Poverty stood solidly, gazing at Marilyn and her baby. It wasn’t going to take it’s radar off them however, the past days had been one that reminded both mother and daughter of the good life they once had just about a month ago. It was apparent on the cheeks of both of them as the sag had disappeared giving way for lost spleen to be recovered. But as their spleen were recovered and as their smiles grew bigger so did their bills. The tuition bill for Erica was brought and so was the bill for the bus fares. The light bill had been paid for just a week and now it was almost exhausted and no allowance had come from the board neither had any money found its way to her. Apparently it was time to make one hasty trip to Bear Creek and make some money to last for the week.” But for how long was she going to continue like this.” She thought innately and winced from sadness.
” Mummy are you okay.” The little girl asked her mother as they both stared at the television. ” I’m fine my love. Keep watching the TV . Oh my god that little star is so beautiful. She acts perfectly well.” Said Marilyn and pointed to the television screen causing Erica to chuckle.
” Baby. I may have to make another trip down town and if you come back and do not find me like you did the last time. Just go through the back door and get into the kitchen. I will keep it open and no one but you will know. Is that clear my love.” She said to Erica.
” Yes Mummy. Where would you go. I want to go to.” She aired with a smile and kept her gaze on the Television screen.
” I don’t know if you will be able to follow me down there in the near future but you will have to stay here for now.” Said Marilyn as she caressed the silky black hair of the child who sat on her laps.
” But mummy I want to go. It’s so lonely without you.” ” And daddy.” Added the little child in sullen tone. Clearly she hadn’t grown up to be around her father but the two months of bonding with him had caused her to fall in love with him. Erica could tell how sad the little child was whenever an issue concerning Gustavo was raised.
” You miss your father so much don’t you my love?” Marilyn asked in sullen tone that ached from the pain of her seeing her daughters sadness. How a little child could have so much affection for a man that didn’t care about her existence baffled her so much. Her mouth felled in a concave arch as she nodded in affirmation.
” My love don’t frown like that. I know daddy would come back soon and he would bring plenty of gifts for you.” Marilyn assured and kissed Erica on her temple.
” Would he bring gifts for you to?” The little child asked causing her mother to cringe from how much knowledge the child now knew of their failed marriage. She was just three years old but it now appeared to her mother that she had the mindset of an adult.
” Yes he will bring gifts for me to. I’m his wife right?” She asked the little child and took her face off the television screen to gaze at her daughters facial reaction when she answered. Surprisingly Erica smiled and said nothing. She kept her gaze on the television screen while she watched the similar motions of the little actress on it. Her reaction only made Marilyn more uncomfortable than ever. She was always conscious of making feudal calls in front of the child and tried as much as possible to hide her sad emotions from the little child.” How then did she manage to know so much in just a little phase of time.” Marilyn wondered as she became scared that the child might even know what she had been doing in Bear Creek.
” Baby.” She asked in an inquisitive whisper.
” Yes mummy.” The little child intoned and yawned tiredly.
” Do you know where I go these days?” She stuttered.
” Yes mom. I know.” Erica replied in an effortless tone.
” My god. You do?” She asked again as her heart began to race in fear. ” She couldn’t be such a failed mother” was all that came to her mind.
” Uhum. Bear creek.” Said Erica who was finding a hard time to keep watching the screen.
” I see . Do you know what mummy does there?” She asked in a skeptical tone with her gaze still curved to the child face.
“No mummy I don’t.” Erica replied and turned to see why her mother had been gazing at her. From the dark television screen, she could see her mother gazing at her and wondered to what the little star owed so much admiration.
” Erica. Do you really not know what I do in Bear creek?” She asked again without a smile, her sight gazing deep into that of the little child.
” I don’t know. Mommy I want to watch cartoon. When would you fix the television. I’m tired of seeing me and you all day.” Cried Erica and scowled from exhaustion.
” Soon my baby. Very soon I will fix the television. Come let’s go to bed. We have school tomorrow don’t we my love?” She asked with true smile as she breathed out in quick succession, breaths of relief and emancipation.
” Things would get better soon. Your mother is not a whore.” She thought as she lifted the child and left for her room before it became to dark to navigate her way.
Morning was quick to come leaving both mother and child malaise. The inability to stay warm in the freezing cold was imminent on their joints causing Erica to cry when her mother could resist.
” Don’t cry baby. Here I will rub you this balm.”
” I don’t want to bath today it’s so cold.” The little child protested as she tapped her legs to loosen it up a little.
” You’ve skipped to bath twice this week already. You are a lady and ladies must stay clean. I’m sorry Erica you will have to bath today.” Said Marilyn in a flat tone. She couldn’t let the social situation to hamper the up bringing of her little girl. She was the only insurance she had left and should anything happen to her, there was no need she kept on living.
” Mummy it’s cold.” She cried out.
” I will heat up the water for you. See baby, mummy would put hot balm in your hot water and the bath would feel so good.” She said and went ahead to heat some water in the kitchen. At this point, it was better to use gas than electric which was used to light the rooms when it was too dark. Erica didn’t argue anymore. She was a kid who easily knew when she was winning and when she was not. Soon the water was set in motion and the little girls cloth was taken off.
” Your breathing is muffled. Your body is hot. Do you feel pain my love.” She asked Erica and quickly wore back her sweater.
” My body aches mum. All over.” Erica sniffled in a very sullen tone. She gazed at her mothers reaction at the exact moment she had conveyed the information and it only made the little child sad the more. She could tell her mother was going through a lot and she couldn’t do anything to help her.
” Oh my baby you will give me a heart attack. Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling sick. We need to see a doctor immediately.”
” Mummy I told you I was cold. So cold.” She winced and exhaled weakly as her mother lifted her clear off the ground. In as much as she tried to warm the child at night, it fell short because she could not afford to on the room warmer which was going to suck off the last strands of kilowatts.
” I don’t want to see a doctor. I just want to lie In bed. ” She cried and clutched her tiny hands tighter across her mothers neck.
” Baby you cant lie In bed. I think you may have pneumonia. I will call at school to tell them you aren’t feeling well today.” Said Marilyn and quickly got her Khaki jackets and the little girls health insurance card in the army personnel hospital. She got another woolen jacket and wrapped it over Erica before rushing her straight to the hospital after stopping a cab. Due to the cold, there happened to be many patients, most of which where kids and old people. The queue was lengthy and seemed it wasn’t moving. Erica got restless, loosing vital energy as she held and freed her mother who eventually got tired and stood up.
” Hello sir. I have been on the queue for more than an hour and it seems I’m not being called upon. I’m very sure that those two who just got into the doctors office didn’t come before me.” Said Marilyn in a controlled tone of rage.
” Oh sorry. You submitted the Card for Erica Gustavo right. I couldn’t find a record for it on my system so I kept it for future checks. Is it an emergency. If it’s not I will check on the records a little bit more.” Said the female nurse wearing a nerd glasses.
” Just last month I was here and we had a smooth treatment. What has changed? Why can’t the record read her file.” She asked not minding the fact that current patient was beginning to grown from her intrusion.
” It’s surprising to me as well. I know you and your daughter. I just can’t find either of your record here. Wait let’s see here.” Said the nurse and she navigated the mouse of her computer.
” Sorry please.” Marilyn whispered to the nursing mother whose child was sick as well. She nodded in acceptance of the Marilyn’s apology.
” Mrs. Gustavo. I’m afraid you may want to bend over and see this yourself.” Said the nurse in a sullen tone as she gazed at her monitor.
” What, you guys have yanked us from the medical supply as well?” She said in brave tone and didn’t do as invited.
” I’m sorry Mam. It’s written clearly that all rights and access has been discontinued.” Said the nurse and sighed deeply before turning her gaze to Marilyn.
” You will have to use the support clinic that’s in the far right. I’m afraid it’s not free. It’s goes on the normal rate.” Said the nurse in a sullen tone and turned her gaze away from the poor woman.
” She’s just a child. You could be considerate. Your board could be considerate.” Marilyn jabbed in a whisper.
” I’m sorry. There is nothing I can do here. The card number don’t connect so nothing can be done with it. We can’t even get a doctor to see you.”
” What’s the average cost to treat Pneumonia ?” She asked after conclusions her plea was a waste of time.
” A hundred and fifty dollar on an average mam. Could be less, could be more. It all defers.” Said nurse who was trying as much as possible to entertain the broken heated mother while calming the mother of the baby she was examining.
” Okay thank you.” She said and headed Erica to the support Clinic. She didn’t have as much as fifty dollars on her, but she knew she had save her child first irrespective of what she had to sell.