Entry_Level_The Garden_02

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Part 2

Months passed. My garden became larger and more beautiful. The flowers opened.

My father never came on the balcony.

He did not like flowers.  he did not like George. My father was drinking all the time.

He always asked for money. And he often hitme.

George was ill too. He coughed and coughed.He was thin and weak.

Sometimes he did not come to our garden. Hedid not leavehis bed.

One day, I cooked some food and took it toGeorge.

He was lying in bed. He did not turn andsmiled at me. He didnot move.

I went closer to him. His eyes were open. Itouched hishand. It was cold.

He was dead.

I went back to our flat. My father wasthere. He was waitingfor his supper.

George is dead,’ I said. I began to cry. Hewas kind to me.

I will miss him. My father looked at me buthe said nothing.He took some money and went out of the house.

My father came home late that night. ‘why are you crying? Are you crying for George.

You loved that silly old man, didn’t you? Iam your father. Youdon’t care about me.

I said nothing. My father began to shout.

I’ve got some surprise for you, my girl. Anice young man. Whatdo you think of that?

He’s a good boy. He’s a friend of mine. Youneed a man not agarden. I stared at my father.

I said nothing. Look at yourself, my fathersaid.

‘You’re not pretty, and getting old. Nobodyelse will marryyou.

No, father, no...i am not going to marryanybody. I amstaying here.

I don’t want to leave my garden.

Your garden, your garden! My father shouted. Your silly garden. You spend all your money on plants.

You never give me money. You don’t talk tome. You talked toold George, and I hated him, and I hated your garden.

I went away from my father. I went to my bedroom and locked the door.

There was a lot of noise. My father wasshouting andbreaking things.

After a long time, the noise stopped. Ileft my bedroom andwent to the balcony.

The balcony door was open. I looked out.The pots werebroken and the plants were torn to pieces.

The garden was ruined. I went to myfather’s room.

I hate him, I said to myself. I’ll tell him. He can kill me.I don’t care.

My father’s door was locked. I banged and shouted. I did not hear me. He was asleep. He was drunk.

What should I do? I thought. Where shall Igo?

I looked around the room. I took some clothes and packed them in a bag.

I found some packets of flower seeds and put them in the bag. Then I took my purse and counted my money. I did not have very much.