Joy woke up the next morning with a heavy head and a confused mind. She remembered only two things clearly: Tracy came to apologize, and Tracy brought a drink. After that, everything was blank.
She sat on her mattress for a while trying to force her brain to remember, but nothing came. She felt angry, not because Tracy had apologized, but because she knew something was wrong.
What did she do to me? Why can’t I remember?
She stood up quickly and decided to go straight to Tracy’s house to ask what had happened.
But on the road she met the old woman again.
The same old woman from the firewood day.
“Mama,” Joy said, forcing a small smile. “I’m happy to see you. Where are you going?”
The old woman looked at Joy, and her eyes became deep, like she already knew what was in Joy’s heart.
“My daughter,” the woman said quietly, “there is trouble.”
Joy frowned. “Trouble? What trouble, Mama?”
The old woman moved closer and lowered her voice. “That your friend, Tracy… she has stolen your pot.”
Joy froze.
Her whole body turned cold.
“What?” she whispered. “Mama, what are you saying?”
“I am telling you before you go and waste your time. You are on your way to her house now, thinking you will ask her what happened yesterday. But listen to me. If you go back home now, you will discover the pot is no longer there. Tracy took it.”
Joy’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
“No… Mama, it can’t be Tracy. Tracy is my best friend.”
The old woman’s face stayed calm. “Your friend is evil. Could you believe she is already on her way to the city? Don’t even bother going to her house. You will not meet her.”
Joy’s knees became weak. “The city? So she planned it.”
The old woman nodded.
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