A young girl had to face a  tough life and was being looked after by a sick granny and later, by an auntie because her parents forsook her. She narrates her story to GIFT KALABA.

CHILDHOOD according to how God created us should be the most wonderful period to a child.
This, however, was not the case with my lovely friend Paxina Chilufya. I was very much puzzled when, in our long chat, she narrated her sad story to me.
She ended up living with only her helpless grandmother after being abandoned by her mother. Although her father was alive, he rarely visited them nor did he bother to find out how she was faring.
Paxina was born in 1997 in Ndola and after three months, her mother took her to her grandmother.
She was then taken to pre-school by her grandmother and afterwards, she went to Kabashi Basic School where she did her grade one to seven.
At this time life seemed fine and she worried about nothing. But there comes a time in life when the unexpected happens as it happened to Paxina.
First, her father who was thought to be of help to the family also abandoned them after he received a phone call from his brother who lived in South Africa.
The brother asked Paxina’s father to join him there as he had found a job for him. Since that August of 2009, Paxina has not seen or heard from him.
Secondly, after her father left, her lovely grandmother fell ill in that fateful month of May 2010.
By then Paxina was taking grade seven examinations.
“Our good Samaritan neighbours showed us their hospitality in that difficult moment and my grandmother proved strong and she recovered in just days.”
After five months, on October 19, 2010 she got sick again and this time it was worse, which compelled our neighbours to call my sister to intervene.
Without wasting much time, she was taken to the hospital. “I cried that night and tears could fill a bucket.
God why? Why do this to my grandmother?” she asked.
As time went by, she went back to write the exams which she had abandoned on that Tuesday morning of October 26, 2010, with many thoughts in mind.
“The exams like always, took a week and after I had finished writing, my grandma’s condition got worse, but she never wanted me to notice or get concerned.”
Doctors carried out the tests and said she had yellow fever. I was in a state of painful confusion although I never understood the sickness.
Towards the end of December 2010, our results were out.
But contrary to my expectation, and to my surprise, I passed with medium grades. I took the good news to my grandmother and she received it with much joy.
“You`ve made me happy I am proud of you, Chilufya,” she said.
“Always work hard in life from now on and aim at becoming somebody in life.”
“I took her words as I walked back home. Upon arrival I started thinking of how I could help my beloved sick grandmother as I fell asleep. I was awakened by loud voices from my mother’s sister and others; my grandmother had died that afternoon. That day marked the saddest moment of my life, my heart bled as I mourned my beloved grandmother.”
A woman came who was later introduced to me as my real mother. I was full of anger and suspicion. I was totally confused because I thought my mother was dead and showing up after 10 years or so was the least I expected.
After the burial, my so-called mother wanted to take me with her but I refused. And I rejected her as my mother to her face. For two good years from 2011-2012, I stayed without going to school because no one could support me.
It was in 2013, however, when my aunt took me with her to Luanshya where I did my grade eight -nine at Mpatamatu Basic School.
“I am grateful and sincere thanks to my aunt and my uncle for everything they are doing to help me and may Jehovah God grant them wisdom and more blessings.”
Because of them, she has the privilege of being in grade 10 at Mpatamatu Secondary School.
“Prosperity through hard work will be my goals as I aim at becoming somebody in life. May God bless all caring guardians.”
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