The Transition

Her daughter

Esi p.o.v

The next morning, Esi is up early making it the record of the year since she had never wake up early and that too without the help of someone.

She doesn't count the day her mother practically made her stay awake the whole night that too, to put her on the bus.

She walked toward her bathroom to do her morning business however luck wasn't on her side.

After peeing and brushing her teeth, she wanted to take a shower and go explore her new home but the water wasn't flowing out of the shower.

She sighs knowing that having constant water flowing in a place like this was rare. She was even wondering how her father managed to get water.

She walked out of her room after changing her nightdress, she went into the sitting room to see if her father and his wife are already awake. But she was greeted with an empty hall.

She heard some noise coming from the kitchen and she immediately walked in that direction.

She saw Abena making breakfast the aroma alone was making her stomach start beating the drum of the unknown tune

"Good morning aunty Abena," she greeted. Yesterday Esi decided to show some respect to her father's wife after the story she heard yesterday.

Though it was painful to learn that her parents are divorced but leaving the past behind made it less painful knowing that her father didn't abandon them.

"Good morning Esi. how was your first night in the village?" her stepmother asked

"It was good but it got colder in the middle of the night." She replied truthfully. She felt cold at night to the point she taught it was pouring heavily.

"Hahaha" Abena was laughing and Esi wondered if she said something funny but looking at her, Esi saw how beautiful is the woman standing before her. She praised her father for choosing her as his wife even though she has been through a lot.

"Did I say something funny?"

She asked when Abena has not stopped laughing.

"Sorry, Esi but your facial expression and your answer reminded me of the first time your father slept in the village. He said the same thing to my mother when she asked him how was his night." She said and Esi smile at her

"You are right about this place being cold and there are reasons too."

"What are the reasons?" Esi asked

" I will tell you after breakfast but for now help me set the table," Abena instructed her

Esi began to settle the table when she remembers that she hasn't her father this morning

"By the way where is my father? I haven't seen him yet." She asked

"He had an early meeting with the rest of the farmers but he will be here soon," Abena said.

"Okay," she said

Esi was done setting the table for breakfast and help her stepmother to bring the food to the table.

They took their seats and waited for the man of the house to come since he was not going to keep long. while waiting, Esi told her stepmother how she misses the city and also told her some of her good days there.

Abena saw that Esi was famished and waiting for her husband to comes before they eat will not do good to the child. So they hold their hands and said the grace before starting their breakfast.

They ate in comfortable silence when Esi suddenly remember the water topic.

"How did father get water flowing in here? I have heard that villages always have problems with domestic water."

She asked

" Your father dug a borehole behind the house and connect a motor that pumps water in the poly-tank but the moto broke down last week. It seems we will be going to the riverside to get some water for home use."

She said and Esi beamed at her. Happy to hear that she will go on an adventure.

"Can we go now?" She asked

"We have to wait for your father to return because he didn't go with his key," she said

Esi nodes in understanding she got up and run to her room to fetch her phone to call her father but forgot that she doesn't have his number.

She quickly ran back into the kitchen to ask for her father's number but stop abruptly went she saw that her father was already seated at the table and ready for his breakfast.

"Daddy!" She exclaims joyfully not knowing the reason why she was happy. It is because she saw her father or because she going to the riverside?

The thought of it makes her smile

"Hey! how is my baby girl," he asked

"I'm all good and ready to go." She said

Her father looks at her as if she grew up another head.

Esi saw the look on his face and explained

"Aunt Abena and I are going to the river to fetch water."

She said, "oh great you can go and look at round too." He concluded.

Abena took a big bowl while Esi took a bucket. Walking around and looking at the green village and the fresh air around her made her feel good.

She saw people going to the farm and others going to the river however most of the people she saw are from 26 and below if she is guessing is correct. The majority are carrying babies on their backs.

"Why are there many teenage and young adults with kids in this village?" She asked her stepmother

"It's the culture and besides they are all married." She replied and Esi's eyes were about to fall.

"How? Why?" She asks as they reach the river.

They were many women and their children with different containers to get water.

She saw how the women are behaving toward her stepmother. Some were looking with disgust and some were talking in a low key while some were changing the position of their babies. She looked at her stepmother and saw the pain in her eyes. She understood that she wasn't accepted or treated kindly in the village and all their actions were just a way of looking down upon her.

Not paying attention to them, she followed her stepmother where they are supposed to get their water.

While passing by a group of women, she said them say something that made her stop on her track.

"It's rude to gossip about people most especially when they are right before you."

She said pointing at a particular woman with a baby on her back and looking at her straight in the eyes.

"I... I didn't say anything" She said

"Oh yes, you did," Esi yelled.

Abena quickly came and took her away from them with much trouble.

She looked behind her and saw the women laughing at them but Esi is not the type to admit defeat. She stopped abruptly and pointed a finger at them

"She may not have Children like you young lost sheeps but she has class and beauty unlike you baboons and guess what? You wanted to know who I'm to her right? Well, let me inform you that I'm her daughter."