CONFLICTED

Chapter 29| Jerk

Chapter 29: Jerk

Tracy

Dinner is all about eating and talking. Today, it was about eating, talking, staring, glaring, laughing, choking and being kicked under the table.

Christopher however, was quiet the whole time and I wondered why. Perhaps because of me. The only time he spoke was when he asked my mom how she met aunty Lydia.

My mom had smiled in return and done the whole narration of them being university friends despite their age differences but had split up when aunty Lydia travelled abroad for a modeling gig and they lost contact.

Kelvin was all about chipping in his comments into what the two women had to say and involving me in their conversation at times.

Mr Thompson was quiet too, just like his son and only smiled occasionally at his wife.

The old woman was just an old woman. She interrupted the women's banter with motherly advice or chastised the person in their gist for a bad behavior. She was simply happy being a part of the family.

I, on the other hand, could no longer bear Kelvin nudging my leg under the table while flashing me his Mr. Cool smile and interrupting the women by asking me idiotic questions. Couldn't he see I wasn't in the mood for petty talks?

Dinner ended thirty minutes later and I was thrilled to leave the table that intruded my privacy.

Half the time, my eyes stayed on Christopher as if they wanted to uncover some mystical mystery about him. Or perhaps, they just couldn't look away from his drugging beauty. Adequate height, broad shoulders, intimidating biceps, his silky skin, his confident strides... Features that any girl would die for. Unfortunately for him, his attitude disgusted me to even think of being infatuated.

He left the dining room and settled in the living room with a magazine he found on the table. I finally tore my eyes away from him and went to the kitchen with the housekeeper while persistently insisting that I wash the dishes.

"You really don't have to, my child." she tried again.

"It's not right ma. The kids do the chores for the adults and not the other way round. I know you're just trying to do your job but it doesn't mean I should forget my manners."

She smiled weakly and patted my shoulder.

"Fine. If you insist. I'll retire to bed early instead. Thank you, dear."

I watched her make her way out of the huge kitchen which was about the size of our living room back home and turned to the sink.

The woman amused me by a lot. Her fluent English caught me by surprise the first time I heard it and I still haven't gotten it out of my system. But thinking about it now, I guess Mr. Thompson wanted a housekeeper that could carry out the duties in the house and also speak good English, and he found those qualities in the woman to hire her.

No matter the modernized name they give it, I didn't think I want my own grandmother working as a maid in some rich home. Never!

After washing and rinsing the plates and placed them in a basket to dry, I was done in no time. Getting back to the living room, I found Kelvin sprawled on the couch watching a movie, my mom and her friend laughing in the other sitting room and the other two zombies nowhere to be found.

I dried my hands on my jean trousers and strolled over to where Kelvin was seated. He smiled once he sighted me.

"What's with the smiles? It's starting to get creepy." I said and sat on the couch with a leg bent under my butt.