Black Eyed Susan

A particular villiage can be found at the outskirts of Abuja, (a state in Nigeria). The morning light shone in, making the room brighter, the curtains swaying side to side due to the cool breeze.

A girl of average height, slim, and fair, with an all back braided hairstyle can be seen cuddling her self and enjoying her sleep almost forgotten it time for school.

"Jane!! Won't you get ready for school? Haven't you slept enough!" Mama liya, (Jane paternal grandmother ), shouted from the kitchen.

She was worried that, Jane might be late for school and end up missing some important lessons, so she decided to wake her up by shouting from the kitchen whilst cooking at the same time.

Jane hissed, frustrated that the weekend wasn't long enough.

" Jeez! Why is the weekend always short?!

Two days is just too small.

Oh well, am in it already.

Time to get ready for school.

Grandma am coming, just some minutes please."

Jane quickly made her way to the bathroom for her morning routines; brushing her teeth, taking her bath, and dressing her self.

"Morning Mama liya." Jane greeted as she walked towards her grandma.

Ever since her parents died two years ago and left her with nothing, since they were into lots of debts before their demise. Jane's grandmother took her granddaughter to her village, and since then Jane has been living with her grandmother.

Even though, life has not been easy for them, cause her grandma was into petty trade, and she had been diagnosed with leaukemia stage two.

Jane is always helping her grandma to hawk around the village after school in order to make more sales.

Mama liya smiled as she saw her one and only precious granddaughter coming towards her.

" Morning my jewel, did you slept well?"

"Yes granny, I did so very well." Jane replied her and grinned.

Mama Liya just smiled once again, her precious granddaughter is nothing but a blessing to her and seeing her everyday fills her up.

After the greetings, Jane immediately ate her breakfast and was ready to leave for school, but she halted and turned back.

"Grandma, I will try and ask my friends, if they can help me with something about your treatment.

I know you don't like that, but we don't have any choice. You know we don't make much from our petty trade, and sadly all our family members shone us. "

But somewhere deep inside her, Jane still hoped for some of their family members to turn up and help them.

A defeaning silence could be catched, after her sentences. Her grandma stared at her for a while, then she stood up and walked over to Jane side.

"My dear, I understand your points even more, and you are right. We have no choice, but no matter what our pride must stand. It not about been egoistic, you should get it.

We keep begging them all the time, still they turned a deaf ear on all our pleads.

"I can't stop you, if you want to ask help from your friends, since I know it because of me. Thank you my joy, am grateful."

Mama Liya felt blissful for having a child like Jane beside her. She really hoped for a miracle, and wished Jane could live a life free from worries.

She would have asked help from her relatives but most of them are misers and only care about their interests.

"Oh ma, you don't have to, okay?! I love you, and am ready to do anything for you, so pls stop thanking me Mama. I should be the one thanking you instead.

"You raised me after my parents died and took care of me. You always make sure to satisfy me with anything I ask.

"You didn't even make me miss any parental love, so I am more grateful granny darling.

Emm, am running late ma, I need to go. Take care."

Jane said as she hugged her grandmother and realized her time was running out, then she quickly took her leave.

Mama Liya just chuckled at her granddaughter's behavior.

~~~~~~~~

At school.

Jane can be seen gisting with her three best friends; Viva, Mabel and Mart.

Viva: a chocolate skin girl with short brown hair. Tall and slim, also the brightest student in Jane's class.

Mabel: fair in complexion, a bit long hair, average in height, and the most beautiful student in Jane's class.

Mart: black in complexion and average in height.

"Hey Jane, have you heard about what happened to Evie?"

Mart asked Jane.

Jane just shrugged her shoulder indicating an, "I don't know sign."

Viva chirped in, " Well, I know. Her family was accused of collaborating with some fraudsters."

Viva decided to let the answer out instead, since she was sure her friend Jane isn't the gossiping type.

Jane dropped her book and looked at her three best friends.

" As for me, I am not interested in knowing anything about Evie and her family.

You guys know am one of the dumb heads students in this class, but this time around I want to make my grandma proud of me and also to raise the money for her treatment, so gossiping about someone's life isn't my priority now, okay?"

Jane wanted to let her friends know about things, that are not of her concern. Gossiping about others is the least of her priority now.

For Christ sake, she just wanted to face her studies and find a way to help her grandmother.

Mabel and Viva rolled their eyes at Jane words, whilst Mart commented,

" Yeah we know Jane, and we will love to help, but the economy situation is honestly too bad."

"Anyways, we are sorry Jane!"

The three chroused together.

"It okay guys,am not upset but

just sad."

Jane said and continued, " I really need to raise the money, so I can help grandma."

Mabel moved closer to Jane and side hugged her

" We understand, and right now we promised we will try to help you in anyway we can okay, but you need to shake that stuff out, and let's have fun girl. What do you say guys?"

" Yeah. " Viva and Mart shouted together.

Jane just chuckled.

" Alright!"

Their fun time was interrupted by the village head daughter (Mira).

" Well, well, well! What do we have here, a lowly foolish girl gisting with her best friends.

Oh, so peasants can also make friends hun."

Jane was used to Mira harsh words but ignorance is bliss, even though she can't deny the pain of those mean and harsh words.

She just decided to let it go, cause honestly she really doesn't have time to battle words with Mira, not when she has more significant things to face.

Mabel and Viva just glared at Mira, if looks could kill, she would have been ten feets beneath the ground.

Mart stood up and sneered.

" Look whose talking, you know what? You can just cut to the chase. Meaning that, just admit you are jealous or envious of Jane, instead of going another way around."

~~~~~~~~~~~

.

Their fun time was interrupted by the village head daughter (Mira).

" Well well well! What do we have here, a lowly foolish girl gisting with her besties. Oh, so peasants can also make friends hun."

Jane was used to Mira's harsh words, but ignorance is bliss, even though she can't deny the pain of those mean and harsh words.

She just decided to let it go, cause honestly she really doesn't have time to battle words with Mira, not when she has more significant things to face.

Mabel and Viva just glared at Mira, if looks could kill, she would have been ten feets beneath the ground.

Mart stood up and sneered.

" Look whose talking, you know what? You can just cut to the chase. Meaning that, just admit you are jealous or envious of Jane, instead of going another way around."

"You..."

Mira blushed with anger and of course obviously hurt, because she liked Mart and didn't expect him to defended Jane.

Instantly, waves of jealousy surged in her, and she felt like hitting Jane so hard, but she tried to compose her self and scoffed.

" Jealous of a peasant? Oh please, that will never ever happen, not even in the next and next life. But I must say, am curious as to how she can have friends like you guys.

" I mean she is below your class of course, so how?"

Mira's words were like gunshots to Jane, hitting her weak spots. She looked up at her friends waiting for their words of defense. She could still recollect vividly how they became friends.

~~~~

Flash back*

Jane was heading home from school, when she heard a scream coming from a thick bush near her. At first, she was startled and not sure, if she should go and see the cause of the scream.

After, 4 minutes of internal battle with her self, she decided to finally satisfy her curiosity.

Jane trailed the scream and to her utmost surprise, the scream was coming from Viva, the most brightest student in her class.

Jane first thought was to leave her alone, cause Viva had done nothing but cause trouble for her, mock her, bully her, and look down on her. She could remembered a particular time, when Viva mocked her.

.~~~~~~~

Jane and Mart were talking together in their class. Mart was her first best friend, who accepted Jane for who she is.

"Hey Jane , might want to take a look at your test sheet. Gosh why are you so dull? I feel sorry for your grandma, cause she is spending too much on your useless brain and, "

Viva's coming word was cut by Mart.

" You know Viva, we all know you are the brightest girl in class, but do you seriously have to remind us all the time, and let us know we are inferior to you?

"Tell me seriously Viva, don't be too sure of yourself, anyone can fall down, so stop mocking my best friend okay!! "

Jane was flustered.

" Mart, please don't argue with her, yes I know am an air head, so there is no need to argue or defend me. Just let her be please."

She was sincerely grateful to Mart for defending her, but arguing with someone like Viva won't lead to anything but trouble, and the last thing she wanted for herself or her best friend is the so thing called trouble.

"Hahahaha. Don't be so sarcastic Mart, you should listen to your so called best friend and also what is special about her hun to the extent of defending her?"

Viva asked curiously.

Jane tugged on Mart shirt and whispered, " Please Mart let it go. Am the one been insulted, not you please."

Mart sighed.

" Fine, but one last reply, and I will stop okay? No stopping!" Then, she nodded.

" To be honest, you don't have to Know but you need to know that, Jane is my best friend. I like her the way she is, and no one can change the way I like her.

"Now, get that into that sharp brain of yours girl! Jane let's go."

Jane smiled. " Okay."

Viva blushed with anger. "This won't be end for you!"

She was embarrassed and hated Jane more.

Jane halted, when she and Mart got to the school backyard.

" Mart, thank you so much for defending me, people like you are rare."

She said, with a deep sense of gratitude.

" C'mon bestie, it actually nothing. Now, let's go and cool off.

That girl actually turned my blood upside down."

Mart replied her and they both laughed.

.

~~~~~~

Back to Jane's encounter with Viva.

Jane thought, " She doesn't worth it. She sees me as a brainless idiots, so why do I have to help her. No Jane, just leave her."

Jane was about to take a step forward when she felt a hand holding onto her skirt, she looked back and saw Viva, barely unrecognizable due to the pain.

It was a snake bite. Jane remembered a time, when her grandmother taught her how to remove a snake venom from a snake bite via sucking it out. But she was hesitant, cause Viva might do something ungrateful to her again.

Seeing the look of hesitation in Jane, Viva voiced out. Her voice was a little hoarse due to the overwhelming pain.

"Am sorry, but pls help me. I promise to make it up to you."

Jane sighed.

" You don't have to make it up for me, I don't need it. I will just help you, cause one shouldn't pay evil with evil."

Jane placed her mouth on the snake bite hole, sucked it, and spitted the venom out.

Then, helped Viva up and took her to her house. All the while, Viva was silent, bunch of regrets hitting her.

When they got to Jane's place , Jane's grandma was startled.

" My dear what's wrong? You have never bring anyone home from school except for Mart."

Jane just smiled and replied, " Grandma, well she got bitten by a snake, and she needs treatment that why. Nothing more, nothing less."

Mama Liya exhaled. " Oh okay."

After Viva was treated traditionally, Jane walked her out and reminded her to take care of herself.

" Don't worry, you will be fine within two days now. Bye."

Viva whispered, " Am sorry Jane, as from today, I will change I promise."

She really regretted all the bad things she did to Jane and vowed to make it up to her no matter what.

Jane just stared at her for a while, she desperately wanted to ask why Viva hated her that much, but then she changed her mind and replied,

" It almost late, you need to leave now."

Viva understand why Jane was giving her a cold attitude, well she deserved it anyway.

" Okay bye, thanks again."

The second day at school, Jane was surprised, cause Viva changed her sitting position and she was welcomed with a smiling Viva.

Even, Mart and the other students were not left out of the surprise.

Mart walked towards Jane and said,

" Do you have any idea on what's going?"

Jane sighed and explained everything to Mart.

"Wow! " Commented Mart.

"So unbelievable."

Jane just chuckled at Mart reaction. " I know right."

" Hey Jane, am really sorry for everything, and as from now on we are together.

"No more bullying, mocking, or anything. So what do you say, friends???"

Viva approached Jane and asked.

Jane looked up at Mart, seeing him giving a nod as a go ahead sign, she replied, "Friends it is."

And ever since then, Viva, Jane, and Mart became best of friends.

After two weeks, a new comer came to Jane's school. Mabel was introduced and given a seat beside Jane's group.

Being the most beautiful girl in Jane's class, she was able to attract lots of friends, but Mabel not forgetting about being humble made friends with Jane's group, and that was how their journey of friendship started.

~~~~~~~~

Back to the present

Mabel stood up and blurted, " Peasant or not, lowly or not, we don't care. We love Jane for who she is, and it none of your business."

"Yeah! We are best friends, and I don't think you need to meddle in our relationship."

Viva chirped in.

Mira gritted her teeth. " You!!!! You four are so going to pay."

She totally didn't see that coming, and she fumed with anger

Jane's heart swelled up at her best friends words of defense.

" Mira, shoooooo.....get away as you can see, we were into some discussion before you interrupted us with your chicken tantrum. "

Mart voiced out.

Jane, Viva, and Mabel laughed together.

Mart just shrugged his shoulder, while Mira stumped her feet on the ground and turned away feeling embarrassed.

"Thanks guys. I don't know what I will do without you guys. "

Jane faced her besties and said.

Her head really swelled up, and she was deeply grateful for having amazing friends like them.

"Oh c'mon, you don't have to be. We are best friends of course."

Mart replied her.

"Group hug."

They chorused together and laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good day grandma." Jane greeted her grandmother as soon as she entered their little house.

Mama liya smiled seeing her granddaughter back from school.

" Oh my dear, you are back.

How was school Jane?"

Jane sighed and slumped on the chair.

" It was fine, especially because of my friends.

" You know what Mama liya, I wonder what I will do without my best friends, they are always there for me. I just wish everyone can be like them honestly. Maybe the world would have been a better place."

"Of course my dear, I do understand your words, but unfortunately people are different."

Mama liya replied her.

She moved close to her grandma and asked, " Why is our situation this poor Mama, even the government can't help us, not to talk of our families.

"Why do they hate us that much?"

Mama liya looked at her granddaughter's eyes welling up and replied her,

" Hush my dear, it okay. I know you are just worried about me, but don't worry.

" I will be fine, just for you. "

She consoled Jane, but deep inside she was also hurting.

Her little granddaughter was suppose to be enjoying her life as a teenager, rather she was busy thinking about ways to solve their current predicament.

She also knew she can't hide her Jewel from this mean world, cause struggles and pains are also parts of living.

" I will try and work hard on my academic studies, get educated fully, and wealthy.

"So, I can help you and take care of you, cause you are the only one left for me, and I don't want to lose you. "

She said with a shaky voice.

Mama liya hugged her granddaughter and whispered in her ears,

" No, you won't lose me okay." Jane nodded and hugged her grandmother tightly, afraid of letting go.

~~~~~~~

Next day at school.

Mart was running at full speed towards his and Jane's class. Stepping into the class at last, he heaved for breath, inhaling and exhaling loudly.

" What's up with you Mart?" Mabel asked seeing Mart's action.

Jane also commented, " Yeah, what's with the rush, or are you in trouble?"

After 2 minutes of breathing harshly. " Guys this is good news, you won't believe what I heard. There is going to be a scholarship, which will enable students to study in Lagos or in the advanced cities of Abuja. Isn't that amazing?!"

The girls mouth was curved in an " O" shape

" Wow and wow, and oh my goodness!!!!" The three blurted out.

" This is so cool." Viva voiced out.

" Yeah right. I mean, this will be a chance for me to achieve my dreams and help my grandma."

Jane smiled, thinking heaven was on her side.

The other students were curious about what the four best friends were discussing, and soon the news about the scholarship was spread to every nooks and crannies of the school.

Jane was in her own thoughts, hoping she would be given a scholarship to further her education which will enable her to help her grandma, but she also knows that she needs to work harder, since it will be a tough competition. Then, she decided to take extra lessons from Viva and read more by herself.

"Hey Viva, can you take me some extra lessons after class?

"You see, I also want to improve academically." Jane asked Viva with full hope.

" Hummm, my girl wants to be serious this time. Don't worry, I will support you."

Mart chirped in, making Jane to rolled her eyes. "Shut up, before I smack your head and stop teasing me. "

Mart stood akimbo and stared at Jane in a ridiculous way.

" So, you have finally gat the gut to talk to me back hun?"

Viva and Mabel just chuckled.

" You guys, chill ok." Mabel piped in.

"Sure Jane, I don't mind taking you extra lessons." Viva sessed.

Their conversation was overheard by Mira's lackey.

" Boss Mira, I overheard Jane and her friends conversation about the scholarship program coming up.

" It seems they have a plan of winning it."

Jime, a lackey of Mira reported what he overheard about Jane and her friends plan on the coming scholarship program.

She smiled conceitedly.

" Ohhh, is that so? Then, I guess it pay back time. I will make sure she and her friends pay for every insults they said to me."

Jime asked Mira, " So boss, what should we do now?"

"Oh that, you don't worry. Just follow my orders." Mira curled her lips up in an amusing way, thinking about how her plan will work out so well..

~~~~~~~~~

Two weeks later.

The scholarship program had been released, making the students to buckle up and improved themselves.

As for Jane, positivity runs in her mind seeing how she had improved well during these past two weeks. She was hoping for a chance to set her life and her grandmother's life straight.

Even her friends were amazed about how good she is catching up.

" In two weeks, we will be doing the scholarship exam. Oh, am so excited!"

Viva squealed.

Mabel joined her. " Yeah, me too."

Mart and Jane chroused together,

" We too."

" Oh wait guys, let's talk about our plans when we get to the city, or haven't you guys thought about anything?"

Mabel asked curiously.

"Well, as for me, am just going to further my education more and be a surgeon." Viva cheeped happily.

Mart smiled.

" My own plan is to become a painter, you girls know how much I like painting. "

The three girls grinned. " Yeah, we know."

"What about you Jane?" Mabel directed her gaze to Jane.

"Hummm, I haven't really thought about that but wait, I would love to go sight seeing and yes to look for a job, so I can save up and help mama liya." She uttered in a determined tone.

"Awwwwn. " Her friends warbled together.

"Hey guys quit it, that's a very good plan Jane. As for me, I will love to explore the city and also pursue my passion of becoming a beautician of course."

Mabel trilled.

The four best friends all hummed and laughed together.

~~~~~~

At home

Jane walked to the scene of seeing her grandma coughing drying.

She immediately dropped her local leather bag, and ran toward Mama liya, meticulously patting her back to relieve her, and passing her a glass of water beside the bed.

After three minutes, Mama liya finally stop coughing. " My dear, thank you."

Jane hummed. " Seriously grandma, is there anything wrong? What's with the sudden cough, you almost made me cry."

"Hush, my dear you know I don't like to see your tears, now clean that little drop from your precious eyes. Yours eyes are too beautiful to shed tears. "

Mama liya then sighed. " It about the sales. They are too poor and today, someone came here to say my goods are fake and useless. She even threw and scattered them on the ground.

"The goods that, I am just managing. How will she just say that? It like she already kept malice with us.

" I don't even want to think about it, but it hurt and, "

Mama liya paused to cleaned her tears, that has started dropping the moment she narrated what happened, when Jane wasn't around and she continued,

" Sorry, I just can't control the tears."

Jane widened her eyes in disbelieve. "No, that's can't be. Why?Who would do that? Because of what?"

The last word came as a whisper, while she slumped back gently on the bed.

~~~~~~~~~