The Renwitt sisters

The Renwitt sisters1

The Renwitt sisters were born into a seemingly happy middle class family, nothing exceptional was ever expected from these average sisters. But the life that lay ahead of them would ask much more than anyone could have predicted. Their bond was forged in the pain and heartache that their lives would contain. Some people would tell you that they were certain that the sisters shared a telepathic link. As if they could actually feel each others emotions and that they sometimes had entire conversations without a word being spoken.2

Victoria the elder of the two sisters was the level headed and responsible one. Patricia the younger sister was quiet and shy, trusting in her sister for everything. The four years that separated them had never been a problem. They were twin souls joined in a way that no outsider could ever understand. This uncanny bond started from their very first meeting.3

Their parents had assured Victoria that they would be bringing home a bother, but fate had other plans and they brought home a sister instead. They were very concerned about how Victoria would respond to this unforeseen change. They believed their fears to be realised when Victoria took one look at the new arrival and ran away. They were still discussing the best way to remedy the situation when Victoria reappeared in the room carrying all of her story books. They watched as Victoria made herself comfortable at her sisters side and began to read to her.4

Being 4 years old Victoria’s reading abilities were somewhat limited which meant that the stories came out something to the effect of – the three little bears went to the gingerbread house and huffed and puffed. When Victoria looked down at her new sister she was certain that she saw her smile. Their mother told her that it was more than likely a wind, but Victoria knew the truth. Her baby sister loved her. The link created that day would forever unite the Renwitt sisters.5

From that moment on the sisters were inseparable. Victoria taught Patricia how too crawl, how too walk and even how to talk. So it wasn’t at all surprising that Patricia’s first word wasn’t Mommy or Daddy, her first word was Vicky. Victoria took great pride in raising her young charge and Patricia cried inconsolably every time Vicky was away. 6

In the happiness that surrounded their little world, Vicky was aware of a dark cloud that would soon threaten their joy. Their father was a violent man who often felt the need to beat their mother and occasionally Vicky herself. Vicky would not allow him to shatter her little sister world of happiness and went to great lengths to hide their fathers true nature from Trisha.7

In their room, Vicky created a safe haven - a world of magic where fairies and dragons roamed freely, even creating interesting and inventive reasons for the screaming and banging coming from their parent’s room. All the while fearing that their father would cross the corridor and Vicky herself would have to face a beating of her own. She endured all of that in an attempt to protect her baby sister, who loved the man from Vicky’s nightmares. Every time thanking God that she had somehow managed to once again keep the truth from Trisha. Vicky reasoned that while she herself would never have the love of a father, Trisha need and deserved to know only love. 8

Their father’s anger was not fuelled by alcohol or drugs, which are the most common excuse given. His rage was from a much darker source, insecurity. Many consider violent people to be essentially stupid - their father though violent was very intelligent. He never hit either of them in the face, preferring body shots that could not easily be seen. Their mother had also become quite adept at hiding any and all tell tale bruises.9

The Renwitt’s you see, were a well thought of family in the small Port Elizabeth community. Mr Renwitt was regarded as a man of character with a kind heart and a willing smile. A mans man utterly incapable of such atrocities. Only their mother and Vicky knew the truth, in fact the communities opinion of their father actually helped convince Trisha that he was all the things she believed him to be, honest, caring and gentle. 10

By now their father had realised what Vicky had been doing and was more than willing to play the game. He loved the way Trisha looked at him with adoration in her eyes. He sometimes thought that Trisha loved him enough for all of them.11

The years past in much the same way, slowly the strain began to take its toll on Vicky. Now fourteen years old she could no longer live in constant fear. She longed for a moment’s peace, just a moment to rest. Looking over at her happy smiling sister she knew she needed to find a way to keep going, but she was tired in a way she had never felt before, tired in her very soul.12

That evening was no different to many of the evenings before, their parents were fighting again and Vicky had retreated into their room with Trisha. For reason’s unknown to Vicky she felt a horrible anger begin to simmer inside her. Trisha sensing that something was wrong cautiously approached her sister. As yet another bang sounded into the night. Vicky could stand it no longer. She jumped up and ran across to their parent’s room, she had to stop him, she had to at least try.13

Trisha followed her out - she entered the room just in time to see her mother fly over the bed. The realisation hit Trisha like a ton of bricks. Vicky jumped onto their father back and began to punch him with all the strength in her fourteen year old body. When he turned, Trisha saw for the first time the monster that had been her hero. She saw the hate and rage in his eyes and knew that her sister was in very real danger. 14

As he lifted his hand to hit Vicky, Trisha jumped on him punching and kicking with all her might, all the while screaming “Don’t hurt Vicky!”15

Fear pushing her onward. Vicky joined in, both of the Renwitt sisters doing their best to hurt him, to stop him. A strange sound made them both stop, staring in disbelief they realised that he was laughing. Laughing like he had just caught the punch line to a very funny joke. Vicky stormed out slamming their room door behind her.16

Trisha stood paralysed by fear and disbelief. Her hero was nothing more than a bully, no worse a woman beater. He stopped laughing when he saw the look of shock and disgust on Trisha’s face. He knew that she would never again look at him with innocent eyes he had lost her maybe forever.17

By then their mother had recovered enough to get up and came to stand behind her daughter. 18

“Trisha, my baby girl you don’t understand… “ he began to say but he knew his words were falling on deaf ears.19

He put out his arms, his eyes begging for her understanding, but it was too late. Trisha turned and hugged their mother, defeated their father got up and left the room. Trisha’s sobs were the only sound that remained in the house.20

Trisha cried for the father she had lost, in her mind he was forever replaced with a monster. Trisha also mourned the loss of her innocence, for with the knowledge of her fathers true nature came the certainty that life would never again be as it was. The fear that had remained in her thoughts for as long as she could remember now dominated her mind. The fear that had hounded her every waking moment finally had a name, Daddy.