No Need for Apologies

Chapter Four

'You've got some explanation to do young lady or should I rather say adult, the lady yelled. I can't even imagine why you're here.'

'Mum stop making a big deal out of this, you can't actually send me out you're my mother after all,' Rose the girl Nathan had met on the plane retorted. She knew it wasn't going to be easy. 'Don't worry, I won't be staying long, I'll work things out and maybe get my own place or go home. I'll be gone before you know it, I just need a different scene to clear my head.'

The woman laughed heartily, ' you're tired of your p*****t father or is it your p*****t boyfriend Rick.'

'Mum please it's enough.'

Rose had waited for hours at the airport before her mother finally showed up, maybe she felt she was making a joke when she had called and told her she was in Nigeria and she had nowhere to go.

She had decided not to say anything to her mother before the journey, her mother would have stated clearly that she did not want her here.

She was brown skinned.. an half-caste, settling in wouldn't be difficult, Rose thought.

'This is home for me now, her sister Elizabeth said. It would be nice to have someone else in the house, mum's never home after all.'

'I don't want to be a burden to your mother,' Rose replied.

Elizabeth just chuckled, her sister and her mother had never been in good terms, they were always having quarrels. 'She's your mother also.'

'She doesn't act like one, and where are you coming from by this time,' Rose asked.

'A party, a friend invited me for her birthday, it was so fun. Everyone always wants me at their party, Rose said smiling proudly. Who wouldn't want this beauty after all'

Rose just looked at her sister, she was turning to their mother as the days went by, what the hell was wrong with her. Did she think that life was all about beauty? 'I hope you don't end up like mum,' she said out finally.

'How's dad,' Elizabeth asked changing the topic.

This was a topic Rose was not ready to talk about. 'If you wanna know about him why don't you ring him, don't ask me anything about your father.'

'Wow! he's my father now, I thought he was your favorite and you're his favorite actually. Did you guys fall out, what actually happened?'

'Elizabeth please let me be, you're giving me a headache. Could someone please show me to my room?'

'Come on, I'll take you there,' Elizabeth said taking a bag and walking towards the stairs.

?

'Dad's still not back, have you tried calling him,' Nathan asked.

'Your dad will be back soon Nathan, maybe something's still keeping him there,' Amanda replied.

'Mum when are we going to the market to buy my school stuffs.'

'Zoe, when I come back we'll talk about that, just write down a list and remember only the important ones,' Amanda replied.

'What about my shoes, it's bad now.'

Amanda was furious suddenly, she had gotten that pair for Zoe just last term, how did she use her stuff, did she think money grows on trees. 'Zoe we'll give it to a cobbler, maybe next time you'll use your things carefully. You think it's easy to make money?

Zoe just laughed inwardly, her father was rich and her mother had her own big shop, she could get her the new shoes. 'Mum there's money and what's money for after all if not spending. You're making it seem as though money is a problem to us, it's not my fault the shoe got spoilt, she added scowling.'

Amanda hated it when she scowled. ' We'll give it to a cobbler'

'I'm not anything wearing anything given to a cobbler,' Zoe screamed angrily.

'Then you can get yourself a new one, her mother said angrily with an air of authority, indicating the case was close. Nathan are you ready now?'

'Yes mum, Nathan said walking after his mum.' He wanted to be angry with his mother but Zoe needed to learn about life. Life wasn't all rosy, she needed to be acquainted with that principle of life.

Zoe ran after her mum not ready to give up yet, she told her mum she would be more careful. Her mother wasn't giving her any response, if Zoe didn't want to learn that life wasn't always easy, she would stop getting things easily. She would make her work for anything she wants now.

'Mum I promise, I'll be careful with it.'

'When your father comes complain to him, she answered.'

'You know it's impossible to get anything from him,'Zoe retorted angrily.

'You would tell me where all what you have came from, maybe they fell from the sky. I'm leaving now, peel the yam for dinner, I'll buy things for the sauce on my way back.

'Tell Collins to peel your yam for you,' Zoe said walking angrily, slamming the door to her room. She was fed up.

?

'Mum please, I don't want to go that school. I'm okay with my school. Why am I the only one leaving, what about Melody and Miraly.

'Rachel, payments have been made already, you either go there or you sit at home.'

'I have my right mum,' Rachel was frustrated. In Nigeria kids were always told what to do, how to live their life. Your parents made plans for you without consulting you like it was a normal thing.

You're just 15 Rachel, maybe 6 or 7 years from now when you're working and making your own money you could make your own decisions for now your dad and I knows what's best and this is what's best Rachel. Remember we love you and we wouldn't take any decision to your detriment.

?

'Phew.. that was a long drive. Man! it's hot here. Elizabeth please get me something chilled to drink.'

'Here,' Elizabeth said handing Rose a glass of water scowling. Maybe she had been wrong when she said it was good she came.

'Thanks, Rose took it and downed it all in one gulp. I saw a school during my drive, it was gigantic I would say and sophisticated, I almost forgot I was in Nigeria. I bet it's much better than your school,' Rose said

'Cut it out Rose, I like my school and a good school is not all about the structure you know,' Elizabeth retorted.

Rose chuckled, 'so you think yours better.'

'I don't think, I know and I like it there. I've got lot of friends, infact my social life is perfect and that's all I care about.'

'Eliza can you hear yourself, your social life is all that matters. I won't be surprised if you turned out like mum. I'm not even sure you study, Haven't seen you with a book since my arrival.'

'Dull! We're on holidays Rose, who still study during holidays. It's my life Rose,' Elizabeth added almost yelling.

'And I have no right to criticize, right. Well you're wrong, I wouldn't just sit down and let you ruin your life. Eliza you're just 15 and you're beautiful and creative.Try putting your creativity into something rather than fashion, and your friends they're just so numerous. You spend most of your time on calls. If you're not calling, you're chatting and if you're not chatting you're hanging out with one friend or the other.'

'You can say that again, their mother said coming down the stairs looking exquisite. She has a ton of them. Who keeps friends like that'

Rose wondered where she went to every evening and the time she came home that's another story, sometimes you don't get to see her until the next day.

'Mum, you guys should stop making a fuss just because of the friends I have.'

'Mum, Rose said ignoring her sister, if you could afford it I think you should change her school.'

'I'm not poor Rose, I'm a rich woman. Leaving your father wasn't the end for me, he isn't the richest man on Earth.'

Rose slapped herself mentally, her mother was the worst mother one could have. 'Mum, that wasn't how I expected you to interprete the statement. You're actually the cause of all this, you're not just interested in what she does. The freedom you give her is too much.'

'I've done my best scolding and grounding, her mum replied. Children are just a burden,you gave me problems also but you're better than Eliza.'

'There's nothing wrong with me,' Eliza retorted.

'You can't see your flaws Eliza', Rose said.

Thank you miss perfect was the response she got from Elizabeth.

'Eliza, I'm trying to help you here, Rose said. Can you hear her mum, what sort of upbringing did you give her.'

'Okay now the blame is on me, their mother said. Do you think it's possible to control this child, to make her listen to instructions. I'm late for my outing Rose. Eliza is now in your hands, do as it pleases you. If you want to change her school, do it. I'll settle the financial end. Let's see if you're a better mum than I,' she said walking out.

Rose was too stunned to speak, she never expected that reply, the way her mother always thinks baffles her. She never thought like a mother, if she could be a better mother than her right. Alright she was going to show her mother that she's not just a better mother but she was was 100% better than her in every aspect of her life and she wasn't going to let her sister end up like her even if it made her the enemy.

'You heard what your mother said Eliza, she said facing her. I'm in charge now. I'm your new mummy,' Rose said walking away, Eliza just stood there glaring at her with every ounce of hatred. If looks could kill Rose would have been 6ft underground.

'Silly child,' Rose muttered shutting her door.