Bonds Borne of Adversity: Salem & Beulah, #1

By Edna Aluoch

This is a novel that is based on family life, relationships and coping with the sudden changes and challenges that are typical of life. It is a fiction story with 10 chapters set in two different countries. The story seeks to show how sometimes adversity is what provokes people to get closer and develop ties that they would not have had if everything was okay in their lives. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edna Odongo
• Release date: Feb 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215007969

Edna Aluoch

I am a Creative Writer, Virtual Assistant, and Admin Professional, from Kenya. I love writing blogs and poems, reading books, listening to music, crocheting and travelling. You can follow me on twitter @EdnaOdongo, or my blogs:  www.aluochpoet.wordpress.com www.ywwscribe.wordpress.com I have been doing freelance writing since 2010, and becoming an author is one of my dreams in life. 

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Published in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Bonds Borne of Adversity

Edna Aluoch

February 2023

DEDICATION

First, to the Most High God, who graciously gave me the writing gift, helped me to develop it, and inspired the story written here. To Him be all the glory and praise forever!

To my friends and fellow writers - Agnes Shikalo and Liz Saikati - who unknowingly gave me the final push onto the platform of producing a book. I had been working up the nerve to write a whole novel and was not making any headway for quite some time till you two came onto the scene. Your own works in poetry and short story inspired me to go ahead and launch into this book. You are true destiny helpers. God richly bless you.

Finally, I dedicate this entire story (Part 1 and 2) to all my nieces and nephews, (yes, all 19 of them) especially those who are called to be creative writers in one way or another. Look, I open this door for all of you. Never doubt the ability God has given you. Look deep inside and you will find the book that the world has been waiting for you to write. Don't let anything stop you now or ever.

EDNA ROSEMARY ALUOCH

CHAPTER ONE

It was a very cold Monday morning. The wind was blowing hard and fast, and it looked like it could rain anytime. Everyone wore heavy jackets over their school uniforms and some pupils had gloves covering their hands.

Salem did not have any gloves and his fingers were already freezing as though he was holding ice. He tried warming them inside the deep pockets of his dark brown jacket but that made no difference. As soon as he reached the school gate he began to sneeze hard.

He sneezed twice, walked a few steps then sneezed twice again. His nose was now feeling watery.

Oh no! I forgot my handkerchief at home, he thought to himself, and I hate using tissue! If only mum was around, she would have put for me the handkerchief in my bag.

He remembered how mum would always put everything he needed for school into his blue-black rucksack the night before. Then she would wake him up in the morning before Beulah, who liked to sleep a little more on school days. Being woken up first always made Salem feel like he was the older one, even though they were twins. After that they would pray together before preparing themselves to go to school. Today morning they did not pray and that made him feel a bit sad. He missed mum even more.

He turned round to see how far Beulah and her two friends were. They liked to lag behind when walking to school, giggling and whispering to each other, so that Salem always ended up walking alone.

Beulah, hurry up! shouted Salem. He had stopped walking.

Yes we’re coming! his sister shouted back.

He walked on a bit then turned round again to see whether they were following. The three girls were standing in a circle still talking so he decided not to wait anymore. He walked quickly to class and sat down at his desk ready to start learning. He secretly hoped the day would end quickly as he was feeling very low.

Beulah came into the class alone. Her friends were in the next class so they had to part ways in the corridor. Immediately she walked in she knew that her twin brother was not feeling okay. He had opened a text book on the desk but just stared at it without moving. Beulah could tell he was not reading anything at all.

Hey Salem, what’s wrong?

Salem wanted to answer but ended up sneezing again very loudly.

Yuck, that is gross, Salem! Don’t you know you should always cover your mouth and nose when sneezing?

Sorry, I forgot my handkerchief at home, replied Salem, feeling even more miserable now.

Are you having a cold? asked Beulah.

I...I don’t know, maybe?

Beulah put the palm of her hand against Salem’s forehead. Their mother always did that whenever any of them said they were sick. She said that if the forehead felt very hot then it means they had a fever. Then Beulah also remembered that mum would pray for them if they ever felt sick, and every time she did that they would feel better. Maybe she could pray for Salem. Before she could tell Salem what she was thinking the class teacher entered in a hurry and told everyone to keep quiet and sit down. It was time for the lesson to begin.

Math was the twin’s favourite subject so they both sat up and paid attention for the entire lesson. It was a new topic on graphs and they really enjoyed it. Salem forgot all about his low feelings and Beulah forgot about praying. After that they had a History lesson and then it was time for the morning break.

There was quite a lot of noise as the children ran out of their classes and towards the field at the back of the school. It was a very big field with a football pitch at one end. In the middle of the field was a large patch of thick green grass where most of the children loved to sit and eat their snacks. The sun had come out now and there was a little bit of warmth in the air. As Beulah and Salem sat down together on the grass, Beulah suddenly remembered that she had wanted to pray for Salem earlier before their lessons began.

Are you still feeling bad? asked Beulah, chewing her mandazi.

Hey, you’re not allowed to speak with your mouth full! You should swallow first, cried out Salem.

Mmm...sorry, Beulah apologized and finished chewing. After swallowing she asked her brother the same question again.

Not really. I think I’m okay now, replied Salem.

Hey look, Tala and Tasha are over there, Beulah had just noticed their friends sitting a short distance away. Salem looked in the direction his sister’s finger was pointing and saw the twins. Tala and Tasha were each reading a book, their heads bent low as they concentrated on what they were reading.

How come they are not eating? asked Salem who was now staring at Tala and Tasha.

"Maybe they did not carry any break," offered Beulah.

Why?

I don’t know, replied Beulah impatiently.

Do you think we can ask them? Salem was still staring at the other two children while holding a half-eaten chapati in his hand. "If they don’t have break we can share ours with them, right? Remember mum told us that God always wants us to share what we have with others."

Tasha suddenly looked up from her book and saw Salem staring. She waved her hand at him and smiled. Salem waved back then beckoned for her to come. Tasha nudged at her twin brother and pointed in the direction of Salem. All four of them were now looking at each other and smiling.

Beulah stood up and said, Come and sit with us.

Tala and Tasha closed their books and went to sit with their friends.

"Do you want some chapo?" asked Salem.

Tala and Tasha looked at each other and just smiled.

It’s okay, you can have some of our food, said Beulah as she took the lunch box from her lap and held it out to Tasha who was sitting next to her. There were two mandazi left in it.

Salem took the cue and also handed his tin to Tala. You can have mine too, he said, smiling. His tin had two pieces of chapati in it.

You guys are so nice, said Tasha in a shy voice, when they had all finished eating. You know we didn’t even have breakfast in the morning so we were very hungry.

Yes, that is true, added Tala, feeling a bit embarrassed. He was looking down at his hands and twisting his fingers.

Oh, don’t worry at all, said Beulah confidently. We don’t mind sharing because God will give us more.

Is that true? asked Tala, looking up suddenly.

Yes. When you give to others then God will bless you with more. That’s what we learnt in church on Sunday, right Salem?

Yes that is true.

Do you like going to church? asked Tasha curiously.

At that point the bell rang very loudly and everyone had to go back to class. However, lessons did not begin as expected. Instead the children found themselves left alone while all the teachers seemed to have gone into the staff room for a meeting. They took a very long time so the children began to make noise and moved around from one class to another. Some were chasing each other along the corridor while others remained in their classes talking in groups. No one understood what was happening but they were glad at the chance to be on their own for a while.

Tala had been chosen as a prefect in his class because he was very responsible, organized and disliked noise. He was in a different class from Tasha as their mother had insisted they should not be in the same class just because they are twins. They both didn’t want the separation but they had to obey. Now he looked around at the children playing in class and wondered whether to write the usual list of noisemakers as he always did when the teacher was not around.

Before he could make up his mind there was a sudden commotion outside the class and the children who had gone outside came running back shouting, Teacher is coming! Teacher is coming! Desks were pushed around,