Fatherless
Episode Seven
I asked her after arranging my bags, “Why can’t I stay with you, Mom?”
She held my shoulders and said, “Nathan, you can’t stay with us for now.
Grandma and I need to fix up some things here at home before you come back.
Don’t worry, you will continue your studies here.
Your stay there is just for a while,” she added.
I nodded as she spoke, but deep down, I knew I wasn’t ready to stay with anyone.
I’ve heard from my friends at school how their aunts mistreat them when they go to stay with them.
I had already imagined this scenario as I packed my bags, rushing to catch up with my two aunts who were already a few kilometers away.
I didn’t know their names, but I knew my experiences there would force me to know them.
Especially my chubby aunt, she seemed to be the oldest and she looked like she would be the worst.
Mom called me back as I held my bag and took a step further.
She hugged me, and I finally let out the tears I had been holding back for so long.
My aunts were already waiting for me, and I followed them as we moved from Parys to Vanderbijlpark.
It was a really beautiful city and not too far from Parys.
Although I didn’t pay much attention to the distance because I was busy thinking about what would happen to me.
Vanderbijlpark was a lively city with lots to offer.
When we arrived, I quietly followed them with my bag on my head, and they took me to their rented apartment.
It was just one room, and I felt sad when I saw it.
It was barely enough for the two of them, let alone another person.
I already felt like a burden to them.
I didn’t say anything, I just found the bed and quietly fell asleep.
I didn’t even want to think about what I would have for dinner.
During the first two weeks, I enjoyed my stay, and they didn’t give me a reason to feel bad.
But then my oldest aunt, Aunt Nomvula, became more controlling.
Since we were three in the house, she would send me to do everything.
My youngest aunt, whose name I didn’t know, went back to school. It seemed like she had just come for a holiday.
I was left with Aunt Nomvula. One particular day, she sent me to prepare beans, and I carefully arranged the ingredients, setting them aside to use when preparing the beans.
Then she called me from the kitchen and asked me to get a new toothbrush from a nearby shop for her.
I told her that the beans were still on the fire and almost soft, but she said she would take care of it and told me to go get what she wanted.
I was convinced she would handle it, so I went to the shop, which was a bit far from the house.
I got the toothbrush and hurried home.
It was outside the compound that I smelled the burnt beans. I knew I was in trouble.
I ran inside as fast as my legs could carry me to try to save the beans from burning more.
Finally, I reached the kitchen, and it was all smoky.
I quickly turned off the gas and added water to the beans.
At that moment, Aunt came into the kitchen.
Before I could say a word, she poured the entire pot of beans on me.
I was burning. I ran around the compound, completely burnt, desperately looking for help.
Then one of the neighbors heard me scream.
She came out, saw what happened, and rushed inside to get a bucket of water to pour on me.
It brought some relief, even though I was completely burnt and my skin turned white from being so dark before.
The neighbor asked me to sit outside her house while she rained cursēs on my aunt.
I knew my aunt would take it out on me once she had the chance.
I kept crying, but she didn’t see the need to take me to the nearest hospital or clinic.
My body had already peeled, and I couldn’t even recognize myself when I looked in the mirror.
Our neighbor rushed me to the hospital in the evening when her husband came back.
They were very generous to pay the bills, and I came back unrecognizable.
Even with everything that happened, my aunt still asked me to sleep outside for allowing everyone to know what happened.
She even threātened to kiłł me if I told my mom anything.
I wasn’t even going to tell her because I didn’t have access to my aunt’s phone to get her numbers.
The neighbors allowed me to sleep in their house for the night, and in the morning, they had to beg my aunt to allow me into the house.
They explained that I needed food to eat so I could take my medication.
She finally allowed me in after many pleas and warned me sternly to do everything she asked and not ask her questions.
At that moment, I knew staying in the house to diē was better than living with this woman.
I called on deāth to take me, and that was just the beginning of what I faced in that house.
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