Deconstruction by Justin Everett

Author:Justin Everett [Everett, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Reclaiming Literature Press LLC

12

CHARAM

Charam and Abirun walked inside the cabin, their shirts thrown over their shoulders.

“We’ll be right back,” Charam said, still facing outside at his fellow Christians.

When he turned around and shut the door, he saw Malina sitting in the small area that served as their living room, crying into her hands. Charam hurried over to her and tried to hug her, but she resisted his comfort. Abirun, who was about to run upstairs to get the Bibles out of Frederick’s room, stopped and stood like a statue in front of the door.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Abirun asked.

“Only a few days,” Malina muttered.

“What?” Charam asked.

“Frederick’s been here only a few days, and you’ve both already forsaken everything for him,” she mumbled.

“Malina, we’re right here. We haven’t forsaken you or our home or our village,” Charam said.

Abirun walked over to his parents and tried to place his hand on his mother’s back, but she stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

“Mom?” he mumbled.

“Charam, I want you both to leave,” Malina said, her voice resolute.

Charam walked into the kitchen and said, “That’s absurd. This is our home. We built it together. You were even pregnant with Abirun when we did. It belongs to all of us.”

Abirun stayed in the living room, covering his ears and looking at the floor.

“When we finished building this place, everyone came up from the village, and we dedicated it to Ashtaal and Patubis, swearing to them both, by their own names, that this home would be a monument to honor them until we died. You both threatened that today, and I do not want you staying here as long as you’re following Frederick’s God,” Malina said, busying herself with sorting dishes that were already organized.

“We’re not leaving our home,” Charam said, placing his hand on Malina’s to stop her from continuing the useless task she was doing. “Like I said, it belongs to all of us. You’ve no right to kick us out.”

Malina swatted Charam’s hand away and said, “Ashtaal and Patubis give me the right. Our scriptures—well, my scriptures—say that they will curse anyone who breaks a vow to them, and I’m also commanded not to go to bed with anyone who is an unbeliever or an apostate.”

“Fine. I’ll sleep on the floor in Abirun’s room or Frederick’s room,” Charam said.

“Yeah, Mom. Dad can sleep in my room,” Abirun said, purposelessly covering his ears still.

“No, you’re going to leave,” Malina said.

“Malina, we’re not leaving our home. I will give you space for a little while, but that space will be here—in our home,” Charam said.

“I’ve already got several people who are ready to help me remove you both if you don’t leave on your own,” Malina said.

She put down the dishes and stared at her husband in the face, her eyes dark.

“What?” Charam asked, taken aback by the expression on Malina’s face, and turning to look at Abirun.

When he saw his son was about to cry, he walked back to the living room, knelt, and hugged him.

“When you and

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