The foods aroma seemed to evade every corner of the room. Bottles of different beverages littered the table as Mary dished out the delicacies. Naomi watched dumbfounded as her eyes trailed over the different foods and drinks. She couldn't remember when last she had gotten the opportunity to sit with her parents at the dining table.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GK7I1X29D
Her feet couldn't sit still as it bounced up and down. Her hands shook in her lap, as her father's gaze landed on her.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5gkqYwFRh
"You helped your mother cook this food?" Joseph asked, her voice vibrating the table
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnJ3LYXFa4
"Uhmm. I...I" Naomi stuttered
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyoMxLCQdH
"Yes" Mary answered, Josephs attention turned to her "She helped me with some"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNuHVMxihu
"Some?" He inquired, Mary nodded. Joseph turned his head to Naomi, his eyes staring into her soul "Why not all?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ15mZvr8E
Naomi remained silent, dropping her head to the plate infront of her as Mary finished dishing out the food and sat beside Joseph
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DLoAe5pSR
Joseph slammed his fist against the table, the plates and spoons bouncing with a clang "I'm asking a question!" He exclaimed
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG0OaadpeN
Mary placed her hand on Josephs fist "Joseph stop" she whispered. "Please"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiw3ZGuTxS
They held each other's gaze, and Josephs fingers slowly unclenched.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9TATEWhQe
He broke the eye contact and placed his attention on his food.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmktDyPUb7L
A comfortable silence hung over the air as they all indulged in their food. Every spoon was like heaven, an uneven comparison to the vegetable soup. Every grain of rice that touched their tongues was appreciated, Joseph took a sip from his glass and moaned in pleasure "This food is amazing" Joseph stated, a smile graced his face and Naomi watched mesmerized.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0DdPMbEkS
She had never seen her father smile, Mary reciprocated the smile as she gazed up at Joseph. "Thank you" she answered proudly.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KqANgkYYo
Slowly Josephs smile faded, his eyes remained on Mary watching her intently, his eyes scanning darting over her features
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrqCLsUIjY
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mary inquired,
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmYvYjGXrS
"What is with all that makeup?" Joseph asked, his eyes on her
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoWCfoi6yM
"What makeup?" Mary inquired
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXTeJTofyU
"The blush, the lipstick, the earings...everything else"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxvL6O0BHn
"My face was looking abit pale, so I decided to put blush"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXWty28AkU
Joseph's eyes squinted, Mary seemed to fidget under his intense gaze "Who was here?" His voice was low, just above a whisper.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bj2CvbnRt
"Nobody. It was just me and Naomi the whole day."
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl5FH7xjDL
Joseph turned to Naomi, and she immediately dropped her spoon "Who came to this house?" Joseph asked.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmO8FHuVWj
Naomi gulped and shook her head. Mary sighed heavily "Nobody came to the house Joseph"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKCyzG6uMr
"Shut your mouth. I'm not speaking to you." He exclaimed, Mary dropped her head and remained silent "Naomi who came to this house?!"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmyCaC7cXH
"No-Nobody came here" Naomi stuttered
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdx6KBXHun
"Were you in this house the whole day?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM4E1a5P1s
"No I went to the field to harvest the crops"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrNcDseHtP
Joseph chuckled humorlessly "Mary, you had the guts to bring a man to my house".
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWggbqYBz5d
"You know I would never do such a thing."
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD7OGhpx3m
"Don't you bloody lie to me woman!"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqhMRIpZr2
"I'm not lying Joseph"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zJV2alLb7
"What other reason could you have to put all this makeup on?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6723obTmb
"I already told you the reason Joseph"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB5N6a5gZ3
"You're taking me for a fool right? You think I'm playing with you. Do you know that I could slap you, right here right now? You're telling me that you put lipstick on your lips, and earrings in your ears because your skin was pale. What bullshit reason is that?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtGnmDhsd9
"I just wanted to look beautiful for you Joseph"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfr2JyuIJ9
"Are you demented? You think I'm a fool. Now you wanna change the whole story around. Mary its going to be better for all of us, if you tell me the truth." Joseph banged his fist on the table once more "Who is that son of a uncircumcised turtle that you brought to my house!?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL14YBG6g6B
"I had been on the call with your sister for most of the time that naomi had been away and the rest of the time. I had been cleaning up the house. What time would I have to bring a man to our home?" Mary reasoned, tears welling up in her ears
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1J9NAfZh8
"I'm going to call Jane... If I find out that you're lying to me I swear, you won't like what I'll do to you. Don't say that I didn't warn you. Do you understand me?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVSk0gwNTf
Mary nodded softly, a tear sliding down her face as she dropped her head, lowering her gaze. Naomi wanted to run up to her mother and just engulf her in a hug, and wipe away her tears but fear stuck her feet to the ground.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurtDMyYM0x
"Use your words" Joseph commanded
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx29hXZgRD
"Yes. I understand" Mary whispered
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ232NdryeRG
"Stand up and go wash that rubbish off your face. Right now"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaa9VqtxKj
Mary stood and disappeared to the washroom, an awkward silence remained in the dining room as Naomi had finished eating and wasn't sure how to excuse herself "Woman." Joseph murmured as he sighed softly "It's a struggle" He refilled his glass and it's contents disappeared with one gulp.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS92nFeki8
Naomi didn't know what to say, panicked she allowed herself release a little chuckle "yeah" she murmured. Her eyes widened.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb1Hsf8zZK
WHAT DID YOU JUST DO.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AQTGU6Ddb
The words screamed in her head.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9zdOf8OS8
Josephs head snapped towards her, his eyes widening as if he had forgotten that she was there "Did you enjoy the food?" Joseph asked her.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5lfWT0jY9
Naomi had never had an actual conversation with her father, this was an odd interaction for her "Yes. Yes I did" she nodded
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkvb6lXqwC
"Do you know where the food came from?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfmeg2U68w
"No" she shook her head.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4p2yVNLNc
Feminine footsteps echoed in the room and Mary walked in, Joseph watched her as she took her seat. "You didn't tell Naomi about the source of the food?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxeOjKtJ4g
Mary's gaze landed on Naomi, before resting on Josephs plate "She didn't ask. Do you want me to refill your plate?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVoVlnnqbH
"Yes just abit" Joseph answered before placing his attention on Naomi "Mr Reagan had packed the house with foodstuffs, he said that he didn't want you going hungry and that he wanted you happy and fed."
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXZarpdCJy
Naomi blinked, not sure how to react to that information
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dhofMw0Cl
"Are you not going to say anything?" Mary inquired
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElzCF3jWw9
"I don't know what to say" Naomi replied, she didn't like how all the attention had been averted to her
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lyRBU2T80
"Imagine what more he could do for us when you get married to him" Mart beamed.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd29Nd3OEIC
Naomi smiled, humming in response. "I'll go and get water" Naomi stated "Can I be excused?"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBhf6rDD8A
"There's water on the table Naomi,"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrltmMvQqX
"It's warm, I want cold water"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0TEgp0Po1
"Are you-" Mary began but Joseph stopped her
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdqlKOgeBB
"You can go" he decided, Naomi nodded in thanks as she stood up and walked to the kitchen.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwco0totcEZ
Naomi leaned into the counter, her eyes tightly shut as she counted till ten. She pouted, as it dawned on her that she would become the fifth wife of an old man. She would never feel those butterflies that she read about in books.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wXxOldLjx
Slowly, she took a cup from the cupboard and took water from the fridge. As she began to return to the dining room, the chatters of her parents stopped her in her tracks "He had said that he wanted her, and was willing to pay double the price if he could have her" Josephs voice vibrated, echoing against the walls
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz2iannFRA
"Double the price?!" Mary gasped "That's impossible"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcOwGss0C4
"That's what I thought, but he assured me that he wasn't false"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhEQibEe6r
"Mr Reagan must have said something about Naomi, it's not normal, how almost all the elderly in the community are suddenly interested in her."
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nL6Fyuaqj
"I agree. But all I care about is the money. If they have enough money, they can have her"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKmB9KFhjw
"Aren't you afraid that Mr Reagan might retaliate against us"
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxtD0I4PXJ
"If they have more money than Mr Reagan does, obviously they'll have more power. They'll protect us against him."
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbjkQsjPjY
Naomi gobbled the water down in one go, she was disgusted at how her parents spoke. She felt as if she were in an auction and her parents were calling out for the highest if bidders to come and buy her.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbAoOkikZy
They were selling her off, this so-called marriage was an attempt for them to become richer. Not able to hear anymore of their talks she walked in and say down silently. Her parents, effortlessly dwindled into the subject of weather as if they hadn't been talking about her future just moments ago.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXB6iwlj6g
Naomi packed the dirty dishes and placed them into the sink. When she was done cleaning them, she wandered off to her room. Allowing herself wander into the realm of dreams.
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCL4sNd7hI
~~~~~~~~
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx1dtLJmZh
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHuXb3MhJp
