Knowing Amaka

Chapter 1

I wake up with beads of sweat streaming down my forehead, I wipe a hand across my face as I take notice of my surroundings, as usual, there's no light.

I turn to check on my younger siblings, David and chimamanda, They're still asleep. Judging by the rays of sunlight entering our room, i assume it's past 6am. I run over the things I have to do today in my head, as I stirred in bed trying to get up David notices this and wakes up too.

"Morning chiamka" he says while trying to rub to sleep out of his eyes.

By now I'm up and getting ready to change out of my PJs into my work clothes, he joins me too.

I responded to his greeting with a little hug, you could say david was my closest sibling.
I also notice David keeps growing closer to my height each day, and being at 5"4 you won't believe me if I tell you the age gap between us is four years.

Damn! I get a little bit jealous and I shove his head downwards as he bends to pull up his shorts. (Hey, every older siblings feels this way in the same situation, I mean who would want to be the shortest in the family?)

"Chiamaka!, what was that for nau?" he whisper-shouts, while trying to steady himself as he almost trips.

"What?" I replied holding in my laughter while feigning ignorance like I wasn't aware of what just happened.

I made a turn to leave our room but I stubbed my toe on the foot of the dresser.

"Ouch!!!" I curse under my breath in fear on my mom hearing me.

"You're so clumsy"

David starts laughing and I'm caught in between getting annoyed or laughing me.

"I'm not, it was my way."
I lower my head while stifling a laughter.

"Yeah sure" he states with a blank look on his face, I roll my eyes at him.

We both step out and go to the kitchen. I take a peep in the guys' room and see Caleb and Gabriel sprawled on their bed still sleeping, I grunted in annoyance knowing they won't be helping out with any of today's chore.

Caleb being the oldest at 22 rarely does anything at home, Gabriel also does as much as Caleb which amounts to literally nothing, at 20 I'd say he's a little bit tall pushing past 6ft with a lean build for basketball.

I see my mom already preparing the day's meal before going to work. We both greeted simultaneously but she barely responded to any of them.

My mom works as a secondary school teacher at a private school in Lagos on the mainland. It's not anything grand but at least it pays some bills at times. Having studied English language in the university, she turned to the easiest line of work she could get into.

I start my chores, while David gets ready for school. At 13 I'd say he's quite responsible at times when he chooses too.

I entered inside my parents' room and mistakenly let the door bang close, I held my breathe in dread of what is to come. But my father's scolding never came, he was too deep in his sleep. I proceeded to sweeping the floor then I heard my name. I knew it was my mom so I went out to answer her.

"Ma" I said lowly knowing what she wants me to do already.

"Go and fetch water, fill up water in the drum, I've packed food for all of you, clear the house before leaving for work".

I nodded my head and then she turned to take her leave, I said a small goodbye and she responded with a curt wave of her hand. It made me smile a little.
I went in and rounded up most of my chores while getting Amanda ready for school.

She's the sweetest 8 year old I know and thus the baby of the house.
I stepped out with a bucket for fetching water while David and Amanda stroll out behind me. I do a sweep on what I'm wearing and decide to drop them off at school first although it's not necessary.

"You know you don't have to drop us off" David says while grabbing a hold of his sister's hand and trying to catch up with my pace.

I shrugged of his comment.
We passed by the public tap and I dropped my bucket there. I greeted some of my neighbors as we walked by.

"Sister chiamaka, please can you buy snacks for us?" Amanda asks and ends with a smile revealing a missing tooth. She looks so cute in her uniform.

"No, we're fin-"

I put my palm across David's face and cut him mid-sentence and replied while smiling by saying.
"You don't have to ask, I was already planning to".

We stopped by a small kiosk and I brought out the little money I had on me. I bought for both them biscuits and drinks to go along with their packed food from home, David refused to collect his but I smack him playfully across his head and shoved it in his bag. I know he's concerned about me, but he shouldn't be. I'm the older one and I want to take of care him. I give him extra money to spend if he wants to, I know he wouldn't most times but I'm just trying my best so they won't lack anything.

While I'm trying to pay, a guy also buying from the same stall offers to pay. I ignored his gesture and paid the owner myself. David gives me a knowing look, I told him with my eyes to ignore what just happened.
Finally I let them go on their own since their school isn't that far now. I started to go back so I can start fetching water and I notice the same guy at the stall walking towards my direction. I walk faster, I'm really not in the mood to entertain anyone this morning.

"Hey, good morning" he says after he finally catches up to me.

I responded with a nod.
He keeps walking besides me and and starts talking

" I know you don't know me, but I just couldn't stop myself from talking to a pretty girl like you"

I give him look that literally screams"please don't bore me to death"
He smiles and keeps walking with me, one thing about guys like this in my area is that you gotta be careful with them, I get this a lot so I know how to handle myself in situations like this.

"Can I have your number?" he asks

We reach the public tap and I finally give him my attention" look I don't know you and I'm not interested in knowing you either, and no you can't have my number"

He stares at me in awe, either he's checking me out or he's surprised by the way I spoke.

"I don't have a phone" I whispered that lie in hopes that'll he'll get the message and leave me alone.

He rambles on "I'll get you one".
I roll my eyes the second time again this morning and took that as my cue to leave.
I start walking away with my bucket of water, then I see him at a corner close to my house with some other guys smoking. One of them calls out,

"What's up mama".

"Ode ni e" another guy says to the first guy while laughing.("You're a fool" translated from yoruba- a major Nigerian language )

I passed by like I heard nothing, it's best to ignore them I thought to myself.
After going at least about 7 more times, I'm finally done, I stretch out my body and fear in my heart if I keep doing this I'll never grow pat my current height, I laughed it off.

I hurriedly rush to our bathroom to take my bathe. Luckily I didn't meet Caleb there. Thank God, I said in my head. He's spends more than an hour in there and most of the time he's using his phone!!!. After waiting awhile for my water to heat up, I finally step in. While having my bathe, I ponder on what to wear for work today....

*****************************************
Hey guys, so it's my first time writing a story, this idea came to me while I was at the brink of death from boredom on a particular day at my workplace

Anyways, if anyone finds this story, please don't come for my head, I have zero experience and everything in this book is a work of my overactive mind.
If I finish this book, I'll like to mark today as the beginning of when i started writing. 17/05/24.
Oh and I almost forgot most of the words written this way in italics are Nigerian names, or words spoken in different languages, I'll translate when necessary.

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Thank y'all, I love you so much.
Fei🖤