For days, the city that was once full of life was now immerse into darkness. Unanimated bodies were scattered all over the streets. The sound of the taptaps*' honk could not be heard anymore. Flying bullets and people's screams created an horrific symphony. People hid inside their house with the hope of seeing tomorrow's morning light. On October 3rd,1991, the sky remained serene with its usual shining blue color; as if it were a day like the others. The giant blue witnessed a heartless massacre without flinching. At that time, I did not understand what was going on. When I wanted answers, I would always ask my grandmother. She knew everything that there was to be known.
That day she confectioneda tapestry she had started a week ago. Sitting peacefully on her bamboo chair,she was committed to her craft. The sun light hit the flamboyant red fabric andI could not stop myself from looking at it. With a lot of care, she glued smallwhite shells on it. From time to time, small clouds would come out of her pipeand overwhelm the living room with the sent of tobacco. My mom asked me to joinher in the bathroom. She wanted to wash me. Although, I was grown enough to doit myself, she insisted on doing it. My mom was a machann dlo*. She would go to work when the first roosterclucked. However, that day she did not. As she poured the water on my body, shesang an evangelic song. Her eyes avoided mines like a mouse running away from acat. She then dressed me with a beautiful immaculate dress that delightfullycontrasted with my dark complexion. The sleeves were short and puffy, and thecollar was made of fine and delicate laces. It was the first time that my momallowed me to wear heeled shoes. We went back to the living room. I sat on a cushion, head between my mom'sthighs as she braided my nappy hair. She tied my hair with white lace ribbonsand boule gogo*; and ornated my braids with white barrettes. When my momwas done, I rushed into her bedroom to look at myself in the mirror, and I waspleased with what I saw. I went to see my grandmother to show her how pretty Iwas. She looked at me with tender eyes and said : "Pitit se richès malere*, you look like an angel my dear". She softly caressed myface then got up to hang her tapestry on the wall of the living room. Theimposing red tapestry had at its center a white image of man with the body of asnake. My mom was not pleased at all. I soon realized that it was arepresentation of the vaudoo god Damballa. My grandmother used to talkto me about vaudoo gods, although my mom strictly prohibited her to do so. Mymom was a loyal Christian and wanted to raise me with the same values. She didnot want me to be tarnish by vaudoo ideologies and witchcrafts. My dad came home, and I did not realize it. My eyes couldnot get off of him. I could feel his body crawling slowly all over mine anddelicately tighten his embrace. I felt my lower abdomen being crushed under thepressure. All the muscles of my body stiffened. I never felt a pain as intenseas the one I was living at that moment. All of a sudden, I felt someonegrabbing me and it brought me back to reality. My dad gave me a tight hug. Iwas happy to see him. He was my hero and everybody's hero. He was fighting tomake our country a better place. Everyday, when he would be back from work, hewould give me one dollar. However, that day he did not. I saw in his eyes thatsomething was wrong. My mom was cooking a diri kole* with sos kochon*.The delicious smell of the food was taking over the smell of the tobacco. Mygrandmother gave an emotional hug to my dad as if it was be the last time thatshe would see her son. For the first time, I saw a tear flowing down myfather's face. He then embraced my mom and kissed her. Sadness was printed allover their faces. I asked my grandmother why everyone was sad; she would alwaysanswer my questions; however, that day she did not. We sat at the table to eatas a family. All of a sudden, the entrance door was open. My mom rushed to putherself in front of me. Deadly butterflies flee inside the house. Each of themlaid on my parents and left scarlet prints all over their clothes, face, arms,legs, hands. I was sitting still among their inert bodies. My dress that wasonce immaculate was now crimson. I walked toward the door, blood flowing downmy legs; that day I knew that I was not a child anymore.
