By Sascha Reinhard
“No more crying now. You will ruin your makeup.”
“Yes, Mother.” Beatrice stood rigid. She had always liked Mother brushing out her hair. Now, the memory would be sour.
“This is for the good of the family. A girl of ten wouldn’t understand. But one day you will and be grateful for it.”
“Yes, Mother.”
They led her outside and placed her hand into the meaty paw of a man with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. She locked away her fear deep inside. Do. Not. Cry.
The priest raised his voice. “Today, two great houses forge a bond of marriage…”
A sad story, but unfortunately this happens still with young girls as young as nine or ten being forced into marriage.
So sad.
Friend of mine wrote a short novel, Toropo: Tenth Wife, about forced marriages in Papua New Guinea. I just re-read it last week. You’ve captured so much of the fearful and awful experience she describes in so few words.
Amazing how you capture all the horror in such a short story!
Great depiction of horror and a horrible custom.
Moving story. Helps raise awareness of a horrific custom still practiced in some areas of our world.
“… Mother brushing out her hair. Now, the memory would be sour.” That was a knockout punch in this sorrowful tale.