Cousin causing my landlord to kick me out

Dear Pastor,

I am 20 and I am living with my babyfather. I am here because I can't do better.

I was forced to leave home when I became pregnant. My mother said that since I have become a big woman, I should tell the man who got me pregnant to find a place and put me. My father told her that I am not going anywhere, but my mother said both of us could not stay in the home.

One Saturday afternoon, my mother cooked soup and I went to take some. My mother told me that I should stop eating what she cooks and let my man provide for me. My parents got into an argument and my mother threatened to burn up my father with the soup. The argument got so bad that neighbours heard them and came to calm them down.

They took my father away, and I called my babyfather and explained the situation. So he came for me. He took me to his grandmother's house and explained the situation to her. She called my mother, who refused to listen. This is the mother who forgot that when she was ill, my babyfather took her everywhere she wanted to go because she didn't always have the money. Now, she was willing and ready to throw me out just because I got pregnant. I know that I should not have allowed myself to get pregnant, but it was a mistake. I could not stay very long with my babyfather's grandmother, so he is renting a place and we are living there. But it is too expensive. He does not make a lot of money and the rent is $40,000 for two rooms.

One of my cousins asked me if she could come and stay. I told her we would rent her one of the rooms and my babyfather and our child would stay in one room. We told her she could split the rent with us. The landlord agreed that she could stay there, but he did not want ro overcrowd his place. My cousin is two years older than me. She has a boyfriend and he visits her. Then she allowed him to sleep over. My boyfriend and I didn't say anything, but the landlord realised that he was sleeping there and he told us that he doesn't want that to continue in his house. He reminded us that he rented the place to my babyfather and me, so he would have to give us notice to leave.

When we spoke to this girl, she cursed the landlord and he was very upset. Her boyfriend also threatened the landlord, who then told us that he can get her out of his place, and her boyfriend would not be able to come to his gate. I am so scared because my landlord is serious, and I don't want anything to happen to my babyfather. My cousin loves to run her mouth. She told the landlord that she is not living at his house for free, so we have stopped taking money from her. We told her to take her money and rent somewhere else. Now, she is annoyed at us.

If my mother had not thrown me out, I would not be in this situation. We are trying to find another place to live that is quiet and cheaper. Where we are living is a lovely place, but my cousin and her man have spoilt everything for us.

G.H.

Dear G.H.,

I regret hearing that you had to leave home because you got pregnant. I am also sorry to know that your parents got into verbal fights and abused each other over you.

I feel sorry for you because I believe that you are sorry about your mistake. Living with a man and not being married to him was not part of your plans. I think $40,000 per month is steep for a man who is not earning any money. On the other hand, when your cousin offered to move in with you and share the rent, and the landlord agreed, she should have known not to encourage her man to also move in. I am sorry; I have to describe her as a very silly young woman. I hope she would move out very soon and that your landlord will allow your child's father and you to remain at the house until you have found a cheaper place.

Pastor