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Late Night

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“You are still awake?” professor MacPherson said as he sauntered to the sitting room. “Yes, dad,” Ayla said and glimpsed at the wall clock. “It’s just 7:58 pm, dad,” Ayla said. “I don’t want you to keep late night,” professor MacPherson said and sat on one of the couches. “I won’t keep late night, dad; I only want to finish this film,” Ayla said. “Alright, I compromise. Have you eaten anything?” professor MacPherson said and glimpsed at the television screen. “Yes, dad; Mrs. Evelyn brought fried rice for us. I kept your own in the oven,” Ayla said.

“I didn’t have a chance to get my lunch, so I am famished now,” Professor MacPherson said and yawned. “Dad, go and eat your food,” Ayla said and quickly fixed her gaze on the film she was watching. “I think I have to accede to your idea. When I am done eating, you will turn off the television,” professor MacPherson said. “Alright, dad,” Ayla said.

Professor MacPherson stood up from the couch, he sauntered towards the kitchen. When he got to the kitchen, he removed a plate from the oven, picked up a spoon and walked towards the dining room. “The food must be delicious,” professor MacPherson said. He uncovered the plate and carried a spoonful of fried rice. “I said it; Evelyn is a good cook,” Professor MacPherson muttered amid the fried rice in his mouth. Soon, professor MacPherson cleared the plate. “I am satisfied now,” professor MacPherson muttered as he rubbed his stomach. He stood up from the chair, clutched the empty plate and sauntered towards the kitchen. He dropped the empty plate on the table and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Professor MacPherson sauntered towards the refrigerator in the sitting room, he took a bottle from the refrigerator and put a little of its contents inside a mug. He emptied the mug and put the mug and the bottle back inside the refrigerator. “Ayla, it’s time to go to bed,” professor MacPherson said as he walked towards Ayla's direction. “Dad, just give me a few minutes; besides, I will make up the lost sleep,” Ayla said. “Promise is a debt, Ayla. Now, do what I asked you to do,” professor MacPherson said. Ayla grimaced and said, “Alright, dad.” She clutched the remote, stood up from the couch and sauntered towards the direction of the electronics. She switched them off and sauntered towards professor MacPherson. “Let’s go to our rooms,” professor MacPherson said. The professor kissed Ayla and said, “I love you.”

“I love you too, dad; goodnight,” Ayla said. “Goodnight, Ayla,” professor MacPherson said, and the twosome parted to their rooms.

It was a bright morning. Professor MacPherson was the first to wake up. He stood up from his bed, stretched his hands and sauntered towards the sitting room. When professor MacPherson got to the sitting room, he gazed at the wall clock. “It’s just 6:09 am; well, I still have time,” professor MacPherson muttered sleepily and used his palm to rub his eyes. He walked back to his room and undressed himself. He tied a towel round the boxer shorts he was wearing and sauntered out of the room.

After about 5 minutes, Ayla walked out of professor MacPherson’s room. “Where are you, dad?” Ayla said when she got to the sitting room. “I’m taking my bath!” professor MacPherson answered from the bathroom after he managed to take the soaped sponge off his face.

“Alright, dad; make it snappy,” Ayla said and sat down on one of the couches. As she was waiting for professor MacPherson, her eyes caught Charlotte's picture hanging on the wall. “See her smile, see her eyes like crystal; what a beautiful woman. Where are you? I'm missing you so much. I guess you won’t allow my world to crumble?” all these thoughts ran through Ayla’s mind as she gazed at Charlotte’s picture. Tears dropped from her eyes and she used her palm to clean the tears.

“What's going on here?” professor MacPherson said as he walked to the sitting room. A towel was tied round his waist. “Nothing, dad,” Ayla said.

“I am not a kid; you are even crying. It's too early to start crying. Let me dress up,” Professor MacPherson said and sauntered away.

Soon, Professor MacPherson sauntered towards the sitting room, clutching his briefcase. He was putting on a white suit, a pair of eyeglasses and a pair of shoes.

“I am here now, what’s going on?” Professor MacPherson said and sat beside Ayla on the couch. “I gazed at the picture hanging on the wall,” Ayla said. “I can see several pictures hanging on the walls; which of the pictures?” professor MacPherson said and glimpsed at the wall. “That one, dad,” Ayla said with gesture. “It’s your mum. You are thinking again? I had told you in the time past that your mum would come back home,” professor MacPherson said.

“When?” Ayla said and burst into an uncontrollable weeping. “C’mon, Ayla; you are a big girl. Stop all this,” Professor MacPherson said with a quavering voice, and put Ayla's head on his lap. He used his fingers to draw invisible signs on Ayla’s head as a means of pacifying her.

“I can’t stand it anymore; I want to see my mum,” Ayla said. “Your mum is safe wherever she is; just keep praying for her release. She will come around,” professor MacPherson said. Ayla raised her head from professor MacPherson’s lap, she stood up and took two steps backwards. “If my mum doesn’t come back to this house in the next seven days, I will strangle myself to death,” Ayla said and walked away.