Pride of a father and a lover

On the eve of Christmas, the road was covered in snow.

erasing all traces of the black coal from the road in the street . Drums beat was sounding heavy and echo's of devise sound was flowing all over the area.

The noises from the carnival could not be blocked by Mr. Jazel's thick glass, but the fireplace and thick glass did keep the house warm. To check on his little angel, Mr. Jazel ascended the staircase. Her sixteenth birthday was only two weeks ago. Jazel has remained true to his word.

Allowing her to have a room on the first floor of the duplex. He gently opens the door as he walks into his little angel room . She was fast asleep . He adjusted her long curly hair that covered her nose and kissed his daughter while whispering "sleep well my dear ".

"Boom,baaa,kaboom", as the sound of the fireworks sounded all over the street. The time ran like an antelope trying to escape from a predator, "kaboom" a rocket type fireworks landed on the balcony of mr jazel House, sparkling bright shining white that brightened Lucy's room.Now that she was awake, her heart beat more rapidly.

She stepped closer to her room's window to see what was happening and used her hand to cinch her loose hair into place as she descended from her regal bed.

She observes various games and activities while grinning.

People in the funfair performed good deeds, and everything was in a frenzied state. Clowns were showcasing their talents, magicians performed their wonders, not forgetting animal circuits were being displayed. Unknown to Lucy, a person on stilts saw her from a distance and moved nearer the balcony.

She was still fixated on the spectacular fireworks that lit up thesky. Approximately seven meters from the balcony.

An object on the ground level struck the young man who was standing on stilts.He tried to maintain balance as he staggered on the stilts like a drunk. The stilt was crumbling.

"Help him, Lucy cried out, knowing what might follow.

Without realizing the danger was approaching, attendees of the carnival were laughing and having a good time.

Using all of his remaining strength, the stilt walker jumps forcibly onto Mr. Jazel House's balcony.

Saving himself while the wooden stilt collapses over a yellow Hugh canopy in the carnival causing pandemonium among the celebrants. He landed on the balcony and rolled himself like a Squirrel and smashed his back against the glass on Lucy's window.

"While tending to the wound on his back, he replied, "Huh.

Are you okay? questioned Lucy.

He responded, attempting to cover off his agony, "Am fine."

She said, "Let me help you," as she assisted the young boy in making a stand.

People remarked, "Wow, Hmm, Awnnnn," as they gazed in awe at Lucy.

A celebrant said, "How come I'm not familiar with this face," as others turned to look at the balcony, taking in the beauty and the action

Where are you, Lucy? "

Mr. Jazel made a call as he ascended the stairs.

He said, "Where is she?"

He searched her chamber and her magnificent bed but could not find his daughter.

He noticed that the balcony's tiny door was open.

He moved towards direction of the French door Lucy said, "Daddy!" as she ran to give her father a bear hug.

"Look what I found dad" she waves her hand,signaling the young lad to come into the room.

" And who are you?" Mr. Jazel asked as he raised his face in surprise.

"Ok I can explain" Lucy said,narrating to her dad the event that happened.

"What is your name?" Mr. Jazel asked.

" I am Luke, '' he answered as his voice stammered and tried to find some confidence.

"Do you know what the time is?" Mr. Jazel answered .

"Uhhh I think.." Luke could not answer the question as he was quickly interrupted.

" I want you to go home now," Mr. Jazel said.

" bye Lucy" he replied waving his hand and walking down the stairs.After seeing Luke leave his home, Mr. Jazel turned to his daughter and stated, "So you even told him your name."

He questioned, "Haven't I taught you not to reveal strangers your name?

But dad," she defended, adding. lifting her elongated face. He proceeded by telling his daughter a brief narrative, "People are callous and nasty."

Mr. Jazel urged his daughter as he led her back upstairs while holding her hand, "Now my angel get some rest."

"You know tomorrow is school, you need to relax," he says, wrapping his daughter's body in the comfortable blanket.

and extinguishes the light.

Not long, Lucy's father had gone from her room. She gets out of bed and makes her way back to the balcony, where she places a slender hand on the verandah.

She observes how carnival revelers were packing up their belongings as the celebration was coming to a close.

From the balcony, she looked around to see if she could spot Luke, but she couldn't find him.

Lucy remained in the balcony for an additional thirty minutes, watching as everyone departed in unison.

She sighed and turned to shut the balcony door when she noticed a piece of paper lodged in a tiny gap in her vanrander.

She extended a hand to it. And she opened it tenderly.

She thought to herself as he opened the paper, "What might be inside?"

She thought to herself, "Today is just so fantastic.

Luke wrote the letter she just finished reading.his addressed the letter to his mother and included the addresses of his residence in bold italics on the final line.

Lucy tucks the letter under her bed and plans to introduce her friends to Luke when she visits Luke and his family in the future. While she was still fantasizing, she had several thoughts,

Lucy was now fast asleep.

Luke was receiving care in the neighborhood bay in the interimm He pondered who she might be as the doctor attended to his wounds. After tending to Luke's wounds, the nurse advised him to "get some sleep." Luke laid his head on the medical facility. He was sound sleeping and heaving.

The long hand of the wall clock made a ticking sound as the wind blew from east to west. At this point, Ashcanrouup was as silent as Graveyard.

"Anything you need ,you can tell me when you get home," Mr. Jazel instructed his daughter. Gently opening the door of his Ford excursion allowing Lucy to get out of the car.

"Bye dad" she said as she walked toward the school gates.

"I love you dear," Lucy's dad replied. He found a moment of peace as he heard his precious daughter's voice once more again. Only within the next six hours is he permitted to visit his daughter.Since parents can only visit their children during the final hour of regular school,

He used to visit his daughter at the lunch hour, but a new proprietress made a big difference,Before he transferred his daughter's school and before her arrival at Dievanchi College. A driver he hired was tasked with driving his angel to school. He was extremely busy back then because he was still the company's regional sales manager

Now the CEO of the company has resigned and he is now in charge of the company. managing around 400 employees across various areas in his organization. He now has plenty of time for his daughter as well as for himself. He is reminded of his wife when he looks at their daughter.

The bell rung. School vacations were about to begin. Students were rushing to the cafeteria at their school. Boys of all heights were making their way to the basketball floor.

Carty asks, taking a sip of the soda beverage in front of her, "I haven't seen dad."

It's been two weeks, she continued.

" Lucy!" Carty clapped her hand in front of her pal, who was obliviouslynot paying attention

" We have a new proprietress now," Lucy finally replied.

"And she changed everything" she further added.

"Ouh dear,I am so sorry," Carty said consoling her friend by holding Lucy's hand.

" You know we are having a party at my cousin's house tonight," Carty said.

"Can you come?" she asked.

"I can't, " Lucy replied quickly.

"You know my dad won't allow me" Lucy said while trying to hide the sad emotions displayed on her face.

" He's so protective of me, he still think am a kid"she said.

" convinced him then" carty said looking at her friend's blue eyes which was now fill with tears.

" I know what to do, " Lucy said.

The digital alarm bed rang indicating the break time is over. Lucy and carty walk together to their class.

" I can't wait to wear the pink gown my mum bought for me " riri said, expressing a joyous face as she spoke to her classmates.Everyone in the class was excited about the birthday party and couldn't wait to get home to start planning. The eagerly anticipated closing hour eventually arrived. To secure a nice seat on the school bus, some youngsters were speaking to themselves. Lucy simply went in search of a block-shaped seat and sat down to wait for her dad. The distant "voom" of Mr. Jazel's Ford automobile could be heard. Before exiting his automobile, Mr. Jazel apologizes in a loud voice, "I'm very sorry, sweetheart. He picked up his daughter's lunchbox and unlocked the car door so that she could enter

" How was school today my dear?" Mr. Jazel asked while driving his car along the busy neighborhood of ashcanrouup.

" It was fine," Lucy replied.

As he stepped on the brake, Lucy's father apologized to her for being late today..

He continued, "I was in an unexpectedly lengthy meeting.

Lucy said, "Daddy, there is something I want to tell you."

What is your love?

Mr. Jazel responded as he packed his car alongside the highway so he could focus on what his daughter was about to tell him swiftly.

" can I go to carty co.." Lucy said she was about to infomr her about carty cousin party when she realized her dad hardly granted her permission to go to the party except he comes with her.

" Ok can we go to carty House on Sunday" she changes the topic.

" Let me see my schedule," Mr. Jazel replied without giving his daughter a concrete answer.

" Welcome sir '' Mr jazel gate keeper waves his hand in salutation to his boss as he opens the mansion gates. Lunch was already prepared and kept at the High dining table. Lucy quickly climbed upstairs to her room to change her clothes, she then joined her dad for lunch who had been patiently waiting for her.

"What took you so long?" Mr. Jazel answered as his daughter climbed down the stairs.

"I couldn't find my pink slippers," she lied . Over ten minutes of usually silence, lunch time was normally packed with a lot of talk and laughter between Mr jazel and his daughter. Today was simply different, there was no communication, no laughter,no singing.

"Is anything wrong?" Mr jazal asked as he broke the fourteen minute silence.

"You have eaten a quarter of your meal" he asked while observing the meal in front of his daughter was left untouched.

"Nothing daddy," Lucy's reply.

" I am here for you" Mr jazel assuredly replied to his daughter telling her she shouldn't hide anything from him.

" Tell me my angel; is everything ok?", he answered again.

" Ok dad I need a dog" she lied

" I am tired of that cat," she added.

"It always goes to the street and hardly comes home" Lucy said

" You surely have a puppy before this time next week" Mr. Jazel replied to his daughter before she could add more complaints.

"Do you like caucasian breed" he asked

" German shepherd or labrador retriever?" He added to his speech.

" Dad, anyone will be just good, '' Lucy answered as she moved away from the dining table and headed to Huge Parlor in the mansion. Before feeling bored, she turned on the TV and watched for almost twenty minutes.

She quickly recalled the party as she made her way to her room. Going out on her own without her father's permission was not something she thought she should do, and she hadn't notified him about the party.

"Am will still go to the party" she reaffirms herself while trying to chase out the temptation to disobey her dad. Lucy knew her father's mansion gate keepers would not permit her to go anywhere without hearing directly from her dad.

It is almost twenty minutes before the party will commence.Still in her room, Lucy was considering how she could get to the celebration. She was about to give up on the idea of going to the party when she realized she can use the long, hinged stick attached to the building's back as an escape route. Lucy put on her favorite robe before making her way there on tiptoe. She fell and landed on her back as she descended the stick, nearly 5 feet below the ground. She suffered a small stretch injury on her face, just little spot right her eye. She gathers herself and advances toward the party location.

While the DJ played loud music, disco lights gleamed brightly, and both teens and young people were busy dancing on the dance floor. Uninvited guests were dancing and flowing in from left to right as the party grew crowded. The celebration was transferred outside because Carty's cousin's house was completely full. The place was thick with cigarette smoke.

Carty called her pal, who appeared to have just entered the building, saying, "Hey Lucy."

Carty said, "Hey Lucy, come and dance with us," as she moved away from her dance partner and toward her companions, who weren't worried.

" I said come and dance with us," Carty tried in persuasion.

"Sorry I don't hear" Lucy answered, the bass from the gigantic speaker was so loud, thereby preventing distant communications in the building.

" You have to dance," Carty said, holding her friend's hand and dragging her to the dance floor.

"I like that one" said one of the party guests, pointing his hand toward Lucy who he has been observing.

"Go get her then " said his friends. He quickly moves toward the dance floor,unbuttoned three buttons of his black shirt to expose his muscular chest.

" Stop it," Lucy said, pushing away a hand that torches her Waits.

"Don't you wanna dance with me " he asks, as forcefully gets hold of Lucy's waist .

"Leave her alone" carty spoke in defense of her friend.

" can't you hear she said she was not interested? " Carty said, coming in the center of carty and the guy. Looking at the guy eye to eye.

Holding her hand, Carty motioned for them to leave the dance floor and walk to her cousin's room. The men had heard his buddies, who were occupied with observing the scene from a distance, laughing mockingly. He runs over and grabs Carty's hand as she is about to leave the dance floor.

Carty exclaims, "Let go of me, you big fool. Before she could continue her speech, the now-angry guy gave her a dirty slap.When Carty touched her nose, it was gushing blood.

" You are a coward," she said . The bully was about to punch Carty again. the incident was stopped when a bottle fell on his head. He came to support his cousin sister.As he got ready to fight the guy, he said to his carty companion, "Take her to the sick bay." The party's mood had turned violent. From right to left punches were thrown, bottles were shattered, and home items were harmed. Gang members of the guy and cartey cousins' thugs traded blows.

" the road to the sick bay is block ,"carty cousin said

" Let me go with her instead, " he said as he collec his cousin and put her on his back.

" You, go home, " he instructed Lucy as he moved to an exit door located at the back.

" Let me come with you," Lucy said in fear.

" No, it is not safe for you," carty cousin said.

" Take this,go upstairs and lock yourself," he said, handing over the key to his room to Lucy. Lucy quickly hurried up, dodging some fight scenes. She finally reaches the carty cousin's room , She enters room and locks the door.

She simply sat down on the comfy sofa she had found in the room as she began to feel relieved. She stood up from the chair after about fifteen minutes, she moves to the Huge wardrobe she had noticed in the room.

Lucy noticed one of the party guests was hidden in the space, she inquired, "Who are you?" in shock.

"Shoo, shoo," he placed his finger over his mouth.

requesting silence from Lucy.

"I have to go home," Lucy said as she walked toward the door.

"Where did you think you were going," he asked while holding Lucy's hand ,preventing her from opening the door.

"Stay away from me ,"lucy said rejecting his advances,

"Let's see what you got little bird" he forcefully got hold of her,tearing her clothes and ignoring all the screaming that was coming out of her mouth. He then pushes her as she lands on the bed, Lucy summons little strength and tries to stand up, the door was smashed from outside. It was luke.

" What did you think you are during," Luke asks; as he grab his shirt before he could do anything to the almost unclad Lucy.

The two engage In a violence fight, Luke overpowers his opponent.

" Run away forever ," Luke said as he watched the felon run in fear after sustaining injuries.

" Are you ok," he asks , covering Lucy with a blanket he found in the wardrobe. Lucy couldn't answer

" my daddy wouldn't not forgive," she finally spoke as she wiped away the tears on her face.

" I need to go home " Lucy said , together with Luke they went home .

" Thank you so much," Lucy said as he climbed up the balcony

" stay safe there ," he said,carefully watching how she climbed up.

Lucy quickly rushed into the toilet and had a bath, she quickly changed her torn cloth, she packed her hair, made a bun hairstyle so it hid her scar she sustained while she fell

It was morning, the sun shone across the street of ashcanrouup, the birds flew across the blue sky. The street of ashcanrouup was getting busy as cars went to different destinations .

"How was your night, "Lucy's dad kissed his daughter.

" Hope you slept well my angel,"he uses his hand to remove the hair covering her face.

"What happened to your face," he asked as he observed the scar on her face close to her eyebrow.

she answered, unwilling to reveal the truth, "Fall off the bed,"

I'll get you a bed that's more at ground level.

"You will see it before you get home," Lucy's father promised his daughter. As they ascende the stairs together, Lucy repacks her hair into a Bob style.

She has no time for an explanation as she hides the scar on her face.

She waves goodbye to her father before entering the school grounds.