This is Us

I woke up and my body was shaking. I looked around and my siblings were still asleep thankfully. It was still dark outside so I figured it was maybe around four thirty. I get up, dust myself and grab a bucket of water and start my journey to the river. I filled up my bucket then carried it all the way home. I started the fire outside, carried the big pot then started boiling the water. When the water was getting hot I went to wake up my brother and sister. It was Friday and they had to get ready for school. Me: Andre... Chloé... Wake up, you going to be late Them: Hmm Me: Guys get up so you can get dressed They got up and rubbed their eyes before opening them. They yawned then I went to pour their water in the two big bowls we use to wash. I carried them one by one inside the house and washed them. Once they were done, I wrapped them in towels and went to go throw out the water. I helped them lotion then get dressed. I walked them to their school then went back home. I washed myself then got dressed for work. I locked up then went to the Ngwena house. It was a very long distance from my house but due to money I had no choice but to walk. I can't say their nice people but they gave me a job so I can't complain. Luckily I found the gate open as Mr Ngwena was driving out. Me: Good morning Mr Ngwena Mr Ngwena: I don't have time for nonsense Precious I was about to correct him on reference to my name but I stopped myself. I walked to the back room and got everything I needed for the day. I was getting paid extra today because they had a party yesterday and asked me to clean it up. I walked into the house and it was a mess. Bottles everywhere, the kitchen was disgusting and the bathroom wasn't any better - it looked like everyone was just vomitting into the bathtub. I released a deep sigh then got started on my day. Honestly I should get paid triple the amount for this, but I don't want to be greedy. After a few hours I was done and luckily they let me go early. Usually I make them lunch and cook dinner but I guess they were going to go out today. I got home and immediately drifted to sleep. My name is Amahle Paris Jordan, I'm 18 years old and I'm an orphan, well I'm two times an orphan - don't think that makes sense though. See well I lost my biological parents when I was really young and was adopted by Mr and Mrs Jordan. They had no kids and honestly I understood why completely. I'm not being bitchy or anything, but they didn't know how to take care of kids. There me, Andre - He's colored and was adopted a few years ago. He's 10 and a very loving child. He has curly hair and greenish brownish eyes. There's also Chloé - she's white and was adopted the same year as Andre. They are the same age and go to the same school. Chloé has beautiful curly blonde hair and blue eyes. I have a huge afro which is hard to manage but I love it, I have curves for days. Chloé says I'm like an hour glass but you can't tell because of the clothes I wear. I'm very light skinned and I have Hazel eyes, I'm black and thankfully I passed my matric. Unfortunately I couldn't further my studies as I have to take care of my siblings. The Jordan's used to abuse us yes, but at least with them around we were never poor. They would beat us up with anything they could find then wash us up right after. Weird right? They'd forced me to strip for their friends whenever I would stop them from hitting the little ones. About two years ago the Jordans were killed right in front of me. I had woken up that night thinking that there were robbers in the house. I went out quietly to get the little ones then we went back to my room and hid under the bed. The Jordans then walked in my room with two people, I couldn't get a good look. From the voices I could tell they were male. Guy1: Where is she? Mr Jordan: I don't know, she was right here I promise you Guy2: Stop f*****g with us and just give us our money Mrs Jordan: Look she's worth it. Like I said, she's still pure Guy1: We don't have time for this. Give us our money so we can leave Mr Jordan: We can't Guy1: Excuse me? Me Jordan: We... Before he could finish the sentence the second guy shot both of them dead. Thankfully the kids didn't hear anything as they were wearing noise canceling headphones. I had been covering their eyes the whole time. As for me, the way I was so shocked, I didn't even breath till after they left. I just laid there with the kids till we all drifted off to sleep.The next morning I woke up early and carried the kids back to their rooms. I called the police and thankfully the Jordan's had left us in the care of their lawyer. They had all their money put in one card that was given to me immediately after their funeral. One afternoon I came to Mr Adam's house and I heard screaming. When I looked around I found him trying to r**e Chloé. I was able to push him off her and we both ran to Andre's room and locked ourselves there with him. Chloé: Paris I don't want to live here anymore *she was now crying* Me: You won't have to sweetie, we leaving tonight okay? Andre: Where will we go? Me: Anywhere, just let me think about it I put them both on the bed then started packing Andre's clothes. After I was done I slowly walked out the room and locked it. I tip toed to Chloé's and packed all her clothes. Carrying her bag, I went to my room and did the same. By the time I was done the house was real quiet, I had guessed that Mr Adams might have left. I went back to the kids and we all left the house. We walked for days on end from the city of Queens to a village called Tshani. Thankfully we had about two million in the card left. (Guys imma for real with y'ull right now, when you're homeless and have two kids to feed, plus school fees and all that, two mil ain't s**t) We walked till we found this small, old abandoned house. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing. For some odd reason there was a key under a rock that was just next to the door. I left the kids there with some food and clothes and went to go buy us a single bed - don't judge me I was trying here really. I let the kids sleep on it and I sleep in the floor on a mat. I use a fleece blanket since I couldn't afford to buy two comforts for us. When their's is wet I let them use my fleece blanket. I continued with school till I completed my matric with great results. The kids still went to school but money was low so I had them transfer here to a free-educational school. They get bullied because of their skin colour so I always walk with them and make sure I put those kids in line. The house was just a one room, we had an outside toilet so I'd walk the kids to it everytime they needed to go. I met the Ngwena's when I went job hunting door to door. They hired me as a maid and paid me two thousand a month. I have weekends off and I spend the last month of the week trying to spoil the kids the best way possible. I agree we may not be middle class or rich anymore but I don't want then to fill like their childhoods have ended. I woke up around one thirty in the afternoon and started walking to the kids school. They were in the same class so they were always together. I was annoyed when I saw Chloé come with Andre and she was crying. Me: Andre who made my baby cry? Dre: That kid over there *he pointed at the boy* he slapped her and called her white trash I walked over to the kid and he was standing with his mother, I think. I gave him such a hard slap he fell on the ground and everyone just help their mouths in shock. Me: Next time you think of hitting my baby and calling her names, I'll do more than just slap the s**t out of you I'm not one to swear but I don't play when it comes to those two. I won't take s**t from no one regarding my babies. I walk over to them and hold their hands while we walk home. We talk about random things and they made fun of that boy that hit Chloé. I have crazy kids. When we got home I helped them with their homework then cooked supper. I boiled water for us and after washing we ate. My babies helped wash the dishes and we went to sleep earlier than usual. I woke up the next day and thankfully it was a Saturday. I did my morning routine and made breakfast for my babies. I wrote a little note for them and put it next to the microwave. I left for work and locked the house. I walked in the Ngwena house and Mr Ngwena was sitting with a girl who looked older than me, late twenties maybe. I was confused when he asked me to sit down as well. Mr Ngwena: Patricia this is Thandeka our new maid Me: What?? Mr Ngwena: I'm sorry to tell you this but we have to let you go Me: But why Sir? Mr Ngwena: Because she, unlike you, actually has s*x with me I was astonished, this man was below the word low. He's firing me because I still value myself? I chuckled in amusement, surely my ears where deceiving me hey. The girl just gave me an evil smile as if she just scored the biggest bachelor on earth. Me: I wouldn't be smiling like that if I were you Thandeka: Sorry I took your job honey, no hard feelings right? Me: Honestly I'm the sorry one. If you going to sleep with the man at least be his mistress that he spoils not some maid who gets paid minimum wage She looked at me defeated and I just got up to leave. As I was reaching for the door, Mr Ngwena grabbed my arm and turned me around. Mr Ngwena: Wait Payton let's talk about this. How about you be my mistress, I'll fill up your account with money every month Me: Sir before I leave, can I please get my last pay cheque He gave me six thousand cash and I left. When I got home the kids were standing outside the gate with our bags crying. There were a few cars parked inside the yard and they looked very expensive. Me: Babies why are you standing outside with our bags? Dre: Those *sniff * men *sniff* kicked us *sniff sniff * out Chloé: They said *sniff* this was now their house I wiped their tears and then banged on the gate. After a while two men came out and they looked pissed. Guy1: What the hell is wrong with you?! Can't you see we busy Me: How dare you kick us out of our house like this? Guy1: Your house? Little girl don't play me. Enklek do you even know who I am? Me: I don't know and quite frankly I don't want to know and I don't care. Leave our house Guy2: I'm going back inside, you deal with thus dude Guy1: Don't f**k with me okay. This is my spot and you were trespassing Me: Bullshit. This place was deserted and we've been staying here for almost two years now Guy1: We back now so you can f**k off I spit in his face and if it wasn't for the gate, he would've beaten the crap out of me. I carried our bags with our clothes while they carried their school bags, we were back to square one. I went door to door job hunting with them again but nothing. We walked and walked till we got to this motel like place and thankfully there was a garage next to it. I booked a room for us for the rest of the week then bought food from the garage. Just like that, the six thousand from Mr Ngwena was almost completely finished. I sat down on the bed thinking about where I'm going to find a job. I don't want to spend more money from the card because I want Andre and Chloé to go to college. I want them to have a better life than I do. Chloé: Mommy are we still going out today? Me: No my baby we'll go out tomorrow after church, okay? Dre: Thank you for taking care of us Me: I'll always be there for you two, you like my babies now. You must be tired, come let's wash then sleep The room and an inside bathroom so they used the bathtub while I used the shower. After we lotioned and got dressed we all drifted to sleep. Woke up the next morning and we went to church. We always sit at the back just so that we don't draw attention to ourselves. I took the kids to the mall using the last one thousand that I had and we had a blast. I bought them lunch for school and a few things they might need. Monday we did the usual and I took them to school. I continued job hunting but still no luck. Just as I was to give up I walked past this huge house and someone was driving out - a woman. I asked her about a job and she told me to go inside and ask for Gogo. I walked inside the gate and the house was just beautiful, actually no, beautiful is an understatement. I knocked on the door and a guy dressed in a fancy suit opened for me. He was tall, had a short fade, dark and looked like he had no life at all - no offense. He didn't say a word, he just let me in and closed the door. He walked me to the lounge and we just stood there. After a while an old woman came our way, she was beautiful no lie. She smiled when she saw me then kissed my cheek. Lady: You so beautiful my child, and so pure Me: Thank you Ma and the old age is looking great on you Lady: *laughing* you so sweet and spirited Me: Ma I actually came here looking for a job and... Lady: It's yours. You don't mind working as a maid right? Me: Not at all Ma, that'd be perfect Lady: You're perfect, they are going to love you Me: Who Ma? Lady: No one, don't mind me. I'm the Gogo of this house by the way Me: I'm Amahle Paris Jordan Gogo: Your names are different from your first one Me: I was adopted by a white family when I was young Gogo: Well let me show you around the house We walked and talked for over an hour. I decided to say my goodbyes so I could have enough time to go fetch the kids. By the time I got there they were already waiting for me with smiles on their faces. I just smiled back and kissed their cheeks. We walked back to the motel. I made them lunch while they did their homework. Around six I started on supper and we ate then went to sleep. The next morning it was the same routine and I was off to my new job. Gogo was a loving lady and not once did she over work me. I didn't get to meet other people and she said it was because they are never home much. Their house was a basically a castle. There where three wings and each wing had four floors. She told me I was to work one each wing on different weeks. I did all that was required of me and before I left I bumbed into someone I wished I'd never see ever again. He looked at me with so much resentment and I just looked down. If he lived here then I'd have to respect him in order to keep this job. Just as I was about to pass him he grabbed my had so roughly that I flinched. He pulled me to him and whispered "Welcome to hell". I just said thank you and walked away. I picked up the kids from school and the rest of my day was normal. Actually the rest of the week was normal but now I was worried about where we were going to stay. I had no money and I couldn't use the kids money for college. Friday Gogo saw me crying and I explained everything to her. She then told me to move in with the kids on the East wing and that's where I'll be working from now on. I couldn't stop thanking her and on Sunday after church we moved in. The kids were so excited and my heart was just filled with joy seeing them so happy. Thankfully for me Gogo suggested that a guy named Ayanda will take them to school and also pick them up. They told me that a Mr Dante Luca Mkhize lived on the East wing. I felt a bit at ease when they told me that he's very nice and is barely around. The kids loved Gogo and they couldn't get enough of each other. Sometimes they'd even sleep with her and only come to me for homework. Luckily for me I barely cleaned a lot because it was usually just me on the East wing. I always had to cook supper for Mr Mkhize though. Sometimes he'd eat, sometimes he wouldn't. By now two weeks had past and I still hadn't met Mr Mkhize. The kids were closed at school for the June holidays and they were still going out with Gogo. I was doing some spring cleaning on the East wing and I was now on my last floor. I packed up everything that I was cleaning with. Lord knows I'm tired.