OH LIFE "I MUST SURVIVE" (EPISODE THREE)

STORY SERIES

…treating her well and wouldn't send her to school. She was therefore running away back to her parents. She was very keen on going to school.

“She left and I have never heard her sweet voice since. But I am sure she will do well in

life.”

“Did you give her anything, Mother?” asked Tesa.

“I gave her some money but she wouldn't take it. Bless her heart,” answered Jarin. She looked very unhappy and Tesa’s eyes were filled with tears.

“That first day I spent in this corner was not easy.” Jarin went on. “The sun was unkind and beat me so hard. I covered my head with my head-tie but that didn't help much. My body grew very hot and my head ached badly.

“It was better the following day. I had an umbrella and I bought iced-water from a hawker and poured it into my bowl and from another I also bought food.

“I received a lot of gifts and money. People who went by were surprised to find a pretty young woman turn beggar. I heard many of them say this. At first I was shy but I soon got used to it.

“All the time you were growing in me and I felt heavy. I did not go to any doctor. I did not go to the hospital for treatment. I was very lucky that I did not take ill. I bore it well until the baby came.

“It was here that I had my baby. I was feeling the pains all afternoon that day I knew that the baby would soon come. I prayed that it should come in the dark hours that would save me the shame of having all people watch me as I had my baby.

“It was growing dark when it happened. I was afraid because I wouldn't know what to do. I did not know that a woman was watching me. She was a midwife in the hospital somewhere. She told me later that she had always watched me to see if I had any complaint. Seeing me that afternoon she had guessed that I would have my baby that day. She therefore took a position in a market opposite where I was.

“As the baby was about to come, I felt a hand touch my back. A woman spoke and said, “Take it easy. I am here to help you”.

It was a great joy. It was the best thing that anyone had ever said to me. From then on she took charge and delivered my baby. She had all things ready, there she bathed the child and wrapped it in a clean cloth. She also cleaned me up.

“The cry of the baby had brought some people round. I didn't know there were still many kind people in this wicked world. They spoke kindly to me. They said many pleasant things about my baby. They gave me money and baby clothes. They treated me and my baby as if I was the wife of a prince.

“At last they gave me my bundle of joy. You lay on my arms and did not cry as if you knew my condition. The greatest joy I have ever known was when on the second day I put my breast in your mouth. My blindness did not matter anymore.”

“Mother, do you still know the kind midwife? Asked Tesa “No. I don’t” answered the mother. “And it is a pity there were so many kind people. But they came in the evening, perhaps they did not wish to be seen with me.

“The morning after the baby came; people came and stood round me. My bowl was filled up with money and there was a pile of clothing on the mat.

“That night someone brought a leather box and put all the things in it. That leather box is the one you see there.

“The midwife kept coming every evening till you were three months old. I have not heard her voice since then but I am sure she was watching me all the time to make sure I did exactly what she taught me. Bless her kind heart. Are you crying again Tesa?”

“Mother, I am not crying,” answered Tesa. She quickly dried her tears with her dress.

“Ah, mother,” said Tesa suddenly. “The rain is coming. Dark clouds are spreading already. We must hurry and move to the stall there.”

They had hardly settled down in the open stall when a heavy rain started to fall.

“I told you I smelt rain Tesa.” Said the mother, “Yes, mother, you did,” answered Tesa. It rained far into the night. After a light meal, Tesa and her mother slept... to be continued on Tuesday.

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