Chapter Two

When I got home, I did a sign of the cross before entering the apartment. My mom was still in the kitchen. This might not end well, I have wasted an extra six minutes while I was talking to Joyce.

Wearily, I sauntered into the kitchen. "Mom, these are the foodstuffs you sent me to buy." I made my presence known as I dropped the nylon bag on the wooden table.

My mom turned to me so quickly, "Look at how you are walking sluggishly like all your bones have dropped off your body!" She looked at me with disgust. "Someone I sent on an errand. Didn't I tell you to be fast? Instead, you thought I'm a madwoman right? After all, what else can she do? She would rant and close her mouth shut." Mom shook her head from side to side in anger. 

I swallowed hard in panic. I didn't want her wrath to be showered on me this afternoon. I thought of the excuses that I could proffer, but none was forthcoming. She left the pineapples she was peeling and drew near to me. I took a tentative step backwards. 

"I'm sorry mother." I choked out.

"Shut up! Shut your dirty mouth! A nonentity." She sneered. "You move with a group of unserious fellows that have conspired to give me a sore throat! How old are you?"

I was about to talk but she beat me to it. "Sixteen years old!!! Yet, I keep talking like I have a day old child with me. Why? Why? Why were you ushered my way? Good for nothing element with her brain like that of a chicken." 

She drew me by my dress and gave me a thunderous slap across the face. I saw circles for close to five minutes yet I dare not let a drop of tears stain her palm or my dress or at most, let her see my steamed pupils.

The heavens decided to save me because an acute knock sounded just that instant. My mom released me forcefully, leaving me struggling to regain my composure. Taking a deep breath, I left the kitchen to open the door for the person.

"Who is there?" My voice shook. I dabbed my eyes repeatedly to stop the treacherous tears.

"Open the door. It's us." Udonma's voice rang out.

I unbolted the bolt, stepped aside for my siblings to enter into the apartment. They walked past me without bothering to greet me. 

"I'm famished," Udo grumbled. 

Unfortunately, mom heard that.

"Your useless sister is the cause. She could not buy what I asked her to buy quickly."

"Sister, why now?" Uzo whined.

I glared at him. "Look sit down all of you, the food would soon be ready."

"Adanna!" Mom screamed.

"Yes, mother." I ran into the kitchen in trepidation. 

"Would you start removing those foodstuffs or do you want us to eat you?"

"No ma." My mom really hated me, I knew it as someone chanted it to me continually.

I removed the items from the nylon and placed them in their respective bowls. She told me to buy five packets of Indomie and six eggs, so we could prepare a quick meal to quench my siblings' hunger.

Let me bring to your knowledge that these so-called kids are now old enough to do chores, cook and still be strong. Yet, that wasn't the case in my household. Mom pampered them like each was her only child, giving them all they need at a hat trick. With Udomma’s aged thirteen, the twins - Chibuzor and Collins aged eleven and lastly the baby of the house, Chinenye aged nine, you can see they've outgrown the age to be pampered.

Despite this fact, the chief of the duties rests on my shoulders. My siblings barely showed any sign of remorse through lending their assistance so as to make my work lighter. I remember that I started working at the age of seven. According to mom, no food for a lazy person. I felt like an outcast in their midst, I felt like a bought slave. Well, to each their own portion in life.

Later that night, we were all cosying around in the parlour as we watched YOUR VIEW repeat broadcast on TELEVISION CONTINENTAL. It was one of my favourite programs but to be honest, I loved this part of the day because of my dad. 

I stole a glance at him. He was fixated to the television, trying to make sense of the debaters, Morayo and Tope as he itched his black beards. I couldn't help but smile at that. I turned my attention back to the TV.

"Adanna," Dad called me softly.

"Sir."