New Rockville

Chapter: 7

When dawn came, I woke up and I headed outside. It was so hard witnessing what I saw, on the previous night. Everything was playing back to me in a blur, like I had been in a horrendous dream and non of things I saw had happened. But they did and I also knew that they did. I went outside to watched the sun rise.

I did not know what to do? My heart still ached from hearing my own brothers conspiring to hurt me.

"You woke up early this morning. Did you get a good sleep?" Father asked.

"Yea- I mean, uhm yes father!" I said, my throat was a bit croaked from my deep slumber, "Can I go with you to work today?" I asked. He looked at me, but he seemed a bit hesitant to answer.

"Clearance, kids are not allowed to go to work, but do not worry, today is my day off. So we can go to the town instead, you will help me pick some groceries. What do you say?" He asked and I nodded my head feeling a little bit of relief. I was going to be away from the juvenile siblings of mine.

I didn't want to spend anymore time with any of them, they showed me enough about who they were. I did not want to learn any longer. If they wanted to play their horrendous games? I might as well just tell father about them, but I did not know where to start.

My heart broke more for Ganuku. How could a human being endure so much pain and suffering? Didn't they have any remorse? It was hard to believe.

"Okay, go ahead and bathe, we'll leave soon." I nodded my head and went ahead and went ahead.

In our home we did not have a bathroom, so we used old big bowls to bath ourselves. I was still small, so I was normally was bathed by Abraham, on various occasions. But I did not want to bother him today. So, father helped me with pouring my bathing water, he mixed hot water with cold water in a bowl, to make a combination of warm water. He also gave me a bath soap and a face cloth to bath with.

When he was done, he then poured himself the same combination of solution and he sprinkled what seemed like herbs in his bowl. He went to his own room, leaving me in the kitchen. That's where I took most of my baths.

After bathing I went back to the room I shared with my brothers, to pick up my own clothes and I discovered that some of them were awake. I ignored them as I took my clothes from our shared wardrobe and I picked the clothes that were for special occasions. My small takkies, cargo pants and a nice t-shirt. I moisturized my skin with a Vaseline that we all shared, before I wore my my clothes?

"Since when did you bath yourself?" Samson asked me.

I kept quiet and didn't say anything.

"We'll just tell dad." Simon said, but I wasn't bugging. I left that room without saying a word. I was a little frighten by them. These people were instigating my death and they were talked to me so casually like they weren't conspiring at all.

Simon hurried out of our room and he rushed into father's room. He got in without knocking.

"Simon are you out of your mind, why didn't you knock?!" Father scolded.

"Sorry dad, I just came to tell you that Clearance just bathed himself, he even picked up his clothes without asking." He reported.

"Simon, I know. Get out now, this very instant, don't you see I'm bathing? You don't look at your parent's nakedness!" He told him.

"Okay, sorry father." Simon left the room. When he saw me, a scowl formed on his face. I guess Ezra's genes wasn't doing him any justice. He looked hideous with his unwashed face, although he had a fair skin, he still looked ugly.

"What are you smiling at?! " He asked me with aggravation. I kept silent and did not speak.

"Simon leave your brother alone, go wash the dishes!" Father instructed, from inside of his bedroom. I couldn't hold my breath anymore I snickered at his demise. Simon might have been a smart mouth, but his cunning ways were limited. Dad could always put an end to his foolishness.

I took that as my cue to go and pour away the water I was bathing with away. He tackled me through my neck and he put me on a head lock, before I could even pour the water away. "What were you laughing at huh, do I seem like a joke to you?" He asked.

"Simon leave me alone, before I pour this water onto you!" I said agitated with him. Simon didn't budge, he kept his arms tight around my neck, the bowl fell down causing both of us to get wet and also the bowl to break.

"Leave me alone Simon!!!" I shouted.

Dad came rushing out with his sjambok. He gave Simon three lashes before Simon ran away, leaving me to fall on the wet ground. I was so annoyed and angry at the same time. Simon ran into the neighbor's home. Our father chased him for a while and then he got back, "Stand up Clearance, your brother is a fool. When he gets back he will fix this bowel or I will break him. Come let's go clean you up?" father instructed. I did as I was told.

He led me into his room and he got me another rug and then he cleaned me properly . When I was clean, he instructed me wear another pair of pants and a t-shirt, and leave the other ones to dry.

"Leave these clothes here, go find another one. We will leave soon. I will make us breakfast before we leave." father said. It was strange and rare to have that bonding moment with him. It just felt like a moment I was going to cherish forever.