blood feud

Tense with fear, yet weary of grief they stood framed in the door when she opened. Their story didn’t take long to tell, ancient as it is. Daddy’s gone missing. Well, first it was grandpa. He got killed first. Then their family had to appoint someone to kill the man who killed grandpa. Since it is a blood feud they know who did it. So auntie got told to do the killing this time. Usually women folk don’t do this work, but she’s slow and it didn’t matter much if she got killed back. Fact is, they’re running out of men to do the job. But now daddy’s gone missing. Not that they actually miss him. There’s a kind of unsettled peace that they can’t get used to. They’re programed on constant alert for his unpredictable reactions to the bottle. It’s good for mommy, in a way, she won’t get beaten again today, and maybe tomorrow, if he stays gone. But the worry is food. He didn’t bring home much, cause of the bottle. But now there’s truly nothing. And mommy can’t work. She never learned the reading stuff.

And they’re both girls, these sisters. Their eyes show that they know already that there is work that girls can do that no one talks about. No one talks, they just do it, cause this is the red light district. Perhaps it’s just fate. But their eyes show that they are afraid. Afraid of what mommy might do. Afraid of what might be done to them. Afraid of what they might be asked to do. Afraid of when daddy comes home. And cold and hungry.

Well, not cold right now, or hungry. They’ve been eating while they talk, and they are warmed. It’s the leaving and going home that will be tough. While they talk a quiet sack has been filled. They will not leave empty handed. Their family will eat today, and tomorrow, and for a few days beyond as well. And when their story is told it was listened to with love and patience. It’s been told before, many times, with other players, but that does not make it any less bitter or grave.

A lasting help is imminent. No, you can’t stop blood feuds, but the fear of the streets will not take these as victims. Mommy will also be offered help. Simple help; work the hands can do, friends to do it with, and solid listening friendships that are ready to pray alongside when the grief and fear come back to haunt. And hope that this generation may learn the keys of true and lasting peace that does not need blood vengeance, because they have found One who paid the price with His own blood already.