My Soldier Mate

CHAPTER TWO:

CHAPTER TWO:

NALA POV:

Once Carrie came back to bring me her homework, both of them left the room. I sighed and then dinner was done. I grabbed a bowl of spaghetti and went up to my room. I hid the bowl under my tall dresser in the closet where no one could see it when they came into the room. I then went back downstairs to plate the food. I brought it out to them at the table and I went back into the kitchen to finish folding the laundry. Once, I was done with that. I put everything in the basket. Then I grabbed her homework and put it on the top when I picked up the basket and started to go upstairs to put away their laundry. I kept thinking I had only a few days before I left. Their laundry was all done when I went back to my room, when I heard the familiar footsteps of Caleb coming up to my room. I literally just sat down. I pulled out my homework and her homework. I started doing it when my door opened up. Caleb came in and asked “what are you doing?”

I replied, “I am just doing school work, and Carrie’s school work. What can I do for you?”

Caleb replied, “I am making sure you didn’t steal anything.” With that he kept looking around my room. Then he went downstairs when he didn’t find anything. I just focused on the homework. I was almost done when my phone started to ring. I picked it up because I thought it was my job calling me in, because I asked for as much overtime as possible. It was not my job. It was my mother’s mother. I said “Hello?”

My grandmother said, “Hey, my lovely granddaughter, how are you?”

I whispered “I want to leave here, but I have nowhere to go until I leave for the Army in a few days.” You see, my grandmother is the only one who knew I had enlisted. But she won't tell anyone because she has always been in my corner. I asked my mother if I could just go live with her, but she always said no. My grandmother said, “Well, when do you leave?”

I replied, “Well, I will get that information tomorrow when I am at school.”

My grandmother replied, “You have to let me know. " What are you doing right now?” That is when I told her everything. About what they have done to me. What do they keep doing to me? I know I was stressed out and it finally all came out. My grandmother asked, “Why didn’t you ever tell me what was really going on, so I could help you?”

I replied “I didn’t want to be a burden to you and your new relationship.”

My grandmother replied, “You are not a burden. You need to be safe. I will be up there tomorrow after you get the information about when you leave and your uniform.”

I replied “Thank you so much! I love you grandma. I will see you tomorrow. I have to finish my homework and I then have to go downstairs to do the dishes. Then I came back and got ready for bed, because I had to get up early to start breakfast and get ready for school.” My grandmother told me goodnight, and then we got off the phone. I went to my dresser and picked up the food and I started to eat it. That is when my mother called me down to get the rest of the chores done. So I stopped eating and put the food back where I got it from and then left the room. I got back downstairs and went into the dining room and picked up the mess that they had made. I just dealt with it because I didn’t even bother with arguing because there was no point. I knew they were lazy. I started wondering what was going to happen when I left for good. What will they do to pay for the bills, and to put food on the table? While I finished cleaning the dining room, I was finishing up, and I went into the kitchen. That is when mom came and said “So, I need you to be home right after school.”

I replied, “Mom, I can't, I have to work today. I won't be able to. I am sorry.”

My mother said, “What time will you be done?”

I replied “around seven.”

My mother replied, “Fine. Be home right after work. Your grandmother is coming. You better not tell her anything about what has been happening here.”

I replied “fine.” With that, I turned back to the sink to get the dishes done. That is when I heard my mother walk out of the room. I heard in the other room asking Caleb for money for her party so she could make sure she could get something to eat right after. Caleb told her to come and take it from me. But I don’t have anything until I can get to the bank tomorrow. And I don’t have a debit card. So she will be mad because of this. I was still cleaning up from dinner when Carrie came into the room. Carrie said, “Dad said to get money from you. So hand it over.”

I replied “Carrie, I am sorry, but I don’t have any until I can get to the bank.”

Carrie replied, “You're lying. I know that you are. Where is your purse?”

I replied, “My purse is right there on the table.” She then grabbed it off of the table and went through it. And then she started to yell at the top of her lungs. Caleb and my mother came in, ran into the kitchen. I was still doing dishes. Caleb asked “What happened to my princess?”

Carrie cried and said “she doesn’t have any money on her or in her purse.”

Caleb looked at me and asked “is this true?”

I replied “I honestly don’t have any money. I wasn’t allowed to go to the bank to get money out for bills and for her today. I had school, then I had to work, and I came home and immediately started laundry. While that was starting, I started cooking dinner.”

My mother asked, “Can you go to the ATM to get money out?”

I replied, “Remember, I don’t have a bank card because I was under the age limit.” Caleb got mad and went at me and started to punch me in my stomach. I honestly didn’t even flinch because I have been hit so many times. That is when Carrie came and grabbed me by my hair and dragged me down, and they started to kick me in my stomach. I didn’t even scream because that is what they get off of. Once they realized that I wasn’t screaming, they stopped. My mother said, “Honey, why don’t you go to your party? Maybe your friends will get you food and you will pay them back tomorrow?”

Carrie replied “fine.” With that everyone left the kitchen. I laid on the floor for a few minutes. Then I started to get up slowly. When I finally was able to get up and get to my feet, I just stood there and waited until the pain in my stomach subsided just a little bit. I looked down at the dishes. I grabbed the sponge and finished the dishes as fast as I could, so I could just go upstairs and lay down. Once they were done. I shut off the kitchen light and went upstairs. I got to my bed, I set my alarm clock and fell right to sleep in pain.