Pedrito’s Diary, Day 24
February 14, 2025
Gabriel and I just sat on my bed without saying a word. I missed my little sister, Gabriela so very much. I missed Mama and Papa too. I couldn’t share my sadness with any of the brothers. They were also separated from their sister and their parents. As for Gabriel, this entire situation was probably the hardest on him being an only child. After he screamed in protest that he wants to go home, I understood even more how he felt. He found a home in me. He wouldn’t let me go even at nighttime.
A guard whose voice I didn’t recognize made the dinner announcement. I was getting quite hungry. If I were at home, Mama would feed us with yummy goods after school. That way, we didn’t feel starved until dinner. Then I thought that we were at least going to get lunch here.
The same guard spoke into the megaphone again: “ATTENTION EVERYONE! Starting tonight after dinner, you will have bathroom duties every day. 2 of you at a time will clean 1 bathroom. We will call out the names only once. Partners will stay the same every day and night. As soon as you hear your name, you will quickly go where the bathrooms are.”
I immediately thought of Gabriel and Jesu. They were so little. How could they clean up, if they were called out together?
Right then, I heard Mr. Matias’ voice on the megaphone: “Listen, you all. The older children are allowed to help the little ones with their bathroom duties.”
I was relieved to hear this arrangement. Gabriel and Jesu are after all too little to do any cleaning on their own. So, each time when it’s Gabriel’s turn, I would go with him. He can just watch me, and I will do what they require us to do. Jesu was more fortunate with 3 brothers.
All of us wondered if any of us had to clean a bathroom tonight. We picked up our dinner, started eating right away, then waited to hear the names for tonight’s cleaning. None of us had his turn this time.
At home, I was never forced to do any chores. Mama and Papa never expected Gabriela to help around the house either. I thought, once I clean a bathroom here, I would know how it’s done. When I’m back home again, I can show my parents that I am grown enough to do some chores. That thought made me smile. Mama and Papa would be so proud of me!
© hülya n. yılmaz, March 4, 2025
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