The Manifest

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It was a smooth sound, a purring sound accompanied with a beating heart, it was one associated with a feline. Eesha did not understand why she was hearing that, or where it was coming from.

Then she felt a tingle on her face, on her scar, down her neck. She woke up with a start, just to see a mischievously grinning Maya, holding their cat, Princess. Eesha had fallen asleep after the morning prayer, still, she did not understand why the little one was against it.

"Maya, wh-what? Did you put that thing on my face? Are you okay?" The little girl just giggled and ran away.

"It is morrrrrrrrning!" She sang as she went, cat held over her head.

Eesha rolls her eyes then drops her head on the pillow, pulling the blanket over her.

"Psst psst, have you forgotten, today is-"

"EESHA!" The power in Mama's voice pulled Eesha from the bed and out off the room.

"MA!" She called as she reached the kitchen. Joy was piecing pepper into a bowl while Maria was washing- cleaning the same plate over and over again- as she read a book. Mama was by the stove, making tea for herself and her husband.

"Ah-fon-gan-ghee-yah" Eesha greeted half kneeling.

"Did you sleep well?" Mama asked in Fon. Mama is the only person, Eesha knew of  who did not fall in Lady Teeyah's circle that could speak the language. She always marveled at that fact.

Eesha thinks about her night then nods.

"Yes"

"Hope you've not forgotten our Saturday tradition" Eesha did not forget about the tradition, she just forgot in fact that it was Saturday.

"No Ma" she stood up from her half-kneeling position. "I am coming "

Saturday tradition involved preparing leaf moi-moi. That was the only good part about it. The rest involved thorough cleaning of the entire house. And every sibling was allocated a job to do. There was kitchen duty, bathroom duty, rooms, the garage.

Eesha had no problem with any work as far as she didn't have to do the garage. Oh if only it stopped at washing the car, no! The garage was turned into a store, years ago and every item that did not fit into the rooms were kept there. It took the longest to complete and Mama never came to check- That's why it is perfect for Maria and that's how Eesha had managed to avoid it for so long.

She hoped luck was on her side as she washed her face and brushed her teeth. She did not bother changing, the dress was perfect for cleaning too.

There was a loud bang on the door, when Eesha opened it, she was met with an annoyed Maria. It was one of the few times she had seen Maria that way.

"Are you done?"

"What happened?"

"Oh nothing, just that I'm meant to clean here and I'm very psyched about it"

Eesha's heart did a little jump.
"What about the-"

Maria tilted her head and cocked her eyebrows. The weight settled in Eesha's stomach, she sighed, Maria sighed too before letting her eyes go about the blue walls, the cabinet and rusted shower overlooking the tub yellowed by age.

"Ayya" The pity remark wasn't just for Maria but herself. "Good luck"

"You too. The bucket and sponge are there, Dad went out with the car so-"
Maria said as she went in and Eesha came out. "Oh and Ma Oré is looking for you".

"Me?" Before Eesha could add the but why, Maria had closed the door.

"Mhm" She passed through the corridor, then entered into the living room, standing in front of Dad's latest painting is a tall, slender woman dressed in an Iro and buba. Her hair is wrapped in a head tie.