Day 1

If only, Beatrice thought to herself as she walked the dirt road to her family’s small home. If only I could go to school with the other children in the village. Beatrice dreamed of attending school, but it was not an option for her. She and her siblings spent their days helping their mother with her business instead. They collected water from the river a couple miles away and were responsible for stirring Mom’s boiling pots of smelly, yucky liquid.

As Beatrice neared the door, she heard her mother moving around inside. “Uh, hello, Mother,” Beatrice humbly greeted her.

“Beatrice, I’m leaving,” her mother, Leah, said. Beatrice watched as her mother stuffed her belongings into a small bag. Panic rushed through her veins.

“It won’t be for very long. I’ll be gone less than a week. I know that I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m going to meet the people who helped our neighbor Betty. I need you to be responsible and take care of things. Beatrice, if there’s an emergency, your aunt is available, and maybe your father will show up soon.” Leah continued, “Tuck these three dollars away to buy something for you and the others to eat before you go to bed at night. Only use it if you absolutely must. There is no more.”

Beatrice felt unsure about the week ahead as she watched her mother climb into a taxi and disappear around the bend.

• Can you imagine being in 8th grade and put in charge of your entire family (even dad)?

• What do you think Beatrice was processing and trying to make sense of while she saw mom ride off?

• How would you feel knowing that your siblings' well-being is in your hands?

Don’t miss how the story continues tomorrow right here and on the ELI Facebook page!