Chapter  02

That night, as we were having lunch together, I decided to bring the news to my parents. I knew it would make both my parents uncomfortable but I had no choice.

___ Dad ! Mom. I need to talk to you.

My parents looked at me first as if they were expecting such a sentence from me.

___ What do you have to say to us, my daughter, » my mother asked.

___ Mom ! Daddy ! I’m going to the United States.

___ What are you talking about, honey  We can’t afford to send you to the United States, I don’t have a brother or sister in the United States who could take you.

___ Dad, you don’t have to worry. My best friend has decided to send me. I wanted to let you know so I could get your opinions.

Both my parents looked at each other. Sitting on a stool with my right hand on my chin, I looked at both of them. It was my mother who opened her mouth first.

___ Ginette, you are smart, we love you very much. What are you going to do in the United States of America, I’ve never been but it’s a country full of mystery and nonsense.

___ I know that mom, but I trust my best friend, you and dad know that I will do anything to help you. I will go to the United States to work and that way I will send you money at the end of the month.

___ What job 

___ I’m going to work as a housekeeper, Dad. It’s a very lucrative job in the United States.

___ I know you’re doing all this to help us but you have to stay here.

___ No dad, I have to go to the United States.

I got some water, rinsed my hands and left both my parents alone in the yard. I was angry, yes a big anger was already inside me. So it was getting late, I went to sit on a hill that was right behind our house. The only thing that made me feel good was the sound of birds and crickets. I was sitting there quietly taking in the air when I felt someone’s presence. Panic-stricken, I turned around slowly to see if I knew the stranger. Indeed, I knew him, it was my father. He came up to me and looked at me for a while before sitting down beside me.

____ Ginette, I’m really sorry if me and your mother rejected you earlier. It was an unforeseen event. We love you and we don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I know you care about us a lot, and that’s why we love you too. We have made a decision, we will let you go to the United States. If this is the only way you can help us then we will let you go.

After finishing his sentence, my father touched my shoulder and turned back to his cabin. My anger disappeared, finally I was really happy not because I will go to the United States but because I will be a rich woman and I will help my father and my mother and my brothers. I got up and went to bed. I don’t know how I spent the night but it was a wonderful night.



Two days had just passed, I was really traumatized, every time I heard a noise, I ran to see if it was Evelyne my best friend. This morning, while I was discussing with my parents about my plans in the United States, Evelyne came to our yard with my passport. I was thrilled, finally, I would be going to the United States. She asked me to take a shower because we would be leaving the country very late, my eyes filled with tears, I packed my little suitcase, kissed my father and mother while promising to be really good. Before leaving the court, Évelyne gave a large sum of money. I don’t remember well the price but it was a big sum of money. My parents thanked her again and we left. Evelyn welcomed me in a very big house, I had never seen such a house if it was not in the movies or on the stores.

___ Is this your house 

___ Yes, Ginette. What are you going to drink  You have to take something before we can take off for the United States.

___ I’ll take whatever you give me.

___ Genevieve

___ Yes, ma’am, » said a voice from down the hall.

___ Who are you calling 

___ It’s my maid.

The girl brought us some fresh water. I drank it all as if I hadn’t drunk water in a long time. She turned around with the cup and Evelyn followed her. I don’t know what she said to her but Genevieve came back into the living room with a tray on which there was a big meat followed by a drink.

___ Mademoiselle Évelyne said to bring you this, she’s coming. She wants to get ready.

I nodded and she left. I lost my tongue, I wondered where Evelyn had found such money to give herself this beautiful life. I took a meat and started to eat. While I was eating, I was thinking about my parents, yes I didn’t know if my father, my mother and my brothers are eating a very good dish like me. Although I was hungry, I could not enjoy the meat.

I was thinking about what my life would be like in the United States when Evelyn joined me, dressed like a princess.

___ I hope you had a good meal 

___ Yes.

___ Well let’s go.

We went out. When we got outside, I was surprised. Why  Because little car was already waiting for us. Evelyn had changed a few words with the owner of the car who dropped us off in a place where I clearly didn’t know the name.

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To be continue