"It's alright, kiddos! How about this?" she said with a smile, watching their reactions as the children turned and waited eagerly to hear what she had to say.
Clara took the toy and handed it to the younger child.
"But..."
"Shhh!" she immediately hushed her with a warm smile. "Is she your age mate, Precious?" she asked.
"No, Miss Clara," the older girl, Precious, answered grumpily, her face scrunched up.
"Come here, honey..." Clara placed her hands on her shoulders and squatted to her level. "Darling, a time will come when this toy won't be so important to you. The older you grow, the more responsibilities you'll have. I thought she was your friend?" she asked gently.
Precious nodded, staring at her friend Miracle as a slight smile crept onto her lips.
"Now tell me, darling, is it right to share things with your friends?" Clara asked.
"Yes, it is," Precious replied, lowering her face in guilt as she fidgeted with the hem of her gown.
"Then why are you dragging it? When she's done with it, she'll give it back to you. That's what friends do. They don't spoil your things or do things that hurt you, okay?" she reassured her.
Precious raised her head and smiled broadly.
"Yes, Miss."
Clara turned to Miracle with a fake frown.
"Hope you'll return it?" she asked.
Miracle stared at the toy, then at Precious, and back at Clara.
"Yes, I will," she responded softly.
"Good girl. And don't spoil it, okay?" Clara smiled, gently patting her head.
"Yes, Miss," Miracle replied happily.
She walked to her friend and nudged her gently.
"I won't spoil it, I promise."
Her words made Precious smile.
Clara watched the children leave with a smile. If only she could rewind time. If only her past had been as perfect as theirs, she wouldn't have had so many regrets.
"Miss Clara?"
She heard her name from behind and felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Yes?" she responded.
"Jeez, I've been calling your name. Where's your mind?" Mrs. Annabel, her colleague, teased.
"Ugh, I'm sorry. I'm just a little stressed out," Clara replied with a warm smile.
"Oh, sorry about that. Ma'am asked me to call you. It's time for the meeting. Hope everyone has gone home?" she asked.
"Yes, they have. Thanks. Let's go then," Clara said as they walked towards the meeting hall.
The meeting went smoothly as the proprietress corrected their faults.
Later, Clara left for home feeling slightly dizzy.
"Mummy! Mummy!"
She heard her children's voices as they rushed towards her.
Angel, David, Michael, and Sophia were her four children.
"Uhm, Mum, Sophia has been whining. She wouldn't eat her Golden Morn," Angel complained as soon as they reached her.
"And is that your good afternoon?" Clara retorted.
"Sorry, Mum. Good afternoon," Angel corrected with a sheepish giggle.
"So you can't even take care of your younger sister? How will you take care of yourself when you get to university?" Clara questioned, carrying Sophia.
"But Mum..."
"Don't 'but Mum' me! Just look at your sister. Has she had her bath? Has she done her assignments? No! You're eighteen, for crying out loud. This shouldn't be happening, and you know it!" Clara half-yelled.
"I'm sorry, Mum," Angel apologized, shooting daggers at Sophia, which Clara ignored.
"So, how are you all?" she asked, pulling Michael close and kissing his forehead.
"We're good," they replied in unison while Sophia played with Clara's hair.
They all walked inside. Clara dropped Sophia down and rushed into the bathroom for a shower.
She couldn't help but smile as the cool water touched her skin.
Gosh! I wish life were as calm and refreshing as this.
When she was done, she got dressed, applied light makeup, and walked downstairs into the sitting room.
Her younger children were watching their favourite cartoon channel while Angel sat alone, engrossed in a Kung Fu movie on her phone.
Clara walked to the dining table and uncovered the food placed there.
"Is this mine?" she asked.
"Yes, Mum!" Angel replied without taking her eyes off the screen.
Clara sighed and sat down to eat.
The day had already been hectic.
Her fork fought its way through the noodles as she devoured them.
"Mum?" David, her fifteen-year-old son, called suddenly.
"Hmm?" came her response.
"Could you tell us a story?" he asked with pleading eyes.
Clara stopped chewing for a moment and looked at him.
"What kind of story do you want to hear?" she asked, still chewing.
"A story about you!" he grinned, unaware of the shocked expression on his mother's face.
She froze for a moment, trying to process his words.
"What did you say?" she asked in disbelief.
"I said-"
"Will you shut up?" Angel cut him off rudely.
"It's alright," Clara sighed, interrupting the children as she set down her fork.
"How about you all come to the dining table, and I'll tell you a brief history of my life, if that's what you want?"
The others immediately turned away from the television.
"I want to hear it too!" Michael pouted.
"Sure. Come on, everyone."
They all rushed to the dining table, including Angel, though she seemed reluctant.
"Alright, so I'm going to tell you my life story, and I hope you learn something from it," Clara said as she looked at her eager children.
Their ears seemed ready to reach her mouth if they could. Only Angel remained distracted by her phone.
"Angel..." Clara cleared her throat, gaining her attention.
"This story is mainly for you. I've raised you to this stage, and you'll soon be leaving for university. I won't be there every moment, and neither will your future husband."
Angel immediately dropped her phone.
"But Mum, I already-"
"You don't know anything. Not even a quarter of it," Clara interrupted.
Angel sighed and folded her arms with a frown.
"Alright, everyone," Clara said with a smile, looking at her younger children.
"My story goes like this..."
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