Stella was the first of three children, living in a remote village with parents. Their parents were just poor farmers, but they were what you'd call a happy family.
Stella was just nineteen yrs old, Grace her younger sister was sixteen and Christopher her younger brother eleven.
They based on the daily proceeds from their farm. They were farmers, what you would call wretched farmers, feeding from hand to mouth.
Some weeks ago, she nearly fell into the hand of a trafficker LadyB. She had agreed to go with the woman, coz she told her she would be her assistant over there and she happily took the offer. But her parents declined the offer, and refused her from going anywhere with LadyB. She did not fight it, coz she knew her parents always wants the best for her.
People who let their children go complained of poor communication, and they also complained about LadyB not fulfilling the promise she made them. All these also made her feel better.
Stella slid her hands under her pillow and brought out a small torchlight. She woke Grace up so she could help her in carrying the drum outside, coz it was quite huge and had a lot of weight.
"Get up sleepy head" she said hitting grace hard at the back.
"What's your problem it's not even bright yet", Grace grunted.
"Lazy bone, my problem is that you're just too lazy." She said and then she sighted an empty bottle of soft drink close to her.
"Look is that not what you had last night?" she asked pointing to the bottle that was hiding under a bag of cloth, and peeping with it's head.
"It was too late, so I wasn't able to........."
"Enough of your story" Stella cut her short. "Just come let's take that big man outside."
Grace finally stood up after stretching for some minutes, and then helped her in taking it out, but right after grumbling.
The whole place was as silent as a graveyard, but she wasn't scared at all, coz she was used to it.
"Where are you going?" Stella asked, turning to Grace who was already few walks away from the bed.
"Back to bed" she sluggishly replied without looking back.
"Lazy bone" she cursed under her breath as she drew water from the drum into a miserable looking bucket, with the help of a worn out plate.
She walked into the bathroom and in no time, she was done. And when she came out, the place was no longer silent, but filled with the chattering of men and women preparing for the day's job. She went into the room and started dressing up.
"Where are you even going this early?" Grace grunted using her hands to cover her face from the reflection of the torchlight. Stella noticed it and shifted the torchlight from her direction.
"Don't you know it's the season of bush mangoes. I and Dorris are going mango hunting, we decided to go early, so we would be the first to pick up the ripe ones" she replied.
"Wow, please can I come along?" Grace asked excitedly.
"No, you can't" she shunned her immediately. "I just want it to be the both of us" she added and Grace's expression changed immediately.
"But not to worry, I'll make sure to bring some home for you guys, so cheer up okay"
"Okay sis" she replied with a small smile.
"So just help me tell mum and dad I'll be back soon"
"No probs sis" Grace nodded and with that, she left.
*
Stella and Dorris found a spot and got their bags filled with mangoes, and they also enjoyed their selves with the juciest mangoes.
After the hunting they headed straight to Dorris's house. Doris was her Best friend, they've been friends since childhood and the villagers knew them to be inseparable, they always do things together and it was rare to see one without the other.
Dorris's house was much better than Stella's, her stepfather was well to do, she lived a much better life and they were financially okay.
Dorris was also beautiful, she had a set of bulging eyes and big boobs which she never liked. Dorris was a clear opposite of Stella, daring and bold. Guys who were interested in Dorris were always afraid to approach her, and so they talked to Stella instead. Stella was quiet, she had a calm spirit, and was always quick to cry. The villagers loved her so much coz of her respectful nature, and how she was always ready to help. She was such a hardworking child.
At Dorris's house, Dorris was busy cooking,and also they engaged in a discussion. She was telling Stella about a girl in their village who went to the city and died there, and her corpse was returned here to her parents in the village.
Stella felt bad about this, and just couldn't thank God for the kind of parents she had. And she began singing praises of her parents to her friend.
"Enough of your praises girlfriend, let's head to you house now, I'm done cooking, we're gonna eat when we get back" Dorris mouthed.
"And who told you I'm coming back?"Stella teased.........
"You're coming back, it's an order not a request" she said firmly.
"Yes Ma" Stella smiled as they stood up ready to go home, causing Dorris to laugh.
They headed to Stella's house, holding hands and singing happily. But by the time they got home, their excitement ended. They were so shocked by what they saw that Stella almost passed out.
*
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TBC