"My husband, I think it's for the best she goes to a boarding school. All she is, is a distraction and with the upcoming elections we need to be concentrated instead of dealing with the maid's complaints on the girl.
Moreover, she seems to only be getting larger, all these maids we hired in taking care of her have been doing a poor job. Instead of learning how to read she's just getting fatter and…."
"Which boarding school would you suggest?" Mr. Lipochi asked his wife, interfering in her rumblings.
"Sterling Group International School, this will help us form contacts and relations with Zambia which will be good in our campaign. Moreover, I heard a rumor that the heir of the Sterling group will be enrolling this coming year. If we could get the girl to somehow befriend…"
"Miss, there you are. It's time for your afternoon snack," said a maid with a look of utmost disdain to the little chubby girl in a yellow dress with a cup in her hand which she was using to eavesdrop on her parents.
One can't help but wonder where she got that trick from.
As Reta followed the maid she couldn't help but feel sad and lonely.
Yes, she did have a house full of people around her but they were workers paid to take care of her and nothing more. When her parents and the head maid weren't looking, the workers and her siblings would make fun of her. Instead of calling her name, they would call her piggy and would make oinking sounds around her.
At the tender age of 6, Reta has experienced what most girls her age rarely have to experience but with how her parents aren't interested in her and how siblings don't like her and would prefer she didn't exist well it's a pretty lonely life.
The only people who care about her are the head maid Mrs. Dube and her best friend Tichinashe who happens to be the son of one of her father's business partners. They first met at a dinner party the previous year.
"Mrs. Dube, ensure that the girl is dressed appropriately and knows her place we have dinner party to attend with the Speaker of Parliament and he's family."
"Ofcourse ma'am,"
"Sweet girl let's go and get you ready. Elaine, prepare the water for the Miss. Martha go and get her purple dress and the black shoes with the golden sparkles." Mrs. Dube said to the passing maids. As they walked to Reta's room which was away from the family but closer to + servant rooms.
Reta was bathed and dressed in preparation, she went downstairs and waited for her parents who came down with majestic.
Reta's mother was a tall and painfully thin woman, she was dressed cream colored silk dress with cream stilettos and a white clutch purse. Her makeup was light with red lipstick, she had her ears adorned with silver hooped earrings whilst her husband who was short man with a bulging stomach, goatee and swelling neck due to his excessive, was dressed in a black suit that was a few sizes too big. Even with a few steps the man begins to sweat profusely.
"Shall we," said Mr. Lipochi to both wife and as they walked out of the house. They entered the car and as they were on their way Mrs. Lipochi spent the time instructing Reta on how to behave where they were going.
"You mustn't speak unless spoken to and even then, don't say more than necessary. Just answer their question and mind your own business or even better yet befriend their son,"
"Rutendo, keep quiet. Your blabbering has given me a headache." Said Mr. Lipochi agitatedly.
"Of course, my husband."
It was early evening and there was slight traf f i c in the streets as people are rushing home from work. Couples walking in the streets at night even at the age of 5 Reta knew that she +doesn't want a marriage like her parents. She wanted a magical life like the ones she would see in cartoons and movies or in the books Mrs. Dube read to her before bedtime.
The ride went on painstakingly quiet until they reached these black imposing gates with two armed guards standing sentry outside. The car stopped and the guards spoke to the driver before speaking into these walkie talkies and the gates opened.
The car drove into the drive way and for a while all they could see was a beautiful forest before it broke to expose a well maintained courtyard with a nicely lit angel fountain and the most majestic mansion Reta has ever since. It by far rivals their home.
This estate was known as the Smiths House, after the fi ght for freedom the Paradzayi family bought it from the government and made it their home.
The Smith family built this house to match their home in England, as a result the house was built Edwardian style.
The car parked in front of the house and the doors opened to reveal this tall bald man who didn't seem much older than Reta's father. He too was dressed in a suit. Just like Mr.
Lipochi, he had a bulging stomach but with his tall and slender build, his stomach didn't seem that imposing but it still gave Reta an impression of a pregnant woman.
"Welcome to my home, Mr. Lipochi!" The speaker exclaimed heartily.
"Thank you for having us Mr. Speaker." Responded Reta's dad.
"Come in, come in." he urged. "The food might get cold."
Reta couldn't help but look around as they walked in. The animal heads on the entryway wall just seemed a bit barbaric.
Just then a short fat woman walked in with a little boy. This was Mrs. Paradzayi and Tichinashe Paradzayi. Tichinashe is a year older than Reta, a bit taller than her and lighter in skin as his mother is mixed.
His mother Elizabeth Smith is the daughter of Jack Smith, third son of the head of the Smith family and a maid he was sleeping with.
Even though she was illegitimate, Jack still loved her and spoiled her. Even when he left the country, he still left her with a large sum of money, land, jewelry and artefacts.
Moreover, he would send her gifts for special occasions. In short, she and her mother never lacked for anything or suf f ered as they were greatly spoiled.
This made Elizabeth a desirable woman to lots of men looking to marry up because even though she's illegitimate and marrying her might get you involved in the scandal of her origins, she still was a great catch.
A lot of men tried to date and court her but her heart belonged to Tadiwa Paradzayi.
The two families got better acquainted before moving their conversation to the dining room.
"So Retabile do you go to School?" Elizabeth asked in hopes of getting to know the adorable little girl.
"No," said Reta, who then went back to concentrating on her food.
Elizabeth found this strange as she knew children are bubbly and like to talk so Reta's attitude felt out of place.
She further tried to engage with no luck and with the constant interruptions of Rutendo, she just gave up and let the girl be.
Tichinashe looked at Reta with contempt because he didn't like how rude she was being to his mum.
"These moves the president is making seem so out of place, the people aren't happy. He promised change but even after 6 months in power he hasn't made a move worth acknowledging," said Reta's dad. "I know and I recently received reports of what's happening in Rutenga and they don't sound good."
The men spent the dinner talking about the President and all the possible changes he could make in the city that seemed to not be doing well, with how the dollar had risen and people were failing to fi nd and keep jobs and instead moving to cities like Bulawayo and Harare that already have their own fair share of unemployed citizens.
Moreover, the tensions have been rising in cities closer to the border of South Africa due to the Apartheid happening in the country.
Whilst the men were talking, the two women were discussing the movements the First Lady has been supporting of late. They were discussing how next week she will be hosting a brunch for breast cancer awareness in Harare, who will be attending and how to get a spot in the action.
Tichinashe just ignored Reta and concentrated on his food and Reta did the same.
Soon they were finished, the men moved to Mr. Tadiwa's office for some drinks whilst the women went to the living room.
Reta and Nashe were directed to his playroom where he went to continue ignoring her. This made her feel bad as she never wanted to act that way and was only following her mother's orders.
"Hi… Tichinashe, can we be friends?" asked Reta shyly.
"No." he replied curtly without even looking up from playing with his toy train.
"Why not?" she asked. "Because you were very rude to my mother." He replied.
"I didn't mean to be, my mummy said I should not talk a lot. She said I should just answer the question and mind my own business. Please forgive me, I promise I won't do it again."
She pleaded.
He finally looked up and asked, "Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise," responded Reta with her hand outstretched and her pinky raised. Their pinkies touched and, in that moment, Reta made her first friend.
As months went by Reta and Nashe would constantly meet up for play dates. In the first few weeks of their friendship, she overheard her mum talk about them, "As useless as she might be, she has come very handy in bringing us closer to the Speaker."
This made her glad because she knew her parents will not come in between her and Nashe.
She liked him because unlike others who made fun of her appearance and how much she ate, he didn't. he treated her just like any normal person and this just made her love him even more.
He was her peace, his home was her haven, away from home. Her safe place, no criticism or bullying. She could just be. His mum treated her like her own, she only had one child due to complications but always wanted a daughter of her own.
Whenever Reta would visit, Elizabeth would spoil her. It felt dif f erent from being at home where she felt the hatred from almost everyone except Mrs. Dube.
Months turned into a year and they became even more inseparable.
It was difficult to see each other with how he was going to school but they made it work. Everyone seemed to know Reta had a crush on Nashe, except himself.
The maids at home would make fun of her and her feelings, saying she was stupid for feeling that way for him because he would never see such a girl as anything more than a friend.
They would tell her that they aren't really friends, that all he feels for her is pity.
All this did was feed into her insecurities, made her become depressed and eat even more.
She gained a lot and Nashe noticed she wasn't herself. He tried asking her what was wrong but she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
So, when she overheard her parents plans of taking her to boarding, she was ready to hop on the chance to be away from everyone and everything.
As you would have things, Nashe wasn't happy with the decision.
"Why are you leaving? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you" Nashe cried.
"No Nashe, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm going for school."
"But why are you leaving me?" he asked and Reta didn't know what to say.
His mum then intervened, "Come now Nashe, don't be like that. It's not like she's going forever, she's just going for school. Just like you do. Its only that hers is in another country but she'll be coming to visit, won't you Reta?"
"Of course, I will," Reta lied, she has no plans of coming back. She is hoping to fi nd a way to stay, there away from home. If she could, she would have run away a long time ago.
"Moreover, I'll be sending letters as much as I can." She said truthfully.
Nashe wasn't too happy about this development and even in his childish mind he could tell she lied about visiting. He knew in that moment that this must be the last time he would ever see her but he didn't say anything or call her out because he too understood that this might be the best that has ever happened to her.
He has seen and heard her parents' treatment of her. He has overheard all the nasty things the maids have been saying to her face and behind her back. As much as he hates the idea of her leaving him, he knew in that moment that he needed to act like a man, for her sake.
"Okay Reta, I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too Nashe," "Why don't you two go and play?" asked Elizabeth. The two smiled, nodded their heads and left. Elizabeth couldn't help but watch as Nashe ahead and Reta followed at more of a waddling pace with her short chubby legs.
It hurts her having to watch the innocent little girl suffer. She and her husband could tell from that first dinner what type of people Mr. and Mrs. Lipochi were, just by how they spoke, acted and most importantly, how Reta responded to them. They noticed she seemed to both fear and seek their attention.
As much as they never liked the couple, She and T adiwa decided to encourage Nashe and Reta's friendship just for the little girl's sake.
Even though, it pains her that the little girl she has grown to care for and love is going. She too thinks it's for the best she leaves that house. She too could see and hear how the maids treated Reta, she had also seen her room. Just a mere closet, not even the maids in the Lipochi house live in such conditions. Even her interactions with her siblings were a telltale sign.
She couldn't help but wonder why Reta was being mistreated like this, isn't she the youngest? Isn't she supposed to be spoiled by everyone in that houses and family?
Not get fat shamed, bullied, insulted and hit just to release their frustrations.
Reta is trying to make the best out of this play date because tomorrow she, her parents and Mrs. Dube will be going to Zambia. Nashe and Reta were trying to build a house using blocks when the maid came to inform them that the driver is here to pick up Reta, this made them both sad.
Reta didn't want to leave but she stood up and went to give Nashe a goodbye hug because she never knew if she's ever going to see him again.
"Goodbye Nashe," she said with tears in her eyes and turned around to leave but Nash held her hand back, pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the lips. He said, "No matter where you go Reta, I'll fi nd you and someday, you will be my wife." He let her go and walked out.