Brenda looked at the people, annoyed. I had forgotten it was the weekend and everyone was busy in town running their errands.

“Let’s grab a taxi, I will pay for you,” Thelma said.

The taxi rank wasn’t far. We went into the taxi and we sat quietly. It seemed people in Hatfield were obsessed with Nancy, it’s like they worshiped her and the ground she walked on.

“Someone is bringing drugs to our children,” a woman said harshly.

“They should get caught and punished,” a man’s voice said.

I just sat quietly, waiting to arrive home.

Suddenly we arrived after 5 minutes. People in the taxi were busy talking about Nancy and drugs, it was irritating me. I started thinking that Nancy and her cousin were connected to these drugs.

There was a noise coming from the bus stop. It was wailing and a cry of a woman at a house.

Someone had died. People in my country cry when they lose their loved ones, it can go on until the dead is buried.

“Did you hear that? It’s a funeral.” I asked as we got off the taxi.

“Someone died,” Thelma answered and then we separated to walk to our homes. We did it quietly. I kept looking at the house, there were too many cars and people outside. The wailing coming from the house I suspected.

The wailing continued the whole night. I didn’t know if I would be able to sleep wondering who had died. I found my mother sleeping with my little brother Ray. I went into my bedroom.

The wailing continued until the next morning. There would be silence for a few minutes then you heard women screaming and crying. I woke up late. My mother had left to go to the house with the people crying. Definitely, it was a funeral. I was sitting, doing my washing because it was Sunday; I had to have clean overalls.

“I heard Ma Emma say the boy in grade 7 died because of drugs,” Ray said.

“Where did you hear that?” I asked curiously.

“She said it yesterday, when we were playing soccer,” he answered.

I looked at Ray who kept kicking his soccer ball against the wall. I was busy washing my clothes but my eyes were getting worried about Ray. He was in grade 6 and he could become an addict through peer pressure. I was just worried but I had to warn him.

“Ray, come here,” I called louder.

Ray took his ball in his hands and ran over.

“You must take care of yourself. Don’t do drugs; they kill,” I said sincerely.

“They already taught us that at school,” he sighed.

“You know the dangers? You know the risks and consequences?” I asked concerned.

Ray nodded his head twice and his friends call him. He asked if I was done with him and I told him to go. He raced in the street kicking his soccer ball.

I rinsed all my clothes and dried them on a wire. I saw Nancy walking with Anna, the dead boy’s sister. Anna looked sad. I walked back inside the house after hanging my clothes.

My mother entered, tired and sat on the sofa. I was busy washing the dishes.

“First it was Arnold, now Sammy,” she said.

I gave her a cup of tea, so maybe she could relax and rest; she had left before the sun went up.

“Thanks, Nancy is always attending funerals. She has a caring heart,” she said and I stood up.

“Ma, don’t you have anything to say?” I asked scratching my hair.

“You are jealous,” she said.

My mother was on Nancy’s side. She would regret it when she showed her true colours. I got irritated quickly and watched her saying “Tsek”. I walked to my bedroom so I could start cleaning.

I had work in the morning and I had to help clean and do some chores.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Nicky is jealous or is Nancy involved with the drugs?