CHAPTER 3

"And he was like, are you okay, Miss?" Maryann mimicked as she explained the whole scenario to Gran.

"And what did you do, Ann gurl?" Granny wanted to know more.

"I……I……I…….." Maryann began to stutter.

"You did what?"

"I……I……I talked back" Maryann said.

"You insulted someone who just saved your life?!" Granny screamed angrily.

"But Gran, I wondered how he saved my life, because even if I had fallen I would have stood up on my own….there is really no big deal about it"

"Even if you had gotten up on your own…. I promise you, five of your teeth would have gone missing."

"I'm sorry, Gran"

"Sorry?! Sorry won't solve anything…. You gotta find that young man and apologize to him for that insulting mess you put him through."

"How Gran? I don't even know him, talk less of finding him" Maryann was confused.

Even though Maryann stole a lot without refraining from it no matter how bad the situation she got in may seem to be.

Granny always taught her good morals and she carried them out perfectly, but why didn't she apply it to the young man who saved her from losing her teeth is what sounded strange because it was unlike her to behave like that.

"You must find him today. Apologize to him today. Now take me out for air"

When Granny said this…it meant Maryann had to push her along the street with Granny in her wheelchair.

Granny Mia being a good woman made people love her so much, but hating her granddaughter would never be an exception.

Every day she receives bad reports about Maryann.

Some days she gets mad at Maryann, some days she is soaked in tears.

"Why wouldn't her granddaughter change?" Granny thought as Maryann pushed her along the sidewalk.

So many people greeted her as she passed by, some ignored her while some rumored loudly;

"Hi, Granny Mia"

"Where have you been?"

"How are you feeling?"

And some rumored like;

"Granny Mia, did you hear what happened at the market today?"

"Your granddaughter is really an annoying girl."

"I'm sure she has stolen your panties and bra too."

Granny Mia waved to those giving good compliments and ignored those giving bad compliments.

Maryann kept mute throughout the walk, because things like that didn't make her flinch.

She was called names in life to the point she just didn't care anymore and got used to criticism and, funny enough, nothing could stop her from stealing.

As Maryann pushed Granny Mia forward, they were shocked at what they saw.

On a broad billboard was boldly written 'WANTED' with Maryann's picture roughly sketched on it

"What?!" Mary screamed.

Granny turned her head to stare at Maryann; "Told ya several times, not everybody you mess with, now how you gon clean it up with just a rag?" Granny shouted.

Maryann became so confused because she didn't think it would go this far and the worst was she had been in worse situations than the one from earlier, but nothing ever came out. "I didn't know, it gon be this serious."

"Let's get back home, take the left lane, the streets are not safe for you" Granny Mia ordered.

"Okay Granny"

As she pushed Granny along the left lane, a few minutes later they were home inside their laundry house.

Granny Mia ordered her to put the television on and what they saw was really shocking:

NEWS HEADLINES

A FEMALE THIEF WANTED BY THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MUST BE FOUND IN BETWEEN FOUR DAYS TIME.

'President Cyril Brown ordered the CIA and FBI agents to get the female suspect known to be a thief who stole from the market a few hours ago. In the new written constitution, it is said that the penalty for theft is torture before five years and half a year jail time without trial.'

'A female suspect was caught in the market stealing oranges from a kiosk. Some said it was a mere orange.'

'But Mister David Oliver, the personal secretary to the President said'...."Theft grows rapidly as time goes by, and the thief will start in the market square and end up in the bank."'

'According to President Cyril Brown, he said that even if the armed forces couldn't find her, anyone who knew her or where she lives should report her immediately to the FBI and CIA agents and the individual would be rewarded with fifty thousand pounds.'

THANK YOU FOR CO-OPERATING

WITH US IN WORLD NEWS.

Granny Mia shivered.

Maryann sat on the floor out of shock, this was the United States and there was no way they wouldn't find Maryann.

"How can you explain this to the world?" Granny cried.

"I don't know Gran, I didn't know it would be this serious", Maryann defended.

Before they knew it, they heard a knock on the door.

They didn't know who it was. They both froze, but they didn't have a choice…

Maryann stood up and opened the door…lo and behold!

"Freeze!!!"

"Here she is…take her away" A Police officer said while pointing a gun at Maryann.

Granny began to wail.

Maryann did as she was told as she lifted both her hands up in the air.

Granny used her hand to cover her mouth from wailing aloud.

Another police officer walked towards Maryann and showed her his ID card.

"Miss Maryann Taylor…you are under arrest for stealing…please come with us, and you don't have any right to an attorney, no matter what you say will be used to increase your number of years in prison, so please do well to co-operate with us" The police officer said as he handcuffed her.

Granny Mia rode the wheelchair towards them. "Please it was a mistake, she won't do it again…please…." Granny's voice trailed off.

They ignored Granny Mia as they grabbed Maryann by both shoulders.

"Let go of me" Maryann cried as she struggled.

"Please leave my granddaughter…."

"Don't say anything, ma'am. This is an order from the president himself."

Granny Mia did nothing but mumble her cries.

They took Maryann out, leaving Granny Mia crying without a comforter.

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