The Gay’s Girl

Ella stood beside her father’s grave at the back of the house, staring at the fresh earth with tears running down her cheeks. Everyone else had gone. The voices that had filled the compound earlier had disappeared. The house was quiet, and Ella was left alone with the grave. She slowly knelt beside it and touched the soil. “Daddy…” Her voice trembled. “Why did you leave me?” She wiped her face, but the tears continued. “You said you would always be there for me.” Ella lowered her head. “You promised.” For a while, she remained silent, staring at the grave. Then she heard footsteps behind her. “Ella?” She quickly wiped her face and turned. It was her mother. “Mummy…” Her mother walked toward her. “You’re still here?” Ella looked back at the grave. “I don’t want to leave him.” Her mother sighed and sat beside her. “I know you miss your father.” “I miss him so much,” Ella replied. “Everything happened so quickly.” Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. “He loved you very much.” “I know.” Ella looked at the grave again. “He was supposed to watch me grow up.” Her mother pulled her closer. “He would have wanted you to be strong.” Ella shook her head. “I don’t know if I can be strong without him.” “You don’t have to do it alone,” her mother said. Ella rested her head against her mother’s shoulder. For several minutes, neither of them spoke. The grave remained in front of them, a painful reminder that Ella’s father was no longer coming back. Finally, her mother stood up. “Come inside, Ella.” Ella looked at the grave one more time. “Goodnight, Daddy,” she whispered. She slowly got to her feet and followed her mother into the house. ********** The house had been unusually quiet since Ella’s father’s burial. The chairs that had filled the compound with mourners were gone. The visitors had returned to their homes, leaving behind only the silence of a family trying to understand how life would continue without its father. Ella’s mother sat on a wooden chair beneath the veranda, staring at the small notebook in her hands. Inside it were the expenses she had written down. School fees. Food. Household expenses. She sighed and closed the notebook. Her sister, who had come from the city for the burial, sat beside her. “You’ve been looking at that book for almost an hour,” she said. Ella’s mother forced a smile. “I’m trying to figure out how we’re going to survive.” Her sister looked at her. “How much do you have left?” “Not much.” “And the money your husband left?” Ella’s mother shook her head. “There wasn’t enough. After the burial expenses, there’s hardly anything.” Her sister was quiet for a moment. “What about the provision business you talked about?” “I still want to start it.” “How much do you need?” “Enough to buy some goods and rent a small space.” Her sister nodded slowly. “And if you start the business, will it be enough to feed you and the girls?” Ella’s mother looked down. “I don’t know.” “Will it be enough to pay Mary’s school fees?” She shook her head. “And Benita’s?” Again, she shook her head. Her sister leaned closer. “Then you need another source of income.” “I know.” “I have an idea.” Ella’s mother looked at her. “What idea?” Her sister hesitated. “Send Ella to the city.” Her mother’s face immediately changed. “No.” “Listen to me first.” “No. My answer is no.” “She can work as a maid for a family. She’ll earn money, and she can send some of it home.” Ella’s mother stood up. “After everything that has happened, you want me to send my daughter away?” “I’m not saying forever.” “She’s my eldest child.” “I know.” “I’ve just buried my husband.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve lost the man I’ve spent my whole life with. And now you want me to send away the eldest child in this house too?” Her sister reached for her hand. “I understand how you feel.” “No, you don’t.” “I do.” “You live in the city. You have your own home. You know people there. Ella doesn’t know anybody.” “She won’t be alone.” “She won’t even be working close to you.” “That doesn’t mean she won’t be safe.” Her mother shook her head. “I can’t.” Her sister remained silent for a moment. Then she said gently, “Think about Mary and Benita.” Ella’s mother looked toward the room where the two girls were sitting. “They need food. They need school fees. They need uniforms, books, everything.” “I know.” “If you start that provision business, how much will you make at first?” Ella’s mother didn’t answer. Her sister continued. “And if the business doesn’t bring enough?” “I’ll find a way.” “How?” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know.” “That’s why I’m suggesting this.” She squeezed her sister’s hand. “Let Ella work for a while. Just until you get your feet back on the ground.” Her mother wiped her eyes. “She’s only my daughter. She’s not supposed to carry this burden.” “She’s not carrying it alone. The whole family is carrying it.” There was silence between them. After a while, Ella’s mother whispered, “What if something happens to her?” “Nothing will happen to her.” “You can’t promise that.” “No, I can’t.” Her sister took a breath. “But I can help you find a respectable family. A family that needs someone to help in the house. And you can speak to them yourself before Ella goes.” Ella’s mother sat down again. “I don’t want her to leave.” “I know.” “I don’t even know how I’ll sleep at night.” Her sister looked at her sadly. “Then don’t think of it as losing her. Think of it as giving her a temporary job to help the family.” “How temporary?” “A few months. Maybe a year. Just until things improve.” Ella’s mother looked toward the doorway. Ella was standing there. She had heard everything. “Mama?” Her mother quickly wiped her face. “How long have you been there?” Ella walked closer. “Long enough.” Her aunt looked at her. “Ella…” Ella sat beside her mother. “What were you talking about?” Her mother looked at her sister. Then she looked back at Ella. “Your aunt thinks you should go to the city.” Ella’s eyes widened. “To do what?” “Work.” “Work?” “As a maid.” Ella looked at her mother. “You want me to go?” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t want you to go.” Ella was quiet. Her aunt spoke gently. “Your mother doesn’t want to send you away. But the family needs help.” Ella looked at the notebook on her mother’s lap. “Because of school fees?” Her mother nodded. “And food?” Another nod. Ella looked toward the room where Mary and Benita were. Then she turned back to her mother. “How long would I have to stay?” Her aunt answered. “Not forever. Just until your mother can get the business running and things become easier.” Ella looked at her mother. “Would you be okay?” Her mother immediately shook her head. “No.” Ella smiled sadly. “But we’ll be okay eventually.” Her mother reached for her hand. “I’ve already lost your father. I don’t want to lose you too.” “You won’t lose me.” “How can you be sure?” “Because I’m only going to work.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “You don’t know what is waiting for you there.” “Neither do you.” Her aunt smiled faintly. “That’s why we’ll make sure the family you work for is trustworthy.” Ella looked at her mother. “If I go, Mary and Benita can stay in school?” Her mother nodded. “We’ll be able to buy food?” “I’ll try.” Ella took a deep breath. “Then I’ll go.” Her mother stared at her. “No.” “Mama.” “I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself.” “I’m not sacrificing myself.” Ella squeezed her mother’s hand. “I’m helping my family.” Her aunt nodded. “That’s exactly what I was trying to explain.” Her mother looked at Ella for a long moment. Then she pulled her daughter into her arms. “I don’t want to let you go.” Ella hugged her tightly. “I’ll come back.” “When?” “As soon as we can.” Her mother closed her eyes. “Promise me you’ll be careful.” “I promise.” “Promise me you’ll call me.” “I will.” “And if you don’t like the place?” “I’ll tell you.” “And if anyone treats you badly?” “I’ll come home.” Her mother nodded, tears running down her cheeks. “Okay.” Ella held her tighter. “Okay, Mama.” Her aunt watched them quietly. The decision had been made. Ella would go to the city. Not because her mother wanted to send her away, but because the family needed a way to survive.