Teen girl on finding ex-national footballer’s...

is no idle boast,” Nelson said yesterday.

“Isha is like a rare gem. You hardly find people like her,” Nelson said.

Nelson said she also has a surprise in store for Isha, who has far to go in life for her principles and integrity.

Yesterday, Isha credited her 51year-old mother, Debra Clarke, a single parent of four, for inculcating in her the right values and teachings as a child.

“Everyday my mother would pound into my head not to let other people’s money and luxurious items burn my eyes and to work hard for what I want in life. If I didn’t grow up listening to her motherly advice, chances are, I might have been tempted to steal the money in the wallet,” Isha said.

Debra admitted that her daughter has a big heart, even though she grew up without a father’s love, care and attention.

“Her father plays no role in her life. As a mother, I try my best even though things are tough. I have not been paid my salary by CEPEP and my $1,800 monthly rent is way overdue. Isha could have easily swiped the money from the wallet to assist in the payment of the rent, but it would have been against her conscience to do that because I always showed her right from wrong. As difficult as things might be, she knows better. I for one would not encourage any dishonesty and stealing in this house,” Debra interjected.

Debra said many parents encourage and support their children to steal and rob, which has been breaking down society.

Two months ago, Clarke left her sales clerk job and joined McDonald’s as a cashier, stating she wanted to try something new.

Having graduated last year with three O’level passes at her Mucurapo West Secondary School, Clarke enrolled in the Polytechnic Institute in St James where she began pursuing O’ Level Mathematics and Social Studies.

In her quest to further her daughter’s education, Debra admitted that she took half of her $2,600 monthly salary to get her daughter enrolled at the institute.

The salary Isha’s earns, Debra said, is barely enough to travel to and from work.

“After I put out that money for her classes we barely had anything to eat in the house, but we pulled through,” Debra said.