life above all episode 4&5

LIFE, ABOVE ALL

Episode 4

STILL ON TIYA'S POINT OF VIEW

“Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.’

I am angry, full of rage.
I am angry at everyone around me. I was angry at God for taking mother, how could a God of love allow sickness and death to come upon a woman so loving and peaceful?
I am furious at mother for giving up on life couldn’t she have fought harder for us?
I am angrier at father for replacing mother in just five months. I doubt if he ever loved mother at all. Come to think of it, when mother was sick he never stepped foot in that hospital and when she eventually died, I didn’t see him shed a tear. Her death must have made him happy.

I feel so confused right now, there is a dull ache in my heart and stomach.
I think I am stuck someplace between denial and anger, it feels like my life has lost its meaning and I am at a seemingly permanent crossroad.

I find it so hard to accept Auntie Stella as part of this family I hate her with a passion. I don’t think I and her can live in the same place for long, maybe I should leave.

****

GANIZANI

I felt my heart break into tiny pieces as I watched my sister break down in tears, I can’t blame her for reacting the way she is, father should sit her down and talk to her she still hasn’t gotten over the fact that mother is gone and now she has to deal with his new wife, this is all too soon.

I have decided to pay a blind eye to what is going on at home because I hate confrontations but truth is, I am mad as hell and if it were up to me I would have kicked Auntie Stella out.

Walking towards Tiya I quickly engulfed her in a tight hug and comforted her.
‘She needs to come back, mother needs to come back,’ she says between sobs.
What she is asking for is impossible, mother is never coming back she needs to make peace with that fact.

‘Sush! It’s going to be okay, I promise,’ I said even though I wasn’t sure if things would ever be fine.

After she calms down a bit, I sit her down on her bed so I can try and talk to her. Thoko is already sleeping.
‘I know this is hard on you Tiya, it’s hard on us too but what can we possibly do? Father made a choice, this is his house and we can’t challenge him least he kicks us out.’

‘What should we do?’
‘Ignore Auntie Stella.’
‘It’s hard to ignore her when she has made up her mind to turn our lives upside down.’
‘Just let her be please Tiya, I wouldn’t want father to send you to the village.’
‘Maybe I would rather go to the village than pretend to like that traitor of a woman.’
‘Please,’ I pleaded,’ Mother would have wanted you to live in peace with father’s new wife.’
‘Mother is turning in her grave.’
‘Just let it go please.’
‘Fine.’
‘Tiya!’
‘I have heard you brother, I will try and stay away from her as long as she does the same.’
‘Okay, you need to sleep now.’
‘Okay.’
‘Goodnight.’
‘Goodnight.’
***

TIYA

I woke up early the next morning to get ready for another day at school. As soon as both Thoko and I were ready, we headed downstairs for breakfast. Ganizani had already cooked and set the table.

‘Good morning,’ Ganizani said
‘Morning bro,’ we said in unison
‘Breakfast is ready.’
‘Thank you.’

We sat down and quietly ate our breakfast, when we finished eating, I double checked Thoko’s bag just to make sure she had everything she needed for school.
Then we headed towards the bus stop.
We arrived at school an hour later Ganizani went to his class while I escorted Thoko to her class before going to mine.

We had Math and English in the morning before it was finally break time. At break my friend (Ivy) and I sat on the ground while eating our food.

‘So how is the situation at home with your wicked step mother?’ she asked taking a large sip from her juice.
‘Bad, we had an argument even last night.’
‘Step mothers are always evil,’ she said
‘You can say that again.’
‘So what’s the plan?’
‘I don’t know, my brother says I should just ignore her.’
‘That won’t work, you need to fight back.’
‘But how?’
‘I can show you show,’ she said with a smirk

Ivy who is also bearing Lydia is the only friend I have at school though she is a whole lot older than me, she is 16. This is the fourth time she will be rewriting her grade 7, she isn’t academically bright and she doesn’t hide the fact that she hates school.

‘You will show me how to fight back?’ I asked
‘Yes.’
‘Okay.’
‘Break time is over, let’s talk about this over lunch,’ she said as we stood up.
‘Cool.’
***
The rest of the day sped by, the dismissal rang and it was time to knock off before I realized.
‘Can you come by my place tomorrow?’ Lydia asked as we walked to the bus station.
‘What time?’
‘In the morning.’
‘Sure.’
‘Cool.’
I got home an hour later feeling exhausted, I decided to take a bath before helping Thoko with her homework.

At 7 pm, I made my way downstairs to the dining room. Auntie Stella was setting the table around the others she looked up at me and frowned.
I shook my head and sat in my usual chair next to Thoko.
‘Dinner is ready,’ she said after a few minutes.
‘Thank you darling,’ father said

As we started eating, the room was quiet, there was a heavy tense silence compared to a normal and peaceful one.
Father cleared his throat then he looked at me and said ‘Stella’s daughter Celine will be moving in with us tomorrow.’
‘Oh?’ Ganizani blinked.
Celine is Auntie Stella’s only child from her previous marriage she is 18 and done with school.
‘Ganizani! You must clean the spare room before you sleep so it should be ready by the time she gets here tomorrow.’
‘Okay,’ Ganizani said
‘My husband, thank you so much for allowing Celine to move in with us, she is very excited,’ Stella said
My father looked at her and smiled, ‘Celine is like a daughter to me, this is her house too.’
‘Aw! You are so sweet,’ she said
I pursued my lips, mind blank as I stared off into space while the two love birds went on and on.
‘I love you,’ he said
‘I love you too,’ she bent forward and kissed his forehead.
The more I sat there and listened to them, the harder it was to keep myself from shaking anger from glaring at them.
Instead, I quietly excused myself and left the table, grabbing my plate and walking towards the kitchen.
‘And where are you going?’ dad’s voice ran through the room like an echo in a cave
‘I am going to sleep,’ I said irritated
He didn’t say more, I was so irritated after I left my plate in the kitchen I went straight to my room and slept.
***

GANIZANI

‘You need to talk to your sister, I have had enough of her tantrums,’ dad said
‘You are her father why don’t you sit her down yourself?’ I shot back
‘Ganizani, you and your siblings are forgetting that this is my house and I can do as I please.’
I shot him an evil stare.
‘Thoko please head up to your room and get ready for bed please.’
‘Okay,’ she stood up and rushed off.
‘You know what, I am tired of pretending that all is well,’ I said my voice little louder.
‘Oh.’
‘You should have spoken to us before bringing her into this house father.’
‘Asked you as what?’
‘We are your children and our wellbeing should be your priority, we are still grieving over mother’s death and here you are entertaining another woman and acting as if all is well.’
‘I will not allow you to talk to me in such a manner.’
‘Did you even love mother?’ I asked the question that had been lingering in my mind for months now.
‘That’s enough,’ Stella said, ‘You will respect my husband. Your mother is dead and we will not talk about her in this house.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yes you heard her right,’ father said harshly. I looked up, his eyes locked with mine and I knew not to argue with him. I knew it was futile. This was the kind of man he was, he made the rules and we stuck by them.
‘Fine.’
****

Episode 5

TIYA

I woke up early on a Saturday morning and helped Ganizani clean the house. Stella never does any chores in this house. The only thing she does is prepare super in the evening.
She is supper mean and manipulative when dad is not around but the minute dad steps into the house, she becomes an angel and acts like a victim.
And now aside from dealing with her, we have to deal with her super stupid daughter, Celine.
Can my life get any better?
‘Ivy invited me over to her house today,’ I told Ganizani during breakfast.
‘Okay.’
‘So can I go?’ I asked
‘Yes, as long as you come back home in time. It’s actually good that you will be spending some time with a friend, you have been locking yourself in this house ever since mother died.’
I don’t have a lot of friends, I like to keep to myself, at school I only associate myself with Ivy and at home, I am usually found with Lydia. Lydia and I go to the same church, we are supper close.
‘Ya.’
‘Can you take Thoko with you?’ he asked
‘No,’ I shook my head.
‘It’s just that I am going for soccer practice and I don’t want to leave her here with Auntie Stella.’
‘I think she will survive a few hours without us, I will just prepare her some food and pack in her lunch box in case she gets hungry.’
Ganizani looked at Thoko,’ Are you gonna be okay without us for a few hours?’ he asked
She nodded her head, ‘I will just watch cartoons and draw.’
‘Okay.’
After breakfast, I cleaned the dishes and went to take a bath I didn’t want to keep Ivy waiting. When I was done I exited my room and went to look for Thoko, she was lying on the couch watching television.
‘You look beautiful,’ she said cheerfully
‘Thank you baby.’
‘Are you sure you are going to be okay on your own?’
‘Yes.’
‘You are sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘I have left some food on the table in the bedroom in case you need something to eat.’
‘Okay.’
‘And when Auntie Stella does something to you please tell me.’
‘Okay.’
I bent forward and kissed her forehead, ‘I love you, be good.’
‘I love you too,’ she giggled

I walked to the door and I was about to walk out when Auntie Stella called my name, I turned around and looked at her, ‘seems like she had just woken up.’
‘What?’
‘And where are you going?’ she asked
‘You are not my mother hence you have no right to ask me such question.’
I pulled the door open and marched out before she could say anything else. I walked to the bus station and got on a bus which dropped me a few houses away from Ivy’s place.

When I got to her place, I pushed the gate open and walked the rest of the way up the path until I made it to the front door. I knocked softly against the solid wood. The door opened and a tall older lady smiled at me.
‘Hello.’
‘I am here for Lydia,’ I said politely
She opened the door wide and guided me inside.
‘Just wait over there, I will tell her you are here,’ she said
‘Tiya,’ Lydia walked into the living room smilingly, ‘I am glad you could make it.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Come,’ she said
I followed her up a flight of stairs to her room.
‘Please feel at home,’ she said
‘Thank you,’ I sat on her bed
‘So what are we going to be doing?’ I asked Lydia
There was a knock at the door before she could respond.
‘Yes,’ Lydia called out
‘Sweetie I have brought you and your friend some drinks.’
‘Come in.’
The door opened and the woman who had welcomed at the door strolled into the room. She placed the tray down on the bedside table.
‘Thank you,’ I said
‘You are welcome,’ she smiled before she left the room.
She sipped on her juice and looked up at me, ‘I don’t know, we could go shopping, we could watch a movie, whatever you are comfortable with,’ she said
‘Shopping,’ I said excitedly
‘Then shopping it is but we have to wait for the driver to come back so he can drive us into town.’
‘Cool.’
‘So,’ she began after a short while, ‘I want us to go for a party this coming Saturday,’ she said
‘Huh? A party?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where?’
‘Woodlands my friend is hosting a party at his house and I would like you to join us.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, I like you a lot Tiya you are like a sister to me you are the only one who doesn’t mock me in that school concerning my grades so I want to introduce you to my world.’
‘Cool,’ I smiled and sipped on my own juice
‘So the party starts at 18:00 (6pm)till midnight,’ she said
‘Midnight?’ I felt my eyes wide as I looked at her. A smirk crossed her face she nodded her head.
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t think my father would let me go.’
She laughed, ‘You don’t have to tell your father that you are going for party, you could tell him you sleeping over at my place because we have a test on Monday.’
I shifted uncomfortably on the bed, yes I was a rebellious child but I was not one to lie to my parents.
‘I don’t know.’
‘It’s just a party Tiya, you will have lots of fun I am sure you will even forget about your step mother’s tantrums,’ she said
‘Your parents are okay with you sleeping out?’
She laughed, ‘My mother walked out on us a few years ago so it’s just me and my father. My father is a busy man, he doesn’t pay attention to what I do as long as I am alive and well fed, he won’t bother me.’
‘I see.’
‘So you come with me on Saturday and let’s have some fun.’
‘Okay.’
‘So about your step mother, I think the best way to get back at her is to do the opposite of what she likes, just get rebellious and provoke her to a point where she actually gets fade up and packs her suitcases and leave.’
‘It could work?’ I ask
‘Yes.’
‘Tell me more,’ I laugh

Ivy and I had fun shopping she bought me a number of things and even gave me some money before her driver drove me home. I don’t know if I will go for that party but I am considering it.
I walked into the house and bypassed Celine and her mother in the living room I went straight to my bedroom.
Thoko was sitting on her bed her eyes were red and puffy. She had tears streaming down her cheeks
‘Thoko? Are you alright?’ I asked as I knelt down in front of her.
‘Auntie Stella slapped me because I accidentally spilled water on the carpet,’ she cried
‘She slapped you?’
‘Auntie Stella is mean, I want my mummy back,’ she said through a veil of tears.
‘She slapped you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Wait up here,’ I said marching out of the room.

To be continued

(Hmm! The company you keep determines your lifestyle and evil communication corrupts good manners)

Just sit back and stay tuned, we have a lot to unravel in this story. The story is a must for every parent to read.

What a life!