For Better, For Worse – Suffering With and For The Family

09 May For Better, For Worse – Suffering With and For The Family

‘For better, for worse.’ These words are part of the vows couples make when entering into marriage – a simple phrase, yet so heavy and committal. Well, a wife would expect to be at her husband’s side during good times and during bad.  But what happens when a house-help makes this vow to her boss?

I know what you might be thinking, but trust me, it is nothing like that. The world is facing a pandemic that has brought everything to a standstill. Several people around the globe have lost their source of income, and the case is no different in Kenya. Covid – 19 has brought to light underlying issues that affect us daily, but we’ve been too busy to address. Also, it is during a crisis that you know a person’s true intentions and loyalty.

One such person’s loyalty has been put to the test during these trying times. When Mary* joined her current family, she had no idea that she would form such an attachment to her boss, much more so to consider her a sister and share in her joy and pain. Her employer, Linet*, had also not foreseen the coming storm that would leave her vulnerable.

When the Kenyan government issued a cessation of movement in and out of the capital city, Linet was okay with the situation, hoping, like most other families, that this would curb the spread of the virus. However, she had not given Mary leave as most employers did during this time because Mary herself opted to stay on and continue working during this period. Linet, seeing no problem with this as she had help in taking care of her young daughter, agreed to let Mary stay on.

Life is gradual, and some changes happen when we least expect it. Linet’s life took a whole different turn in the blink of an eye when suddenly, she and her husband were issued with an eviction notice because of failure to pay rent. Some people can be ruthless, but this is a story for another day. You see, Linet and her husband work in the travel and hotel industry respectively, and as you are aware, these are the industries worst hit by the pandemic. The couple had not received their salaries for two months, a factor that led to a strain on their finances, which resulted in a non-payment of rent for two months. The landlord, not seeming empathetic to their situation, could not care less whether there was a situation or not, evicted them, leaving them stranded.

I must admit that such situations take an emotional toll on someone, and Linet was no different. Her world turned upside down in a few moments, and soon she was looking for a place to lay her head, even if just for the night. Luckily, one of her friends who lived close by offered to accommodate her whole family as they sought an alternative.

All this while, Mary had the option of leaving Linet’s family and move in with a relative who lives within the city since things had hit the roof. Besides, that seemed like the only logical option as her job description did not entail ‘suffering with and for the family.’ However, she chose to stay on, took Linet’s hand, and reassured her that the storm would pass. She even saw the light at the end of the tunnel for the family.

As they moved to the friends’ house, Mary went about her duties as usual, not ever complaining. According to her, money would always come and go, but a stable relationship, like hers and Linet’s, was so hard to come by. She had found a home, and she chose to stand by her home and play her part in defending and protecting it. Amid the chaos, Mary’s and Linet’s relationship had been strengthened, hoping to grow even more post- corona. What Mary did was for better, for worse.