Chapter 1: The Eighteen 


“Wake up up! Are you up now?” Shouted Mr. Pentagon. 

“Hmm, what’s up? Replied Mela. 

“Did you see, what time it is now? Go cleaning the store and check the water, quickly!” shouted Mr. Pentagon. 

“Okay, I’m going now”. Replied Mela. 

“You have never changed; you are really like your mother. Why do I have to do all cleaning and washing every day? I am almost 50 years old now, but I still do these things for you all. I am so tired and really hate you, guys! You’re a girl but don’t do anything. When I have money, I will divorce with your mother and leave you to live in this hell.” Mr. Pentagon walks to the store and keep talking and complaining. 

Mela was a second daughter in her family, she has to take care of her mother who is not healthy and she is pregnant and her father who likes complaining and playing with betting every day. Her brother is small which cannot help her with selling or housework. Moreover, she has to support her older sister who continues her bachelor degree at the city and pay the bank for her family's dept. One day in her first semester of grade 12 at school. 

“Mela, come here!” Calling the homeroom teacher.

“Yes, please wait teacher!” Mela replied.

“What has happened to you, why did you come to school late every day and you are absent almost 3 weeks?” Mr. San. 

“I.. I … I …….” Mela is crying. 

“Okay. Tell me later but for now I will help you. Come to school when have time – one or two hours a day is okay.” Replied Mr. San with understanding expression. 

Mela nodded her head but kept on crying while walking to her seat. 

“Ma, I can help you without attending the class regularly from now on as my homeroom teacher said.” Mela talked to her mother. 

“Good but you might be failed if you don’t go regularly.” Her mother replied. 

“It’s okay, but can I study English at the private school for an hour a day and one of my favorite subjects one more hour? I promise I will study English at 12: 00pm to 1: 00 pm then I head to market to buy the groceries and other for selling. For another subject, I will take in the evening which is less customers and not effect to our selling.” Mela requested. 

“Mela, It’s up to you as you are the head of this family now, I don’t mind about this just try to study hard. Your time out I will help.” Her mother replied. 

“I’ve got it.” Mela replied. 

“Mela, give me some money, I lost the bet but no money to give them.” Her father demanded. 

“Here, and I have only this much.” Handed the money to her father. 

From day to day, Mela needs to study at 12: 00pm which is very difficult for her because she has to skip lunch and she need to attend the class due to her exam and monthly test. Mela has only few friends but not so close as her father doesn’t allow her to make friend with others. Anyway, she has a boyfriend since grade 11 but no time to spend with each other and her boyfriend also studies at the city like her sister. She has worked hard and studied hard since grade 11 because when she knew her older sister planned to continued her study then all the dept and business will be on her. One thing, that she cannot help is her dad behaviour – he likes buying lottery, betting on volleyball, boxing, playing card, smoking and drinking wine. She has to earn harder than before due to her extra classes plus she needs to pay for her sister monthly and tuition fee for short courses and her brother with her mom condition as well. She has to washing all the dishes, glasses, and pots before going to bed every day which she can go to bed at 1am then she has to study until 2 or 3 am after that she wakes up at 4:30am. She sometimes has breakfast but mostly she has only coffee for breakfast.  

“Ma, are you okay?” Mela asked. 

“I am okay.” Her mother replied. 

“Mela, come here! I teach you to take a bath for your little sister.” The old lady who helped her mom gave birth called her. 

“OK!” Mela replied with her excitement. 


“Mela, I will teach you to cook for your mother and you have to cook on time because your mom is exhausted and cannot do housework nor cooking about 3 months, okay?” asked Kaii – Mela’s aunt. 

“Okay. Let me help you, so.” Mela replied. 

“Mela, I brought you some rice so use it, don’t worry! I will help you until your mother is strong.” Kaii is patting Mela’s shoulder while Mela is crying. 

“Thanks a lot aunt!” Mela hugged her aunt and cried. 

“Mela, go to the store. I will help to look after your mother.” Her father asked. 


2 months were gone

Exam is coming in few days later. Mela is so busy and her business is going to be very busy. Her father is a lot better as he has no much time to bet on things because of taking care of his little girl who just born. 

“Mela, did you see the time?” her father asked with opened her window. 

“I have exam today; I don’t think I can sweep the floor.” Replied Mela.

“Stop studying now! What the hell are you doing; you will fail your exam anyway. You don’t go to school and I never see you study. Stop it now and go to the store.” Her father demanded.

“How can you see me study; I always working. How can you see me study when I don’t even have time to have lunch at home?” Mela talking to herself. Even though, she doesn’t like her father but she always follows and never stand for herself because she doesn’t like her dad using bad words to her. 

“Ma, do you need to see the doctor? I will ask aunt to help.It's been two months that you don't have milk to feed Brina” Asked Mela.

“It’s okay. We can feed the cow milk until she can eat porridge” Her mother replied. 

“I heard there is one old man who is good at ancient medicine, would you like to call him and try his medicine”, Mr. Pentagon said. 

“We would try, Pa.” Mela answered. 

“Okay. I will be looking for him soon.” Mr. Pentagon replied.