Chapter one Betty Moore is 17 years old, tall ,slender with caramel beautiful skin. She had a tough life with her mother running away from her and her father when she was only five years old. Her father became a drunk who was hardly home. she learned to take care of herself . She didn’t expect her mother to show up two weeks after her father died. ‘You will have to come with me.’ Her mother said distantly. She was a beautiful white woman in her mid thirties .She was tall,thin with blond hair. When her father showed her pictures of her, Betty thought he just got a picture of a random woman just so she could know she had a mother out there. ‘ I don’t know you.’ Betty snapped. ‘Am Laura, your mother. I am not surprised your father never mentioned me. Did he say I was dead?’ ‘ I don’t need you lady, I never have.’ ‘ The state called me. Its my responsibility since your father is not here to take care of you. ‘ ‘I can take care of myself. ‘ ‘ I don’t have a problem with you leaving as soon as you turn 18, you will be on your own.’ Those words tore through Betty ‘s heart. How could her mother hate her? What had she done to deserve it? ‘If you want to be a bum like your father, go ahead. I don’t need any bad publicity. Let’s go.’ Betty wanted to run away but she knew exactly what being on her own would be. She would be hungry and probably end up like her father , just like her mother expected her to be but she had big dreams and even if she wanted nothing to do with her mother she would swallow her pride. ‘I need to pack my clothes ‘. She murmured. ‘ You can’t carry your scraps to my house.’ Her mother quickly said. Betty had never been so hurt and so weak. She just followed her mother out of the small but neat sitting room. Her father was poor, very poor but she had tried to keep the one room apartment clean. Betty felt numb as she sat next to a woman who was her blood relation in a car she had only seen on television. It was the latest red Rolls-Royce. They sat in silent for six hours, first on the plane from New York to Texas and then the drive in the fancy car from the airport to the expensive looking ranch. Betty looked around the beautiful serene place that her mother lived in. She had not imagined she had settled there after she abandoned her. She thought she was some where noisy. ‘Welcome. ‘ Her mother mattered. The door to the white mansion opened and a man in a white shirt and black trousers stood at the door. ‘Good afternoon mum’. He said. ‘Hello Marlon.’ Her mother passed through the door and she followed quietly.
CHAPTER 1 Esther , a young woman in her early twenties stood near a bus in the crowded bus terminal with a confused expression on her face. People pushed her out of the way, it was so chaotic and she looked around hopelessly. Esther was medium height, slender with long black hair tied backwards and she was wearing an office trouser suit. It had been 5 years since she had been in Lusaka. David watched Esther with amusement for a while and then he approached her. 'Esther?' David murmured. David was a tall and fit man with short black hair .He was wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt. Esther turned and when she saw David she just stood still still. 'You have grown up.' David continued. Esther frowned. 'You are late… here are my bags.' She said handing him her big suitcase. David smiled and picked up two large suitcases. 'Carry the small one.' He said walking away. Esther wasn't happy that her father had insisted that she visit her uncle and his family. It was so strange because she had not seen any of his kids in over ten years. She was tired of sitting on the bus for four hours. 'Didn’t you come with someone to help you? ' She complained. 'I think we will manage. David walked on. Esther hesitated and then carried a bag and rushed after him. David opened an old jeep car and put the bags. Esther looked annoyed as she almost threw the bag into the car. Before she could get into the car, David started the engine. She ran and opened the passenger door and by the time she sat next to him the car started moving and she banged the door shut. David seemed relaxed and Esther appeared angry. ' 'You have not changed much from when I last Saw you, you are still skinny.' David mocked her. ' ' You haven’t changed either, you are just as despicable as you were ten years ago.' Esther snapped, ' I told uncle not to send you to pick me up!' She spat. David giggled and drove on. The farm was huge; Esther poped her head out of the window and watched the cows and goats grazing on the vast grass area and there were people minding the crops and others on tractors. She was troubled by her father's behaviour and seeing David again unsettled her. David parked in front of the old house that looked as if it had not been painted in years. 'Home, sweet home.' David came out of the car and removed the bags while Esther just sat in the car. David finished unloading and went to Esther’s window. ' We are here.' He said. ' I want to go back home.' She said without thinking. ' I can’t hear you, what did you say?' David laughed. ' What are you laughing at! I never wanted to come here !' Esther snapped. She noticed Sally, Cindy and Sunday watching her with disappointment and she felt embarrassed. David smirked and moved away from the car. ' ' Please come in the house, you must be Tired.' uncle Sunday said calmly. He was an overweight man in his late fifties. ' Hello uncle.' Esther came out of the car quickly. Cindy immediately hugged her. ' Hey.’ She said. Cindy was a simple looking woman wearing a flowery red dress and her hair was tied neatly backwards. ‘Hey.’Esther smiled. Cindy looked so different from the fat jovial girl she had been close to. 'Hey, am…your aunt.' Sally said . She was a tall, thin woman with too much make up on her face and she had a long red wig on her head; she was wearing tight pants and a tight blouse. 'She is our new step mother, there has been at least three since you were last here.' David remarked. Sally snorted and gave David a look of disapproval. Sunday and Cindy seemed unbothered. ' David, take the bags inside the house.' Sunday ordered. David complied and carried some bags inside the house. Sunday carried the last bag and Esther followed everyone into the house. Esther walked in the small sitting room with clean white walls and cheap furnishings hesitantly. ' Please sit. ' Sally smiled. Esther sat . Her mind wasn't there with them. something was happening with her father and she was heartbroken that he couldn't confide in her. ' Cindy, take your cousin to her room. You look tired dear.' Sunday said. ' Am very tired.' Esther got up and followed her cousin out of the room.
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