Chapter 1
1734 Words
April huffs while she drags her boxs, out. While walking out of the room she hisses in frustration and places the box on the floor. She tries to rest her body on the wall for support when she hears her mums voice.
"April, sleep there okay, " her mum's voice blasts her ears. Typical of Nigerian mums, using the opposite to tell you what they want. It can be hilarious, most times. April hisses while she drags herself down to the sitting room. On getting there one thing leads to another making her miss her step before she knew what was going on, she had landed with her butt.
The sound of Wunmi laughter fills the sitting room making April more furious.
"Your eyes are always up, you can never let your eyes get to the ground," Mrs. Kuti frowns making April angrier. Nigerian mothers for you.
"Her body is just itching her, If you like go to school, and start misbehaving," Wunmi says annoying April, who knew better than argue with her. She always knew her elder sister was annoying.
"Will you get up from the floor? Why not clean the floor with your butt. Since you are now mop." Mrs. Kuti frowns meanwhile April gets up hesitantly.
"Be a good girl and remember the family you came from," Wunmi says with a mock smile.
"She shouldn't na," Mrs. Kuti says.
"You know it's because of the scholarship, you are opportune to attend such school. Improve and maintain your grades so you will be better than me and help our lives." Wunmi says genuinely for us first time.
"April, you know our condition, " Mrs. Kuti says meanwhile April face turns blank. She hated it when her mum tried to bring up the past. The thought their lives would have been better than this if not for the tragic situation had made her feel weak.
Aprils, dad Mr. Kuti died ten years ago, then she was just seven but could accumulate and understand few things. He dad died due to a heart attack, which was triggered by the fact his ship worth millions sank. He couldn't handle it emotionally, and he was also hypertensive. Her dads family members and relations didn't waste time throwing them out to the street. She didn't know if it was because her dad didn't marry a Yoruba woman like his parents wanted or it was the fact her mum had no son. No one interceded for them. They had no one to help them, her mum had no brother nor sister. Her parents, were also late. They have been managing on their own ever since. Mrs. Kuti had been selling fresh tomatoes and pepper in Rumuokoro market with the help of her daughters, especially Wunmi. They never progressed cause Wunmi was a sickler. Everything her mum sold out always ended in the hospital, they are just happy she had survived till this age and still hope she wouldn't die.
Wunmi had finished secondary school, two years back and she hasn't been able to further her education due to lack of funds. So she had been helping her mum every since. April on the other hand had been attending a government school.
The organization that gave her the scholarship will take care of her tuition fee and every other expenses concerning the school. Since it's a boarding school. She just needed some provisions and pocket money for her comfort. Mrs. Kuti had already squeezed out the little she could get even if she wasn't earning much due to the Constitution in Rumuokoro. The current governor, His Excellency Nyesom Wike was making plans for a flyover which he wanted in Rumuokoro and the tasks force assigned were really doing there job and also taking advantage of the situation, by extorting money from poor market woman and drivers. People like Mrs. Kuti who had no shop and sold close to the road had a price to pay. They were always on the run.
"Let's start going, so I will be back early." Mrs. Kuti says while she rummages through her washed looking handbag. Meanwhile, April picks her traveling box. It wasn't looking old and wasn't new either. It was something worth managing.
"Mummy, if you don't come back early, should I go to the market?" Wunmi asks .
" Wunmi, I'm not planning on sleeping there, Biko (Please) Port- Harcourt can be busy but there is no way someone moving from Rumuodumaya to Rupokwu will spend hours, " Mrs. Kuti says in a mock tone.
"But mummy, I'm not talking about getting there, won't you stay till she get settled in?" Wunmi asks with a serious look.
"Wunmi! cook rice. Jollof rice to be specific, use that tomato that's almost spoilt. I don't want it to waste, it was bought with money," Mrs. Kuti changes the topic.
"Mummy, I was...
" You haven't told me what you are doing with that boy who grinds tomato in the market." Mrs. Kuti says with fury meanwhile April lets her eyes widen.
"Mummy, what does that have to do with this?" Wunmi who seemed to be losing her temper asks with a frown.
"It has got everything to do with this, Wunmi. It has everything to do with this," Mrs. Kuti shouts at the top of her voice.
"Mummy calm down na, we are disturbing others in their room,s" April says wondering what their neighbors might be saying or thinking now. They lived in one room. Typical " Face me I face you" in Nigeria.
"Wunmi it has everything to do with this," Mrs. Kuti says practically ignoring her daughter. Meanwhile, Wunmi attempts to walk into the other room. They rented two rooms, one was used as a sitting room while the other a bedroom.
"Will you come back here? E wey sense (you don't have sense) Mrs. Kuti says in Ikwerre.
" Mummy, what is it na?" Wunmi asks with a frown.
"You think I don't know the reason, you want to go to the market?" Mrs. Kuti asks in a strict tone.
"Mummy, what reason again? If I don't agree to assist you. You will complain and if I do, you will still complain," Wunmi frowns.
"You think mummy Chisom didn't tell me how you misbehave with that unfortunate human being. When you go to the market," Mrs. Kuti says with a frown.
" Oh, that's what mummy Chisom told you? I should have known. That gossip", Wunmi defends.
"Will you shut up? you won't follow reasonable people, look at our lives and you say it's tomato, pepper and egusi grounder that is your problem" Mrs. Kuti who couldn't take it anymore says.
"Mummy, you were complaining about us been late, " April chips in meanwhile the look her mum gave her was capable of burying someone.
"Wunmi, you aren't a kid. there are so many rich and responsible men out there, a pepper grounder will not be your portion. God forbid," Mrs. Kuti says demonstrating in a funny way. "April, oya start going." Mrs. Kuti says and walks out without uttering a word.
"The rich man you married, look at how your life turned out" Wunmi hisses making April who was trying to lift her box turn to her.
"Wunmi," April calls out.
"Go and meet your mother." Wumi hisses and walks into the other room leaving April all to herself. April shakes her head in pity. She wonders how mama Chisom who sold close to them in the market and also their neighbor at home found out about Wunmi and the grounder Daniel. How did she know they were dating? Cause Wunmi was too secretive. She silently wonders how Wunmi got caught when her mother's loud voice grabs her attention.
"April, If I meet you there, I will beat youup," Mrs. Kuti threatened. April smiles. She knew what her mum was capable of doing. She knew her mum was capable of beating them up, even at there present age.
"April!" Someone calls out while she barged in.
"Homa," April calls out meanwhile, her best friend hugs her. She gives her a gentle smile before releasing her.
"Let me help,"Homa says while trying to drag the box.
★.★.★
" Thought I.b was resuming today?" Bright asks Fisayo who looked really busy stocking her provisions in her locker.
"She said so, besides the day hasn't even gone yet," Fisayo responds sparing a glance at Bright who just gave her a small smile.
"Flourish, Please pass me that butter" Bright says to a girl so was obviously trying to get a nap on her bed.
"Bright na!" Flourish hisses while she picks the butter which was lying carelessly on her bed and throws it over to Bright who catches it on time.
"Smart move, you aren't as clumsy like the previous term," Fisayo says meanwhile Bright frowns.
"Bright, she was joking na," Flourish, who noticed her friend's facial expression says with a smile meanwhile a tall dark-skinned girl walks into the room, totally getting the attention of the three friends. They just watch her place something on a bed which currently had no occupant and walks out without uttering a word.
"Don't tell me that lousy girl, Wendy. Will be occupying this room with us" Bright almost yells.
"Like who did this? Everyone knows our cliques and theirs don't get along," Flourish says while trying to adjust on her bed.
"Ibinabor needs to be here, " Fisayo says still stocking her provision.
"If there is something I'm sure of, it's that we and those devil's can't share the same room this term!" Flourish yells. Fisayo attempts to say something but gets interrupted by a broken glass. The sound makes the three girls turn to the direction in which the sound was obviously coming from. The junior students shivers in fear. With the look they were giving.
"Are you stupid? Come on pack those things and get out of the place," Flourish barks.
"That's how they will be doing amibour. Look at fresh toad oh. Like we need to cut those tails very soon,"Bright says with a frown evident on her face.
" Pick those glasses and get out, Otondos" Flourish barks making the students flinch.
"Flourish, come and help me," Fisayo says to her friend. They start stocking things completely ignoring the junior.
Authors Note
1710 words♂️
I tried didn't I?
I decided to give you guys a splendid chapter. How was it?
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Ikwerre is a tribe in Rivers - State
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