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NEW MONEY, DOUBLE TROUBLE

I wanted to ask her which siblings but I kept quiet because I didn’t want it to seem like I was insulting her. As far as I knew, my parents didn’t have any children except me before their death. Aunt Simi’s extraordinarily flat tummy also made it hard to believe she’s had a kid so I didn’t think she could have more but I was wrong.

“Big sis, you’re awake!” Gbemi cuddled me. Her name and that of her two other brothers were printed with white ink on the navy blue polo they were putting on so it saved me the trouble of asking them. The two boys ignored me because they were engrossed in playing with Scott, our new German Shepherd dog.

“Grandma wants you to come in for breakfast”, I announced but still didn’t get any response from the boys. They acted like I didn’t exist.

“Big sis, let’s leave them alone. Only mum knows how to handle them”, she held my right hand and we moved in. Grandma made boiled rice with chicken stew for breakfast. Ignoring the stress she put into preparing the delicious meal, I ate only three spoonfuls with small chunks of chicken. At first, Gbemi scolded her mom for not eating to her satisfaction because she was watching her weight but I was surprised to see her finish the food on her floral-designed plate and take more. I couldn’t figure out the reason why she needed to lose some weight though.

“Don’t you like the food?” Grandma checked the food as if she was hoping to see something as terrible as a dead house fly inside it, so I would at least have had a reasonable excuse for not eating again but I didn’t care.

“No, ma. I’m already filled up. Thanks for the meal”, I grinned but she still didn’t look satisfied.

“Can I have yours?” Tominwa sucked the marrow from his chicken bones as if he had never eaten it before.

“Sure”, I acted like a big sis.

“I’m very happy, mom. We should do this often and invite my fiance to join us since he’s gonna be a part of the fa….” she started coughing so I had to quickly pour her a glass of water.

“That is what happens when you talk too much. What do you want the kids to learn from you?” Grandma howled at her and made me wonder if I was part of the ‘kids’ she was referring to.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me she wasn’t in support of the wedding yet Aunt Simi wasn’t willing to bend to her will. It was hard for me to choose which side to take because I also hated second marriages but I didn’t want to judge a relation of mine for making a decision that made her happy. Grandma once told me to follow my aunt and dad’s footsteps because they had happy marriages. Now, I’m beginning to think it was a lie so I need to find out the truth. Maybe it’s time to face reality. After all, I’m not a little girl who needs fairy tales to be happy anymore.
“Excuse me”, I stood up to leave the dining room.

“Let’s make a toast before you leave”, Aunt Simi poured some orange juice into each of our glass cups.

“To our family and my upcoming wedding”, she said and we clink our glasses peacefully because Grandma chose to ignore her last word.

After the toast, I went to my bedroom to have my siesta but the chattering voices of my new siblings prevented me from doing that early enough. My only wish was to see them gone before I woke up.

A gentle evening breeze was the main reason I finally opened my eyes a few hours later to have my bath and change into my Mickey Mouse outfit. Then, I decided to take some banana and coconut milk smoothies from the fancy fridge near our dining table. While passing by the master’s bedroom to go downstairs, I heard some noise. The sayer’s voice wasn’t audible enough yet I knew it was grandma. Her door was ajar, so I could see Aunt Simi kneeling and crying like a baby whose candy was snatched. A few seconds later, she was already standing upright beside me looking bright as though nothing happened.

She sure had a master’s degree in hiding feelings! “I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you before leaving”, she hugged me and whispered some words in my ear, “Don’t forget our agreement. I’m leaving the kids in your care”.

“I wish you a safe trip”, I didn’t know what else to say.

Gbemi’s wailing prevented me from studying well because I was used to a quiet and peaceful environment. As her mom’s bestie, all efforts made to calm her nerves were futile. Others didn’t give a damn about what she was doing but it affected me. They were acting as if everything was normal and Grandma also didn’t deem it fit to send her back to her mom. I assumed Grandma held the kids down to punish her but wasn’t sure that was enough to make her change her mind.

“Your mum should be in bed, now” Uncle B slammed the silver door in the living room behind him when he returned from Aunt Simi’s home. He offered to drive her there under the pretext that “a beautiful lady deserves nothing but a sweet ride in a private car, not running after public buses”.

“Be careful, Uncle B. Mum’s engaged “, Bola teased him.

“Thanks for reminding me”, he laughed.
The following morning, my annoying alarm clock rang for the fifth time, then I stretched my right hand lazily to turn it off. Anxiety denied me sleep until 5 a.m. Like I do every other school day, I folded my bed sheets quickly and dashed to the bathroom, where I gave in to a cold bath. Afterward, I towel-dried my dark skin and applied some pure Shodam coconut oil. Inside my closet, Marie’s high school uniform (a blue pleated knee-high skirt, short-sleeved pink shirt, and long tie with the school’s badge) hung neatly till I removed it.

Marie’s High was one of the best schools in my country. They had high moral standards, and their admission questions made even an upcoming genius like me sweat in the examination hall that had several air conditioners yet I eventually got admission into the school. Grandma was happy because she heard some kids whose parents were even richer than we were weren’t admitted. Well, she was the one who came up with the idea of transferring to the school. Leaving my previous school wasn’t my plan but Nifemi was in no position to question an order even though it was given as a suggestion.

“Ekaro ma(Good morning, ma)”, I greeted her with my knees on the cold floor of the living room, as she taught me. Grandma was always proud to see me act like a typical Yoruba girl.
“Karoo omo mi. Shey dada loji? (Good morning, my child. Did you sleep well)”, she replied.
“Beni ma (Yes, ma’am)”, I rose to my feet.
“Your uncle’s washing his car in the garage. He’s taking you to school and wants you to be ready before he returns”, she helped Segun knot his tie.
“Yes, Grandma “, I poured some hot coffee from a coffee machine into my favorite mug and added a few cubes of sugar. Uncle B returned as soon as I finished washing my utensils.

Everything that happened: the new money, mansion, car, school, and siblings felt like a dream come true within the twinkle of an eye. Nobody hates comfort but it won’t come without a price. Even the blessings from God require one to face temptations, face ordeals, and make sacrifices. I was required to deal with the four little rats seated close to me on our way to Marie’s high in Uncle B’s car. What I wasn’t ready for was the segregation of students based on social class in my new school.
The morning sun produces vitamin D yet no one on earth will choose trekking over a ride in a fully air-conditioned car. I shed tears of joy when I remembered the days I used to trek to school. Lots of happy memories flashed back to my mind, especially those with my junior high school crush.

“Welcome to Marie’s high school, kids”, Uncle B smiled when we finally arrived at the school gate.

To be continued…
By Enny’s Blog