Scattered Stars

Chapter 1

What's in the Author's note?
•Definitions and translations.

Btw I just started two new books one called Cherry (bxb) the other I Fight For My Freedom (gxb)
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Thanks for reading.

Chapter 1

Naledi

(Naledi)

BEEP BEEP

BEEP BEEP

There was this pestering repetitive noise coming from underneath my pillow that made me want to reach towards, said pestering repetitive noise and strangle its source but I knew it was my phone and my alarm clock and I also knew that meant no more dream land for me, so instead of strangling the source of my rude awakening I slid my thumb across the phone screen and turned off the alarm clock. I contemplated snoozing the alarm, I always did but I knew better. I forced my tired limbs out of the bed and began my day's work which included going outside to get water. I made sure not to wake anyone up as I slipped on a big puffer jacket and shoes because I knew the morning winds could be cold.

Once I was outside I made my way to the communal tap with a large bucket in hand. I rubbed the crust at the edges of my eyelids so I could properly observe my surroundings. Luckily there were no people by the tap when I got there. If you woke up late you would find a long line of people waiting to fill their buckets with water and you would have to join the queue. It's  not a great way to start the day, trust me.

Some days when I walk outside I feel claustrophobic, all the shacks around me feel like they are closing in on me. They seem to be taunting me, telling me that the shack life was my past, is my present and will forever be my future but I refuse to be defined by my situation. It is where I am but it definitely isn't who I am. That's what I told myself everyday as I glanced at the cluster of metal homes practically built on top of one another. There was barely any space between most of the shacks, just enough for a few people to walk about or for people to put up fences to create a little yard. The yards usually had a washing line and space for the scrap people kept around.

I filled the bucket up to its brim and carried it inside, successfully avoiding splashing my feet.

Our shack is relatively big but not gigantic. It's basically a single room made of zinc walls but it is divided into two by the use of a long curtain that stretches across the shack. One side is the kitchen/ living room/ TV room, the other side is the bedroom area. Normally, Lesedi, Mama and I sleep on the bed and my younger brother Lethabo sleeps on a sponge mat on the floor. Reason being, Lethabo is the youngest and there isn't enough space for all of us on the bed.

Before, we were four kids but our older brother Thabang passed away so all the strain was put on me as the second oldest child. I'm currently in grade eleven while Lesedi and Lethabo are in grade seven and four respectively. We are all hard working children who are getting through school with the aid of scholarships to help reduce the financial burden on our household income.

After carrying the bucket inside I used a jug to fill up another bucket that acted as a kettle, it was an electrical bucket with a heating element installed. I plugged it in and I left the water to boil while I attended to my other morning chores. I quickly ironed our uniforms, including Mama's housekeeping uniform which was the usual blue dress with an apron and headscarf.