Life they say is complicated and beautiful especially when one is with family comfort and happiness. But not every one finds life that way we struggle every day to build up our life only to life it short and some sad. Thus this is the story of a girl a woman and a mother. This is the story of Florence Grady.
In the outskirt of a not very famous town lived Florence Grady. a shy and reserve young girl who lived in a little house with her mother and abusive father. Not until she was five.
Florence was just five years old when her mother disappeared not by death, oh no. She ran away with her young lover never again seen, abandoning Florence to the fate of a drunken and abusive father.
It was late in the afternoon when Florence who attended the sisters school came home to find her half sobered father in a state of mess and confusion. There he sat upon a stool in that little sitting room looking into space holding his half drunk wine. At first Florence did not understand the situation she did not expect her father at home by this time for he was either at the bar or in some gambling room and where was her mother she was always at home at home at this time, not that she usually goes out at all except of course to church or sometimes to sell her wares at the general market. Florence mother was a tailor, there wasn't much a house wife could do around here any ways.
Petrified to find her father alone at home, she went in search of her mother. Their house was a one room apartment with a little space which they made into a little sitting room. There was also the kitchen and a small sized toilet. The room contained a mini sized mattress which was profoundly occupied by Florence and her mother, her father was usually found in a drunken state at the front porch or in some street alley. It was not in the nature of a man to be so unreasonable and unaccountable.
Florence father was a laborer in the road construction factory not until the new government came and relieve them of their duties. He had always been an alcoholic and gambler but he was a little responsible and reasonably. It all came to an end when he lost his job, he became more withdrawn and abusive and would beat up Florence and her mother even for every little thing when ever he had his session .
It was not with great difficulty that Florence went into the little room insearch of her mother not without greeting her father first for that would have mean another World War III in that house hold for her father was easily agitated at every little thing and would not hesitate to pounce on her and her mother.
Florence was soon out of the little room just as soon as she entered, with heavy heart and a broken spirit she had found all her mothers belongings gone and not even the mattress was spared living only Florence little box of worn out clothes.
Did I mention of Florence father being abusive well he was more, he would take Florence mothers hard earn money sometimes by treachery and some times heavy beating and threatening leaving mother and child with nothing to eat for days. This was quite disheartening.
There has been many rumors of Florence mother and her lover but non of them ever seemed real to Florence, her father however took it with great vexation that he would however leave a swollen eye on either of them when ever such rumors went around. That was the thing with rumors it spread like a plague, and what better place can be convenient for such vile talk than bars and gambling rooms where vile men talk. Soon though the rumors died down for neighbors feared that one day he might kill the woman and the poor child.
This was the constant abuse and beating from the man she called father that Florence couldn't help but wondered what it was he wanted from them. I guess it was this which made her mother abandon her and elope.
Florence had always tried to be a good girl, she loved her father even with all his flaws and she loved her mother more. She would always go about her duties happily and would try so much to be good at school she would return to help her mother in mending wears she did so with the zeal of a 5 year old and never complained or ask questions.
On that faithfully day when Florence was abandoned by her mother her world came crashing down, well was it the worst or the first I can't say but it was terrible.
Such wicked act of a mother oh such sad lonely child.
When Florence beheld the site of that half empty room with all the missing belongings of her mother her heart was broken into many thousand pieces oh what such great emotions for a child. What would a child had done in this confused times other than cry. In such situation even as little as she was, she understood that life was going to be hard and different now real different. She took hold of her father right leg and cling to it crying and holding to it, probably for comfort or encouragement ,but neither she got non for her father rose up with such agility and hatred that I could have sworn there was a crack of ribs. Spat at her and stormed off saying "get away from me you wretched being,you cursed child of a curse woman you child of the cheapest whore how shamelessly had she left and to think she ran off with that good for nothing fellow" he rage on as he went through the door and out into the street.
The neighbors hearing the commotion and cry's feared the worst had happened but non dear to do more than murmuring, many times they had tried to intervene but it was fruitless. For in such a community marital affairs were best settled at home.
It was only mrs dipson how could venture bravely into their little house upon hearing the continues sobbing from Florence. Upon inquiring she was needless told what it was about for she had expected and suspected it. The neighbor of course was not very fond of Florence mother, she was a devoted Christian and despised extra marital affairs with a passion. Many times she had witnessed Florence mother and her lover and many times she had turn her face for they did not want to be the reason for a fight between the ever raging couple. The neighbors soon came to a understanding on the matter and many were disappointed in the selfish act of Florence mother "such a vile woman, such wicked nonsense" they would say.
Mrs dipson and a few neighbors comforted the little girl giving food and shelter from time to time.