“Vivian, Vivian, Mama is calling you,” Susan opened the door and snuck her head out.

“OK,” she said.

Vivian walked to the kitchen to find Charmaine sitting on the sofa with loads of brand new plastics. They had been shopping, Vivian thought. She stood beside the sofa.

“Go and buy this list at the supermarket,” her mother said giving her a paper and money.

“OK Mama,” she said sadly and walked out.

While she walked to the gate, her daughters followed her.

“Go back, I am going to the shop,” she shouted.

Tino and Tatenda went back inside the gate and made mud dough. Vivian walked quickly. Mama will probably ask me to help her cook, she thought, I just want to rest so I can work tomorrow.

She bought all the things that she was requested to. She walked with heavy plastics back home. She would stop at corners to breathe then walk faster. Everything she was carrying was heavy. Why couldn’t her sisters accompany her? She sighed. She was now a maid in her father’s house.

She gave Charmaine the receipts and changed and went to the bedroom. After a few minutes Charmaine shouted at the door as Vivian went to the lounge.

“You have robbed me,” she shouted.

“Mama, I bought what you asked me to and I even gave you your change,” Vivian said sadly.

“You are a thief,” Susan shouted.

“Susan, I am your elder. I didn’t steal,” Vivian said loudly.

Charmaine came closer and hit her on her cheek with a fist.

“Who are you to tell Susan whatever? This is my house,” Charmaine shouted. Vivian tried to walk away but they covered the way. Susan took a broom and hit her on her head. Vivian fell down, she felt dizzy.

“Stupid child. That’s why you get pregnant. Can’t you think before you make babies?” Charmaine pulled Susan and walked out laughing.

Vivian cried quietly, her head was bleeding and her heart was pounding with anger. She wanted to fight back but she respected her mother. It was a curse to hit your mother. She walked to the bathroom and washed the blood from her head. She brought a mop and wiped the blood stains on the floor.

Her wound wasn’t big, it would heal fast after applying an antiseptic liquid. Wilson entered and he saw the sad face on Vivian. He could sense her daughter wasn’t fine.

“What wrong my child?” he asked.

“Baba I am tired. Why can’t I just die? They hate me and treat me badly,” she cried louder and raced to the bedroom.

Wilson followed until the door slammed in his face. Vivian cried and then she took some paracetamol pills that Mrs Adams gave her. There were more than twenty. She took them all. She felt pain in her stomach, then she collapsed as foam came again out of her mouth.

Tatenda found her after half an hour. She tried to wake her up but she was not even moving. Tatenda rushed to call her Grandpa. Tino cried quietly, wiping her tears.

“Vivian, wake up,” he said and dialled the ambulance.

Tatenda tried to calm Tino down as Wilson made sure she lay upright. The ambulance came sooner and carried her to hospital. Wilson went with them, leaving the poor children who didn’t understand what had happened alone.

***

Tell us what you think: Why do you think people like Charmaine, Susan and Marvellous like inflicting pain on others? Why do they treat them badly and bully them?