Chapter 12: Chapter 12

That sunny morning heaven and earth forsook Martha finally came, and her eyes were filled with tears. Her liberal and frolicsome life was over, and her life had suddenly turned a corner. It would never be the same again. Everything in life had its time. And in that moment, Martha’s time of gloom had come, and her day was overtaken by night. It never seemed to Jessie and Morris that the day would ever come when they would be torn apart from Martha. But that day finally arrived stealthily, like a thief in the night. Frank had made contact with the Saint Luke’s Convent and all arrangements have been made to ship Martha to the convent. It was there she would continue her life. So it was important that she found the strength to brace up, and face her life’s journey.

That morning was the gloomiest Miriam could remember. They had woken early, as soon as the first rooster crowed, to pack Martha things into the car. Martha sat stiffly on the plump sofa with her face buried in her hands, as she wept uncontrollably. Jessie sat close to her with a puffy face. Morris stood at the corner, silently, offering occasional purrs. Miriam sat next to Martha, her hands folded across her breasts. Sadness coiled in the air of the living room. Miriam’s heart was filled with pain and sadness. And because a man is not chocked by his pride, Frank stood silently at the corner of the living room in a false show of bravery. It was not his wish to see his besotted family in such a deep sorrow. But sometimes, things of this nature were inevitable. He could feel the pain too in his heart, yet he felt it was not right to show it. He looked at Martha who was the cynosure of all eyes and he went over and sat close to her. He clasped her hand and pressed her face on his chest.

Miriam rose weakly from the chair and trudged towards the stairs. The furious patter of her feet was heard as she clattered up the stairs. She was in the middle of a heated race, and it was not the kind a woman ran while holding her breasts in her hands. All that was happening was shattering her heart. But there was no need talking to Frank about it. He would never listen. He was deeply obsessed with the idea of having a male-child. Miriam reached the bedroom and yanked at the door in a fit of temper, and threw herself on the bed. She buried her face in her hand and wept bitterly. Gathering strength, she rose from the bed and went to the wardrobe and brought out the gold necklace. She clinched it in her hand and traipsed down the stairs to the living room. Martha had stopped crying. She cast a long stare at her, and a sharp pain cut her heart. She reached her and they locked in a warm embrace. Frank stared at them and noticed how Martha’s face had become puffy, and her eyes as red as that of a rat caught by the tail and dashed on the floor. He shook his head pityingly, and went over to Jessie, who had been crying all morning. Miriam unclasped Martha and sniffled, wiping the tears in her eyes with the back of her fist.

‘I love you so much, my daughter,’ she mumbled to her. Don’t ever forget that I can lay down my life for you. You’ve given up your life and everything you live for, just to wipe away my tears and sorrow. What more can a mother ask from her child and what more can she give?’ Miriam said, making a light pause, as she let the tears in her eyes stream down her face. ‘My heart is bleeding. I’ve dreaded this day. I’ve wished it would never come. I am devastated. Why am I so unfortunate?’ she groaned, clasping Martha again. Jessie joined them and wept uncontrollably.

‘Take this!’ Miriam said, as she took Martha’s hand and dunked the gold necklace in it. ‘It’s our family’s heirloom. My grandmother gave it to my mother, who also passed it over to me. I have kept it safe for you all these years, waiting patiently for that day that would never come. You were supposed to have it on your wedding day. It’s still yours. Take it my child. It’s a symbol of my love for you and a memento of your sacrifice for me,’ she said mournfully. ‘I swear to you that I shall always remember this day and hold a remembrance of it for you. I’ll rather pay with my life than dishonor this day of your life.’

Jessie reached Martha and embraced her. Martha cupped her face in her hands and planted a kiss on her forehead.

‘Take care of the family in my absence,’ she said to Jessie, ‘Be brave, and do not weep anymore. We’re only staying away from each other for now and not forever. If I do not go, we cannot be fulfilled.’

‘I know what you’re saying is true,’ Jessie said shrilly, ‘but it’s very hard for me. You really do not have to go. How can I live without you? I’ll be sick and lonely without you.’

‘You’ll be fine. You’ve to believe that. Is it not the same sun that melts the wax that also hardens the clay? You must be brave. I know it will be hard. But time will heal our wounds,’ Martha said soulfully. Martha wiped Jessie’s face with her hand, and Miriam stood by the corner sobbing and clucking sympathetically at them.

‘I know it’s the man that brings misfortune to another that also teaches him wisdom,’ Jessie said, wiping her eyes. ‘I will learn from this and be brave. I will learn how to make sacrifices.’ Martha nodded her head slowly, and turned to Frank and Miriam, gesturing at them with her hand. ‘We must go now,’ she said. Frank rose with a groan from the chair, and Miriam trudged after him. They climbed into the rasping car, and drove out of the spacious compound and into the road.

The strong scent of lavender filled the car. It was Martha’s favorite fragrance. But it meant nothing to her. The car was swallowed with a deathlike silence. Miriam’s face was expressionless, as she stared disinterestedly at Frank. Martha remained silent, her mind whirling about. Plenty of frightening thoughts cluttered her mind; searing her head with pain. The convent was entirely a different world and young girls like her were unfitted for it. What would happen to her? How would life look like over there? Would she ever fit into that kind of life? They were many questions and there were no answers. Frank slid a disc into the stereo player and stared briefly at Miriam. He looked away from her, as the song: ‘He arose! He arose! Alleluia Christ arose!’ wafted in the air. Martha looked out of the window and her eyes fell on a signpost, on which was written: ‘Saint Luke’s Convent,’ underneath of which was also written: ‘The handmaids of the Lord.’ Miriam exhaled and cast a forlorn stare at Martha, as she sat at the backseat of the car. She looked at Frank’s face, as if to see if he would change his mind. But his face was stolid. Frank swerved the car deftly onto the tarred road with beautiful flowers, flanked by tall gmelina trees. He pressed the car’s horn and the large gate, shimmering in the yellow morning sun, opened. A dark-skinned man with a slight stoop came out of the gate and waved at them.

Frank drove into the convent and turned off the car. They climbed down from the car. Martha’s eyes darted across the convent, as the sun gleamed on her face. A million questions crammed her mind. Reverend Grace and Reverend Joy, with two other nuns sauntered towards them in their immaculate habits. A long rosary hung loosely on their waists, with the enamel beads rustling and waddling as they approached them. Martha looked at the gleaming rosaries and wondered how long it took the nuns to pray with them. The sheer thought that the nuns prayed with the rosaries everyday made her stomach growl. Miriam looked at the nuns’ smiling faces and exhaled.

‘You’re welcome to Saint Luke’s Convent,’ Reverend Grace said, as she stretched her hand to Miriam, who forced a valiant smile and shook her hand.

‘Thank you, Reverend,’ Miriam replied blandly; a smile stretching Reverend Grace’s face. She looked at Frank and gestured at them to come with her.

‘We must go inside. The sun this morning is scorching,’ she said, as she led the way. They entered the living room and sat at the alcove, with a few cane chairs and a table. The room looked ascetic, and smelled of incense. Martha sat close to Miriam and clutched her arm, and Reverend Grace looked at them and smiled genially.

‘This action you’ve taken is a brave one,’ she said finally; her voice soft as wool. ‘We are all made for one purpose, and that is to serve the Lord. The pleasures and the vainglorious things of this world have stolen the senses of man and we’ve forgotten the world is not our home. Every day, we’re busy gathering and storing treasures on earth that moths will eat and thieves will break in and steal. These things are all vanity and futility. Our souls must return to the Maker, and we must ensure it escapes damnation,’ Reverend Grace, said. Frank shifted on the chair and cleared his throat. His eyes fell on the light-skinned nun with a near-flat chest that looked androgynous, and he looked away from her swiftly and stared at Martha.

‘Life is like a shadow and a mist; it passes quickly by, and it’s no more,’ he said, rubbing his hands together. ‘Death does not know the handsome and beautiful, nor does it know the old or the young. It kills a man the day his life is sweetest. The man that will die today does not have a mark on his face. I’ve learned my lesson from the death of others and I’ve given up my daughter to serve the Lord.’ Miriam stared at Frank with pain in her heart. To her, his words were clearly insincere and deceitful. However, she chose to remain silent and numb on the chair. ‘I know she will be safe in your care,’ Frank continued, ‘she is only nineteen and she’s still my little girl. Teach her everything she needs to know. I am sure she will be glad to learn.’

‘A person cannot be hailed for having a brain, but for using it. You’ve spoken well, and have done well by leading your child to the Lord. Do not worry about her. It takes a whole village to raise a child. You can rest assured that she will be fine. She’s my daughter now and I shall teach her all I know. I know that in time that she will also teach me and look after me. It’s why the elders say that an old woman watches the young one grow teeth, and the young one also watches the old woman when she begins to lose her teeth,’ Reverend Grace said, smiling. Then she turned and faced Martha.

‘You’ve come at the right time, at the flower of your life to serve the Lord. You’re like the wise virgin with the extra oil in her lamp. Do not be anxious about the journey ahead of you. I shall be here with you. I shall carry you on my back; a child on the back of her mother does not know the journey is far,’ Reverend Grace said, staring at Martha. Miriam rose limply from the chair and embraced Martha. She sniffed and held back the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

‘Do not forget that I love you so much,’ she cooed into her ears. ‘I shall come from time to time to see you. But I must warn you to behave properly. Do not forget that wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him. Show them we have raised you well.’ She pressed Martha to her body, and Martha’s tears wet her chest. Reverend Grace rose from the cane chair and went over to them and put them apart. She took Martha by the hand and sat her on her thighs and wiped her tears. Reverend Joy who had been fingering her rosary, and had been silent all the while, smiled softly at Martha. She was certain Reverend Grace would be a great coach and take proper care of her.

‘Take care of Jessie and Morris for me. Tell Jessie I love and miss her,’ Martha said mournfully to Miriam.

‘I shall tell her how much you do,’ Miriam replied somberly.

‘Daddy loves you,’ Frank said, as he rose from the chair and smiled at Martha. He waved at her and walked towards the door. Miriam hurried after him, as she cast a long look at Martha. They climbed into the car and the engine roared to life. Tears streamed on Miriam’s face.

That night, Martha sobbed bitterly in her strange, new world. When she finally fell asleep, it was the briefest of her entire life. She heard the bell tolling and slicing through the cold morning air, loudly and disturbingly, with the frightening nightmare offering her no succor.