ONLY TIME WILL TELL (PART 2)
#ONLY_TIME_WILL_TELL.
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Chapter 2.
That night, sleep was a mere fantasy as it seemed quite impossible for me to fall asleep. Dad had insisted I retire to my room as I had school the following day but I knew even he himself wasn't able to fall asleep.
I kept on tossing and turning as the scene of mum bailing out on us like we were some lepers replayed in my mind. I couldn't help but wonder what type of man the so called Thami was. I mean, he must have been aware mum was a married woman but he went ahead and eloped with her anyway.
"I pray lightning strikes the both of them dead," I thought aloud. "No, that would be too good a punishment for them. I pray their marriage is a miserable one. I hope they go through tenforth the pain that my beloved father and I are enduring."
As dawn approached, I finally drifted off to sleep. I must have slept for at least an hour when sharp pains in my lower abdomen woke me. I sat up in bed and clutched my stomach hoping the pain would eventually go away but it didn't. I thought maybe I had an upset stomach due to the beans that we'd eaten for supper so I hurriedly left my room and went to the bathroom and flipped the lights on.
It was at that moment that I realized I'd wet my pink pajamas and when I glanced down, it dawned on me that I was having my first period!
On impulse, I thought of rushing to my parents' bedroom and waking mum up so that she could- And then I remembered mum was no longer in the house. I stood in front of the mirror and glanced at my reflection. I was a bit tall for my age, had black skin which my dad referred to as 'chocolate skin' and also had big eyes, a trait I'd inherited from mum. I also had short black kinky hair. I wasn't beautiful and neither was I ugly, at least that's what I told myself. Now here I was, having my first period and mum wasn't here to guide me. If I thought I hated mum when she walked out on us, now I was certain my hatred for her could definitely escalate.
I went through the vanity in the bathroom and was glad to find cotton wool. I locked the door and stepped under the shower so I could scrub my body clean and then block the flow of blood with the cotton wool. As I showered, I quietly sang one of the songs we sang at my church.
I was almost done when I heard a tap at the door.
"I know this must sound like a cliche," called dad from outside the bathroom. "But you my dear have an angelic voice. Now, will you hurry up. Breakfast is almost ready. You don't want to be late for school, do you?"
"No, dad." I called back. "I'm almost done."
"Alright."
I quickly finished showering and dressed up. When I arrived in the kitchen, there was the usual breakfast waiting for me. Black tea and buns from the local stores. To be honest, I hated tea but there was nothing I could do about that. Gone were the days when breakfast would vary from cornflakes to rice.
I propped myself on a chair and dined at the four sitter dining table, dad sat opposite me.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
"Yes," I lied.
Dad sighed and placed his rough blistered hand on mine. "Milika, I know life won't be the same without your mother. But I want you to know that I'll do everything I can to make sure I provide for your needs and wants."
I flashed him a genuine smile. "I know."
"Good. Now, please finish your food lest you run late for school."
When I was done eating, I grabbed my bag and kissed dad on the cheek.
"Bye," I said.
"Bye."
I had just turned the doorknob when dad said, "And Mimi, you'll find the keys on the usual spot. And lunch on the table."
I nodded my head and scuffled out of the house. As I closed the thatched gate, I spotted Nelly headed my way. Nelly and I had been friends for as long as I can remember. In fact, she was my only friend. Also, she was like the sister I never had. She and I would do lots of stuff together including auditioning to be in the church junior choir even though she was a terrible singer when compared to me.
Now as Nelly and I trekked to Chowa primary school together, I thought of telling her about getting my periods seeing how she'd informed me she'd gotten hers a couple of months back.
Nelly said, "Lest I forget. Mimi, mum said she saw your mother leaving with a suitcase in her hands. Is she going to visit some relatives in the village?"
"Seeing how your mother's Chowa's CNN," I sarcastically said. "You can as well ask her that. Am certain she knows exactly where mum has gone to."
"Iye," said Nelly. "That's harsh. I didn't mean to offend you, believe me. I'm sorry for butting in on your family matters."
"It's fine," I irritably said. "Can we walk faster? We'll be late for the first lesson and I don't want that frog Mr Hanyama flogging my bums."
We burst out laughing and trekked to school.
•
The coming months were uneventful and hectic. With me taking up most of the house chores and dad doing his very best to put food on the table. Deep down, I kept on hoping mum would show up out of the blue but alas, she didn't.
On that fateful night, I had just finished preparing supper at around 20:00hrs. I took a seat in the living room and begun to wait for dad. I wasn't accustomed to eating alone so waiting for him was now a norm. Usually, he'd show up before 9PM so I knew he must have been on his way.
I was lost in thoughts about my childhood when I heard a tap at the door. Startled, I sprang up and guessed it was dad. But prevention is better than cure so I peeped through the window and saw Mrs. Kajilo, our landlady, standing on the porch. I frowned.
What did she want at this hour?
I hesitantly opened the door and stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey Mimi," she impatiently said. "Where's your father?"
"He's not in," I said. "He's gone to the stores to grab something." this part was a lie. To be honest, I had no clue where dad was and neither did I know what means he used to make ends meet.
"Oh."
I could sense disappointment in Mrs Kajilo's voice so I said, "Is there a message you'd like me to relay to him?"
"Yes dear. I know it's inappropriate for me to tell you this but I'll tell you anyway," she said. "Your father's rentals are three months overdue and as he's aware, am currently facing a financial crisis and this house is my major source of income. I'd like you to tell him that if he doesn't pay me my money in two weeks time, am afraid you people will have to leave this house. I don't run a charity organization."
"I'll tell him just that," I curtly said. Her last sentence had me on the verge of yelling at her.
"Thank you," said Mrs Kajilo as she turned on the spot. "And you have a goodnight."
"Same to you," I replied and waited a few seconds before slamming the door shut and locking it.
I went back to where I had been seated and was thinking about my conversation with the landlady when I drifted off to sleep.
It was past midnight when a bang on the door woke me. My heart skipped a beat. Who would fiercely knock on the door like that? Dad never did that.
The bang came again and this time it was much louder. Now my heart was hammering against my chest so fast I like it would just fly out of my ribcage.
"Coming," I managed to say as I slowly walked towards the window so I could peep and see who it was that was banging on the door like we owed them billions of Kwacha.
I took a deep breath when I noticed it was dad. But something was odd....
I couldn't see dad clearly so I hurriedly opened the door. No sooner had I wrenched the door open than dad collapsed in my arms.
.
.
.
.
.
What could be wrong with Torrence now?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chapter 2.
That night, sleep was a mere fantasy as it seemed quite impossible for me to fall asleep. Dad had insisted I retire to my room as I had school the following day but I knew even he himself wasn't able to fall asleep.
I kept on tossing and turning as the scene of mum bailing out on us like we were some lepers replayed in my mind. I couldn't help but wonder what type of man the so called Thami was. I mean, he must have been aware mum was a married woman but he went ahead and eloped with her anyway.
"I pray lightning strikes the both of them dead," I thought aloud. "No, that would be too good a punishment for them. I pray their marriage is a miserable one. I hope they go through tenforth the pain that my beloved father and I are enduring."
As dawn approached, I finally drifted off to sleep. I must have slept for at least an hour when sharp pains in my lower abdomen woke me. I sat up in bed and clutched my stomach hoping the pain would eventually go away but it didn't. I thought maybe I had an upset stomach due to the beans that we'd eaten for supper so I hurriedly left my room and went to the bathroom and flipped the lights on.
It was at that moment that I realized I'd wet my pink pajamas and when I glanced down, it dawned on me that I was having my first period!
On impulse, I thought of rushing to my parents' bedroom and waking mum up so that she could- And then I remembered mum was no longer in the house. I stood in front of the mirror and glanced at my reflection. I was a bit tall for my age, had black skin which my dad referred to as 'chocolate skin' and also had big eyes, a trait I'd inherited from mum. I also had short black kinky hair. I wasn't beautiful and neither was I ugly, at least that's what I told myself. Now here I was, having my first period and mum wasn't here to guide me. If I thought I hated mum when she walked out on us, now I was certain my hatred for her could definitely escalate.
I went through the vanity in the bathroom and was glad to find cotton wool. I locked the door and stepped under the shower so I could scrub my body clean and then block the flow of blood with the cotton wool. As I showered, I quietly sang one of the songs we sang at my church.
I was almost done when I heard a tap at the door.
"I know this must sound like a cliche," called dad from outside the bathroom. "But you my dear have an angelic voice. Now, will you hurry up. Breakfast is almost ready. You don't want to be late for school, do you?"
"No, dad." I called back. "I'm almost done."
"Alright."
I quickly finished showering and dressed up. When I arrived in the kitchen, there was the usual breakfast waiting for me. Black tea and buns from the local stores. To be honest, I hated tea but there was nothing I could do about that. Gone were the days when breakfast would vary from cornflakes to rice.
I propped myself on a chair and dined at the four sitter dining table, dad sat opposite me.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
"Yes," I lied.
Dad sighed and placed his rough blistered hand on mine. "Milika, I know life won't be the same without your mother. But I want you to know that I'll do everything I can to make sure I provide for your needs and wants."
I flashed him a genuine smile. "I know."
"Good. Now, please finish your food lest you run late for school."
When I was done eating, I grabbed my bag and kissed dad on the cheek.
"Bye," I said.
"Bye."
I had just turned the doorknob when dad said, "And Mimi, you'll find the keys on the usual spot. And lunch on the table."
I nodded my head and scuffled out of the house. As I closed the thatched gate, I spotted Nelly headed my way. Nelly and I had been friends for as long as I can remember. In fact, she was my only friend. Also, she was like the sister I never had. She and I would do lots of stuff together including auditioning to be in the church junior choir even though she was a terrible singer when compared to me.
Now as Nelly and I trekked to Chowa primary school together, I thought of telling her about getting my periods seeing how she'd informed me she'd gotten hers a couple of months back.
Nelly said, "Lest I forget. Mimi, mum said she saw your mother leaving with a suitcase in her hands. Is she going to visit some relatives in the village?"
"Seeing how your mother's Chowa's CNN," I sarcastically said. "You can as well ask her that. Am certain she knows exactly where mum has gone to."
"Iye," said Nelly. "That's harsh. I didn't mean to offend you, believe me. I'm sorry for butting in on your family matters."
"It's fine," I irritably said. "Can we walk faster? We'll be late for the first lesson and I don't want that frog Mr Hanyama flogging my bums."
We burst out laughing and trekked to school.
•
The coming months were uneventful and hectic. With me taking up most of the house chores and dad doing his very best to put food on the table. Deep down, I kept on hoping mum would show up out of the blue but alas, she didn't.
On that fateful night, I had just finished preparing supper at around 20:00hrs. I took a seat in the living room and begun to wait for dad. I wasn't accustomed to eating alone so waiting for him was now a norm. Usually, he'd show up before 9PM so I knew he must have been on his way.
I was lost in thoughts about my childhood when I heard a tap at the door. Startled, I sprang up and guessed it was dad. But prevention is better than cure so I peeped through the window and saw Mrs. Kajilo, our landlady, standing on the porch. I frowned.
What did she want at this hour?
I hesitantly opened the door and stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey Mimi," she impatiently said. "Where's your father?"
"He's not in," I said. "He's gone to the stores to grab something." this part was a lie. To be honest, I had no clue where dad was and neither did I know what means he used to make ends meet.
"Oh."
I could sense disappointment in Mrs Kajilo's voice so I said, "Is there a message you'd like me to relay to him?"
"Yes dear. I know it's inappropriate for me to tell you this but I'll tell you anyway," she said. "Your father's rentals are three months overdue and as he's aware, am currently facing a financial crisis and this house is my major source of income. I'd like you to tell him that if he doesn't pay me my money in two weeks time, am afraid you people will have to leave this house. I don't run a charity organization."
"I'll tell him just that," I curtly said. Her last sentence had me on the verge of yelling at her.
"Thank you," said Mrs Kajilo as she turned on the spot. "And you have a goodnight."
"Same to you," I replied and waited a few seconds before slamming the door shut and locking it.
I went back to where I had been seated and was thinking about my conversation with the landlady when I drifted off to sleep.
It was past midnight when a bang on the door woke me. My heart skipped a beat. Who would fiercely knock on the door like that? Dad never did that.
The bang came again and this time it was much louder. Now my heart was hammering against my chest so fast I like it would just fly out of my ribcage.
"Coming," I managed to say as I slowly walked towards the window so I could peep and see who it was that was banging on the door like we owed them billions of Kwacha.
I took a deep breath when I noticed it was dad. But something was odd....
I couldn't see dad clearly so I hurriedly opened the door. No sooner had I wrenched the door open than dad collapsed in my arms.
.
.
.
.
.
What could be wrong with Torrence now?
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