Chapter 6: A father's choices

Trymore choked on his drink as his expression transformed from calm to shock.

"What?" He asked, hoping that he didn't hear Frank right, that maybe his ears were diceiving him.

Frank sighed. "I know how it looks. You are her father, and it's only natural for you to worry about your daughter. However, i don't have ill intentions towards her. I genuinely love her, and i would like to build a family with her. I don't have time for games, that's why i came directly to you. It might seem as disrespectful, but i had no other choice. I love your daughter, and i want to marry her. I am willing to pay any amount for her lobola just so she can be my wife. I will take care of her and your family for the rest of my life. I have the money to."

Trymore stared at Frank lost for words. The thought of him owning cows and goats was tempting, but Rutendo was only 14. It was illegal to marry off a 14 year old. He didn't want to go to jail. Frank was an old man, older than him even. The thought of him having sex with his 14 year old girl was sickening. He had failed his daughter many times than he could count, but marrying her off to a 50 something year old man was not something he wanted to add to his list.

"The fact that you look at a minor in that manner is sickening. You should be ashamed of yourself for seeing a wife in a child. She is not even fully developed yet. Men like you should be locked up. Sies, man. You digust me." He clicked his tongue, standing up.

"So all this time you were buying me beer was just you trying to butter me up so i can agree to marry my daughter off to you?" He shook his head and placed the bottle of blacklabel down.

"Here is your stupid beer. I don't want it." He turned to walk away.

"15 cows and three thousand US dollars." Frank spoke up.

Trymore stopped abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest.

"That's what i am willing to pay." He added.

**

Tendo approached their house as dust covered her feet. It was quiet a distance from the shops to their house, but she made it work. Knowing that she worked hard for a whole month and walked every day to and from work, all for nothing, hurt. It was a bitter pill to swallow. She wasted a whole month when she could have done something for herself.

She thought that she was finally changing their situation at home, not knowing that she was just falling into a trap. She worked hard for a whole month. She put up with his shitty behavior because she thought she was doing it for her family.

She sighed, blinking away her tears. She was glad she got out before he could do anything else. Now she was back to square one. She sighed sadly as she opened the door to their house. She will have to make it work. She always do. She walked in and was met by a familiar sight.

Her mother was having sex with a random man, again. It had been a month since she last walked in on her. She sighed and proceeded to her room, pretending like she saw nothing.

Tendo packed their dirty clothes into a big washing dish. She packed some washing powder and a sunlight bar, then carried the dish outside where she found her mother sitting under a tree. She stared at her, anger brewing inside her, but she forced herself to calm down. She was not worth it. She just had to accept that her parents were never going to change.

"Rutendo-"

"Not now, mother, please." She carried the dish on her head and went to the river to wash the clothes.

**

Frank sat on the table as his second wife dished him some food. She kneeled down and washed his hands, then handed him a dish cloth to wipe them dry.

"Go and call your sister wife. I want to talk to both of you." He said as he began eating.

The second wife bowed slightly and stood up before walking out. She came back a while later with the first wife, and they sat on the floor, their heads bowed down as Frank sat on the table eating his food. None of them spoke up. They waited for him to address them for whatever reason he summoned them for.

Frank licked his fingers before turning to look at his wives. Both of them were young and beautiful, exactly how he loved them.

"I called you here to let you know that i am taking a second wife. I am paying lobola for her tomorrow." He said and waited for any of them to dare speak up or oppose him, but none of them said a word.

"Did you hear what i just said?"

"Yes, baba." They said in unison.

"And what is your take?"

"We support whatever decision you make, baba." The first wife spoke, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Good. Because i wasn't asking for your permission. Prepare a room for her. You are dismissed."

"Thank you, baba." They said in unison before following each other out.

**

Later that night, everyone finished eating, and Rutendo packed away the dirty dishes.

"I need to talk to all of you." Trymore said, and they sat down, waiting.

"We are expecting visitors tomorrow. I want you all to wake up early and clean the yard and the houses. Everything should be in order before they arrive."

"What visitors?" Brenda asked

"Someone has taken a liking in Rutendo. They are coming tomorrow to pay lobola for her." Trymore said casually.

Tendo's heart slowed down as she digested her father's words. "What?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I didn't stutter, now, did i? You are getting married tomorrow."

"She is a child. What does she know about marriage?" Brenda asked, her voice raised a little.

"Can you just keep quiet."

"It's Frank, isn't it? He is the one you are selling me to. What did he promise you? Was it money? Beer? Was it the reason why you wanted me to work in his shop? What did he promise you!?" Rutendo asked, her voice cracking with emotion. She could feel something twisting her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Mind how you speak to me! I am your father!"

"No, you are not! You are not my father! My father would never agree to marry me off to an old man! You have always told me that i was not your daughter. Today, you just proved to me how much you hate me. I am only 14!"

"You are marrying Frank, and that's final."

"My daughter is not marrying that man!"

"This is my house, and she is my daughter. What i say goes. She is getting married tomorrow. If you are not comfortable with that, pack your bags and leave."

Rutendo stood up, tears rolling down her face. "I am not marrying that old man. I would rather die than become a third wife at the age of 14. If you want him so much, why don't you marry him yourself!"

Trymore clenched his jaws and slapped Tendo hard across the face. He bit his lower lip, slapping her again and again until he was satisfied.

"I will not let a child that i brought into this world speak to me anyhow. You better wake up early tomorrow and fix the house, or you will have me to deal with. Now go to your room!"

"I hate you! You can beat me all you want to make yourself feel better. I don't care! I am not marrying that man."

She stomped out of the house and sprinted, taking off, disappearing into the darkness.