Chapter 3 From the very beginning

It was another day to put things in place and Regee's mum called to hear from her and her friend Sally.

Mrs Peterson is in her mid fifties and has not really been of sound mind since the death of her husband.

But nevertheless she is beautiful and think with just Regee's kind of complexion and hair with full legs.

She has dimples that effortlessly reveals at just a simple smile.

Regee told her mum about all the failed auditions and she in turned promised her that it would only get better.

Mrs Peterson owns a heirloom inherited by her husband and she said maintenance is going just fine.

The call ended with Sally promising Mrs Peterson that she'll let Regee visit some day.

"What are we having for breakfast?"

"Regee asked yawning"

"Well, I think this morning we'll have a fine ass young man with chiselled abs, chocolate looking to be precised."

Sally responded adjusting her flowering pink pyjamas.

"I think I'll pass"

Regee said smiling.

You don't like dark guys?

Sally asked revealing her bulging eyes.

Mid twenties, Regee, you're in your mid twenties and you have options

Wow!

Sally said heaving a sigh.

"I've never had a choice in life growing up, anything just goes"

Regee said punching a key on the piano.

"Well all that is about to change, I'll be taking you for shopping and you'll definitely have a choice, because you're gonna slay for keturah Ama

Sally said punching a key too.

Awwwwn, my Sally boo boo

Regee said giving Sally a hug.

"So it's bacon and eggs for breakfast right?"

Sally asked disentangling the hug.

" With lots of black pepper"

Regee said, while Sally went to the kitchen.

Most of the house bills are paid by Sally, infact she own the house.

And she understands Regee's plight and doesn't put her in any pressure.

The keturah Ama's show was coming up in few days time and it's like a 4 days couunt down.

Regee has been anticipating as it was perceived as the breakthrough to her dreams.

She is a talented pianist despite the fact that she didn't get to college due to in adequate funds.

People who knew them, question their status. It wasn't expected that a family of three would struggle.

Wealth sometimes was just a dream she only believe she can achieve when she chases hard, but had severally doubted it.

Her struggling life came to it's peak when they could just do nothing but watch her father die.

She could still remember her mother's loud sobs.

The death of her father was a profound loss that was felt deeply and profoundly. It was like a passing of a guiding light, He was a sheltering presence, and a very loving Husband, even though providing was a bit tough on him.

Watching him that night I could feel, a sense of numbness, followed by a wave of grief that felt overwhelming. The pain from her mum's tears that night brought a realization of poverty as a heavy burden to carry.

It happened on the 17th December, during the cold winter

Pa, was brought almost dying mum had to rush him to the hospital, I could hear him mutter

1- 9- 9-9-5-5 faintly, but that night seemed quite to just me for some reasons I could hear the chirping sound of the nocturnals (crickets) which was quite odd for winters.

Regee was twelve, and just eating cereals on the table, the cereals didn't taste good anymore mum was sulking while trying to drive our old truck.

I can remember her yelling that I get behind the truck, she was singing old hymns in tears, my father's soft painful moans was heart piercing.

The darkness of the night was palpable, it didn't seem like Christmas, there were lights but they looked dark like a heavy blanket that suffocated the world of the family of the Petersons in the truck.

The snow fell in thick, heavy flakes, each one a tiny painful dagger that pierced, for the first time in my life, the sight of snows didn't amuse me. LA was dark.

The wind howled like a lonely wolf, its was like pa's mournful cry was echoing through the empty streets.

The cold was biting, but the pain from my mum's sobs and Pa's moan were stings a bitter chill that seeped into my bones and frozed my heart.

The snow-covered trees stood like skeletal sentinels, their branches etched against the sky like a delicate pen and ink drawing.

The world was hushed, very hushed a quiet so profound it was almost deafening.the only sound outside the truck was the soft crunch of snow underfoot, a reminder that even in the stillness, there was still life.

Tilting to the side of the truck I could see the moon hung low in the sky, a silver crescent that cast an eerie glow over the snow-covered landscape.

God knows how wonderful exploring these scenerios would have been without the presence of moans and old sorrowful hymns

The stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across the velvet expanse, a celestial reminder of the beauty and wonder that lay just beyond the reach of the lonely night.

The darkness seemed to press in on all sides, a physical presence that threatened to consume everything in its path. And yet, in the midst of the cold and the darkness, there was a strange and haunting beauty, a reminder that even in the most desolate of nights, there was still a glimmer of hope to be found, and I really hoped that this hope found a way in my mother's heart.

"1-9-9-9-5-5"

My father muttered those numbers again, but this time in a very weak tone .

Mum speed up and didn't mind the Rickety sound from the old truck.

Soon we were at the hospital.

Nurses ran out with stretchers to lift my dad, the sight of the blood that oozed out of his mouth still remains a fresh memory.

Pa was shot on the neck.

Soon the doctor came to request for a deposit to commence operation

But my mom did have up to 89 dollars and my father was just given pain reliefs

And left to die.

I watched my mum cradle pa's frail body in her arms, I could see her tears falling like rain upon his pale skin. Her sobs were raw and anguished, I had never seen my mum cry that hard,a primal wail that seemed to shred the very air around her.

Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen,she seemed to be puring out torrent of grief, as if the very thought of losing him was too much to bear.

"Not now lord"

Mum said wailing.

Pa's eyes, once bright and full of life, now laid sunken and still, I could see the spark from his eyes dimmed by the cruel hand of fate. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath, a fragile reminder that our only crime was poverty.

And pa breath his last muttering 1-9-9-9-5-5.

Regee's twelve year old self could not process the lost of her father yet, it only dawned on her when his corpse was taken away.

"Pa"

She whispered, with Mrs Peterson clutching her tight to her self.

The night in her world just began.

......................

"Breakfast is ready"

Sally called out, awakening Regee from bad memories.