Promises to myself

Chantel Vergotine Synopsis Promises to myself This story is about a family living in a rural area, with low cost housing, chaos usually started on a Friday afternoon, when everybody returns from work. It is in the midst of summer and the weather hot. The atmosphere is pregnant with all kinds of problems in this little town, the fire just needs to be ignited for sparks to fly. Young people are dangerously involved with drugs and alcohol. The pregnancy statistics are painfully high, because of social and economic problems. Some of the houses have been upgraded and rented out to people with a higher level of income. They do not interact with each other, but its better that way, though fighting happens between them, a stranger dare not disrespect or insult one of them, but in any way this is how the story begins. The protagonist character is Santie, she is the daughter of Gawie en Katryn van Rooi. Katryn is a full blown alcoholic, with an abusive husband, having an affair with one of Santie's teachers. The husband is always working outside of town, and Katryn drunk, everyday. Santie got raped on one evening, while her mother got a blackout, from too much drinking. During weekends Gawie does odd jobs, also at the teacher's house. Her mother vandalizes their home, and, her dog dies in one of those unfortunate evenings. He killed his wife one weekend, goes to jail and the teacher their neighbor, and took pity on Santie. Her misbelieve of the world was challenged the futher more when she finds out the women, her teacher, she now depended on, was the reason her mother died. She confronted her, and the teacher confesses everything. Her grandmother Hettie, and her aunt came to visit one day, also drunk, after her mother died, while she was staying with Linda, but it was not a friendly visit after all. They talked about money, and insult Linda. They wanted to take Santie away. She refuses, because all these years there where bad blood between the two families, and they never had any interest in her, which also is a part of the conclusion of the story. Police Captain. Henk, is the one that bring the news about her dad's court dates, he is a widower. From there on he randomly goes to Linda's house, being concerned about the girl. He fell in love with Linda. Linda starts to love Santie very much; she lost her child many years ago. She adopted Santie, gets her through her Grade 12 year, and gave her a wonderful farewell, dress and all. On the evening of her farewell party things almost took a turn for the worst, because of an after party. She almost lost hope, but Linda and Henk supported her a great deal. Linda got technology in her house that made Santie's live so much easier, in terms of her studies. Henk introduces them his children, and tell Linda about his wife, who died a couple of years ago. At the arrival at his home they also find out that he is a very wealthy man. After all her tragedy and misfortune, Linda got a call from Santie's family lawyers, to come and see them. At arrival, they where told that Santie inherited all her mothers shares, her granddad was a very wealthy man, that was the reason, that her dad was not accepted in their family. Santie passes her exams with no less than five distinctions, a first for their school. Linda asks Hank and his children to go with her and Santie on holiday, to Plettenbergbay, where they got engaged. Her future is bright; she got the support she wanted so desperately. And her faith in God was restored.