The weeks went by. Our house was a disaster. Mum was always depressed but she didn’t want to show it. She would go job hunting, but she would always come back disappointed. My aunt was always complaining that there was no food in the house.

“What are my kids supposed to eat, heh Carol?” she would say. “Why did you quit your job? Now we are sinking into poverty because of you.”

My mother would just keep quiet and let her be, but my grandmother would always put her in her place.

The month came to an end and my mother got her last payment from her old job. It was only enough for the groceries, electricity and the kids’ school and crèche fees.

My last day at varsity was a drag. My friends felt sorry for me. “Why didn’t you tell us mara Shaz?” they asked. “We would have helped you out.”

Their lives seemed perfect, so I didn’t want to bother them with my problems. They took me out for lunch that day. My friends were loaded and I was happy for them.

On my way back home from fetching the kids I saw a car parked by an internet café on my street. I didn’t know much about cars, but it looked like the latest BMW. It was black and had tinted windows. It looked so awesome. I wondered what the driver looked like. As I got closer, I saw to my surprise that there was nobody inside. I decided to let it go. It wasn’t as if knowing who drove the car would make me rich too.

I got home, did my chores and helped my grandmother with her knitting. She told me stories about my mother when she was young, and about how I had the same personality as her. My mother was an angel, so I didn’t mind being compared to her.

After our knitting session, I made dinner for everyone while bumping to some Mali Music. My aunt wasn’t at home, and my grandmother loved seeing me sing along to the songs, so that gave me a reason to turn the volume up. Mali Music lifted my soul and changed my mood. I felt like God was right next to me when I listened to these songs.

My mother came back drained, as she always did in those days, but her mood changed as soon as she saw how bubbly we were. She greeted us with hugs and kisses, and after that she helped me out with dinner. The house was full of laughter, love and joy but that all ended when my aunt got back.

She was drunk and dirty. She walked in and started cursing and screaming at everyone. She said that my Mum was useless, and that’s why my Dad had left us. She had lost her job because she was HIV positive, and that’s why she hadn’t told us.

“Wena Gogo!” she shouted. “Why don’t you die, mara, so that we can have your society money? Huh?”

That’s my aunt for you. Her reckless tongue always knew how to ruin the day. My grandmother’s high blood pressure was up now, so I took her to her room and gave her some meds. My mother was left with my aunt, and they were busy yelling at each other. The house was like a tavern. The kids even started crying, so I helped my grandmother into bed and I took the kids out for a walk.

On my way out, I saw the driver of the nice car I had seen earlier. He looked so handsome. He was of average height, and probably twenty something. He looked stylish and rich too. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I nearly tripped over. That distracted him from the serious phone call he was having. He hung up and came over to me. I was still amazed by his handsomeness.

“Are you OK?” he asked. “Ma’am?”

I thought to myself: who calls women “ma’am” around these blocks? He was surely not from around here. I just nodded, still staring right at him. He was so handsome, and he smelled good too. Before he could say anything else, my Mum called out for me. I went back inside and helped the kids get to bed and say their prayers and good nights. I was not in the mood for my aunt, so I went to my room and watched some romantic movies on my laptop.

I snacked on some sour sweets that I had bought earlier. Halfway through the movie, my Mum knocked softly on my door and came in. She sat next to me and stared at my laptop screen, before turning back to me. A couple was kissing on the screen, so I switched the movie off.

“My angel,” said my mother softly. “With the situation that we’re in you’re going to have to move in with your Dad, so that he can help you out with your fees.”

Wow. Just like that, huh? My Mum was giving up on me. I tried to put up a fight, but her mind was made up. She told me that I would be leaving first thing in the morning. My loving Dad was going to come and fetch me in his new car. I felt like my life was over, like I would be better off as a street kid. I packed my bags in tears, because I had no say at all in the matter. I slept with a broken heart that night.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Charlotte’s Mum is treating her fairly in giving her no choice in the matter? How do you think Charlotte’s life will change now that she is going to live with her Dad?