EMPIRE HIGH SCHOOL Episode 13 BY ADEMIDE
Katherine’s POV
I met my dad in the sitting as soon as I walked in. He was watching a Youriba Movie on Africa Magic.
“Good Afternoon Dad” I greeted
He looked at me and slowly his eyes went to the nylon I was holding. My dad’s phone on the table resonated. He reached for it and glanced at me before picking it.
“Good Evening Mr Joel” he said
“Oh! Kate you are back!” My mom said
She dropped the tray filled with Crackers and Orange Juice for dad. That was his favourite appetizer.
“She just came in now. Oh! You closed around 3?”
He looked at the wall clock. The time was 4:15pm. I would have gotten home earlier if not for the fact that I dropped by at the store where I found Jeffrey and there was Traffic too! I hope he believes me if I tell Him my reasons for arriving home at this time.
“Go and Change.. ” my mom said
And I was almost leaving but my dad gestured to me to stay back. Mom and I exchanged glances
“Thank you Mr Joel” he said before dropping his phone on the table.
“What do you have in that nylon?” he asked
“Actually, I dropped by at a store to buy sanitary pad”
And I was so embarrassed when I saw Jeffrey staring at it.
“Well I don’t remember giving you any money aside transport Fare” He said looking at my mom suspiciously.
“I borrowed it from my classmate” I replied in a low tone. My dad stared intensely at me. Second clicked by, and he didn’t look away.
“Why did you borrow money from your classmate?” He asked again
“You just heard what she said.. ” mom said
“Madam, can I have a moment with her without any interruption?” Dad said
“Okay oga soldier”
“The pack at home is finished and my date is tomorrow or the next so I felt I should buy a new one” I explained
I was already feeling slight pain in my lower belly. I’d borrowed the money from Emeka when I was in the car. He didn’t hesitate to give me when I asked but I made him promise me that he would accept the Money on monday and he did reluctantly.
“So you borrowed the money to buy a sanitary pad” he said
“Yes dad”
“She wouldn’t have borrow money if you didn’t withhold her allowance. See now you turned my daughter to borrow borrow” mom said in a harsh tone.
My dad looked at her and cleared his throat.
“Iya Omo,Madam Supporter” he said to mom
“Let me have your report card” he said to me
Mom frowned at him. I knew she was about to counter him again.
“Won’t you let her change and eat before checking the card?” She questioned
“Woman what’s your problem?”
“I don’t have any problem”
“So mind your business” he grounded
“All I want is for you to treat her well. She is our child. And if a child offends you or does something bad, you correct the child. You’ve talked, corrected her and I already begged you but you’ve refused to listen. And it is not as if she went to rob or she killed someone.. ” Mom grumbled as she picked a cracker in the plate.
“Don’t touch my cracker” Dad slapped her hand away.
I stifled back a laugh as I brought out my card from my bag. Dad stopped mom from picking his cracker.
“Kilo De? Se eyin le ra biscuit si le ni?” Mom said
(What is it? Are you the one Who bought the biscuits at home?)
“You bought the biscuits but who gave you the money you use in buying the biscuits?”
“My Money of course.. ” she replied sharply
“Ma tan ara e” Dad said
(Continue deceiving yourself)
Mom managed to get a cracker out of the plate. She laughed at him.
They fight but it never lasted more than few minutes. Each time they argue or quarrel, dad Ends up making mom laugh even if she was still mad at him.. Just like what he did for her now.. Slapping her hand away because he knew she was going to laugh.
These Old Fellas don’t know they are really OLD. My parents are in their Sixties. Mom begat me when she was in her Forties. Funny right?
Yeah! Mom didn’t want to stop. She wanted a baby girl after she gave birth to Banjo. And God Answered her prayer and gave her ME. She named me “Morenikeji”. So you can call me Morenikeji or Keji for short.
Dad stretched his hand to take the card from me. I was scared or nervous about him checking it.
He opened and focused on it.
“Don’t bother to look too much. She did well” mom said
She hasn’t even checked the card. Hmm let’s say my mom was confident about me. My dad looked at me and closed the card. A frown formed on his face.
Frown? Oh no! Why wasn’t he smiling? I did well in the tests! A in most subjects except mathematics.
After Mrs Salako left the class, students stormed my desk to see my card. Mrs Salako had said she was impressed with my performance in the test as a new student. I didn’t even open the card until she exited the class. I was concerned about the fight that ensued between Emeka and Joseph. I knew Emeka didn’t show up in class because of the incident. It wasn’t nice of Joseph to punch Emeka. Elena claimed that Joseph was the nicest person she had encountered but he turned out to the opposite. He would have hit Emeka again if Elena hadn’t stopped him.
“I said I want the best result” he said
Mom collected the card from him.
“So what do you call this kind of result with a lot of A’s?” She asked
He didn’t say a word. My dad only shook his head.
“She did great Darling”
“B in mathematics” he said
“So what?” My mom asked
“Her brothers had A’s in mathematics”
“It doesnt matter..”
“Train up your child in the way that she should go, so when she grow old she won’t depart from it” He stood and came to me.
“I want the best result. When I say best..i Mean A in all subjects” He said
And he walked towards the direction of his room.
A in mathematics? When did he became so concerned about getting A in mathematics?
My dad never complained about my result but he did today. He was different now. He changed completely.
His reaction towards my result broke my heart.
How can I get An A in mathematics?
Only Joseph James scored A in mathematics, the rest of us, B, C, D, E and some F9.
Tears.. I felt them in my eyes. I tried to fight it but it slipped down my cheeks. He should atleast be happy I didn’t come home with C, D, E or F9.
“Kate! Stop this!” Mom said
“Mommy.. You.. Don’t.. Know.. How.. Bad I feel.. Right now” I stuttered
She hugged me
“I.. Tried.. My best” I said shakily
I knew his attitude was related to what happened at my previous school.
Would he ever find it in his heart to forgive me?
I just wish he could forget it and we can get back to our father and daughter drama.
“I’ll talk to him” Mom said as she drew away from me.
“Go and change.. I’ll tell Pat to prepare dinner” she said
I nodded and walked to my room.
I pray dad gives mom the chance to explain the truth to him.
?
Jeffrey’s POV
I hang my jacket back in it place before moving to the counter to attend to the customer waiting there. I saw Aunty Joke helping an Old lady pick out her items. I calculated the goods and gave out change to the girl at the counter. I noticed she kept staring at me. I didn’t like the fact that she was staring. And i wasn’t on a good mood to flirt with a girl.
“Your change Miss” I repeated
“You’re handsome” she said as she bit the tip of her finger.
“Thanks” I packed her goods into a nylon. She flicked back her hair that was long, it covered her cleavages but now it was revealing. She was wearing an off shouldered top. I looked away and smiled.
She was a flirt!
The hair was a wig, I could tell by the closure on the hair. And I don’t like girls making the first move on guys.
She leaned on the counter.
“I’m Cynthia” she said
I didn’t respond
I focused on packing her items so she could leave.
“So do you workhere?”
“Yes” I said
It’s polite to respond to a customer.
“I haven’t seen you..”
“I don’t move around” I said
“You haven’t told me your name?” She said
“Solomon” I lied
I dropped the last item into the nylon.
“Can I have your contact?”
“Sorry I don’t have a cellphone”
Gbam! Another lie!
Cynthia raised her eyebrow.
“Or you don’t want me to have it?”
“All of the above” I dropped my keys into the drawer.
“Well, if you don’t mind can we hang out one of these days? I’ll be around for a while” she said seductively.
“I have a girlfriend” I said boldly
That was another lie! I don’t have a girlfriend!
Cynthia seemed shocked by my response! She straightened up!
“Oh! You have a girlfriend.. I should have expected it” sue said picking her nylon.
“Yes I do have a girlfriend. A beautiful one and she’s the prettiest at our school”
What?!
Why did I say that?!
Kate was the prettiest at EHS but she wasn’t my girlfriend.
Get that into your brain!
“Okay..” Cynthia walked away
Aunty Joke came with the old lady.
“Ehn where did you go?” She asked
“Ah.. Ah.. Actually I left..” I paused
My book at school? Hell no!
“Did you go after Kate?” She asked
I didn’t respond.
I can’t lie to Aunty Joke. She was the close friend I have after mom’s death.
“Why did you follow her? And where? To her house?”
“Aunty is not what you are thinking”
“Tell me what am not thinking”
I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know how to explain things to her. This strange feelings i get each time I see Kate.. And the feeling whenever I see her with other guys at school.
“Is Kate a stammerer?” She asked
“No but she’s very shy”
“Are you sure? I noticed she started stammering the moment you joined our conversation”
“She was shocked to see me”
“That reminds me.. She said you don’t talk to anyone at school”
“Yes”
“Why?”
“Nothing”
“Okay.. Tell me why you followed Kate”
“Can I ask you for something?”
“Sure”
“And you’ll do it for me”
“If it’s within my power”
“I’ve heard everything you and big mummy said, so I’ve decided to change”
But not completely.
I will behave like a good boy because I need her help.
“I will apologize to my parents but I still need your help”
“What do you want?”she asked
“I will sleep at home tonight but can I stay at your home till monday morning . I really moss Deji and Semilore”
They are Aunty Joke’s children.
“I promised to visit them this break”
“Ah! That’s true! Semilore asked me to remind you”
“So will you let me?” I said with a half smile
“I’ll talk to your dad about it”
“Okay.. But you’ll also let me rest from store work for a few days”
“Ah! So only me will come to shop?”she asked
“No! I won’t allow it. I thought coming to my place will make things easier for us. So you and I can come to shop together”
I can’t disgaree or else she won’t let Me stay at her place.
“Okay.. I’ll follow you”
An excellent plan popped up in my head. I just need a Yes!
“When you get home pack your bag. I’ll call your dad and ask for his permission”
She paused
And continued
“There is no need to come with your bike if he agrees. I’m even coming to your house, my sister said I should go and apologize to Lola on your behalf”
Sounds Good!
Plans going to work!
?
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