Chapter 8: Goin' Home

While Tifara and Saul strode around the city shopping area, the sky nearly blackened and the street lights were just turned on. The moonlight shone its light upon Maritama. People moved past them, vehicles strode on the road, plenty of Mom and Pop stores were bustling.

Tifara looked up at Saul and smiled at him. "So how do you like being a Secondary School President now, Saul?"

"Oh, it was alright," Saul responded with his eyes closed and a grin. "But I'm not only a Secondary School President."

Tifara excitedly gasped and widened her eyes. "No way! Really?!"

Saul shook his head.

"Then what else are you then?" Tifara asked.

"Well, I'm also a leader of a youth group in one of Mekuria's churches."

"Aaaah, that's pretty cool. So what do you do?"

"Well, I led my team to receive money and buy stuff for charity and have some Bible studies together at the church. I'm responsible for the team and finances."

Ah, this is amazing! I'm hanging out with Saul! He's in two leadership positions! Isn't it amazing?! I jus' hope I don't mess this up and scare away my future husband, Tifara excitedly thought as she applauded with her cheeks blushed. "Oh, that's awesome, Saul. I bet that's a lot of responsibilities."

"Oh, yeah. It sure is."

"Anyway, I hope you keep up the good work!"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Say, since you're a Christian, you should come and visit our church this Saturday."

"But I don't go to church though. I've never been to church before in my life."

Saul gave Tifara his cute, sad face. "Oh, c'mon, Tifara. Pleeease. It won't take long."

"Well, uh…" Tifara just gave Saul her sad look. Alright, Tifara. You gotta go to his church, she thought, I mean, He's your future husband after all. You don't wanna lose him, do ya? Tifara shook her head. "Alright, I'll go."

"Great!" Saul closed his eyes. "Now don't forget to dress like you're at a fancy restaurant and wear a headcovering."

"Oh, I won't."

"And please make sure you be there at the eleventh hour (11am)."

"I will."

Now since I'm goin' to Saul's church. I jus' hope May and Calpurnia know about this. Speaking of Calpurnia…Tifara thought, expressing her sly smile on her face. "So Saul."

"Yes?"

"You usually eat breakfast with Calpurnia since January. Will she be comin' to the church this Saturday?"

"Uh, yeah. Of course she is..." Saul closed his eyes and smiled.

Oh, dammit! I may have to compete with Calpurnia over Saul afterall…Jus' great…Tifara sadly thought as she leaned to her side with her sad face.

"Tifara, are you alright?" Saul asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Oh, yea. I'm totally fine," Tifara answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea, I'm positive."

"Okay, good. You almost gave me a heart attack or something."

Tifara closed her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry I caused that to happen. It's totally my bad."

Saul also closed his eyes. "Oh, that's okay, Tifara. I forgive you." Saul reopened his eyes, looked up at the sky and placed his hand on his chin. "Anyway, where were we?" He paused for a moment. "Oh, yea. Calpurnia…"

He turned back to Tifara. "Look, I understand you're personally not a fan of her. But she's my neighbor and her parents help mine out. So of course we go to church together. Jus' try to get along with one another, so as to not embarrass me in front of churchgoers, please?"

"I'll try my best not to disappoint you."

"Good."

Then Tifara took a look around and noticed something. Huh? She thought, watching David entering one if the Mom and Pop shops. But David didn't notice her. She glared at him and nearly closed her eyes. What the hell's David doin' at the restaurant this late?! Is that his family business or something?! I'll investigate tomorrow, she curiously thought.

"Uh, Tifara?" Saul asked, reraising his eyebrow at Tifara.

Tifara turned to Saul. "Yes?"

"Are you okay? 'Cause you've been starin' at that store for quite a while now."

Tifara closed her eyes and scratched the back of her head. "Oh, that? Yea, I'm fine. I jus' thought that shop looked interesting for me to look at. That's all."

Saul gazed at the store one last time. "Yea, you're right. It sure is interesting though, I'll tell ya that. Maybe we should at least visit there tomorrow."

"Why, yea. Of course we should. I mean, I don't see why not."

"Totally, bro. Totally."

Tifara and Saul continued their stroll until they made it to Tifara's apartment complex. Tifara turned around, closed her eyes and grinned at Saul. "Thanks for walkin' me home, Saul. I truly appreciate it."

Saul closed his eyes and grinned. "No prob. It's nice walkin' with you."

"So I'll see ya tomorrow then. Bye!" Tifara waved at Saul.

"Yea, you too! Bye!" Saul waved back at Tifara, walking away from her.

Once he left, Tifara's excited eyes glowed. She placed her hands on her cheek and smiled in amazement. "Ah! I can't believe I walked with Saul this evening! It's so amazing, and we'll walk together tomorrow and visit the store that David goes to. Aaaah! So romantic!"

Then she walked upstairs humming. When she made it to her apartment door, she took off her backpack and dug through it in search of her keys. Once she found them, she opened the door and entered the house. "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Tifara!" Her parents and little sister said.

A small, light-brownish dog excitedly barked at and dashed for Tifara while she took off her outside shoes and put on her house slippers. She kneeled down and gently rubbed the dog's head and belly. "Hi there, Todo. How was your day? Was it good? Yea? Well, I'm glad to hear that!"

Tifara's little sister walked towards Tifara. "Hi, Tifara! Did you have a good first day of school?" Then she frowned, looking down below her. "'Cause…I didn't…"

Tifara frowned back at her sister. "Oh, I'm sorry you didn't have a good first day of school today, Yulogia. I didn't have it either."

"It's okay, Tifara," Yulogia said, frowning at her sister. "And I'm sorry you had to go through that too."

Tifara smiled at Yulogia, standing up from the floor. "It's alright."

"And how was helping Dalila recoverin' from her heart attack comin' along?" Yulogia asked.

"It was alright, I suppose," Tifara responded. "But she is gettin' better…very slowly."

Yulogia raised her fists up underneath her chin, closed her eyes and grinned. "That's good to hear, Tifara!"

She then turned to her parents. "How was work you guys?"

"It was a long day," Her parents responded.

"So did you get in trouble at school?" Her mother asked.

Tifara just looked down below her and stood there without saying a word. Her shadow covered her embarrassed forehead and eyes. Her parents sighed.

"Are you freakin' serious, Tifara?!" Her dad snapped, placing his hand on his forehead. "Do you have to get in trouble on your first day of school?!"

"Eh?! Oh, what the hell did you do now?! Lemme see that office referral!" Her mom roared, putting her palm hand out forward.

Tifara pulled out her office referral and gave it to her mom. Her mom examined it and expressed her shocked face, placing her hand on her mouth. "You showed off your panties in the school hallway?! Eh?!"

"What?!" Her dad also expressed his shocked face when looking at his wife and daughter at the same time. "Lemme see that!"

Yulogia's eyes widened when she heard that, watching her mom handing over the office referral to her dad.

"No, I literally didn't show off my panties to everybody. Calpurnia tripped me over jus' to embarrass me there, and everyone lied to the administrator of it. That's all," Tifara calmly stated.

"It doesn't really matter, Tifara!" Her dad said after looking at the office referral. "You know damn well Mekurians don't respect people like you and your sister, and they'll do everything they can to take you down. You still could've stayed out of trouble."

"Yeah! That's exactly right!" Her mom agreed as she and her husband signed the office referral together and handed it to Tifara. "You would've save us alot of stress from that shitty ass school and this shitty ass school district, if you jus' stayed out of trouble and go on with your business!"

Tifara sucked her teeth at her parents and crossed her arms. "But I was helpin' that girl get her book back. I couldn't jus' stand by and do nothin', y'know."

Her dad banged on the table and pointed his index finger at his daughter. "Hey, don't you start catchin' an attitude with us and suck your teeth at us! Uncross your arms immediately!"

Once Tifara uncrossed her arms, her dad continued, "We're your parents! You do what we tell you to do! Do you understand me?!"

"Yes, sir…" Tifara answered without an attitude.

"Good." Her dad calmly leaned back.

"You're already grounded for a week like your sister. You will not go anywhere with your friends except school, Dalila's house and ministry work," Her mom said.

Tifara's eyes widened when she heard that. Oh, great! That means I won't be able to see Saul at church nor visit that store David went into this evening tomorrow. And only Calpurnia will be there! Jus' great. Jus' great…Tifara thought out of shock.

"That's right. Keep it up, and you'll be grounded for an extra week. Is that clear?" Her mom added with a serious face.

"Yes, ma'am…" Tifara replied.

"Now hand over your phone. That tablet and laptop's comin' out of your room too," her mom stated, putting her palm out forward.

Tifara handed her mom her phone, and her mom stood up from her chair to head for Tifara's room. When the oven beeped, her mom turned to the oven. "Babe, dinner's ready. Would you mind getting it for me?"

"Sure, no problem," her dad responded, standing up from his chair to get dinner out of the oven.

While her mom refocused on Tifara's room for her laptop and tablet, Tifara thought, Okay, I need to find a way to get into that store as well as a dress and headcover to get to Saul's church without my parents noticin'. If I don't, Saul will be saddened by my absence and I can't allow that to happen. Ever.

"Girls, dinner!" Her dad yelled from the kitchen.

"Comin'!" Tifara and Yulogia said as they headed for the kitchen.