TARA

*Prologue*

Her name is Tara White, orphaned at the age of 8, had to move in with her mother's friend and famliy as her ward. Will life be good to this little girl or not? Follow her on this adventure called... TARA





....Chapter 1......



I woke up to hear my mother coughing vigorously, i'm used to it now. I stood up and rubbed my eyes while walking closer to the bed where she lay down, i picked up the glass of water on the bedside table and gave her to drink.  She managed to give me a weak smile before taking with shaking hands, i collected the glass from her and put it back on the table when she finished taking a sip.

"Mama are you okay?" I asked even though i know she's not.

"Yes baby, mama is fine. But i need you to do something for me now"

I nodded hard before i replied, "Yes mama, what do you want me to do?"

"Can you bring the phone and call Mrs Gates for me? Tell her it's urgent and that should come"

"Okay mama"

I grabbed the phone and dialled Mrs Gates' number like mama taught me. It rang twice before she picked it.

"Hello? Judith is that you?" Her sleepy voice asked thinking it's my mom.

"Hello Mrs Gates. It's me Tara"

"Oh Tara dear, is everything alright?"

"Uhm i don't know but mama asked me to call you. She said you should come, that it's urgent."

"Okay, i'm on my way now honey.  You hang up now"

"Awlright Mrs Gates, bye" I dropped the phone and went to sit beside my mama on the bed

"Mama she said she's coming.."

She managed to give me a nod before closing her eyes in light slumber.


My mama has been sick for quite a while now, they said she has something called Leukaemia. I don't really know what it is but i get the feeling it's bad cos my mama hasn't been her normal self ever since she became sick. She has become too thin, her sweet voice is gone, her eyes look hollow and dull, she doesn't smile like she usually does, she pukes all the time and she even had to shave her hair.

Mrs Gates has been my mother's only friend that i know of. She is very nice, her smile is beautiful, she smells nice like flowers, comes with a big car and she always gives mama and I money whenever she comes and even takes care of mama's drugs and bills. I really like her, she buys sweets for me and little ribbons for my hair, dresses nice like those women you see on TV but wayy cooler than them.  Just then i heard a knock on the door and got up to see who it is..

"Who is it?"

"It's me honey, Mrs Gates. Open the door"

I immediately recognised her voice, i pulled the bolt and the key and opened the door wide to let her in. She gave me a hug then went to stand beside my mama.

"Hello Judith, are you awake?" She touched my mama's shoulder lightly

Mama coughed and opened her eyes slowly, when she saw her friend, she smiled a little then grabbed her hand before she spoke.

"Thank you for coming Anne, i need to talk to you about something alone."

Mrs Gates turned to me and said, "Tara darling, can you please go the living room? I need to speak to your mother alone"

I gave them both a confused look before i nodded and reluctantly left the room"

I sat on our old couch wondering what my mama wants to say to Mrs Gates and why she asked me to leave the room, i put on the TV and started watching a Disney cartoon before i slowly dozed off. I heard someone calling me and shaking my shoulders but i didn't want to wake up yet, but the voice called me louder this time and my eyes popped open. I saw it's Mrs Gates standing over me and looking like she had been crying.

"Get up honey, we have to go"

"Uhm.. where are we going? Where's my mama?"

She blinked twice before a tear rolled down her face but she quickly wiped it away before she answered me.. "Honey your mom is gone, I'm so sorry"

"Gone? Where did she go to?"

"To heaven"

I ran oast her to the room but there i found the bed empty, i ran to the bathroom calling her

"Mama? Mama where are you? Mrs Gates where's my mama?" By now tears were already rolling down my face

"She's gone honey, she has gone to heaven. To a better place where she'll never be sick again"

"When will she be back?"

"She will always be here with us honey, in our hearts" she said touching my chest

"So in heaven, mama will not be sick anymore?"

"Yes baby, she won't."

"Am I going to live here all alone?"

"Of course not, you will come live with me in my house. I will be your mama now, okay?"

I nodded vigorously, "Okay Mrs Gates"

"Now come let's leave here okay, we have to go bury your mom before we go to my house" Inodded and picked up my teddy bear 'Mr Lumpy' and walked out of our little apartment with her. I call him Lumpy cos he is kinda old but i like it all the same,.. it's the only one I have.  We left the house and went outside to Mrs Gates' car, someone came and opened the door for us both to get it. The car is beautiful but all i could think about was mama and how she's doing where she is.

"Come on honey, we are here"

I climbed down from the car clutching Mr lumpy on my chest while looking at this huge house before me. It is the most beautiful i have ever seen and i couldn't help but stare at it, Mrs Gates smiled kindly and led me inside the house. I gasped when we got inside..

"Whoaah!"

"What is it dear?"

"Your house. It's It's big and beautiful"

"Oh thanks dear, Its also your house now"

"Really?"

"Yes really, now come let's go to your room and get you settled in"

She led me upstairs to a room, we walked past many doors before we stopped at one and she opened the door leading me inside. I looked around and fell in love with it instantly, itsit's painted a light pink and cream with a queen sized bed, a dresser, a closet and a bathroom.

"Do you like it honey?"

I nodded my head excitedly, "Yes Mrs Gates, i love it"

She smiles warmly and ruffled my hair lightly.  "Alright i'm glad to hear that,  now you relax while i send in Ms Rose to bring you some clothes and help you dress up."

"Who is Ms Rose?"

"She's the cook plus house keeper, now wait here for her okay?",

"Okay."

She left the room and minutes later, the door opened and a plumpy woman with the warmest smile came in. She had some clothes with her and beautiful shoes in her hands.

"Hello dear, you must be Tara?"

"Yes i am. Who are you?"

"I am Ms Rose and i'm here to help you get dressed for the burial. Now come along, let's hurry"

She dumped the clothes on the bed and led me into the big bathroom for a bathe. She washed my hair with a sweet scented sshampoo, when we finished. She helped me wear the beautiful bkack dress and shoes, then combed my black raven hair and packed it up in a neat ponytail. I have never worn such fine clothe or shoe in my life, i looked myself in the mirror and smiled shyly at Ms Rose.

"Now we are done. You're beautiful Tara"

Nobody except my mom and Mrs Gates has called me beautiful and i liked hearing Ms Rose say i'm beautiful. So i beamed at her and said, "Thank you Ms Rose"

"Now hurry up, let's go downstairs so you can eat breakfast before we leave"

We went downstairs and walked into the biggest kitchen i have ever seen, i sat on a stool while Ms Rose made breakfast for me. I ate everything and drank the warm milk before standing on my feet.  The food was really ddelicious and i thanked her again. We went into the living room to see Mrs Gates standing while making a call, immediately she saw us... she cut the call and came towards me.

"You look beautiful honey, i'm so glad the clothe and shoe fit. Thank you Rose, now let's get going"

I waved 'bye' to Ms Rose and went outside with Mrs Gates, we entered the car again and took off to God knows where. We stopped and when i got out, i knew it's a cemetery cos of all the headstones i saw there, we walked over to a freshly dug grave and i saw a priest and a white casket. Mrs Gates and I and her driver stood while the priest said some prayers and they put the casket in the grave. Mama and I didn't have any other friends to invite, so it's just us.

I looked up to see Mrs Gates dabbing her eyes with her white handkerchief and i felt tears roll down my own eyes. They covered the grave and casket with sand and Mrs Gates gave me a bunch of white rose flowers and i put it on my mother's headstone reading the inscription on it..

"To a loving mother and friend Judith, may your soul rest in peace. Amen."

"Goodbye mama"

I ran back and hugged Mrs Gates while crying like as if i knew this is indeed goodbye. We walked back to the car and drove off towards the house, i guessed.

"Are you okay honey?"

"I guess... can i ask you something?"

"Of course dear, what is it?"

"Well now that my mama is gone, will you be my new mama?" I asked looking hopefully into her eyes, she broke down again and hugged me tightly.

"Yes baby, yes i will be your mama. Thank you for asking me"

She held me like that till we got to the house, she led me inside the house quietly. Once we stepped in, we went to the living room and saw two kids sitting on the couch watching the TV. They both stood up when we came and kept staring at me while i stared back. The girl is my age but very beautiful with blue eyes and blonde hair while the boy looks older with beautiful grey eyes and a charming smile.

"Mom who is she and why is she wearing my clothe and shoe?"

"This is Tara, she's the daughter of my friend Judith who just passed away this morning. Tara this is my daughter Claire, who is 8 like you and my son Blake who is 10. Guys say hello to Tara"

"Hello Tara, nice to meet you" the boy said while still smiling at me but the girl didn't say anything, just stood staring at me like i'm dirt

"Nice to meet you too Blake"

"Mommy what is she doing here?"

"Claire since you asked, Tara is going to be living with us now. So please stop being rude and say hi to her" Mrs Gates scolded

"Hello Tara"

"Hi Claire, nice to meet you"

"Uhm whatever"  she rolled her eyes at me and dumped herself on the couch before returning back to her cartoon like i wasn't even there

"Don't mind her Tara, she's usually grumpy like a cow" said Blake who is laughing and i had to join him

"No am not"

"Yes, you are" he argued while still laughing

"Whatever Blake!" She screamed and ran out of the living room to her room i guess, we soon heard a door bang shut making me shudder.

"See? Too grumpy" he said sitting down on the couch again

"Enough of that Blake" his mom scolded gently.  "Now Tara pay no heed to Claire, she can be a little bit dramatic sometimes"

"Okay Mrs Gates"

"Oh dear, you can call me mom now. Just give Claire a little time, i'm sure she'll come around soon enough"

"Okay mom" i blushed and she smiled back at me before asking Blake and i to come to the dinning room for lunch.

"Blake go tell your sister to come eat lunch with us and i'm not asking"

He nodded and ran upstairs to call his sister while i sat down and waited for them. Ms Rose came out from the kitchen carrying platters and platters of delicious looking meals with her. Soon enough, Blake and Claire came down and we all started eating, i was shy at first but mom urged me to go ahead and eat as much as i want. I dug in and devoured everything on my plate before i looked up to see all three of them looking at me like i'm an alien.

I blushed and asked them, "What?"

Blake and mom started laughingand i looked on till they have settled down before Mom spoke first..

"Oh dear, don't mind Blake and I.  It's just that we haven't seen anyone eat like that in a while"

"But why? The food is delicious" i asked clearly confused

"It's not about the food being delicious, it's just that appetite that is rare and i like it. Please you can eat more if you want okay?"

I nodded 'okay' before i took a second serving and went right back to eating my delicious food.

We all ate in silence after that and through it all.. Claire didn't say a word and i noticed she didn't eat much either, just picked at her food till we are done.  She quickly excused herself and went back upstairs, i thanked mom and Ms Rose for this amazing meal and went upstairs to my room to take a nap.

I removed my gown and wore another short and barbie top i saw inside the closet. I snuggled into the warm bed, clutching Mr Lumpy in my arms and with a happy smile on my face...i slept off. While wondering if Claire will ever like me like mom and Blake. I was hopeful...


To Be Continued...

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