Chapter 10

Emilie

We all wait eagerly at the door for my dad and brothers, this has been the longest week so far. It takes a while, but we finally see their cab pull up. 

Dan Dan is the first to dash out from among us, while precious follows closely, laughing as they both run. 

Unique bounces lightly beside me and I know how much she wants to go to them as well. 

"You can run you know? We promise not to use this against you" Agape jabs playful, beating me to it and for once unique doesn't seem offended by it.

She simply walks (in obvious controlled steps) to the car, while both Agape and I tear up, laughing at her effort.

My brothers get down from the car, and take turns hugging everyone. Mike's wide frame engulfs both Precious and Dan Dan in a bear hug, while Salem's lanky form leans down to give them side hugs. Typical Mike and Salem.

I smile beside myself, the twins were the most opposite people I knew. They were identical alright, but that was as far as their similarities went. Mike was chubby and bigger where Salem was skinny and lithe. They both had the same height anyways, and even though mike was generally the more open, boisterous twin, Salem was, on some rare occasions, very rare occasions, exuberant.

I watch them both carrying their boxes (and in Mike's case, struggling to carry carrying Precious and Dan Dan as well) as they all come towards the entrance.

"Full house!" I yell as soon as they're within earshot. I open my arms wide to Sal, he falters a bit.

"Don't tell me you're now too old for hugs" I say hoping it's not true.

He flashes me a small smile and leans into my open arms, he hesitates for a bit and I don't fail to notice. 

"I missed you" I say, my voice catching briefly. 

Why am I so teary today?

"Me too" he says after a beat, giving me a squeeze before letting go abruptly. 

Well, I'll take what I can get.

"Where's daddy" i ask seeing the taxi drive off. 

"He said he had to go to Jabi, someone way billed a parcel to him and he had to collect it before they closed". He provides, shrugging his shoulders. I move aside, letting him enter.

"Save some for me!" I yell at Mike who is hugging Agape wildly, and although she protests I can tell she is elated.

"Hey sis" he greets warmly before almost squeezing all the air, out of my lungs. 

"I can't breathe!" I wheeze

"I know!" He laughs releasing me a little. He squeezes once more before finally letting go.

"I missed you guys!" He announces.

"Close up advert" Agape muses, dragging his box, we all file in one by one. 

"What happened?" Unique gasps pointing to Mike's arm where he's sporting a long angry gash.

"Oh, that? Some guys at camp were trying to be funny but Salem, Salem treated their fuck up!" He says proudly.

"Hey!" I warn, slapping the back of his head. 

"You should have seen the other guys, they were at the infirmary for days! Salem Is crazy! I wouldn't fight him even if they paid me to. You're my hero Sal!" he yells out undeterred by my rebuke.

"What happened to you? Your forehead, its huge Em" He asks frowning and inspecting the golf sized swelling on my head. I swat his hands away.

"I can't wait to tell you what went down" Agape says dramatically

"What happened?"

"There was a snake, then a frog..." Unique pipes

"Wait a snake?"

"No, a frog we thought was a snake" Agape corrects.

"Uh huh..."Mike says looking confused between all of us

"Like a snake... frog?" Salem jokes adjusting precious' grip on his neck.

"Dry, Sal, so drrrrrrry" unique mocks rolling her eyes. He simply shrugs in response.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you about it later." Dan Dan assures dragging Mike's hand.

"There's rice in the warmer" I call out, bolting the door as we all go in.

"Rice?" Both mike and Salem groan

"What? What is it?" I quiz staring between the both of them.

"Its nothing Em, nothing you can help, its just..." Salem starts but stops short.

"We've been eating rice non stop for weeks, we were hoping for something else" Mike interjects pleadingly

"Oh, sorry your Majesties, what will your preferences be?" Agape goads

"Seriously, the rice is fine, we don't want to bother you too much" Salem provides 

"I'm not happy, not happy at all... But, I guess... I could find something else" I grunt, giving in.

"There's egusi, should I reheat it and make semovita?" 

"Any accompaniment?" Mike Asks wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Chicken" I say with an eye roll

"And?" Salem prods meekly 

"Fish maybe"

"Hallelujah!" Mike yells, bumping fists with Salem, who even Spares a small smile.

"Will that be all? Your majesties?" Agape asks, setting up the table.

"Yes, that will be all" Salem says

"Actually, a warm bath might be nice" Mike adds

We all hiss in exasperation.

"Tell me about camp!"Dan Dan insists 

"What parts little man?" Mike asks

"Everything!" He yells excitedly

"I can't wait for you to come and experience it yourself" Mike tells Dan Dan, both he and precious are seated on his lap.

"Precious or Dan Dan?" Unique shoots

"Precious of course! I mean he's what, how old now? Like 3, better to catch them when they're young" He shoots, his words dripping with sarcasm. Unique just sticks her tongue out at him.

"Waka"

"We share the same mother Uni"

"Stop calling me that!"

"What? Uni? You liked the name when you were little"

"Well i'm no longer little, if you can't tell"

"Looks the same to me, Sal?" Mike throws. Salem simply throws his hands up, backing away as if to say, 'don't drag me Into this'.

"What makes you think he'll be into football?" I say skeptically.

"Because he's my brother, he'd be stupid not to!"

I notice Salem wince at Mike's words. Our eyes meet and I quirk an eyebrow at him, but he simply looks away, busying himself instead, with hoisting his travel bag up the stairs.

I wanted to tell you guys something but I've forgotten" Mike says thoughtfully.

"Old man" Unique mocks

"Yes my daughter" Mike fires back.

She sticks her tongue out at him before following me into the kitchen.

"Do you need help?" She asks as I bring the microwave plate out of the fridge

"Can you turn on the cooker and put a pot with little water on it?"

"How little?" She asks turning the tap on

"I don't know, lemme see" 

She slants the pot sideways and I shake my head at the quantity.

"Pour some away"

She does that and shows it to me again.

"A little more" I say. 

She complies before finally getting my approval.

"Put it on the cooker" 

I fetch the Semovita bag. Tearing off the topmost corner, I pour it into a bowl with cold water and begin stirring.

"Yes! I remember what I wanted to say!" Mike shouts barging in with Agape, Dan Dan and precious following closely. Unique and I both turn expectantly.

"You know coach from camp?" He asks 

"Yes" Agape and I both reply.

"Well, he has a daughter... Have you met her?"

"No" I frown slightly trying to remember if I have.

"I didn't know he had a daughter" Agape says skeptically 

"Does she attend our church?" I quiz

"Go on anyways, we'll talk about the daughter later" Agape waves off.

"Well, it's important you know her, she's very important to the story" Mike stresses.

"Just Spit it out already!" Unique cries out, irked.

"Mike! Don't you dare!" Salem hollers from above. We're all taken aback by this, but Mike just smiles, carrying on like it is expected.

"That's the highest I've heard his voice go since I was born" unique confesses, startled.

"Coach, the girl, the story— finish it!" Agape pushes.

"Well, she's dating your brother!" he finishes triumphantly.

"What? Which one?" I blurt out confused.

"Which one? Are you serious? Isn't it obvious?"

"No, not really... Are you the one dating coach's daughter?"

"Ah! Y'all are useless. Sal! Salem's the one who has a girlfriend!" He says in both exasperation and glee. 

We are unable to register our shock because almost immediately we see Salem barge into the kitchen, His face looks murderous.

"I will end you! And I will gladly go to jail for it!" He thunders pointing directly at Michael.