Chapter 8
Oh God, when Nana heard her name being mentioned; she froze, she didn't know how to react. Mr. Peter kept on calling "Nana Kisakye, please come on the stage and receive your scholarship."
Nana's father, aunt, Linda, and cousins were all jumping up and down telling Nana to go to the front. Nana was in shock, she couldn’t believe that she won the scholarship. Finally, Nana's father held Nana's hand and took her to the podium.
Nana was in tears due to the excitement. Mr. Peter shook Father's hand and congratulated him. He then held Nana's hand and he said “congratulations Nana, you are indeed a bright child, you scored 94% in our impromptu test, and we have never received such a score before."
Nana knelt down and thanked Mr. Peter for the opportunity; Mr. Peter held her hand and pulled her up from the floor. Parents stood up and clapped their hands for Nana and congratulated her.
When the concert ended, Nana's aunt hugged Nana, congratulated her with tears in her eyes. She said "Nana my dear, you were born for a reason, my mother in heaven is looking upon you. You don't just look like her but you are very smart just like her. Please never change who you are, you are loved by so many, don't change who you are, just be yourself always."
Nana embraced her aunt and thanked her for coming; Nana also hugged her cousins too.
Nana's aunt and her children drove back to their home while Nana, Linda, and father went back inside the hall to talk to the principal. Father thanked the principal for believing in Nana, he thanked all Nana's teachers. He also talked to Mr. Peter, who told him to drop Nana at his school on the first day of the new term.
Nana's father, Nana, and Linda drove straight home from the concert. They were all happy on their way home; father said he was so proud of Nana for achieving so much. When they got home, Nana's siblings were so eager to know how the concert went.
They all sat in the lounge while Father told them all about Nana's performances and achievements; he even showed them a video of Nana he recorded.
Father told his children about the scholarship and they were all dumbfounded about this news. That private school was one of the best schools in the country and it was not easy to get into that school; they couldn't believe it. They congratulated Nana for working so hard and getting that scholarship.
At the dining table, the children were so jolly discussing Nana's scholarship. Stepmother told them to shut up and eat their food. Nana's father interrupted by saying "let the children be happy for their sister, she has achieved something great. That scholarship is hers until she finishes high school, she can only lose it if she stops performing well in her studies. Do you know how much money she has saved for us, we will not worry at all for her fees and stationaries."
Nana's stepmother responded by saying “I really don't care about her scholarship, all I know is that the minute Nana leaves this house to go to that school, she should never come back here. She must spend her holidays in her village. I don't want to discuss this again, it is final."
Nana was hurt by these words; she excused herself and left the table. Stepmother and father started arguing with each other again about what stepmother has just said.
Nana ran to Linda and told her what stepmother said; she told Linda that she loves to see her mother and siblings in the village but she also doesn't want to lose this new family and Linda.
Nana felt bad about this; she knew that stepmother will never change her mind. Nana’s happiest day turned into a sad day for her. Linda told her not to worry, she told Nana that she will always be there for her, that it does not matter whether she is here or in the village. Nana smiled and hugged Linda.
Meanwhile the argument between stepmother and father was at its boiling point, they were both screaming at each other. Nana and Linda went inside the house and joined Nana's siblings. Both, Stepmother and Father were screaming at the top of their voices.
Linda gathered all the children and took them to her room, she told them to wait there until their parents are calm.
Nana's father grabbed his car keys and drove off and left his wife arguing by herself. She then came to Linda's room where the kids were seated. She pushed the door with a lot of anger and then she said "where is this village girl?
Stepmother grabbed Nana and slapped her very hard. Nana fell down and she cried. Linda ran towards Nana, stepmother tried to hit Nana again but Linda stopped her. Stepmother told Linda to get out of her way but Linda refused.
Linda stood up for Nana and she said "why are you punishing Nana for no reason, ever since this child came here you have been treating her so badly. If her father was here, he shouldn't have allowed you to slap her and I won't allow you to hit her again."
Stepmother became very furious and fired Linda on the spot. The children just looked on in fear of their mother. She then told her children to go to their bedrooms; and then she left Linda's room. Linda was so angry, she grabbed her phone and called Nana's father. She explained what had just happened; they talked for some time until their call ended.
Linda sat down next to Nana and she said "Nana, don't cry, I will never let that woman slap you again. That was your father on the phone; he said we should pack all our belongings; that he will send your aunt's husband to pick us up in the morning. He said he is going to take us out of here."