Cold Water

chapter 2

Its been 2 days since she heard of the horifying news. Sandra has been crying alot since her parents death... those terrible white bosses. God, how could you send them to work there? They were such good people.. I miss mom.. how am i suppose to take care of these children. I dont have a job. I can barely take care of myself..  she felt cursed. 
How could her parents die! She was laying on her bed trying to find ways to break the news to her sisters.

Sandra never knew that things could ever get worse than they were at the moment. After all the struggles. How could God betray her like this? Their only source of a better life had been fractured. Her confort.. parental love. She suddenly felt scared. So horrible and so broken. Her mom had promised them once again they'd be back. But now... now she feels like they lied. So much to take in. She hasnt left the house yet. She is scared to look outside.. staying inside would mean that her parents were still coming back. They could knock at any minute. It was a Wednesday. The day they vowed to come back. The day were they promised to bring food, clothes and more candles for them. Pocket money for the little ones and thats when it suddenly occured to her...what will she tell Dale about her medication? Dale is only 5 and she out of the 3 was diagnosed with TB... once she had gone out to play with her friends... Dale said they were going to the park but then, it looks like they  all had a change of plan because just as she was sweeping the dirt out of the house she saw flames coming from her left side. She heard people screaming 'children in the house' Automaticaly her thought wondered off to Dale. She ran as fast as she could leaving the house open and the broom on her door. Dale along with her friends had been  trapped inside. Sandra had to run to get to her sister.  She was so petrified. Not as worse as she feels now but similar. When she got there, men were already rescuing them. Dale was unconcious and needed serious medical attention. It took them almost an hour to get to nearest clinic..mainly because they weren't using any transport. When they got to the clinic, nurses took her immediately to the rooms. Sandra had never prayed so hard in her life. She remembers how she thought she lost her little Dale. Dale was so sensitive. If anything happened to her she would be in serious trouble. Dale was diagnosed with TB.  'She is going to need a regular check up . She needs to start going on her treatment. We have set up a timetable for her. She must check in for check up every month end and to collect her medication. More details will be handed to you at reception. Just hand them this form.. your sister is very lucky. Make sure she isnt anywhere near the dangerous smokes again please... always keep the environment clean for her and make sure she eats healthy.... ' Sandra was out of words. How come they never took notice of it. Dale had been coughing but not so much to  bring her to the clinic. She didnt know what to tell her mom. With them gone all the time... she was forced to take responisibility. God help us. She thought.  She nodded trying to not seem oblivious to the situation. I mean, she was a minor herself. The nurse had made sure to note every single thing down for her to remember. She wrote as neat and legible as possible. Later the same night... Sandra stayed all night studying and taking care of her little sister. Making sure to repeat the actions over and over again every night.  She has always had a dream of becoming a Pysio therapist..  With her parents gone... the world has become a dead end.  'Sandra, why are you crying sisi'wam( my sister)?' Sandra starts to feel her throat swell from wanting to tell the truth... but with no words  forming.. She couldnt force them out.. Their world could be shattered just like hers at the moment. She cant let them know. If she felt tired and hurt from the news.. what they will feel could be worse. She has seen how boys and girls from the township become after the death their parents... how they never prosp
er! How they always had excuses for everything. 'Sisi(my sister), you are scaring me'
She silently swallowed and smiled. 'Thandiswa, its nothing. Its just a horrible headache. Go back to sleep... i need to switch off the candle'  The news has made her feel more grown up. She was starting to feel like they depended on her for life. Like she was the milk from a mothers breast and without the milk... they could never live.