I

"Sarah. Come here. I am talking to you and you're walking out on me" said Sarah's mother, Mrs Smith as she went running down the golden colored stairs. Mrs Smith, her children and her husband occupied a duplex with no extended family or neighbors as Mr Smith was the owner of the land and had built his own house. "Sarah! Come back here" yelled Mrs Smith. "Sarah. Sarah, hmm. I am talking to you and you're not even looking at me" said Mrs Smith angrily to Sarah who was already sitting on a white king chair putting her legs on the center table unperturbed in the sitting room which had white paint allover and a picture frame of Mr Smith, his wife and their children. "Sarah, am I not talking to you" asked Mrs Smith again angrily. "Mom. I'm not disrespecting you, but I can't do what you told me to do. I mean it's embarrassing. It can't work. Never will it Mom. You need to understand me too. Look at it from my point of view, it can't just work. Can't you see it" said Sarah persuasively and politely already now confronting her mom. "Sarah, Sarah. Listen to me" said Mrs Smith. "It won't work Mom. Need me to do any other thing" asked Sarah to change the topic. "I need you to listen to what I am telling you" said Mrs Smith in a calm tone. "Aside that" asked Sarah again. "When are we going to continue this conversation" asked Mrs Smith. "If there's nothing else, I need to freshen up" said Sarah walking upstairs because she knew her mum wouldn't give up easily. "Ok. Sarah. There's something to talk about" said Mrs Smith. "After freshening up" said Sarah and increased her speed before her mom could say any more word. After the refreshing bath, she wore a pajamas and went in search of her mother. She met her mother preparing dinner. Immediately her mum saw her, she yelled "Are you not supposed to be the one doing this". "Mum. I'm young. I am just 13" countered Sarah. "Just. So you call 13 just. In those days, we started cooking at the age of 9. You're telling me just 13" said Mrs Smith as the anger of the unfinished conversation reflected in her voice. "Well that was those days, not now" said Sarah comparing. "Shut up there" said Mrs Smith still angry. "Mum, I've started menstruation. I just saw it now" said Sarah happily to change her mother's mood. "Really. You have. Which pad did you use" asked Mrs Smith happily. "The one in your room" said Sarah. "Did you wear it well" asked Mrs Smith. "Yes, I did" answered Sarah. Later that night, the family had a sumptuous meal of Jollof rice, Chicken and Yogurt. After eating, Sarah's mother came to her and asked, "What about our conversation". "There's school tomorrow and I need to go to bed early" said Sarah yawning derisively as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on and went up the stairs to her room in feigned tiredness and left her mother transfixed looking at her as she went.