The Introduction
1456 Words
Everyone's life was complicated, but mine was super complicated. I am Parshawna Macduff, I live in London, with my mother. as per what my mom told me, My father died in a car accident before I was born. So, we did not have enough money to live by ourselves, and because my mom was diagnosed with severe heart problems, and that's why she couldn't get a job. We live in the attic of our uncle's home. We stay with uncle Tom and her fat mean wife aunt Nevlin and their only daughter Shany. She is just a replica of her mother, with big moles in her nose, fat, and mean. They never leave any option to insult me and my mom. But uncle Tom was a nice person. Always helped us, took our side whenever aunt Nevlin and Shany tries to give us trouble. He did a lot for us from the beginning. But aunt Nevlin always tries to stop him from doing so.
And the time shifted to today.
I said to mom-" Mom, don't go to work today, you are sick. You can't even stand properly"
Mom replied with a so-called smile on her face-" No dear, You know Nevlin, She will just create more chaos. And I don't want her to come and beat you again"
I tried to stop her-" But mom..."
She turned back from the door, came to me, and sat beside me, she holds my hands and replied smilingly-" I am okay dear, It's just a little fever. I will be alright. Besides, now you must go to uncle Tom for your classes, he is waiting. Or else, it will be too late and Nevlin will get to know. And you know what will happen then... So we should carry on with our work okay?"
I replied with a non-acceptance face-" Okay mom, You take care okay?"
Mom replied with a big smile as always-" I will. No, go. I love you"
I replied-" I love you"
Mom left to her usual household work that aunt Nevlin keeps every morning. She makes things more dirty and complicated as much as she can only to bring mom into trouble. But mom never speaks any word and she continues her work so that she allows us to stay in the house.
Meanwhile, Uncle Tom waits in the storeroom every day for me, to give me tuition. Because aunt Nevlin never allows me to go to school. So uncle Tom found a way to help me. In Morning she is usually busy giving mom household work as much as possible. That was the perfect time where she doesn't bother about me much and I take free schooling tuition from uncle Tom. We get full three hours for the class where he teaches me about the outside world and what is necessary. Then I come back and help Shany to choose her dress for school, make breakfast, make her bag, tie her shoes and help her get ready for school.
I reached the in a hurry, where uncle Tom was already waiting for me.
I asked with a heavy breath due to running-" Uncle Tom?"
He looked up from his newspaper through his glasses and gave a warm smile-" There you are. come in quickly Parshawna"
I came in, sat in the chair in front of him, and with a grinning face I replied-" It's Shawna, Call me Shawna please"
Uncle Tom escaped a smile and replied-" Okay I am sorry dear. Shawna, let's start?"
I replied-" Yes Uncle Tom"
He said-" Today we will learn about Philosophy"
I nodded and paused for a moment, I looked up and asked-" Uncle Tom?"
He turned back to me and peeped through his glasses once again he replied-"Yes Shawna, what is it?"
I looked down and hesitated to speak but then I replied-" My father liked Philosophy too right?"
He looked at me with a sad look and paused for a moment, he replied-" Oh yes, absolutely, not only he liked the philosophy, but he was good at it, I still remember our days at school. Your father and I were good friends. Your father was a brilliant student, He was very good at philosophy and mathematics. those days were good. But then..." he stopped.
I asked in confusion-" Then what?"
He paused, then he replied-" he met your mom"
I asked-" Were they happy?"
He smiled and replied-" Very much, they got married and you were born, and on that night..."
Before he could finish his sentence, we heard aunt Nevlin's voice, She was shouting at someone, we came there in a hurry. We saw mom was standing in a corner in a place face and there was a broken plate on the floor. Aunt Nevlin was screaming at her.
Aunt Nevlin said in anger-" Oh my god Tom, did you see that? Your stupid friend's wife is destroying our things, She broke a plate, which cost more than she can ever earn. Tom? Will you just stand there?
Uncle Tom hesitated to say anything. Mom spoke from her place in fear-"I am sorry Nevlin, I had a little weakness today"
Aunt Nevlin replied in anger-" Always ready with excuses huh? Guess what no more excuses. No food for you and your daughter today. You must get punishment for what you did."
I replied quickly-" But Aunt Nevlin, She has a fever. She's weak. Please"
She replied in anger looking towards me-" You little devil, Keep your mouth shut."
Uncle Tom tried to calm the situation down, he said looking towards aunt Nevlin-" But dear, She is really weak. She is having a fever. Let's get her to doctor..."
Aunt Nevlin looked at Uncle Tom with a furious look and replied-" What? Doctor? Are you mad? These two mothers and daughters are trying to take us on roads with demands. Look at her, she broke my favorite expensive plate that I have brought all the way down from my mother, and she is demanding us to take her to the doctor? I don't believe you. Don't you ever look at us? thought about us? Look at me, I have been feeling so weak for days/ maybe I have lost weight... I have to see a doctor."
She walked away from the room, leaving us there. Uncle Tom had to follow her. I took mom back to our room. I took her up to the bed and she sat down. I asked her to lay down. I said-" I told you mom, not to go today"
She replied-" Yes, you were right, I shouldn't have "
I replied-" It's okay, I will take care of it today. You take rest okay? " I noticed tears in her eyes. I asked her-" Why are you crying?"
She replied weeping off her tears-" Tomorrow is your birthday Shawna, and I have nothing to give you. I am sorry for being such a bad mother"
I hold her hands and replied-" I don't need anything mom. I just need you. You are the best mother I know of"
we hugged each other, and I went out for the rest of the work. It was night, and we were not allowed to have any food for tonight so, I came back to my room, and just like every day I went to sleep. The next morning when I woke up, I found my mom and Uncle Tom in my room, standing and smiling at me.
Mom and Uncle Tom both together said-" HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWNA"
I smiled back at them and said-" Thank you so much, guys"
uncle Tom and Mom bought me a small cake, I blew out the candles and wished-" I hope we get a better life".
I went upstairs on the roof, it was cold and lonely but it felt good to watch over the moon. A little butterfly flew over to me, I was wondering, at this time of night where does she come from? She looks alone, and cold just like me, but then it flew away in the dark, vanishing from there;
My hearts began to say:
" Butterfly, Butterfly, How do you fly?
Teach me one day... I want to fly away... fly away.
Every time you sing, everywhere you bring, The joy of life...
Teach me one day... I want to do that way... do that way...
Every time I looked at you, You fly in the sky,
No one can reach up to you, You are too high.
Across your heart, across the part
You tear it down and bring the crown
Of a new hope and a new day
I want to feel that way... feel that way"
- Writer
