By the seashore stood CNA’s house. The walls were made of palm leaves, the posts were wood, everything was made from palm. They had a kitchen, but that was the only part covered; the other side that was supposed to be a living room was open for everyone to see. If you looked in from there, you’d immediately see their kitchen. Beside it was their bathroom, but it wasn’t a real bathroom. It had no toilet, just a curtain for cover, and the only thing that closed it off was a sack clipped with a clothes pin. You’re probably wondering how they managed without a toilet. It was only a deep pit with planks on top and a hole where they did their business. Afterwards, they just covered it with a piece of plywood. Yes, straight into the pit. In short, an unfinished bathroom — one tied to their lack, one that reflected the life they lived.
Back then, CNA and her siblings didn’t mind it at all. Life was simple to them. They were young, with carefree minds, unbothered by hardship or poverty. For them, it was enough to eat every day, enough to laugh and play. In a child’s eyes, the world was plain, and everything seemed normal. But to older eyes, the picture of lack was clear, the poverty wrapped around their home was undeniable.
That night, CNA’s father had just come back from the sea. Fishing was his only work, the only way they survived. After coming home, he drank liquor, as always, just to ease his tiredness. Sometimes he had drinking companions, sometimes he didn’t. But he never hurt anyone when drunk; he only slept. Still, you could feel the weight in every gulp, the sadness and dreams he couldn’t seem to reach.
It was late, almost nine. They had already eaten dinner, and their mother was inside the room putting their third sibling to sleep. Half an hour passed, and their father was starting to get tipsy. He called his children.
“CNA and Jaypee, sit here beside me,” he said. The two obeyed.
“You, Jaypee, you’re the boy. You should protect your siblings,” he told his son. But Jaypee didn’t want to listen. At his young age, he couldn’t really understand, and he didn’t like serious talks. So their father’s full attention turned to CNA.
“Ate, you know Papa only works as a fisherman,” her father said. CNA just listened quietly.
“I have nothing else to leave you and your siblings but education. The only promise I can make is that I’ll send you to school as long as I can,” he said with deep emotion, though CNA couldn’t tell if it was the liquor or the heaviness in his heart.
As she listened, CNA felt something tighten in her throat, and her eyes began to water. Her young heart was confused. She didn’t fully understand the weight of her father’s words, but she felt it sink heavily into her chest.
“You’re the eldest among your siblings. I want that when you finish, you’ll also help the next one study. And then that one will help the next, and so on. Because if it’s only Papa, I’m getting old,” her father said.
CNA began to cry without knowing exactly why. Her shoulders felt pressed down by the weight of those words. She didn’t yet know what responsibility meant, but it already felt like everything was being placed on her back.
“Don’t marry too early or do something foolish. Because if something happens to you, I don’t know what I’d feel. I’d lose the drive to send the next one to school. They’d all be angry with you,” her father added.
By then, CNA was crying hard. Her father asked, “Why are you crying?” and hugged her. She couldn’t explain why. At her young age, she tried to understand his words. Along with her tears came a deep engraving in her memory. Not only the words were planted in her, but also the weight of responsibility — and the fear that one mistake could destroy her siblings’ future.
That night, they all slept the way they always did. But for CNA, it wasn’t the same as any other night. It was the night she was given a responsibility she didn’t know if she was ready for. Did she even have a choice? Or was this simply how it was when you were the eldest?
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THE CHARACTERS, NAMES AND EVENTS IN THIS STORY ARE COMBINATION OF IMAGINATION AND REAL LIFE EVENTS OF THE AUTHORS.
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ADVANCE APOLOGY FOR MISSPELLED, MISUSED AND TYPOLOGICAL ERROR IN FUTURE CHAPTER.
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This is my first story and ever since i really wanted to write about this. so bear with me, I appreciate if you’ll drop your thoughts about it. Thanks !
I also posted this on my Wattpad account MS. S or @worldsbeauty
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and then Add to home screen.