MRS SURVIVE.

CHAPTER 1...

"Your new name is Isaac." Said the woman.

"But I have a name ma."

"No son, you're going to a new place, a new home so you need a new name."

"My name is Isaac."

This was the first conversation I had her. She was now my new mother.

As I followed mother on our journey to my new home, I wondered what it meant to be a mother, how it felt to be one and the decisions one would have to make as a mother. The house was beautiful and moderate for a middle class family. I was introduced to my younger sister Grace who looked as cute as a button. Mother gave me a tour of my own new home and my room which was opposite Grace's room. Mother then sat me down in the sitting room and for the first time I heard her name: Victory Survive. I would be known as her son Isaac Survive although I did not know why she gave me that name. later in the evening as we all ate whilst talking I did not see him. Did Mrs victory not have an husband? Was she a single mother? These were the words that I pondered upon as I ate the food, it was delicious though and Mom taught me how to clear the table, wash plates alongside how to operate the television using the remote. I have always thought that adoptive children would be maltreated or used in a manipulative way but in the Survive's home it was different. All I had to do was sweep, clean the house, wash plates and watch over Grace as her brother. The stench I perceived on the chair made me nauseous then came the footsteps and finally I saw him… Mr Frank Survive came in awkwardly atleast to me by then I did not know that he was drunk. Mother took his clothes as he put them off and ushered me away from the chair so that he could lay there without hurting me. Mom had promised that Myself, Grace and her would paint my room and go shopping for clothes tomorrow. Mom asked if I wanted a late night snack as she tucked me in bed, but I refused and she turned off the lights, kissed me and shut the door. The night was chilly but I enjoyed my sleep. I was beginning to like the Survive family although I have not gotten to know about him. As I drifted off to sleep, the smile I have been waiting for appeared on my lips. I had my own Mom, sister, room, bed, and my door. If this was a dream I didn't want to wake up from it at all.

I had just woken up, taken my bath and headed to the dining room. I saw him in the dining table. I hugged mom and sat down to eat. She was exicted as she introduced me to the man she called her husband who looked at me with a distasteful look.

"Welcome home son. I suppose I'm your father. How are you?"

I wondered if I should shake his hands cos he seemed cold and akward. I looked at mom's face and said to him…

"I'm fine sir. Nice to meet you."

He withdrew his hands and drank his tea whilst smiling. Thereafter, I was enrolled to school with Grace. The mornings at the survive's house started with prayers, eating breakfast, mom's kiss and dad driving us to school. I felt I would be mistreated since I was their adoptive son but they loved me like their own. The time of stress started on the 22nd of the dark night that I would never forget.

22nd Grace Birthday

Grace was a year older and I had grown to love her and mom. Dad wasn't really around and I never bothered to ask questions besides today was for Grace and I didn't want to sprout a bitter leaf. We celebrated with our neighbours, shared prayers and testimonies and sang the birthday song altogether for Grace. Thereafter, mom cut the cake with her and then distributed it with food and drinks. It was late in the night mom was asleep, Grace was reading her novels and I was busy playing games on my phone when he came in…

I was in the wine room, a very small room where mom kept her wine for cooking lessons. Funny enough, Mom was from Italy and they most especially loved to cook with wine. The place was to me a place of comfort, relief and I felt comfortable there with the presense of a little silence I would be able to play my games rather than in the sitting room or anywhere in the house. I would probably be worried about one chore or the other but in here I could simply unwind and think freely. I was playing the game when I heard the sound. That sound left me in shock, I felt weak to the knees, I couldn't move but that sound was the sound of someone in pain, I couldn't stand it the person was crying for help. As I rushed up into the house, it was then I saw the image for the first time…

Believe me this image or should I say action brought back bad memories. It made me wonder if this was the first time it had happened. I found him beating Grace with the iron of his belt right there on her neck. Mom came in and tried to stop him but he forcefully pushed her down to the floor and continued beating her. I looked at Grace face, she could not open her eyes and I thought she would die. I hurridly rushed to hug her but he continued to hit me as I covered her in my embrace. I didn't mind him beating me but I was sorry to Grace that I did noit come sooner. I wished I was being hit and I was so angry at mom. The shock from all this didn't even make me realize that he had stopped beating me. After this, he went to his bed and slept off. Mom had been watching and crying all along, she took us both to the bathroom to have our bath. I managed to see her bruises and I tried so hard to control my tears but it kept streaming out and I just looked at mom.