The foods aroma seemed to evade every corner of the room. Bottles of different beverages littered the table as Mary dished out the delicacies. Naomi watched dumbfounded as her eyes trailed over the different foods and drinks. She couldn't remember when last she had gotten the opportunity to sit with her parents at the dining table.
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Her feet couldn't sit still as it bounced up and down. Her hands shook in her lap, as her father's gaze landed on her.
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"You helped your mother cook this food?" Joseph asked, her voice vibrating the table
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"Uhmm. I...I" Naomi stuttered
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"Yes" Mary answered, Josephs attention turned to her "She helped me with some"
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"Some?" He inquired, Mary nodded. Joseph turned his head to Naomi, his eyes staring into her soul "Why not all?"
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Naomi remained silent, dropping her head to the plate infront of her as Mary finished dishing out the food and sat beside Joseph
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Joseph slammed his fist against the table, the plates and spoons bouncing with a clang "I'm asking a question!" He exclaimed
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Mary placed her hand on Josephs fist "Joseph stop" she whispered. "Please"
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They held each other's gaze, and Josephs fingers slowly unclenched.
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He broke the eye contact and placed his attention on his food.
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A comfortable silence hung over the air as they all indulged in their food. Every spoon was like heaven, an uneven comparison to the vegetable soup. Every grain of rice that touched their tongues was appreciated, Joseph took a sip from his glass and moaned in pleasure "This food is amazing" Joseph stated, a smile graced his face and Naomi watched mesmerized.
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She had never seen her father smile, Mary reciprocated the smile as she gazed up at Joseph. "Thank you" she answered proudly.
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Slowly Josephs smile faded, his eyes remained on Mary watching her intently, his eyes scanning darting over her features
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"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mary inquired,
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"What is with all that makeup?" Joseph asked, his eyes on her
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"What makeup?" Mary inquired
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"The blush, the lipstick, the earings...everything else"
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"My face was looking abit pale, so I decided to put blush"
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Joseph's eyes squinted, Mary seemed to fidget under his intense gaze "Who was here?" His voice was low, just above a whisper.
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"Nobody. It was just me and Naomi the whole day."
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Joseph turned to Naomi, and she immediately dropped her spoon "Who came to this house?" Joseph asked.
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Naomi gulped and shook her head. Mary sighed heavily "Nobody came to the house Joseph"
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"Shut your mouth. I'm not speaking to you." He exclaimed, Mary dropped her head and remained silent "Naomi who came to this house?!"
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"No-Nobody came here" Naomi stuttered
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"Were you in this house the whole day?"
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"No I went to the field to harvest the crops"
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Joseph chuckled humorlessly "Mary, you had the guts to bring a man to my house".
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"You know I would never do such a thing."
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"Don't you bloody lie to me woman!"
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"I'm not lying Joseph"
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"What other reason could you have to put all this makeup on?"
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"I already told you the reason Joseph"
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"You're taking me for a fool right? You think I'm playing with you. Do you know that I could slap you, right here right now? You're telling me that you put lipstick on your lips, and earrings in your ears because your skin was pale. What bullshit reason is that?"
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"I just wanted to look beautiful for you Joseph"
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"Are you demented? You think I'm a fool. Now you wanna change the whole story around. Mary its going to be better for all of us, if you tell me the truth." Joseph banged his fist on the table once more "Who is that son of a uncircumcised turtle that you brought to my house!?"
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"I had been on the call with your sister for most of the time that naomi had been away and the rest of the time. I had been cleaning up the house. What time would I have to bring a man to our home?" Mary reasoned, tears welling up in her ears
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"I'm going to call Jane... If I find out that you're lying to me I swear, you won't like what I'll do to you. Don't say that I didn't warn you. Do you understand me?"
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Mary nodded softly, a tear sliding down her face as she dropped her head, lowering her gaze. Naomi wanted to run up to her mother and just engulf her in a hug, and wipe away her tears but fear stuck her feet to the ground.
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"Use your words" Joseph commanded
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"Yes. I understand" Mary whispered
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"Stand up and go wash that rubbish off your face. Right now"
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Mary stood and disappeared to the washroom, an awkward silence remained in the dining room as Naomi had finished eating and wasn't sure how to excuse herself "Woman." Joseph murmured as he sighed softly "It's a struggle" He refilled his glass and it's contents disappeared with one gulp.
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Naomi didn't know what to say, panicked she allowed herself release a little chuckle "yeah" she murmured. Her eyes widened.
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WHAT DID YOU JUST DO.
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The words screamed in her head.
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Josephs head snapped towards her, his eyes widening as if he had forgotten that she was there "Did you enjoy the food?" Joseph asked her.
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Naomi had never had an actual conversation with her father, this was an odd interaction for her "Yes. Yes I did" she nodded
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"Do you know where the food came from?"
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"No" she shook her head.
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Feminine footsteps echoed in the room and Mary walked in, Joseph watched her as she took her seat. "You didn't tell Naomi about the source of the food?"
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Mary's gaze landed on Naomi, before resting on Josephs plate "She didn't ask. Do you want me to refill your plate?"
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"Yes just abit" Joseph answered before placing his attention on Naomi "Mr Reagan had packed the house with foodstuffs, he said that he didn't want you going hungry and that he wanted you happy and fed."
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Naomi blinked, not sure how to react to that information
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"Are you not going to say anything?" Mary inquired
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"I don't know what to say" Naomi replied, she didn't like how all the attention had been averted to her
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"Imagine what more he could do for us when you get married to him" Mart beamed.
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Naomi smiled, humming in response. "I'll go and get water" Naomi stated "Can I be excused?"
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"There's water on the table Naomi,"
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"It's warm, I want cold water"
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"Are you-" Mary began but Joseph stopped her
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"You can go" he decided, Naomi nodded in thanks as she stood up and walked to the kitchen.
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Naomi leaned into the counter, her eyes tightly shut as she counted till ten. She pouted, as it dawned on her that she would become the fifth wife of an old man. She would never feel those butterflies that she read about in books.
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Slowly, she took a cup from the cupboard and took water from the fridge. As she began to return to the dining room, the chatters of her parents stopped her in her tracks "He had said that he wanted her, and was willing to pay double the price if he could have her" Josephs voice vibrated, echoing against the walls
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"Double the price?!" Mary gasped "That's impossible"
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"That's what I thought, but he assured me that he wasn't false"
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"Mr Reagan must have said something about Naomi, it's not normal, how almost all the elderly in the community are suddenly interested in her."
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"I agree. But all I care about is the money. If they have enough money, they can have her"
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"Aren't you afraid that Mr Reagan might retaliate against us"
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"If they have more money than Mr Reagan does, obviously they'll have more power. They'll protect us against him."
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Naomi gobbled the water down in one go, she was disgusted at how her parents spoke. She felt as if she were in an auction and her parents were calling out for the highest if bidders to come and buy her.
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They were selling her off, this so-called marriage was an attempt for them to become richer. Not able to hear anymore of their talks she walked in and say down silently. Her parents, effortlessly dwindled into the subject of weather as if they hadn't been talking about her future just moments ago.
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Naomi packed the dirty dishes and placed them into the sink. When she was done cleaning them, she wandered off to her room. Allowing herself wander into the realm of dreams.
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~~~~~~~~
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