Chapter 2

Emilie

"I left some money under the decoder, anything comes up let me know okay?"

"Yes sir" I respond handing him his office bag and a thermostat.

He pauses glancing around the house briefly in case he has forgotten to pack something or like he's anxious about leaving.

"I don't like leaving you guys like this... but it must be done"

"It must" I echo smiling sadly, feeling a familiar ache in my chest.

"Its just a week, call me if you need anything. Lock up before 7 and don't let anyone in, okay?" He drills as he walks to the door, I follow closely being him.

"Yes sir! This isn't the first time with you away, you know I can handle it." I reassure

"Torh, I've heard you. Call the troop down let me say my goodbyes" 

"Everyone come down, daddy's leaving!" I call out. It doesn't take more than a minute before i hear footsteps descending the stairs, disrupting the quiet atmosphere of the living room. There's a rush of excitement from them as they shout their way to be heard.

"Daddy, buy something for me!" Precious yells throwing out his hands for my dad to pick him up— last born privileges.

"Okay, what do you want?" 

"Anything!"

"Anything means nothing precious"

"Daddy take care of yourself, call us when you arrive" my sister admonishes getting a thread out of his hair.

"Thank you Agape"

"Daddy buy me bananas! A full truck!" Dan Dan announces 

"Alright, I'll get you bananas"

"I want bananas too!" Precious cries clinging to our father's neck refusing to let go. He throws me a pleading look and I step in

"Let daddy go precious, he'll be late, besides you don't even like bananas" I say prying him off and settling him down, he clings to my leg and doesn't let go.

"Did you call her?" I whisper to him over my siblings heads, putting emphasis on the last word. 

He sighs and rubs his head in slow circles, he takes off his glasses and puts them back on almost immediately, its almost a ritual for him whenever he feels stressed. He shakes and mouths "no". I shrug in response, it was worth a try.

"Where's Unique? Doesn't she want to say goodbye?" He voices glancing up the stairway.

"She's in the toilet, has been complaining about stomach ache" Agape fills in.

"Ask for a water gun" I try again with precious but he doesn't say anything, instead moves to press his head against my lap, the area feels wet almost instantly... uh oh, he's crying. 

Everyone else screams their requests and goodbyes as my dad gets in to the taxi and leaves, but precious doesn't say a word.

The quiet that descends following my dad's departure is so sudden I have to turn around to see if my siblings are still standing with me in the door way, sure as dawn, they are. 

The air is heavy, they're all sad for my dad leaving, I know because i'm sad too. I sigh, picking precious up and bouncing him on my hip, I try for an excitement I don't feel.

"Daddy left some money, what do you suggest we do troop? It takes a while for them to answer, they're not so easily swayed.

"Maybe we can go out for ice cream?" I say into precious' neck, he nods, but doesn't say anything, the rest begin filing away, each to his tent. I climb the stairs laboriously, carrying my brother's heavy form.

"You're growing too big to be carried, little man, don't you agree?" I ask, he shakes his head violently placing a stray finger in his mouth.

"Don't suck, precious" I chide gently taking his finger out of his mouth, my correction is only momentary, because in the next instant he puts his finger back in his mouth—two this time. I give an exasperated sigh but don't make a move to correct him further. 

Reaching the landing (finally) I make a beeline to my room. Upon getting there, i push the door of my room open but it won't budge, I try again, same thing.

"Who is inside?!" I call, already growing tired from holding my brother. 

"I'm serious! Open the door!" I warn angrily. I hear the click of a lock and the door opens. 

My room looks like it has been hit by a tornado and standing in the midst of the madness is my sister—er, another one. I place precious on the bed to which he doesn't fuss thankfully, he simply turns on his side, and faces us.

"There had better be a good reason for this rubbish Unique!" 

"Her eyes dart around my room but she doesn't say anything. She is wearing an angry frown and looking everywhere else but at me. The nerve of this girl. 

"Oh for heaven's sake unique, just tell her!" Agape coaxes as she materializes behind me.

"Tell me what?" I question looking between the two. 

"Did I ask you to? Agape?" Unique dares, looking more uncomfortable than angry... Some of my anger dissipates at this. Agape walks past me making herself comfortable on the bed beside precious.

"Her first period came today and she doesn't have any sanitary towels. And before you ask, no, I don't have either, I used up my entire Always pack the last time and forgot to buy more, she thought she could get some from you but she didn't know where you kept yours" Agape explains in one breath.

"Oh" I say, not knowing what else to add. Unique is fidgeting with her hands now but the frown never leaves her face, I don't know who's more uncomfortable between the both of us.

"Do you want to talk about it? Advice or that kinda stuff? Do you know how to place your pad on..."

"Jesus! Em, I know all that already, I've been reading"

"I gave her that book they gave us at school during home economics, was very helpful. Also, don't call the name of the lord in vain" Agape reprimands but it comes off as a joke.

"Shut up Agape!" Unique seethes

"You shut up!" Agape retorts playfully

"Both of you shut up! I don't keep it in the room, I keep it in the mirror cabinet in the bathroom" I provide standing aside to let her pass. She murmurs a quiet thank you as she passes and I nod in acknowledgement.

"Don't forget to come back and clean the room you tore apart!" Agape yells after her, waking precious up.

"Leave her alone! See, you've woken him up, he was crying about daddy leaving. He's your problem now" I inform her walking out of the room.