The weekend was the slowest to materialize in all the lifetime of Marilyn. Seconds seemed like minutes while minutes seemed like, hours and hours like days which were as lengthy as an eon. Time seemed to mock her, slowing her from meeting her husband was billed to return on the coming Sunday. Calls to the military camp was limited as a security measures and even it wasn’t. Gallagher had ordered her not to call her husband unless she wanted to render all his and her effort futile.
” Mom I want more cereal.” Erica said and stretched forth her bowl to her mother. The little lad could hardly believe the little amount of it she was given at first and decided to finish it up before she could ask for another one. She was a child who had tolerance for zero fuss and only spoke on a need to speak basis.
” You eat like a tank these days. I can’t believe you ate all the cereal and still want more.” Said Marilyn with an ounce of guilt in her words. The money for the groceries were gone and there was going to be none till the end of the month. She shamelessly had to cut the ration of the little Childs and hers, to make sure her cereal lasted till the next salary dropped.
” I want more cereal.” The little girl snarled, refusing to take away the plate from her mothers front. She held it pointed at Marilyn while her other hand held her blue plastic spoon.
” Baby you will have to eat less these days. We don’t have so much money to return to the market, at least not till daddy returns on Monday.” Said Marilyn and took hold of the bowl from the child who just stayed gazing at the new development in bewilderment. It was aging as an expensive joke to the three year old, that basic right to feed was now a thing of compromise. She watched in satisfaction as her mother poured in some more cereals into the bowl before adding some milk in it for her.
” Take it. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.” Said Marilyn and left the living room in rage. Her anger was channeled at Her husband who if had listened to her, would have saved her from loosing so much till she loosed her modesty to a thug lord. She also had hate for Gallagher for using the most out of her and still didn’t yet fulfil his promise even though she had all her faith in him.
” Hello Sir.” She said over the phone after shutting the toilet door
” Hello Marilyn how are you.” Said Gallagher from over the phone.
” I’m not fine. It’s been a week and my husband isn’t back. Today is Sunday. I couldn’t even afford to go to church. No car and no transport fare. What’s happening man I have all my trust in you.” She uttered in a sullen tone of frustration.
” And none who look up to the servants of Uriel shall have a sad ending. Oh mama mia, you worry too much over a done deal. I don’t lie. Your husband has been released from his platoon and bound to return to you tonight. The fact that you haven’t paid up my two hundred dollars didn’t stop me from finalizing the buttons needed to be pressed.
” What balance are you talking about after you didn’t let me go till you had your way on me the second time. I’m broke and can hardly feed my daughter. If my husband don’t return soon. We will have to starve and worse off, our power supply would be yanked. It’s winter. It’s going to be murder.” Exclaimed Marilyn in a controlled tone.
” Broke ? That’s just laughable. Men would pay a fortune to lay with a lady of your expertise. I will hire you in my brothel. Work as long as you want.” Said Gallagher and cackled softly.
” I’m not a whore. Talk to me with respect!” She chipped almost wanting to shut the phone on him.
” See it as an offer of mercy. The winter is a bad time to be without food and money. I will be happy to help. As for your husband. Get your mojo together and wait for him. I have no doubt he would be tapping that box of yours tonight. Hahahah” Gallagher cackled and hung the phone. She had barely dropped the phone when it rang again. This time around it was a call from an Afghanistan. She could tell by the country code.
” Bitch! How could you?” Said the voice which was undeniable the voice of her husband.
” Bitch? Is that you Gustavo?” She asked not knowing if to be excited or angry at his words.
” Shut up Marilyn. You have ruined my life. How dare file for me to relieved off my special duty saying I have a life threatening sickness which can not only kill me but also be contagious to my colleagues. Why would file such a thing and not even tell me!?. This mission was the last one and the pay was going to be bumper. You couldn’t just wait a month for me to round up and return to you, now I’m getting flushed back without my bonus and benefits. The army can charge me for concealment and send me to jail for this. Do you not think woman!” Yelled a wild Gustavo, causing the body of his wife to tremor in fear. Yes she wanted him back with her but she didn’t want to tarnish his image. Gallagher had managed to do an awful job that was perfect but had manifest consequences that was now threatening her happiness.
” Baby I’m sorry. I was scared! I heard of a deadly assault to be staged…”
” Shut up. A military man is not scared of death we seek it as means of honor. You have made me a laughing stock among my friends. You can as well kiss our marriage goodbye.” Said Gustavo and shut the phone so hard on her that she cringed in fear before standing there numb, looking petrified till she began to shake and cry out. She dialed the number but it didn’t go through. She dialed it again and again with no success in it’s connectivity.
” What have I done she cried out and applied her palm over her mouth to avoid her daughter from hearing her.
” Gallagher! You bastard what have you done to my husband? He won’t even talk to me.” She said, crying her heart out.
” Oh easy there mam. The servant of Uriel has little tolerance for vague languages. Get a hold of yourself and speak.” Said Gallagher in a calm tenor.
” My husband called me just now. He was mad at me for filling a complaint to the personnel board saying that he has a life threatening disease that’s very contagious. Why would you scar his image so much? He can be jailed for that.” Marilyn cried out sobbing loudly as she did.
” And jail would be a more better place for a passionate soldier with kids. The assault I tell you about is one no American soldier should witness. Sadly it’s inevitable. Most of them shall die. I know this as top secret.” Gallagher said with much confidence.
” You did a good job but the manner sucks. He says he wants a divorce. He’s leaving me for saving his life.” She cried, trying to find a compromising comfort in the words of Gallagher.
” Don’t take him too seriously. He is just mad at you. He will get back to his senses. Is he back yet?”
” No he’s not. I fear he is still in Afghanistan. He called with an Asian number.” She stressed out.
” Damn that sly looser. Must he be glad to die like a chicken for a state that don’t care. He may have absconded from the service then. Are you sure your husband does nothing else but fight in Afghanistan. Dude may be running some shady deals back there.” Said Gallagher and hummed slowly.
” He is medical staff in the police. He recorded so much success and was absorbed into the army where here makes three times more than he makes as a police officer.”
” I’m Afraid your husband may be hiding some secrets from you. Only time would tell. You did your best to save his life. You may be mad at me for now but I have no doubt you will call to thank me some days. My offer is still open if you decide to take the job.” Said Gallagher and hung the phone. Left to sob and lick her wounds in confusion, she heard the weakest knock in the whole of Texas and knew immediately who it was. She turned the tap open to wash her face but the water supply wasn’t stable it came in bits, ceasing and making funny noises from the actions of excess air in tensed water. It meant one thing. Her water supply had been cut off. The bill had came the day before and she didn’t have a dime to pay. The knock was heard again causing to quickly cut some tissue and wipe off the mixture of tears and water before opening the door.
” Baby. Are you okay. You want more cereals?” Marilyn asked, flashing a staged smile at her child who waved her head sideways to negate her mom’s offer.
” Why do cry mum. Are you sick?” The little child asked in the most innocent voice possible. There was an esteem in her tone that always made her sound effortless even when she was trying hard.
” Oh baby. Mummy is fine. Just a little tummy ache. Come here and give mummy a hug. I love you.” Marilyn winced and knelt on the cold tile floor before embalming Erica in a warm hug.
” Mummy. Is daddy still coming today. I miss him.” She hushed with so much passion in her little tone.
” Maybe yes. Maybe not. If he never comes back. I will take care of you, like I always do.” She said with a smile and kissed the child on her forehead. Clearly Erica was confused but couldn’t bring herself to decipher whatever it was her mother was saying. After all, she was just three years old and just wanted to live through life.
” Come baby. Let’s pay Aunty Alice a visit. I believe she should have some water to spare us.” Said Marilyn and got a hold of plastic buckets. She needed water for her and her baby. Water was gone, their food supply was going and the electric bills were soon to come. It was till a week time till the next payment was going to drop. A payment she now had doubt about in the new turn of events. Her hands was on the bucket when there was a big knock on the door. Whoever it was, she knew it was bringing no good to her.
” Let’s go baby, someone is at the door.”