BROKEN MIRAGE

CHAPTER THREE

"Bastards! Will you make haste?! Spoilt things", she wailed - the new madam of the house. It was then I understood the meaning of 'the other' in mom's letter. It was already eight months since mom left. Dad didn't seem to be bothered about it. The disgusting part of it is that she is a local Nigerian woman who had had three children with her late husband - two boys and a girl. Tinuke, the eldest, was just a year younger than Richard. She is busty, short and spoilt and that is the most perfect description I can give. Gbenga, the second is quiet, tall and lively. Tomiwa, the last was aggressive, authoritative, rude and childish.

These trio are very different in nature but I could classify both Tinuke and Tomiwa in the same category. Gbenga was like a dove; very gentle and polite.

I and my brothers were scrubbing the stairs with napkins

Napkins?

Our stepmother had ordered us to. She had kept the cleaning items and ordered us not to go anywhere near it. "Proper discipline" she would say "is what's good for you". I wondered what type of discipline she had in mind.

Her children were undisciplined, uncultured and she never disciplined them in my presence. So, why us? The owners of the house? They are the intruders. They should be the ones going through all these. But, mom had given us a prewarning to be obedient to them - dad and 'the woman'.

"Ole( Lazy things)", she hissed and sat on the sofa turning on the television. "Your mother has spoilt you children. Look at the manner at which you scrub. Oga o! (This is serious)".

I was eagerly awaiting something and it came:

"Excuse me? What did you just say?", Richard asked her.

"Ehn?", she got up slowly like a predator going for it's prey. I was eager to watch the drama that would soon erupt.

"O ma baje (You are spoilt)", she moved closer to him and raised a hand to slap him but the Richard I knew wouldn't allow that. He held her by her wrist, stood up and looked directly into her eyes.

"No one talks ill of my mother. Next time you do, you wouldn't find it funny", he flung her hand, picked the buckets and napkins, held us by the arm and went upstairs. All she could do was to open her mouth and stand still in bewilderment. I chuckled as I climbed the stairs and Drake gave me a pinch.

A frown still rested on Richard's face and I wondered what was going on in his mind. He led us into his room and shut the door behind him. What was he up to? I couldn't ask him neither could Drake. We knew Richard well to know that in that present mood, no one was to say a word except he talks. So, we kept calm and waited for him to speak first.

"Tell me. Did I do wrong?", he finally said.

Well, to me, it was a yes and no answer. She was still our stepmother and we ought to give her the respect she deserves. But, she had no right to talk ill of mother or to treat us with scorn.

"Absolutely not!", Drake said with anger. "If I were as bold as you are, I would have done worse to her. You did right bro". He then sat up right and folded his arms across his chest. I, being the type who respects the decisions of my brothers nodded in agreement to Drake's response.

The situation made me miss mom more. I longed for her soothing presence. The reason she left the house was still unknown to us. Within me, I tried to figure out the reason and the only reason I could figure out was - dad. She and dad never seemed to get along well. They argue almost everyday, dad calls her insulting names, mom never accepted defeat. In short, the house was always on fire. The day she left, I knew she and dad had argued and fought because I heard the sounds. Maybe that was the reason she left. I still wasn't sure.

I and my brothers sat on Richard's bed quietly with a lot of things running through our minds. I hated the silence and just wanted to make them smile.

" She just stood there like poop was smashed on her face", I said with a smile.

But Richard looked at me with a kind of look that would make one have goosebumps suddenly. I realized that was not the time to act stupid and I joined in the silence.

                                                                  ***
"WHERE ARE THEY?!!". That was the statement that awakened I and my brothers from deep thought. I knew we were finally in deep trouble - trouble that big brother Richard had put us in.

Richard jumped in fright at the angry voice. That was the first time I had seen Richard act that like that and for him to act that way, I and Drake had better get ready to be in for it.

The angry voice became louder and louder and I was already crying and pulling Richard's clothes. "You caused all this!", I yelled at him.

Then...

BANG! The door flung open and I fell instantly to the floor. Dad stood at the entrance with this sort of devilish look that made him look like he was possessed by a demon.

I expected Richard to plead but instead, he stood firm and was determined to face whatever dad throws at him and dad was - an ugly dirty slap!

"You stupid ingrate!", dad yelled. "Just take a look at your step-mom!". I watched her as she entered into the room weeping like a baby. I became instantly confused.

What is going on here?

" How dare you behave rude to her!. All because she corrected you and wanted to give you proper discipline?". He paused for a moment and said the ugly sentence I can never forget.

"You are leaving".

In bewilderment, we stared at him hoping he would take back what he just said. The situation looked surreal. Leave?. I guessed there was something more to this. Dad couldn't have sent his son out of the house for something so minute.

"You didn't even bother to ask us our side of the story. Look, she spoke ill of mother. She accused her of not training us well. How could she? She is not even half of who mother is".

I saw her expression change after Richard's last statement.

"Now, she's crying? Why? We didn't even do anything to her". He paused for a while and continued. "I was the one who did all this, so if any punishment would be given, I should be the one to receive it", he said without blinking.

Dad looked at him, sighed, turned around and said, "Pack your things and leave". Then, he left alongside his witchy wife.

Richard's eyes shone in shock and I sat on the floor gasping for air until Drake got me my inhaler... (I'm asthmatic).

Without saying a word, Richard turned around and sat on his bed. Now, Richard's face read something - shock. How could dad do this? I thought he had this strong rule of not letting us out to the streets. Then, something occurred to me.

Mom's contact number.

"Richard?", I said wearily. "Why don't we contact mom?". Richard's face brightened up and he went over to the locker, opened it and brought out a box. He opened it only to discover it was empty. I and Drake stared at each other confusingly. In surprise, Richard turned around and looked at us searchingly.

"I can't find it", he said.