@VerusEbullioBeninga winced at the sting in her hands. She could feel the blisters growing and burning on her finger tips against the rough stone floor. About half the kitchen was cleaned now, with only a few feet left to go and Beninga couldn’t have been happier to see it done. It seemed as though she had been scrubbing the floor all day which had caused her wrists and knees to ache from the uncomfortable position. However she knew it could’ve been worse, her mother had cleaned the rest of the small apartment from top to bottom by herself, the young girl couldn’t imagine the aches and pains she endured while doing so. And she did it without a single complaint. So, Beninga decided that if her mother could do all that then she didn’t have the right to complain with just the kitchen. She only hoped that the two of them could get the daunting task of cleaning the entire house done in time.
See, early this morning Beninga’s father had taken her two younger sisters to the market saying he expected to return to a spotless house. In the Cagyli household, Father’s words were law and the consequences were often severe when disobeyed. The worst of which were received by Beninga’s mother Magdalene. Beninga knew that she had to do her best so as to spare not only herself, but her mother and siblings as well. So, with a wince she quietly wringed out the worn out rag and set to emptying the suds bucket. Seconds later the tell-tale screech of the rusty door hinges rang throughout the house followed quickly by Beninga’s toddler sisters.
“Beninga,” Her father Leon’s voice came ominously behind her. Loaded with apprehension Beninga turned around to face him and felt her heart crash when she saw the muddy footprints across her freshly cleaned floor. “Is this clean you!?” He stepped towards her, raising his arm. It wouldn’t matter that it had been clean before Esta walked over it. Beninga closed her eyes, bracing herself for the blow, and it took only a moment to realise that the loud smack had not made contact with her. Instead she saw her mother sprawled on the floor opposite side of the burly man, with a large red sting across her cheek.
Immediately tears pour down her face, choking on them as she tried not to make a sound lest it draw his attention. As slowly and quietly she could Beninga grabbed her twin sisters, Esta & Arlie, and pulled them into their parent’s bedroom. Once there she grabbed her infant brother and the four of them sat in the corner of the dark room while sobbing in chorus with the screams and smacks from the other room. It had seemed like hours that they stayed there when at last their fathers loud footsteps could be heard approaching.
“DON’T YOU TOUCH THEM!” Their mother’s screech could’ve been heard for miles, though the deafening bang that followed would easily drown it out, followed by a wet and heavy thud. Beninga covered her sisters’ mouths, stifling the screams they had tried to let go and held them tighter while Helmer hung to her neck. After that, all sound had ceased in the small shack.
Then, they must of stayed in that position for at least day when they finally heard the door open again. Despite her attempts Beninga could not stop Helmer’s cries of hunger from being heard, and squinted hard as the light flooded through the bedroom door as it opened.
“Found them!” A dapper looking man in a black suit hollered to another who quickly joined him.
“Poor things,” The second man muttered as he approached the huddle of children and, with minimal coaxing, managed to take Helmer in his arms. While the other struggled to carry the twin girls. Turning away they both walked away as Beninga chased after them, hitting and protesting as much she could.
“Don’t worry they’re all going to be put somewhere nice, little lady,” The first man, sisters in hand, tried to assure her.
“What about me?” The tears feel harder than Beninga could remember as she stared angrily at the man. Like most young children Beninga felt an immeasurable guilt and blame for what could never have been her fault.
“Sorry,” The man’s eyes looked wet as he seemed to struggle with a lump in his throat, “But the orphanage says you’re too big little lady,” A third and forth man came and grabbed the twins and separated them two cars. Which Beninga tragically noticed that Helmer had occupied neither. “Good luck kid,” The man tipped his head and returned to his own car and left.
After the cars dispersed Beninga immediately caught the gaze of the dozen or so neighbours and passerbys that were watching the debacle. Slowly, she went back inside and started cleaning the bloody stain left in the hallway. Not half a day later, however, the Landlady arrived and promptly informed that she had to leave. Graciously, the woman allowed her a few precious belongings before sending her out. A tattered dress and a small pouch that held some scraps of food created a strange image against the brilliantly coloured, though slightly rusted, pendant her mother once owned.
That was nearly a year ago now and Beninga’s fortune had changed very little. Since then she had fashioned herself some cloth shoes and a wrap meant for carrying items around waist. She still had the same raggedy dress, though it had significantly more patchwork and hardly reached her knees now, as well her mother’s pendant despite no longer wearing it. Instead she kept it securely within the make-shift wrap.
Like this, she walked the slums of Helholm living mostly on petty thievery and the occasional generous civilian. Today, it was going to be cunning that fed Beninga her dinner. Scoping the area Beninga quickly found her target, a young well-to-do woman who was clearly with child. It would be easy to tug at her heartstrings surely. Not wanting to miss her chance, Beninga approached her with most sullen face she could manage.
”Uhm.. ‘scuse me miss..” Beninga tugged lightly on her petticoat causing the woman to look down, alrighty the pity was palpable on her face, “Sorry, but mightn’t you have some bread? I’m soo hungry…” Beninga clutched her nearly concave stomach to emphasize her point. It’s not like she was lying after all. The young woman put a hand over her mouth, as if holding back a cry, and immediately went into her petticoat and pulled out a medium sized wrapping.
“Here sweetheart,” The woman carefully placed it in her hand and gave her a small hug before turning to go.
“God bless you miss!” Beninga shouted after her, waving excitedly. Street like her had it incredibly hard, often going days without food and having access to only the most deplorable water sources. It became very dog eat dog, and most took whatever advantage they could. Beninga was not different and was very aware of how being a small girl made her begging that much easier. Girls were seen as delicate and fragile, so pity for them came easily to most, while boys were often berated for not working at the many factories in Helholm. Fact was, most of them did but it was far too easy for bosses to get away with shortchanging.
After she as sure the woman was out of sight, Beninga went into a break-neck speed towards an small alleyway. Whatever was in the wrapping was heavy and she knew that the moment she was spotted with such a grand prize, it become a free for all. And, while being a small girl made begging easy, it made keeping the prize much harder. Once she found her familiar corner of the alley, complete with a mouldy rug and water-logged box full of her belongings that couldn’t be easily carried, Beninga made herself comfortable and started carefully unwrapping. In a minute or so the beautifully decorated wrapper had been removed, revealing at least half of a sponge cake.
Smartly, Beninga split it into portions and re-wrapped the rest for later and started on her feast.
