Twist Of Fate - Episode 2

 

"TWIST OF FATE" 

The night was so cold and scary, I could hear the rain as it hits the zinc, today's rain have being so unbearable, the pain I felt at my back as a result of the wood we laid on was also unbearable. There was a leakage in the room, listening to the water as it drops in the bowl placed under made me shiver, the trees close to the window kept dangling from one side to the other making me really scared.. I held my doll so tight trying to console myself.. . Eric was on the cold floor he wouldn't let Mum sleep on the floor. I bet they were all fast asleep but I couldn't fall asleep because i was scared of the monster..
   I usually like it when the birds sings but tonight it frightened me. The terror in the dark was before my eyes. I wish I could shut my eyes and sleep peacefully but I couldn't. I heard a little baby crying but I believed it was my imagination but the cry became even louder... I wanted to look through the wooden window but the monster could be there waiting for me so I wrapped my arms around my mum since my doll failed to console me.. 

"Pearl wake up" Eric whispered in my ears.

I woke up and realized it was morning already.

"Eric what is it?" I asked looking so lost

"Come on pearl we need to get the house tidy. That's the least we can do for Aunt Evelyn" He said with a sad look on his face

   House chores has never being our thing, waking up this early have never being a part of me unless its for school

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/twist-of-fate

. But I understood that this was now my new life. 

     I washed the dishes as he swept the house. I don't know how to wash without a dish washer but I was able to pull through. After washing I cleaned the kitchen... The tiles were so dirty that I had to kneel on it and scrub really hard.. After scrubbing I made use of the mop and dried the floor. The kitchen was so neat and beautiful and then I understood that Aunt Evelyn's house isn't as ugly as I thought but the house lacked attention. I walked to the sitting room and Eric did a marvelous work.. The couch was no longer dull, the paint was bright all of the sudden, the rug was finally dust free. I ran and gave him a hug.

"Pearl are you okay? He asked in amazement

" you have the magic hands " I replied.

   We went to the kitchen and he was impress to see what my little hands could do.

"Gosh....pearl. I never knew your tiny hands could do this" he exclaimed...

I didn't know if he was only pulling my legs but I knew I did a good job and I was proud of myself..

Mum and Aunt Evelyn finally came out of their rooms... Aunt Evelyn was really impressed by our work but my mum's face was emotionless. Aunt Evelyn hugged us really tight that I could hear my bones cracking... She was so excited but my mum in silence broke down.

"Mum..." My brother and I called her

"Are you okay Mum? I asked in a low tone

" I'm proud of my kids" she replied with a smile but I knew something was wrong..Mum walked slowly to the kitchen as she heard Aunt Evelyn screaming at the amazing work we did...

    I was so worried about Mum that I didn't see reasons to get excited anymore.. I walked beside Eric to the kitchen.. 

"Mum...I scrubbed the floor really hard" I pointed that out hoping it would make her smile but she ran to me with tears in her eyes and opened my tiny hands.. I had  blisters all over.. I never knew Mum was going to act this way

"Pearl what were you thinking"!!! She yelled at me

" Mum we were only doing the chores meant for kids" Eric replied in my stead

"And since when did you two start doing chores!!!!!!" Her voice getting more louder

"Grace let the kids be... They should feel at home" Evelyn said

"They don't do chores at home... Evelyn they aren't feeling at home" Mum replied angrily

"Now look what you've done to your hands pearl!!!!!!"

"Mum...I'm fine" tears came down my cheek

"No you aren't... Don't do this to yourself"

"But Mum... This is our life now...this is my life, my fate Mum.." I replied as I cried harder

"What nonsense are you talking about"!!!!!!!! Mum replied in a louder tone

" Mum we are poor now don't you see...I'm no more a Princess, not your princess, not even Eric's Princess and certainly not Dad's Princess!!!!!"

I immediately ran to the room to cry my eyes out.. I never knew things would turn out this way but it did. I was beginning to accept it but Mum doesn't want to.. 

"Pearl"
I turned around and it was Eric

"Can I sit next to you?" He asked

I nodded positively as I hid my face in my palm.

"Are you okay? He Asked

"I'm...not" I immediately threw my arms around him. Eric is five years older than I am but most times he acts like he was a father to me.

"Pearl its okay to feel bad... I feel bad about it too. I also miss the mansion too" tears rolled down his cheek...

   My heart was torn into pieces at the sight of seeing him cry.. Mum cries almost all the time since Dad passed away so did I but Eric have being strong but right now he is crying like a thirteen year old boy who he truly is... I should be happy that he was now acting like a boy of his age and not like a father but seeing him cry tore my heart into pieces.

"Pearl... I miss dad a lot too...I want him to come home to us... I want him to play soccer with me... I want him badly pearl" he cried really hard... I felt the hot tears as it dropped on my neck that made me cry more.

"But pearl for the sake of you and Mum I had to hide all of these pain i feel inside..."

"Eric you .....don't have to" I said to him

"I don't want you to think I'm weak... But pearl you have to be strong too.. For mum", he cleaned his tears and cleaned mine

" I'm not strong Eric"

" you are... You are Stronger than I am with great value that's why Mum and Dad named you PEARL."

   I threw my hands around him but when we heard a loud noise from the sitting room we immediately ran out of the room. 

"Mummy!!!!!!!" We cried out as we ran to her body which was lying almost lifeless on the floor..

To be continued by Kelvin Anneth Chidera.