Day 2

Later that evening, Beatrice’s father, Peter, stumbled home. She worried about him. Is he sick? she’d wonder. And why does he always smell so bad? He often fell asleep outside in the bushes. Sometimes he would disappear for two or three days before he came home.

Tripping through the doorway into the house, Peter lost his balance and grabbed a small cupboard, knocking it to the ground. Shattered pieces of pots and cups scattered across the small living space. The noise startled Beatrice, whose conditioned response was to pick up her father’s mess.

“Where is your mother?” he demanded.

“I’m not sure, but she should be back soon,” Beatrice’s voice trembled.

With a suspicious look on his face, her father scoffed. “She probably got herself arrested and dragged to jail again.” Furious, he grabbed himself a cup of “medicine” and stumbled back outside. A few of his village friends were waiting for him. “We’ll have to find somewhere else to drink tonight. My wife is away.”

Beatrice cautiously let out a deep sigh as the disappointed group wandered off to find another home that might have what they wanted.

• Why do you think Beatrice's dad drinks so much alcohol?

• Can you imagine being so ashamed and embarrassed at not being able to even put food on the table and clothes on your children that you cannot look at yourself in the mirror?

• How would you cope with the constant self-doubt that tells you you're worthless and a deadbeat?

• If you had a 4th grade education, no real skills, and nobody ever taught you how to earn money do you think you'd be constantly stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed?

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