Our Second Mother

The shrill cry of a year old baby infiltrated the air and night peace of dawn in the house of the Alans. Aster ran from the kitchen back to her room and saw her baby brother in tears holding the left side of his forehead making her realize he had hit his head on something upon waking. Perhaps, the door frame or the door itself.

"Don't cry Arby. Don't cry" she cooed while patting his back as he dozed off again on her shoulder. She sighed and carried him to the living room to sleep on the sofa instead of the bed in her room as she was going to wake him up sooner to prepare for

She returned to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her younger ones. In no time, she was done cooking. She looked up at the big wall clock in the living room and smiled satisfactorily.

"Thanks goodness. I still have enough time to prepare myself and the kiddos."

"Wake up Josh" she opened the door of the room beside hers, then the next room beside Josh's.

"Karla, Darla, you guys should get your butts off the bed. You're going to school this morning. Stand up and make it snappy." she switched on the light in both rooms.

Josh grumbled annoyingly for being waked and headed for his bathroom. Quickly, he was through with his early morning clean up and went to greet his sister.

"Morning Aster" he hugged her from behind. Aster turned around and pecked him lightly on his forehead.

"My other half, good morning. Good to know you slept well. You didn't even want to wake up this morning."

"Not that sis, I was just ti......" he stopped halfway without completing his statement. He does not want to complete his sentence so his sister won't feel bad. He had done a lot of jobs the previous day making him feel fatigued.

"What happened?. You were saying something" Aster asked with her brows raised high up and a spoon in her hand. She was dishing out their lunch into their food flasks before he came in.

"How about Arby?. Is he still in your room?" Josh asked changing the topic of discussion. As the second child and first male child of the family, he has the sole and primary responsibility of assisting his sister.

Earlier, he had wanted to complain of being tired, but knowing fully well that she's trying all her possible best to make them comfortable, he immediately kept mute. Things have not been easy for his sister ever since the death of their parents and complaining would make her feel sad and incapable.

Orphaned a year ago, Aster became a mother at the age of seventeen. Gosh!, what were you thinking?. She didn't get pregnant, but her siblings became her children as they were still young to be left uncared for. Her parents died in a car accident on their way back from a business trip.

Upon hearing the news, the whole family broke down emotionally even if some were happy secretly within themselves. Shocking the whole family, was the pronouncement of the deceased will by the lawyer. After sharing the properties the way the Aster's father wanted, the lawyer read the secret will to them.

"My dear children, life is not always a bed of roses and you can't predict what will happen the next minute. In case of any bad happening, I want you all to stay together and support one another. It's not going to be easy, but you'll have to persevere. And my precious Aster, as the first child among my kids, I want to give you an instruction. Under no circumstance, I repeat, under no circumstance should you leave your siblings to the hands of others, not even my family nor your mother's family. I want you to take care of them yourself and bring the best out of them. Till they are grow up, they should never leave your vicinity. One more thing, never trust anyone and don't trust blindly."

This had shocked the family members to the core of their bones, but there's nothing they could do about it. The deed has been pronounced.

"How am I to take care of children at this age of mine?. Not even one or two, but four. Gracious four!. Worst of it all, Arby is at the most delicate stage of life, he's just a year and some months. What am I to do?, how do I do this?, would I not got to school?" Aster had thought severally before picking up the courage to face it.

"It's father's will, dad's instruction. For him to say that, he knows I can do it. I can't let him down. I'll take care of them, good care of us and make sure we succeed in life. Even if it's hard, I won't back down" she had concluded in her mind.

As young as she was, she had cleaned her eyes, straightened up and took up the responsibility with courage and little fear.

Luckily, her father said to leave the house for them and some other things including the amount of money in her mother's bank account as well as his secret bank account which the lawyer gave them the information to in private.

Moreover, she just finished college and was seeking to be admitted in the best university abroad. However, her plans definitely changed. She would no longer be able to go abroad, rather, she would attend the one not too far from their home, in the same country they reside.

"It's better than nothing." she had thought before applying to be admitted.

"He's no longer in my room, I laid him on the sofa in the living room. Go bath for him" she instructed Josh with a pleading tone. Though, she's older than him with two years, she respects him still. Josh hurriedly did what she asked and dressed him for the day after bathing him.

"We're done too!" Karla and Darla giggled as they sat in the dining table dressed in their respective school uniforms awaiting thier breakfast that was yet to be served.

Serving them their food, Aster kisses their cheeks with simles wide on her face.

"Eat up fast, we have to get going. I bet you don't want to be late"

"Of course sis" they dug in their meal and ate silently. Only the sharp clicks of their cutleries hitting the dish was heard.

Minutes later, they whole family exited the house dressed for their respective activities, and entered Aster's car. Don't be surprised, she had learnt how to drive immediately she clocked eighteen.

She dropped them in front of their school gate and headed to hers together with Arby. He's yet to begin school following the culture of their family.

No child was to start school until they're three years old or close to. This was to ensure that any of the Alan's children won't rely completely on anyone. At that age, a child would be able to eat, speak and make little complains at the least.

She sat Arby on the passenger seat, and drove the car –straight to the university.

Aster packed her car in one of the university garage far away from her lecture hall for that day. She can't afford to let her classmates know that she owns a car as there were already rumors going around about her being a slut as she has no other choice than to take Arby with her to the university.

"Oh my!, I'm damn late" she gasped checking her wristwatch on her left hand. She picked up her phone from her purse, and dialed a number. Rang for some seconds, the call was finally picked.

"Hello Aster" said the masculine voice from the other end.

"Hey Kyle, are you free right now?"

"No Aster, I'm pretty busy at the moment. I guess you'll have to take Arby together with you."

Aster sighed frustratingly and alighted from her car. She went to the other side, and dropped Arby from the car as well carrying his baby bag containing a spare diaper and other necessities of his with her.

"Baby, we have to go now but please, don't make noise when we get there." she pleaded with her brother and he giggled like he understood what she said.

Getting to her lecture hall, she entered through the back door of the hall to prevent her lecturer from seeing her. Hell no!. She'll be in for an earful if he should ever see her, not even when she's carrying Arby with her. She sat at the back on a vacant chair, and noiselessly placed Arby beside her. She brought out her book from her bag and began listening to the lecture without the lecturer noticing her sudden presence.

A text message suddenly popped up on her phone. She opened her phone inbox and found out the message came from Kyle.

"Hope you weren't found out?" it read and she replied shortly with a no.

Having God on her side, Arby didn't cry that day till the lecture ended.

"Thank God!" she sighed when everyone began exiting the class. She was having just a three hour class that day and it just came to an end.

Unfortunately, before she exited the classroom, one of her mates informed her that the lecturer said to see him in his office before she leaves.

"Gosh!. What happened just now?. Did I do anything wrong?" she asked herself but couldn't come to a conclusion on why the lecturer was asking for her.

She dialed Kyle's number to ask him if he's through as she didn't want to go to the lecturer's office with Arby.

"I'm in the laboratory, we're having practicals" came the reply.

"Hope there's no problem?" he asked.

"Oh no!. Don't worry" Aster said. She didn't want to distract him from what he's doing. Kyle has been her very best friend since college and she trust him so much.

After herself and her siblings, he's the next and only person she trusts. He had been very supportive and caring since the death of her parents. Whenever she has a class, he would assist her with Arby by babysitting him till she arrives. Though, only when he's free or less busy.

With no other choice, Aster headed to the lecturer's office with her brother. On her way, everyone she passed by gave her scornful glances but she didn't care as long as they didn't cross her path. Moreover, she didn't do anything to be ashamed of neither is she going to explain herself to anyone. She deemed them undeserving of her explanation as they already made conclusions and labelled her as they want. Only Kyle knows the fact that Arby is her brother and not her child.

She knocked at the lecturer's office door lightly and was given the permission to make her way in.

"Good day sir." she showed curtsey as she stood in front of his table. For some minutes, the leturner didn't reply her. Instead, he was busy going through some notes on his table.

"E..ere..mmnnn" Arby's incoherent words made him look up at her and Aster smiled inwardly and rolled her eyes.

"For heaven's sake, I have something else to do. Why is this guy waisting my precious time" she had thought not knowing that her brother would do the magic.

"Miss Alan" the lecturer began speaking to her averting his gaze from her to her brother, then back to her.

"Yes sir, that's my name" Aster replied simply staring intently at him. She tried to know what he was thinking by looking more intently at his face, but was not able to. His face was totally expressionless.

"Why did you come late and why did you bring your baby to the class." he asked to her surprise.

"Oh heaven!, I never knew he was aware about my arrival" she bit her lip nervously thinking of what to say and how to reply him.

"Answer my question miss!" the lecturer's voice sounded angry.

"Emm.emm... I......" she struggled with her words and the lecturer interrupted her now standing on his feet.

"Which gut did you have to bring a kid to class?. I pretended not to see you earlier in order to avoid embarrassing you. If there's no one to stay with your baby, you can leave him in a daycare. Moreover, what about his father?. Shouldn't he take responsibility for his child?. At least just till you finish lesson for the day in case he's lazy to babysit him."

Aster felt bad at the words of the lecturer. She didn't expect him to talk so much to that extent. For heaven's sake, he's a lecturer!. If other students speak the way he spoke, does he have to be so plonky too?.

One thing she can never do is put her baby brother in the care of someone she doesn't know, not to talk of putting him in a daycare as her siblings safety and well-being is her first priority.

If not because of her dream of being well and fully educated, she would have stopped her education for her sibling's sake. She had always wanted to study law abroad, but it seemed impossible as she couldn't cope with the stress, so she had to go for a less tiring course. At least, till her children grow to be more independent.

"I'm sorry sir" that was all she could utter. She can't make a promise of not bringing him to class a next time.

"Sorry?!" the lecturer moved closer to her eye raping her in the process.

"Did you just say sorry?!" he asked more like a yell. Aster didn't say a word, she only kept her head low with her eyes glued to the floor.

"Well, sorry or not, it's your mark that's at stake. The attendance was marked before you entered earlier and you know what that means." he said turning his back to her and placed his hand on his table.

"Sir, please let this go just this time. I'll try my best to make things right." she pleaded with sincerity.

"Hmmmn. make things right. I really love that phrase you used". "Make things right" he repeated slowly, word for word. Almost in a whisper.

"How about you make things right starting now?" he moved closer to her again and rubbed his finger on her chin seductively. Slowly, sweetly, he cupped her cheeks not minding that she's carrying a baby. He bent his head closer to her face, and tried to kiss her.

Aster jerked her hands away from his and moved some steps backwards.

"Mr Carl, when I said I'll make things right, I didn't mean giving my body to you. Never would I do that.

"I repeat never!" she glared at him angrily and stormed out of his office.

"Shameless!" she mumbled fiercely almost biting her tongue.

On reaching where her car was parked, she met Kyle resting on the car. He was waiting for her.

"Aster, what happened?. Were you caught?" Kyle was concerned.

"Let's get into the car for now. We'll talk on the way."

"Don't worry, I'll drive." he offered.

They both entered the car, and Kyle ignited the car engine. Then Aster's phone began ringing.

"Is this Miss Alan Aster?" a voice asked immediately she received the call.

"Yes. Who is speaking please?"

"I'm a nurse at the school infirmary of Skyhall Group of Schools. I just checked the emergency file of Karla Alan and found this number. I'm calling to inform you that she's coughing out blood and needs to be transferred to the main hospital."

"What?. What happened to Karla?" Aster yelled looking at Kyle and Kyle furrowed his brows oblivious of the situation. However, he knows that something bad must have happened.

Skyhall Group Of Schools.

Aster got down from the car hurriedly leaving Arby to Kyle and Kyle followed her immediately. She asked for the direction of the infirmary from the security man at the school gate, and he described to her the way.

Like someone whose most precious item got stolen, Aster ran into the infirmary without pausing. Straight to the inquiry office, she asked for her sister.

"She was rushed out to the hospital not quite long when her condition seemed to worsen. Her breathing began to get shallow and inconsistent" so she was told.

"Which hospital?"

"Anderson......"

"The one along the express road?" she cut the person short in a hurry.

"Yeah. That one"

"Alright. Thanks" she rushed out again with Kyle behind her.

"Was she sick?" he asked out of concern.

"No, not that I know of or noticed. She was hale and hearty when we all left home this morning."

"In that case, you have to calm down. Let's go to the hospital"

Aster nodded her head in response and collected Arby from him while he began driving again.

In minutes, they arrived at the hospital. Aster saw Josh at the entrance when she got down from the car.

"What happened to her?" she queried with all seriousness.

"The doctor said she ate something that upset her digestive system. They're still taking care of her in the ward."

"Hope it's not that serious?. I mean did she lose a lot of blood?" she asked still scared of what the outcome might be and Josh replied that she didn't.

"But what could she have eaten?" Kyle finally spoke up after minutes of silence.

"That's true?. Isn't it the same thing we ate?. Moreover, I prepared the food personally."

"Perhaps, someone tampered with her food" suggested Kyle.

"I doubt that!. The lock on our lunch bags cannot be opened except someone else knows how we open it." Josh said making Aster rule out the possibility of someone tampering with her sister's food.

"Someone might know, you never can tell." Kyle uttered.

"Anyway, let's not fill our heads with silly ideas at the moment. It's best we wait for the doctor's report." Aster stopped the other two from running their mouths.

They sat on the chair in the inner part of the hospital close to where Karla was patiently.

"Who's the guardian of the girl inside?." the doctor asked upon coming out and quickly, Aster raised up her hand.

"Hope no problem?" she asked the doctor nervously.

"May I see you for a while?"

"Sure." she moved closer to the doctor, and the doctor told her it was an allergic reaction.

"What she ate last must have caused her allergy" said the doctor.

"Did you have an idea of what it was?"

"Not yet. The result of the test we ran on her is not out yet but she's out of danger."

"When can she be discharged?" Aster was worried.

"For now, she's placed on drip and is still sleeping. In an hour or two, she should be awake. By then, you can take her home except if you want to wait for the test result."

"That's good." Aster was relieved. She thanked the doctor and returned to join others after paying the medical bills for Karla.

"Oh!, he's asleep right?" she asked Kyle who laid Arby on his laps.

"Yes, he is. What did the doctor say?" Josh asked.

"Nothing much, just an allergy." she replied curtly.

Darla who has been silent all the while sighed and rested her head on Josh's shoulder. Aster knew for sure that without waiting for the test result, she can get to know what it was Karla ate last by asking her twin sister, Darla.

But asking Darla at that moment won't do any good because unlike Karla, she's reserved and more sensitive to things than her sister. When she decides not to say something, no one can force her to and when she wants to speak, no will ask her or tell her to.

If she wanted them to know what happened, she would have said it without Aster asking her. Aster could only observe and understand each and every of their characters as well as likes and dislikes in order for them to feel loved and not craving for love and understanding outside their home which could do them a great harm.

"Never trust blindly." she never forgot her father's words.

Karla finally woke up, and they all returned home. Kyle bade Aster goodnight and headed for his own house which was just few streets from the Alans.

"Thanks so much Kyle. I really appreciate your care." she thanked him with smiles evident on her face.

"Goodnight" he muttered with untold emotions.

"Goodnight" she gave him a friendly hug and he left.

*

*

The Normans Mansion.

"Good day everyone" a cool gentle voice resonated throughout the house but there was no response.

"Kyle, you're back" a feminine voice said descending the stairs in a blue top and bum shorts.

"Yes Mitha, I am back. How was your day?" he opened his hand for a hug, but she snubbed him and went to sit on the sofa with a packet of chips in her hand. Kyle sat beside her dropping his bag on the table. He dipped his hand into the chip container with Mitha and she smacked his hand away.

Facing him sternly, she questioned where he had been since he finished in school.

"I had an extra class with my friends. They needed me to help them with something." he lied.

"Really?" Mitha asked with certainty that he told a lie.

"Of course......"

"Who are those friends of yours I don't know?."

"What do you mean?....."

"I came across Tyler on my way back from college. He said you left school immediately you were through. Where were you?"

"Ok, fine. You caught me. I had something important to do."

"What's so important that you couldn't even make out time to put a call through?."

"It's ehhhm........." he quickly thought of a mind blowing lie to tell Mitha but couldn't find one.

"Speak up......" she spat to his face.

"Don't bother asking him, he can't say anything." a middle–aged woman descended the stairs in a short black sleeveless gown. Mitha and Kyle looked up to the direction and Kyle was short of words.

"M..mom!" he stuttered. For his mum to be there at that time and for her to have made that sentence, he knows what awaits him next. She definitely knows where he was throughout the day.

"You're surprised?. Don't be baby" she rubbed his head smirking at him. She also sat on the chair adjacent to where the dou were seated, crossing her legs on each other.

"Why were you with her?" she dropped the bomb at last. Her voice scaring the hell out of Kyle. The next few seconds that passed by, he didn't say anything.

No, he can not say anything. How will he tell his mother he had been with Aster all day long. It's not possible. Admitting it meant he just signed a death sentence for himself. Not after her warnings and instructions to him not to be anywhere closer to Aster. The reason, he doesn't have an idea.

"Are you talking about that Aster of a girl?" Mitha asked their mother.

"Let him speak for himself. I won't be the one to say out his deed." said Mrs Norman.

"Ooooohhhh. I knew it!. Now tell me, were you with her?" asked Mitha. Kyle could no longer take the queries they threw at him and he stood on his feet angrily.

"Yes!. I was with her. What the big deal?" he yelled.

"Are you for real?. What has gotten into you?" Mitha stood up to his height.

"Nothing is wrong with me. Why are you so much against this girl?. What wrong has she done you to dislike her so much?" Kyle's eye spat fire.

Ever since his sister and mother got to know about Aster's parents death, they restricted him, warned him, threatened him with the things he needed most and even punished him whenever he's seen with Aster or get close to her.

"You really want to know, it's because she's pure bad luck. Why did her parents have to die on her birthday, huh?. Why?"

"Mitha, you're not fit to be an elder sister to anyone. You'll only lead them astray. Let's say, mum died on your birthday, how would you feel?"

"Are you laying a curse?" Mitha asked pointing her index finger at him.

"No offence, just a question" he said and left the two ladies in the living room.

"I think that girl has finally bewitched you. She has done something to my son!" Mrs Norman growled like a lion.

"Maybe she did" Kyle paused and faced his mother.

"What did you just say?" she asked with a confused look.

"Maybe she did," Kyle repeated and paused. "Because I love her" he blurted.

"What?!"