Bianca's Novel corner

Behind her Mask
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07
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At Mr Dlamini's house

A week later the day of the tombstone in unveiling, the family walked together to the tent as Athaliah helped the ladies of the village with cooking on the fireplace. Her aunt Vuyi walked to them with an apron and started helping out too. The grandmother walked over to his daughter and smiled looking at the local ladies.

Gogo:"hello ladies thank you for coming here to help us (smiled) but I need to borrow my daughter because I want to talk to her about something"

The ladies just nodded as Vuyi followed after her mother a distance from the ladies.

Gogo:"what are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass us in front of these people?"
Vuyi:"so you think having a tombstone unveiling of Athaliah's mother and twin brother while you're excluding her from the program is not embarrassing enough for the family"
Gogo:"she killed them"
Vuyi:"here you go again with the same old song. Your daughter died because she had high blood pressure and the twin brother died because he was strangled by the umbilical cord I think it's time you guys stop playing in her for something she had no control over"
Gogo:"we are not going to discuss this now but I expect you to walk to the tent and sit with your family"
Vuyi:"I am not going to do that unless Athaliah is part of it. I can't believe I am related to People like you"

Gogo looked at Athaliah busy helping out and the ladies looking sadly at her. She never realised the amount of sympathy this little devil was getting from people.

Gogo:"fine you can tell her that she can come"
Vuyi:"was that so hard to do?"
Gogo:"stop being cheeky towards me"
Vuyi:"while we are at it my husband and I so you should ask for Athaliah from her father"
Gogo:"you will do no such thing because we have plans for Athaliah"
Vuyi:"let me go tell her to go get ready we will discuss this later"

She walked to Athaliah as he pulled her to her small rondavel. Athaliah smiled looking at her aunt the only favourite family member.

Vuyi:"you have to get ready for your mother and brothers tombstone unveiling. You can wear the new dress I bought you and shoes"
Atha:"oh no"
Vuyi:"what?"
Atha:"I noticed that you bought me and my sisters the same kind of dress and I kind of worked on it to make it different"
Vuyi:"can I see?"

She pulled the dress out off her trunk and showed her aunt as she smiled looking at it. She had bought the girls black dresses but Athaliah had put some colour in the dresses and because of their different body structure she just bought a dress that didn't define their bodies but this little girl just changed this dress to a body hugging dress.

Vuyi:"put it on I want to see how it fits you"
Atha:"you are not mad?"
Vuyi:"I think one day you're going to make a very successful fashion designer because only God knows what you do with the fabric once you get your hands into it"
Atha:"this is just a hobby to me but my dream is to be a social worker"
Vuyi:"and I know you'll be good at it because you've always been good at everything that you do"

She smiled wearing the dress and looking at her aunt smiling.

Atha:"and what do you think?"
Vuyi:"I think after the unveiling you have to make me a dress just like that one"
Atha:"okay"
Vuyi:"I have just shoes that will match the dress come with me"

She put on her old shoes and followed her aunt as the ladies turned looking at her walking out the room. The awe in their faces made her feel confident enough to be able to do anything. They walked to the room her aunt was sleeping and she pulled out some block heels and handed them to her.

Atha:"I don't think I can wear those shoes because I'm going to fall"
Vuyi:"trust me you won't they are not that high and they are just block heels"
Atha:"thank you"
Vuyi:"I also love your hair"
Atha:"well I use the reject relaxer from the favourite daughters"
Vuyi:"let me fix your hair for you"

A moment later she stepped in the tent with her aunt as everyone looked at her in awe. It felt good to have people get her with anything but it hate for a change. She sat down next to her sisters with the dirty stares from the three musketeers. Nombulelo smiled at her. For a second when Mr Dlamini did a double take looking at his late wife and smiled emotionally. This is the only child that looked exactly like his late wife and he treated her so badly. She was the reincarnation of the love of his wife and he should've protected her more but he made her feel like nothing.

Later that day Athaliah walked in her room and smiled looking at Melisizwe sitting on the bed. She locked the door and looked at him smiling.

Atha:"you're taking risks"
Melisizwe:"I know but you look beautiful babe"
Atha:"thank you"
Melisizwe:"I got you something"
Atha:"what?"

He reached in his pocket and took out a necklace that looked old and vintage. It looked like something that has been in the family for generations.

Melisizwe:"my great great grandfather gave this to his first born son to give to his first born

Behind her Mask
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06
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At Mr Dlamini's house

On the same night on her small rondavel Athaliah worked on her sketches as a soft tap on the door got her attention. Her heart pounded as she took her late grandfather's knobkerrie. She slowly walked to the door and positioned herself.

Atha:"whoever you are I am armed and I am going to hurt you"
Melisizwe:"it's me Melisizwe"
Atha:"oh (opened the door) what are you doing here?"

He walked in as she peaked out and looked out to see if anyone saw him. She closed the door and turned looking at him.

Melisizwe:"I am sorry I just came in here because I needed to see you"
Atha:"what if Mr Dlamini saw you"
Melisizwe:"Mr Dlamini? Athaliah he's your father"
Atha:"he doesn't want me to call him that so I am just respecting his wishes"
Melisizwe:"you know knocking here I didn't know that you are still sleeping here"
Atha:"I actually like it here because it's my own personal space. After dealing with my family for the whole day I just need a place of my own"

He looked at the table and frowned looking at her sketches. He walked to them and flipped through the book amazed.

Melisizwe:"did you sketch these?"
Atha:"yes and I know that it's not perfect but it takes my mind off things"
Melisizwe:"are you kidding me your sketches look like you are professional"
Atha:"thank you"
Melisizwe:"wow you're really talented. I guess you wanna be a fashion designer when you grow up?"
Atha:"no actually. I want to be a social worker so that I can help the kids in need"

They spent the whole night just talking with Melisizwe watching Athaliah sketching on her book. It was amazing spending time with her more than anything. She was so insightful and talented.

At Mr Zulu's house

Early that morning Melisizwe jumped the fence walking to the house as his grandfather cleared his throat leaning on the kraal with his son. Melisizwe looked at them startled it was literally 4 a.m. and he didn't understand why they were up so early.

Grandpa:"do you want to help us?"
Melisizwe:"help you with what (looking at them) it's 4 a.m. in the morning and you guys are already awake"
Grandpa:"we want to brand the cows"
Melisizwe:"oh I was just out taking a run"
Mr Zulu:"in pushins?"

He looked down on his feet then laughed looking at them smiling.

Grandpa:"I don't blame you really Athaliah is beautiful and has a body of a real African woman"
Mr Zulu:"and a girl like that needs a real man that won't back down. Five plus years from now men will be flocking for that girl and if you're a bad boyfriend other boys will get her attention"
Grandpa:"did you have s*x with her?"
Melisizwe:"no grandpa please don't ask me that question ever again"

His grandfather and his father looked at him surprised as he looked at them.

Melisizwe:"what?"
Mr Zulu:"you spent the whole night with her and you did not make her a woman? What were you doing?"
Melisizwe:"this is just awkward but we were just talking and getting to know each other better"
Grandpa:"oh my God! What is the generation of today doing?"
Melisizwe:"I was trying to get to know her better"
Grandpa:"look at me both of you (they both looked at him) I am not the most handsome man in the world and the only reason you too have such good genes is because I was a funny guy and your grandmother loved laughing at my jokes. I got one night to spend with her and her parents were in a church conference and I use that opportunity together to get her pregnant pregnant with your brother (looking at Mr Zulu) and the rest is history"
Melisizwe:"so you want me to get her pregnant?"
Grandpa:"yes. Let me tell you this if you go to her father right now and ask for her hand in marriage he's going to tell you that she is too young but if you get her pregnant and ask for her hand in marriage because you won't want the embarrasment of people knowing that his daughter got pregnant out of wedlock he will agree"

Mr Zulu and Melisizwe looked at each other and then looked at the old man.

Melisizwe:"I can't do that to her she has dreams of becoming a social worker one day"
Grandpa:"do you think that will ever happen?"
Melisizwe:"what do you mean?"
Grandpa:"that man doesn't treat Athaliah as his daughter. Let me tell you this once that girl reaches 18 years old many men are going to offer his father cows for her hand in marriage___"
Melisizwe:"isn't that a choice to make?"
Grandpa:"the big city is making you stupid. Since when has that man done anything to make Athaliah happy? I just think that if there's anyone who can make her dream of being a social worker come true is you and not her father"
Mr Zulu:"I can't believe I'm saying this but I think dad is right"
Melisizwe:"but___"
Mr Zulu:"we have watched you for years smitten over that little girl and if you don't take action now you'll regret it later when you know the woman you love is married off to someone she doesn't love"

He looked at his father and grandfather thoughtfully. It would be a plus for him if he had to take her out of her home a

Behind her Mask
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05
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At Mr Dlamini's house

Athaliah finished washing dishes after lunch and packed them neatly in the cupboard. She heard her family screaming as she peaked through the window. She sighed out loud looking at her grandmother her late mother's monstrous mother. She walked out of the house with a chair as her grandmother turned and looked at her.

Gogo:"is she still here"
Atha:"hello Ma'am"
Gogo:"so you're still cheeky I see"
Nomzamo:"you have no idea"

She sat down as Athaliah turned around and walked away as her grandmother looked at her.

Gogo:"Athaliah I brought gloss paint for the gate because I noticed last time I was here it was rusting"
Atha:"how kind of you"
Mr Dlamini:"stop embarassing me and start working on the gate"
Atha:"yes sir"

She took the gloss paint and brushes as she walked towards the gate and started painting.

Gogo:"I just don't get why you have to put up with that girl after everything she took away from us"
Mr Dlamini:"I just wonder if I chase her away what will people say about me?"
Gogo:"the Chief Jezile is looking for a young wife who can bare him a son"
Mr Dlamini:"Athaliah is only 15 years old"
Gogo:"Chief Jezile will marry her because age doesn't matter to him really. Imagine the cows you will get from the Chief"
Mr Dlamini:"the Chief is even older than me and to marry my daughter off to a man that is practically a father to me by age and has already seven wives"

Nombulelo looked at his father and grandmother talking with his sister's looking at them smiling.

Gogo:"I talked to the Chief and showed him her photo that I asked Nomzamo to send me. We can argue about a lot of things but Athaliah is as beautiful as my daughter"
Mr Dlamini:"you don't have to remind me because I know my daughter"
Gogo:"he is offering 70 cows for her. He is charmed by her of which I don't know why"
Nombulelo:"how old is this Chief anyways?"
Nomzamo:"why does it matter because what I know is that if she leaves here we don't have to look at her everyday and be reminded about how she killed my mother and brother"
Nomsa:"I think Nomzamo is right dad because we all hate her. Why do we have to keep her around when she reminds us of what we lost"
Nombulelo:"I just wanted to ask how old he is?"
Gogo:"80 years old"

She looked at her grandmother sadly. She couldn't imagine her little sister marrying a man that was that old at her age.

Nombulelo:"what is an 80 year old man looking for in a 15 year old girl? He should be focusing on being a grandfather at this moment?
Gogo:"his son the one who was up for the throne was killed. Unless he gets some other son his family loses the chieftaincy"
Nomzamo:"come on dad___70 cows? It will add to your wealth. We all know we hate Athaliah let's just get rid of her"

Nombulelo looked at her father looking like he considering the offer her grandmother just told him.

Meanwhile at the gate Athaliah quietly painted the gate. Her family didn't bother her anymore because she had grown thick skin and didn't even care about them anymore.

Him:"hi"

She looked up at him and frowned. She has never heard him talk to her before. She hasn't seen him for the past 3 years.

Atha:"oh God he can talk"
Melisizwe:"oh (laughed) so you still remember me?"
Atha:"how can I forget the only boy has always waved at me and ran back in the house whenever I waved back"

He laughed looking at Athaliah. It was impossible that this girl looked as beautiful as she did without even trying hard. She looked more beautiful, he didn't know if it was because he hasn't seen her in a long time or just that she's the most beautiful girl he has ever seen in his life. He is literally in University and he has never seen such a beautiful girl before. He took another brush and helped her painting the gate.

Melisizwe:"God I used to be goofy wasn't I? But can blame me though?"
Atha:"I just don't get why you were scared of me?"
Melisizwe:"because I had a big fat crush on you (she looked at him surprised) come on don't tell me you didn't know?"
Atha:"I just don't know why you would have a crush on me?"
Melisizwe:"you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and even now you are still the most beautiful woman I know (laughed) you had no idea how much my father and grandfather made fun of me for loving you and being scared of you"

She looked at him and really looked at him for the first time since they were standing there. He wasn't dark skinned and he was also not light skinned with a stubble in his face. His bush eyebrows complimented him his handsome face, he smiled looking at her as she laughed and ran the brush on the gate.

Atha:"I am sure now you can talk to me because your crush is over"
Melisizwe:"no but I am older now and wiser I know that if you want something you fight for it"
Atha:"you want me (he nodded) why?"
Melisizwe:"I don't have a reason for loving you (she frowned looking at him) if I have a reason for loving you then what happens if that reason is no longer there? If I love yo

Behind her Mask
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04
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At Mr Dlamini's house

Athaliah sat on the chair in her small rondavel and looked at the sketches she made a day before. It was the around 12 a.m. and she had to do this before waking up for her usual routine. She started sewing from an old sewing machine that her father was throwing away. She had to jazz up the clothes she gets from her sisters as hand me downs. She took a pair of scissors and started cutting and sewing the pieces together. The sun started creeping up as she sighed and put away the clothes she had already worked on and walked outside to started doing her usual routine humming a song.

The worst things about holidays was the whole day in the same yard with his family. She finished cooking the soft porridge and walked in the house with the big pot and knocked. The door opened, her father looked at her and made way for her to pass.

Atha:"good morning sir"
Mr Dlamini:"come in"
Atha:"I'm sorry for waking you up this early but I wanted to touch up the porridge before it gets cold"
Mr Dlamini:"come in"

She came in and started dishing up as her sisters came out and sat down on the table pressing their phones. Their father cleared his throat as they all looked at him.

Mr Dlamini:"your aunt's and uncles from both your mother's and my side are coming for the unveiling for (looked at Athaliah) your mother and brother"
Nomzamo:"oh my God when are they coming?"
Mr Dlamini:"some of them are arriving today and the others maybe tomorrow"
Nosipho:"I can't wait___aunt Vuyi is so fun to be around"

Athaliah served them their porridge as she mixed her own and headed for the door to go and eat outside.

Mr Dlamini:"Athaliah"
Atha:"yes sir"
Mr Dlamini:"your sisters will share the rooms and I need you to (the sisters looked at their father surprised) Nomzamo will share with Nomsa and Nosipho will share with Nombulelo"
Nomzamo:"share?"
Mr Dlamini:"yes atleast I let you share with the way you guys were born. So Athaliah you have to clean the room now"
Atha:"can I do it after eating breakfast because the porridge will be cold"
Nomsa:"like it's not enough that our father took you in after you killed our mother and brother you have to talk back to him too?"

She put the plate down and walked to the house and started working because by now she was used to the insults and they didn't bother her anymore. After a few hours she was done and walked to the kitchen and sighed looking at the plates in the dish. They couldn't even wash dishes not like she was surprised. Her sister walked in and looked at her from head to toes.

Nomzamo:"oh you are done I was about to go and tell you that dad says that he is hungry"
Atha:"okay"

She walked to the door as her sister blocked her way looking at her.

Nomzamo:"this humble and innocent act that you pull doesn't fool me. If you think your story will end up like the one of Cinderella you must be fooling yourself because you will always be nothing"
Atha:"you know the difference between you and I says that I have a learnt to survive. When your father dies your life is over because you know nothing you and your sisters"
Nomzamo:"so you are going to kill our father too it's not enough that we killed our mother?"
Atha:"you know that broken song is to hurt me but now it doesn't. I had nothing to do with my mother's death and I also had nothing to do with my twin brothers death don't mistake my quietness for stupidity"
Nomzamo:"I'm going to tell dad that you insulted me"
Atha:"I don't care because there are two outcomes to that. It's either your father is going to beat me or he's going to insult me both of those things I'm used to them. It's nothing you it's my life the worst part is that you and your father and your sisters think that you are breaking me but you've made me strong"
Nomzamo:"mxm whatever"

She walked away as Athaliah went out and started making fire to start with lunch for her employer and his little braty kids.

Behind her Mask
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03
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The next morning Athaliah woke up and did her usual morning routine before going to bathe herself. She walked out the gate, even though it was not raining anymore but it was muddy. As she walked on the road a car stopped next to her and she smiled as the window rolled down. The boy in the passenger seat looked at her and waved at her as she waved back and he quickly looked down with his heart beating in his ears. The wife smiled looking at him on the driver's seat.

Her:"let me drop you off at school"
Atha:"but my shoes are a little dirty"
Her:"no they're not"
Atha:"they're"
Her:"stop thinking a lot about that. I will take the car to the carwash anyways"
Atha:"okay thank you Mrs Zulu"

She got in the car as the little boy sat on the front seat uncomfortably wanting to check the back of the car but to scared he might find Athaliah looking at him. He wanted so much to talk to her but his voice always failed him with her around. She was the most beautiful girl she has ever seen in the village, if only he could let her have the courage to speak next to her.

Mrs Zulu:"Melisizwe do you know Athaliah? She is our neighbor maybe you've seen her before"

He just looked down not knowing what to do. Why would his mother do this to him. Does she know how much that girl scared him. She was so beautiful and so humble he never really had the courage to talk to her. Being in the same car with her was so intimidating and he never realised this feeling he had that was blocking his chest.

Later that day Athaliah finished cooking and started dishing up as his father walked in the kitchen and looked at her dishing up. She turned around and looked at her father.

Atha:"can I help you with anything Baba?"
Mr Dlamini:"no"
Atha:"okay"

She turned around and carried on with his father still looking at her.

Mr Dlamini:"I don't know what God is punishing me for. I loved my wife and I was looking forward to having an heir but you killed them"
Atha:"I am sorry"
Mr Dlamini:"you're sorry? You took my wife away from me and as if that was not enough you had to kill me the only son I had"
Atha:"I didn't mean to"
Mr Dlamini:"you're here walking around my house looking like the women I loved. You walk around here and everyday when I look at you I am reminded of what I lost and more all because of you (she looked at her father) you have cost me a lot of happiness and I hate you for that I don't think I will always hate you for that I doubt that I will never forgive you"
Atha:"okay"
Mr Dlamini:"you walk around with my wife's face and you think that life is easy for us. Your sisters miss their mother but you walk around wearing their mothers face like you own it. I hate you and they hate you because you're a plague in our lives. You are like cancer ever since you came into our lives you've taken all our happiness and you left us with nothing but sadness"

She looked at her father talking to her as tears freewheeled on her cheeks. It was not about what he was saying but the hatred in his eyes when he was looking at her.

Mr Dlamini:"at this point I wish my mother was still alive because I will take you to her but I doubt she would have loved you. No one will ever love you and no one will ever need you in their lives because you are nothing, nothing but a murderer and the worst part I doubt anyone would ever want to marry you because no one would ever want to bring a plague into their homes. I wish you died that day not my wife and not my son and it's so sad that you are the one that survived and not my wife and son"
Athaliah:"I am sorry"
Mr Dlamini:"stop apologizing because you apologize don't bring back my son and my wife. Everyday that you wake up alive I remember that my son should have been the same age as you are but you never gave him a fighting chance. You decided to kill him and it was not now you had to kill my wife also"

He walked away as Athaliah looked down wiping her tears. She finished dishing up and served them their food as they all took and ate. She walked to her room without eating because she just lost her appetite.

5 years later ♥️

Behind her Mask
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02
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At school

Athaliah walked in the classroom drenching wet as some of students looked at her and laughed as the teacher looked at her and her face changed immediately looking at this little girl.

Atha:"good morning ma'am"
Teacher:"good morning"
Atha:"sorry I am late (walked to her seat) it won't happen again"
Teacher:"Athaliah you're wet and I this you should go home"

She stopped in her tracks and turned looking at her teacher worriedly.

Atha:"I am sorry for being late ma'am (crying) I won't be late again I promise"
Teacher:"I am not mad because you're late Athaliah but (walked up to her) I am worried that if I let you attend classes while you're this wet you'll be sick with flue"
Atha:"you're not angry?"
Teacher:"of course not. I wish I can take you home but I can't leave the class unsupervised"
Atha:"it's okay"
Teacher:"and Atha if it's raining again tomorrow you don't have to come I will talk to the principal for you"

She walked out of classroom as the teacher looked at her sadly. Knowing that that little girl's father was one of the richest men in the village didn't make sense why she suffered so much. Her older sisters were attending private school in town and she was attending the local school. Maybe it was true what people said that the mother had an affair and Athaliah was not the biologically his daughter. Which would explain a lot of things.

Athaliah walked along the road in the rain as a car pulled over next to her. She turned and looked at the car as the window rolled down. The woman from next door smiled on the passenger seat as her husband waved at her.

Her:"come on in we will give you a ride home"
Atha:"I am too wet i will make your chairs wet"
Him:"I would rather you a wet chair than I leave a little girl in the rain"
Atha:"thank you"

She opened the back and smiled getting in. She sat down and closed the door, he started the car driving off as the wife turned and looked at Athaliah.

Her:"are you okay?"
Atha:"yes ma'am"
Her:"you're so beautiful"
Atha:"thank you"
Him:"why do you think Melisizwe loves her"
Her:"how do you know that?"
Him:"you're trying to tell me you don't notice your son always waving at her and when she waves back he always ran to the house to hide"
Her:"I never really paid attention to it"
Him:"women never do"
Her:"but I don't blame him though. Which means my son has a good eye. She is beautiful just like her mother (looked at her smiling) you're a spitting image of your mother do you know that?"
Atha:"no"

The looked at her as the husband packed the car at the gate. Of course she wouldn't know who her mother was because she died giving birth to her. The saddest part was seeing this little girl live the kind of a life she was living.

Later that day Athaliah finished doing everything as she walked to her rondavel and started cleaning around. Her father called her and she ran to the big house as he looked at her in disgust.

Mr Dlamini:"your sister is sick and she need medication. You have to run to the shop and buy her some painkillers"
Atha:"Yebo Baba"
Mr Dlamini:"I hate you calling me baba after everything you have done to me"
Atha:"I am sorry baba"
Mr Dlamini:"there you go again. You're a devil in my life you killed my wife and son. I only tolerate you because I have no other choice. You're a murder hence your name Athaliah Eve Dlamini. Those are the two names of the most wicked women in the Bible. Athaliah was nothing but a murderer"
Atha:"sorry Baba"

He pushed her as she fell hard on the wet ground and smiled looking at her. He threw coins on her face and looked at her.

Mr Dlamini:"just go get your sister some painkillers. Stupid murderer you think I will ever love you and consider you my daughter. You should have died that day not my wife and my son but you. There's nothing that you are good for in life but the good thing is that you are a woman and you look like my wife which makes you beautiful I think the only thing that you're good for in this world is marriage"

He closed the door as Athaliah stood up and wiped her tears on her wet face and took the money going to the shop.

゚viralシ

Behind her Mask
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01
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At the local school

Athaliah sat next to the window looking at the window pouring outside. She wished it would stop raining because she knew school was about to be out and walking that long distance home in this rain scared her. The siren rang as kids started packing their books and put them in their bags. She put her book in her old torn bag. She put the bag under her armpits and walked to the door.

Bongi:"Atha give me your bag so that your books don't get wet. I will come back with it. At least home is close for me"
Atha:"really (handed her) thank you so much"
Bongi:"be careful okay"
Atha:"sure"

She walked out and rushed to the gate with some of the kids form her side of the village. As they neared the road she saw her father's car. She stopped by the road as her the car passed her with her big sisters inside laughing. She looked down and walked home with a heavy heart.

An hour later she walked through the gate and walked to the back to her small rondavel at the back of the big house. The boy next door smiled from the window at home and waved at her. She waved back smiling and he closed the window. What a strange boy she thought, he always waved at her when he saw her but as soon as she waves back it was either he runs back inside the house or close the curtain.

She finished getting dressed and ran to the shack and started making firewood and boiling water. The more the shack got warmer the more she got warmer too. When the water started boiling she ran to the big house and opened the back door walking in to his father drinking water from the bottle in the fridge.

Atha:"afternoon Baba"

He looked at her from head to toe and put the water back in the fridge.

Mr Dlamini:"have you started cooking?"
Atha:"Yebo Baba, I am here to get meal meal to start with pap"
Mr Dlamini:"I feel like chicken today"

She walked to the fridge and opened the freezer as his father looked at her.

Mr Dlamini:"I meant Hardbody"
Atha:"oh"
Mr Dlamini:"and hurry my kids are hungry"
Atha:"Yebo Baba"

She walked out and walked to the shack were the chickens were and took one chicken walking out and started on the slaughtering and plucking the chicken. An hour and a half later she finished dishing up and handed everyone some food before taking her plate and going to her rondavel to eat. She made a little prayer before she dug in and started eating. When she was done eating and washing dishes, she started ironing her wet school uniform and took a bath with hot water and retiring to bed.

The next morning she woke up around 4 a.m. to go and start a fire and boil water. She started using the iron to warm her clothes. The best thing about the rain was the fact that she couldn't go to the garden today. Around 5 a.m. she put booming water in the 20 litter and went to the big house and knocked for his family. The eldest sister opened and looked at her.

Nomzamo:"good I was starting to think I was going to be late for school because of you"
Atha:"sorry"
Nomzamo:"how far are you with the soft porridge?"
Atha:"when you finished bathing I will be done"
Nomzamo:"what about our lunch boxes? Did you wash them? It's not easy going to school in the private school because everything has to be top notch. You wouldn't understand because you go to a public school"
Atha:"let me go get that porridge ready"

She walked away as her sister looked at her and sighed closing the door. She started cooking the porridge while she was bathing herself in the warmth of the fire.