Chapter2
1035 Words
I woke up to see Mrs Faith’s large eyes ogling down on me. Mrs Faith—- our neighbor.
God blessed me with her. If not for her, I surely would have died of hunger in the last two months.
Although she didn’t know what exactly was happening in our house.
Immediately I tried to get up, but her voice stopped me. I felt the pain shooting through my skull like my head was detached from my neck.
“Relax Ally, you are terribly injured. You need to keep your head in one position else you risk bleeding again”
I muttered a sound in response.
“What happened to you, Ally? Mrs Faith was curious.
“Your stepfather said you slipped in the kitchen and hit your head, but the head bruise doesn't look like a mere fall…. Did your stepfather hit you?
Yes, he hit me, Mrs Faith, he beat me, starved me, taunted me, humiliated me, most of all, he cursed me. I almost told her, but I cautioned myself.
As I opened my mouth to narrate the event, I decided against it. Mrs Faith would take me to the police to report and nothing would be done.
My stepfather is a cop himself. I remember when I tried to report him, he told his colleagues I had bipolar disorder, and I was disregarded.
He gave me one hell of a beating that day. I can never forget. And his strong warning afterward was…
“If you ever make an attempt to report my actions to other police, I would make sure you are not only crippled but blinded as well. I would pluck out your two eyes with my bare hands”
I hid a smile. It is quite typical of my stepfather to always twist the story. He didn’t tell Mrs Faith that I was trying to get myself some food, that he had starved me for 2 months straight now. I ate only fruit. I only get to eat as many proper meals as Mrs Faith gives me.
I kept it to myself, going against his words would only earn me more beating.
I smiled shyly at Mrs Faith, and she took it as an affirmation.
“Oh poor me Ally, what were you doing in the kitchen? Were you hungry? I’m sorry I had to attend the church program. I would have given you something for dinner.
Tears leaked from the corner of my eyes and I slowly, moped it away, but not before Mrs faith had seen it.
“Don’t cry Ally, do you not have enough food in the house? I understand your stepfather is poor, but does he not get you something to eat? No matter how small. Mrs Faith asked yet again and I slowly shook my head.
Mrs Faith took very good care of me for a few days until she had to go back to church.
I cried at the thought of starving and beating that is to come.
My injury healed quite well, but it was a matter of time before it opened up again with my stepfather's punches.
Tears filled my eyes as Mrs Faith wheeled me back into our shabby compound.
I made a silent prayer of thanks as I noticed my stepfather wasn’t around.
When he returned later in the day, there was a battle for thunder session between us.
“You little fool, I only gave you a knock on the head, and you pretended to be asleep for days! Days! You must think you are very smart. Prepare yourself because we are going to an important place tomorrow and do not wear those rags you are putting on. He looked at me scrutinizingly and hissed.
I slept off wondering where this special place we were going was and exactly what we were going to do there.
The loud voices over the banisters woke me up at 12am at midnight.
I was too tired to stand up. I turned a deaf ear to it, trying to sleep.
Minutes later, the loud voices became unbearable. I couldn’t close my eyes. The words rang like bells in my ears.
I sat up, carried my legs down and crawled to the staircase.
“Your house has been sold! Old fool. You are too poor to repay your debt. Your employer says you still owe him. There’s no way you can pay up. Just pack your filthy belongings and leave this place right now. It belongs to the bank now. Do not make me repeat myself.”
The hefty man was spitting at my stepfather.
There were two men in the sitting room with my stepfather. The second man seemed more calm.
I watched my stepfather’s face in horror as he went down on his knees, holding the hefty man by his feet as he begged. I flinched as the man kicked him away, gritting with his frowned face.
My stepfather turned to the other calm man and whispered something to the man, but from this distance I couldn't hear it.
The calm man turned to the hefty and discussed with him. What he said seemed to calm the man down a bit. He left our house fuming in his rage. Not before telling my stepfather….
“You had better keep your side of the bargain, old man….
I won’t listen to stories next time.
They exited our house before I began to ponder on what had just happened.
My stepfather is owing the bank
He can’t afford to pay for it.
They threatened to collect the house as repayment!
The realization of us being kicked out of my father's house dawned on me.
This house belongs to my father, not my stepfather.
A single tear dropped on my face as I realized that this house, the only thing I owned, would be taken from me.
My stepfather is in debt and my father's house would be collected as a repayment that hefty man looked mean enough he would do what he says.
What would happen to me? Where would I go?
Being a cripple is bad enough….. But a homeless one?
I am homeless now! My brain screamed at me!
- Writer
