The sun was setting down as I was washing and drying the dishes. A orange glow was in the sky, clouds gathering altogether for the night, birds and animals running back to their homes, night animals searching for food and the families together after supper. I finished with the dishes and put them carefully back in the cupboard.
"That's a good girl. Get your books ready dear, time for your lesson. Wait for me in your bedroom." mother said, drying her hands.
"Yes, mother" I replied.
I always and will love having lessons with mother. She makes a bit fun in lessons but the homework could be hard. Mother wants me to go to a real school for children but never had the chance. Everyday I will help mother with the house work and in the evening I will have my lesson. It must be very hard for her. Father isn't the same as her. He dislikes me and never been nice to me. It seems odd, I don't know what I have done to make him act this way. Mostly he treats me like a slave or a maid. My family thinks of me a useless, strange and bad luck. Everybody thinks of me that way, especially my sisters. Just like father never been kind or generous to me.
               After my lesson with mother, night had covered the land with darkness. The only lights you can see in the night is the bright, beautiful moon, the shining stars that twinkle, the street lights and the lights from the houses. Snuggling in bed, I was ready for my sleep. But I wanted to ask a questions that was never answered. A question that I couldn't ask as I have no courage to ask. Finally, the courage has came and it must be answered.
"Mother... Why does everybody think of me useless, strange and bad luck? Why won't father let me go to school? It doesn't seem fair, doesn't every child should have chance to learn?" I asked.
There was along silence and mother sat on the bed beside me.
"Yes..your right. Every child should have a chance to learn but your father doesn't think that way. The reason he thinks that your useless, strange and bad luck is because.." mother stopped for awhile. "Remember when your father's mother was in the hospital? We visited her before the died, you were the last person to hug her. After a few hours the hospital rang and told your  father that she died peacefully. He couldn't believe it, he couldn't get over it. He loved your grandma so much and now she's gone. That's why, he thinks that you will do harm to others around you.."
"It wasn't my fault. She was badly ill. She couldn't pull through, father knows that she will be gone for ever. Is it that why he won't let me have a chance to go to school?" I asked.
Mother nodded and kissed me goodnight.
              A few moments later I couldn't sleep, it took me awhile to sleep but I woke up again. I finally slept but not so good. It was a terrible dream. Everybody surrounding  me and keep calling me useless, strange and bad luck. They kept coming closer as they keep saying the same words. Putting my hands over my ears I shouted out no over and over again. Suddenly a loud sound broke the dream, my alarm clock rang. It all was just a dream.
               I was walking down the stairs towards the kitchen. There was laughter from father and my sisters. The laughter stopped as I walked in. Father starred at me hard, he ate his last toast and walked off to the car. My sisters did the same and left the room without saying goodbye to mother. Sadness came over me, I felt like crying but I hold back my tears from mother. The feeling of being not loved was bad. Mother loves me and that's good  but the whole family hating you feels like your not wanted.
"Are you alright? Did you have a bad dream?" mother asked.
I couldn't answer her, I only managed a little nod as I was wiping my tears away with my sleeve. She saw me crying and got out her handkerchief..
"I know it will make you feel bad after what I said last night. Have a good cry, let it all out." mother said passing it to me.
Taking it with my free hand I cried. Mother was  patting my back as I was crying on her shoulder. My eyes were a bit red after I stopped crying. Mother told me to go to the bathroom again to wash my face. The cry felt good and I seem much happier.
                  Evening came, the sun gently going down. Father came back looking so happy. My sisters weren't.
"Look honey! I finally found a school that my little girl can go! A boarding school, the two other ones will be going to a different boarding school!" father shouted.
"Oh, is this true?! When will she start?" asked mother.
"On Monday , today is only Friday. You will be getting the books and the uniform."
                   Mother was happy but not that happy. I wasn't though. I will be leaving, my home and my mother. Father gave me a choice, I could go or I could stay here with mother. Mother pushed me upstairs before I could answer.
"You're sure that you want to do this? You could always stay with me." mother asked.
I only realized that she didn't want me to go and her eyes were full of tears. She is going to miss me once I am gone. Being lonely in a house is not right to mother. I thought of this hard, if I miss this great opportunity  I will never be able to prove father that he is wrong about me. I had enough courage to speak to mother.
"Yes, mother. If I miss this chance I will regret it so much. I want to prove father that he is wrong about me." I answered.
" That's my girl, you learned well."

                                      *                *              *

The next day, mother, my sisters and I were shopping for our school uniform and books. My sisters was pointing and laughing at me that whole shopping trip. Mother saw that and got really annoyed, she told them to stop or she will sent them home. They got annoyed and just whispered  to each other. I really hate when they whisper to each other, mostly they saying mean things about me. Mother hates it too, as its not having your manners. We finally got our school things now we just need some tea and then we will be moving to home.
               At supper time, I was sitting at the far end of the dining table while everybody was at the top. Father likes it this way but mother doesn't. They were talking while I was sitting alone. Mostly I will read a book at supper but I am not allowed no more as father says its rude to hide your face behind a book. Even though I hate my father I still have to obey him as a parent. He just loves my two sisters so much that he buys them these things that I don't get. Nothing pretty for me only for the two little angels as father would say. I finished my meal and so did everybody else.
"Pick up the dishes! Don't forget to wash and dry them!" father commanded. "you useless girl, letting your poor mother do all the work!"
Those words were harsh to me and to mother. Mother never has the courage to speak to father in a tone that all mothers use. But today she was a different mother.
"Don't you dare say that to her! She always helps me when you are away, she does a wonderful job in the house. The other two girls just stay in their rooms and does nothing! Not like our little one! Works hard in her lessons when I teach her!" mother shouted at him.
                Father was shocked to see mother this way and couldn't get any words out of his mouth. I was shocked too and so was my sisters.
"But honey..." father said first but no words came out again.
Mother eyed him with one eye and was a new woman that no of us has ever seen.
"You and the girls are going are going to clean the kitchen while we do our lesson!" mother told them.
                She pulled me upstairs and into my room. Quickly I took my books out, lay them on the table ready for my lesson. I was a bit scared now after what just happened.
"There's nothing to worry about I won't bite you. I just wanted to give your father a piece of my mind. I finally had the courage to tell off your father.." chuckled mother.
"Yes, you did mother. I am very proud to have  a mother like you." I said hugging her.
We started our lessons but we didn't really do it, instead we celebrated! Mother was never this happy before and she was happy that she told off father.
                My mother is the best, never makes me sad as I know she loves me so much. It was eleven at night, I was tired and mother was a bit concerned about my bed time has gone past but she didn't care as she was ever so happy.
"Night mother, have a good sleep." I said.
"Goodnight my little angel, you too have a good sleep." she replied.
My sister were in their bed rooms cleaning them selves with everything. Once something they touch is dirty they clean themselves with anything they could find. Father was lying on the bed, sleeping without getting ready. I laughed as my sisters kept on moaning. Saying that 'this stuff will never get off me!'. Father snoring louder then before, I felt sorry as mother has to keep her anger steady as the snores fill her ears with pain.
               This night was so beautiful to me. The moon was so close, I heard it in my books that the moon will come closer to the earth once a year. In the early morning it will still be there only a bit farther. It was a moment that I will never forget. Who ever sees this moon on that very night, will never forget it. The clock was ticking, I knew I should be in bed about now but how can I? After a while I quietly went back to bed and let out a big sigh then slept.
               The next morning, I was dressed in a dress. I always wear this dress on Sundays as I go to mass. It's the only dress I have , the only one that looks the nicest.
"You always have that hideous dress on every Sunday. Its looks terrible, bringing our family down. Look at us! Shining in our new and beautiful dresses!" one of my sister boasted.
"Yeah, like when are you going to get a new one? Well it kind of suits you  in a way. Just need to get it dirtier and ripped it a bit and you will look like a servant in our house!" said my other sister.
"Now, don't you tease her I already got her a better and more beautiful dress yesterday. I couldn't get yours because you girls already have new dresses." mother told them in a firm tone.
She was right, the dress was beautiful. I don't have the words to describe it at all. It was long and it kind of looked like a princesses dress.
"Oh my, it's beautiful mother! Thank you, where did you get it?!" I asked as I was walking around in it.
"I got in the famous dress store down the road. There was this dress that will suit a loyal and clever girl. I had enough money to buy it and the other people wanted to buy it for their daughters."
"Thanks mother, you're the best mother in the world!" I hugged her with all my might.
               As I was walking down the stairs, my sisters and father were staring at me. My dress shined in the light , I felt like a real princess.
"That's so unfair! She got a better dress then us! I want a better one like that, father!!!" my sisters complained.
"Enough, she got it and I don't have enough money to buy you anything. I spent it all on your clothes and things." father said.
I smiled and walked towards the car.
               On the way over to church, I felt really lucky. Even though I have a family that hates me but I have a mother that treats me like a real daughter and I have my friends. But all will be gone once school starts, my friends will be gone and so will my mother. I might not see her until ages away. It took me a while to make friends at the beginning and I hope it won't be that hard to make new ones in this school.
"What you thinking dear? Thinking of your new school tomorrow?" mother asked.
"A bit." I answered.
I really don't talk like I do before when everybody is here. I get quiet, I will talk like any girl only when its mother and me alone.
"Don't mumble to your mother, she can't hear you!" father told me off.
"Don't you start again, I can hear her perfectly well. It sounds like you can't hear what she's saying." mother said.
Father got beaten again by mother, I just want to say 'Hooray' out loud for mother.
               Mass has ended and the parents having a little chat before they leave. The children just playing around while some stand near their parents for protection. When the parents want to talk alone they encourage their children to play but don't make their clothes dirty. It's always the same, children playing chasing, playing hide and seek or just hide behind their mother and father. I just walking around and mind my own business nobody else's.
"Come on girls, time to go home and have some tea." called mother.
"Yes girls, we don't want to be late. Your father has a meeting soon." father added.
H always says that , to make us hurry. The sisters buy that every time but I don't. Every time  us kids play after Mass he always tells us the same old thing. We hurried to the car and drove off quickly.
                Back at home I was making sure that I have everything ready for my new school tomorrow. My room was empty, nothing of mine on the table or shelves. All in boxes or suitcases. I had to throw out some of my old stuff and I the new stuff I kept.
"Are you ready for school? Is everything you need in the boxes or suitcases?" mother said.
"Yes mother." I said quietly, like a mumble.
"I know this was soon but aren't you glad that you're going to school for once? Missing your friends is a hard thing but it's life. That's how life goes, you must get ready for what ever comes to you. You must think straight and never showed that you're scared to answer a question. Do your best."
 I nodded, mother was right. I go to think straight. A big yawn come out and mother pushed me into bed.
"You must be tired. The times might be early for you, but I know that you will wake up. If anything goes wrong tell the teacher and they will help you. Sleep tight.." mother whispered to me.
"Night mother, see you tomorrow morning."
She left the room and the room was dark and quiet. A lovely light shone in through the curtains. Slowly I drew back the curtains, there it was, the moon. It hasn't changed at all.
"Oh moon, I wish there was a way for me to go back home once school is over. You will help me find my way around school won't you? With the stars in the night sky I think you will help me find a way home soon." I said.
I always see a face on the moon, I don't know why. Another big yawn come and it was time for bed.
              I was in the car with father, mother and my sisters the next morning. I cried a bit as we left home. It was boring in the car. Only a little music could be heard from the radio. This song that I really liked made me hum the song with my mouth.. The humming got loudly as mother joined in then father. My sisters loved this song but they didn't want me to know that. Until mother coughed a bit and finally joined in. we drove in a big garden it means that this is the school.
"We here, off you go." father called out.
The school was a beautiful sight. Big lovely buildings  shining letting the sun shine through the windows, girls walking around in the school, some outside doing sports while the teachers watch them run around. Some of them waved at us when we pass. I waved back to them. The faces of my sisters meant that they're jealous. The car stopped in a car park and we took my luggage out of the boot. The school looks like a castle to me. Teachers smiling at us and children giving a little wave. The principle's office was a big room.
"Welcome, I am Ms. Stephanie the principle. Which one is going to be my new pupil?" she asked looking for the girl.
"It's me Miss, I am the new girl..." I said shyly.
"Ah yes, welcome my dear. I hope you like it here, the other girls will welcome you too once you meet them. I will be taking your luggage and I will ask a girl to show you around." she said lifting them on a trolley.
"Well, I guess we will be leaving. I have to send off these two." father sending heading towards the door.
"Goodbye love, you know my number." mother called.
                Ms. Stephanie was young a bit. She had brown hair, wearing these clothes I never seen before and was very tall. I had to put my head a bit back to see her face. She took me in the elevator and brought me to a room with three beds on both sides.
"This is your bed, near the window. The one beside is Vera sleeps, right beside you. I will tell her to show you around. You just get your things settled and we can start on your lessons." she said putting them on the bed.
 Thee room wasn't that much it was a room it plan wallpaper, ordinary beds and tables with chairs. My stuff was all in my locker with a lock. And my clothes in my drawers. Vera came in, she was pretty with lovely dark, brown hair and dark brown eyes to match. Making me look horribly ugly..
"Hi there, my name is Vera Smith. I will be showing you around." Vera smiled.
"Hi, um. before we begin..how big is this school? It looks so big outside." I asked.
"Oh, don't worry it's not that big. You won't get lost." she answered.

                          *                         *                            *

Vera was right, it wasn't that big. It happens that we are in the same class together. We became just good friends I feel like I am already home.
"We better get some sleep, tomorrow starts your first very lesson. I wonder is it better then your mother's lessons? I would say it wouldn't." Vera said, half in her bed.
"It won't, I love every lesson I had with my mother. I miss her so much. I just want to go back home and be with her." I said gazing up at the stars.
"I am sure that you will, I miss my father he treats me well, better then me mother."
"Goodnight Vera, have a good night."
"You too.."
               I woke up very early, just as mother had say. Vera had to wake me up and I was a bit embarrassed. The other girls laughed a bit and smiled at me. Nothing was the same no more, I truly miss home. The dining room was very big, lots and lots of tables and chairs. Normally mother, father and my sisters will be in the room. But not here.
"Come on lets get the best table." Vera shouted.
Our breakfast was o.k. Porridge and brown bread, nothing like the best as my father would say but not me. The porridge was good not the brown bread. It tasted awkward.
"Why does the brown bread taste awkward?" I asked.
Vera just shrugged her shoulders and continued eating.
"It happens sometimes, but we have to eat it though. That's what the teachers says." Gwen said.
Gwen is my roommate we get along too.
"Do we get butter or something on our bread?" I asked Gwen.
"Yes, only on Wednesday or Thursday." she answered me.
"Ding-ding-ding-ding"
"All girls please put your plates and bowls in the plastic boxes on the tables now please. Then you may all go to your classrooms." It was a speaker box from Ms. Stephanie.
My schedule was very big. My first class is Math, then History and so on.
"Where is the math classroom?" I asked looking for the room.
"Follow me." Vera said.
"Where are we going?"
"The classroom isn't that far but the crowd is going to delay us.."
               My lesson isn't all that bad, it isn't the same without mother. I feel so homesick, I wonder how is mother doing now? Father must be happier then ever, as my sisters and I are gone. Peace will fill the air now. School wasn't that fun, until break time and lunch had come.
"How is school for you? It won't be the same as your mother will do it." asked Gillian.
"Its going well, but I really miss my mother. She will mostly give me a little treat after each lesson but sometimes if I am not paying attention I won't get any." I answered.
"Yes, it must be hard for you. After all these years your mother has been teaching you and got so use to it. Your father must be very mean to you." said Jill.
"He is and I wonder if he will ever been kind to me."
"Come on school is over lets go back to our rooms. We can have a feast!" Vera said.
                The feast was such great fun! I never had so much fun in all my life. But sometimes it makes me homesick too, thinking of my friends back at home. Trying to hold back my tears, I tried to smile. My eyes started to water up, I knew I couldn't hold them back any longer. I ran to the room where we can do our homework. Nobody was in this room, my friends didn't notice me, I was alone. Crying I tried to write a letter to mother, the letter was finished but my tears stained the paper. Vera came into the room.
"Are you alright? Writing a letter to home?" Vera asked.
"Yes, I just don't have a stamp." I said.
She handed me a stamp from her pocket. She encourage me take it and I did as she kept on doing it.
"Come on the feast isn't  over yet!" she shouted and dragged me to the room.
                We all had a great time, I wasn't feeling sad no more. Everybody was laughing and Ms. Stephanie had to tell us to be quiet and go to bed.
"Fine then, we will be quiet but won't go to bed later." giggled Hazel.
"Yes, come and have a toast for our good friend! For she may see her mother and have a wonderful time with us during school. Making sure she will come back and be with us again once school starts!" shouted  Gwen.
"Lets all make this night a happy night for us to remember!" added Vera.
"We should all have a wonderful time! Thank you everybody! Lets continue feasting!" I shouted.
               The feast was over, all the girls sleeping while I was still awake. The night was beautiful and peaceful as it always was. Lovely night sounds could be heard that makes me feel that I am home. The lovely birds singing the last songs as it was heading back to their nests, the night animals creeping in the shadows while its hunting its prey and the wind making nature a lovely sight. What makes me feel more like home is the moon. Remembering what I said the night before I went to school. It will guide me home soon.
"You will guide me home won't you? Remember what I said before I got here? Taking me home is a great thing. Bringing me back to mother will make us both so happy.." I whispered.
The moon has its gentle, smiling face. Makes me wonder how does he do that. Wind blow in my face, making me awfully cold. The wind wants me to sleep, I knew it.
"Good night moon, have a lovely night.bring me home soon.."

                        *                              *                              *

After long, long months school was over. We get 3 or 2 months off  in the summer holidays. All the girls were excited. I was too, getting to see mother was finally here. Only two days till school is finally over! Everybody will be missing their friends especially me.
"Come on, we will get to see each other. Just look at the bright side." Gillian said to Jill and Hazel.
"Yeah, we all get to see our most loves one!" I said.
Gillian and I tried to cheer them up but we couldn't. Just then, Ms. Stephanie came running towards us. She was very fast at running, running like the wind I would say. Her long legs ran faster as she got nearer.
"Oh there you are, I have a message for you. Your mother called me and told me that your grandma has died. I am very sorry. She told me to pack your things and she will pick you up at four o'clock." she puffed, trying to get her breath back.
I was shocked, my grandma died just like father's mother. It wasn't my fault this time but father will blame me again for something I haven't done. My sisters on father side while mother was quiet.
"Yes ma'am, I will be very quick. Can you help me Gwen and Vera?" I asked.
They nodded and hurried up the stairs.
              I was in the car with my uncle. Uncle Ralph, he didn't much like me until I said sorry to him.
"How is my niece doing in school? Its so sad about your grandma ." he said.
"Yes, how did she die, uncle? Was she ill or did she got a heart attack ?" I asked him, ears opened.
"Well..she was in the hospital, she was very ill. The doctor said she haves cancer but it wasn't that close. But the doctor got the calculations wrong and it got much worse. This morning she was very still, we thought she was still asleep. A nurse came and called out for the doctor. They pushed us out of the way and pulled the curtains. Once the doctor came out, he was shaking his head and left. We knew once the curtains were pulled back. A blanket was covering her face.." he said, his hands pressing hard on the wheel.
"Oh, I miss her already even though she didn't really like me. Is father going to blame me for what happen to grandma like what happen to his?" I asked him.
"Don't you even mention that man! He was never kind to our family. Our family loves you, ever so much not the other two. He never liked us and we didn't either. Thank goodness he le..." he stopped he sentence.
"What? Please continue!" I pleaded.
"Oh.um.we're here!" your mother's place." he said ignoring me.
The house looks a bit different what it looked like before.. Father's car wasn't there no more, only mother's car parked in the space. Mother was looking much happier and look better then before.
"Mother! Its me!" I called to her.
               Mother and I were so pleased to see each other. I was already dressed in this black and white dress, with black and white ribbon in my little plait. Wearing these black shoes and white socks.
"Are we all ready for the ceremony?" Aunt Mary called out in the crowd.
The place was full nodding heads and went out into their cars.
"Mother, where's father? Isn't he coming?" I asked him.
Mother gave me a look that meant I should shut my mouth. I think something really bad is going to happen soon.
                At the ceremony, nearly everybody was crying. I cried a bit, I didn't know grandma that well. At the end lots of flowers were on her coffin. I was trying to comfort mother but she wouldn't stop crying. Lots of people couldn't stop until the end when she was under the ground and flying up into the clouds.
"Mother its alright, she is safe up in heaven." I said comforting her.
"Its ok I am alright now. Lets go back, I need to tell you something that I have never told you when you were at school." mother looked firm not herself.
We walked all the way from the church to home. It wasn't that far but it was a long way.
                 Back at home, mother was sitting beside me in my old bed room.
"Listen, while you were still at school. Your father and I had an argument, ever since I had the courage to speak to him I was able to keep forever. I realise that he wasn't the man I love, he was against you and he love his other to daughters. He once said that he should have tell me not to have you. He also said that he was so happy to not see you, I got really mad. We have arguments and they never end well. I got fed up on shouting at him, so I decided to have a divorce with him. I felt so much better without him! Though your sisters are with him while you stay with me. To tell you the truth, having both of them means trouble." she told me.
A divorce, that means father won't bother us no more! Especially my sisters, they are away in a different place, far away from us.
"What about money? My school fees are pretty high for us." I asked her.
"Don't worry, I got this job as a secretary in a business company."
"Mother, while I was still at school. The moon never changed , I knew he would bring me back home with you."
"You always believe in these things. I use to be like you when I was little."
"Will I have to be back in school? I only have two days left."
"Once two months are over you must go back to school. But I will be very busy."
I felt like my life was complete. I have lots of friends, my family does like me and mother will be with me where ever we go. I guess there is still on more thing I really need but I just can put my finger on it.
               Night has come again. The one things that will never change is the moon. My room was the same as it was and mother had to go to bed early for had happen today.
"Thank you moon, you brought me home again. Can you please bring my friends safe and sound back at school when school starts? Of course I will want to go back home but sometimes I like to see my friends. I will be sent away to school and come back. You will be with me all through my life." I said.
The lovely, clear moon has its face again and a shooting star was seen. A lovely blue butterfly landed on my hand. Chinese people thinks when a person passes over a butterfly is a sign that they are flying to another place. I think the same and the one on my hand is grandma.
"Off you go, I love you grandma!" I shouted.
The wind came in my face again, means time for bed. I have a wonderful life, better after father has left. I wonder where is he and my sisters. I kind of miss them. Hard to believe it but its true. You hate this person but when they leave for ages or won't come back you want to stay with them and don't want them to go.
"Goodnight moon..." I whispered and slept.