Mother’s Love – Episode 7

MOTHER’S LOVE – Episode 7

A story by Jochrine Kunda

 

I had to stop working because I had no excuse to come up with of leaving the house since we were finished with the exams so I had to tell dad about what I did if I were to continue but he plainly refused and got mad at me so I had to stay at home. Dad started his own business of selling bottles of water in town since finding a job was difficult and everyone laughed at us in the neighborhood so the only thing I knew better was to perform well in my studies and redeem my family because we had encountered a lot at the hands of our neighbors.
I remember one evening when I was chopping vegetables for supper and dad asked me to wash his old, brown suit and it got me worried because he was rarely found home, he made coming back home late a habit and he was always dressed neatly and I wondered who he was trying to impress until it clicked that maybe be was seeing a woman. It really got to me because never had I thought of dad replacing mom with another woman and I couldn’t take it so I went in the living room where I found him busy on his phone and he was serious which got me angry
Me: dad where are you going to?
He just looked at me ignoring my question
Me: dad?
Dad: have you washed what I asked you?
He asked ignoring my question
Me: yes I have
Dad: now get back to what you were doing
That hurt but I had to follow his orders and continued chopping the vegetables which I did in frustration this time around, he was distant from us and it got worse by the day so I once told him about it and he said I was exaggerating things so I let him be and sulked knowing I’d give him a tough time when he felt the need to talk to me.
Monica and I stayed at home with nothing to eat and she troubled me but there was nothing I could do until Mrs Mutale brought us something for supper which I quickly prepared and we ate in the living room when dad walked in and locked the door then told us to be prayerful before he went to his bedroom, I didn’t know what that was about and it left me so curious that I had trouble finding sleep. I got up the following morning only to find dad gone and did my daily routine, I had nothing to do afterwards and watched TV but we had to run out of power which irritated the living daylights out of me but I still stayed indoors until it got late and Monica placed her head on my shoulder as we waited for dad who only returned at 20H00 all excited
Dad: babies, babies
Monica: daddy, you’re back
Dad: yes Princess, why are you seated in the dark?
I clicked my tongue loud making sure I annoyed him but I guess be was too excited to get annoyed
Dad: come on don’t be like that, daddy’s got good news
Me: yeah let me guess, he’s found a new wife no wonder the late comings. I swear I’ll burn any woman you replace mom with alive
He chuckled
Dad: you sound like your mom now but you’ll respect me because I’m still your dad
I rolled my eyes
Monica: what’s the good news daddy?
Dad: daddy’s got a new job as a financial analyst at a certain firm, princess
I don’t know what happened but I found myself in dad’s arms along with Monica, I’d never been as excited as I was and the way I was screaming was just out of this world but sadness suddenly took over me and sat on the floor with tears streaming down my face then dad and Monica got down too
Dad: what’s wrong my baby?
Me: I wish mom was here to celebrate this moment with us, I wish it happened when she was alive
Dad: we can’t turn back the hands of time and God has his own timing which we can’t question so let’s just accept it as it is, your mother is always with us my baby
Monica and I nodded
Monica: when do you start work?
Dad: tomorrow
Me: is that why you’ve been distant from us and coming home late?
He took a deep breath then nodded
Me: and when do we move out of here?
I said quickly which made them both laugh
Dad: we’ll be out of here before the end of the year
Me: that’s four weeks away, find a house in the high coast areas
Dad: your wish is my command
Monica and I giggled
We talked about a lot of things that night until we all retired to bed…

*****************
After spending our last day which was a day after Christmas in a house were I was born and held so many memories we were finally moving out and I was surprised that dad asked us only to pack our books, I asked him why but the only answer he gave me was I smile so I did as we were instructed and I couldn’t forget to take anything that belonged to mom so I gathered all her pictures and packed them along with my books. There was a Ford which was parked outside waiting for us so we went out and I took one last look at our house and unwanted tears fell down my cheeks and dad held me leading us to the car which had brown leather seats inside, it felt painful bidding Mrs Mutale farewell but I promised her to visit whenever I could. We started off and it took us 30minutes to get to this big, maroon gate which opened on it’s own Immediately we got there I really wondered how it happened then Monica and I looked at each other and I could tell that she was wondering the same so I just shrugged my shoulders, the outside surrounding had a beautiful, green lawn, pavings and the white fountain that was on the other side bought my attention. We drove to the garage which was a few metres away and the house had a beige painting and brown, shiny tiles from the outside and we went inside where it was fully furnished and I couldn’t help but move about with a dropped jaw. The lounge was exquisite with a peach theme and I couldn’t help but admire it’s beauty. Dad showed us around and my favourite place was the cinema room which had a red, grey and white theme then he took us to the backyard where there was a pool and the garden was a beautiful place. He later showed me to my bedroom which had everything in white with a touch of gold, it had an in suite bathroom and wardrobe so I went to open the wardrobe first which had the clothes I happened to love, dad knew my style. He later took Monica to her bedroom which had almost everything in pink and fluffy teddy bear dolls on her bed, it was very beautiful and we thanked him, there was none to do so there was one thing I couldn’t forget to do which was to put mom’s pictures in the house so that whatever predator would want to come after dad and his acquired wealth could just go the nearest hell. I placed them in every room and the lounge had plenty of them so I placed some in the hallway and dad just shook his head watching me in disbelief, I was satisfied with the work I’d done when my stomach made a funny sound luckily dad called us for supper. We gathered at the dining table and I wondered who prepared the mouth watering food I was seeing and my curiosity took the most of me
Me: who prepared the food?
Dad: our house helps, they live in the smaller house you saw in the backyard
Me: alright, they did a great job here
Monica: yeah the food is delicious
Dad: I hope you’ll love them Lucy, they’re almost your age just a bit older than you
Me: I really hope so
We held a light conversation as we ate and I noticed Monica eating like she’d been starved for days then I left going to my bedroom where I said a prayer thanking God for what had happened and I slept like a queen, I got up the following day only to find the house spotless clean when I walked to the kitchen and dad later came in with his briefcase ready to leave
Me: morning dad
Dad: good morning my baby, his was the night?
Me: dad, I slept like a queen and I only opened my eyes to the rays of light hitting my face
Dad: wow, that’s great. I have to leave now I’ll see Monica when I return since she’s sleeping peacefully
Me: I’ve been thinking if you can invite Mrs Mutale and Austin’s family to celebrate the New Year with us
Dad: that’s so considerate of you and I’ll do just that in the mean time let me run along, I don’t want to be late
He was about to leave when two girls around their early 20s walked in and greeted dad then be replied and turned to me
Dad: Lucy, meet Nancy and Mapalo the girls I told you about
Me: our house helps?
Dad: yeah and ladies meet my beautiful daughter, Lucy and the other one is sleeping you’ll get to know her
Nancy: nice meeting you Lucy
Me: same here
I caught Mapalo starring at mom’s portrait which I had placed on the wall and she was carried away
Me: YES, THAT’S MY MOTHER
I said without taking my eyes off hers…

To be continued…