THINGS IN BETWEEN

2

"Miracles happen at unexpected times, don't they?" Tolu asked, squealing like a baby as soon as I stepped into the living room where Tanto was already seated. As predicted, she had eavesdropped on the conversation I had with aunty Rose because she even explained everything to Tanto before my arrival. The cup of soggy cornflakes was placed on the table and I squeezed my face as I took a spoonful. It was just too soggy and cold.

"Do you call that a miracle?" Tanto asked with a straight face that made it difficult for me to deduce what he felt about the whole situation.

"What is it then, if it is not a miracle?" Tolu asked after using the remote she was holding to hit Tanto who winced in pain.

"Why is she just showing up after how many years?" He asked and counted on his fingers. "Seven, seven good years, and she has just remembered that we exist somewhere on the planet earth and in the street of Lagos." He hissed and struggled to pull the remote out of her reach while I scratched my head trying to give enough thought to what he had said.

"She gave me this," I said, dropped the bail of one thousand naira note on the table and awaited their responses. Tolu stretched her hands forward in excitement and sat on the floor at the same time, she picked up the bail, smiled and clutched it to her chest. She took it away from her chest held it up a little and flipped it through. Tanto on the other hand frowned his face and snatched the note away from her.

"So in summary, she is buying us over with this?" He asked, threw it on the table and it scattered. "As if it is enough to pay for all those years," He concluded and Tolu quickly scrambled to her feet and started arranging it. His reaction is understandable because he behaves older than we the girls and sometimes thinks wider than we do.

"She isn't, take a look at it from the brighter side," I said trying to convince him while he shook his head to signify he was listening to me, now behaving like a parent.

"She is going to give us somewhere to stay for free, and your school fees won't be a problem. She is even ready to give me a job" I explained further, but he shook his head telling me he wasn't very convinced.

"You can also say it is a way of paying for all those years, don't you get it," Tolu added.

"I still don't get it and I think what we have experienced over the years should have taught us some lessons." Tanto half screamed while trying to pass his message. I in particular learnt several lessons, I should not trust anybody for no reason. They make you hold on tight to them, eventually they break free while you fall down the cliff. But why does he linger in my mind even after several years?

"Sis, you will give me the money now right?" Tolu asked and moved closer to me with a broad smile on her face while I shifted far away from her. She must think buying clothes for a party is more important than buying things for our basic needs.

"No, I am not," I replied and took the money from her, she tried to take it back but Tanto held her down. She bit his shoulder, and he yelped in pain, she then stood up, held my hand while we struggled. After recovering from the pain, Tanto joined us again and after several minutes of tirelessly struggling, making the money scatter all over, we stopped, stared at one another and burst into laughter.

"That wasn't funny," Tolu folded her hand to her chest and left the room, with beads of sweat on her forehead and crumpled Naira note in her hand.

"So, what is your decision now." Tanto asked me as we both arranged everything we disorganized. In midst of arranging, I found my Aunty's business card which I took and tucked into my pocket.

"I am in, our aunty should not cause us any harm." I said and counted the money only to realize that it wasn't complete. That girl must have taken the ones I couldn't find, I muttered remembering the crumpled Naira note she held while going inside and I watched as Tanto without uttering any word. You never understand with guys, they find issue in things that has to do with their sisters. Be it the older or younger one.