DANIELLA✔

Chapter one

  "Daniella!" Mama called from the sitting room. That is my name and I was just a sixteen year old orphan, who had stayed in the village all her life. According to what mama told me, my parents died of food poison when I was just some months old and ever since then, mama took it upon herself to cater for me. And I must say, she had really been trying.

 
"Ma!" I hollered from my room. It wasn't only my room actually. Mum also slept in the room. We lived in a bungalow in the village and it had only three rooms— the living room and two bedrooms, one of which was where mama and I slept and the other was where papa slept.
From what I know, papa and mama were the parents of my late father. They had two children—my late father and his elder sister, aunt Carolina, who was still alive and kicking. I don't know my late mother's family. Mama said that my late mother was a maid, who knew nothing about her lineage. I'm still wondering who father paid mother's bride price to before he got married to her.

 
"Mama, you called me." I said as soon as I got to the living room where mama was. She was with Papa and aunt Carolina, who had just returned from the city yesterday. Judging from the look of things and the hours they had spent in the living room, it was apparent they had a serious discussion.

 
Aunt Caro was looking at me with her bulging eyes. I squirmed with her gaze. It wasn't that I was shy around her or anything; I just didn't like it when her bulging eyes were fixated on me. Her eyes were pretty intimidating. But that didn't take away the fact that she was beautiful. Based on what I know, aunt Caro had two children—twins precisely, who I had never for once seen, but she was still looking as though she had not given birth. Her slim figure made her look like she was in her early twenties, whereas she should be in her late thirties or early forties.

"Yes I did call. Your papa and I have something to tell you." Mama said with her deep and hoarse voice. 

I turned to look at Papa who was staring at me. There was something about the way he looked at me that amused me. I couldn't help but smile at him.

Although mama was very caring, I liked papa more. He was more nicer and jovial than mama. Whenever I was bored stiff, papa was the one I always run to because he usually told me a lot of funny and interesting stories and he was quite the playful type too. Moreover, I can't remember the last time papa flogged me. Whenever I goofed or offended him and he wanted to whip me, once I apologized and gave him the puppy face, he would forgive me easily. But mama, before I even uttered a word, a stroke would have landed on my back. 

"Daniella, you know you've been disturbing me about wanting to go to the city with your aunt to have a glimpse of what city life is like," Papa said, his faint voice cracking with his last statement. He cleared his throat and continued, "Well, we told aunt Caro about it and she's agreed to take you with her to the city."

A broad smile found its way on my face. That was literally the best news I had ever heard in my entire life. No exaggeration. I had always wished to go to the city. I wanted to know what life there was like. Life in the village was getting more boring for me as each day goes by. I mean, I had stayed in the village all my life. I needed to explore. Whenever I heard about some of my village friends going to the city with their relatives, I usually got envious of them. And I had always wondered when it would ever be my turn. But finally, my dreams and wishes were coming true. 

"Papa, are you serious?" I widened my eyes in shock excitement.

"Yes," Aunt Caro answered for him, a smile plastered on her face. "As a matter of fact, we'd be going to the city first thing tomorrow morning, so start packing your things." There was a way the words rolled off her tongue. It was so nice and articulate. It was a far cry from the way people in the village spoke, including myself. At least, now that I was going to the city, I would make sure I take up the intonation.