Free Once Upon A Karma (Karmic Krystal Book 1) by Rosie Malezer Page B

realise it.  Where did the time go?   I hug Sharyn goodbye and tell her that she is my best friend too.  Her face lights up and she smiles.  I can’t wait to tell my sisters and my parents that I have my very first ever best friend!
    All of the parents arrive to pick up their children.  When the children are gone, I am left sitting on the top stair at the front of the kindergarten, waiting, wondering where my mother is.  She is never late for anything but I know that she is safe because Ralph is with her.  The teacher starts tidying up the classroom as I continue to sit on the stairs.  I hope nothing has happened to Mummy and Ralph!  Eventually, I go back inside the classroom and help Mrs Tucker clean the paintbrushes and put the dirty aprons into the washing basket.
    “I am sure they will be along soon, Krystal,” the teacher smiles at me, reassuringly.  I hope she is right.
    When it starts getting dark, Mrs Tucker contemplates taking me home in her car.  As she is locking up the kindergarten, my father finally arrives.  He looks angry and sad at the same time.  I wonder if I have done something bad to upset him.  Quietly, I climb into the car, sensing the anger coming off him in waves.  When my teacher asks him if everything is alright, he simply tells her how sorry he is for being late.
    Back at home, Dad and I go upstairs without saying a word to each other.  I start to panic when I look in the living room and see my mother and two sisters.  Did somebody die? I know that whatever is going on, it has to be serious.  I sit next to my sisters and wait for our parents to say something.  Looking at my mother’s face, I can see that she has been crying.
    “Today, a big secret was revealed to me.  I need to ask you girls something,” my dad finally speaks, “…and please, don’t ever be afraid to come to me and tell me the truth, okay?”  My sisters and I glance at each other before looking back at Dad.  Silently, we nod at his request.  The sullenness in the room continues and I start to get a very bad feeling coming from both of our parents.
    “Today, I found out that your grandfather was a very bad man.  He has done horrible things to many children.  He also did these things to his own children,” he says.  Tears roll down my mother’s cheeks.  Oh no!  Mummy, he hurt you too?  In my head, I ask the Goddess for strength.
    “Before he died, did Grandpa ever do anything bad to you?  Did he ever touch you in a bad way?” my dad asks.  It seems to take every bit of effort for him to stay calm.  “Did your grandfather ever touch the private areas on your body?”  I can feel every bit of anger he feels.  It continues riding off him in waves.  From my mother, I feel shame, anger and embarrassment – the very same feelings I felt when my grandfather put his hands down my pants two years ago.  I know that I have to think carefully with what I am about to say.
    “Yes,” I tell my parents, honestly.  “He hurt me but now he is dead.  I am glad he is dead because he is a monster.”  There, I said it.  Finally there are no more secrets.
    “He touched me too,” says Leena.  Her face is red and, again, I feel the shame and hurt radiating off her in bucket loads.  Tears of anger fill my eyes.  I didn’t know he had hurt my sister too!
    “And me,” says Tania quietly.  She pulls her knees to her chest and hugs herself.  Quiet tears roll down her cheeks and I know that she is afraid.  My mother sobs uncontrollably.  It puzzles me as to why my father isn’t comforting her.  I stand up and walk over to my mum, gently putting my arms around her.  This time I do not hug too tight.
    “It will be okay, Mummy,” I say.  “You will be okay.”
    Dad suggests we go to see a doctor to talk through our feelings since tears are becoming an all-too-frequent thing in our house.  A few days later, his suggestion becomes reality and we find ourselves sitting in the waiting room of