Tammy and her mom slowly walked their way back to the house. "Let's go to the entertainment room." Her mom requested. So they walked slowly upstairs in silence, holding each other side by side. The room was greatly decorated with beautiful flowers placed at each and every conner of the room. A one metre walking path was left all-round from the wall. The remaining space was taken up by luxurious furnishing. Four spacious two-sitter coaches curved around a one metre high beautiful table made up of slivery painted steel metal frame that greatly commingled with a shinny grey painted mahogany top. The table was approximately two metres long, placed equidistant to each and every coach. Seventy two inches screen was fixed, about two metres high on the cream colored left sidewall, just a half a metre above the entertainment unit. Tammy sat on the right coach while her mother, on the opposite coach. They made an eye contact for a little longer moment before smiling at each other. "Why are you looking at me like 'I have grown another nose on my forehead'." Tammy asked. "Mmmmh....honey, you look cutest when you force a smile outta your face" her mother enounced. Tammy let out a deep sigh before saying anything. "You mean, you like fake things?" Tammy asked. "I'm sure that's why you never stop keeping fake friends with you." She continued. "What do you mean...what fake friends?" her mother asked. "Nothing..I mean, words have meaning" she replied. Then there was a moment of silence.
"Did Derrick and Travis tell you when they gonna be back" her mother asked trying to changed the subject. "Nope, but probably they might stay a little longer. They are paying a visit to their friends; Leacky and Finnah. They're not on their usual weekend hangouts." Tammy retorted.
"Alright, I hope they get home very soon. There is something I would like to discuss while everybody is in" her mother said as she stood up to turn on the screen. "What could that be mom?" Tammy asked. "Is it about school?" She continued. "Not really, just stay cool. Everything shall become clear to you as soon as they are back home dear." Her mother responded as she presses the remote, scrolling down, looking for their favorite movie channel, AMC, which brings some funny and crazy African movies. "Okay I only hope curiosity is not gonna kill me" Tammy retorted.
" Mom, you have skipped it." Finnah said immediately she noticed that her mom has unknowingly vamoosed the channel she was obviously looking for. "Alright" her mother replied as she skipped back. "Yeah it's that one" Tammy said. Still her voice was strange. Her voice was mixed up with two extreme feelings which could not harmoniously marry each other. Her mother returned and sat right closer to her. She pulled up Tammy's right hand and held it tight. Tammy then moved closer so as she could rest her head on her mom's chest. Her mother then held her more closer and squeezed her gently against her chest while rubbing her hands against Tammy's belly. Immediately they got excited and happy when they saw the title of the upcoming movie. It was named, "The Rich Prince Who Married Her Maid." They got even more excited, having seen one of their favorite movie stars featuring in. "This is gonna be lit I swear" Tammy said with a genuine smile on her face. "Yeah certainly" her mother replied. "Let's wait and see what happens here." Tammy retorted in a heated excitement. Then they all went silent. Only the musical movie instruments could be heard from the output home-theare speakers. All eyes on the screen. Suddenly, the screen went dark and the musical instruments stopped. The room was filled with a huge sudden silence "What! Has the power gone?! " Tammy asked looking very confused and sad. "What? What do you mean? Blackout? No! Not possible." Her mom said as she walked to towards the entertainment unit. She then realized that power was available. Just before she got reach of the remote by her thin shinny left hand, the screen brightness was back and the musical instruments could be heard from far as if coming from the neighborhood. Tammy got a sigh of relief once again as she called back her mother so they can sit and watch together.
"Finnah! Go check who is at the gate." Leacky said as soon as he heard the bell ringing. " Have I turned into being a gatekeeper?" Finnah asked boldly. "Not so Finnah, but you can see I'm still busy here working on my research. Please do that for me I beg." Leacky said in a very imploring tone. "Huhuh, so where on earth did you learn to say 'please'? I guess you are now growing up...huhuh..." Finnah responded laughing at her elder brother. Leacky, as it were, is usually arrogant and proud. He knows no etiquette. He likes ordering people around. After a long argument, Finnah walked out upon being reminded that they were expecting their friends today. She saw the need to go check who was at the gate because it might be Derrick and Travis, their friends. Finnah went right to open the gate. She was surprised to see Travis and Derrick waiting over there. "Oh Travis, it's you!" She said with lots of smiles on her face. "Welcome" she continued. She gently hugged them and lead them to the house. Travis and Derrick looked a little bored and Finnah could read this from their faces. " Are you okay?" Finnah asked as she lead the two boys towards the living room. " Yeah, sure". Derrick responded with a gentle smile. " I wonder why you take almost a half an hour to open the gate for us. You guys aren't fair at all". Travis retorted. He couldn't hold this in anymore. As his usual, he prefers vomiting his heart feelings out than keep them. That's always his way of keeping up to a stable and good emotional and psychological health. "Yeah, it's not right. We don't do that to you whenever you pay a visit to us" Derrick added to Travis' argument.
" Okay guys, am sorry". Finnah said. "I did not mean to keep you waiting too long at the gate. I just did not get the alarm. We had a loud music playing at the entertainment room so we could not have noticed that earlier. Am so sorry" she explained.
"Alright!" Travis said.
"Would you like to have some blended juice?" Finnah asked. "Sure! Made from which fruits?" Derrick enquired. "We have three categories. One is a blend of mangoes, passion fruits and vegetables. Another has avocado as an extra blend and the last one has citric fruits added to it." Finnah explained. "So which one would you mind having today?" She asked as she was preparing glasses to pour them juice. "Put me the citric blend" Derrick said. "And mine citric free please" Travis requested, smiling to his brother Derrick. Travis believes he is a complete opposite of his brother Derrick "Alright! I know you will both like the juice. Really sweet and very refreshing." Finnah said bringing the two glasses full of juice to the table. "Welcome again. Enjoy a fine sip!" Finnah said with a wider smile on her face. "Thank you so much!" Both Derrick and Travis responded together at once like a chorus. And immediately all of them bursted laughing for a while and stopped immediately Leacky showed up in.
"Hey guys!" Leacky started. "At last you are out from your hideout" Travis said and immediately they started Laughing together. "Oh no! I wasn't hiding guys, I was...." " You have been, you think we don't know your bad habits Leacky, we know." Derrick cut him off trying to explain what happened. "Okay listen guys" Leacky said. "It's not like you think." He continued. " I have been working on my...." "Your hideout?" Travis would not let him finish his last statement. And there was silence for while after a short laughter from the quad, every eye on Leacky. " Alright! I know you won't let me explain myself" Leacky said. "Mmmh! The most important things is that you are here now. Not your explanations" Derrick retorted. "Well said" Finnah added. "Shut up Finnah." Leacky firmly enounced. "Travis, come and see a copy of my completed mansion drawing" Finnah said and immediately left, gently bunging the door behind her. Travis quickly followed her behind as if it was an order, leaving the other pair behind. Finnah and Travis have been good friends since kindergarten. They got to know each other the very day they joined the kindergarten school and have been blessed to maintain their friendship strong and lively. They share so much together. While in school, they sit together in class, do their assignments and exercises together, among other things friends can do together. "Wow, it's really nice". Travis said. "You like it?" Finnah asked joyfully. "Yeah it's really good, and perhaps the most beautiful artwork I have ever seen." Travis replied. " Thank you so much dear." Finnah said smiling at his friend.
Finnah's hobby has been drawing since grade one. He has been doing this for the last four years and have seen a great improvements. "I think this could be our future house." Travis started again. "What do you mean with 'our'?" Finnah curiously asked. "Ours, for me and you only." Travis said. "Sure? Do you see me and you staying together sharing the same mansion?" Finnah asked. "Yeah sure, that has been my dream." Travis responded. " Hahaha! Staying together as what?" Finnah asked laughing. "Husband and.." "It's funny how you could be thinking about such a thing at this point of time. " Finnah cut him off. " You are too young to start having such crazy dreams." She continued. " Too young my foot! So long as I live, I will keep dreaming." Travis said. "You just wait until you reach your dream menopause." He continued. "Dream what!? Huhuhu! I wonder if such a thing even exist" Finnah replied Laughing.
"Let's go home bro" Derrick said staring at the two young duet. "But I haven't finished" Travis said. "No let's go!" Derrick firmly enounced. "Derrick please! Just a minute." Finnah said in a very imploring voice. "No, it's time, am sorry. Another day please!" Derrick responded. Finnah and Travis obeyed. They stared at each other for a while with each sitting on the opposite side of the table, they moved their heads closer to each other, still staring at each. Their lips were very close. They seemed like they were almost kissing. "Stop it!" Derrick ordered. "Hahaha" both Travis and Finnah bursted laughing. "What has come over you?" Derrick continued. " Travis, now get out very fast! Am going to share this with mum. This is very stupid of you!" Derrick groaned, as Leacky was approaching. "Hey, what's up man, what has he done?" Leacky asked, looking a little confused.
"Oh no, it's no big deal, I was just trying to convince my younger brother to stop...."Stop what?!" Leacky cut him off. "Mmmh, so they were kissing again right?" Leacky asked looking straight intoo Derrick's eyes. "Not that man, I just found him playing with the chair like a small child. It's not what you think." Derrick said, trying to protect Finnah from the wrath of his elder brother Leacky. He remembered the other day when Leacky almost broke Finnah's leg with a rod when he found them trying to kiss each other. He wouldn't let him know of this, lest Finnah gets into a great trouble. "Alright no problem. Leacky responded. "So when will we see each other again?" Derrick asked. We'll pay you a surprise visit" Leacky replied. "As you always do." Derrick said smiling, and Leacky smiled back at him.
"Bye-bye!" Derrick said. "Bye too" Leacky and Finnah replied together. "Get home safe, take care" Finnah added. "Thank you!" Travis replied smiling as he walk downstairs. "Derrick! Derrick!" Finnah called following them, Derrick then stopped as soon as he heard her voice. She then came down to him. "Thank you so much. You've really protected from my brother's..."
"Welcome and next time, I won't do it for you." Derrick could not let finish her statement. "I promise it won't happen again." She responded in a very kind and generous voice. "Right, let me get back home." Derrick replied closing the gate behind him.
The two brothers walked home in silence. No one spoke to the other. They seemed to be like dumb strangers on the road.
