…..kunemi Amai (Dear Mother)

Dai ndaive shiri ndaiburuka ko (if I was a bird I would fly there) I miss you everyday amai, life is so different without you, it is hard without you but I try my best everyday to be strong, I try my best to take care of Tapiwa and Tawanda. They are growing so much, eating everyday, amaiguru (aunt) is always complaining that before too long she will have to buy a loaf of bread each for them for breakfast, she calls them gormandizers, I always laugh at her when she says that because she says she does not know what that word means but it seems befitting to describe the boys’ eating habits.

Tawanda is now so naughty amai, even his teachers complain about his behavior. Yesterday Mrs Ncube (his grade 3 teacher) called me to heroffice and she said, “Chipo where is your mother?” and I told her you are in England working for us and she said to me, “Chipo you need to take care of your little brother, you need to help him with his homework and most of all you need to watch out for his behavior, I do not know why he is being naughty he has always been a good boy but this year Chipo, if your brother does not change his ways I will have no choice but to demote him, he is always talking when I am talking and he does not do his homework, help him Chipo.” When I told amaiguru she said, “Ah Chipo it is also hard for me to keep up with Tawanda, look Levi is now a demanding 6 month old baby I have to watch him every second, I can not also look out for a big boy like Tawanda, you will have to do it Chipo.”

It is so hard for me too amai because I also want to concentrate on my books because next year form 1 I want to go to a good school so I am reading extra hard so I can get 4 points. My teacher said if I continue like this I can get 4 points and get a scholarship to study at St Ignatius Girls College. I get so excited thinking about it but my heart becomes sad because who will watch out for Tapiwa and Tawanda when I am a boarder, I am scared amai, I wish you could come back.

Thank you for the beautiful dresses you sent me but they are too small so I gave them to amaiguru’s daughter, Danai and they were a perfect fit on her. It has been 3 years amai and I am growing now amaiguru said she will tell you my new size. Next week but one is leavers dance for grade 7’s please amai send me a dress by then and size 4 shoes. I am still learning how to use the phone you sent me, it is a bit complicated but Tina from the post office said she will teach me.

Mazuva awanda ndokufunagi amai (the days are too many I think of you mother). I look at your pictures everyday so I never forget what you look like, it’s been 3 years now since you left, every year we hope it’s the year you will visit although this year we are hopeful that we will see you.

I miss you amai, ndinokudai (I love you)

I have put a card of Tapiwa, Tawanda and I, and Danai because she cried to be in the picture. Amaiguru said we must look very nice for this photo because it is going to fly in the aeroplane to get to you.

Write to me amai, I love receiving your letters.

Your daughter,

Chipo

• BloggingChallenge
• BlogIndaba
• home-sick
• nostalgia
• Winter Blogging Challenge
• winterABC