CAGED

4

Feyintola skips down the stairs carrying a blue backpack. She goes into the sitting room and meets her father, Dr Adams, sitted on a wine colored sofa watching a reality show on surgeries on the television.
  "Good morning Dad." She genuflects as she greets him. She goes over to the dining table and picks a toast bread from an uncovered plate.
   "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine sir."
   "Your mother said you came home late yesterday. What happened?"
   "I escorted Inioluwa home. We had some issues to sort out." She takes another bite from her meal and returns to the sitting room.
   "And you didn't even deem it fit to tell your mother?"
"I told Irewamiri. I thought he told her."
    "I really hope you're not using the time and energy meant for books for frivolities. You know you're almost in the final class so you need to prepare ahead. I won't accept any result with Cs all through. Keep that in your head." The man in his mud forties says and returns his gaze to the television set.
   "Yes sir." She responds and looks at her brother who is at the dining table. Her father calls her attention again.
  "By the way, I heard you had your welcome back tests already."
"Yes sir. We got the results yesterday."
  "And you don't think it's proper to show me?"
    "I was thinking of showing it to you when I get back." She says fondling the black strap attached to the backpack.
"Your bag young lady." He says stretching his left hand towards her. She places one of the black straps on his palm and he places it on his lap. He unzips the first space and packs out some higher education notes. He painstakingly opens each one and goes through the classroom works. He nods at intervals and sometimes his face takes a frown. He places the books on the space beside him and proceeds to open the second space. He brings out a orange bib, a football jersey, and football boots.
     "What's all these?'
   "My training stuff."
"I thought we spoke about this."
   "We did. And agreed that I do your wishes and do mine as well."
"Did we ever agree on that? When did I ever consent to you playing football? Well,if you didn't know now you're going to. Surgery isn't something you do without focus. It's not something you do for doing sake. You must love it." He shouts.
   "Well I don't. I don't even like it not to talk of love it. It was just your idea and you concluded that it was the best for me. Did I ever mention having interest in surgery? No!" She fires back.
     "Will you keep quiet? I know what is best for you because I am your father. You do what I want because I'm still your father.  You know what, I'm only saying this because of the love I have for you. Surgery is your thing. I can see it already." He stresses putting the television set off and turning to face her squarely.
  "I can't see it."
"Well you can't because you're so consumed with this nonsense football thing and you have refused to see the real things in the real world. You had better wake up from that dream you have because this is a fantasy."
    "Well I can make it real. Infact I'm going to make it real. You think it's easy to have a dream and watch it go down the drain? It's not....."
"Are you really talking back at me?" Dr Adams asks in surprise.
   "I'm sorry but I'm not just about to watch my dream go down the drain and become a fantasy just as you have stated. I'm going to do something about this."
  "Well that something must be outside my house. Not under my roof. You're dismissed." He concludes and leaves the room. Irewamiri approaches her and returns her things into her school bag. He holds her hand and leads her out of the house as she frantically tries to wipe away the tears streaming down her face.
   "It will be well sis. Trust me. You shouldn't go about shouting at him though. It will aggravate the matter." He advises and gives her a hug as she nods in understanding. He opens the door to the green Lexus LX 600 waiting for them in the compound and she enters after him still wiping her eyes.

Chapter 4😊😊😊. Thanks so much for staying around. What do you think about Dr Adams' reaction to his daughter's dream; calling it a fantasy I mean. Will you ever choose careers for your children? And do you think Feyintola is right to have talked back at her father? Please give reasons for your opinion 😊😊. This chapter is dedicated to Madinah_Writes
  Thanks so much sis 💖💖💖, please check out her books. You will love them 🤗🤗. Please vote 🌟 comment and share. That's what keeps the book going. Thanks once again 😍😍

Yours in Ink; Bethel ™