Chapter 3
Pressure was mounting with each passing day for my father to get a wife: both from the village elders and my grandmother. I had overhead her telling my father how a man of his stature should not stay without a wife, that we his children needed a mother in our lives. Wherever did they get that idea from? Why, Elkanah and I were perfectly happy with life as it was. Anyway, as days went by, where he had resisted before, he started to cave. By that time I was ten years old, when the great chief Kanyi bowed to the relentless pressure and agreed to get a mate. Nena, who was also a widow and a childless one too, coming from a lineage of the royalties was picked for my father. She was extremely beautiful and very hardworking, and o so endearing to us and the entire villagefolk. In no time at all she had warmed her way into everyone's heart with her ever smiling face and a heart that was ever eager to help. Once again laughter was clearly heard from the palace,with the addition of our new mother.
We all watched her growing belly with anticipation, as she carried her pregnancy. When she put to bed it was a double joy as she got a set of twins, beautiful little girls. I was a little scared that the newcomers would take my place in my father's heart, but that day never came. I was still his favorite and everybody knew it. As the girls grew up though my stepmother's attitude towards me started to change. She was too quick to pick the cane on me at the very least provocation, which got her in trouble with my father many times. After all, he was my protector at all times, and as long as he was alive I would enjoy special privileges all the time. In school I excelled quite well too, always emerging on top. The pride in my father's eyes at the end of every term was the force that propelled me to work even harder. In the end I was admitted into a boarding highschool far away from home.
You cannot allow her to continue with schooling, she's a woman and it's high time she took her place in the kitchen.. get her ready for marriage seeing that she's come of age...
I heard my stepmother shout at my father on the last night I was to spend at home before joining school. My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I listened in on their argument. She couldn't possibly mean that.. I thought as panic ran through my body. I had worked too hard for this.
Woman keep quiet! Kira is my daughter and she will do what I say and not otherwise, am I clear? Now leave my presence at once!!
That ladies and gentlemen, was the great Chief speaking, and as everyone knew,his word was law. I hid in the shadows as the woman who had become my mother cowered away from my father's hut.
