I entered the house and found my mom and brother watching television.

“How are you Mama?” I said walking to the kitchen. I was hungry.

“I am fine. You came late, I was starting to get worried,” she said.

I took my food from the warmer and joined my mother and brother in the dining room.

“Ma, I arrived early and went to see my friends,” I said calmly.

“I hope you are keeping away from drugs,” she said concerned.

“Mama I know you are worried but I won’t use drugs. Worry about Ray because he can be lured by peer pressure and drugs are addictive,” I said annoyed.

I ate my food and Mercy took Ray to sleep. My thoughts still wanted to tell people about Nancy but I was scared the worst would happen, especially if you become a sell-out. My life could be in danger and not only mine but my mother and brother too. I ate while coming up with a plan. I grabbed my phone and called Brenda.

“Friend, I have to tell you something but don’t tell Thelma,” I whispered.

“OK, I promise I won’t tell,” she said.

I told her everything I saw at Nancy’s house. Brenda was surprised but I felt she believed me.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“I want to bust her,” I said in a slow voice. “Let’s meet tomorrow. Good night!” I said dropping the call.

Before I stood up from the chair I heard feet running. I switched the light off and checked through the window. A man in a suit was being grabbed by another man. He was struggling then the attacker searched him and took something away from him. The man yelled when the attacker ran.

“Nicky, who is that?” Mercy asked, wiping her eyes.

I switched the light on and looked by the window. “That man has been attacked.”

“Let’s call the police,” my mother rushed in the bedroom.

I opened the door and a lot of our neighbours were standing with the man.

“What happened?”

“Are you OK?”

“A guy robbed me,” the man answered. “I just withdrew all my money because I got paid. It’s all gone,” he shouted with tears on his face.

I walked and knelt down. “Did you see who it was?” I asked.

“He wore a balaclava. I pulled it away. It’s… It’s…” he struggled to speak.

“Talk,” I hissed holding his shoulder.

“Tafi is the one who robbed me,” he answered.

There was commotion among the crowd. The people had to know that those two good for nothing, were not good as they pretended.

“Why would Tafi Rob you?” my mother shouted.

“It’s him, I know it, I saw him snatch some lady’s bag yesterday,” Emma shouted.

“But they can’t be thieves,” Mark said.

“They are thieves and drug lords,” I said.

“Nicky, what did you say?” Mercy asked holding my heart.

“They brought the drugs to our community,” I shouted.

Suddenly the police arrived.

“Maybe you didn’t see Tafi. Your eyes are bad,” Mark said to the man.

“I know who I saw,” the man said looking at the ground.

The police asked questions to the victim. Mercy and I walked back home to sleep.

The smell of eggs, bacon and sausage woke me up. I checked the time and it was 6:15. I rushed to the bathroom and showered. I dressed up and threw my clean overalls in my bag. I walked to the kitchen and took a lunchbox my mother always prepared for me. I ate quickly.

“Slow down, Nicky,” Mercy said.

I stood up and kissed her and Ray on their cheeks.

“See you later,” I paced quickly.

I ran as fast as I could. I couldn’t afford to be late. I entered the taxi and it was noisy with talkative people.

“A man was found dead in the bush near the river,” Margaret said.
“Too, who is the man?” the driver asked.

“It’s the man who is a friend of Tafi,” another woman said.

Someone scratched my shoulder. I wanted to slap that person but then I looked back and saw it was Brenda. The people kept talking and I knew I was right. They killed the man that they were threatening last night.

“Hey girly,” I said calmly.

“How are you?” she asked.

“Good and you,” I answered.

As soon we arrived, we hopped off. I carried my bag then Brenda pulled my hand.

“What happened last night?” she asked.

“You want to scare me… A man was robbed by Tafi,” I answered walking away.

“What do you mean? Tafi is not a thief,” she said puzzled.

“You will see then! That man, the people were talking about, I saw Nancy holding a knife to the man’s neck,” I said.

“Why do you hate her? Nancy is a good person. Can’t you tell, with the good work she does?” Brenda shouted.

“Fine then. Believe what you want!” I walked to the changing room.

I wore my overalls angrily. What is it that they see in that Nancy? I wondered. I avoided Brenda and Thelma the whole day even ate my lunch with some people I didn’t know. We worked at different plantations.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Brenda will tell on Nicky and get her in trouble with Nancy?