LORNA: LIFE OR DEATH

FAR AWAY FROM HOME

know this gal Monica, she is from a..."

"have you lost it, can't you see I am on a phone call you son of a..." yelled the stranger

"what's a phone call?" asked Lorna

"oh my sister I have been looking for you" Carla said dragging Lorna

When they reached the shop, Lorna said

"why do everybody behave like this?"

"like how?" said Carla packing up her things

"never mind, I am going... uhm can I sleep here for today"

"yeah sure" Carla said and started going back home, as she was going she saw thugs

and remembered Lorna, she ran back to her shop "Uhm, Lorna come with me"

"okay, where are you taking me to?" Lorna said as Carla was helping her up

"it's a place I call home" Carla said and took Lorna with her and boarded a bus

"Liverpool is the name of this street and oh look at where I live" Carla said and they entered her living room

"mum welcome home, look at the mask I made in school" said Nicole as she hugged her mum

"where is your sister and take in these groceries" said Carla as she went to the restroom and to wash her hands. Lorna looked at the little girl. Carla came out and looked around "where is your sis..."

"I am here, I'm here you don't have to kill Nikki" Valerie said as she pecked her mum

"uhm girls I would like you to meet, uh what's that your name again?" Carla said

"Jara Lorna Basilah Avyanna"

"she would be staying with us for some time, Lorna these are my kids' Ni..."

"Nicole Stevens, nice to meet you" Nicole said as she shook Lorna's hand

"Valerie Stevens" Valerie said and shook Lorna's hands

"Girls I would like you to be nice to her, okay she 've been through a lot" Carla said and went to the kitchen

"nice to meet all of you too..." said Lorna but Valerie interrupted

"can I ask you some questions?" said Valerie looking at her tablet

"uhm, sure I guess"

"come with me" Valerie said dragging Lorna with her to her room

Valerie opened her laptop and said "you said your name was what again"

"oh Jara Lorna Basilah Avyanna"

"Jara...." Valerie said typing her name "I knew it!!!"

"knew what" said Lorna looking at her confused

"sorry, I mean your name, you are not from here are you?"

"no, I am from Shangri- La, but why are asking anyway" Lorna said

"to know you better, okay tell me everything about you, whoa take a look at this, you are from a place called 7th heaven really?" said Valerie looking at her laptop

"yes, Shangri -La can be called many things in different languages, but it is not important" Lorna said looking around her room

"still, tell me about it" Valerie asked looking inquisitive

"uhm, it is located after the clouds I think, it was..." said Lorna

"you don't do you?"

"not actually"
"you don't do history in school" said Valerie

"what's a school?"

"it's a place to learn, to oppress and be oppressed by"

"well I don't think I wanna go there" said Lorna and they both laughed

"well, didn't your parents tell you?" said Valerie

"no, not actually, I didn't really meet my dad" Lorna said with a sad face

"your mum, you met your mum right?" said Valerie staring at Lorna

"yes, we don't actually have this type of close daughter mother relationship" said Lorna and sighed

"is she in prison?" said Valerie trying to make Lorna smile again, which she did and they both laughed

"no, no, not at all, she ah, she is ah, she owes responsibility to the people" said Lorna looking at Valerie who was confused

"she is like a leader or a queen right?"

"she should be both sort of, if she is a queen, then I should be a princess which I'm not so a leader, well whatever"

"ok, I'll do you a favor... and voila" said Valerie typing enter on the keyboard

"what, any good news??" said Lorna being expectant

"yes, no, maybe" said Valerie and stopped typing

"yes, what, no, maybe, are they good news" said Lorna looking confused

"yes, but the book is sold and not for free, we will have to buy it, I guess" said Valerie shutting her laptop down as Nicole entered

"mum, said y'all should freshen up and come..." said Nicole

"come down for dinner, I know, I know, we are coming" said Valerie shutting the door

"ok, ah" said Lorna starring at Valerie

"well, I don't hate her, but she can be a handful sometimes, about the Book, we would have to work for the money"

"can't you ask your mum" said Lorna

"Ever since my father left us, we have been divested of pocket money, mum says that it reminds her of our father, come on let's go freshen up" said Valerie opening the door

"what am I going to wear, like to sleep" said Lorna going out of the room