Parting is Sweet Sorrow
Elisia knowing she had no choice sent Alexie for Zoe and Charmaine. Zoe approached her mother wondering what it was she had done to upset her. She only seemed to be summoned when she was in trouble.
Elisia: Where is your sister Charmaine?
Zoe: I don't know. Alexie is still looking for her I guess.
Elisia was annoyed. Anson would not like this delay. She hoped Alexie would find Charmaine soon. If she had to send her daughters off with this stranger she wanted to have this unpleasantness over as soon as possible.
Zoe seeing Elisia's look of annoyance: What is wrong ma ma. She was the favorite of Elisia, and was the only one that could break protocol and address her in that informal way. Of course she couldn't be around Anson or the others when she did so. Even if it wasn't proper in front of this stranger for her to address her mother that way, Elisia didn't care right now. It was a slight breach of manners. After all she was not too sure that she wasn't sending these girls right into the lion's den. She hoped and prayed that this man really was going to take the girls to Anson and not Abdullah, so why deprive her little one this possibly last word of endearment, especially if it helped her feel better? Elisia realized she could be making the biggest mistake of her life, but her hands were tied. Refuse to turn her girls over to this stranger especially if he was from Anson, would be the height of disrespect, and Anson's honor would be besmirched. He could, and most likely would, divorce her over such an act of disrespect,t leaving her destitute and alone in this foreign village. Her children would be denied her forever if this were to happen. She would be dead to them. This was not her home village, but Anson's, and she as a discarded wife would be treated like she had leprosy. If this man was from Abdullah he could forcibly take the girls away,anyhow, and probably would. There was nothing she could do if that happened. Oh where was Betty? Elisia thought. Maybe Betty could think of some way out of this. Elisia looked around expectantly, hoping to see Betty come walking into camp. Where was that girl? Anson had told her not to leave camp. It was apparent she must have disobeyed. Stalling for time, she asked Farid for a moment with her daughter.
Farid graciously bowing: Of course, but time is of the essence. Anson is expecting me back within the hour of third prayer, and we have a good distance of walking to go.
Elisia: Zoe, this man has come to take you to your father to speak to the council to undo your marriage promise to Abdullah. You must be brave and answer their questions with utmost respect. I have taught you to be brave, truthful and to maintain your dignity. I know you will not disappoint me.
Zoe looked at the man standing to the side. She was scared. She wanted to beg her mother to not make her go. She didn't dare cry or make a scene disgracing her mother. If her mother said this man was here to take her to her father, she had no reason to believe otherwise. Why did she feel so afraid then? This man was going to take her to her father, they would talk to the council and she would come back here and not be forced to be married that bad man. For some reason she felt if she left she would never see her mother again. Choking back her tears she nodded her head.
Elisia reached down and hugged Zoe. She told herself it would be alright, she would be holding her precious baby again in her arms by the end of the night. Yet she hugged her tightly reluctant to let her go.
Farid sharply: Woman, your daughters will be safe with me! We must be going!
At that moment Alexie came with Charmaine.
Elisia explained to Charmaine she was to go with her sister and this man to meet up with their father.
Charmaine stood there petrified, afraid to speak or move.
Elisia to shock Charmaine and herself out of their fear spoke angrily: You dare stand there mute? You would shame me like this? Speak!
Charmaine timidly: I am sorry honorable mother, I will do as you say.
Elisia knew that Zoe was the more mature of the girls even though they were both 8. She knew that Zoe would have to be the strong one.
Elisia admonishing both girls once again. She knew it was unnecessary, but yet she wanted to stress that the girls were to bring no shame to them by disobeying Farid.
Elisia: Where is your sister Charmaine?
Zoe: I don't know. Alexie is still looking for her I guess.
Elisia was annoyed. Anson would not like this delay. She hoped Alexie would find Charmaine soon. If she had to send her daughters off with this stranger she wanted to have this unpleasantness over as soon as possible.
Zoe seeing Elisia's look of annoyance: What is wrong ma ma. She was the favorite of Elisia, and was the only one that could break protocol and address her in that informal way. Of course she couldn't be around Anson or the others when she did so. Even if it wasn't proper in front of this stranger for her to address her mother that way, Elisia didn't care right now. It was a slight breach of manners. After all she was not too sure that she wasn't sending these girls right into the lion's den. She hoped and prayed that this man really was going to take the girls to Anson and not Abdullah, so why deprive her little one this possibly last word of endearment, especially if it helped her feel better? Elisia realized she could be making the biggest mistake of her life, but her hands were tied. Refuse to turn her girls over to this stranger especially if he was from Anson, would be the height of disrespect, and Anson's honor would be besmirched. He could, and most likely would, divorce her over such an act of disrespect,t leaving her destitute and alone in this foreign village. Her children would be denied her forever if this were to happen. She would be dead to them. This was not her home village, but Anson's, and she as a discarded wife would be treated like she had leprosy. If this man was from Abdullah he could forcibly take the girls away,anyhow, and probably would. There was nothing she could do if that happened. Oh where was Betty? Elisia thought. Maybe Betty could think of some way out of this. Elisia looked around expectantly, hoping to see Betty come walking into camp. Where was that girl? Anson had told her not to leave camp. It was apparent she must have disobeyed. Stalling for time, she asked Farid for a moment with her daughter.
Farid graciously bowing: Of course, but time is of the essence. Anson is expecting me back within the hour of third prayer, and we have a good distance of walking to go.
Elisia: Zoe, this man has come to take you to your father to speak to the council to undo your marriage promise to Abdullah. You must be brave and answer their questions with utmost respect. I have taught you to be brave, truthful and to maintain your dignity. I know you will not disappoint me.
Zoe looked at the man standing to the side. She was scared. She wanted to beg her mother to not make her go. She didn't dare cry or make a scene disgracing her mother. If her mother said this man was here to take her to her father, she had no reason to believe otherwise. Why did she feel so afraid then? This man was going to take her to her father, they would talk to the council and she would come back here and not be forced to be married that bad man. For some reason she felt if she left she would never see her mother again. Choking back her tears she nodded her head.
Elisia reached down and hugged Zoe. She told herself it would be alright, she would be holding her precious baby again in her arms by the end of the night. Yet she hugged her tightly reluctant to let her go.
Farid sharply: Woman, your daughters will be safe with me! We must be going!
At that moment Alexie came with Charmaine.
Elisia explained to Charmaine she was to go with her sister and this man to meet up with their father.
Charmaine stood there petrified, afraid to speak or move.
Elisia to shock Charmaine and herself out of their fear spoke angrily: You dare stand there mute? You would shame me like this? Speak!
Charmaine timidly: I am sorry honorable mother, I will do as you say.
Elisia knew that Zoe was the more mature of the girls even though they were both 8. She knew that Zoe would have to be the strong one.
Elisia admonishing both girls once again. She knew it was unnecessary, but yet she wanted to stress that the girls were to bring no shame to them by disobeying Farid.
Zoe choking back her fear, hugged her mother tightly again reluctant to let go.
Zoe: I love you ma ma.
Elisia trying herself not to let her distress show, disentangled Zoe's arms from her, and chided her: You are a big girl. Everything will be alright. You will see me tonight. Go!
Elisia held out her arms to Charmaine who stood there still petrified and upset. She didn't understand why they had to go with this strange man. Why didn't her father come for them? She only knew she didn't want to go. She being upset refused to hug her mother. She wanted to hurt her mother like she was hurt.
Elisia distressed at Charmaine's refusal to hug her understood, but was not surprised. Charmaine was the more reserved of the two, and she kept a lot of her emotions inside. She never knew what Charmaine was thinking or feeling. Oh well. She wouldn't force her.
Elisia: Charmaine, be good, obey your sister.
Farid commandingly: Come little ones we have a ways to go before we see your honorable father again. No more dilly dallying or else!
With that Zoe, head held high turned and followed Farid. Charmaine head down shedding silent tears being afraid to leave her mother trudged slowly away concentrating with all her might on her sister's footsteps somehow hoping to draw her sister's bravery and strength into herself. She was going to need all of it just to get through this journey.
Elisia turned away filled with fear. Had she done the right thing? She prayed hard to Simallah that she had done the right thing, because if she had given her daughters into Abdullah's hands she would never forgive herself, neither would Anson. She could live with Anson hating her, but could she live with herself if she had given her daughters to that monster? That is a question she hoped that she would never have to have an answer to.
Zoe: I love you ma ma.
Elisia trying herself not to let her distress show, disentangled Zoe's arms from her, and chided her: You are a big girl. Everything will be alright. You will see me tonight. Go!
Elisia held out her arms to Charmaine who stood there still petrified and upset. She didn't understand why they had to go with this strange man. Why didn't her father come for them? She only knew she didn't want to go. She being upset refused to hug her mother. She wanted to hurt her mother like she was hurt.
Elisia distressed at Charmaine's refusal to hug her understood, but was not surprised. Charmaine was the more reserved of the two, and she kept a lot of her emotions inside. She never knew what Charmaine was thinking or feeling. Oh well. She wouldn't force her.
Elisia: Charmaine, be good, obey your sister.
Farid commandingly: Come little ones we have a ways to go before we see your honorable father again. No more dilly dallying or else!
With that Zoe, head held high turned and followed Farid. Charmaine head down shedding silent tears being afraid to leave her mother trudged slowly away concentrating with all her might on her sister's footsteps somehow hoping to draw her sister's bravery and strength into herself. She was going to need all of it just to get through this journey.
Elisia turned away filled with fear. Had she done the right thing? She prayed hard to Simallah that she had done the right thing, because if she had given her daughters into Abdullah's hands she would never forgive herself, neither would Anson. She could live with Anson hating her, but could she live with herself if she had given her daughters to that monster? That is a question she hoped that she would never have to have an answer to.