If we dont take care of them who will??

The story I am about to tell is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I visited my grandmother this weekend at her rural home in Zaka.

In our village every family knows the next and usually over the years relations develop and people treat one another as one big family. Note: I did not say one big “happy” family, I just said one big family.

 As we were driving to my grandmother’s homestead, we passed by another homestead. From a distance we saw an old lady who mother knew had previously been ill. She was sitting outside just next to the door of her hut. Mum decided that we should pass by and inquire about her health (one big family).

she looked nothing like this though, probably the direct opposite

As we got closer to where she was sitting we started to get very worried because she didn’t seem to be moving not even to acknowledge that there were visitors.

How best do I describe what I saw: This old woman, who was still recovering from a long illness, had been left all alone in the entire homestead. She must have trying to crawl out of the house and make her way to the ablution facilities. Instead she had soiled herself, there were flies all over her body. She had an endless stream of saliva running out her mouth and onto the ground. Her dress with buttons down the front was wide open; revealing her sagging and shriveled breasts, the same breasts that had fed and provided a safe haven for her five children, the same children who could not be bothered to take care of their MOTHER.

Mum is a nurse so she wasn’t as phased as I was by the picture that was before us, I on the other felt like puking because of the physical aspect and crying because of the emotional.

She didn’t respond when Mum asked her where everyone was, instead she started crying. A silent cry, it was just tears running down her cheeks. Tears which I presume spoke of the hurt and pain she was feeling.

We picked up her and removed her from the blazing Zaka sun. Then sat her down in the kitchen (at this point I couldn’t help it my tears just had to come out). The room showed that no cooking had been done in it for at least a day. There were pots on the floor which contained sadza and kapenta which looked and smelt off. Mum went over to the car and packed up some of granny’s groceries. We poured her a cup of juice and she gulped it down within seconds, another and she did the same. Mum handed her over some slices of bread which she devoured hungrily. Only after she had eaten did she attempt to string together a number of inaudible words.  The poor old woman was dehydrated and starved. 

We sat there for thirty minutes looking at her and wondering what kind of children could leave their mother in such a state. Wondering whether anyone on this earth deserves to suffer to such an extent.

Her son recently founded a Church where he is the Bishop. I wonder how he feels standing at the pulpit preaching….

I wonder what thoughts go through this old woman’s mind. I wonder if she still loves her children, I wonder if her children love her.

We had to leave, with heavy hearts we stood up, closed the door to her hut and made our way to my grandmothers still wondering….