The November Order

💎 XII : Bitten

God go bless you oga.
God go give you plenty money.
God go give you fine car.
God go give you big house.
God go give you fine wife
God go give you.
God go give.
God go.
God.
.

The five children were huddled together covered by sewn rice bags and a patchwork of different discarded aso ebi, the hamarthan was unrelenting in it's nightly assaults. The children were shivering down to the bones as they tried to sleep with the moon and stars shining down on them.

The other adults had the other better rooms in the dilapidated building, their moms nightly negotiations had stopped bringing them remorse. The woman sat at the corner of the room watching the children toss and turn in the little space of warmth. She had made a small fire but it was quickly dieing out. She shed silent tears for her children, only three were hers but she would be dammed if she abandoned the rest without trying her best. She hoped they'd make enough the next day to finally start their journey a more favorable part of the mega city.

She wiped her eyes and looked at the bag that contained her work clothes, she couldn't leave them tonight, she knew the men that lived in this area, they had no issues with the younger bodies. They had gotten tired of her offerings after all. She wasn't sure how long she could keep her vigils going any longer so she had to move them away. She smiled as she watched her daughter's hand find it's way out of the covering. She stood up, her legs were feeling weaker recently, she ignored the throbbing and walked over to the children. She placed her hand back under the cover and went back to her spot. She rested her head on the wall and tried to sleep. A cough tore through her throat and she did her best reduce the sound. She sighed and thanked the creator that they hadn't woken up.

She decided there was no point in being idle and watching, she laid her head to the floors and started praying to every deity she could. She cried not knowing what else to do, it was her usual routine on nights like these. She would watch sing to them until they fell asleep then she would watch them for a while, then she would pray all the prayers she knew and finally cry herself to sleep for the last hour.

The cock crow woke her up and she sighed, she woke the children up so they would get to the tap before anyone else. She didn't want them to be looked down on more than she could bear.**to

The children groaned as they woke up but the scowl on their mothers face told them she wasn't having their attitude as usual. They pulled themselves to their feet and began marching with their mother to the community borehole while it was still dark.

She looked around and when she was satisfied that no one was watching she told her five girls to undress and take turns washing under the taps. She allowed them to spend three minutes each this time, it was their last day so even if someone complained she was wasting the water, it wouldn't matter that she was banned. They would be long gone before the next morning looking for somewhere else to clean up.

She smiled as the children finished their cleaning and she instructed them to get dressed as she removed the top layer of clothing she had and handed it to the eldest. She ducked under the tank, it didn't matter that the men had all seen her, she w ppas going to keep the illusion of piety for her daughters as long as she could. She spent a minute under the water and turned the tap off. She squeezed her undergarments as she walked along the road with her children, the darkness was slowly becoming brighter. She wanted to leave the area before everyone came out.

She stayed a distance behind wide eyed as her daughter's went ahead begging for assistance with whatever mantra they could use.

God go bless you oga.
God go give you plenty money.
God go give you fine car.
God go give you big house.
God go give you fine wife.

She smiled as they slowly got loose change and more loose change. They continued their journey forward against all odds.

The day came to an end and she found herself leading the children to a damp alleyway for the night. It wasn't ideal but she promised them they'd find somewhere new soon. The oldest two of the watched her sing, they had no plans on sleeping with the others till they had answered questions.