Bait Good morning all. I'm writing another story today after a long time. I'm been busy with school work and at the same time preparing for exams too. The title is Bait. “ I'll make sure you regret your actions Dorcas" “ You can't do anything to me old fool. I've avoided your troubles long enough but you still bring it my way" “ We'll get to know who the old fool is" Those words were coming from Charlie's mum and my mum. Charlie's mum is very troublesome. She moved into the neighborhood not too long ago and since then it's been series of quarrels from one block to another. I am Hephzibah, a 3 year old girl. Adults around me say I'm academically too smart for my age, j just smile cause I know I'm just getting started. I love writing and reading too. I want to become a very famous author when I clock 10. My elder brother, Jeff, has been of great help to me. We spend most time of the day studying together. While he reads his own books, I write letters and try to spell numbers then when he's done, he goes through my what I have written and help me out with some vocabularies. 22nd of October, 2022, I and Jeff are studying in my room when we heard the loud laughter of Charlie's mum which was followed by “ so because your son is studying, he can no longer go on errands for me huh?". I looked at Jeff and he was already staring at me. This is the same lady that told Jeff to go and learn manners from his ugly mum the other day. My mum isn't ugly, she only survived a gas explosion when she was younger. Now this same woman wants to send Jeff on an errand and my mum told her that we were busy. “ I'm sorry. Maybe you could send him when he's done with his studies or why don't you ask Charlie to get the seasoning for you" my mum replied. “ Charlie is studying too, so you don't think that it's only your kids who study"  Charlie's mum said. “ So why were you upset that my own son couldn't go on any errands cause he's studying?" My mum asked. “ Ugly divorcee, my boy isn't wasting his time on his books, unlike your son",  she said almost in whispers as she chuckled and started walking away when my mum snapped, “ Being a divorced is far better than your abusive marriage". “ How dare you Dorcas?"  Charlie's mum said in anger as she turned back facing my mum. “ Please go and get the seasoning yourself so your husband won't beat you up for not preparing his meal" mum replied. “Dorcas you don't know who you're messing with. I'll see that you regret saying that to me. I'll make sure you regret your actions Dorcas” “ You can't do anything to me old fool. I've avoided your troubles long enough but you still bring it my way" “ We'll get to know who the old fool is" with this statement Charlie's mum entered her apartment. Mum came into my room and told us what happened, warning us strictly to avoid Charlie's mum. On the other hand, Charlie is a nice boy, he doesn't like it when his mum is always in an argument. I'm sure he must be feeling really bad right now. After our studies, we were in the sitting room when we saw Charlie sneaking into our house through the back door. He came to us to apologise on behalf of his mum. He also told us that he can't play with us in the neighborhood but he can always come around when his mum is asleep. He gave Jeff one of his bracelets and hugged me. Then he sneaked out of the house again. This evening I was playing in the neighborhood when someone got hold of my hands and covered my nose with a cloth. I felt sleepy then I slept off. I woke up to see myself tied on a chair while Charlie's mum was drinking something that looked like whiskey. “Good evening ma" I greeted, “Please I want to go home" I added. She walked closer to me and said “Home? Alright there you go" she walked behind me and twisted my neck, I heard a crunching sound accompanied with a sharp pain on my neck. I felt happy cause I was back home. I saw mum preparing noodles, I smiled, I love noodles. I was about to walk back to my room when mum said “ Jeff, go and get your sister so you both could have dinner together” “Mum I'm already home" I answered. Just then Jeff ran through me. “Hold on Jeff, how did you do that? Mum Jeff now has super powers" I said as I laughed but neither mum nor Jeff found it funny, they didn't even act like they heard me. I decided to go back to my room, then I saw Charlie sneaking out of our house, I followed him so I could tell him what I saw his mum drink. “Charlie" Charlie's mum called immediately we got into the house, that was so close, I hid behind the couch so Charlie's mum wouldn't see me. “Yes mum” Charlie answered. “The garbage truck has arrived please help me dispose the bag of garbage”, Charlie's mum said from the room. Charlie walked back to the backyard and I followed him. “Charlie" I called. “Mum the bag is heavy”, Charlie shouted. “Just help me please", she said. “I never said I wouldn't” Charlie answered while he lifted the sealed black and ash garbage bag. “ But I'm the one who called you Charlie” I said as I walked closer to Charlie. Charlie said nothing to me, I guess he's frustrated with the big garbage bag so I remained mute till  we got to the garbage truck. Charlie threw the bag in, turned to face me while he dusted his shirt then he walked through me, just the same way Jeff did. “Woww!" I said excitedly, “charlie, you and Jeff are yet to tell me where you guys got this super power from, I mean look at that” I said as I ran after Charlie who was already running back home. No matter how close I got to Charlie, I still couldn't reach him. We got back home and I was still trying to touch Charlie when I saw Jeff. I wanted to go hug him when he asked Charlie something stupid “ Charlie, have you seen my baby sister?” “Jeff are you blind or something” I snapped before Charlie gave him the most annoying reply “ I haven't seen her”. I turned to Charlie so I could ask him why he was lying but he did not act like I was there instead he asked Jeff if he would celebrate his 11th birthday at home. Jeff gave a positive nod and went back into our apartment. “ Mum! I still can't find her" he announced as he got in. “ Oh my God! Where's my baby" mum said almost in tears. I did not know what to say or do. “ Go over to the field, you may find her there" “Ok Mum" Jeff replied as he left the house. Mum wasn't looking good at all. I walked closer to her so she could see me, she could not see me. I called out, she did not her me. I touched her, she could not feel me either. I need to talk to Jeff then I found myself on the field. Jeff was with charlie, they were walking towards the garbage truck, lots of people and some children were already there. I followed them. “ Who could have dumped a beautiful girl here?" I heard one of the garbage drivers ask. We got closer and squeezed our way to the front of the crowd. I saw myself on the floor. I would have said I found my twin but for the fact that my legs were in the black and ash garbage bag I wasn't sure of what to think. “ Hephzibah!” Jeff and Charlie screamed as  they  held my  body on the  floor. “ This is the garbage bag my mum gave me to dispose”charlie said to Jeff as everyone turned to look at him. I got more confused. Just then, the cops arrived the scene. They discussed briefly with the garbage drivers and later pointed to Charlie. “Boy, you said you were given that bag by your mum?" “Not exactly Sir, the bag is actually our garbage bag and she asked me to dispose it. And the girl lying there is my friend"  Charlie replied to the policeman. “ Can you please take us to your house?”. “Yes Sir. But I'll have to help my friend carry his sister" Charlie replied The policemen exchanged glances and agreed. Jeff carried the body, my body rather. We got back home and Charlie's mum was arrested. My mum cried, Jeff couldn't cry, he was just lost, Charlie too. I couldn't cry, I was as confused as hell, I can't be dead mum, Jeff I thought you said I have a very beautiful future, tell me how long I would sleep. No one could see me, hear me or feel me. I miss me. I'm sure that mum actually regrets getting into an argument with Charlie's mum but why did I have to die.