Pinto The Jungle Girl.
Episode 6.
… I sat back on the chair watching Dad pace up and down with hands on his head. He would turn and look at me but I would look away. He didn’t even know what was coming to him. I couldn’t afford to lose my only brother due to his carelessness. If he hadn’t abandoned us, we probably wouldn’t have gone through what we went through. I was so much ready to burn down the whole building.
After a few minutes, the fire alarm started to sound and before we knew what was happening, the fire started burning from his office window outside the building.
“Call the fire station! Call the fire station” Dad said in screams.
They tried to put out the fire but the more they tried, the more it spread. People who resumed work that morning started to run out of the building and the last man who ran out started pointing at me from afar while approaching.
“She’s the one. I saw her through the CCTV. She lit up the place” He said at the top of his voice.
Dad hurried to us and stood beside the man with his mouth agape, watching him keenly as he explained and demonstrated what he saw.
“No no, it’s not possible!” Dad said shaking his head.
“I’m serious, she lit up your office, that’s the reason for the fire.” The man repeated almost poking one of my eyes with a finger.
“No, Pinto can’t do that. Besides, we were all here together when we noticed the fire” Dad said.
I stood up, staring directly into Dad’s eyes.
“Yes, I did it” I said, Dad’s jaw dropped immediately.
“You did what, Pinto?” He quizzed locking stares with me.
“I started the fire. And if my younger brother is not provided in a few hours, you don’t know what’s coming to you next” I said.
“What?!” He exclaimed.
People around were still trying to put out the fire and all of a sudden, we heard an explosion which came from inside the building, and the whole building caught fire. Everyone took to their heels, running outside the gate for safety but I turned and looked back, and then forward. I walked majestically out like a pretty b@d girl while the fire was burning behind me. As soon as I was out, Dad rushed to me and started asking me questions with tears in his eyes.
“Pinto, what did you do that for? Do you know that this place is owned by my wife? I’m finished, Pinto! What do you want me to do now?” He asked rhetorically in between sobs.
I looked at him.
“Really?” I asked.
“So, this place means more than my brother’s life to you, right? Just wait till justice catches up with all of you” I barked.
“Pinto, forget justice. Even if you invited the biggest authority in this town they still wouldn’t do anything cos this place is feared and respected by many,” He said.
I moved closer to him…
“Really?” I quizzed confidently.
“Yes Pinto, yes!” He said with both hands on his head and then, a truck with a tank of water drove in, while father’s wife drove behind it. She parked all of a sudden, flung her car door open, and then hurried to Dad and I. She landed a slap on my face and started yelling at me at the top of her voice. She raised her hand again in an attempt to repeat the same thing but I grabbed her hand, holding it so hard in the air.
By Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites.
“Don’t you even dare” I said eyeball to eyeball in a hard tone. And then, we started to hear a sirene.
“Well, go rot in ja!l jungle girl” She said.
I moved closer to her, and then I stretched forth my neck toward her left ear.
“You’re not God” I whispered.
The men in the sirene car came down and started walking towards us. The truck carrying water was already trying to quench the f!re at this point. As soon as the men reached, one showed me his I.D. and said to me.
“You’re under arrest. You’ll have to go with us to the station”
As soon as Dad heard that, he quickly snatched the diamond box from me.
“I’m sorry Pinto, we’ll have to take this in place of the damage you’ve done” He said.
I gave him an ugly stare and then shook my head.
“You still haven’t changed a bit. But I promise you, you will one day pay for all this” I said before I was taken away by the men.
I was locked up with some people without food or water, but all I was bothered about was my brother. The other cell mates had people that were bringing food to them but for I and one other guy, We stayed watching other cell mates eat without even inviting us.
“Don’t worry my friend. A lady comes here every three days to feed everyone, she’ll be here tomorrow” He said with a hand on my shoulder.
I raised my head and then looked at him. I don’t want food, all I want is my brother” I said with tears dripping down.
The young man then took my hand…
“Whatever it is, just have faith, all will be well” He said and I nodded sporadically.
Well, the following day, all cell mates started expecting this mystery lady that brings food.
“Who really is she? ” I once asked the guy who is now my friend.
“I don’t really know” He said.
“But, I learnt she’s a top officer serving in the other town” I added.
“Nice” I said.
After a few minutes, people in and out of the building started shouting and screaming. I got up all of a sudden, wondering what was going on.
“What is happening? ” I asked looking at my friend.
“She’s here” He said with a smile.
“Oh! ” I replied, and then sat back on the floor.
The lady started sharing food to everyone, and then entered our cell. My head was bowed, wasn’t even interested in the food. All of a sudden, I heard my name.
“Pinto! “
I looked up immediately, lo and behold, it was someone I knew.
“Princess Annabel! ” I called in exclamation with eyes popped. It was the daughter of our King, the palace where I had worked as a cleaner when I was a child, and later got attacked…
To be continued!
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©️ Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
