Chapter seven

The sound of the door forcefully pulled open startled me at first but got me angry seeing as the intruder was no other person but Folakemi.

"What guts she has" I thought raising my eyebrows and masking up a bold face,  her presence slightly intimidates me.

"What do you want here" I asked with a fake smile. She totally ignored my question and sashayed into the room.

She walked towards the wardrobe and locked the doors rather too loudly, she moved to the shoe racks sniffing at them, she moved to the window and looked out before finally moving to my bed side table.

She picked up the novel I earlier placed there and flipped through the pages before dropping it back.

    "I presume you have a flair for reading" she began.

  Mean while, I stood surprised and partly scared as to what bussines she had in my room.

"So then, I believe you aren't dumb" she continued in a mock tone.

"You are probably wondering why I am here right?" she asked.

"Yes am actually surprised " I muttered.

"Well I am not as bad as you picture me to be" she stated with a smile.

I licked my dry lips wondering why she was acting all nice.

"It's just that I was surprised seeing you at the gate the other day  and am not used to seeing someone wearing clothes as tattered and ugly as the one you wore that day knocking at the gate and saying trash like that" she said.

"It was surprising see a beggar claim my Dad is an uncle of hers" she continued flicking two of her fingers in the air.

I was pissed at what she said, she just called me a beggar,  she even said my Christmas wear the very best of my clothes was tattered,  can you imagine.

I was about giving her a comeback but she beat me to it raising up her hands to shush me.

"Don't sweat it, you probably want to deny being a peasant?" she asked with raised eyebrows sweeping her eyes round the room and bringing it to rest on my tattered Ghana must go bag.

"Well this speaks for you" she stated pointing at the bag in disgust.

I was fuming in anger but annoyingly,  I had nothing to say.

"How dear you" I whispered  almost yelling, I was shaking and at the verge of tears.

"Don't be dramatic" she said  standing up and moving towards me wearing a fake smile.

"Well well dear, welcome to wealth" she spat gesturing with her hands stretched out.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, that's what you want anyways, reaping where you didn't sow, But let me sound you a note of warning. Watch your back!" she said with a tone of finality.

''Oops! I forgot, My dad asked me to call you, he is waiting for you in his room, it's the third room by your left" she informed  placing emphasis on My dad.

"Well thank me later for the direction, I wouldn't want you strolling round this mansion like a lost rat" She said with mock laughter.

"I bet you haven't been in one sef" she added walking out of the room.

   Once she was out, I heaved a sigh of relief and thought.

"Why didn't I give her a reply"

Well maybe cat caught your tongue my subconsious mind retorted making me hiss in defeat.

"Gosh I hate you Fola, you can't just boss me around like you own me" I yelled at my reflection in the mirror.

   Remembering her dad called for me, I hurried out of my room and made for the third room by my left.

  Thanks for the information anyways,  slime Brat.

~~~~~~~~~~~

  I knocked slowly on the door my heart racing a thousand times faster than usual, I was a little scared.

"What if they ask me to go look for my uncle else where?, What if they are throwing me out?,  How would I find my uncle?" I thought chewing on my lower lips.

   The cold air smashing my face made me alert as Fola's mother stood before me smiling sweetly.

"Come in my dear" she said ushering me into a sitting room smaller in size to the one I sat in yesterday.

  I entered into the room feeling like I just entered into a cold room, it was freaking cold, I started shivering immediately I got in.

"Sorry dear I think the air conditioner is too cold for you" she stayed apologetically  picking up a white phone like object she called a remote and clicking on it.

"Have your seat" she said indicating to a chair which I immediately sat on,  she brought a thick cloth and wrapped it around me which to my relief made me warm.

"Thank you ma" I muttered.

"Oh dear,  no thanks. Hold on let me call my husband from the room" she informed dashing into a room I didn't notice earlier.

 

I used the solitude around me to look around and I suddenly felt out of place, where I was reeked of wealth,  there was a plasma TV hung on the wall, a butterfly painting sat elegantly on the wall also, the center table was a shinning silver, a bet I could see my reflection in it, I would have tried checking it out but I was too scared to stand up.

The floor was covered in thick rugs, Oh boy!.

"Young lady" Fola's Dad asked taking his seat opposite me,  how wife following suite,  I was a bit shaken, I didn't notice them walk in back,  what if he caught me gaping around, I mentally face palmed myself.

"Good afternoon sir" I responded kneeling shyly.

"Oh get up my dear" he said sharing a glance with his wife.

"I hope you had a good night rest?" he asked.

"Yes sir I did,  thanks a lot for what you did sir and ma" I started turning to the both of them.

"I wonder what would have happened to me if you didn't take me in as I had no where else to go"

"Of course, we are glad we took you in" Fola's mum interrupted me.

"Am sure you are wondering why I called you here" he began, his facial expression changing to a serious one.

"Well my dear,  I just want you to feel free and reply truthfully to all of my questions okay"

"Yes sir" I replied nodding my head.

"So dear, where do you say you are from?" he asked.

"Itasha village sir"

"And you said your mom is dead?"

"Yes sir"

"So what's your name?"

"Anjolaoluwa" Fola's mum interrupted "That's her name honey, nice name she's got" She added giving me the a smile.

"Jessie I wasn't talking to you na" he chided her.

"So back to you Anjolaoluwa, how old are you?" he asked.

"I am fifteen year old sir".

After a long pause and uncomfortable silence, with the both of them sharing not too subtle glances, I became scared.

"Did I say anything wrong" I wondered.

"I don't even know where to start from or how to say this Anjola" he said standing up from his position and moving towards me,  his wife did the same.

"I am Mr. Bolarin" he stated much to my surprise, he paused for a while mean while Mrs. Jessie pulled me into a hug.

"What's with this people and hug sef" I thought.

"Your mother Aunty Roanoke was my elder sister" he continued

"After she got married, I decided to leave the village for Lagos  as I didn't want to bother her with my responsibilities. But after I left Lagos, I kept in touch for a while but then I lost my phone and afterwards, I lost contact with her. I haven't heard from her or even gone to the village since."

"If only I knew she was sick,  I would have at least reached out to her, I am so sorry, I feel I caused her death,  she was my only surviving family, if only I knew,  I am willing to spend the whole of my wealth on her just to see her get better." he said with tears in his eyes.

I was also moved to Tears, I started crying remembering how I lost her. I thought I was getting over her death but seeing him get emotional made my tear duct let loose. 

I cried my heart out,  even Mrs Jessie ended up crying. Folakemi was also sniffling, I wondered when she came in  as I didn't notice her come in.

"So Anjola, feel at home,  ílé nì ílé è, see me as a Father, her as your mother and Folakemi as your sister" he said earning a scoff from Folakemi, I also scoofed internally.

"I promise I will make sure you are comfortable okay" he stated.

I nodded to his statement, sniffling and at the same time saying thank you.

"Welcome to the Family" Mrs Jessie cooed into my ears.

I didn't miss the glare Fola sent my way,  I thought she liked me already,  was she not sniffling minutes ago.

"Mom, Dad" Fola called as if announcing her presence.

"How long is she staying here?" she asked arms akimbo.

"And how is that any of your bussines" her mother asked.

"But mom!" she muttered.

"She is not staying here o,  not in this house anyways" she added.

"Or else what?" her father asked.

"You'll  burn down the house or lock us all out" he added.

"You had better stopped this your childish tantrum and grow up."

"Dad" she grumbled.

"Can you just keep your mouth shut?" her mother yelled.

"We are your parents and we make decisions here,  not the other way round" she said.

" If you love yourself get out of here before iopen my eyes and close them back" she advices.

Fola hesitated a little but seeing her mum eyes closed,  she stomped her feet and threw me a cold stare which spoke words before leaving the room slamming the door angrily.

"Don't mind her my dear, go to your room and relax, I'll send Bola to call you once breakfast is ready" Mrs Jessie said.

I stood up,  said a quick thank you to them and made to my room.

Surprisingly, I felt happy,  I finally met my uncle,  I now had a home,  a new family a rich one at that.

I hugged myself tightly and skipped to my room. The happiness I had was tainted as I let out a shrill scream by what I saw in my room.

Cliff hanger 😁

Word glossary

Ghana must go: a big kind of bag used to carry luggages especially when traveling.

ílé nì ílé è: The house is all yours.