ELLA’S RECKONING: the Fabian’s family saga

The savory smell of rosemary, thyme, and tomato stew scented the dining room. To Ella's 6 siblings, it's an assurance of comfort, but to Ella, tonight felt like a put-down, as usual. Ella sat down at the far end of the wooden table, her feet hot like she'd been standing all day. Trembling like a cold snake, she watched her mother carefully as she dished out white rice, coleslaw, chicken, and thick tomato stew to her siblings. When it got to her turn, she got just the stew oil and white rice. Ella didn't complain because she knew it was futile, and she'd probably get a beating and be sent to bed if she dared question her mother, Jennifer. If only Daddy was around now, I'd eat well like my other siblings. Daddy knows what's happening in this house, I'm sure he knows exactly how Mommy hates me. Shouldn't he feel it wherever he is, now that I'm not happy? Every day I keep wondering what I've done to my mommy to deserve this amount of hatred. Did I disturb her so much when I was in her belly, or was I tantrum-prone when I was a baby? Am I really a bad luck charm, like she says? Maybe she wished for a boy when she was pregnant with me... but I have 5 brothers, so... Ugh, why me? Confused, 16-year-old Ella thought to herself as she ate her food quietly, her head bent, avoiding eye contact with her mother, who sat opposite her. The air in the dining room was eerie. Silence became the order of dinner. At the other side was 18-year-old James, Ella's immediate senior brother and heir to the Fabian family, a photocopy of his mother - a manipulator and one of the sources of Ella's sufferings. Groomed by his mother, he'd been gazing at Ella for long. "Why did Mummy even include food for this girl after she had the guts to refuse to wash my dirty clothes? Imagine she's feeling so comfortable... I hate to see her comfortable. I'll destroy every single happiness she has tonight." A loud sound of stainless cutlery broke the silence in the dinner room. All eyes gazed at James... "Hey, Fish Head, come pick up my spoon," James said, grinning at Ella. Ella looked around and asked, "Who are you calling...?" "It's you, of course, Ella, Fish Head. Come pick up my spoon." Ella scoffed, "Bro, the last time I checked, my name isn't Fish Head, and you can literally pick up your spoon; it's very much close to you." Jennifer interrupted Ella before she could finish her last word. "Will you get up there and pick up that spoon, you lazy, good-for-nothing child? Why are you so stubborn?" James smiled mischievously and winked at his mother. Ella reluctantly stood up and picked up the spoon. "Take," she stretched out her hand, giving James the spoon. "Are you stupid or dumb? Don't you know you're supposed to wash the spoon before giving it to me?" Ella stormed out into the kitchen with rage. "Oh, I pity the man that girl will end up with," Jennifer said. "Mummy, you don't have to pity the man 'cause I'm sure the man will always give Ella the beating of her life whenever she disrespects him," 22 year - old - Clara, Ella's stepsister from Jennifer's past life, said. 14-year-old Sheldon, Ella's immediate younger brother, interrupted, "But Mummy, Ella didn't do any wrong." "Eeeeeeeeh, shush your mouth and don't talk when your elders are talking," Jennifer said, looking at Sheldon disgustingly . Ella stormed through the door, the wood groaning on its hinges like a tired dog. While the dining room was a place of humiliation and Jame’s cruelty, the kitchen air was humid and gentle, smelling of dish soap and dampness of the old stone. Standing in front of the sink, Ella looked down at the spoon in her hand. It felt light, she gripped it so hard her fingernails bit into her palms. In the reflection of the stainless steel, making her eyes look too big and her mouth twisted. her face was frustrated - a fish head, just like James said. She didn't just see a girl; she saw a shadow. Hot tears dripped down her cheeks as she turned on the tap and washed the spoon. "If only God had a second thought before bringing me to this family... I'm just tired, I'm tired," she muttered to herself in a teary voice. Jame’s loud voice interrupted her thought, "Where's my spoon?" Ella’s heart skipped knowing she has wasted time . She hurriedly cleaned up her teary face and walked to the dining room. As Ella walked into the dinner room, the light from the chandelier shone too bright, exposing her puffy red eyes and shaking hands. She kept her head low, giving the spoon to James like a peace offering to a predator. "It took you the whole day just to wash the spoon," James said, snatching the spoon, his lip curling in a silent sneer as he dived back to his heap of chicken and rice. "Can't see it, she's obviously crying just to wash a spoon, eeeeh heavens, what kind of lazy child is this?" Jennifer said in a mocking tone. "Awwwwww, crying baby, shush, Daddy is here," Clara said, making a mockery face. Ella quietly sank back into her seat, without uttering a word. "I know exactly where this is getting to. They just want to find a reason to team up and beat me up," Ella thought to herself. Head bent low, trying to finish up the food which she no longer had appetite for. She felt a steady gaze —- not the strong hatred stare of her mother, but something cooler. She looked up an inch and met Sheldon's eyes. Unlike James, who was a photocopy of Jennifer, Sheldon had their father's eyes, soft and observant, and now filled with quiet, helpless agony. Their eyes finally locked; his gaze turned heavy with apology. He looked at her with a genuine "I'm sorry" that he didn't dare say loud. In a split second, the eerie silence disappeared. "Hey, stupid girl, make sure you clear this table and wash the dishes before going to bed tonight," Jennifer commanded. "Yes, ma'am," Ella said. Sheldon, David, Star, and William, "if you're guys are done with your food, come let's go to bed," Jennifer said, signaling the kids. "Ok, Mommy." In no time, the dinner room became empty, only Ella was remaining. She slowly stood up, packed up the plates and headed straight to the kitchen . The scrubbing rhythm of the sponge led Ella back to that Tuesday morning two months ago. Her father, Fabian, had been standing by the front door, his heavy briefcase clicking shut - a sign that safety was leaving. She recalled hugging him, ignoring the warning cough Jennifer gave from the top of the stairs. "Two months, Ella, just a quick trip to settle the merger and I'll be back," he whispered to her. Two months had passed now, and he wasn't back yet. “Maybe he wasn't done with work yet. I just hope he is okay, yes, he should be okay,Cause I prayed for him”. I'm sure Mum talks to him on the phone, Ella thought to herself”. Maybe I'll go ask her to let me use her phone; no, don't even think of that, she waved the thought aside. Done washing and cleaning the kitchen, Ella walked to her room, she laid on her bed, tired, reminiscing about her life, when she heard a voice, "Why don't you run away?" "No, I'm going nowhere, you're just in my head," she said to herself. "Why don't you teach these people a lesson? Put a poison pill in their food." "Leave me alone, please," Ella screamed and covered herself up with her blanket, sleeping off.