EXODUS

8

A knock reverberates through the silence and Grace's attention is drawn to the door as she zips up her bag. She just finished packing up her things.
"Who is there?"
"Open this door jare."
Mrs Ojo ehn! Early morning wahala activated... Grace goes to the door and creaks it open. Mrs Ojo walks in and scans the room suspiciously.
"I'm not hiding Amadioha in my room so why are you looking like that?"
"Ask me again. Who knows? Because nowadays you will just be switching mood like light switch." The woman retorts.
  Opporr. Mrs Ojo no dey carry last. She moves to the bag sitting on the bed and zips it open. Grace tries to protest by holding the bag but a glare from her mother sends her to the other end of the bed.
"But I already packed my things."
"Oh, I didn't know."
"Why is it this clothe you picked? Must you look homeless everywhere?"
"Homeless bitibawo? Mom, that's what I basically wear to church."
"Wear ke? Abi wore? I thought you had a new resolution on Sunday now." Mrs Ojo queries dropping the round neck top and pencil skirt. Grace chuckles and seizes this opportunity to repack her things.
  "New resolution ke? I only wore that one because of first Sunday ni oo." Grace replies and zips up her bag once more.
  "See this child oo. Me that I already did Thanksgiving to celebrate your liberation.
"Liberation from where? Abi what?" Grace asks looking bewildered.
"I don't even know. What I know is that whatever this is that makes you want to dress like a boy every time. Putting on shirt and polo with skirt and sneakers it will lose its power over your life." Mrs Ojo prayerfully declares.
"Boys don't wear skirts Mom. Besides, it's not any force it's just preferences." Grace tries to explain to her mother who is now on her way out. She suddenly looks back and sizes Grace up.
"Gbenu dake! Instead of you to shout loud Amen you're here taking the issue with levity hands." She scolds.
"Emabinu ma." Grace apologises.
"It's your life. Besides, that's transport money on the table since you're going after school. Take care oo." She doesn't wait for a reply and leaves the room.
  "Thanks Mom." Grace replies at the top of her voice. She goes to the table and picks up the money.

The bell goes signalling the end of the school day. Overcomer packs her books into her school bag and walks up to goes over to Grace.
"Short girl!" She hollers.
"See this one ooo. Long leg. Be looking like bamboo tree." Grace retorts squeezing her face .
   "Omo is it paining you." Overcomer starts laughing and Grace joins too unconsciously at first before she then laughs looking at Overcomer.
"Oya let's go jare. Come and see the way my Mom was doing when I left home this morning as if you should come and live in our house." Overcomer starts as they leave the classroom.
  "Really? I'm kind of nervous though. People don't act that concerned about me." Grace replies.
"Well, she does. I do too actually."
  "Who is talking about you?"
"So I'm not a person niyen oo."
"Na you sabi". They stop for a while as Deborah runs to them panting mildly.
"What happened to you?" Grace asks.
"Nothing joor. Sister Eunice gave me just five minutes to see your face or else she will leave me alone." Deborah explains as she stands beside her.
"Good afternoon senior Overcomer."
"Hello Debbie. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Please help me take care of my sister oo."
"I will dear."
"Am I a baby?" Grace complains.
"She should sha take care of you." Deborah answers. "Let me start going before sister Eunice will vex and leave me alone." She makes to leave before Grace stops her.
   "Take and buy pinpop." She hands her a #50 note. "Thanks sis. Bye senior Overcomer."
"Bye dear. Take care of yourself." Overcomer wishes but doesn't get a reply as Deborah gets lost in the sea of heads.
"She's your best sibling right?"
   "I don't have a best sibling."
"We just get along more than Eunice and I."
  "Oh! I get. Why though?"
"Well, Mom compares me with Eunice every time. I don't like it."
"No one does actually.
Don't hate your sister though." The taller girl advises as they exit the school gate.
   "I won't actually. Thanks N."
"Where is the N coming from?"
   "Nifemi na."
"You sef." Overcomer beams.

Hello family. How have you been? Here's another update on Exodus. I'm a little bit sad though, the book is not getting any reads at all. Like the last two chapters or so have been without any reads and it's really disheartening that I try so much to update and the book isn't getting any feedback. I believe we will make adjustments and just like I said earlier, constructive criticism is very much allowed. Thanks a bunch 💕.
Please vote and comment. The little star doesn't bite ☺️☺️☺️

Yours in Ink; Bethel ™