Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Esther
"Isreal I'm going to slap you. Put it down. Gabriella what are you doing?! ISREAL! Do you want to die. Put it down right now. Thomas if you don't get down from there... I swear... Isreal. Put that knife down. Gabriella what are you doing. Keep your clothes on. What is wrong with you? Are you mad!! Do you want to receive sense? Because the slap I'll give you will rearrange your brain." Esther groaned in agony as the kids ran around her as if she were an amusement park. "Isreal. Don't toss the knife around like that If you want to die. Go and jump off a cliff. Don't come and..."
"Esther!" She froze as she heard her name. She ran to the door and saw her mother there, plastics of things gathered by her feet. The roar of an engine caught Esther's attention, causing her to look up, noticing a black vehicle driving off. She paid it no heed for her mother persuaded her to go to her.
Esther ran to her mother, her eyes wide as she caught a glimpse of groceries in one of the plastics. "Mommy. What is this?" Esther questioned as her mouth watered, her eyes plastered on the plastics.
A beautiful smile graced her mothers face making her seem younger than she was. "First take the plastics inside. Then we can speak." Her mother said as she placed a loving kiss on Esthers forehead. Ester unconsciously smiled as a shiver ran down her spine at the affection she was receiving. Esther watched as her mother reached into one of the bags and brought out four bars of chocolate. "Isreal. Gabriella. Thomas. Come here." Esther watched silently as the kids came running one after the other. And the knife still held in Isreals' grasp. Her mother turned to her with a raised eyebrow at the weapon Isreal held but all Esther managed was a shrug. "Look what I got for you all" her mother said causing the kids to screech in ecstacy as the unfamiliar chocolate bars were given to them. Their eyes skimmed over the wrapping as if in the presence of an idol. Questioning whether it was safe or forbidden. Their clueless gazes rose up to their mother and her nod reassured them. After being assisted in the opening of the wrappers, the kids scurried to go and explore the newest creation.
Esther smiled sadly at their departing forms. Never in their lives had they seen or even tasted a chocolate before, and that saddened her. What was like an everyday dessert to others, was once in a lifetime precious gift to them. She pushed the thoughts to the deepest part of her mind.
And turned to the plastics, there were approxinately 12 of them. Each filled with many luxuries that confused Ester. How could her mother afford these things. This was 5 times more her salary.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLztuEQDvP
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But Esther refused to ruin the moment and she silently took esch plastic to fill up the cupboards. Something that had never happened in her entire lifetime.
She swallowed her questions, there was always a next time when she could interrogate her mother. For now, she decided to relish the smiles and joy of her siblings.
******
The birds went to rest as the crickets chirped, their mating season soon approaching. The moths gathered around the gas-lit lamp, dancing around it, entranced by its glow. Esther closed her book and stretched her legs, she had been doing so well in maths, that was before someone woke up one morning and decided to add letters into the already complicating mix.
Her tummy was aching due to all the things she had eaten. Plastics of food still remained near the kitchen counter since the cupboards were too full to accomodate anything else. As happy as Esther's was she was still suspicious of the source of the groceries.
She turned to her mother that sat across from her, staring into the lamp that glowed bright red. The moths moved in sync around it as if they did an uncommon ritual. "Ma'?" Ester called
"Hmm" her mother hummed in response
"Where did you get the money to buy all those things?"
"Mrs Anna increased my pay"
"Why would she do that?"
Her mother chuckled "How do you mean. Are you against it?" Her mitehr runred to her "Are you not happy?"
"Obviously I'm happy. But I just want to know where you got the money to get all these things. Mrs Anna couldn't have just increased your pay for no reason. After all the stories you told me of her and how stingy she is. She couldn't just decide to multiply your salary by five. Just like that."
Her mother sighed "Ester. You think too much into things. You need to relax."
"Mommy. How do you expect me to relax. You come back home. And bring all sorts of food from who knows where. How do you even afford these things. I'm worried about you"
A slash of annoyance mixed with sadness flashed through her mother's eyes "Do you know how ungrateful you are. I do my best to make you happy but still you qeustion me. So what are you insinuating? Obviously you've refused to believe the fact that Mrs Ann has increased my pay. So you tell me where I got the money from. Please educate me since you know much more than I do.You think that I've been stealing. Is that the case?" Ester refused to speak. For the fear of what would excale from her mouth.
The message she had read that morning, swam in her mind clouding her thoughts. "I think you've gone into prostitution for money" Those were the words that threatened to escape her mouth. She bit her tongue due to the fear of their escape. How shameful it was to accuse we birth mother of prostitution. How degrading. However,It couldn't be an incoincidence that after that man on the phone promised to pay mom that she arrived with packets of food.
Her mother sighed "Please I am tired. I'm going to sleep" Her mother stood up and walked away leaving Ester alone with the moths. She stared at them and watched silently as one went too close to the flame and dropped to its doom.
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Killed by its own obsession
Esther realised that men are to money like moths are to the flame.
Obsessed with it.
Worshipping it until our own obsessions lead us to our own downfall.
Esther stood, blew out the flame and retired to her room. With a million questions and zero answer roaming inside her head.
