Eloise was almost heartbroken when she saw her sister sitting alone at the table in their kitchen. It eats rice as if it were only up to the throat and did not reach the stomach. She wanted to shed tears because of the hardship they had experienced. They didn't have enough food. That's why she didn't gain weight, even though she was in her twenties.
Her father didn’t have a permanent job, and her mother was a laundress for anyone who wanted to buy rice and a dish every day, but it still wasn’t enough. She also tried to find a job to help her parents, but no one would accept her because she had not even graduated from high school. I leaned against our bamboo wall and was swayed by my senses. My stomach hurt because I had traveled around the city on an empty stomach before. And I even came to saw my sister who is eating, so I knew there was no rice left for me. Sometimes I fall asleep without any food that digest in my tummy, but I don't complain because I can't do anything. My sister noticed me later.
"Sister, have you been there earlier?" She asked me.
"I just arrived," was my answer. I noticed it seemed to hold her stomach.
"What's wrong, Mathilde?" I ask her in a worried voice.
"I'm still hungry, Sister, but it doesn't have any rice. And then mom will be home late. " She told me I washed my hand over my face.
How about me? I am also hungry after roaming around the city trying to find a job. But I didn't speak up and just kept it to myself.
"Where's Dad?" I will ask. "He left earlier and he said he would look for a job. " My sister answered.
“Just drink water first, so you'll be full. Add more because I'm also thirsty. " I command her.
It nodded and went back to the kitchen. I gasped. We also don't have a farm that somehow if we don't have rice like this, we still have fruits available to alleviate hunger.
My sister returned to where I was standing and handed me a glass of water. I drank it so I wouldn't go hungry. My sister leaned over me as she looked at me. I met her gaze.
“Why, Mathilde? Do you want to tell me something? " I asked her.
My sister is beautiful, just covered up because there are no sensible clothes to wear. She is sixteen, so she is in an adolescent stage was vulnerable and needed to be taken care of.
"I'm having a hard time, Sister, with our situation. I don’t know when we will get out of poverty.
“How come we didn't even finish high school? "She told me.
"God is merciful, Mathilde; he will not let us suffer." My answer.
"There are many more opportunities for us to study.” I says.
“Since when? Even food on a daily basis is difficult for us to see," she lamented.
I didn't know what to say to ease her mood. I touched her face.
"I want you always think about that there is hope in life." I told her.
“Our suffering was come to an end, all we have to do is pray and ask for grace, okay?”
She hesitated to nod, but I hugged her tightly. I avoid talking like this because she always tell me how hard life is for us. Everyone is about our age in this area has a good job and is well educated. While us are still struggling with poverty, I let her go.
“ I leave you here, Mathilde. Wait for mom to come home. I'll just go somewhere. " I told her.
"Where are you going?" She asked me.
"I'll look for something we can eat." I answered her.
Her face lit up at me and she nodded. When I came out of the house, I were walking down the road. Looking at each house, venturing with someone looking to do laundry. I stopped for a moment when I saw a big house with people having fun. I think it’s a birthday party because I see a lot of hanging balloons. I approached the gate and asked the guard who was standing.
"Brother, aren't you looking for a dishwasher?”
"I think there is a party inside." I told the guard.
"There is. But let me ask the butler first. They might be looking for a washer.” The guard said.
The guard came in and left me standing outside the gate. My stomach is getting hungry. I prayed that they would still be looking. The gate opened again and the guard came out smiling.
"You go inside, the butler is waiting for you at the front door." He told me.
I nodded and walked inside. I saw a fat woman standing and looking at me. I was amazed at the size of the house. There are lots of cars parked that are obviously expensive and look brand new. I didn't see the people, maybe on the other side of the house.
"Are you what the guard is saying?" the woman asked.
"Yes," I said.
“All right, let's go inside the kitchen. Do you really know how to wash a plate? The one without soap left? " It asked me.
I nodded and walked into the kitchen. Also, the kitchen is super big too, with lots of nice appliances. I went to the sink and saw the thick plates that break easily when they fall to the floor.
"Just wash it slowly, daughter, because the plates will broke easily." The woman said to me,
I noticed the woman took food inside the fridge, and it looked delicious. I remember my sister Mathilde. I am sure she would be happy when she tasted such delicious food.
"Eat first.” She told me. I was so happy because the woman would feed me because it was as if I was going to fall into extreme hunger. It's just that she's kind.
Maybe I don't think the woman didn’t bothered of what I looks. My clothes weren't new, but I knew it was clean, and I didn't stink. I'm twenty years old so it’s embarrassingly if I’m dirty. I go to the marble table and eat slowly. The sweetness of the cake the woman gave me is like tasting heaven. I plan to eat less because I am giving this to my sister Mathilde so she can taste the cake. The woman gave me one glass of juice. I accepted it and drank it.
"Consume all of that. I'll give you food later when you get home, because they don't have anything left to eat here. You know they have money, so they don't bother heating the food. " She told me then I nodded in response.
I am happy because somehow they can also taste delicious food. After I ate, I brought the glass and plate to the sink to wash. I have already started washing. I just make it slow because it was so slippery and I might break all the plate. The fat woman is also busy wiping the ones I have washed. My back hurt because I washed too much and then I helped the woman wipe glasses and dishes.
“Thank you, daughter. I didn't have too much trouble because you helped me. I'm don’t have any companion here because my boss is too stingy, " she said to me in a low voice.
I nodded in response.
"We don't have anything to do, so you can go home since it's getting late. Maybe they're looking for you. " She told me.
"That's your fee for washing things here." She said once handed me $100. I accepted it.
"It's too big, ma'am?" I asked her.
"It’s okay, accept that." She told me.
“And besides, bring it for your parents. That's not left. I really cooked that for you. " She told me, smiling.
"Thank you." Simultaneously carrying three paper bags, and handed it to me. I knew food was on the inside and the dish. I went out the door.
"Be careful!" is what the woman said to me.
I waved at her. And out of the gate. I smiled at the guard and walked away from the big house. The surroundings are so bright. And I would also walk a few kilometers to get home. It's okay because I know it's safe to walk around our place at this hour. There were lots of kids chasing each other in the middle of the bright moon. People talking in the middle of the street. I looked up at the sky. Many stars twinkle as if to tell me not to give up on life because there is still hope waiting for me. We hope to rise above the hardships of life we have experienced. I was about to enter the alley behind our house when I saw my father looking at me. I knew he would angry at me because I came home late at night.
