At home Ellie was now seated next to her mom under the tree still checking herself in the mirror every once in a while.
"Could you quit looking at that mirror so much ,you might get uglier." her mother said jokingly
Putting the mirror down she turned to her mother in a worried expression,
"Mama do you think Leonard will find me attractive when he comes home someday?"
"Of course my dear..you just have to get yourself to be the most beautiful girl in the whole village of Tatah," Philomena replied "..and stay natural quit using too much of those things you call makeup you look like a scarescrow."
"Moooom.." Ellie exclaimed at the painful jab of comment.
It was every girl's dream in this village to get married to Leonard Parker,Mr and Mrs Parker's only son or any of their relatives from Mr Parker's family who were American.Years ago they had come to visit him to see where he lived and the whole village was left at awe at how white and handsome the men looked and the beautiful ladies with long hair. They had never seen such people and everyone wanted to be associated with them, starting by by being friends to Mrs Parker and Philomena and Ellie were no less.Nobody wanted to remain in the village forever and their only way was through this fortunate priest's son.
Sabine happened to overhear the conversation and she only shook her head,she often wondered what was wrong with everyone in this village. They could only think of competing for one family as if they couldn't work hard and get to such heights themselves. Other men had a tough time pursuing a girl they liked since they always rejected them saying they were waiting for their Prince as they used to call him where some had never even seen him. 'Stupid girls ..' Sabine thought to herself. Since she started working as a cook at the primary school ,she was able to save some money which she planned to use to travel to the city someday. She had a distant aunt from her late father's side who lived in the city,she could go live there until she got a decent job. Sabine had started working recently so it would take her some time to save enough money, maybe months or a whole year but it was worth it but fate had other plans in store for her.
The day passed by fast and soon it was night.
Lying on her bed,Sabine tried to sleep but sleep wasn't coming any time soon.Memories of her dad kept coming back no matter how much she tried not to think of those days, not that she hated it but they always brought tears and she had promised herself not to ever cry again. She was closer to her dad than her mom,she remembered one of their moments together when she was helping him harvest pumpkins from their farm.
"Papa?"
"Yes dear" her father responded cooly
"I want to become a teacher someday" she stated gauging his reactions
Simone took his time before answering,his face was calm..for a moment she thought he wasn't going to say anything about it and just blow it off like it's nothing.
Pausing what he was doing,Simone stood up and looked at her, giving her a small smile," That's wonderful sweerie"
Sabine's eyes rounded in surprise,
"For real dad....you mean you have no problem?"
Simone chuckled," Everyone has a right to education my dear,we are already past that phase where only boys went to school."
"Are you not afraid of what people will say,what about mama?"she asked pursing her lips
"People will always talk, what matters is what you want to do with your life...you are your own person ,no one gets to decide what you will do with your life and I will support you all the way. I want to see my daughtes become successful."
Sabine's eyes watered as she stepped forward and hugged him ,
"Oh papa what would I do without you here...Thank you so much."
"It's fine dear ...now stop being a cry baby and help me carry these pumpkins home "
Parting from the hug Sabine laughed as they carried the heavy pumpkins back home.
Hot stinging tears threatened to fall as she recalled those words from him..'I miss you so much Papa' her heart cried out.
A year had passed since he died and since then she had given up on trying to pursue her dream but remembering him gave her more courage to go on.All she had to do now was find a way to approach her mother and tell her about it.She released a long sigh before turning again in bed and closed her eyes.
The following morning Sabine woke up early and as usual prepared breakfast for her family before going about with other chores..later on they would need to go to the river to wash clothes.
It was already afternoon when Ellie and Sabine walked down to the river and Ellie being the ever chirpy one never lacked something to say, turning to her sister she asked,
"Why are you always dressing like this?" her eyes sizing her up and down.
Adjusting the load of dirty laundry on her back she looked at her clothes wondering what was wrong about them
"Like how?"
"You know, long dresses and skirts like these old women,you are still young and you know...." she left it unfinished wiggling her thick eyebrows at her to finish it.
"You know I don't like it,if a guy truly wants me then he will find me attractive in whatever I wear."Sabine stated
"Whatever for you,as for me it feels heavy wearing such clothes,I prefer these light and shorter dresses and of course not like the one Paulina wears."
Paulina was their neighbor and friend since they were small children but when she turned seventeen she went to live with her cousin in the city and came back as a whole different person.Now she wears those skimpy short dresses that men find attractive and every guy in the village wants her. She was once accused of stealing someone's husband,it had been such drama in the whole village which ended up as a case in the chief's office.
"Is Paulina not your bestfriend?" Sabine asked
"Me ..no way..why would I be friends with a husband stealer?" Ellie outrightly denied.."I mean we talk and things like that but we are no longer close."
Sabine didn't ask much further knowing her sister would never agree to it.
Soon they got to the river and as usual there never lacked women doing their washing here.This was one of the places where gossip spread second after the market of course.Women talked about anything and everything.
Finding themselves a spot, Ellie filled the basins with water as Sabine started washing while her sister would rinse.