The Truth Untold

Dark clouds!

June 25th 1974, summoned an afternoon, which brought with it, overcast skies.
Dark clouds loomed threateningly.
The air was still.
A flock of birds could be seen in the distance, maneuvering their way to safety.
Chiara stood and admired the way they flew together, away from the impending downpour.
With no such luck, she continued to fill the drums, which the rain would have made quick work of.
"No!" Her stepdad said, when she told him, the rain was about to fall.
" You full it, I do not care if the rain soaks you." he continued.

Within ten minutes, the avalanche came.
Chiara sighed.
" One more drum to full" she muttered to herself, whilst the rain fell on her head, plastering her hair to her scalp.

Chiara looked around
Her stepdad was nowhere in sight.
Seizing the opportunity to take shelter under her Grand mom's house, she prayed that the rain would fill the drum in quick time.

The pitter patter of the rain against the earth, soon lulled her weary body, to sleep.

Thud!
Chiara jerked awake, confused at first.
She soon remembered where she was.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a stinging pain landed on her back.
Chiara screamed!
Jolting around, she looked into the angry face of her stepdad. His upraised hand, descending, to inflict cruelty , the like of which,  no one could have ever imagined. The big, leather strap, looked like a big snake. Each lash, a poisonous reminder of her fate.

Whap!! Whap!! On and on
Chiara continued to scream.
No one came to her defense.
They never did anything to offend her step dad.

She finally got out of his grip and ran.
Through the gates she raced!
Splashing through the muddy track, which led to the riverbank.
Tired and defeated, she sank down on the muddy bank and sobbed.

A day which had seen her achieve top grades in a test.
A day which brought pride and joy to her heart, had turned dark and gloomy.
After what seemed like a lifetime, but, in reality, it was twenty minutes.....
Chiara mustered all her courage.
She stood courageously,
turned and walked slowly towards the house.
Her back and legs, stung.
The welts were swelling like the murky, brown water in the river.

Empty and devoid of all feelings, she entered the yard.
She felt grateful for the rain.
It helped her to full the drums.

Or so she thought.
Her eyes flew open, when she saw the drum, laying on it's side, empty.
"Where did the water go?' she asked herself.
Chiara got the answer, when she heard her Step Dad say..
" Full it or you will see!"

After repeating that gruelling task, it was time to go to the kitchen
Dinner dishes awaited her.
Her stomach rumbled, like the thunder in the distance.
A reminder that she had not eaten since Miss had given her a sandwich, for lunch.

"Why does my mom work evening shift?" Chiara asked herself.
It was Friday night.
Her siblings had been packed off to spend the weekend with their aunt, a privilege she knew nothing of.

That night Mr
Awkward was drinking, like he was in line to be selected for a "Rum Commercial."
His eyes were drooping.
Chiara prayed that he would have fallen asleep.

9.00 p.m.
Standing at the kitchen counter, fervently scrubbing at the afternoon's cooking utensils, her body aching from the onslaught of the leather strap, Chiara pressed on.

Suddenly!
Ice cold hands descended on her shoulders.
Chiara screamed in fright!
A sticky hand covered her mouth.
Trying her best to get away, Chiara swerved, knocking her face against the cupboard. Still she fought him with all the might, which her little body, could have mustered.

"Slap!" The sound echoed through the room as blood spurted from Chiara's nostril, like spurts from a syringe.
Another slap.
This time Mr Awkward succeeded in connecting with the cheek, of his step daughter.

Chiara cried and begged
"Leave me alone. I want to die!" she sobbed.

The horror which washed through her that night, as she catalogued her abuse.
was the worst she had experienced.

Ripping away Chiara's dress, he laughed sickeningly and tried to grab her again.
Chiara took flight, but only succeeded in tripping on the leg of a chair.

Again Mr. Awkward tried to grab her.
Chiara raised her feet and kicked with all her might!
"Aaaargh" he shouted.
Whap!
She was slapped to the floor, a kick landing on her left side. Pain!
As suddenly as he began, he stopped.

Mr. Awkward looked down!
Laughed loudly!
He spat on Chiara then  sauntered off with his all so familiar parting words...
" You ugly good for nothing, go and find your father. We don't want you here!"

Chiara lay there crying, until she heard him turn on the shower.
Gathering what was left of her dress, she began to scrub the smeared counter tops.

"Thank God it is the weekend" she told herself.
" No one will see the swelling"

Chiara never wondered who will notice at home.
They never noticed her anyhow.
 
Mr. Awkward emerged from his room, freshly showered.
Dressed in black jeans and grey sweatshirts, he angled her way.
Fear gripped her heart again.
Chiara cringed against the wall.

Five feet nine inches, loomed threateningly over her, repeating his warning threats.
He then departed, through the front door.

Sighing with relief, her eyes filled with tears, Chiara packed salt into a napkin and hid it below the base of the mattress.

After showering she remained wide awake.
She heard when her mom returned with Mr Awkward.
Crouched at the foot of her siblings' bed, because her mom ( forgot) to arrange for her, in the scheme of things,
Chiara prayed for her father to show up.
"God please, please, send my father to get me." she prayed.
Sobbing silently!
She fell asleep!