Let God Solve It - Softcover

Chunga, Florence

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412004470 ISBN 13: 9781412004473

Publisher: Trafford Publishing, 2006

Synopsis

This book is an exposition of the endurance, misery and distress that Martha, An African woman suffers in her marriage under extreme male chauvinism and also talks about how Martha copes with starting her life again when she finally leaves her abusive husband.

About this title

About the Author

Florence Chunga was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. After graduating from high school, though she had wanted a career in music, she took up Air Traffic Control (ATC) instead. The author chose ATC because her father was strongly against a career in the arts since all the artists he knew barely made enough money to support themselves.

ATC was an all-male profession in Zambia when Chunga joined and some of the men welcomed her presence while others tried to frustrate her progress in every way they could. She worked hard, discovered ATC was an art in its own way and became the first Zambian woman Air Traffic Control Officer in 1978 at Lusaka International Airport where she was based for her 23 years in the profession. Chunga loved the job, was good at it and she scooped the 'Controller of the Year' award in 1991 given by Roan Air Services (currently Zambian Airways).

In the year 2000, at the level of Senior Air Traffic Control officer, Chunga decided to go on early retirement to pursue other interests.

You can contact the author at: florencechunga@yahoo.com

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

I had gone to work one Saturday afternoon, leaving a sauce-pan full of beef stew still simmering on the stove.

I had instructed Gerry to switch the stove off ten minutes or so after I had left.

When I came back in the evening, I found the saucepan still on the cold stove. The food had been burnt black. Gerry wasn't home and the children who were in their bedroom hadn't eaten so I made them some snacks and sent them to bed.

I didn't bother to ask the children what had happened because I was tired and also had to attend to Mofya who was sleepy and crying .It was during school holidays and thirteen-year-old Gerry Junior had come to visit.

When Gerry eventually came home, I asked him for an explanation but all I got was a gruff reply that I shouldn't expect him to attend to my cooking in my absence. I couldn't get anything out of him and since he became aggressive when I pressed him for an answer, I let the subject drop. But I noticed as we slept that he avoided brushing against me and he turned away, curling up and feigning sleep even though I knew from his uneven breathing that he was wide awake.

The following morning, I called the children together and asked them where they had been when the pan was burning.

"We were in the bedroom," five-year-old Bupe replied.

"Gerry, why didn't you come out to see what was happening? Couldn't you smell the burning?" I asked Junior.

"We smelt it but we couldn't come out," he replied.

"And why not?"

"Daddy said not to come out because he was with a friend."

"Which friend was it - Mr. Mulenga?" I asked, thinking it may have been our neighbour.

"No," replied Gerry Junior innocently, "It was a woman."

My heart missed a beat.

"A woman? Which woman?"

"I don't know her."

"Bupe!" I called to the child who had gone to the living room and he came skipping back.

"Bupe, which woman was it with your Daddy last night?"

"That woman, Mummy - the one who comes to visit you sometimes."

"Where were they?" "

In your bedroom. Daddy sent us to our bedroom and said none of us should come out until he said so. They were there for a long time and Mofya started crying. When I went to knock on the door, he wouldn't open and Mofya kept on crying. Then he opened the door and let Mofya in but wouldn't let me in. He took the woman to her home a while later."

"Was it only yesterday she went into my bedroom?"

"No, Mummy. A lot of times when you're not here, she goes to your bedroom with Daddy and they stay there a long time."

"Tell me what her name is," I urged him. My ears were ringing and I swayed a little. I held out my hand to the dining table to steady myself. There were some things you just didn't expect your partner to do, and this was one of them and finding out that my partner had done this to me came as a terrible shock.

"I've forgotten the name Mummy," replied Bupe oblivious of the pain all this was causing me. "I'll tell you when I remember." He skipped back to the living room. When I asked the baby sitter to confirm the story, she wouldn't tell me anything saying she didn't want to get involved - that it was better if my own children told me everything.

I sat down and stared into space. Why Lord, why? What had I done to deserve this? Was it some kind of punishment for something I had done? Why was Gerry doing this to me? I don't know how long I sat there beating my brains for a reason but I couldn't think of any. Bupe came running in. "Mamma! I've remembered the woman's name! It's Constance, Aunt Constance!" He smiled up at me, leaning on my laps with his elbows. Constance! Constance of all people! "Okay darling, run along and play." I gave the child a little push. Constance! And I wouldn't have guessed, given a million chances. She was a choir member and Bupe was right, she visited us frequently. I had welcomed her, prepared meals for her and just made her feel at home. And this was how she repaid me. I then understood that she had actually been coming to see Gerry.

I always urged Gerry to see her off whenever she was ready to leave. I saw nothing wrong with that since they were both in the choir anyway. Gerry would be gone a long time and I still never suspected anything. I had thought he probably linked up with his buddies for a beer. How wrong I had been! And a choir-girl at that! She had played her part very well too, I must say - never at any time letting on. She had been the perfect visitor in my presence.

What I couldn't understand was why he had had to do it in my bed. I could perhaps, just perhaps have forgiven him his lust but not the use of our matrimonial bed. My home was my domain, not to be violated by any female who was sexually involved with Gerry. I spent the rest of the day walking zombie-like around the house frequently glancing at my watch, waiting for the time when Gerry should arrive home. I cooked and served the children but I couldn't eat.

Edition details

• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1412004470
• ISBN 13: 9781412004473
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 270