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Granny Rose, as she was fondly called, crouched and pressed the carpet on her floorboards down. It was a little heaped. She sniffed, involuntarily wiped her running nose with the back of her hand and then on her dress and patted the carpet again until she was satisfied it was levelled…like nothing was hidden underneath.
Life took an unexpected turn for Moses as he climbed up the hill to Granny Rose's house, an octogenarian he took care of daily. Odd jobs scattered across the village helped him to keep body and soul together and ensure his little brother was educated.
Granny Rose was one of the wealthy residents, thanks to her son who sent money to her regularly. But everyone knew she did not take kindly to spreading the wealth around. Nor did she like to 'waste' resources.
She paid Moses in arrears, usually after he'd reminded her over and over again. It was like a dance and he was tired of it. She feigned amnesia every time. Sometimes, her son came to the rescue and paid Moses himself when he came to visit.
"Moses, Mrs Dorothy Elderton and her sisters are coming to tea. I'll like them to have some cakes with it," Granny Rose said, walking stiffly while leaning partially on her cane.
"Yes, Granny. I'll get started on the cake now so it can be ready by tea time…" Moses replied but Granny Rose was already some distance away and mumbling to herself.
"Uh, granny?"
"Yes, Moses."
"My two weeks' pay is overdue again. May I have it today?"
Granny Rose turned, adjusted her spectacles on her nose and stared at Moses through them. "You sure about that, son? I paid you just last week, didn't I?"
Moses sighed. "No, ma'am. You paid me two weeks ago and it was for the two weeks before then. Another two weeks is due."
"Boy, are you tryin' rip me off?" She scowled at him and walked away without waiting for an answer.
Moses made up his mind right there to stop work as soon as he received the payment. He couldn't go on like this.
As he served the old ladies their tea outside in the garden blooming with beautiful flowers, Moses returned to the kitchen to clean up when he glimpsed a rat dragging a tiny polythene bag tied at the top.
The rat sighted him, dropped the bag and scurried under the kitchen table. The sight was unexpected that Moses stood transfixed. He bent, picked up the bag and loosed it.
The content shocked him. He sat down on a bar stool and stared at many $50 bills rolled into a tight wad!
Who could the money belong to?
Moses spent the next fifteen minutes debating whether to be a good Samaritan and return the money to Granny Rose, the most likely owner of the cash or take it as payment for his services.
The thwack of Granny Rose's cane on the floor echoed in the silent house. She had a scowl on her face as she pushed her frail body to the kitchen.
"Moses? Moses? I do not take kindly to your silence. Where are you?"
No one answered. A piece of paper was lying on the table with Moses' name signed on it. He had resigned and gone.
Granny Rose dismissed the letter with a dramatic wave of her hand and thought, "Good riddance. At least I won't have to pay him!"
Some weeks later, Granny Rose crouched down stiffly in her bedroom to check the money she hid under her carpet. The holes on her carpet revealed that a rat had eaten through and gone away with her money.
She sat down and cried silently, wondering where she had gone wrong.
I hope you enjoyed reading my piece. This freewrite is inspired by the prompt "carpet". Join the @freewriters community to receive daily prompts, hosted by @mariannewest. You are invited to participate.