The forest was thick, and the insects in it bit without mercy. I found myself sleeping by the root of a mango tree, the sleep was cut short by the sting of termite. I jumped to my feet, it wasn’t just one termite, a whole colony was all over me. I danced around to try to shake them off, some fell, a few climbed on. “What are you doing? You know that won’t remove them.” Susan said from right behind me. I turned, my eyes gleamed in surprise, “What are you doing here?” I asked her. “I should be asking you that, why did you run off yesterday night? What was chasing you?” Susan said as her eyes lingered on me. “Ummm....” I scratched my head, I couldn’t tell her that her own uncle chased me with a knife. Susan was already going through so much, I didn’t want to add anything else to that. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me,” Susan giggled, “I know it is embarrassing to say, you thought a ghost was chasing you. Next time call me, I’ll protect you from any ghost.”

   Susan walked closer to me, she said that she wanted to inspect the insects on me. “Take off your clothes now! These are not normal termites!!” I flung the clothes off my body in a heartbeat, there bites was already so painful. Susan stared at me for some seconds, then she exploded with laughter. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she laughed, “Am joking!!” She said, “But you do look good without your clothes on.” My face flared red like a chilli pepper as I bent to pick up my clothes. “Susan..” I murmured. “Come let’s go. We’ll be late for breakfast,” Susan said as she grabbed my hand. “How did you find me?” I asked, “your footprints” Susan replied. As we walked back to the house with Susan leading, I began to notice the unease in her face. “I told you I have a plan about your uncle.” I said. Her eyes glittered on hearing my words,

“What is the plan?”

“Emancipation.” I replied

“What does that mean?”

“It’s just a court order that makes you an adult no matter how young you are.”

“Really? Wow how do I do this?”

“There are some requirements you need to meet before you can get emancipated.”

“What are the requirements?”

“First, you have to be fourteen years and above. Second, You must be managing your financial affairs and your income must be from a legal source. Lastly, you must be in school.”

“First, I am still in school. I am already fourteen, but the only problem is the financial affairs part. I don’t know anything about business.”

“Learning is easy, the hard part will be handling your parent’s companies. Susan, you will be reading a lot, and all your time will be poured into this.”

“Andrew, will you help me get emancipated?”

“I will you help you with anything you need.”

“Thank you.” Susan gave me a light peck on the cheek.

  Getting to Susan’s home, there was another visitor, a cranky old man in black suit with a file in his hand. The man was seated in one of the couches, Aaron was seated directly opposite of him. “Come have a seat Susan dear.” The man said as he pointed to the cushion facing him. Susan sat down and beckoned on me to come join her, I sat beside her. “Who is he?” the man asked referring to me. “He is my friend,” Susan replied. “I don’t think he should be here, my meeting here is just with the family,” The man in suit said. “He is family,” Susan replied. “If you say so,” the man replied  throwing the towel. “I am not sure if you two remember me, but I am the lawyer that handles Mr Benjamin’s affairs. And since I am in town, I decided to come over and read you two Mr Benjamin’s will.” The old man said, he opened the file and took out a white A4 paper. “It’s,  not that much. So I Mr Benjamin wrote this with sound mind and body, yatti... yatti..... yatti.... I leave everything I own to the precious care of my daughter Susan in an event of my demise. My house, company, cars including everything registered under my Wife’s name. I give it to her.” “What?!” Aaron leaped from his seat and snatched the paper from the lawyer to look at it. “It’s true...” Aaron turned to Susan, “Susan dear, you are too young to handle any of this adult stuff. Leave it to me, and I will be giving you huge allowances every month.” Aaron said. Susan turned to the lawyer, “First, I don’t want my uncle, Aaron, anywhere nearby of my father’s property. If he had any position in any of the company, I don’t want him to remain there. I want him as far away from me as possible.” Susan said, the subtle firmness in her voice was enough to tell that she meant every word. “Susan! Don’t say that! The job I have at your dad’s company is the only job I have, I have nothing else!” Aaron cried. Susan turned to the lawyer, “Mr, I want you to become my lawyer. Can you do it?” Susan asked the old man. “Am already an old fart, I don’t think I’ll still have the strength to handle all that youthful energy coming from you. But I can be able to handle your affairs, until you find a more younger and competent lawyer.” The old man replied. “Thank you sir,” Susan replied, “First I want to get emancipated.” Susan said, “Then I’ll request for a restraining order against my uncle.” I sat and marvelled at the way Susan was handling the whole thing, the way she had everything under control. “Emancipation? And a court order?” the cranky old man rubbed his grey beard as he spoke, “Those are possible, I wont ask why you’ll want those, I will start getting the papers ready. I guess the meeting here is over , I have another appointment.” The old man, handed Susan a card. “My phone number is on the card, call me if there is anything else you’ll need.” The old man got up from his seat, picked up the file and walked out of the house.

  Aaron fell down on his knees in front of Susan, “please! Are we not blood relatives?” Asked Aaron in a desperate tone. “Leave this house!” Susan ordered, “”Or I’ll call the police right now.” Aaron got to his feet, he towards me, bent and whispered, “What ever you saw or heard yesterday, you better take it to your grave. For your own safety.” Aaron then walked out of the house. Susan dropped into the cushion, she took two deep breaths and sighed. “You handled it so well,” I said with a smile on my face. “I said all that because you are here Andrew, I always have this reassurance that you have my back whenever you are around me. I become invincible with you around.” Susan said. “No Susan, you are strong. That’s all there is to it.” I replied her, she pounced on me and started tickling me. “Are you trying to tell me what I feel? Huh? Mr Andrew!” I laughed as I tried to get her off me, she resisted my pushes, intact she didn’t budge.

“Thank you, Andrew.”

“Shut up.”