LOVE OR MONEY

” Yes mum, the interview is today. But Im not sure if I was called or not…..of course they sent a message…..It says thank you for accepting. ” Ann said to her mother on the phone, ”Yes, thats it. No instructions or a direct order to go…..mum why would I lie? ”

She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth while spoke with her mother.

”Just go and check it out dear, you won lose anything. ” her mother said.

Ann spite out the tooth paste and said to her mother, ” What do you mean I won lose anything. I will lose money on bus fare and a lot of energy. ”

”Oh, Ann, if you really want the job and if theres a possibility of been hired, you won complain about some silly bus fare or energy. Besides, youll lose some weight. You can even were that black dress your grandma bought you. ”

Ann frowned because of how the subject had suddenly diverted to her weight. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw how her double chin had increased in size. She liked it because it made her feel cute but society said otherwise.

”I have to go now, I call you later. ”she said to her mother trying to hide her annoyance.

”Don forget to tell Bryce, okay. He was calling earlier to ask after you. Hasn he called you? ” her mother said sounding sad.

Bryce was her childhood friend and ex-boyfriend. Her mother didn know about their breakup three months earlier.

”Ill call him later. ” she lied to her mother.

Ann hang up and went to her room to get dressed. She put on white cotton underwear and a black bra. She went to the closet and looked at the white top and black trouser her grandmother had prepared for her interview. She took the clothes from the hangers and placed them on the bed. She stared at them without doing anything for a few minutes. If she managed to get the job then maybe her mother would stop thinking of her as a failure. She would stop telling her, Ann, to always have a man next to her for support. She never even liked Bryce as a friend and yet her mother forced them to date because Bruce was a working man.

She sighed loudly and picked up the white top. She had a feeling it wasn going to fit her anymore but she put it on; she didn have anything better to wear anyway. Her hands and arms went through fairly easy but when it came to closing the top buttons, it was a struggle. She still had a tiny waist so the top looked normal there. The weight she had gained wasn in the bad places; the fat she had gained made her figure more appealing. Her bust was a problem in that moment. In the end, the first three buttons could close and she had removed the very top button in a futile attempt to close it.

She frowned at the top and stomped a few times before taking the top off. She went back to the closet and picked a black long sleeved top. She put it on and luckily it fit beautifully

At least something Bryce got her finally helped. She was sure the October heat would kill her in that top but it was worth it. She walked back to her bed and picked up the trouser. She managed to get it to her knees but it didn go further than that. She took it off in frastration and picked a skirt instead. The skirt was tight and it restricted her movements to some extent. She took a pair of black heels and went to look at herself in the mirror. Her reflection looked back at her, expressing the sadness and loneliness she felt. She didn like the feeling so she started encouraging herself.

You don need a man to support you. You
e beautiful and you don need someone to say it to you to know. You
e a sexy lady and you don need mum to agree with you. You
e….all you need.

Ann smiled and placed her hands under her breasts and lifted them for the fleshy part of it to show slightly through her top. She left them drop and then turned to look at her back side. Her buttocks felt heavy when she held them and she smiled again and then frowned.

What if they think Im a prostitute? she thought.

She cried inwardly and started regretting not buying clothes for the interview after her weight gain; when she had money. She put on a thin layer of make-up and packed her make-up kit just in case she needed it earlier. Her phone was still in the bathroom but she thought she had packed it so she left without it.

Ann walked out of her apartment stealthily to avoid her landlord who she owed rentals for two months. Before, Bryce used to pay the rent for her but now that they were no longer together, he stopped helping her out.

The least he could do is help his childhood friend. she said to herself as she tiptoed down the flight of stairs.

Once she was out of the rundown building, she started walking faster because she was going to be late for the interview if she continued walking like a snail. She turned to an alley and a mad man sitting there whistled at her. She turned to the shabby man and waved while smiling.

”Morning Andy. How you doing? ” she greeted the man.

Andy smiled shyly and blew her a kiss as good luck because he knew where she was headed all dolled up.

”Good luck, honey. I need to start getting paid as well, you know. ” he said smiling at her.

There were times she doubted Andy was crazy. He spoke too coherently to be mad and when he spoke she could feel love and care engulf her. She was grateful for the man because he really seemed to care about her.

”Thanks Andy. Just pray for me and for the people who will be interviewing me. ” she said handing Andy some chocolate.

He smiled at her and drew a cross infront of her like a priest would do.