Mommy and Daddy, Please I am not for sale

I was walking down the long hot dirty , like I do everyday, to get home. On this particular day I hear a baby crying and a couple on their knealt before the river.

Then I saw something that I think would stay with me for the rest of my life. The man place the baby into the water. There was a little splashing going on, for what seemed like eternity to me, then it finally stopped.

My name is Anu and I live in a small village all my life. I have heard the cries of hunger, the cries of babies, when the mother’s milk has dried up behind malnourishment, I even heard the fighting of a family fighting over a small piece of bread left on the table. Our family got like that sometimes when most of the chickens got sick so we unable to sell them to the markets.

For some reason, nothing will ever take the place of what I saw today and that woman’s sorrow and pain. I felt it all the way to my bones. When, I suppose that was her husband, was finished, he gave the still and quiet infant back to his mother who held it close as they walked away. When I finally made to the front door and so out to breath, papa, heard me from down by the hen house, he came running to see what all the hurrahs was about. I was breathing so heavily that my mother gave me some water to calm me down.

In the end I finally got the entire story out. When I was finally finished telling it, my father said to my other brothers and sisters to get washed up for dinner. I stood their with my mouth wide agape. Then I had to ask them mama, papa did you just here the story I just told you? My mother would not look me in my eyes and my papa said to go get ready for dinner. I got up and I listened at the door, all I could make out was that must of been the Chandra’s baby girl she had last week. Then I heard my father say, He knows better than to do that during the day he knows he should wait until night. I was extremely dumbfounded, my parents talked about these things as if they were normal. I barely could eat that night and gladly gave my food to my brother who was ever so appreciative. When my brother and sisters finally all went to sleep, I could not sleep because I could not get those images out of my mind.

Then I heard my mother’s footsteps, where I would know anywhere, coming my way and she put her finger to her lips to say don’t wake the other’s up then waved for me to come with her. I followed her out to the kitchen she sat me down at the table and then I saw a tear come down her face. Momma, what is so wrong. I have to tell you something, and I knew it would come some day but not so soon. Then I began to start to ask questions about her and papa but she quieted me right away and said let me get this out right now while I have the nerve to.

Now you are the oldest girl and you are 11 years old. You will be 12 in a month, so I must tell you now. What you saw today is not an uncommon thing; it goes on all the time. Do you not ever stop to think that a week or two after a child is born in this village that they usually die quite often and often it is a little girl. I nodded, this was true, I just never thought about it. Well, she explained it all to me. We barely have food on the table some years are better than others are. However, those bad years are the ones that cause good, decent and hardworking people to do things that they would not normally do.

Therefore, I had to say to her I am so glad you and papa never had to make those kinds of decisions. Well, this is what I needed to talk to you about Anu. The only reason all five of my girls were spared is that I had to make a solemn promise, that when you turn twelve, I will let you go to America to marry an American man. Nevertheless, Anu, he will be almost old enough to be your grandfather. The man is already coming to get you in two months it has all been arrange.

I stood and looked down at my mother with the look of hatred on my face. She started to cry harder than she said, “This was the only way to keep you alive. I could not bring myself to drown something I held inside of me for nine months. How do we know, this man might treat you very well. Mama, what if he does not, I will be stuck in a country where I know no one. Mama I am scared, how could you and papa do this to me? Then it hit me all at once and I said this man from America, he is paying you and papa for me, is he not? My mother put her face down and just started crying harder. I looked up and saw my papa standing in the doorway. You are going to be considered grown, and we need this farm to prosper more, you should want to do this for your family. Don’t you love and respect your mother and myself.

All I could do was run out to the hen house where I slept, what little sleep I did get, out there for the remainder of the evening. I spoke to know one during breakfast and I walked home in a dazed. I looked at that spot where they drowned that baby. Well, I just will not do it. I will convince papa the money I bring home from the sewing mill every week is enough. I will hold strong against him and he will understand eventually. I felt good ever since I made that decision.

That happiness was short lived, before I could, my papa called me into the hen house. To speak with me in private. Before, I could get a word out he began to speak in a somewhat whispering tone. First, things have been moved up a little bit, he will be here 2 days after your 12th birthday and he wants to marry you over here. His name is Joseph Davidson and wants to travel back as Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, when he returns to America. Anu, you are my eldest child, I will not lie to you and tell you that I did want you to be a boy, but you were my first born and you were such a beautiful child, I did not nor I would not have had to destroy you anyway. It was your sisters that your mother had to make this promise to me in order to keep them. Anu, you must think of this as a sacrifice that you are making for your family. Your younger brothers and sisters will be able to stay in school. I will fix this old hen house and mother needs so many things.

I spoke with this man personally and he made a promise to me that he will always treat you good. By this time, I had my head down, and I had to ask him, would my sisters have to do the same thing? Of course Anu, you are not the only one who will have to endure this. You have four more sisters, by time you are all in America, you will all be able to come and visit us, who knows you, might love it there so much, you might not want to come back, he giggled. I knew this was all to make me feel better, and all the standing up to him just left me.

My birthday came and went and my father hardly spoke a word to me. I think deep down inside, he felt guilty, but he was not going to stop this whole charade was he? My mother had sewed me a dress, which for a different occasion I would have loved it. I heard her at night and I knew what she was working on.

The day finally came and our Buddhist Priest came to marry us. When I met him. I felt nothing but repulsion for this man who had to be every bit of 50. He actually had white hair. My papa did not even have white hair yet. After the ceremony, Mr. Davidson had to leave right away because of some meeting in the states. I kissed all my brother and sisters and gave them gifts I brought with my last two paychecks. Knowing once I leave my father will be like a rich man in our village. He and my Papa went into the hen house and I saw him hand my father an envelope. Mama was crying hysterically now. I waved and hugged everyone. I had this feeling in my heart, that I will never see them again.

I forgot to ask my papa one question and when I get to America I will write him a letter right away to ask him Papa, why did you sell me?

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