(By Oluwatoyin Ikuomola)
Continued from part one.
“Come and have your seat”, Mama called out to me.
Reluctantly, I slowly moved to go and take my place beside Papa who sat opposite Mama and Ngozi. Chike was curled up on the floor beside Mama. He looked at me, probably still shaken about how I threw him out of my room earlier on. He looked sad. I mouthed the word “Sorry”. He smiled to tell me it was alright. I loved little Chike so much and it hurt me to my bones that he was always caught up in the rift between Ngozi and me.
I bent down to hug Chike. I knew it would get to Ngozi, especially since I merely looked away when she had initially smiled at me. It worked! She ran out of the room, making muffled sounds as if she were trying to hold back tears. I let out a low, stifled laugh. Chike let go of me and looked as if he was going to cry. I hated when he got so sentimental. Sometimes I felt like kicking or flinging him away, along with Ngozi of course. But Chike had a special place in my heart and he knew it as well as how to take advantage of it, especially when Ngozi was involved. I shook my head.
“Don’t judge me. That girl is a demon I tell you.”
Mama shot me a warning look; I got the message. I smiled my devious smile and I went to sit beside my father. He just sat there, seemingly dazed, staring into space. He didn’t even respond to my greeting. Being hot tempered and saucy as I was, I was swift to roll my eyes and let out quite an audible hiss.
Mama screamed at me.
“Are you no longer with your senses? How dare you hiss at your father?”
Mama knew she was asking for trouble and I was very well prepared to give her nothing short of that.
“Did you hear me say Papa take, this hiss is for you? Or must I obtain license to hiss again? Please o! You do not want to provoke me this night because it will be to the detriment of everyone in this house. The hiss was directed at no one so I don’t know why it will be peppering your flesh. Mama please just let me be tonight.”
She was shocked to say the least. Papa still did not move.
“I don’t blame you. But I blame myself for bringing you into this world.” She folded her arms and shook as she spoke.
I was hurt, but I never let my hurt show in that house, never, at least not since the incident.
Finally, Papa spoke.
“Ngozi! Ngozi!!!”
She didn’t answer, but she returned to the room. I looked at Papa, unable to understand why he simply ignored everyone and everything around him. I looked at Chike who was holding on to Mama, scared and hurt by the exchange I just had with Mama. I looked at Mama; a tear escaped. I was sorry and she was too. We knew it, but we would not admit it. Then I finally brought myself to look at the she-devil. My heart stopped, my brain froze; I was too terrified to even breathe…
Third chapter comes up tomorrow
