CHAPTER 4: The price of survival

Later that day, Tendo served the last customer and counted the change before giving it to him. She sighed worriedly, staring outside as it got dark. She didn't get the chance to fetch Mike from school. She wondered if he had eaten. Was he alone at home? Were her parents home?

She sighed again, knowing very well that no one was. Her poor brother must have been scared wherever he was. She hated leaving him alone. Tomorrow he would tell him to come to the shops after school. They would go home together.

She felt large hands wrap around her small frame, and she screamed startled. She tried moving away, but the hands locked her in place. Her heart pounded in her chest as fear gripped her. Tears filled her eyes as she struggled to break free with no luck.

"Shh Rutendo. It's me, Frank." He whispered in her ear, his warm breath hitting her skin, making her cringe.

Her fear intensified as she realized who was holding her. She should have known that this was too good to be true. She should have never listened to her father.

"Let me go!" She demanded, trying to break free, but Frank's hold was just too strong.

Frank chuckled. "Feisty, i like that. None of my wives give me the rush you are giving me right now." He pinned her against the counter with his body and used his other hand to grip her butt cheek.

He released a quiet groan as he pressed his hard-on on her. "I am going to make you my wife. I can't wait to have all of this. You will be my favorite one."

Tears rolled down Tendo's cheeks as her whole body became weak. She was so terrified that her whole body was shaking. "Please, just let me go." She begged, her voice etched with defeat.

With the way he was holding her, there was just no way for her to fight or defend herself. He was hurting her, but he didn't even seem to care. His hand moved to her small perky breasts, and he squeezed them hard, twisting them, and she flinched in pain.

Frank turned her around and forcefully kissed her, shoving his tongue into her mouther. Tendo's stomach turned as she felt the urge to vomit. Her eyes widened as she threw up in his mouth.

He quickly let go of her and backslapped her hard on her cheek, sending her flying on the floor before he quickly rushed out, vomiting.

Tendo used the chance to escape. She used the front door and sprinted home. She ran as fast as she could without looking back, tears streaming down her face. She was never setting her feet back there. She had been doing just fine without working in his shop. She would continue working on people's farms like she used to until she was old enough to look for a better job.

Her heart pounded so much that she could actually hear it in her ears. What was she thinking, agreeing to work for that old man after his snides comments. She should have just refused. She should have known that he would want to take advantage of her.

She burst through the door to her home, slamming it shut behind her. She leaned against the door, trying to catch her breath. She looked around the house, and her eyes were met with a sight she wished to unsee.

Her mother was on the floor, her legs spread wide, having sex with a man she didn't even know. The scene disgusted so much that she quickly opened the door and rushed out, vomiting on the ground. It wasn't the first time she had caught her mother having sex with random men, but Brenda didn't care or bothered to stop. Tendo thought her mother was not feeling well, but she was clearly doing better as she just couldn't wait to get back to her old ways. She was even screaming in a language that she didn't even know existed.

Tendo wiped her mouth and looked around the yard. Mike was nowhere to be found. She gently rubbed her cheek as it was now burning. It was even swelling. Frank did a number on her, but it was better than getting assaulted. She would heal.

"Mike?!" She called her brother's name, walking around the house. "Mike! Where are you?" She walked to the back, and her heart sank when her gaze landed on Mike.

He was passed out on the ground, his small body curled to a ball just behind the kitchen. She quickly rushed to him and gently shook him.

"Mike, baby, wake up." Tendo's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Mike's pale face. It was a bit chilly outside he was definitely cold.

She shook him again, a little harder this time. "Mike. Wake up. Please wake up."

Mike stirred, slowly opening his eyes. "Sis Ruru?" He whispered, his voice weak.

Relief washed over her face. "Yes, it's me, baby. I am here. Why are you sleeping outside? What happened?"

Mike sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Mama said i should play outside and only come back when she calls me. It had been long, and i was bored. That's why i fell asleep."

Tendo's heart broke. This was the reason she never wanted Mike out of her sight. Their parents did not care about them. They only did when it benefited them. Now, Mike was neglected and left to fend for himself. She hugged him tightly. "I am so sorry, Mike. I promise, i will never leave you alone ever again, okay?"

"Okay, sis Ruru. I am hungry."

Rutendo sighed, tears blurring her vision. "Let's go to the kitchen. I will make us something to eat." She said and led them inside the hut that they used as a kitchen. It was dark and there were dirty dishes she kicked somewhere on the floor.

She breathed out and started making a fire.

**

Later that night, Rutendo finished washing the dishes and packed everything inside. Mike was already sound asleep in their room. She locked the kitchen door and made her way to their small dining room. It was the only way to their room. If there was any other way, she would have used it. She wanted to avoid her mother. She couldn't get the last image of her out of her mind.

"Rutendo, my child, can we talk?" Her mother's voice spoke from behind her. She wanted to ignore her and just go to sleep. She had already dealt with so much in just one day. She just wanted to rest!

"I don't think we have anything to talk about, Mother."

"Rutendo, please..." Brenda begged. "About what you saw..."

Tendo swallowed. "It's not the first time, mother, and by the looks of it, it definitely won't be the last. We have had this talk more times than i can count, so please, just spare me the headache. What actually hurts me is the fact that you forget that you have kids. I don't matter because i have already accepted that i will never get my parents' love, but Mike? He is only 6 years old, but you send him to play outside in the dark so you can have sex! He was sleeping outside like a streetkid while you were here enjoying yourself." She paused, wiping away her tears.

"I spend my money to take care of you after dad almost killed you. The money i worked so hard for, but i chose to buy pills for you! I am trying to take care of everyone! Why can't you also meet me halfway? We didn't ask to be born! Mike didn't ask to be born! I am out there making sure that people have food in their stomachs when i am only a child myself. The least you can do is be grateful."

Brenda shamefully stared at her hands as Tendo yelled at her.

"I don't even know why i bother. Every day, i hope and pray for you to realize your mistakes, but you just keep on getting worse. I was almost raped today by one of YOUR men when i was out there trying to work so i can provide for two adults who only know how to drink and fight. The whole village hates us because of you! When are you going to change? When are you going to become the parents you are supposed to be? They say mothers are the kindest but you...." she shook her head, going to her room while Brenda sat back on the chair deep in thoughts.

**

The next morning, Rutendo was just finishing getting Mike ready for school when Trymore walked in the kitchen. He stared at Tendo with a frown on his face.

"Why aren't you ready for work yet?"

Rutendo swallowed as memories of what happened the previous day came back. "I am not going." She said, not sparing her father a glance.

"What did you say? What did you just say to me?" His nose flared with as he glared at Tendo with so much anger.

"Baba, i am not going. I am not comfortable working for Frank. He...." Tears filled her eyes. "He touched me inappropriately yesterday. I am not going back there."

Trymore clapped once, shock visible on his face. "Rutendo! Rutendo! Rutendo!"

She looked down.

"How many times did i call you?"

She remained quiet.

"If you want to know what i am made of, don't go to work today. I will show you why they call me Hitler. When did you start lying like this? You continue to prove to me every single day that you are your mother's daughter. Look at Frank and look at you. What would he want from someone like you? Someone who doesn't even know how to bathe properly. The man generously offered you a job when he didn't even have to, and this is the thanks you give him? A bucket full of shit? Rutendo, don't make me angry this early. What do you think we will eat if you quit your job? If you quit that job, then you will find somewhere else to live. You will no longer be my daughter. I will not house a little liar. At your age?" Trymore scoffed in disbelief.

"I will not force you to work, but just know that if you choose to quit your job, you are dead to me."

"Baba, please. I can't go back there. I am not lying. You have to believe me." She begged, tears blurring her vision.

"I have spoken. Choose wisely." He walked out, leaving Tendo in tears.

A MONTH LATER