Broken

Mondays have become a challenge for Aneila. The abrupt cold shoulders from her husband and the divorce battles spurred Aneila’s world.

She could only meet eyes with her husband in the company of lawyers. Years sown into the marriage were in vain. The three months of life wrapped beneath her belly was her hope for another chance with unconditional love.

Her usual stop at the HotShot Cafe was interrupted by the sight of a girl about the age of 6, sitting at the rear corner. Her hands clung to a teddy bear. The grip and the awkwardness of the girl appeared timid and fearful. The sun reflected effortlessly on the blonde shades of the child’s hair. Aneila walked over to a table at the far end of the café, she crouched at eye level of the child.

“Are you here alone?” Aneila asked with a soft voice

“Mama gonna come,” The child said with broken English

“How long have you been waiting for?”

The little girl grew anxious. Her lips shrivelled and she began to whimper.

“No, no…. don’t cry. I’m just trying to help you. Are you here alone?” Aneila shuffled through her purse to find a tissue. “What’s your name?”

“Faranta.”

“That is a pretty name. Let’s calm down. My name is Aneila. Tell me, how did you get here?”

“Came with mama. But she go out to get help.” Faranta opened her palms to receive the tissue. She whipped the mucus that sat in between the tip of her nose and upper lip.

“What do you mean by help?”

“Mama can’t take care of me no more.”

“Where did she go?”

“Out the door.”

Aneila at this point was puzzled. Who in the world would leave a child alone? Why is the mother struggling to take care of the child?

“Come with me, we are going to find your mom.”

“I told you she is gonna come. I just gotta wait.”

“OK. I’ll be right back.”

Aneila headed straight to the exit door and scanned the vicinity. It was just regular people in the bust and hustle. No beggar, no woman. She returned, took her order of dark coffee, and sat down with the frightened child.

“Faranta, has this happened before?”

“No.”

She ran her tiny fingers through her hair. She tilted her head slightly and spoke with a low voice: “Mama got a new boy now, I can’t call him daddy.”

“Why don’t you call him daddy?”

“I see mama bleed all the time. Cause the new boy don’t like me.”

“How are you sure that he dislikes you?”

“He told me. He said he wants mama to take care of only him. But he hits mama all the time. Only me take care of mama. I nice to her.”

“And how does your mom say about all this?”

“Mama said she loves him… Pray for mama. That’s what church says.”

Aneila envisioned numerous scenarios. What if the mother abandoned this girl? What if this child is in danger? Shall I notify child services? Will I be invading another person’s privacy? Aneila opened her red purse in search of her phone. She informed her secretary to record an absence. Aneila had been accommodated for the time being, at least till a resolution in her divorce case. She often carried herself with wet, red eyes and staring into blank space. Transitioning to an unforeseen stage of life can be turbulent.

“Are you hungry?” asked Aneila as she pulled out money from her wallet.

“Ya,” replied Faranta as she slowly elevated her head

“What would you like?”

“Bacon and eggs… and pancakes.”

“Let’s make a deal, you can have all that, but you have to eat a bit of the fruit salad. It will make you grow strong like the bigger girls, like the one you see at church.”

“Yah, that too. I want to be big. So big that mama will say – ‘wow Faranta is a big girl now’.”

“Yah, exactly what you said.”

Aneila held a tray of food as she walked towards Faranta. Silence soon caved in as Faranta chowed down her food. Aneila didn’t have much of an appetite but the little body growing in her tummy had to be fed.

“What do you like to do afterwards?”

“Watch TV. Dance. I learn how to move.”

“Where do you dance?”

“At church.”

“That is interesting. So, tell me, where is this church you go to?”

“It is… two blocks from here.”

“Can you take me there after we finish eating? I might be interested in dancing too.”

“Yes ma’am.”

After setting their trash aside, Aneila took Faranta by the hand and walked down the street from the café. The church was an average-looking catholic church. There stood a huge sign of the cross. The indoor held the statue of slain Jesus at the center with a circle of people kneeling at the feet. Aneila walked towards the office to inquire about Faranta’s mother. As she was talking, there was a loud cry in the background: “You leave my child! Who are you? Who sent you?” It was Grace, the mother of Faranta. She jabbed her left hand under Faranta’s arm, away from Aneila.

“Leave her alone!” cried Grace.

“I was only helping. This child was left alone and she was hungry. I fed her and came to look for her family.”

“She don’t need no food. She already eat crackers.”

“Well, maybe try saying thank you for giving her real food.”

“I never beg for your food. I know, church people.”

“What the…? Besides that, your daughter said you came here searching for help. That taking care of her has become an issue.” Grace’s face began to squeeze as she looked at Faranta. Aneila rephrased.

“… And that’s fine, sometimes as mothers, we need support.”

“Don’t put words in her mouth. I can take care of her and my damn self!” Grace raised her voice slightly

“Ma’am, I need you to calm down. And watch your language. I canceled my work this morning because of your child. What if she got kidnapped or killed? Let sit down, can’t stand for too long today. Was feeling a little light-headed this morning. You can send Faranta to play with the rest of the kids.”

“Faranta take yourself to play with them kids.”

Faranta dissolved into the playroom; a shelter for entertainment and toys.

“I don’t think I introduced myself, my name is Aneila. And yours? Aneila extended her hand

“Keep your handshake to yo’self. The name’s Grace.”

“Grace, I know you are probably alarmed that a stranger picked up your child. Any mother would. But I am a lawyer, I work with families and children. You’re in good hands.”

“So, what do you want from me? You wan take me girl from me?”

“Not at all. But I am concerned with what Faranta shared with me. Why are you living with a man that hurts you? And why does Faranta feels that you can’t take care of her?”

“That girl got ’em big mouth. She can never shut it. And what happens in my house stays there.”

“I see, this is none of my business. But you know Faranta is a smart girl. If this is what she shares with a stranger, I wonder what she tells the neighbours. Legal services could be up your neck.”

“Are you gonna take me girl?”

“No, I am here to protect. That girl is too young to be living through your trauma. Talk to someone, please… At least for Faranta.”

“I love my child. But me know I ain’t perfect. People make mistakes.”

“A mistake happens on occasions. But it didn’t sound like a mistake. It was more like a series of bad choices – a habit.”

“Me get problems that’s all. Everyone got them too.”

“Here’s my business card. When you decide to do something about your life, let me be there to support you. I’m a woman too. I have worked with families. You can talk to me.”

“I will think about it,” Grace said as she reluctantly took the card

“I’ll leave you then. Tell Faranta goodbye. I’ll be looking forward to your appointment.”