THE EVENT'S DAY
We are in the foyer, at around four thirty in the evening with glasses of juice in our , waiting for Andy to come and give his vote of thanks so that we can call it a .
The day has been a joyous day. We had incredible fun with the kids. Gosh! I can't recall the last time I fiddled with children the way I did today. I engaged with in almost every recreation including hide and seek which was the most fantastic, because Andy deliberately called me from my hiding place so his daughter can win. He will pay for that, later, I swear. All the same, I think was the highlight of the fun.
Thereupon, I assembled all the children and disseminated the cupcakes which
Andy notified me later that someone paid a generous amount for them, which will part of the donation. I did not have that kind of idea when I was making the . All I wanted was to gift kids with something, but nevertheless, I am so that I somehow helped in boosting funds for the kids. I feel like I was of this. Next time I will make sure to bake double what I had today. Mental !
After that, I had the elation of meeting some of Andy's business partners. He me to them, and we exchange a few words of pleasantries with them, I had to abdicate from them sooner because I wasn't any close to their pedigree.
I mean, the indigent among them was a millionaire, according to my appraisal, into consideration the heavy four-wheeled machines they came driving, and shiny custom-made tuxedoes they were wearing. I also listened to some of their and I tell you, they are all rich businessmen. Filthy rich! I was the one out. So fucking odd! A maid in the company of tycoons. Trust me, you 't ever want to experience that kind of inferiority complex. It slapped me hard I had to leave the rich be, and join my class, Rita.
Now the auctioning of children's masterpieces is over, and I can say the graphics extremely remarkable, especially coming from such young souls. The buyers more than generous in prices too.
What amazed people was one kid, a boy of ten years, and he is the oldest. He made sketch of Andy, surrounded by so many kids all smiling and looking up to him.
He had captured every single detail of Andy's face - the fine jaws, shape, the lips, had ideally outlined every feature of Andy just precise. When Andy spotted the , he was extensively stridden. I saw a very profound smile on his face as he the masterpiece in his hands. He offered a great amount for the painting, but boy rejected it. He said it was a free gift to Andy, as a way of saying thank you behalf of all the kids for putting smiles on their faces. That almost made Andy up with joy. I saw how his eyes shone with delight, but he got a hold of .
The poor boy's heart-stirring gesture left Andy with no option but to accept the gift.
He even took a selfie with the thoughtful and talented boy, whose dream is to an architect, which well befits him given the exhibit of his ability at such a age, and Andy promised to support him achieve his goals - him and all the
120 other kids.
As we wrap up the day, I can firmly and delightfully attest that the day was a . The kids had fun. They have received huge donations. The sweet grin on faces right now is an assurance that they are happy, and that is all that matters.
Putting such a beautiful smile on more than a hundred kids from the streets is not close to easy at all. Kudos to Andy! He has done an exemplary amazing , not in just educating them and giving them a good life, but also in shaping in terms of discipline. He deserves an award. Someday, I would like to know he did it. To hear the story from his mouth.
"Good evening once again, ladies and gentlemen!" Andy's voice made everyone their chit-chats and we settle on our seats, silence befalling the whole hall as pay attention to the speaker on stage. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. I won't much of your time because we are past time. I want to take just a minute to a word of thanksgiving to everyone who participated in making this day a . Thank you all very much. To the kids, my kids, your daddy is happy to see beautiful smiles on your faces." He pauses as children chirped, "we love you", for him.
I learnt from Rita that, Andy gathered all these kids from the streets. He used to go the streets to feed them and bring some clothes when he was just an . Later he rented a room for them, provided them with basic necessities, still brought in more kids whenever he found them. And that's how they started him dad. Before moving them to his children's homes, he had formed a with them. They now look up to him as their role model, and their life and they adore him. Isn't he amazing?
"I want to promise you that I will do everything I can to maintain those smiles. The thing I expect from you is to work hard in your studies, and your dad will be . To my friends and business partners, thank you so much for your enormous . The kids are smiling today because of you. God bless you abundantly.
That's it for today, and feel free to leave at your convenience. Thank you once ." Angel slips out of my lap and runs to his dad on stage, and he carries her in hands, kissing the little girl.
"Are you not going to tell me anything about you and Andy?" That is Rita. She has nagging me about it the whole of today, but I am not telling her anything.
"Instead of bugging me with gossip, why don't we go out and take some selfies."
"You are right. But still, you need to tell me the gossip I want to hear. I want to the real reason behind that smile on Andy."
I throw a quick glance at Andy, busy saying goodbye to the guests with Angel still his arms. He is smiling, for sure, but what is there not to smile about this day, ? His kids are happy. The event was successful. How else would he show his ?
"Drooling over him?"
"Shut up and let's go out." I start walking out because I don't want Rita to see me like a teenager just because of Andy. She will jump to cloud nine with her ideas.
We walk out and start taking selfies, as guests start evacuating.
I decide to take one last photo capturing the parking lot behind me, but... Wait!
My heart stops! Did I see someone?
I think I am going insane because I can't be seeing the person I think I am seeing.
I forget about the selfie and turn to the parking. His back is on me now, and he is away behind the cars.
"Damian?" I murmur a query.
"What?" Rita queries with confusion.
"Damian! I saw him right there." I say to Rita, pointing in the direction where I I saw him, but he has already disappeared.
"There is no one there, Tania!"
"I am sure I saw him." I insist and start in the direction he was in, with Rita behind me.
I look around, turning from corner to corner until I complete a 370°, but no sight of .
"See? There is no one here, Tania. You must be hallucinating."
"I saw him, Rita. Believe me. He must be around." I start to walk around, but Rita me.
"Even if it was him, what would you probably say to him once you see him? Like, , how are you doing with my cousin that you cheated on me with? How many do you have?"
"You don't have to be so sarcastic, you know!" I exclaim.
"I am sorry, but come on!"
"Right. I have nothing to say to that cheating jerk holeass."
The drive back home is quiet. Angel slept on the way, and she is still fast asleep. I bothered by the person I thought I saw earlier, something that Andy has , but I am lying to him that I am just tired. Good thing he hasn't called a horrible liar. I don't know if that means he believes me or not.
The last time I saw that cheating idiot, Damian, was like two years ago. That day tricked me together with my cousin into going to her house, only to find them in middle of their steamy romance. What was awful, was how he justified himself saying I was boring. I was no fun. We were not blending. That I was not the girl for him. Filthy jerk!
Maybe all that was true, actually, it was, but it would have cost him nothing to up with me properly. A modest "I don't want you anymore" would have been and decent. What was the need of making me see all that?
If sex was the only way to make me ideal for him, I wasn't ready just yet. And of the girls he could have cheated on me with, it had to be Maria. My only cousin.
Then again, when it came to Maria, I was always on the losing end. I didn't cry that . I did not break down in front of them if that was what they expected. I walked , head held high, with dignity and respect. I have never seen him again, and 't wish to. The mare thought of that sight before me that day makes me want to . They both better not show their faces to me ever. And Maria... That name makes me tremble with fear!