My Wicked Step Mother
Episode 5
I couldn’t get a thing out of all that was thought at class today. I was so inactive and things weren’t sticking to my brain. It was break time and l made to the school kiosk.
I hadn’t eaten from home, dad had left home very early in the morning. I was lost in thought as l remembered the ill treatments I had been getting from Sandra.
The car keys incident flashed back to my mind and l was still surprised that dad had changed drastically towards me.
“What do you want to buy?” the kiosk woman’s voice jerked me back to reality. It was already my turn on the queue. “Erm…erm…I want to buy Jellof rice, plantain and egg. The way l usually buy it,” I said to the woman as she made weird faces at me.
Throughout the whole day at school, my classmates were at a distance. I gave no one an audience and with the fact that I didn’t keep anyone as a friend.
I saw them all as just my classmates. Being in JSS3, and preparing for my senior class examinations, I had to concentrate.
The following month was going to be my mom’s bûrial, I had to stay strong. But at times l would always feel this loneliness. I wanted my mom, after all, I was only 12 years old but my stature was that of a 15 year old.
I waited for the driver, Mr John to come pick me at school. It was on a Friday and so, he was supposed to be here some minutes after 2pm.
I waited till 3:30pm but he was still not in sight. I checked my school bag and l saw I had some money on me to take me home. I made to the main road and flagged down a taxi.
I was still surprised that he hadn’t come at all. This was very unusual. Even dad couldn’t come pick me at school. The journey to my house was a troubled one. I had a lot in mind. What could have actually happened?
Getting to the entrance of the estate that I lived. Cabs were not allowed into the estate except private cars. I got down at the gate and I paid the driver.
I stood at first as l pitied my legs. Our house was really far deep into the estate. I wanted to start crying.
I urged and encouraged myself, I started trekking. I was seriously sweating under the heated sun. I trekked on and on, I was feeling really down with fever already.
I saw the last turn to my house, I smiled a bit. On getting to the gate, it had been left opened. I walked in and I noticed one of the cars had been taken out and the car dad had driven.out in the morning was in the compound.
It was obvious dad was home already. I walked into house and l went straight into my bedroom. I was really màd and furious. “Why didn’t dad come pick me up? When Mr John comes, he’ll definitely explain himself,” I spoke àngrily to myself as l began undressing.
I was really feeling thirsty and l made to go to the kitchen. I suddenly heard some noise as I was about going down the stairs. The noise was coming from dad’s room.
l decided to go to his room. I was surprised to see that the door to my dad’s room was left wide opened. I stumbled on two nàked people on my dad’s bed.
I screamed out like a dog that was kicked in the tummy. The two figures quickly rushed out of the bed and it was the most shocking thing in my whole entire life.
“Dad… what’s going on here?” I managed to say in a shaky voice. My dad couldn’t look at me, Sandra laid in the bed as she kept on a smiling face.
“Baby…what are you doing here? It is not what you think,” dad said as he kept covering my face with his palm. I flung his hand away and with tears in my eyes, I broke down to the floor.
“Dad, mom just dîed some few weeks ago, is this the best thing you could do in honoring her memory?” I said as l continued crying. My dad was totally speechless and he went for his clothes on the floor.
I suddenly heard the sound of the car horn, I guess Mr John was here already. My dad got his clothes and angrily left the room. Sandra got up from the bed and started wearing her clothes as well.
She walked slowly towards me and l immediately got back to my feet. “You are a shameless woman. You are a piece of trash. I hàte you. This house will never be yours” I spat out angrily and she began to laugh.
“Joy, your dad has the right to be with any woman. I’m sure you are a smart girl. Your mom is dèad and is never coming back. Get that fact through your head. I’ve come to stay and this is now your reality.” Sandra said as her eyes were becoming red already.
I couldn’t take it anymore, I stormed out of the room and ran to my room. I never expected this from dad. I was really hàting him now.
I spent the whole day in my room. Tèars upon tèars, I had crièd and my eyes were completely swollen. I checked the time and it was past 6pm. I was really weak.
I hadn’t eaten a symptoms meal the whole day. The strength I had, I had used it all to trek down to my house. I went into the shower and l didn’t spend up to 30 minutes.
I wiped my body with a towel and I wore my night gown and sprayed some perf. Getting out of my room, I made to climb down the stairs.
I noticed some movements in the sitting room. Dad and Sandra were at the dining table. A little smile played on my lips, so Sandra was going to spend the night in our house, I was amazed.
I pretended not to see them and l made to go into the kitchen. “Joy, come over here. We need to talk,” dad’s voice came so cold and l felt like telling him to shût up.
“Joy, I’m talking to you,” his voice came loudly this time around. I came to an halt and l made towards the dining table. “We are having dinner together, so sit down,” he said in a commanding tone.
I looked at him and Sandra with disgust in my eyes and l made to sit down. Sandra immediately stood up and began dishing out food. “I’m not hungry, don’t dish out food for me,”I said in a cold and bittered voice.
Sandra froze for a minute and l could hear my dad’s heavy sigh. “You are hungry, you don’t joke with food. I know you, Joy,” my dad said and he signalled to Sandra to dish out my food and she immediately started dishing out food.
We started eating and for like 15 minutes there was total silence. “Joy, Sandra and I want to tell you something very important and l will appreciate it if you honor our decision,” dad said as he used a saviette to clean his mouth.
“You know, your mom has just passed away and things have not really been the same. And as you know, we’ll be conducting her burîal next month.
I want to use this opportunity to say that Sandra and l will be getting married a month after your mom’s bûried.”
The spoon in my hand fell back into my plate of food. I looked at dad and I was in total shock. “Dad, what did you just say?” I asked as l bit my lower lips àngrily.
“You heard me right, Joy. We are getting married.”
I screamed at the top of my voice and went throwing away my food from the table to the floor. Sandra sounded shocked and my dad looked at me with fûrious eyes.
“Joy!” He screamed my name hitting his hand on the table. “I am not going to allow you to disrespect my mom like this, you are èvil,” I yelled at the top of my voice.
I could see the shock in my dad’s eyes. He got up from his chair and came walking towards me. “This is my decision Joy. lt is my life and l want you to respect that.”
“To hèll with your decision dad. This isn’t going to work out,” I said boldly said looking at him.
A slap landed on my face and l went falling to the ground. “This is my house, and my decision is final,” my dad said angrily and he matched out of the dining room.
Hot tèars streamed down my eyes as l laid on the floor. “So sorry dearie, hope the slap didn’t affect your eyes.” Sandra said mockingly and she suddenly hîssed afterwards .
I got back to my feet and l couldn’t stand the shame. This wasn’t what I had expected. “Mom…mom…moooommm…” I went screaming as l rushed up the stairs.
ROSANLA SEYI
