"Wake up you lazy girl!this is my house and I will not tolerate your laziness,if you know you can't abide by the rules in this house then feel free to join your mother in her grave...nonsense!" My aunt yelled at me as she pulled me up from bed.

I was an orphan, my aunt was the only relative I knew from my mother's side,and as for my dad's side I never got to meet anyone for when my father passed on his relatives abandoned my mother and I. My aunt hated me,she never appreciated anything I did...all she could say was Mwaka why this,why that. I got up and made my bed,cleaned the rest of the house and made breakfast for everyone. My aunt only had a set of twins (both girls) they were two years older than me. They never used to do anything other than eat,sleep,watching TV, going to school and shopping. As for me I never went to school,had to do all the chores and be insulted.

Whenever aunt was not home Tapiwa would always threaten me and treat me like an idiot but Tasheni was different,she would make sure she woke up early and did three quarters of the chores in my aunt's absence.

My aunt never wanted Tapiwa and Tasheni to do any chores, she said if I wanted to stay in her house I'd have to live like a maid.

"My children I cooked your favourite meal hurry up come and eat" my aunt called her kids.

They would always have their meals from the dinning table but I had to sit on the cold floor in the kitchen to have my meals.

I loved to sing but my aunt would not allow me to do so,she said I was making noise and it irritated her.

IN THE MORNING

"Tasheni please tell Tapiwa that we are getting late,I have a meeting in 30minutes and I have to drop you girls at school" she said.

She walks to the kitchen...

"And as for you Mwaka I want this house to be clean, make sure you wash my children's clothes... Do I make myself clear? By the time they will be getting home they should find lunch ready,don't starve my children for me. You know my children like rice with beef stew so prepare that for lunch.....I am going now" she said as she walked out.

I knew I had a long day because I had a lot of laundry to do, I quickly cleaned the house. I took out the laundry and went to wash from outside,I was half way done when I realised it was almost lunch time and the twins would soon be home. I rushed into the house and started cooking,in no time the twins got home.

"So you didn't hear what my mother said? We are home and you are still cooking!are you mad? In my own father's house you want me to die of hunger?" Tapiwa shouted at me when she found me cooking in the kitchen...

"Please Tapiwa allow the poor girl to rest,why are you always finding ways to insult her? She is only 15and you are 17,didn't you see the laundry outside?she had to clean the house too and those are things you can't even do,what is wrong with you" Tasheni defended me.

"I am your big sister, you don't have the right to talk to me like that okay!just because of this good for nothing you now have the audacity to talk to me like that huh?as for you Mwaka just wait and see when mum gets home....I am giving you 10minutes,I want my food to be ready" Tapiwa said as she walked out.

I felt insulted, I didn't kill my parents and neither did I want them to die but everyone treated me like an outcast (I cried bitterly)

"Please don't cry... I don't know why my mother and sister decided to be so heartless and cold but don't worry when daddy comes back from his trip I will tell him everything. Come let's cook together" Tasheni said to me.

Her husband treated me nicer,he appreciated my food and all that I did...I wondered how a man like him would marry a woman who was always nagging.

Tasheni and I finished with the cooking and she set the table as Tapiwa was sitting giving me that evil look, but I paid no attention to her.

I went to the kitchen to have my meal..

"Mwaka!please come and sit with us here, mum is not home yet...you are part of the family and this table is....

Tbc...

Just too big for two people,please come with your plate"Tasheni came to call me as I was eating all alone.

We got to the dinning table and I took my sit...

"What exactly do you think you are doing here? Who gave you the permission to sit on this table? You perfectly know where you have to be so before the count of three I want you out of this room" Tapiwa yelled.

I stood up and was about to leave but Tasheni stopped me

"Mwaka wait! What exactly is your problem Tapiwa? For cries out loud this girl is your cousin,she is human just like you....you think you are clever just because mum and dad are alive,but there will come a day when they will be no more" Tasheni said.

"What?you wish for our parents to die?mum has to hear this I swear I just can't tolerate this nonsense in this house,please Mwaka or whatever you call yourself leave this table or I swear you will regret knowing me...and as for you Tasheni this will be the last time I will tolerate your madness,I don't know what this girl has done to you I really don't know!mum was right,this girl is a witch but am sorry you won't bewitch me...I am too strong for you" she yelled.

Tasheni took her plate and went to sit with me in the kitchen,she was really my pillar.

(In The Evening)

My aunt gets back from work.....

"Hello girls, I am home!" She said as she opened the door...

"Mum I am glad you are back already,we really need to talk in this house" Tapiwa ran to her mother.

"What is it again?don't tell me you need money already,I just gave you and your sister money for shopping two days ago" she answered as they went to the living room.

Tasheni walks in...

"Mummy welcome back,I missed you so much....so what did you bring for us today?" She asked her mother..

"Stupid idiot!stop pretending as though you love my mother when you don't.... Mum this girl told me to my face that she wishes you were dead,can you imagine she joined hands with that Mwaka to insult me" Tapiwa yelled.

"Tapiwa quiet!what is going on here? Tasheni is your sister,your own twin...and as for you Tasheni why did you say your father and I must die eh?" She scolded the girls.

"Mum she is a liar,she was insulting Mwaka when I went to defend her from your daughter. Mother Mwaka is not a slave,Mwaka has to be in school...remember how nice aunty Dorothy used to be to us so why are you mistreating her daughter now that she is no more?imagine if someone were to treat us the way you and your child here treat Mwaka!" Tasheni said with frustration.

"You see it mother?I told you that this girl is a problem, what is wrong with you?have you forgotten the person you are talking to?sit down now or I will slap the charm out of you" Tapiwa yelled at Tasheni.

"Tasheni so you stood against your sister? Are you mad (she slapped her)... Haven't I warned you not to be anywhere around that girl?and so what if my sister was nice to you,is Mwaka my sister? And where is that thing who is behind all the problems in this house?Mwaka!(she called my name)...come here now!" She screamed.

I quickly stopped cooking and went to the living room...

"Yes aunty" I knelt before her.

"Who is your aunty?are you stupid?call me Madam not aunty, I can't be an aunt to a criminal...you killed my sister you little witch. So tell me what did I tell you?didn't I leave you instructions to follow?" She yelled

"Aunty the laundry was too much,I wanted to wash half of it before I'd start cooking" I explained..

"Move closer you fool,I gave you rules and you decided to make your own isn't it?this is my house and whatever I ask you to do must be done. I asked you to wash yes but I said you must cook too and that was supposed to be before the girls got back from school" she yelled as she pulled my ears.

"(Crying)I am so sorry aunty,it will never happen again" I pleaded

"Mother let her go!you are so evil and I will tell daddy everything that you have been doing to this poor girl. Your daughter is lazy,she can't even wash her own underwear and..

Tbc...

you are here asking me to defend her,please mother I am sorry but I need to be in the kitchen with Mwaka,let's go dear"Tasheni wiped Mwaka's tears and went to the kitchen...

"Mum you see what I was saying? I just can't stand her anymore!" Tapiwa yelled as she walked down to her room

"This girl has really influenced my daughter, to the extent of her walking out on me and disobeying my orders?this is really getting serious and I need to act fast....whew,Hurry up with the food I am hungry!" Deborah said as she went to her room..

THE KITCHEN..

Tasheni: Am sorry for everything that my mother and sister have been doing but don't worry, I'll convince dad to take you to school when he gets back. And wait when we are done having supper I have something to show you....are you done with the tomatoes?

Me:Yes I am done..here you go,thank you so much for everything you have been doing for me in this house. I don't know how my life would have been if it were not for you....what's that you want to show me?

Tasheni: Please don't mention it,aunty Dorothy used to love us so much and I see no reason to hate you. Sometimes I wish your mother was my mother.... Come let's set the table I am done with the gravy, I'll show you don't worry....

We had supper and we rinsed the dishes,Tapiwa and Aunt went to bed and it was just us,we watched some TV shows and were now sleepy....

"Oh yes Mwaka let's go to my room I have something for you,let me switch off the socket" she said

We switched all the lights off and went to Tasheni's room..

"Sit here on my bed,let me quickly get my bag(she went and got her bag). Close your eyes its a surprise" she said to me...

"Tasheni what are you up to(I laughed)okay fine let me close them(I closed my eyes)... Are you happy now?" I asked...

"Of course I am(she placed a box in my hands)Now you can open them" she said..

I opened my eyes and there was a phone,a brand new phone....

"Tasheni who bought you this phone?" I asked.

"Silly haha... I bought this phone for you, since my mother does not allow you to watch TV so I figured I could get you a phone where you can download movies,books and all educative stuff and it will be super easy because we have WiFi here" she explained..

"Oh Tasheni (I cried)you have done so much for me I don't even know what to say,thank you so much" I said with a big smile..

"Don't cry,you deserve all this my dear,I have been saving for three months and I thought of getting you a phone and tomorrow after school I should find you ready because I'll be taking you for shopping...now let's sleep its late and I have school tomorrow" she said..

"Oh!may God please you and bless your hand,you've done so much for me...yes please get some rest you've had a long day,thank you once again for always being on my side"(I reached for the door)goodnight..

" Mwaka wait!please don't go,sleep with me tonight....I don't want to sleep alone tonight,please don't go"she said before I left..

"What? You know your mother will be very upset if I do so,I am sorry I can't" I answered

"Why are you afraid of her?please stay with me tonight...see this is my room and I decide who can sleep here or not,so please come join me...please" she pleaded

I couldn't refuse,I went and slept next to her....

IN THE MORNING..

Deborah walks to Mwaka's room....

Where is this girl?so she slept out? Oh no this can't be...Mwaka!!!!!she yelled...

Tapiwa wakes up...

"Mother why are you shouting ah ah?can't I enjoy some peace in this house?" She said

"Well my dear look at Mwaka's bed,she didn't spend the night here...how can you sleep?that girl is so lazy you can't tell me she is awake because I always have to wake her up and its only 4am" Deborah said with anger....

"Hehe...I said it,this girl will bring shame to this family...let me go and wake up Tasheni so that she can see what we have been telling her about" she said as she walked to Tasheni's room..

Tapiwa opens the door....

"What!mother come and see this!she screamed

Tbc...