The Changing Tides – Episode 3

The Changing Tides – Episode 3

A Story By Tisa Phiri

Maria’s life had changed in days. The family for Margret treated her well and they all seemed so supportive. She worked so hard to keep the house clean. Washing their clothes, cooking and doing all the house chores without hesitation.

She had been well treated by everyone, the good part was everyone was busy and she usually remained home alone during the week. She could do all the chores and sit to rest afterwards. .her condition had trully changed and she was happy. Her newly found family was great. Even when sometimes they gave her a lot of work especially when Ben and Jake, the first and second born to Margret were home. They liked having parties with their friends. However, this never got to her as she got to experience the lives of excited girls and boys who gathered to party. .

Jake was the Jovial one who always made Maria laugh. he would tell her stories of school and his girlfriend.

“Maria, when you save up enough you can as well take yourself to school” he would advice her.

” It’s not too late for you to start over. ”

“I know Jake, but I have to work here at home and you know how busy it is sometimes. Besides your mother has not told me anything about me starting school I don’t want to overstep my boundaries by demanding more than what I can have.”

she explained to him as they sat on the steps outside watching people dancing and drinking at the back yard.

“You deserve better my dear Maria and I will talk to mom to help you out. Just look at how you have helped us out here. The house is always in order and you have learnt how to cook so well in just a year.” He looked at her face.

” Just leave it to me and you will see”, he smiled patting her back.

She watched him join the friends on the centre and danced gracefully to the music making her smile. He was good to her and Maria knew she had a brother she had never had in him.

Muma was very good though she had little time to chat with Maria. She was the type who kept to herself most of the times and Maria knew better than to disturb her when she was locked up in her room. It was either she was studying or browsing through the phone.

Maria never usually bothered Muma except when she really had to for instance when Margret was asking for her daughter. Muma was preparing to go into the university after she completed her grade 12 at only 16. They were age mates with Maria but by far different in every respect. She even had a boyfriend already and Maria never got to tell Margret about her daugters affairs.

In fact, Maria kept all the secrets of the house. The girls she used to see come home for the boys whenever Margret wasn’t around, the little lies they would make to get money from their mother and many other things.

It was like everyone felt comfortable to confide in her and that made her popular with everyone.

Even the youngest , Josh had his secret issues too like selling off his elder brothers gadgets and use the money to buy talktime for his bundles and gifts for his little girlfriends.

All in all, Maria was greatful and came to love everyone. One person who puzzled Maria was Uncle Paul.

The man never talked much. Most of the times when he was gone he would just ask whether his sister was home and when he was told she wasn’t he would leave and come back later.

However, he would come home sometimes during the day when Maria was alone and sit in the Kitchen to watch her cook or work. Without saying much to her.

Over time Maria started feeling uncomfortable and would leave the kitchen and do something else in the bedrooms.

“Can I help you with something?” Maria had asked Paul one day when he had come back to the house one morning and stood by the door watching her.

“How old are you Maria? ” He asked her instead.

Maria turned to look at him. She looked at his face which had a little moustache that was not as neat as it usually was, he wasn’t very tall but his wide chest made him look more manly. Maria could guess Paul was in his middle 20s around 25 or 26. She recalled Jake telling her Paul was a year older than Ben who was 24.

His navy blue t-shirt falling down to his Black soft jeans making him look great made Maria wonder why Paul was asking about her age.

“Am 16” she said with a weak smile.

“Anything the matter Uncle? ” She asked him.

“No nothing my dear I was just wondering.” He responded.

“Have you talked to my sister about your school? ” He asked.

Maria looked at him wondering how he knew she wanted to go back to school she recalled the only person she had discussed that with was Jake .

“How do you know I thought of doing that?” She asked.

“Well, I over heard you and Jake talk the other week” he shrugged.

Maria placed down the tea towel she had in her hands and looked at Paul again.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I don’t want to make more demands after all this you people have done for me” she told him honestly.

“So you want to be a maid for the rest of your life huh?” Paul asked her seriously.

” I don’t mean to offend you Maria but I think it’s right you think good about your future and try to do something for yourself too .just look at how hard you work to please everyone in this house. But for a moment think about your future. What is it you really want? Is it being a house worker for life? Or maybe finding another way out for your life?” Paul added and turned to leave.

Maria watched him grab the car keys and walked outside to his car, she sighed and held her hands akimbo.

“He is right,” she thought to herself. She had to think about her future and somehow she wasn’t going to have a better one if she didn’t consider going to school.

That day she planned to talk to Margret and ask her if she could allow her to start night school.

Since she stopped in grade 8 she thought she could begin from there.

“Maria, you are so hard working and am proud of what you do here. I cant deny you what you are asking. Besides, by 17 hours there will be someone here so you can join classes at woodlands school across the road. Jake told me about this last week and i intended to talk to about it too.” Margret told her that evening after Maria declared her intentions.

“So go ahead and start and please work hard there too” she added with a smile.

“Thank you so much mam” Maria answered as she was still kneeling down besides the couch her boss was seated on.

She had lived with respect for her and always avoided walking around or sitting in the room whenever Margret was there.

She ran to her room and jumped up with joy.

“Oh God thank you,” she shouted holding her mouth to avoid anyone hear her shout.

She got her small phone which they had given her for communication in case of anything at home and called Jake.

“Jake!” She shouted excited.

“Am starting school, your mother told me I can register at Woodlands Secondary. Am so happy”

“Wow, that’s Great to hear Maria go for it and do well at school” Jake responded.

” Am so proud of you Maria” he added before cutting the line.

The following week every one was back home the boys came for a weekend and Paul was home the whole day.

Margret called everyone and told them about the new development.

“Guys you know I like you all up to date with affairs in the house. We all have seen how well Maria is working here and we know she has been good. Am proud of all of you for making her life easy. At least Maria has not told me any negative thing about any of you and am so happy you are all turning up just like your father wanted you to be.

So now I want you to know that Maria decided to go to school and so we have to help her by at least coming home early so as to allow her go for night classes.” She explained as everyone listened attentively .

“Congrats girl.” Muma smiled at Maria.

“Please don’t make those guys out there go crazy with your beauty” she teased her and went out as everyone laughed.

Maria smiled back at her,

“Thank you Muma” she said wondering if she even heard her as Muma always seemed busy. She had already gone out of the other room.

“I’m happy for you Maria” Jake and Ben told her too and Jake patted her back.

Maria looked at Paul as though to expect a word from him too but he said nothing, he just smiled and walked out.

She excused herself leaving Margret and Josh in the sitting room.

Going to her room she sat down and thanked God things were working in her favour.

She was lost in thoughts when she heard a soft knock on the door.

“Come in !” she called out,

“it’s open.”

Paul walked in his hands in the pockets. “you still awake? ” He asked her.

Maria looked up at him and stood up.

“Yes i am I was just thinking of getting into bed” she said wondering why Paul was there. .

“Can I do something for you? ” She asked him.

“Not really i just came to say well done on that bald decision you made. Am proud of you too”

“Thank you” she smiled shly not comfortable with Paul standing in her room. Only Jake usually bugged in her room of all the boys and she was used to that. But seeing Paul there was quite uncomfortable.

“Here” Paul said handing her some money.

Maria looked at his hands and looked up at him.

“It’s for your school books ” he said when he saw she was looking at him questioningly.

“Am sorry, uncle Paul but I have some money saved up from my pay. I can buy books for myself but thank you for your kind gesture, but i wont take that” she added with a chuckle.

“Please get it. It’s just my way of encouraging you to work hard and also say thank you for what you have done here. ”

“Please…” he added holding her hand and placing the money in them.

“Thank you so much” she answered and stood watching him leave. He turned to look at her and smiled,

“Good night”

“Good night” she responded.

“Wow, he is so strange” she whispered to herself shrugging.

To be continued

ALL EPISODES

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