Maisse's Sold Off

TER

rd month she was working for Ms. Simmons and she was already getting tired of her complains and naggings. Ms.Simmons was alway

et!" Ms.Simmons squeeky voice would

arranged! And I need my coffee, righ

family. Emily and Emmy, the twins, needed to stay in school and their father could not do that. In fact, he did not care about any of them. The last time Mai

she had not been born a boy. Her father had wanted a son so much that Maisse spent the first three years of her life wearing only pants, this stopped only after she joined preschool. The few times he walked or spent t

n the pub. The twins were conceived as a result of one drunken night. When Maisse's mother broke the news to him, he was elated and started coming

the rent and food. Her sisters were home alone since she could not afford a babysitter at the moment. She was proud to have completed her high school, it allowed her to get meni

ne who could get them out of trouble or help them, she was their ride or die. And so she had to do every

. They considered her the opposite of a social butterfly. In school she was always reading, either in class or the school library. She never attended any party thrown by the popu

love stories in the library books. One day, she had promised herself, she would meet the love of her life, and they would live happily ever after. She would adopt her siste

It was an old diner that served soup and bread mostly, most of the regular customers were old like the owner, Mr. Prisley. It seemed like they were either patr

like their grandfather, even Maisse loved him. His wife was the first person to ever gift Maisse and the twins on their birthday. They had been sad whe

had some news to tell them today. She did not know what he was going to tell them and that made her worried. Sh

st as Maisse was putti

ll have to deduct it from you

isse replied as

cleaned my

why Ms. Simmons had needed a hand. The two girls barely spoke to her as Many. Simmons did not tolerate lazying around as she put it. The only thing they did was show her around the place. Massie quickly learned to mind her business

l and go get my coffee." She sai

treets were busy. She waved at the paperboy who sold old newspapers next door, smiled at the old watchman by the door of the coffee shop.

mmons asked as Maisse put her coffe

customers."

een low. Do something about it or I will have

only sold what was on the shelves. Ms. Simmons had refused to stock citing

est friend and she had an ugly temper. If she was not complaining about her

k her dress from the bag she always carried with her. She kno

ways tired. The store was small that she could handle it herself but she was too lazy to do that. It was an inheritance from her aunt and from what Maisse

isley said cheerfully as he

I had to tag my sisters along. I hope you don't mind."

In fact today there

mething wrong?" Maisse a

is me." Old

isse asked as she laid a hand on his temple. The

doing

, Maisse's workmate asked

ing." Old P

red." Vik said. Old Prisl

l profits. The new diners have taken over. I also want to spend time with my wife before she leaves this world. The doct

not find her voice. Vik j

you look for an alternative. I am also going to talk to the new owner so that he can employ you. I do not know w

o is going to take care of us?" Maisse

to worry, you are always welcomed at our house. The

she did not want to depend on him and his family entirely. Sh

r and they had already exhausted their rent? Where was she going to get money seeing as her father was incapable of taking care of them? She had to find ano

rt of the money Old Prisley had given her to pay for their school. She was putting milk into the oatmeal bowl when her

e cupboard took a cup and poured himself all of t

isse said in a small voice.

to say seeing as he never gave her any money for food or shopping. "In fact, be ready to lea

" Maisse ask

s house in a month. I have

re you talking abo

eady used half of your dowry so you'd be wise to

uld you?" Mai

need the money more than I need to see you roaming around this

t. It was weird that she was being chased out of the same

e man I have chosen for you. No arguments. I can pa

ns?" Maisse asked h

e to take care of those little rascals."

d barely afford to feed them despite being over eighteen. She had to find a solution to all these problems. Old Prisley was selling the diner, the money she was getting from Ms. Simmons was not enough and she definitely d

to wake up her sisters in the room they shared. It was a tiny room with a double-decker that the three of them shared. The twins slept together on the lower bed while Maisse slept on the upper bed. Sometimes when s

ady?" Emmy asked as

d out to Ms. Simmons. Up you go, both of yo

o to school today.

t go to the next class. Do you want to re

ld go see Me. Simmons shop

Ms. Simmons apparently does not like it when small kids run around her shop. I

orite was chocolate while Emily preferred vanilla. The ice cream shop always had a small discount during the weekends for kids. Maisse always tried to buy her sisters some treats every month

Emily shouted f

arted fighting about something as mundane as who is the first to get out of the bat