She got home and it was late, meaning lunchtime has passed. So she just went on and prepared supper. By late night time, the girl was so exhausted and went to sleep. She didn’t have a room of her own and slept with Masline, and that was only when she was sure that Mama Rebecca is asleep, as she had forbidden her child to sleep with Ruji.

It was the twentieth day of December, Mama Rebecca asked her three children to go shopping with her, obviously for Christmas clothes and food stuff. Yes, she was staying behind, the maid stayed behind to keep the home fires burning. This was heart-tearing, how can a little girl like Ruji resist the mood for Christmas when Mama Rebecca herself could not do that. Ruji usually cried a lot, but today she cried like she never did before and like she never will cry.

She did all the house chores and prepared supper today because she was on a mission. As a narrator, I wouldn’t really say it was a good mission. This was the worst thing she ever planned to do. She took a bath, a long one like she never did and never will. She ate, a lot of food like she never did and never will. She looked for Masline ‘s old school bag, and stuffed her “rags” in . She packed some of the food she never tasted in her Auntie’s presence and took one pair of Sis Maria’s socks. When she was about to leave the door, she thought of Masline. She didn’t want to hurt her and she decided to leave her a note:

Masline, my friend, my sister, my helper, I decided to go I really don’t know where I’m going but I am going, at least somewhere. Although I have reasons to go I want to appreciate you and your love and I want you to know how much I value your presence in my life. Please don’t feel bad, I will come back, for you I will. – Rujeko.

She cried at the words, put the note on the table and shut the door hard. She didn’t lock it, so that the rest of the family, no, not family, so that the rest of the whatever can access the house. She headed to the shops she was sent to yesterday. It was getting dark and she managed to see an old, rusty and empty shack by the road. She thought she could make use of the creepy shelter, a night wouldn’t kill. She didn’t have any cellphone and no source of light, but she remembered she had change from yesterday. She could use it to buy breakfast, or maybe hike, or anything else besides a candle. By that she decided to sleep in the dark.

Back at home the family has arrived. Masline noticed that Ruji was not home, after calling her several times. What was strange was that everything was done and even supper was ready. Mama Rebecca and Sis Maria didn’t seem to bother and they only spoke about their clothes and how are they going to cook all the delicious food for Christmas. ” She is probably somewhere around the yard, by the way, why care about a maid , I mean Ruji is old enough to take care of herself…” That’s all Mama Rebecca could say. When supper time arrived Mama Rebecca called her maid as usual, “Ruji! How many times should I tell you that you mustn’t keep people waiting for food…. Bring the food!! We are starving….! ” Usually Ruji would reply, ” Yes, Mama !”… and rush in the dining with a tray of food. But today something was going on. At first Mama Rebecca took Ruji’s absence for a prank. But it wasn’t…Ruji was no more, not no more but she was nowhere to be found.

Guessing what could have happened, Masline started crying and walked to the kitchen. That was when she saw a paper on top of unit and read the lines within. She knew it, she knew that Ruji has given herself to the stress life. And she knew what pushed her to do so, her wicked mother, MAMA REBECCA.