EPISODE 5
1135 Words
Ken walked towards her, he leaned over and whispered into her ears.
Lily smiled and opened her eyes. “Mr Brown, you're back?" She asked smiling wryly.
"Yes angel. I'm back. How have you been?"
“Not being better" She said trying to sit up.
You'll be, someday… Just a matter of time.
“I hope so. How has work being? Dad, I've told you countless times that you're working yourself out.” Lily said in a concerned note.
“I'm trying baby girl. If I don't work like this, you all will lack. It'll be alright okay?”
“How about I follow you to work?
“What do you mean?
“I want to work with you, to make your workload easier and faster.”
And you think you can do what's required from it.
Of course….
“Lily, my kind of work is gender specific, for males only.”
"Who says it's gender-specific? Have a female tried it out before?
"No, but I don't want you there. It's rough out there."
" I know… I just want to help you, that's all I want!"
“Calm down Lily.” Ken implied.
“Look at you dad. You're barely sixty and you're already old due to strainous labor. Mom is here fattening up and giving commands here and there, expecting us to always obey her when she can't afford anything on her own. She's eating off you and I hate it!”
“Lily…! You don't shout at me, okay? I understand what you're saying but I can't help it. She's my wife and it's my responsibility to take care of the family. When you grow you'll understand.” Ken said whimping from pain.
“Dad, what is the matter? Why are you whimping?” Lily questioned.
“It's nothing serious. I'll take care of it.” He replied.
“Dad, have you eaten and rested? Are you just coming back?” She asked more calmly.
“Yeah, I'm just coming back. And I'll eat after now.”
“Alright. Dad, I understand that you want to greet me before anything else, I appreciate that and I have received your greetings. For now, please head inside and eat. We'll talk later. Okay?"
"Let me stay a little more with you, Lily….
“Dad! Lift yourself from this bed and do the right thing!” Lily yelled.
“Alright, I'm leaving already.” Ken said throwing his hands up.
“Take care of yourself Lily”
“You too”.
“Now that dad is resting, let's go in and stay with Lily”, Matt suggested to Sophy, while they were sitting idle due to absence of customers.
“You think that's the right thing to do?” Sophy replied.
"Yeah", Matt chirped.
“How about she comes out to meet us? That room will be hot by now and I can't lock up the burglary protector just because I want to check up on Lily” Sophy blurted.
“Why are you sounding like this Sophy? Are you now jealous of Lily?”
"Jealous? Of course not! Why should I be jealous?" Sophy defended.
“Just admit it Sophy”, Matt said while chuckling.
“How about we play chess? Go in and get the chess board.” Sophy said in diversion.
“Hey, I caught you! You're changing the topic!” Matt squealed.
Matt!
Yes mom!
“Stop the noise. What are you inciting? That your sister is jealous? If you don't want to start your night sleep this evening, don't stress this matter.”
“Okay mom", Matt reeled.
The next day, before 6am, Ken was out already.
Sophy went to the university, Matt too went to school, a primary school not too far from their house. Lily stayed back at home with her mom. She had been thinking all through the night about her dad and most importantly, about herself. “Why on earth are all the negative things happening to me? Why must I be the one to bear all the loses?”. Monday mornings have always been her dread, because they remind her of the decision she took years ago before Matt's primary education.
Two years before Matt's birth, Lily made a decision that causes her heart to skip whenever she remembers it.
It was a decision made at a critical stage of her life. She had just finished high school and was about to sit for college exams. At that time, there was serious financial strain in the house. The lack was thick to the extent that they went without food for two days and half.
Sophy was in her first year in college and had lots of fees to sort for her registration and accommodation. Her father, Ken was the only means of income in the family.
At that point, everything pulled to a halt. Sophy had to go to college from the house in order to subsidize costs. Justina had no job to sustain the family. Lily who was the last born then had to suspend her schooling. She, having seen how much the situation had impacted on her father, decided not to further her schooling. She dropped out of school.
Currently, though Sophy still went to college from the house, Lily was no more a student. She is twenty already. Going to buy a college entrance form and sitting for the exam was a journey of a thousand miles for her. Especially in this neighborhood.
“What on earth am I supposed to do now? Another Monday is here! I hate myself now. My being stuck in the same house with a woman that calls herself my mom, makes me more irritated.” She muttered.
"I wonder what she's doing now…she'll be sitting in her store of course.”
After a long pause, she exhaled, “I'll be alright.”
Time passed and suddenly, she jacked up from the bed, cruised to the wardrobe, and searched for an outfit that would compliment the day's occasion. She turned on the radio and blared on some music. She rocked on to the rhythm of the music as she made ready to leave.
“I'mma have fun today. Put on your pink heels and a red glitter lipstick, and rock on…! Whoa!” She sang in sync with the song.
After a lapse of twenty minutes, she was ready for the day's adventure. She wore her glasses and had her sling bag on. She matched out and walked past her mom who was at the store.
"Keep your phone on and don't sleep out today. I want to see you before…”
Jam! The gate banged close before she could complete her statement. Lily was gone!
Justina exhaled, wagging her head in amazement.
- Writer
