Pervert-In-Law

Following the death of cousin Sakala, Cecilia decided to send Mumba and Cynthia away from home to their sister, Mwaka, who lived in Mansa town — very far away from Ndola City. She then sent Purity to boarding school and started taking her youngest daughter, Gwen, with her on the fish business trips. This way, Cecilia felt more at ease regarding the safety of her daughters.

When Mumba and Cynthia arrived in Mansa town, they were greeted by Mwaka and their pretty four-year old niece, Mary. Mwaka was married to a teacher with whom she had Mary, and they lived in a small two-bedroom house in the teacher's compound — an area with housing units only for teachers. It was quite far from town.

At the house later that evening, they met their brother-in-law, Sebaa. He came off as charming and kind, and offered to take them shopping the next day. He seemed to take more of a liking to Cynthia who was about thirteen years old at the time, while Mumba was about fifteen. He spoiled her with gifts when Mwaka wasn't around and told her not to tell anyone about it, especially Mwaka; but she told Mumba because they were so close.

A few months later, late at night, Cynthia got up to use the bathroom which was outside the house. Mary was sleeping on the living room sofa in order to accommodate Cynthia and Mumba in the second bedroom. Cynthia unconsciously looked over to where Mary was sleeping and saw Sebaa there kneeling over her. She couldn't understand what she was seeing, so she creeped a little closer. Upon taking a closer look, she saw that it really was Sebaa and he was kissing and touching the body of the apparently naked little girl. She was so shocked and disgusted that she quickly rushed back to her room, hiding herself under her covers — trying to forget what she just saw.

"What is going on in this house?" She thought fearfully.

"Cynthia, did you manage to go to the bathroom?" Mumba asked.

"No, I realized that I don't really need to go," she replied and turned over to sleep.

"You're just scared of going outside at this time," Mumba joked.

The next day, she told Mumba all about what she had seen that night.

"What should we do?" Cynthia asked her. "Should we tell Mwaka?"

"I think we should," Mumba replied. "But I don't think she will believe us."

"So then we will just ignore everything?" Cynthia said, feeling a little uneasy.

"No, I have an idea. Let us go talk to Mwaka," Mumba responded.

They found Mwaka and Sebaa chatting in the living room. They sat down adjacent to them and asked if they could speak to Mwaka, however, Sebaa stayed anyway. Cynthia could not stand to look at him. Since they were not able to tell Mwaka about the incident, they came up with something else in order to stop it from happening again.

"You want to be sleeping in the same room — the three of you?" Mwaka asked.

"The room is too small," Sebaa quickly interjected. "It's better for Mary to sleep comfortably on the sofa."

"We are fine with it," Cynthia responded and Mumba nodded in agreement.

"No," Sebaa said. "I don't want my daughter to be uncomfortable."

"I will make my bed on the floor so that Cynthia and Mary can sleep comfortably on the bed," Mumba insisted.

"You are our guests. We cannot treat you that way," Sebaa countered.

"It is Mary's room so we do not feel right taking it from her," Mumba replied.

Sebaa thought for a minute. Afterwards he leaned over and whispered to Mwaka. Then he turned to the girls, "Alright. then one of you will have to sleep in the living room on the comfortable sofa rather than on the bedroom floor."

There was silence for a few seconds. "I will sleep in the living room," Mumba volunteered.

Cynthia nudged her arm. "What?!"

They thanked Sebaa and Mwaka for listening to them and went outside. Cynthia demanded am explanation for Mumba's rash decision.

"Look, if you sleep in the living room, that crazy man might come for you. But if you sleep in the bedroom with Mary, you can lock the door and he will not be able to touch you two," Mumba explained.

"Oh I see," Cynthia replied. "Wait, but what about you?"

"I will be fine. Do not worry," she replied.

And sure enough that night, Sebaa tried to enter Mary's room. Mumba secretly watched him as he tried everything he could to enter the room without making too much noise. But the door was locked shut. After about forty minutes of trying, he went back to his room. Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief, and Mumba laughed quietly on the sofa.