Semina’s Father told her that she is now old enough to walk from the bus to his apartment by herself.
This made Semina feel very mature, after all she was now ten years old.
She had not been to see her Father for five weeks. The last time she was with him he went to the furniture maker to look at the new bed he had ordered. He told Semina to stay in the showroom while he went into the shop with the Master Carpenter. Semina was puzzled, why does he need a new bed he has a perfectly good one in his bedroom.
While Semina waited for her Father in the showroom, she touched and stroked the furniture with her eyes closed. She did this to see how the Master Carpenter felt, he is blind, how does he do his work when he cannot see. Semina loved the feel of the wood and the lines of the furniture, smooth lines and a polished finish, it felt beautiful in her hands. This is how he must do it, stroke the furniture and feel the lines and the smoothness of the finish. Semina smiled to herself.
Semina’s Father came back to the showroom and told her that they were going to her cousins Greta’s house and that she was to spend the rest of the weekend there.
Semina and her cousins Greta’s family were having dinner when Greta’s brother looked at Semina and said “Are you going to the wedding on the east side” Greta’s Mother right away shushed the Brother and told him to finish his dinner. Semina was puzzled and wanted to ask questions, but was afraid, because Greta’s Mother can be very scary.
Five weeks later Semina got of the bus and started walking to her Father’s apartment, when a man, woman and a small child that had been on the bus, caught up with her. The woman said “Are you Semina?” Semina did not know this family, but she was being polite and told the woman that she was. Then the woman told her that they were going to the same place. The woman then said to her “It is too bad that you won’t be having a little sister or brother” Semina was puzzled, but smiled at the woman without saying anything. Semina did not know what she was talking about.
When Semina and the family from the bus arrived at the apartment, her Father opened the door and invited everyone inn. Semina took her hat off in front of the mirror that faces the bedroom. In the reflection Semina saw a woman in a new bed, in her Father’s bedroom. This was the bedroom that used to be her parents room, when they were a family.
Semina froze, she did not know what to do. The family from the bus was in the bedroom kissing the woman in the bed. Semina when she looked closer could see that she was the woman that cooked the food and owned the place where her Father used to get his dinner. Why is this woman in bed and why is she in her Father’s bedroom?
Semina’s Father came out of the bedroom and said to her, “Come and say hello to my new wife” All kind of thoughts were spinning in Semina’s head as she tried to smile and be very polite. All eyes were on her, she put her hand out to her Father’s new wife and said “Hello, I am sorry that I cannot stay” Her Father quickly said “You are going to stay with your Aunt this weekend and you will visit us” Semina looked at her Father and asked him to come out to the hall to talk with her. Her Father did what she asked.
Semina now very angry said to her Father, “I am going back to my home, and I will visit you when you have time for me” her Father slapped her face and said “You are more like your Mother every day” Semina smiled through her tears and said in a small voice “Thank You”. She put on her hat and coat and left the apartment, as she was going down the stairs Semina heard her Father yell “Come back here ~ don’t be such a brat ~ you will like her when you get to know her ~ Semina come here, I tell you” Semina went out the door of the apartment building, with tears blinding her, she squared her shoulders, put her head up and walked towards the bus station. Her Mother will give her hugs and kisses and tell her that she loves her, when she comes back home.