Mobola

Life. Life to many is served on a gleaming golden platter. They dine, savor and enjoy all it's sweetness, and it lingers, leaving beautiful memories thereafter. While, to many more, life is served on a mere pewter, leaving more or less a trifle amount of bittersweet memories to keep. Mobola tasted both the sweet and sour part of life at the very tender age of thirteen. Where most kids at her age are just beginning or are already at the start of their lives, but for her she was rather at the end of it. She was just twelve when her father got a huge contract in Florida, Miami. A construction company offered her father a life changing opportunity and of course it involves moving to Florida permanently. Her father, Mr Ndanusa, was one of the best architects in Africa at the time and his reputation precedes him. His company was the one most respected company in the country which is to say, Mr Ndanusa is living comfortably well with his two wives and three children. Mobola's mother, Mrs Ayomide Ndanusa is the last wife of Mr Ndanusa. She unlike Mr Ndanusa is a Yoruba woman. She hails from Ekiti state, Nigeria. While Mr Ndanusa's first wife, Mrs Talatu Ndanusa is of a Nupe tribe just like her husband from Niger state, Nigeria. She gave birth to two children, a fifteen year old son named Aba, he is the first child of the family and a daughter the same age as Mobola named Lami. But Mobola was considered to be the last born of them all just because her mother is the last wife. Just like every other family, they lived happily together in their home in Lagos state, a mansion to be precise, or so they pretended to be. Until the morning the news of the contract came to their hearing. It was a Saturday morning, and the family gathered in the dining table as usual for breakfast, as they were all eating and chattering, her father spoke and everybody quiet down, that's how fierce her father is, a man of unquestionable demeanor. "Our company has been selected as the representative of TEKsystems in Florida" "Oh my goodness baby, that's great news" Mobola's mother said, she got off her chair to go hug him affectionately. "Congratulations sir" Mrs Talatu called out at the far end of the table with a smile on her face. All the kids were rejoicing, then Mobola's mother ask "How long-term is this offer?" "It's a permanent offer my dear" her father replied. Which gave them more reason to rejoice. "So we are all traveling to Florida, when?" Lami asked grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, not all of us, I'm only allowed to take two at the moment but at the end of next year every single member of the family can come with" her father explains Everybody became at ease with this information. Mobola searched all their faces, her mother was rather confuse, her step mother was displeased, while her step siblings were eager, perhaps waiting for more information. Then her father continued "So I have decided to take with me Ayomi and Mobola, they'll get everything settled till the rest of you can come along" he said eating his food. "Oh baby why don't you go with Aba and his mother instead, then Mobola, Lami and I will come next year" Mobola's mother suggested "Aba's mother isn't built for these things. We'll have to throw a party to congratulate the team, and we all know she and I are not very good at throwing parties" her father replies with a chuckle. Which made Mobola's step mother chuckle reluctantly as well, while her mother laughs nervously. "Ehen, Then we shall all wait, till there's plenty of room for everyone" she argues again "Ayomi I've made my decision. I can't go there alone, I'll need somebody with me, this is 365days we're talking about, who do I go home to at night?" her father says adamantly. "Huh, Iya Omobolanle, you should go, I'm rather too old for this type of live anyways, you'll take care of our husband much better" Mobola's stepmother suggested. "Exactly my point. See, she isn't even complaining so why are you reluctant Ayomi" her father ask her mother. "No I'm not baby, I'm just being considerate. And thank you Mama Lami" her mother replies,smiling to her stepmother. "No problem" she said looking rather unpleased. Then she utters out something to Mr Ndanusa in Nupe. Throwing knives at him with her glare. The man only shook his head and continue with his breakfast. Mobola and her mother exchanged glances. At noon when it was time for lunch. The cook sends Mobola to go call on everybody that their dish is served. She went to tell her brother first. Aba who was playing video game paid no mind to her. And when she couldn't find her sister, she went on her way to her stepmother's bedroom but stop abruptly as she heard arguments coming from inside her father's bedroom. "Is this how you repay me Nusa? At first you choose to bring another woman into this house, Yet I didn't complain. Then you choose to be with her every other night not minding me anymore, and I didn't still convey any disapproval whatsoever, and now this? You'll leave me and my children alone in Nigeria for a whole year, while you'll be over there enjoying with her? Somebody that doesn't know how we started to build the company from scratch. You do know it isn't fair right, look at me, I'm talking to you tobosoko" "Talatu, I'm sorry you feel you deserve more. But you said it yourself, you're too old for all these formal occasions, I need a younger wife by my side, you know all these western cultures. Ayomide is more fit for those. Just try to understand" "Oh now she's fit for western lives and I am hideous? What exactly are you saying?" Then her father walked out saying "There's no point arguing with you, I've made my decision" When he got outside the bedroom, he saw Mobola and the expression on her face wasn't pleasant, he try smiling so that she'll feel a bit untensed. "Megan o be Nusa, I'm not done with you" her stepmother shouted from inside the room. She got out and met Mobola in the arm of her husband the little girl in tears. She hissed and went to her own bedroom instead. Weeks passed and the arrangement of the travel was gradually completed. The day before their journey, Mobola's mother called her daughter, who was playing with her siblings in the pool downstairs. "Omobolanle" she shouted from the balcony "Yes mummy" Mobola replies, getting out of the pool to swiftly answer her mother's call Her mother was already in her room packing Mobola's bags. When Mobola saw this she ask her "Are we leaving tomorrow?" "Yes Mobola, we're leaving tomorrow." "Mummy I don't want to go any more, I'll just wait with Lami and Aba. You can go with Mama Lami and father" she said beggingly "That's impossible, We can't leave you kids alone without any adult supervision, and we can't leave you to the care of the maids either, so no" her mother said "Ehn me I'm not going oo. I don't want to go mummy" she begs again "Baby mi, we don't have any choice" her mother consoled her, petting her on her forehead and shoulder. "I promise you'll like it in Florida, there are a lot of beaches in Miami, ones bigger than the size of our pool here" her mother wagers This made Mobola's eyes lit in amusement. She enjoys swimming, she's good at it because she trains every weekend with her personal trainer. "Wow, we'll visit the beach every weekend then mummy, won't we?" she conceded. "Yes" her mother replied with a laugh. "Now which of your clothes are willing to drop for Lami, cause we can't take them all, we'll get new ones in Florida" Mobola surveyed the clothes on the bed and she scurried different ones out to her mother with excitement now "I'll drop this one, and those ones too, but I'll take my ball gown, the one father got for me last summer" "Okay then. Go play now" her mother dismissed her with a smile. The next morning and all the family gathered in the sitting room on the order of Mr Ndanusa. Their flight was scheduled for 5am, so they were all woken rather too early, and were all still looking very much in need of rest. They prayed for mercy in their journey and Mr Ndanusa gave instructions to the maids for the smooth running of the household. He gave his first wife enough money to get them through the first month as he would be too busy to send anything until he has started work. They went outside to the car and the rest escorted them "We'll call you as soon as we get a registered Sim card once we land" he said before closing the door of the front seat of the car. Mobola and Lami shared a look of sadness, it was no secret that they'll both miss the company of one another. Lami kept waving as they depart and Mobola hung to the window of the car. It wasn't a direct flight to Florida, they'll have to make a stop at Orlando before getting to their destination at Florida, which all together is a 12hours and 16minutes journey. So by 3pm they landed at Orlando Airport and they boarded another plane headed straight to Florida. All these was new to Mobola and she enjoyed every single bit of it. She tasted foods and fruits she has never tasted before. She saw tall and beautiful buildings that are beyond her Wildest imagination. Every thing here looks so different but very breath taking. Thank goodness she didn't stay behind. Their plane landed at exactly 5:30pm, according to the watch on her hand but it was 8am in the morning on the huge clock at the airport. So this was what her teacher meant when he said we live by different time zones. Her father booked an hotel by the airport and they were escorted to it. She heard him telling her mother that they'll take a cab to Miami by noon. The hotel name was Tranquil City Lights and their rooms felt exactly like an apartment. It has three different bedrooms, a dining room and a parlor, this should be called a house in an hotel, Mobola thought. After they were well settled, Mobola was told to go have her bath and a change of cloth, before coming to the dining table for brunch. They were served sandwiches and fruit juice, with lots of oranges and apples. The food here tasted better and Mobola had fun eating all those delicious and juicy delicacies, she wish Lami was present to have a taste as well. By noon they were already in an Uber headed to Miami but not before making arrangements with the airport to get their luggage at their destination in Miami. Miami is a very beautiful city with tall trees and beautiful buildings, and of course the beach was what it is most popular for. They got to TEKsystems building and her father went inside to get the keys to the apartment directly opposite the company. This is their new home now and Mobola loves it, she has seen buildings like this only in the television, and she never knew she'll get to see one up close. "It is beautiful mummy" she conveyed with a smile to her mother "Yes baby, it is very beautiful" her mother said pecking Mobola's forehead. They were ushered in by the receptionist of TEKsystems with a bright smile "Welcome Mr and Mrs Ndanusa, my name is Claire, it is nice to finally have you here" she said with a British accent "It is nice to be here, thank you very much Claire" her father replied. "If you need anything, do call on me, my number is at end of the company's memo by your bedstand" she said with another bright smile before going out of the apartment. Mobola scurried round the place in excitement. Mobola's mother couldn't hide her own excitement as well and she hurriedly went to hug and kiss her husband. "Congratulations baby, this is amazing" "Thanks Ayomi, let's go see If the bedroom is just as amazing" her father replied with laughter that echoes through the whole place. "But of course sir" her mother said trailing her husband's footsteps Then the door shot behind them. Leaving a confused Mobola sitting on the couch in the living room ready to put on the TV to a cartoon station. She grins, this is peaceful and Mobola loves peaceful. Then she turns the TV on.