Battles in the shadows

"HOME"

"Told you so. She is not worth it." A ten year old girl at the orphanage said bluntly.

"You are right Neo. Why would nice people like that want bad news like her for keeps?" Twelve year old Tumisang said with a laugh. She and her sister were dumped in front of the orphanage at ages three and one. They watched as Laura sat by herself at lunch time.

"That really is gross." Neo exclaimed as tears dropped in Laura's food.

"How can anyone adopt her when we are still here?" Tumisang said in annoyance. The truth of the matter was clear from the beginning; Tumisang and Neo were very much jealous of Laura. Unlike most children of her age, Laura was extremely brilliant at school and was highly adored by all the teachers at their school.

"Laura dear, are you okay? Come and get some mangoes Laura. come and give me a hug Laura"

This unusual attention really infuriates many children at her class.

"Hey every body! Teacher's pet is here!" one of the kids would announce each time Laura walks into their gathering to fit in. She was pushed around and bullied. Now that she was back from Gaborone, the bullying will take on a new level.

It has been three months since she came back from Gaborone. To her chagrin, the Robertson couple did not call even once to check on her. Her young mind could not comprehend why she was dumped just like her biological parents did. One day after Laura came back from school. Mma Dikobe called her inside her office. Laura looked as if she hasn't slept for days. She has not been herself since she came back from the Robertsons. Who could blame the poor child? Apart from the fact that the other children made fun of her, she was beginning to believe that she was worthless after all. If she was valuable and lovable why would the Robertsons return her back to the orphanage just because they now have their own children? Laura was too young to understand the issue of racial differences and the chaos it had caused all over the planet. Slavery, being the worst of it.

"Yes ma'm." Laura said quietly with her head lowered.

"Please sit down." Laura sat down and tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Neo told me you slapped her across the face. Why is that?" Fear gripped her young heart.

"I didn't do it!" she protested. "I have three people who saw you." Mma Dikobe said firmly. "I didn't slap her. She and her sister were the ones bullying me." More tears fell from her eyes. Laura felt the whole world was against her. She stood up.

"You don't know anything! They called me names and said I'm worthless!" Laura shouted and this shocked Mma Dikobe.

"The Robertsons dumped me like my mother. That was what they were telling me!" Laura ran out of the office leaving the older woman speechless.

The entire scene with Mma Dikobe shocked Laura at first but she decided that she needed to be tough. No one should push her around like a piece of dirt like her mother did. She ate by herself as usual and all was calm for some time. Until a cold June morning at breakfast. She was eating when Neo and her three minions came and sat next to her.

"Hello little Lorry." Neo cooed mockingly.

"Neo, kindly leave if you don't want anything bad to happen to you." Laura said calmly and took a sip of her tea. The four girls were shocked. This was not the Laura they knew. The real Laura would gladly take the attack in silence and weep on her own later.

"Who are you?" Neo asked teasingly.

"Hey lorry what is wrong with you" Neo asked mockingly.

"I know. She is jinxed" one of the girls replied. Laura smiled and continued to eat. Faye Robertson has been writing to her for the past two months. It kept her going and happy. So what the other girls say or do matter no more. Things changed afterwards. Nobody could bullyLaura; an order from Mma Dikobe. But that was not the only thing that was about to change. Once again, Laura was called into Mma Dikobe's office.

Nine year old Laura humbly knocked at the door and only went in upon hearing "come in" from Mma Dikobe. A young couple in their late twenties were seated beaming happily at her. Laura found it strange that complete strangers were this happy to see her.

"Thank you for coming my girl. These are Mr. and Mrs. Moloi. They would like to be your parents. What do you think about that Laura? Would you like to give them a try?"