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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
She lies on a mattress near the door of our hut; a tiny figure humped under layers of warmth. It’s strange to have her back with me, but comforting and somehow right. She was only gone a few days, but it was a foretaste of what is to come; the loneliness and silence that will soon descend.

I push the thoughts away, for today she is still here. I watch the blankets rise and fall and decide it is safe to leave her for a while. Outside, the morning air is laden with smoke as village women cook and exchange gossip over large black pots. My neighbour sees me and lifts a bowl, offering me some porridge. I shake my head for my appetite is gone. Instead, I ask her to watch Zola for a half hour.

The mission church is a squat white building, marked by a cross that stands tall above the gables. It is echoed by dozens of smaller crosses in the burial area. To a stranger, the cemetery would appear as a grid of sameness, but I know exactly where to go; to the far back corner where two graves lie side by side. I kneel in the empty space next to them and close my eyes. I know these graves well for I dug them myself and crafted the wooden crosses. My sisters’ names are inscribed in black permanent marker. Lindiwe Gwala, died 12/09/05 and Ayanda Gwala died 28/06/07. Soon I will be digging a third grave and inscribing a third cross.

Zola is awake when I return and whimpers softly. The clinic sister left her drip attached and showed me how to change the bag. “Take her home.” she advised me. “There’s nothing else I can do for her. She’ll be happier at home.”

“I’m here, Zola.” She is almost weightless as I lift her into my arms; a feather swaddled in an old faded blanket. Her eyes flutter and she moans again. “Thula sana, hush little one.” I murmur. She used to be plump and wriggly like a stout mopane worm but now she is frail like a dried out chrysalis. I rock her gently, tears running down my cheeks onto hers.

“It’s alright.” I tell her. “Soon you’ll be with Lindiwe and Ayanda.” A faint smile touches her lips and I continue rocking as memories overtake me. I think of the terrible day my father was diagnosed with Aids; the horror that followed when my mother was given the same verdict and my three little sisters tested HIV+. Within six months my parents were gone and I was left to head up the family. I was sixteen, shunned by relatives, unable to find employment and too young to be a father.

I dropped out of school and tried my best but it wasn’t enough. Eventually, I walked down to the mission church and asked for help. I remember that day clearly. An icy winter morning when the three girls were huddled on a mattress; starving, frozen and sharing one blanket. I had sold everything else to survive.

The church became my new family. They taught me how to care for my sisters and supported me with food and a little cash. In exchange, I kept the church clean and worked as their gardener. In the evenings, a teacher would bring me school work and helped me to keep up my studies. I’m twenty now and studying by correspondence to become a teacher myself.

Zola begins to cough and I comfort her as spasms wrack her body. “It’s alright, Zola. I’m here with you.” She relaxes again and my thoughts drift to Lindiwe and Ayanda. The three of us had wonderful times together and I treasure the memories. “Remember the days we splashed in the river, Zola? Your older sisters would gang up on you and you would squeal like Mr Dube’s pig. And remember when we all rolled in the mud and it took us days to get clean?”

She nods weakly and knowing she is listening, I become more serious. “I’m going to miss you, Zola. I love you so very much.” I kiss her gently and try to capture each moment, each breath, each emotion for I know the end is near. I will not leave her now and like Lindiwe and Ayanda she will pass straight from my arms to the arms of Jesus.

Only then will I go and dig the third grave.

******

There are 13 millions Aids orphans in Africa and many children of 12 or younger are trying to parent younger siblings.
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This article has been read 1993 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sara Harricharan
05/08/08
This is so incredibly sad! You kept my attention all the way through and at the end, I was glad for the lines that red, only when Zola is gone, will he dig the third grave. That was true devotion of her brother. Nice job. ^_^
Joanne Sher 
05/09/08
Perfect title, and an amazingly engaging and poignant tale. I ached for this young man, and for all the AIDS orphans this man and his sisters represent.
Lyn Churchyard
05/12/08
A beautifully written story. Sad, but showing the wonderful love of the brother for his little sister.
Mariane Holbrook
05/12/08
You talk about tearing your heart out! This was a "Two Box Kleenex" story that really touched me! Kudos!
Jan Ackerson
05/12/08
Heartbreaking, and written with a sparse beauty.
Sally Hanan
05/12/08
Simple yet this has such depth. Wonderfully done.
Debbie Wistrom
05/12/08
Outstanding. You set the tone so well for this heartbreaker.

What a wonderful brother!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
05/12/08
This is awesomely sad, and, at the same time, beautiful. It symbolizes such a huge problem.
Tessy Fuller
05/12/08
I can't imagine the heartache. I am always reminded of how sheltered my life is when I read stories like that. This is a well-written story that enlightens readers to a problem and emphasizes the need to be invovled in missions.
Sharlyn Guthrie
05/13/08
Captivating and heartbreaking as well. Your writing kept me totally engaged. Great job!
Joshua Janoski
05/13/08
Wow. What a tear jerker this is. And it is totally true, which makes it even more heartbreaking.

As an American, I often forget about the struggles being faced in other countries. I must give thanks for all of the blessings I have, and I must also do what I can to help these poor folks who are in need. Hats off to the missionaries who do their best to lend a helping hand.
Peter Stone
05/14/08
A moving, non-judgmental account of tragic circumstances that are far too common in the world today.
Angela M. Baker-Bridge
05/15/08
You did an excellent job of pulling my mind, emotions, and heart into the story. Beautifully written.
Laury Hubrich 
05/15/08
Oh Debbie, this is so sad. Thank you for sharing this with us. Congratulations on your 3rd place win! Great job!
Laury
Sheri Gordon
05/15/08
Congratulations on your EC. You did an awesome job of sharing this horrendous story. Excellent job with the topic.
Norma-Anne Hough
05/15/08
This is a very moving story. Living in South Africa we are so well aware of the problem. We know many families who have lost loved ones due to aids and many young people trying to look after siblings.
Bless you for sharing.