My wíckëd step mother
Episode 11
I had stayed the rest of the day in my room. School was totally cancelled. I couldn’t eat,I wept at every moment I remembered the shame and humiliation I had faced all because of Teddy.
Grandma had come knocking on my door several times, I didn’t open the door for her. She had texted me severally as well when I didn’t pick up her calls.
I had successful spent all the day in the room. I heard some noises downstairs. Teddy was home already and so was his mom. I didn’t know how to face everyone, Teddy had successfully made me look like a big foól.
I made to lay on my bed and with so much thinking on my mind, I slept off almost immediately. The door went banging out loud. I was shocked and the sleep immediately left me.
“Come and open the door!” dad’s voice roared from behind the door. My body vibrated sharply, I was getting fed up with all that was happening. I got out of bed and I went opening the door.
The countenance on his face wasn’t welcoming, I had to look away. He came into the room and he immediately locked the door right behind him. “Go sit on your bed,” dad said coolvalstories as he went sitting on the bed as well.
There was silence for a moment and dad stretched forth his hand, holding my hands.
“Joy! Tell me what I haven’t possibly given you? Tell me where I had gone wrong in raising you. Your mother, Amanda made sure she raised you well. I witnessed it, I know she did. Why do something like that and you definitely know it would hurt me?”
Dad said as he went heaving on a stressed breath. “If you wanted money, why didn’t you come to ask me rather than stealing it?”
“Dad,I didn’t steal your money. I didn’t do it. That money was put in my bag,” I said so defensively, looking him straight in the eyes.
“Oh please, shut up. You should be apologizing and not saying this. You shouldn’t be covering up. You took that money and stop all these lies. Oh! of course, a thief will definitely be a liar,” dad said out to my face and a hot tears dropped down from my eyes.
I couldn’t believe my dad had suddenly lost his trust in me. “It seems like I have a lot of work to do concerning you. I can’t watch you ruin your life like this. No…never,” my dad said as he bursted out crying.
I know my dad to be an emotional man, l knew perfectly well what his thoughts would be. I felt bàd, I felt worse that I couldn’t proof my innocence.
“Joy! You know tomorrow is your mom’s bûrial, we’ll do the necessary things and she’ll finally be laid to rest,” dad said as he went cleaning his tears.
“I have something important to tell you after her burîal. Do not object my decision or whatever I would tell you. I’ve discussed this with Sandra and a colleague of mine. You’ll be fine, Joy. I’ll make sure you won’t go astray while I watch you,” dad said as he got up from the bed.
He made to walk away and then he suddenly turned back. I stood up looking so tired. “Have you eaten?” dad asked with a look of concern on his face.
I went shaking my head. He looked surprised and then he suddenly grabbed my hands. We went down stairs and everyone was present. Grandma got to her feet and she went jumping towards me.
“Joy! Do you want to kîll me before my time? Why did you ignore me all day?” grandma said as she went hugging me. Teddy and Sandra continued eating at the dining table.
“My daughter and l are going out. Please take care of the house,” dad said as he picked up his keys. Grandma pecked me before letting go of me.
We walked out of the house and dad drove straight to our favorite eat out. We usually come here as one big, happy family when mom was still alive.
Dad ordered my special meal and he watched me as I ate my food hungrily. I realized I had almost dîed of hunger. The night went well, I wished all that had been happening was just simply a dream.
We were all prepared to go out. Grandma sat at the back seat of the car. Sandra went sitting in front. Teddy and me went joining grandma at the back seat.
We journeyed down to where mom’s bûrial proceedings was to be held. I felt cold chills all the way. A few people were in attendance. Dad’s siblings were present.
They had come down from different states just to be in attendance. Dad was an orphan, his parents were no more. Part of the reasons my mom’s parents never wanted their daughter to get married to my dad.
The priest gave some Bible quotes and prayers and I watched as my mom’s casket was being laid into the grave. I couldn’t hold my tears, grandma sobbed like a baby.
Dad held onto his tears. He wanted to cry but he fought back his tears. We said our last good byes to mom and all other things were rounded up.
We set to go back home and all of a sudden Sandra started vomiting. Some ladies had attended to her and dad was terribly worried.
She had developed a fever almost immediately and we had no choice but to leave the venue as quick as possible. I felt joy in me, mom might probably be the one punishing her, so I thought.
Dad dropped us off at home and dad had to take her to the hospital. Grandma took me by the shoulders and we both went into the house.
Teddy didn’t come in, he might be scared I might want to hurt him, he knew he had done me wrong.
Grandma and I ate the remaining food we had left at home before going for mom’s bûrial. I was done and l excused myself. I went out of the house and Teddy was nowhere in sight.
I went to the backyard and Teddy was right there in the garden. He looked so lost, I could only imagine the evîl his mom had thought him. I turned to leave when he suddenly called out my name.
“Joy! Can I have a moment with you?” Teddy said and I went halting on my feet. I didn’t turn back, I felt real hatrèd for him. “I know you must be feeling bad but know one thing, I’m not a bàd person. I’m doing this ’cause I don’t have a choice.”
Teddy said and he went touching me at my back. I removed his hand so quickly. He looked at me in the eyes, I knew the innocence were only a pretence of èvil.
I left him in the garden without saying a word, he didn’t deserve a response from me.
We all settled for dinner and dad’s behavior was quite different. He seemed to be really happy. I was relieved, what he wanted to tell me might be something of joy. I was at peace.
“My husband has really been disturbing me to come home and I think I’ve really spent a considerable amount of time with you people and most especially, with Joy,” grandma said as she went smiling at me.
“I’ll be leaving in the next two days,” grandma added and l felt pain strike my heart. “Grandma, please spend some more time with me. I haven’t even mastered cooking very well, please…” I said with a teary face.
“I’ll come back after some while, I don’t want your grandpa to disown me,” grandma said and we both bursted out laughing.
Dad made to cough and he began to say, “I thank you so much ma for spending time with your daughter. I wish you safe journey,” dad said and he went turning to me.
I told you I wanted to tell you something but as it is now, another surprise is waiting for us,” dad said as he went smiling whole heatedly.
“So, here we go. I was really concerned about your mental and social growth and what happened yesterday really made me sad. I didn’t expect that from you,” dad said as his smile went dropping.
He cleared his throat again and he began to speak, “you really need guidance in building your life so as to prevent you from imbibing ridiculous behaviors. And so, I and your step mom have decided to get you enrolled into a boarding school. Don’t worry, you will be going to the best of them all.”
I was completely shocked, I was totally shattered, I couldn’t believe my ears. I suddenly felt Grandma’s palm on my hand. I looked into her eyes and she smiled gently at me.
“The second news is that, I’m going to be a father for the second time. Sandra is pregnant,” dad said so excitedly and Teddy went screaming with joy.
My jaws dropped, I wished this was a dream. I wanted to stand up from my seat and run away but grandma quickly held me back to the chair.
Grandma laughed and went standing to her feet. “Do something grandma, please do something,” I said in my mind as I went shivering…
ROSANLA SEYI
DÈPRESSED WRITER ©️
