My eyes lingered aimlessly admiring the beautiful but large room before throwing them at the interviewers. The room was beautifully arranged with four black chairs behind a large grey table. One white and comfortable chair was placed at the middle facing the table which a guess was for the interviewee. On the four chairs sat dark and serious men looking at us. Their eyes seemed to be undressing us as they sat quietly. I was nervous.

"Who among you is Fatuma Valyane Ibrahim?" One of them asked.

"I'm the one sir!" Valu said making him look at me surprised.

" And what is she doing here?Madam you have to wait outside for us to be done with her", he said his eyes fixed on me in a disgusting way.

"Sir I can't do that", I firmly opposed.

"Then you two will have to wait outside or come tomorrow," he continued making my heart skip. Remembering my problems and the distance back home, I had no otherwise but go. One of us had to go with a new thing to tell.

I waited for almost 45 minutes outside as my heart continued with it's pace. I also muttered a prayer to myself knowing Allah was there. Once Valu was out, I ran and held her stick leading her on the bench many questions storming my mind. Did she succeed and if yes, how will she do it?

"I just got it girl!" She said once she was seated but her face said something else.

"If at all you got it, why is your face like that?"

"My ex boyfriend is among those men", she solemnly said  in a monotone making sure no ear had stolen a word.

"What! How do you mean? What's his name if I may ask?" I asked since she had never told me his name.

"Hatari is his name but...", I interrupted before she could finish.

"Ha...what! The same man who was with Clane the same night I was forced to kill Lincolin? What the heck! Did he identify you?"

"He didn't. How could he have yet I have lost a lot of weight and to add on that, I'm no longer Valu", She reminded.

I nodded as something else stormed my ever loaded mind.
If at all Hatari is here then Clane must be near. What will happen if we meet? Will he identify me? I'm sure he won't since I've gained a lot of weight and my face was covered in a hijab.

Time passed and it was 2:00Pm already. The interviewers had gone for a break and came back but we were still seated waiting for my lack. I wasn't called for the interview as Valu but I was waiting for the last interviewee to be done.

"Is anyone still out there?" The same voice that had called for Valu went once all the interviewees were done.

I stood and hurriedly walked to the door, twisted knob before the interview came to an end and entered. Anyone in my shoe could have done the same thing I did. I really wanted to provide for my babies same way any able single mother does. I wanted to be counted among the hard working mothers.

On popping in once I had locked  the door the same way I had found it, I turned my face to my judges only to come into contact with Hatari's sharp eyes but I held the gaze. I didn't want them to mistake me for a weak job seeker, a hungry job hunter who came only to try her lack but in reality, I was.

   "With her swollen feet and tired eyes, would she be able to do any job assigned to her?" He asked leaving my gaze and throwing it to the other interviewers.

They all planted smiles on their faces which lasted for countless seconds and brought their lips back to their normal state. So they also had the ability to smile?

Holly mother of chocolates descent!

I got irritated by their action but hide it in my ever loaded heart. I was ready to take in as many insults as possible from them.
Wasn't I a beggar anyway?

    "Can you work as a socker monster", the second man who was sitting by Hatari's side asked.

   "Can we introduce ourselves to her first, she may get confused by our questions and appearances fellow interviewers", another one suggestion making them nod their heads in agreement.

They all introduced themselves but my mind was in a long journey and had promised to come back once the introduction was over. I couldn't understand why but that was something it has been doing for the rest of the interviewes for the last six months. What an absent mind!

   "As I was asking, are you able to work as a socker monster madam Salima?" The same man asked once the introduction was over.

I wasn't amazed when he called me by the name. That had been happening in most of the interviews I had been attending but I couldn't understand how I came to introduce myself. Wait did he just say socker monster? Monsters behave hungrily, can do anything given to them and ever smart but what of the socker thing? I wasn't ready to agree to things I never understood but had to be wise. Wisdom can only be used in situation that are to be thought hard.

      "Sir, the kind of question you just asked is tricky and can't be answered in a mortal form. It's the same way I can ask you whether you can marry a beautiful ogre or not. What I know is that socker monsters only exist in a tales but in reality, no one is as perfect as monsters. Humans are there to make mistakes, mistakes are there to be corrected and corrections are there to be perfected. I think I answered you question", I explained making them widen their eyes.

I think I blew their minds by my words. That's what I had been planning all along but something was strange with this interview. I couldn't understand why they never asked for my CV and some important documents other companies had been asking for. Was it really a legal company?

     "I think she will fit as the wife", I overheard the man who was sitting beside Hatari say to the others as they discussed among themselves.

    "No! She can work as the heart polisher to boss Mavuna's elder daughter", Hatari opposed making my heart skip. My aunty Mavuna needed someone for her daughter? Is this not another juicy information? I think this can work.

    "That can't work! Don't forget we had another customer who needed a comforter for his sisters", another one brought something else up.

This took almost ten minutes as they argued. I as I sat quietly waiting for their decision. It has to be today!

      "Madam I think you'll have to go and come back tomorrow after we've decided on the best position for you. Are we in agreement?" Hatari asked but I didn't respond. I wanted the decision to be  there and then not some other times.

    "I think she wants the job right now Hatari. A heart comforter is the best position for her" , another one suggest and they all nodded in agreement. This was the best I could ever get. The kind of life I've been through can make other's heart melt from stone to honey but who is this boss?

*******************

I reached at our door and sighed.  I had searched for Valu everywhere after the interview but the only response I got was that she wasn't seen anywhere near. I heard people talk inside the house and hesitated to knock. It was Valu and Laughter.

   "Are you going to tell her about it or keep it to yourself?" Valu asked.

    "What I want is money. Why should I tell her? I've done a lot for her and that should be my wages. Are you in or not?" Laughter asked making me wonder what she was to tell and not to.

   "I'm not in! I can't side with evil. She've been a lot and money can't buy life. You better tell him you can't do such a thing", Valu exclaimed making Laughter raise her voice.

    " I won't! I'm going to give Darling to him in two days time. His wife had never conceived and here she is with six babies. She can't even provide for any of them and you are here talking of what's right and what isnt? Give me a break girl! If you aren't going to agree with me, I'll expose the two of you!"

My heart raced making my chest heavy. Humans are not to be trusted and betrayal is real! A tear threatened to come out as I remembered what I've been through with my babies. I shook my head and pushed the door. I looked at them and smiled then  threw myself on the cold floor letting sleep take control. I needed rest to think of the next move. Valu tried to wake me up but I was too tired to talk. I didn't want them to notice my disappointment in them. Friends

Don't ever undress for pretty eyes in the bush!