Life As We Know It

Mukhtar said he had no job for me today which is why I am home early. Only God knows how we shall eat today. Mama has been dead for three years now and father was never there even when she was alive. I had to drop out of school to care for my baby sister Tinuke. Ever since, it has been a struggle to get food to eat each day.
I hear noises on entering the compound and hearing Tinuke cry, I rush down there where I find the neighbors scolding her with gusto. Listening to the gist, I realise it is the same old story. She found Tinuke in front of their apartment, watching her children eat.
Leading her way, I see the tears flow from her eyes. "Why can't we eat like them? " she cries out. She is hungry and so am I. Hopefully, when we sit by the road, someone will take pity on us. That's our only hope for today. Taking her in my arms, I wipe the tears away. This is our life as we know it now,but it will get better.