HER WORLD: A Coming Of Age Romance

[Chicago] ?Oh she is sweet but a psycho A little bit psycho, And then she screaming, Ama ma ma ama ama eh... The ringing of her phone woke her up. She picked the phone and rolled her eyes as the voice of her friend blast the phone... "Homa baby," Jessica voice blast from the other end "Jessie, how long will I correct you that it is O-M-A not H-O-M-A," Valerie corrected "Whatever b***h," She replied her hissing "f**k yah. So why won't you allow me to rest this early morning?" Val asked "I just call to ask if our girls out is still on," Jessie replied "Yeah baby. So is that the reason you called this early morning?" Val asked rolling her eyes "Yes and bills on you baby," "You know I gotcha anytime," Val replied smiling "I know and that is why I love you b***h," Jessie said laughing "Get your f*****g self out of my phone," Val said shouting "I love you, I love you, love you..." Jessie said in a sing song manner as she hung up the call. And that was her friend, the one pest in her life, Jessica Brown. They met three years ago at a family picnic. It happened so fast and before they could think of anything, they became friends. "Valerie... Valerie... Val," Mrs Howard called "Mum, am coming." She replied Valerie groaned as she stood up from her bed. Her room is the typical girly room. Painted in the combination of pink and blue, with a queen sized bed stuffed with various teddy bears. It has a reading table and chair and a TV set. At the other end of the room is a large closet stuffed with varieties of clothes and shoes. Being the only child, her parents always love to satisfy her needs. She went to the bathroom and freshen up, then left her room for the living room to join her mum. On getting to the living room, she met both her parents already seated. She knelt down and greeted both of them. Valerie Omarmerhi Howard, is not your typical American girl. Her mother is from the Urhobo tribe in Nigeria and she made it her duty to teach her all about African culture, especially Urhobo culture. "Good morning Princess," Her dad answered "How was your night love," Her mother said "Fine but short," Valerie replied "Why won't it be short, when you spent all the night watching movies on Netflix," Her mum interjected "Mum!" She whined "We both know am not lying. Just take a seat, your dad and I have an important issue to discuss with you," Mrs Howard said "Okay mum," She said while she sat down "Valerie my Princess, your mum and I have decided to send you to Nigeria to continue your education," Her dad said calmly "Mum, tell me this is all a joke," Val said facing her mum "Val, it is no joke. You are leaving for Nigeria in three weeks time," Her mum replied "No ooo," She said as she stood up abruptly She walked out on her parents as she left for her room. "Valerie, come back here. We are not done talking to you. Valerie... Val." Her dad shouted which she turned deaf ears. She entered her room and banged the door. "Darling, please am sorry about that. Let me go talk to her," Mrs Howard said to her husband "Okay hun." He replied her Mrs Howard left the living room to go meet her daughter in her room. She opened the door and was faced with a crying Valerie. "Omarmerhi, my baby..." She began..." Please don't see sending you to Nigeria as a punishment or stuff like that. We want the best for you and we also want you to learn more about the African culture," Mrs Howard explained "What about the ones have been learning?" Valerie said still sobbing "Princess, it is different. Okay let me sight an example. It is just like Science, if you do not practicalise it, you won't know it fully. So what am saying in essence is that, you have to live there to be able to understand the culture well. Hope am communicating?" Mrs Howard said "Yes mummy," "So baby, please stop crying and let's start the preparation," "Okay mum. But mum, where will I be staying?" Val asked "Oh about that, you will be staying at your uncle Joyovwi place in Delta state and he will enrol you in a nice secondary school which will match your taste," She replied "Okay mum. Am agreeing to it because of you and dad and not because I want to go there," Val said wiping her face "Thanks Princess. It is just a matter of two years and I promise you will love it there," "Alright mum. Am sorry for walking out on you and dad," She said with a pleading eyes "It okay Princess," Her mum said as she embraced her "I love you so much mum" "I love you too darling. Now go prepare for your girls out with Jessie," Mrs Howard said as she released her from the hug "Okay mum." Valerie replied blowing her mum a kiss