The Cursed Family

"So what are you doing, Oriana?" I continue my chat with her.

She points in the direction where the cat runs off. "Food for kitty!"

"I see. I'm sure it's enjoying the food you gave it."

"Ah!" she stands up and faces down the riverbank. There is a small elevated wooden shed just beside the flowing water, far from other houses. "For mama also!"

I stand up and hold her hand. "You need to give mommy food, too?"

She nods cheerfully.

She starts walking towards the shed as I let her pull me along. I assume that it is their house. It is barely the size of our bathroom which is already cramped. It is raised about a meter from the ground with four thin wooden legs supporting it.

"Mama!" Oriana yells as we approach. The stench is stronger than the road I walked down this side of the river, but nothing I can't tolerate. There is a small opening on the side, big enough to crawl into, and a fishing net as a sort of ladder to get up to it.

Oriana swiftly goes in and I follow behind her. I would usually worry about my dress getting dirty, but the smear of blood that's already there is harder to explain to my parents when I get back home, anyway.

Inside the house is dark. The roof has holes plugged with translucent plastic bottles allowing light to scatter inside. The ceiling is high enough for me to stand up.

"You brought a friend?" A frail female voice says.

I let my eyes adjust to the darkness for a few seconds before I could make out the person lying right beside me. A pretty woman with tidy blonde hair on a narrow bed. Narrow that it just fits her width perfectly. A blanket covers her body from the chest down, and behind her head are various folded fabrics as a pillow.

"Meg!" Oriana points at me introducing me to her mother.

"Hi. Sorry for intruding," I excuse myself.

"Not at all. Make yourself at home," she coughs. "Pardon the small space."

"Oh, please don't mind me."

I look around the place, wondering how all the things they need in a house could possibly fit in such a small space, but they don't have much to begin with. Small boxes under the bed. Various objects like tools are hanging on the walls. No space is spared.

As my eyes adjust more, I notice the pendant on the woman and immediately recognize it. It's a pendant made by and for the Wellenteins. A prominent family in the city. One of the four highest-class families. The true nobles. But why does she have it? Could it have been stolen?

"Meg, was it? I am Miriam. Pleased to meet you."

"Ah, the pleasure is mine, madam."

Her mannerisms. It's unlike anyone else around here. Not even the people I am usually around with. Very defined. Very gentle. Could she actually be a noble? But what would she be doing in this part of the city? In a house like this, even. But I can't bring myself to ask.

Suddenly, a sound of metal clanging. I look over to the other side of the house to what I would assume is their kitchen where most of the utensils hang. Oriana pulls a plastic bag from the stack of pans on the floor and runs back to her mother.

"Food for mama!" She hands the bag.

"Thank you, Oriana," Miriam smiles. "Come. Let's eat." She opens the bag to a few slices of meat inside. She takes one and gives it to Oriana. She takes another and offers it to me. "Would you care for one, Meg?"

"Sure," I take the piece out of courtesy. She takes one for herself and the three of us start eating. It's hard. Tougher than jerky. Miriam watches with a smile as Oriana enjoys her meal.

Miriam takes Oriana's hand under the little light that comes into the house, revealing the scratches.

"A cat scratched her earlier," I immediately explain.

"Oh, Oriana. I told you to be careful," Miriam softly runs her fingers over the wounds.

"Kitty got bread!" Oriana replies and giggles which puts the smile back on Miriam's face.

"Her smile is so contagious, don't you think?" Miriam turns to me.

I can't help but agree.

Miriam starts coughing and Oriana runs to grab a half-empty jar.

"Water, Mama."

"Thank you, Oriana."

"Are you okay, madam?" I inquire worriedly.

"I am," Miriam smiles as she lies back. "Thank you for asking. I may just need a little rest."

Oriana starts fixing the blanket and pillow to make Miriam comfortable. I was going to ask to play with her but it seems like she's busy taking care of her mother. Not knowing what I can do to help, I excuse myself. "Well then, I'll take my leave here. Thanks for the food and rest well, madam."

"You're welcome to visit anytime, Meg. Take care," Miriam wraps her arm around Oriana. "Say goodbye to Meg, Oriana."

"Bye bye, Meg!" Oriana waves her two hands at me. With a big smile as ever. I take a bow before crawling out.

I start walking back and encounter the three kids from earlier. Chubby, Slendy, and Bratty. They stand there staring in my direction. I intend to pass by them without making eye contact.

"How was the house of the poorest family in the city?" Chubby smirks. "Are Oriana's parents dead yet?"

"No," I stop right in front of them. "Her mother is well."

"Too bad. But she'll bite the dust soon."

"No, she won't."

"Yes, she will," Slendy interjects. "She can barely stand up. And Oko's body will collapse soon, too."

"Who's Oko?"

"The father. Did you not see him?"

"He's probably still at work," Chubby explains. "My mom said he is denied jobs everywhere. That's why he has to find work four hours away from here. And he is paid cents because he is weak and dumb."

"I'm surprised anyone still hired him with that stupid face," Bratty mocks, and the other two laugh.

"You guys are mean. What did they do to you?" I feel protective of the sweet family I just met.

"Because they are cursed. They will stay that way because of their curse. The nobles will continue making our lives here miserable for as long as they are here. They have to leave. Or die," says Chubby.

"Cursed?"

"Yeah," She steps forward with a contemptuous smile." My mom said that ever since Oko stole Miriam from the nobles, the gods have cursed them. That's why they are given an abnormal child. No one wants them here."

"Oriana is not abnormal!"

"Yes, she is!" she insists. "She is dumb and can't feel pain. All she does is smile. They say one bad cut could easily kill her without her noticing. What a sad life."

"Actually," Slendy whispers. "My mom said Oriana could have been a normal kid, but Oko probably beats her up so much that she stopped feeling pain. He beats her wife too. That's why she's not getting better."

"Makes sense," Bratty says.

The three seem content with that explanation, but I'm not. While I have not met Oko yet, I couldn't imagine he would be such a harsh father and husband to such loving people.

"You guys don't know anything," I retort.

Chubby scoffs. "What do you know? You're not even from here."

"I'm not. All I know is that Oriana's family is the kindest family I've met."

"You only met them for a minute." I can see him thinking hard about what else to say, but he seems to be running out of words. "Just go home already."

"You don't have to tell me that."

I continue walking past them. Those kids are really mean. Some questions in my head have been answered but most lead to more questions. I don't think I will get a genuine answer from those three. Maybe I can come back some other day and ask Miriam myself.