Best of Both Worlds

Epilogue

Seven years later

Nicholas had gone to pick up two of our children from school and the twins from his parent's place and they would be home anytime soon. I would've picked them up myself but I finished late a night shift at the hospital from the hospital, so I settled on preparing their lunch.

The front door flung open and the house became alive with the stomping of feet everywhere.

"Mummy!!" Chinedu and Chinelo, my three-year-old twins screamed as they rushed toward me.

I engulfed them in a hug and placed kisses on their foreheads. "Hey, babies. Did you enjoy your stay at your grandma's?"

"Yes," they chorused at the same time. "She got us new coyorin books"

"Oh wow, she got you both colouring books. I hope you thanked her?"

They both nodded their heads and sprinted off to their room. Adaobi, my six-year-old daughter entered the room with Kosiso in tow behind her.

"Good Afternoon, mummy" they both chorused

"Afternoon sweeties" I hugged Adaobi who walked up to me first.

I released her and moved to do the same to her brother. A loud gasp escaped my lips as I noticed the reddish shade below his left eye.

"What happened to your face?" I pulled him closer by the arm and held up his chin, examining his face.

"He got into a fight at school" Nicholas piped in, entering the room with the twins' play bags in hand.

"What?" I turned to face Kosiso. "What happened? Explain yourself, young man" I placed my hand above my hips and shot him a stern look.

"It doesn't matter, I was wrong and I've learnt my lesson" He replied. "Can I go and change out of my uniform?"

"No, not until you tell me what happened?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Please, mom. I don't want to talk about it" he pleaded with his eyes. "Can I be excused, please?"

My anger dissipated into worry and I dropped my hands down to my side. What could've happened to make him fight in school? It was not like him to go around fighting and causing trouble, he was more on the calm, gentle and observing side.

I let out a sigh. "Fine, you can go to your room. But this conversation isn't over."

"Thank you," he walked out of the kitchen with Adaobi in tow.

I lifted my eyes to Nicholas. "What happened?"

Nicholas came nearer and leaned against the counter, beside me. "He got into a fight with some white little boy because he made fun of the fact that he has a Nigerian mother"

What? My brows furrowed and I crossed my hands over my chest. "And what did the school do about it?"

He released a frustrated sigh. "They just let them off with a warning since it was the last day of school before Christmas. They promised to speak to the other boy's parents"

"What? A warning?" I scoffed, irritation building up in my chest. "What is 'a warning' supposed to do?"

"I know but today's the last day of school. They can't really punish the boy over the holidays." Nick raked his fingers through his hair. "I never thought we would have to deal with this sort of thing so early in his life"

"Me too" I sighed and my shoulders sank. "We are still going to take it up with the school next year, first thing after the holidays. I want to make sure there isn't a repetition"