LEAVING HOME

I went to the living room, switched on the television, took the remote and was going to sit on the couch. I was about to change the channel that was being displayed but the headline caught my attention while I listened to the reporter.
" About 60 people have been confirmed dead with their corspes unidentifiable as the bodies have been burnt beyond recognition, while 53 Severely injured due to a bomb blast in the mansion of the second notorious Mafia leader here in Italy, who has also been confirmed dead. At about 11:35am the residents of this community said they heard gunshots coming from the building like there was a fight between two groups but they weren't astonished because it frequently happens, but the explosion came as a surprise. Other sources say it was a clash between two Mafia group. Reports also coming from the police who are still carrying out their investigation says the explosion was not only caused by bomb but also they could find traces of fuel." A light skinned woman in her early twenties said as she smacked her lips.
" Wowwww, what a news." I changed the channel as I wasn't really the type that listen to news, except when mum was around, besides I only want to watch movie now. It hadn't been up to 1 hour when someone knocked getting on the door, I froze trying to guess who it could possibly be.
"Mum can't be back by now, same with Jenny and I am not expecting anybody so " I said aloud then I heard the knock again. I went to check who ever it was. As I opened the door slowly, the person pushed the door open with a little force. It was Danielle.
" You sly girl, you haven't called me ever since you started attending that big school, you don't even reply my messages any longer. Seems like you have made new friends and have suddenly forgotten me" Danielle said flinging her purse on my head, leaving the door wide open for me to close. " I went to your work place and I was told you got fired few days ago, you"
" I'm sorry" I said before she could completed her statement. If I had left her she was going to continue without stopping.
Danielle is my best friend, we were attending the same school until I changed. We applied for Early height scholarship and also wrote the exam but unfortunately Danielle didn't meet up with the requirements, so she wasn't given the scholarship. Sometimes I wished I was actually the one who didn't get the scholarship, Early height school was like hell on earth for me.
" So what's up with your new school uh, made any friends yet? or have started dating someone there or is there someone you like?, what's "
" Stop! Danielle what's wrong with you, you expect me to answer all this questions? Really? " I interrupted Danielle before she could finish her questions as it was bugging me.
" Geez, slow down girlfriend, what's going on with you? I was only bothered about you. The other day Lauretta told everyone in class that she saw you crying, what's up with you girl? " She sat down gently on the couch, looking at me while I went over to sit beside her.
" Me? Crying?, when was that" I said giving her a mirthless laugh.
" You can't deceive me remember? So it's high time you start talking. I know that laugh of yours. Just tell me what's wrong" Lauretta said shoving her hair from her face before turning to look at me, she needed an answer and wasn't going to leave without one.
" Well I was crying that day because I got fired from Mr Mark's eatery" I said rolling my eyes balls.
" And? " Danielle stood up placing her left hand on her waist as she kept on staring at me waiting for more replies. I couldn't hold back any longer, I told her everything I was going through in school, and the fact that I I was also to work as an housemaid.
" What??? An housemaid? Why would you do that? Besides how much do they even pay? You know you can get a "
"Ten thousand dollar " I interrupted Danielle, she took a glaze at me, before fixing her eyes on television, before sitting. Seems like she didn't hear me well.
" It's not.. Wor... Wait, WHAT!!! Did I hear you say ten thousand dollars " Danielle exclaimed
" Yeah, you did" I replied smiling at the way she reacted.
" That's huge, girl I am jealous of you already " Danielle closed her eye a little, fixing it on me." Are there still vacancies?, I could apply too you know " She said smiling at me in a scary way, which was quite funn3.
" Psycho, you can't work as a maid, you've got class, why would you work as a maid? I wouldn't recommend you did that" I said, slapping her lightly on her cheek in order to stop the mischievous and scary smile she was giving me.
" Ouuch, that hurts" She tried to slap me back but I ran off. You are right, my parent ain't going to allow me even if I wanted to. But anyways it all good, just give some money when you are being paid okay" Danielle said pointing at finger at me, while she on staring at me.
" Why should I do that? " I asked her, standing about 20 feet away from her.
" Because, it going to bring you good luck, and also make you have more and lot of money" Danielle said trying to put up an Italian accent although she wasn't from Italy.
She was walking towards me now, while I moved back slowly laughing at her facial expression while she talked. "Never, I'm not going to give you any shit " I was laughing profusely while I kept on moving backwards, nearly falling off.
" WHAT? You won't? You asked for it then"
Danielle kept on running after me, but she wasn't able to keep up with me as I was a fast runner. I kept on running round the living room to my room, to the dinning room but she wasn't able to catch me. I was still running when I noticed Danielle has reduced her pace, I turned back and saw her falling on the floor, she was finding it difficult to breathe. Her mouth was wide open while she struggled to breathe. Danielle was asthmatic, I ran to get her inhaler from her bag but I couldn't find it, I became scared.
I ran back to her already crying asking her where her inhaler was but she wasn't able to talk after few seconds she lost consciousness. She was lying flat on the floor, I put my hand on her nose to know if she was still breathing, it seems like she wasn't. I was in shocked, I couldn't even cry, my face had become red.
" No, Danielle you can't be dead" I said shouting on top of my voice, I heard a light knock on the door.
" Of cause I can't be dead, Now I caught you" Danielle said laughing profusely. She tricked me.
" What? You were just acting up? Danielle you almost killed me. Don't ever do that again I'm serious " I said angrily at her.
" i won't I promise, sorry for the shock. I thought you were going to know I was just kidding".
" Well, I didn't know " I heard the knock on the door again, it has become louder now.
I went to check who was knocking, "it must probably be mum" I thought. I opened the door, it wasn't mum instead it was my neighbor's 10 years old daughter Elvis.
" Hey girl how are you? " I asked her patting her hair gently
" I'm good, your mum wants you to know that she had been calling and you aren't picking up. She said you should call her immediately" The little girl said running off immediately.
"Ohhh shit, where is my phone? " I search the sitting room for my phone but I couldn't find it then I went to look for it in my room after searching for about a minute, I found it under my pillow. " Geeez" Mum called 15 times, I checked the time it was 4:20pm, I was suppose to leave by 3:00pm. I completely forgot because of Danielle.
I called mum back, she shouted at me for not taking her calls. She said she wasn't going to take me to the mansion again, something came up and that I should go on my own as Jenny was also busy. How was I supposed to go alone.
" Is anything the matter?" Danielle asked me.
" I was supposed to go to the house where I am to work today, around 3:00pm and now it's 4, I totally forgot to check the time, I was just waiting for mum and now she said I would be going alone because something came up. How am I supposed to go alone" I was nearly crying.
" Have you packed all your stuffs? " Danielle asked
" Yes, I have "
" Then, take them down let go. I would be your big sister for today" she said already walking away.
" Aww, you are such a darling " I said carrying my luggages out of my room.
I and Danielle took a taxi, we got to the mansion and her Jaw dropped, she froze for few seconds while she kept a fixed stare on the building and it surroundings. Although she wasn't allowed to enter. She bid me goodbye while she she kept on talking about how she was going to convince her dad to allow her work as housemaid to in this mansion, she was really silly.