HIM

CHAPTER 24

"Good morning girls! " we were woken up by that voice.
I yawned, stretching myself out and then rubbing my eyes. Everyone groaned, stretching up.
We were met by a tall motherly figure holding the door to May's room, it was Sarah, May's mum.
She was a woman of about 6" in height, average in body size; not slim nor fat, she had a very light complexion and a heart-shaped face, she was beautiful. Most times she kept her hair short but today she had it curled. One thing I so much wanted to have was that gap between the two front teeth, it added more to her beauty.
May resembled her mum so much, but she just resembled the Dad as well. OK, I don't mean to say May's parents looked alike.
Or maybe they did.

We responded lazily, then got up now. We had all collected ourselves in May's room where she had laid down two high density mattresses, so we all slept down.
Actually one mattress was from the room of either of her two brothers; Thomas and Eliab.
I helped May in tucking her sheets in after placing her mattress back on the bed.
May's mum showed Miranda and Daisy where to talk the other one, so Frances went to wash up first.
After we had all cleaned our faces ,we went to the dining room as instructed.

"Here,help yourselves with it. I intended to have you eat it yesterday but I came back and found you asleep," she said.
It was a chocolate cake.
I was sure if given this to eat alone, I'd do so without any complains.
I almost ate half of Grandma's cake that night. If she hadn't protested, I would have just continued with the injustice.
They just don't know how much I love cake!
We all had a slice and I practically asked for a glass of milk instead of the tea everyone seemed to be having.
"I forgot you're a coffee addict, " May apologized.
"I thought you were going to say something like you'd forgotten she's still a baby, " Frances chimed in.
"Frances! " I angrily threw her that look, that annoying one.
Just then May's mum walked in with the glass.
"Thank you, " I said.
"You're always welcome you know that, " she replied.
She then went on to say, "OK girls, am leaving for work now. Be responsible, OK? " she said taking her handbag and going for the door.
"Yes Mum, " May answered for all of us I guess.
"And you should visit more often, I love that smile in my daughter's face, " she said one last time and finally left.
Wow! She cares.

"Hey May, when are your brothers coming? " I asked as we continued eating.
I totally hate eating in silence, just listening to mouths chewing, cluttering of folks on plates... That was annoying!
"In two months time, they'll be here for the short holidays," she answered.
May had two brothers; Thomas and Eliab. The two bunch of boys was a real crowd, trust me.
Whenever they were home, it felt like they were more than ten in the house.
Thomas was the eldest, then Eliab; both separated by a two year difference. May was four years younger than Eliab.

Currently though, they were in college, the same year and class. They were both pursuing a career in Actuarial science.

This is how they ended in the same class: Eliab grew up to liking his elder brother so much. They played together, walked together and did almost everything together. So when Eliab's time for school came, he insisted he wanted to be in the same class as Thomas. They thought of playing him but he was too smart for that, he always went to Thomas class.
So their Mum had the extra job of teaching him what his brother had been taught back before his current class. As soon as he caught up, he went with the same pace. They became more like twins.

One day May's mum narrated to us about how Eliab took to May's homecoming. She said she was from the hospital and she had set May on the cradle then she lay down on her bed.
The two boys came back from playing then went into the room. They had not seen her for two days, so they were all over her, then Eliab noticed the cradle.
He went to it and then turned to ask her,"Mum, what's this thing and what is it doing here? "
"It's your baby sister, " she had answered.
"Mum you're a liar. Why isn't she as big as me or Thomas? And why did she not come out to play with us? "
"Because she's still small and weak. People grow slowly Eliab. You were also like her one day, " she had explained.
Thomas all this while just looked at the cradle, then her mother, but never said anything.
"Why couldn't you let her be big first then bring her?" He had continued asking.
"Because it was her time to come out, I couldn't stop her."
"Where was she? " He asked again.
Their Mum pointed to her stomach and said, "Inside here."
"Who put it there? "
"Your Dad and I, " she had answered.
I remember laughing when she said that, that was a quip.
Just the same time, their Dad had walked in.
She said Eliab just looked at his Dad then told him, "Next time you two put a baby inside Mum's stomach, put a boy. This thing looks like a doll, and I hate dolls."
He left his father confused as to what was happening.

I didn't blame him for calling her a doll, May looked like a cute little doll when she was young. I had seen it in her photos.
Who would think that later on the doll would become Eliab's favorite?
The two treat her like a little princess who deserves the world.
If you ever want to get the bad side of the two, especially Eliab, it's as simple as hurting May.

I just smiled at that small memory.

//...//

"Bill is taking me on a date today, I need your help in picking an outfit, "May announced after breakfast.
It was 9a.m so there was still time.
We all went to her room, she trying out and waiting for our opinion.
If Bill was taking her on a date, why was he still hitting on me? I mean, he loved her, didn't he?
It wasn't fair though, he shouldn't be doing that.
Maybe he realized it, that's why he's compensating with a date.

"Hey Linn! What are you thinking? "
May brought me back to reality.
I smiled sheepishly, "Never mind, it's nothing."
To quickly avert the discussion I added, "And I love that outfit, I think that should do. "
"Wow! Actually they said so too, " she exclaimed happily turning around.
That was done.
"I've been meaning to ask you something Linn, " Miranda spoke.
"Sure, ask, " I gave her the go.
"When are you going to introduce us to your boyfriend? "
That wasn't what I expected.
"What? I don't have one, " I answered.
"So when are you having one?" May asked.
Who knows how to answer that?
Or maybe I should tell them I have a crush on Flen, then they let me be.
But that was the worst idea, I knew it too well.
"Why haven't you asked Daisy the same? " I retorted instead.
"Oh no Linn! Did you have to jump to me? " Daisy whined.
I couldn't ask anyone else: May had Bill, Miranda had Josh, a boy in the neighborhood, Frances had Eugene, a boy from another school. That left Daisy and I.
And maybe this could be my chance of finding out the truth about her and Flen.
"At least you have a crush on Flen, that's something to start on, " I stifled the jealousy in me.
"I know but doesn't mean we have something going on already. Besides, he doesn't even know yet, " she shyly said.
Well, that was the news I wanted, and I got it.
Thanks.

Just then my screen flashed, someone was calling, 'Gabby.'
I smiled before excusing myself and leaving for a private conversation.
"You left me hanging last night lady," he started.
"Don't I deserve a good morning at least? " I asked.
"Oh, sorry. Good morning my love," he joked.
I laughed at that pet name he chose.
"About yesterday, I was almost run over by a bicycle as I was texting you. So I kept it away, and forgot about it, sorry, " I explained.
"Where to at that hour? And I hope you're OK."
"I am, that's why I used 'almost', I was at May's for a sleepover. "
"Oh, still there? "
"Actually am leaving in the next five minutes."
"OK, call me when you get home. Bye, " he said then hung up.
Wow!
Then I saw 5 unread messages from Flen.

Later.