Raising Tasha

Hustle

Cleaning the compound did give a discount on rent but I still need to earn money to top up the balance, to buy food and clothes. Money did not grow on trees you know, a b***h need to work to earn her keep. With no money to higher a nanny or pay for day care services I had no choice but to carry Tasha with me to the market.

Our market was the open air kind, vendors laid their goods on the ground displayed for customers. Heckling was the order of the day, one had to be loud in order to attract the attention of buyers. The was neither supermarkets nor big name brands here, the goods were all local and if ever there was a big name brand higher chance were it was counterfeit. This was how the poor lived, the society had created a divided among social classes. 

Tasha on my back, money in my bra( I could not risk pick pockets) I drag my hungry self to the market. I had decided on porridge and sweet potatoes, those were easy to make. The potatoes would cook over night and porridge barely took time to be ready. Those to dishes alone would be filling, together it would be the perfect meal combination for people that did hard labor like the builders and if their were any left overs Tasha and I would be guaranteed a meal for the day.

Everything sort out in my head, I go to the farmers' market section first,. Time to find the best deal on sweet potatoes. Bringing Tasha along turned out to be a good idea, couple with my haggard hunger filled face made the vendors feel bad for me. I ended up getting pretty sweet deals, single mothers tended to gain a lot of both sympathy and mockery from the society.

Potatoes tick, now time for some flower. I checked my mental shopping list even though I went out to get only to items. I was clearly losing it, slowly and surely my sanity was slowly leaving me. Did poverty cause insanity? Maybe I should carry out a case study on it "POVERTY A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF INSANITY, A CASE STUDY ON CLAIRE DANIELS" I could see  a potential in this scientific study. My life was a mess and could provide a lot of content.

I had done research on flour mixes that were most nutritious making it easier to acquire was I needed at the end of the day I had a little money left over and Tasha got herself a bun for being such a good  girl. She had not asked for anything, had not wanted to get down neither did she cry. 

Screeech! I car right the  passenger lane. I had not seen it coming, I was not expecting it either. Who in their right mind drove a car in the passenger lane. The car had bumped me from behind and the things I had just bought were sent flying. Thank goodness I was on the tall side so Tasha did not get a scratch, but what about my stuff? Everything was ruined. I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I had spent pretty much every last cent and I owned and this son of a b***h had just ruined all of it.

"How the f**k do you have a driving license?" I growl struggling to stand up. At least he had the balls to get out of his fancy car and face me. "Who the hell taught you how to drive?" I shout, all my anger and frustration boiling over. Mr. Fancy car just stare blankly at me, he looks like the privileged kind, what was he doing in this part of town? 

I did not really care much about him except for that he ruined my things. Was this retribution for running away from my former residence without paying my rent? Had my former landlord cursed me? I had never been a superstitious person but my could not stop going into over drive. Panic set in, vision becoming blurry. I could not stop myself from crying. Life was so unfair, I had killed someone in my past life? Why did everything seem to always go wrong for me?

"I am so sorry.. I did not mean to hit with my car," what's his face tries to apologize. " I did no see you there but when I did it was already to late. I am so sorry" he continues. Even his voice sounded irritating to me. I was just too upset to hear anything. 

"You need a hospital!" he finally declares strongly.

"No, I don't. I am fine" I answer back defensively. I could not go to the hospital. I could not afford it, hospitals were to expensive. In fact , I had not realized I was hurt until he mentioned it. I had cuts and bruises on my knees and elbows and they were stinging.

'No need for a hospital it is just a little scrape" I say, words drawling. I could feel my vision blackening/ darkening. The ground is spinning, I try to shake my head to keep myself awake ears ringing. My legs give out. 

Darkness....

The continuous beeping could only mean one thing, hospital. Someone had taken me to a hospital, but when? How long had I been here? Where was Tasha? Who had my baby? I was panicking now, the more I panicked the louder the beeping got. My heart rate was increasing. Stinging pain as I like a maniac unhooked my IV. I had to find Tasha! Children had been getting kidnapped a lot lately and I feared for the worst. I had to get out of here as fast as possible, my baby might be in danger somewhere out there. 

"Mama.. mama! Mama" I can hear her, my Tasha, my sweet baby. I can hear her calling for me. In my panic I had not felt anyone enter the room. I did not even feel Tasha shaking me till she pinched me hard in the arm. Tears! Again! I had never cried so much in one day.

So much for going out to hustle!