Unforgivable 1

I remember vividly washing the dishes we had used the night before by the well. We lived in a face me I face you apartment where there was no plumbing. The well was the source of water for all. I stooped, washing gently but determinedly, trying to ensure the used  dishes and cutlery were free of oil and food remnants. I was ten, the first girl and first born
My mother was standing over me. I looked up at her and she gave me a cruel smirk
‘ You , your father and your siblings will suffer so much. The wretched will call you wretched!’
I looked at her uncomprehendingly. Why would a mother I love so much say something so cruel to me. I understood what she meant years down the line. Did we suffer!
Barely two weeks afterwards, my parents had a quarrel. They had always quarreled but this time, it was different. My beautiful mother, packed her things and left the room we inhabited. I thought she would soon return, for days, for weeks, for months I would sit by the road side, leading to our apartment, waiting for her to walk in, waiting to help her with her bag. She never came. And crestfallen, after many months, I  stopped expecting her return.
Father worked in factory. He was a well to do man initially but he was duped by his business partner. From a six bedroom duplex, which we lost to the bank, we had to move to a one room apartment, sharing the same toilet and bathroom with some ten families.
We had no choice but to adapt. But my mother couldn’t. She was used to the bright lights, glamour, parties. She was used to the good life. And then the quarrels started. Money was needed for one frivolous item or the other, the frivolous items she was accustomed to. Father couldn’t provide it, of course. We were barely living from hand to mouth. He had to get a job in a factory near the house. He would go to work in the morning and come back late at night after working two shifts, just to be able to get more money for the family.
We were put in a public school. I encouraged my siblings not be discouraged as we were accustomed to private schools and all the perks that came with it.
I had to learn many things in the absence of my mother. I learnt to bath my siblings. I learnt how to cook. My father on his day off would patiently teach me and urge me to learn as fast as possible. I was 12 when I started cooking and going to the market. I learnt how to haggle. Father had explained to me the  importance of haggling to get the best prices as we had very limited funds. I was scrawny for my age, but I was smart and a quick learner.
Father had promised all three of us that he would work his fingers to the bone to see we were educated to University level. I believed him, Father never lied.

To be continued…