DROWNING

Chapter Five

Chapter five(unedited)

A double tap brought me out of my threshold consciousness. I turned to see the silhouette of the person inside.

"Why care to knock when you're already inside?" I grumbled

"How's my little princess doing?"

Wait,what? "Papa!" I cleaned my eyes and immediately jumped off the bed. In a millisecond I jumped into his arms in embrace. His chest vibrated as he laughed.

" My baby is growing everyday. What have you been eating in my absence? Very soon you will become taller than me." Papa said smoothening my short hair.

"Papa."

"Yes Darling."

"Is this really you?"

"Yes baby, its me."

"I've really missed you Papa."

"I missed you too Princess."

"Papa?" I loosened my arms and looked at him.

"Mhm."

"Tell me you've resigned." Papa laughed and averted his gaze.

"Let's talk about that later,okay?" He said as he smoothened my hair one last time.

"You're avoiding this again Papa."

"I am not Baby, let's just go and enjoy our dinner."

Papa wouldn't talk about this with us, I should know better. Ever since he resigned from his job and enlisted in the army 9 years ago, he never talked about his ordeal in the army.
I remember the look on everyone's face that day. We were just 8 at that time. Our big brother was 17. Papa came home that day and broke the news of his resignation and that he was going to recruit in the army. Scarlet and I were the only ones happy about it. We were sitting beside Papa, Scarlet to his right and me to his left, Mama and Maurice were sitting across from us. They looked like they were going to cry. I didn't understand why they looked that way but I understand now. We are no longer those kids who were happy because they were going to brag about their father to their friends. We now know what being in the army entails and that's why we want him to resign.

Mama called from the Dining " Emerald rush to the table, let's start eating before it grows cold."

"I'm coming." I quickly rushed to dining room and sat adjacent to Papa and opposite from Mama. "What are we having for dinner?" I asked

"Moi moi and akamu." Scarlet answered coming out from the kitchen with her apron still tyed around her. She was carrying a bowl of Akamu and a jug of water in the other hand. " Let me help with the bowl." I offered as I stood up,she instantly gave it to me.

I am neither a fan of Akamu nor Moi moi but I was still going to eat anyway. "Mama, I thought you said we're going to eat Abacha when Papa comes back?" I whined

"Your Papa just came back, we'll still eat the Abacha." Mama wasn't talking like a happy person. " I know this isn't your favorite but you should have at least helped your sister with the cooking. She washed the beans and did every other thing herself." Mama said in dissaproval. I instantly felt guilty. I searched my brain for excuses but I couldn't come up with one.

Like she always did, Scarlet took all the blame. "It's all my fault Mama,I didn't tell Em we were going to cook."
"Seriously Mama,I thought we were going to eat the remaining soup this night." I explained.

" 'Thoughter' Emerald,it's high time you owned up to your mistakes and stop giving excuses,are we clear?"

" Yes Mama, I'm sorry."