Photogenik

Amina stood, like a statue, staring at the yellow wall of PhotoGenik studio. She had just been turned out of that building.

Amina turned her gaze to the sky. It was as gloomy as her face. The cheerful sun had been hidden behind a humongous cloud. Amina wondered how long the cloud would take to clear off the sun's path. Minutes, hours, never?

Ding-ding! Amina looked at her phone. Her message read, "Freelance for photogra..." Amina grunted in frustration. She was in the action of swiping away the message when another one came in. It was from her mother, "Come home. We'll try again."

"She knows," Amina muttered. It was because of her mother she was in front of the studio anyway. Her father had absconed to Europe with his mistress. Her mother had been diagnosed with a scary disease... Amina hated to recall its name.

'Twas up to her to find bread for what was left of the family. She had decided to go with her passion, photography. As crazy as it seemed, her mother had agreed. So...

Here she was, turned out again. She was about ready to call it quits. In fact, she was done!

"Excuse me. Could you take a picture of me and my friend with your camera?

Amina looked at the two men in sun shades before looking down at the camera hanging on her neck. What's the harm, she thought and agreed.

"Hmm! This is really good. Look at that, Steve," the first man said.

"Professional," Steve replied.

"You don't mind becoming the photographer of Chike the artiste, do you?" asked the first man.

"The Chike? Well, it depends on who's asking," said Amina.

The man smiled, pulled off his sunshades and became Chike. Amina gawked.

"Here's my card. I'll be expecting you and your camera on Monday," Chike slipped a gold plated card into her hand and left.

Amina looked at the card. She winced as it reflected light into her eyes sharply. Then she looked up. The sky was bright and the sun was free and shining. She smiled.