Bright sunlight is pouring into my room as I open my eyes. Squinting, I shift slightly to attain a comfortable position but I come crashing to the floor with the quilt entangling my legs.
"Oww!" I cry rubbing my butt which made first contact with the ground. I sit up and look at the alarm clock on my nightstand. 7:35am. My eyes widen a bit then relax when I realise it's Saturday.
Geez, why's my hair everywhere? Including inside my mouth?
"Did I not knot my hair?" I ask myself, looking around, "how did I even sleep last night?" I throw another question at no one.
I drag myself up and move to get a hair band when my phone beeps. I pick it up and see it's a message from Halima.
Lima:
Arise and shine, Bee girl. Wanna go catch some fun later in the day? You know, ice cream and ice cream. I'll pick you up at 4. See ya then!
"First of all, I can't believe this girl still calls me Bee," I complain, thinking back to the day she first called me that. I had told her to choose something else but the she was not interested.
I plop down on the bed, still looking at my phone, "secondly, I didn't even say yes. And thirdly, she has a car?" As if on cue, a message pops up on my screen.
Lima:
P.s I don't have a car.
Did she just read my mind? I let out a chuckle and type in my reply.
***
"Morning, mum- ouch!" I miss my footing and hold onto the stair railing to avoid toppling over. "Okay, why does today hate me?!" I exclaim.
"Are you alright?" mum asks, walking towards me with a basket of clothes in her hands.
"Yeah. Laundry?" I ask, coming down the last step.
"Yes," she replies, "and today does not hate you."
"Are you kidding me? You have no idea what has happened so far," I say, following her into the sitting room.
"And it's still morning." She heads towards the kitchen to get the cleaning cloth.
"Exactly! The more reason I dread going through the rest of the day."
"Can you get the vacuum cleaner and do some chores?" she asks, walking past me towards the laundry room.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I whine with a pout. I don't like it when she sounds as if I don't do chores.
"You know what? Don't worry about cleaning this place. Nes will do that." I arch a brow, "really? No work for me?" Good news!
"Actually, there is. Could you help me clear Oche and Eno's room bedroom?" she asks with a coaxing smile. I frown. Who?
"Wait a second, why are we clearing their room? Are they coming already? So soon? Plus, when did you start using their tribal names?" I bombard her with questions. This is terrible news!
"Yes, they are coming. Very soon, cause they took the night flight. Plus, why can't I use their tribal names?"
"Because you make them sound funny," I say, cracking up. She frowns playfully. Aunt Oya usually gets angry at mum and dad for not making our tribal names our first names. According to her, it kills our culture. Mum seems to remember our tribal names once in a blue moon while the rest of us don't even bother.
Mum can't be blamed, though. She was born and raised in America and has little to no idea about her cultural background. And dad, well dad tries to teach us the little he knows.
YOU ARE READING
Hello Nigeria!
Teen Fiction"You're just a big baby. You are too cute to disobey mummy and daddy," he mocks, much to my annoyance. "Is that a challenge?" the words slip out before I know it. "Can you handle it?" he asks. *** One single challenge from her cocky neighbour and cl...
