss, here isn't for you" one of the workers said. Tamar tried to explain her reasons for coming to work with them but they all turned deaf ears to her, for the first time in many years, tears flowed out of her eyes. Some of the workers mocked her " That job is the best for you, not here, or do you want to sell yourself here" one of them said. They had disgustingly told her the Supermarket wasn't meant for people like her, some of them were even scared to let her work because they thought she would take away their husband. At that point, Tamar left quickly with tears in her eyes, she got home and the first thing that came to her mind was to call Alice, Alice has been a good friend to her though she knew the prostitute business wasn't for her. She called Alice and explained all she went through that day, Alice reminded her about what she said the other day, she knew somehow that Tamar wouldn't survive alone without her. She however, forgived her and told her to leave her apartment to hers for some days. Hurriedly, Tamar picked some few wears and left to Alice apartment. Alice was the only one she could rely on as far as she still remain in the city of Johannesburg.

Its been a month now, Claire didn't show up and Tamar was ready to continue her business after Alice had counsel her. She started forgetting everything about him and believe what Alice said. But as she was about getting ready for the first night with her client after a month break, she didn't feel alright, she felt weak and wanted to throw up, Alice told her to try and be fine inorder to meet up with the old man waiting for her at the hotel. As Tamar tried to take a walk out, she collapsed on the ground. Alice quickly rushed her to their nearest clinic.

The nurse who attended to Tamar was a very good woman, about 40 aged, she was plump and short and she had the best smile. She promised Tamar that she was going to be alright but she Tamar wanted to know the reason she had slumped earlier. The nurse told her that she was a month gone. " Nurse, what do you mean, I can't believe I am pregnant " Tamar said. Alice rushed in to the room as she heard Tamar screamed. "What happened " she asked. Alice was told that Tamar was pregnant and would need a lot of rest. " remove the baby, we don't need it" Alice said. " How can I take the life of a baby at this stage, why not allow the baby girl to live " The nurse advised. Tamar was surprised how she knew it was a girl since they haven't done scan yet. With a smile on her face, the nurse held her hand and said " my daughter, many ladies like you have been here, and I just have told them the sex of the baby they are expecting, I see it as a gift from God. If you allow this child to live, she will bring you wealth and joy and that which you desire shall come to you" the nurse said as she leaves the room. " we don't need this baby for anything, besides, your clients is still waiting, remove it now so you can attend to him" Alice said. Tamar needed some more time to think, she knows the child belongs to Claire, she touched the surface of her tummy and felt Claire back to her, she knew Claire was still alive somewhere but wondered why he hasn't come back to her. She wanted a good life but she doesn't know how to survive herself without Alice, and since she couldn't get any job around rather than being humiliated, and nobody was ready to patronise and buy from her,she decided to terminate the child. But she was told that the nurse who had attended to her earlier has signed out for that evening, and the person in charge at the moment cannot conduct the termination without the consent of the doctor. But she told Tamar to come back the next day as the nurse who attended to her would resume. She had a superior position and was capable to conduct the termination even without the doctor's permission. So , Tamar and Alice left and decided to return the next day. They cancelled their meeting with the client for the next day. As Tamar lied down that night still contemplating on her decision,deep down she didn't find at peace terminating the child, she wanted to keep the child as a reminder of Claire. She refuses to eat that night. Alice then gave her some conditions, she said if they were going to keep the baby, then she would be sold immediately or used as a medium to make money from their clients. After much thought, Tamar rejected the latter condition and opted for the first one. She knew that she was going to see her baby again, thereby selling her inorder to establish herself in business, if possible, leave Johannesburg for good to a country no one knows about her, then come back for her daughter. She wanted to collide with the nurse who attended to her about it, she knows that the nurse was nice and that she would find a good buyer for her or even buy the baby herself since she said the baby will bring her wealth and change everything about her. She decided to keep Alice away from her decision because she knows Alice might not support it, she even planned to go to the clinic herself. With this idea Tamar had, she was relieved a bit ,she decided to eat and sleep for her to wake up early inorder to prepare for the next day discussion with the nurse. Little did she know that, what will change her life for the better was just around the corner.

************************************************************************