I woke up with a killer back ache. We'd got home so late, immediately my back touched the couch, I drifted off. My dad had been very sympathetic and let me sleep there cause I was too tired.
I checked the time.
5:58.
I rushed to the guest bathroom.
Nobody really used the upstairs bathroom since Matt was always hogging it. Jude liked to try that with the guest bathroom especially on me. He was always up by six and stayed in the guest bathroom till when I was dying from holding my pee.
Today I was up early.
'Thank you boarding school.'
I was going to give him a taste of his own medicine.
I checked the time on my watch which I'd been wearing since yesterday and never bothered to take it off.
6:35.
I'd been in here 37 whole minutes and no sign of Jude.
I gave up and stormed out of the bathroom. I collided into Matt.
'Sorry' he muttered. I took two steps forward before it dawned on me. Matt apologised. I turned to ask why but he'd already taken the stairs up.
I walked into the the kitchen and headed for the fridge. I took out a bottle of water and gulped it down. I aimed at Ben's head and let the empty bottle fly. Bull's eye!
'Ajeii!' He exclaimed when where the cap of the bottle is hit him between the eyes.
Instead of the usual 'Are you mad? Foolish girl.' He looked at me sternly and went back to his book.
I sat there dumb founded. What happened to my brothers. Or maybe I've walked into the wrong house. I shook my head and went about my business. Something wasn't right and I was going to find out. I went over to the pantry and took out my favorite box of cereal.
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Just as I turned of the tap my dad walked into the kitchen.
'Daddy, what happened to everyone?'
'It would have been nice to first greet me you know? why are you asking?' my dad replied.
'No reason. Just the fact that all my brothers are acting weird and you're dressed in black. That reminds me. Where's Jude. I bet he's still in bed.' I said.
'leave your brother to rest.' dad scolded.
'If I stayed in bed this late I'd be the one receiving a long lecture.' I murmured.
'Why don't you amplify so I can hear you.'
'sorry.' I apologized.
'It's okay, go and have your bath we need to take a drive.'
I rushed upstairs for my towel and bolted for my dad's bathroom.
I liked taking drives alone with my dad. Being the only girl we bonded a lot. Especially during alone times like these. The food and snacks were a bonus to the good time we would have.
I spent 20 minutes showering. I couldn't contain myself. I picked out a my dark blue sundress. I contemplated wearing my extremely tangled Afro in a ponytail or pigtails. I decided on a ponytail. I wasn't a little girl anymore. I slid on my black ballet flats and rushed downstairs.
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I had so much fun. First we went to starbites to get waffles. The waitress started giving my dad flirty looks.
'Uhmm hi.' flirty lady squeaked rather than spoke.
'may I take your orders?'
'hi, of course, we'll take 2 plates of waffles.' My dad offered a genuine smile. I rolled my eyes and offered a smile to feign ignorance and make my act of playing nice seem good enough. 'And please don't forget the bottle of syrup' I added to the order.
In a few minutes I was done eating my waffles and started to feel sick. 'With that much syrup you're bound to fall sick.' I ignored my dads comments and walked over to where the car was parked. At least some peace and quiet until 'Father' returned with in all his 'ranting glory'
We were at the Ghana trade fair center in no time. I loved the place. I only used to go there for the annual book fair in august with my mom. That was until last 3 years when she was sent to the asylum. I hadn't been there since. and my! what they'd done with the place was amazing. I bought a few key chains, a new black purse and 2 mugs that had Micheal Jackson on them. Mom and I loved Michael even though his music was old as time . I could give it to her when dad allowed me to go and see her.
Finally dad drove us to go and get ice cream and we walked from there to the children's park. We sat down and finished our ice creams and talked about school and how dads work was fairing. Then we talked about me joining in on the national essay contest which I vehemently refused. I popped the last piece of the ice cream cone into my mouth and licked my fingers like the barbarian I was.
'Princess' my dad addressed me. I looked up at him in response. I'm going to tell you something. I need you to remain calm and not panic or scream. I'm going to need you to take my hands. At this point I was getting scared. I slid my hands into his and he squeezed them tight. 'Shortly after you left us, We found Jude in his bathroom unconscious and with his wrists slit.' I began to shiver lightly. Panic rising in the pit of my belly. 'He was in a coma for 3 days.' Dad continued and pulled me into a hug.
'We lost Jude , Grace.'
I hadn't even realized I'd been crying.
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Sorry for the extremely late update. I hope I managed to make it up to you in this chapter.
Love
Xoxo
:)
