THE FAMILY DINNER

👆1(edited)

The house is alive. It seems like everything and everyone is anticipating for the family dinner.

Soft music played from the home theatre in the sitting room. The kitchen had the aroma of chicken. The house scented like lavenders. I sit in my room looking at My mirror.

You're all grown Ola, i murmur to myself.

Aunty funmi would notice fast and would give out a loud melodious laugh and tease life out of me. I smile now. I reach for my comb and gently use it to comb my kinky hair. My mother told me It represented my africanness. Everything that came with it did. The curls, the naturality, and the pain when combing it. Truly African.

I look at myself again. I am going to marvel my family. When i was younger,i was slim looking a little malnourished. My head then seemed to be too big for my frail legs so I was nicknamed  fragile doll. I hated the name but it stuck because everyone had mutual grounds on it. I laugh to myself now. Still trapped in time's timeline when my brother interrupts.

Wole.

Bright eyed Wole. Always on the move. He's about ten years old but he always proved to be wiser. I sigh

"what did I say about knocking"

He gently closes the door. "I'm sorry sister olamide. I just came in to give you this "

He handed me a beautiful daffodil. He watched me smiling knowing he had softened my heart. "this is what saved you" I said pointing the daffodil to him.

"the house is going to be full! "he said.
He was right. Almost everybody was coming including our grandparents.
Wole sat on my bed now. "Is aunty funmi coming ?"

"yes"

"And uncle Dare?"

"yes"

"what about aunty Titi"

"mum says she won't be able to come due to her tedious work"

There is moment of silence

"Thank God!! " we chorus followed by laughter. Aunty Titi is just plain ol' mean. I could recall when she made both me and my young cousin, moyosore kneel down for minutes because we went out to play and came back a little after six. That was the last time I went to her house. She's still single and between us children, I think it's because of her irritating character. Wole stood up to leave.

"I can't wait to see everybody.. Dennis, Timmi, Toyin, shola.."

Shola. My elder sister. She was coming.
I try my best to hold on to the grin I had accomplished just hearing the other names but as soon as Wole left, so did that grin. I and Shola weren't the best of siblings. Sometimes she pretends I don't even exist. When we were younger, I looked up to her farther than even a distant relative. She made it quite clear to me that siblings don't have to be friends. She's right. We aren't friends. We're sisters and by that, the only connection was the fact we shared the same parents. She's older than me with thirteen years. I considered that a reason but she didn't have the same restrain with Wole as she did with me.

I could remember once when I had mistakenly broken her very expensive perfume. She burst into flames. I'm not exaggerating. Her fair skin was turning red. She didn't beat me but I clearly remember I left her room in tears. She told me I was always ruining her life. Mum wasn't pleased with both of us. She was scolded. After her secondary school, she travelled to Canada and started working as a model. I saw pictures and she looked charming.

Appearances can be deceiving.

I didn't hate her. No.. That's wrong. I just didn't want her close to me. Like my best friend, Naomi always says "sisters by chance.. Friends by force".
Tonight.. I'm going to pretend to like her. It's pointless though. My mother knows of our feud but I'm happy she's always on my side.

I guess the act would be for my other relatives then. I got bored sitting in my room so I went down to the kitchen. Mum looks worn out. Her hair is all messy and she wore her favourite blue apron. She didn't notice me on time as she kept murmuring lyrics to a song.

"ooww.. Maltida.. Come out..come out to play.. "I joined in. She smiles at me sweetly. She continues what she was doing in the sink. "mum.. Today would be so good. I can feel it! "

She laughed "I hope so. The food has to be enough you know. Wasi" she called out. Wasi came out from the store

"yes ma"

"help me check the chicken"

"OK ma"

She hurries to the oven.

Once in a while, mum would steal a glance at me and her body language has always been predictable. She wants to talk about something I won't be comfortable with and my guess would be Shola. I avert my gaze when I have the chance to. That was when I caught sight of the butter cookies.

Mother follows my eyes
"this silly girl. Hope you know you aren't getting any"

I pouted my lips and widened my eyes. She can't resist that. She broke into a half smile
"take only one.. They are for our guests you know"
I smile.. Thanking her, taking my cookie and scurrying off. I bounce off to the sitting room to sit down and savour my cookie. Chocolate chip cookies.  My favourite.

My father sat on his favourite armchair, legs crossed and a newspaper in his hands. Flipping them grimly, I chuckle to myself. He is murmuring curses to the government. Quite typical. The television is not turned on and I have no intentions of putting it on. The sitting room is quite silent until..
"What??!! "
My dad exclaims, eyes still fixed at the newspaper. I wonder what exactly could have caused the outburst.

Maybe something about the road?
Another million naira embezzlement?

I realise I'm not the only curious one as soon as I see my mum come out from the kitchen and I sit back, cookie finished and watch the scenario.

He looks back at us with a very annoyed face.

"How can the government just close up all the restaurants in Lagos.. Just like that! "
I struggle with a chuckle as I watch my mother's caring face change to an irritated one. She sighed finally .

"Ajumobi..this is what is getting you angry. You should be happy about this. The new disease is seen to have spread from one of those restaurants and the temporary closure is for fumigation. You never change dear. The only thing you seem to care about is your stomach "

"And thankfully you dear".

standing in front and of our front door stood a chocolate skinned short lady in a green dress. Every one in the sitting room gasped. Including me.
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THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING.. This is actually my first time. I'm a shy writer.. Hope you'd like my work. I know the prologue was... Confusing but I'm dying to see what you guys think of the first chapter so please don't forget to comment. So the lady... Who the hell could she be? ....i know you're curious.. lol.. Have fun finding out
THANKS AGAIN