2002. That was a bad, bad year.

Malaika was eleven then. At school every day she had to write a heading in her Maths book: 15 February 2002; 16 February 2002…

But Malaika had difficulty concentrating on Maths. Mostly because horrible things were happening at home.

Mama and Daddy were arguing and fighting. At first it was only late at night and in their bedroom. But sometimes the angry words woke Malaika and her brother up.

Sometimes it was Daddy shouting, “I am so sick of all this nagging! No wonder I want to stay out late!”

Sometimes it was Mama’s voice. “You are a husband and a father! Why are you running off after that cheap little tart?”

Little Leruo tiptoed to Malaika’s bed He was only six, with his two front teeth missing. It made him speak with a lisp.

“Malaika, why ith Mama thcreaming? Why ith Mama tho croth? Malaika, I’m thcared.”

Malaika pulled her little brother into bed with her. She covered him with her blankets and cuddled him tight until he fell asleep again.

By June of 2002, her parents were fighting in broad daylight. In every room of the house. Even in front of Gogo.

“How can you do this to me?” Mama demanded. “What do you want with a girl of twenty-two years? Why are you spending all your money, buying things for that little slut!”

And Daddy yelled back, “At least she pays me attention. All you care about is your kids and your mother and your new furniture. You don’t care about me!”

And in late October of 2002, Daddy packed his stuff and moved out of the house. He went to live with his twenty-two-year-old slut who paid him attention.

Eleven-year-old Malaika was devastated. She stood staring at Daddy’s empty wardrobe. “Why doesn’t Daddy love me any more?” she wailed. But Mama didn’t answer. Mama was too busy crying herself.

So that was the year of 2002: a painful, awful year.

Malaika was longing for 2003 to begin. On New Year’s Eve she went to bed with her heart full of hope. And with her fingers crossed for extra good luck.

And it worked!

When Malaika woke up on the first day of the New Year, Daddy was back home! With all his clothes back in his wardrobe!

“Daddy, you came back to us!” Malaika shrieked with joy.

But Daddy frowned. “What do you mean, I came back? I never went away. You get some strange ideas, Malaika!”

“But you went to live with that twenty-two-year-old, Daddy. The one who used all your money…”

And now Mama was frowning too. “What twenty-two-year-old? Goodness, Malaika! Sometimes you talk crazy! Now go and get dressed.”

Malaika skipped to her bedroom to dress. So she didn’t hear her mother and father whispering together.

Daddy whispered, “Should we maybe take our little girl to see a child psychologist?”

And Mama whispered back, “I’m sure it’s nothing. You know how kids can imagine stuff. I’m sure she doesn’t have what Sophie has.”

Strange things were happening at school too. Malaika was in Mrs Lefafa’s class. Again. She seemed to be in Grade 5 – for a second time. Maybe she had failed, thought Malaika.

In her Maths book she wrote the heading: 16 January 2003.

Mrs Lefafa laughed. “What do you mean ‘2003’? It’s only 2002, dear. What a silly mistake to make!”

And that was when Malaika understood. The year had come back. It was another repeating year. Once again Mama and Daddy would start fighting. Once again she would have to watch as Daddy packed his clothes and left.

But then Malaika had an amazing thought: what if I can change the way 2002 happens this second time round? What if I can make Mama and Daddy so happy they don’t want to fight? And then Daddy won’t leave. How wonderful that will be!

Yes, perhaps the repeating curse was really a blessing in disguise! The moon shone down on eleven-year-old Malaika as she lay there, cuddling her little brother. She fell asleep with her fingers crossed.

So this second time of 2002, Malaika tried extra hard to be a good girl.

She helped Mama in the kitchen, washing dishes and sweeping the floor and peeling potatoes. She kept her bedroom clean and tidy and always did her homework as soon as she got home. She was always polite and respectful to Gogo.

She was kind to Leruo even when he was being a pain. She never fought with him or yelled at him. Not even when he broke her lovely lily vase that Gogo had given her.

And every day when Daddy came home, Malaika rushed out to greet him at the gate. “Hi Daddy! I am so happy you are home now.”

Malaika thought: if I make sure Mama and Daddy are happy, then they won’t fight. Right? And if Daddy is happy, he won’t fall in love with some twenty-two-year-old. Right? And then he won’t pack up his clothes and leave us. Right?

She was wrong, though.

By June 2002, once again, Mama and Daddy were shouting at each other in broad daylight. In every room of the house. Even in front of Gogo! And in late October, once again, Daddy emptied out his wardrobe and walked away into the night.

That was when young Malaika understood about her Curse. All the bad things happened, all over again, just exactly the same way they had happened the first time. And there was nothing – nothing – she could do to change events.

She was powerless. She was a victim of these repeated years and she always would be.

***

Tell us: If your parents were arguing and fighting, is there anything you could do to get them to stop?