Share
Chapter Nine
The light
Maria was lying in her bed later that day and was recalling all the events that took place earlier that day. Her heart was heavy with pain. She could not control her feelings when the thought of missing a chance to go to boarding school crept in. The tears were pouring uncontrollably and her pillow was wet. She missed her family. She missed being her parents's child. Most of all she missed being at home. They did not have everything they wished for but at least they were happy. She enjoyed being at home with people who loved her unconditionally. That was something she lacked and longed for at that particular moment. always heard the stories of children who grew up without parents and had to spend their lives being slaves to the relatives and their children. Her grandmother used to tell them the folk tales when it was evening after they had eaten their supper. They would sit around the fire listening to the fascinating stories her grandmot
Related chapters
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Ten
Maria the care giverIt was a Sunday afternoon, Maria was just chilling in the verandah overlooking a well groomed park that was in the back of the orphanage. It was a warm Sunday afternoon and she was just coming from the church. She was wearing a flowered frock and sandals. Her natural hair was neatly combed and shiny. An alice band that matched her dress was neatly tied around her head. She was feeling beautiful, although the clothes she was wearing were not expensive. The dress she was wearing was from a bundle of clothes that were donated to the orphanage by the Red Cross Army. She chose it first because she was among those who were distributing the clothes among other orphans.The dress fitted her nicely and it showed her curves and figure. She was reaching an adolescence stage and some features in her body were starting to show up. She was starting to glow. Although meals at the orphanage were limited, there were organisations t
The Rich Cinderella Chapter One
What happened to Sunday"Maria Sunday! Ma-r-i-a-a-a! A sharp hoarse voice followed by an echo, screamed at the far end of the hallway at St Paul's Mission orphanage. It was four thirty in the morning and sister Mary who was a matron at the orphanage was doing her routine check-in. She had a huge roster book in her hand and carried a large torch with the other. The hall was of gigantic size and was creepy too. It was an old church hall that was built in stones and has been there for ages. Some old members of the community were not even born when it's walls were erected. It has been serving the community for almost a century and was a plan of a first missionary evangelist ( father Michael Hendricks) who arrived in the community to be their spiritual leader. There were even rumours that the old hall was haunted by a ghost of an old nun who died of colon cancer many years ago. This former nun was a darling of the community and would visit all the members of the co
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Two
The next stopThe military trucks were heading off to the location where the battles were taking place. They were deployed there to maintain peace and order. They were told that the rebellions were hunting down the victims even though it was already midnight. There were dead bodies and injured people lying around helplessly. The nuns and the volunteers from the red Cross army were there to give help to the destitutes and injured people with the help of the soldiers who were assigned to oversee the whole situation. The dead bodies were taken to the local mob for later mass burial. The children who survived the battles and were left without parents were taken to the Roman Catholic Mission where they were packed in an old hall as a safe house. The local organisations and the Red Cross Army donated food parcels, clothing and mattresses for the children to eat and sleep.Maria woke up in a mattress next to the two other girls. She looke
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Three
Life at the orphanageAs if it was not enough for Maria to go to bed dog-tired every night , sister Mary would make sure they woke up as early as possible every single day of their lives at the orphanage. Four o'clock in the morning seemed to be the ideal time for sister Mary to howl at the hall entrance every day for them to start their daily chores. Some of them would wake up half dozed to grab their coats, gumboots and big hats to make the queue that would lead them to their duty fields. Sister Mary would carry a huge roster book to call and call out their names and the duties assigned to each of them.She would make sure that everyone had left their sleeping chamber. Should anyone happened to be still asleep when everyone had already woken up, such individual would face the serious consequences. A long whip would land between their shoulders and they would regret they ever slumbered when duty called. There were still those who would cry when the
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Four
Twinkle twinkle little star!Life at an orphanage became too much for a little girl like Maria. Besides being an early bird who always woke up at four o'clock every morning, there were other challenges. She was used being a mother to the younger orphans especially the sweet David. She loved watching him getting cuter every day. She realised that one day she would make a great mother. That is what every woman is raised to become, a mother. When things got out of hand, she would use her mother's advices. "A woman has to be strong for her family", she would say. Sometimes she would find herself praying. She did not know any much about prayer but she heard that God answers prayers. Even sister Mary would urge them to pray every night before they sleep. Now that they were attending church services every Sunday, she learnt some few things about faith.Sometimes she would pray for God to give her strength to finish her studies so that she becam
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Five
Karma paves the wayMaria's duties were extended to the kitchen. She was among those who were making sure that a big black pot of porridge was boiling and ready to be served at six o' clock every morning. The children would make a queue for the porridge and at seven o'clock they would leaving for their classes. Maria and other girls would was the dishes and sweep the floor before they were off to school. When the school was out they would rush to dish up for everyone. They would serve a plate of samp and a small portion of veges. Most of the time some kids would want more as the food was not enough. They would get scolded by the hot headed sister Mary.One day Maria got a good hiding by giving an extra plate to some of the children who were asking for more. Her plate was taken and she went to bed in an empty stomach. It was stressed that no one was allowed to get an additional amount of food no matter what the circumstances were. So, she learn
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Six
Karma will pave the wayMaria woke up quickly and made up her bed. She just folded the blanket, rolled the mattress and grabbed her coat and gumboots. She put on the big cowboy hat and it made her look like a shepherdess. Sister Mary gave her an axe to chop some wood so that she could be able to make fire. The big black pots were already filled with water to cook the porridge. She chopped the woods with trembling hands. It was so freezy and the frost was covering the surface of the ground. Her hands were frozen and it was difficult for her to continue with the chopping but she had no other way to avoid her duty.Tears started to roll down her face as she was struggling to continue with the chopping. Her father used to do that when her mother was about to make fire. Now it was her who was doing all that work. She knew if she took a long time to finish the chopping, sister Mary would be on her as there would be no porridge for children to eat before t
The Rich Cinderella Chapter Seven
Not having everything she wished for was part of Maria's life but to take what did not belong to her was not the part of it. Her mother taught her very well that if she wanted something she should ask nicely so that she could be given. She knew very well that if she wanted something that was pricey and beyond her parent's affordability, she should wait until it was the right time for her parents to afford it or she would make a little effort to do a little work in return for a reward. She offer to wash her father's socks so that she would give her few coins. There were many things she would help with to win the favour of the elders. Sometimes she would fetch water for an old lady who was their neighbour. The poor old woman was living with her young grandchild who was only three years. Her mother left her to go and work in the remote city and she never came back. The old woman was struggling to do other household chores as she was feable and sick. So, Maria wou
Latest chapter
