FED UP!

(…continued…)

 

“Yee,” Cynthia said and made to sit up.

  “What is there to watch in this house?” Mabel asked rhetorically.

  “Movies,” Cynthia replied. “We have lots of them in the movie rack.”

  “You don’t have any reasonable movie here. The absence of Cable in this house is not good.”

  “It will waste. It is only in the night that either mummy or I am around to watch TV.”

  “I will go to my house later to check how things are and then bring some of my movies.”

  “Will you leave me alone here?”

  “No. Maybe when Chidinma and co come.”

  “Better.”

                While Mabel flipped through the local channels on the TV, Cynthia went to the refrigerator and brought some fruits. After searching for a while, Mabel was fed up.

  “All these News and talk shows sef,” she said. “No one wants to do something interesting. Not even music.”

  “Check the Movies there. You could find one we can manage till you get from your house.”

                Mabel checked and reluctantly slotted in one of them. They watched for a while and NEPA took the light.

  “I really miss my house,” Mabel said.

  “Let us go na. We will come back in the evening.”

  “No. You don’t need to stress yourself. Moreover, your friends are coming to see you.”

                They chatted for a while and Cynthia’s phone rang. It was Chidinma calling to find out if she was home and told her she was on her way.

  “Start with the hair na,” Cynthia begged Mabel.

  “Ok. Come and sit.”

                Cynthia sat on the floor. Mabel got the tools she needed and started losing the hair. Cynthia also helped do the one she could. It was not a complex hair style so it did not take too long for Mabel to be done.

  “Do you need to wash it immediately?” Mabel asked her.

                There was a knock on the door.

  “That should be Chidinma. She will help me do the rest.”

  “Ajibo Chidinma will do what?”

  “She is not ajibo to me o.”

                The knock came again.

  “Let me get the door,” Mabel said and went to the door. She opened it. It was Chidinma and another lady. They exchanged pleasantries and Mabel let them in. As she was closing the door, she saw Chuka waving at her. She waved back. He gave her sign with his hand asking her whether he can come and see Cynthia. She replied with a sign that he should check later.

                Cynthia and the ladies exchanged pleasantries. They looked worried about her.

  “You are really looking sick,” Chidinma said.

  “True,” Kate, the other lady said. “Look at your hair. Scattered.”

  “I am getting better.”

                Cynthia made to stand and felt pain in her back.

  “Lie down for a while,” Mabel told her. “You have been sitting for a long time.”

                Chidinma helped her lie back on the floor facing upwards. They sat on the floor beside her as they discussed.

  “Let me leave you people to gossip,” Mabel said and went into the room.

  “you can join in the gossip na,” Cynthia said.

  “Never mind. Remember I have to go out soon. Let me get my cloth ready.”

  “Ok.”

  “I am still around in case you need anything.”

  “We will help her with whatever she needs,” Chidinma said.

  “We have kept the whole day free to stay with her.”

  “That’s nice of you. Thanks.”

                Mabel went into the room to get the cloth she will wear to her house ready.  Meanwhile Cynthia and her friends gisted in the parlour for a while. Then Cynthia began to cough.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(...continued...)

                They took turns freshen up. Then Mabel massaged Cynthia.

  “Are you still feeling the pain?”

  “Yes, but not like it was yesterday.”

  “That means the treatment is working.”

  “You really tried for me yesterday.”

  “You also tried for me over the weekend. One good turn deserves another.”

  “What are sisters for?”

                When they were done, they ate their food, then Cynthia took her drugs. There was no light so they just stayed in the parlour, chatting.

  “Did you tell your friend that you are not feeling fine?” Mabel asked Cynthia.

  “Yes. I pinged Chidinma. She will inform others who should know.”

  “I hope they are not coming here? I don’t have the energy to arrange this parlour.”

  “They are coming,” Cynthia said laughing. “This place is better than their houses. We don’t need any special arrangement. It’s swept and cleaned.”

  “But your hair is not clean and arranged.”

  “This hair is getting old.”

  “You need to lose it and let it go.”

  “Not today. I can’t go to the salon today.”

  “Will your back allow you to sit for a while so I can lose it for you?”

  “Who taught you how to lose this type of hair?”

                Mabel laughed loud and said, “You forgot I learnt hair making before I got a job.”

  “That’s true.”

  “So when you are ready, let me know.”             

  “Let me lie on the floor and stretch my back for a while, then we can start.”

 “Ok.”

                Cynthia made to lie on rugged floor.

  “Wait let me get the foam,” Mabel told her.

  “Don’t worry. I will feel more relaxed on the bare floor.”

                She lay face-up. Mabel checked her phone and saw missed calls and some messages.

  “How come you don’t know when you get these calls?” Cynthia asked her, puzzled.

  “Most times, I put the phone on ‘silent’ especially in the night when I want to sleep.”

  “So what if the call is important?”

  “I always call back or send a message?”

  “What if there is an emergence?”

  “It can still wait a little longer. I don’t like being disturbed whenever I want to rest. Especially from people who don’t have anything doing and decide to call without any tangible thing to discuss.”

  “Ok that’s true.”

  “I actually started doing this when some friends started calling in the midnight because they couldn’t sleep. With sleep in my eye, they will be telling long story. I just thought I had to please everybody. When I saw it was not helping me, I began putting the phone on ‘silent’ if I didn’t want any disturbance.”

  “I see.”

  “While you are resting, let me reply the messages.”

  “I even forgot to ask, did you speak with mummy last night about what you should do.”

  “About?”

  “About Segun and the heart break that happens over and over again.”

  “Yes we spoke about it.”

                Cynthia tried to sit up, “so what did she say?”

  “Lie down. I will gist you when I am done replying the messages.”

  “Ok,” Cynthia said and lay back down. “Hurry.”

  “It won’t take time.”

                When Mabel was done replying the messages and speaking with some on phone, she told Cynthia all she had discussed with her mother the night before.

  “So when are you seeing Pastor’s wife?” Cynthia asked when she was done.

  “I will send her a message first to know when she will give me an appointment to see her.”

  “Ok. It has to be before Sunday abi?”

  “Yes. Definitely.”

  “What if Segun comes back begging now?”

  “I will not make the same mistake mummy made. I will not let any man ride on me and treat me like trash. I will not give him face until I see he is truly sorry.”

  “Serves him right.”

  “Who says he is even coming back. He has moved on.”

  “I think so too. Kemi is finer than you.”

  “You are not serious.”

                They laughed.

  “I am kidding. Any man who misses you has missed a big thing.”

  “He has had me. What is there to miss again?”

  “Let’s leave that matter for now. Can you lose my hair now?”

  “Hold on. I will tell you when I am ready.”

                As they talked, NEPA brought the light.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP

(...continued...)

Cynthia stirred and opened her eye.

  “Mummy good morning,” she greeted.

  “Morning. How are you feeling?”

  “I am fine.”

                Mabel got up and confirmed the time her mother had told her.

  “We slept too long,” she said.

  “You need the rest,” their mother said. “I have done all the morning chores.”

  “Why?”

  “I came in severally to check if you are awake but you were sleeping peacefully. I didn’t want to bother you.”

  “You mean you washed the plates?”

  “Yes.”

  “You swept everywhere?”

  “Yes. I also mopped the kitchen and toilet.”

  “You wouldn’t have bothered yourself. I would have done them whenever I wake up.”

  “Who does them when two of you are not around?”

  “But we are around.”

  “Don’t worry yourself. Your breakfast is on the kitchen table.”

  “You are the best mummy in the whole world,” Cynthia said.

                Mabel yawned and said to her mother, “You could be late for work o.”

  “I am leaving now. Take care of Cynthia.”

  “I will.”

                As their mother got to the door, she turned and asked Mabel, “Are you going out today?”

  “I don’t have plans to go out unless something comes up.”

  “Ok.”

                She left. They saw her off to the door and said good bye. Chuka was outside and heard them biding their mother good bye so he left what he was doing and came to them.

  “Your love is coming,” Mabel told Cynthia and smiled.

  “Who even told me to come out. I will just go inside now.”

  “You will do no such thing.”

                Chuka came close and exchanged pleasantries with them. then he asked Cynthia how she was faring. She answered him as casually as she could. Mabel went inside and left them standing at the door. When Chuka had exhausted all he wanted to ask, he still stood there stealing glances at Cynthia. Cynthia kept wondering how to dismiss him.

  “Should I come in?” Chuka blurted out.  

                Cynthia was taken aback. She didn’t expect that question.

  “I thought you were busy with something?” she asked him.

  “It can wait. You are more important to me than any other thing.”

  “I need to do some things now, take my drugs and rest.”

  “Ok, I will come later then.”

  “Is ok.”

                Chuka left shyly. Cynthia went in and met Mabel peeping through a window.

  “what are you listening to?” she asked Mabel, laughing.

  “Love nwantinti.”

  “I don’t like him.  Period.”

  “Then let him know.”

  “That will be cruel of me.”

  “it will not. Every man deserves to know the truth about a lady’s feelings.”

  “Even if I like him, what will I be doing with him now? He is not ready for marriage any time soon. I don’t want any boyfriend.”

  “Yea yea..”

  “Leave me joor.”

                They laughed and went to the kitchen.

  “You will not brush before eating?” Mabel asked her.

  “Who said I am eating now? Let me see what mummy kept for us.”

                They saw two plates of food already covered. Cynthia was the first to open hers.

  “Yam and sauce,” she said. “Nice.”

  “Mum is such a darling. As if she knew what I wanted to eat.”

  “Me too.”

  “But you are not feeling fine and you are on drugs. You are not supposed to have appetite for food like this.”

  “Story for simbi. Even if I have to eat it through my nose, I must eat this yam and sauce.”

  “Let me freshen up. I counted my own o. Don’t even remove anything from it.”

                They laughed.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(…continued…)

When there was nothing more to say, her mother said she wanted to go to bed.

  “Is it not too early?” Mabel asked her.

  “I am feeling sleepy. Moreover, I need to wake up very early in the morning.”

  “Ok. We have not yet prayed.”

  “I didn’t forget. Bring a bible let us do so now.”

  “Should I call Cynthia?”

  “No. Leave her to rest. We will put her in prayer.”

                Mabel got the bible, put off the television and sat down. They sang worship songs for a while, Mabel read scriptures her mother quoted and they prayed. Her mother concluded with a heartfelt plea to God to help her children weather the storm. When they were done, Mabel made sure all the doors were properly locked while her mother made sure the pots in the kitchen were properly covered and went to her room.

Mabel lay on the couch in the parlour and switched on her ‘data’ to surf the internet. She received many chat messages. She went through them and replied the ones she wanted to. Some of her chat friends wanted to engage her in a chat but she dismissed them and engaged only Margret and Glory. They wanted to get updated on what had happened since the last time they communicated. Mabel told them what they wanted to know, they jonsed and chatted for a while till Mabel began feeling sleepy. She bared them goodnight and switched off her data. She went into the room. Cynthia was fast asleep, spread out in the middle of the bed.

  “Ooohm, how do I push you now?” Mabel said a bit frustrated.

                She thought about nudging Cynthia but she didn’t want to wake her up. She touched her neck in order to know whether she was having fever, but she was not. She stood for a while wondering what to do to create more space for herself on the bed. She decided to manage and squeeze herself in the little space available on the bed.

  “Bad posture even while sleeping,” She lamented. “Mcheew.”

                Mabel lay like that for a while but she was not comfortable. Then she decided to lie on the floor. She got a small foam they rolled up and kept in the wardrobe. She spread it on the floor and lay. She soon fell asleep. She did not have any nightmare that night.

                In the middle of the night, Mabel was woken up by a tap on her shoulder. She opened her eye. It was Cynthia.

  “What are you doing on the ground?” Cynthia asked her.

  “Ehh?” Mabel asked, still feeling sleepy.

  “Why are you not on the bed?”

                Mabel rubbed her eye.

  “You were sleeping on all the bed.”

  “Is that why you left me alone on the bed? You would have woken me up na?”

  “I didn’t want to wake you and you will not be able to sleep again.”

  “Oh ok.”

  “I don’t want to do nurse work in the middle of the night.”

  “Thanks for your consideration. Now come up to the bed.”

  “It is almost morning. I am comfortable here.”

  “No. Come up. You will not disturb me.”

                Their mother came into the room.

  “What is the talk about?” she asked. “Any problem?”

                They were startled by here question as they didn’t hear her enter their room.

  “Mummy you are still awake?” Cynthia asked her.

  “How did you know that we were talking?”

  “When you become a mother you will know. Is there a problem?”

  “No problem. I woke up and saw Mabel lying on the floor.”

  “Why on the floor?”

  “Cynthia occupied the whole bed and I didn’t want to wake her.”

  “Cynthia, you should be the one lying on the floor to rest your back.”

  “Not today. From tomorrow.”

  “Ok. Let me go back to bed since there is no problem.”

  “Goodnight.”

                Their mother went back to her room. Mabel got up from the floor and rolled up the foam.

  “Leave the foam on the floor,” Cynthia told her. “Tomorrow you can put it back in the wardrobe.”

  “Let me make sure it will not trip someone in the morning.”

                Mabel shifted the rolled up foam to the wall and lay on the bed beside Cynthia.

  “Are you still feeling how you were feeling yesterday?” Mabel asked her.

  “Not really.”

                They slept off.

                In the morning, it was their mother who woke them up. She did not tap them. She just opened the window so the ray of the sun will enter the room and smart their eyes. Mabel was the direct person to be hit by the ray so she was the first to stir.

  “Good morning mum.”

  “Morning dear,” he mother replied. “You people don’t want to wake up?”

  “Is it not too early to wake up? Why are you already dressed for work?”

  “Do you know what time it is?”

  “What?”

  “Almost 9am.”

  “What!” Mabel shouted and sat up in the bed.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

BIRTHDAY WISH

Happy Birthday to a friend, Chibuzo Udokporo, a WTI reader and follower. We pray that God who has brought you thus far will lead you to greater heights and bless you in all your endeavours.


With love
Writings That Inspire Team

FED UP!

(…continued…)

 “You really suffered o,” Mabel said.

  “It was not easy. My parents helped me a lot. They accepted two of you.”

  “We are their grand children na.”

  “Yes but the manner which you came, they initially saw it as shameful.”

  “Yes, I remember growing up with them.”

  “Yes, until I got somewhere to stay and moved out. They still helped me with money and food stuffs.”

  “The life of a single mother is not an easy one.”

  “Dealing with heartbreak is worse. Much worse.”

  “Men are just heartless.”

  “Not all of them. At least my father is a wonderful man.”

  “Yes, grandpa is.”

                They TV station that was on started giving news.  

  “Do you want to listen to the news?” Mabel asked her.

  “I am not in the mood for that now.”

                Mabel reduced the volume of the TV set.

   “Remembering those days gives me shivers,” her mother said.

  “At least we are consolations to you,” she said to her mother.

  “Yes my dear. I am glad whenever I see the two of you. You are bundles of joy. That is why I feel bad when I see you go through all these.”

  “So, how did you handle your own issue?”

Her mother thought for a while and said, “I did not do anything particular about it. I just made up my mind that men were all the same and not worth wasting time on. I focused on raising my kids and making ends meet.”

  “What about your feelings for men.”

  “It was a struggle then. Before I made up my mind about the men that were coming to me, I got into some other relationship, hoping they will lead to something meaningful. Most men withdrew when they realized I already had two kids. The few who hung on all wanted to sleep with me.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “When it was difficult settling down, I decided to forget about it and raise you.”

                Mabel exhaled from her mouth and sunk into the couch. Her mother cleaned her eyes with the back of her hand. They were silent for a while. It was Mabel who broke the silence

  “What do you suggest I do about this?”

  “I think it is too early to block him off totally,” her mother replied. “You never know what really went wrong. The other girl could have bewitched him.”

  “I don’t think so. He has been acting strange long before now.”

  “How?”

  “He stopped calling me. He stopped hardly picked my call. He only spoke with me and visited when he wanted…”

  “to sleep with you,” her mother finished for her.

  “Yes,” Mabel said shyly. “I am a bad girl right?”

  “Not at all.  He was someone you wanted to settle down with. That is not to say it is right to do it before marriage. It is not.”

  “I know. Just couldn’t help it. I truly loved him.” 

  “Then just hold on and find out what exactly happened.”

  “Are you suggesting I call him?”

  “Well…”

  “Even though I still have feelings for him, I will not bring myself low for him at all.”

  “Don’t mind me. I am thinking like I was thinking in those days. Just move on with your life for the next few days and let his friends and your friends handle the situation.”

  “Ok. What if he comes begging?”

  “When we get to that bridge, we will cross it. Just don’t take decisions in haste.”

  “But this is not the first time.”

  “I am aware. That’s why I get worried when I see you going through the same things over and over again. The way things went on in my life and are now repeating in your lives is not good at all. Pastor will always call it vicious cycle.

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning things that happen to people and continue with their children.”

  “What causes it?”

  “Many things could be the cause of it.”

  “Things like?”

  “Spiritual problem, personal mistakes, and maybe the way we present ourselves.”

  “I don’t really understand what you are saying. Can you explain further.”          

                Her mother paused for a while, then answered.

  “Pastor’s wife will be in a better position to explain.”

  “That means I will see her within the week.”

  “Let’s use the two approaches to deal with this matter. Let friends handle Segun while you see pastor’s wife and know what she will advice.”

                Mabel nodded in approval.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP

(...continued...)

  “What was that?” Mabel asked.

  “I don’t know.”

                They paused and listened. They heard the noise again. This time Mabel heard Cynthia call her name.

  “It is Cynthia.”

                They rushed to the room and almost collided with Cynthia at the door.

  “What is the problem?” Cynthia asked them. “Why are you running?”

  “We heard a noise,” her mother said.

  “And you called my name,” Mabel added.

  “I want to ease myself. I called you so you can help me fetch water.”

                They sighed.

  “I don’t even know what I thought was happening,” Mabel said.

  “I hit my leg on the foot of the bed, lost balance and supported myself with the chair. I think that was the sound you heard.”

  “Hope you did not wound yourself?” her mother asked touching her.

  “I am fine.”

  “Hold on,” Mabel said “let me fetch water for you and make sure the toilet is clean.”

  “I washed it in the evening,” her mother said.

  “Let me fetch water then.”

                Mabel took buckets and went to the borehole in the compound and fetched water. They stood at the door of the toilet waiting for Cynthia.

  “Don’t lock the door o,” Mabel told her.

  “This one you people are guarding the door, any problem?” she asked them

  “No problem.”

                They waited for her. When she was done, Mabel flushed it for her while her mother led her to the room. She lay back to sleep. They went back to the parlour.

  “What have your friends been saying about your issue?” their mother asked Mabel when they sat down.

  “They are calling and sending messages,” Mabel replied.

  “Have they been coming to see you?”

  “I am not in the mood to see them. Just one or two who I meet suddenly, like I met Maggie.”

  “You can’t really say who feels for you and who is happy for what you are going through.”

  “It is true. I don’t even know who to trust again. If Kemi could do that to me, anyone else can do worse things.”

  “What about the man who left you for her?”

  “All men are the same.”

                Her mother sighed.

  “I hope you did not call him?” she said.

  “Call who?” Mabel asked.

  “Segun.”

  “God forbid. For what? Why should I call him?”

  “Don’t worry about him? You are not supposed to call him.”

  “He should be the one calling and begging me.”

  “That’s true. No need selling your pride as a woman, and appear desperate. That was the mistake I made with your father. I appeared needy. I was in my early twenties at the time and he was the best man I saw. He was my everything. The things he spoke to me and the way he pampered me made me think he was for real. When he broke my heart the first time, I went running after him thinking it was my fault that he walked away. I found out I was pregnant for him and told him. He denied and abandoned me till I delivered you. My parents were ashamed of me. I was in school then so they could not do anything to me. It was one of my cousins who took care of me until I put to bed. Your father did not come. From time to time, I will still write letters to him. People told me to move on with my life but I thought I will never meet any man like him again.”

  “Eiya.”

  “I was really desperate to have him back. Then after a long time, he came back to me. I heard he had broken up with the other lady he was dating. I immediately took him back without questions. People were disappointed in me. I lost most of my friends because of him. Then he impregnated me again and ran. This time, he ran for real.”

  “You were still in school then?”

  “I had just graduated. I couldn’t continue doing my clearance in school so I got a menial job to take care of you and my unborn child.”

  “You really suffered o.”

  “My dear, it was not funny.”

  “So my father never asked after you?”

  “No. he did not even give me a dime to buy baby food. That was when my eyes cleared and what people had been telling me dawned on me. I took care of my medical bills from the money I saved from the menial job I was doing.”

  “What did his family say?”

  “They said they are not aware of anything going on between me and him. I think it was because I didn’t have a boy. They would have claimed him immediately.”

  “Your parents did not accept you?”

  “They eventually did. My mother convinced my dad. She told them that it was not my fault but that of the man who put me in the family way.”

                Mabel looked at her mother and she could see her eyes were teary.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac

FED UP!

(...continued...)

  “Up NEPA,” Mabel said, excitedly.

  “Kai, wasted effort,” Chuka lamented.

  “At least it saved you the stress of looking for what to do and even going to buy fuel if there is none.”

  “I would have done it gladly, as long as Cynthia would be happy.”

  “Eiyaa. Thanks for trying.”

  “No problem. I will still see her tomorrow.”

  “Sure you will.”

  “Please tell Cynthia I tried to put the gen for her o.”

  “I will.”

                Mabel briskly went back inside to plug her phone back while Chuka covered the generator and went back home. She met her mother with her phone and charger, trying to plug it.

  “Mummy what are you doing?” she asked.

  “All these new age phones,” her mother said. “How do you plug it? Where is the mouth?”

  “Don’t worry,” Mabel said, laughing. “Let me do it myself.”

  “Oo. Children and big big phones.”

  “It is called civilization. You are still ancient.”

  “I agree. As long as I can make calls and send SMS with the one I have, I am okay.”

  “You need to be taking clear pictures and browsing.”

  “Not for me.”

  “You need to upgrade o. Some of your mates are doing Skype sef.”

  “Which one is sky? They can enter aeroplane all they want. I entered it in those days.”

  “Mummy you will not cease to amaze me,” Mabel laughed. “Skype has nothing to do with flying airplane. It is an online application.”

  “English. There is nothing you will explain now that I will understand. So just forget about it.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel plugged her phone, confirmed it was charging and sat down.

  “There is no reasonable film for us to watch now,” she said.

  “There is this new season film everybody is watching now. I even forgot to buy it.”

  “I will bring movies from my house tomorrow.”

  “Home videos?”

  “Yes. Some good home videos, not all these rubbish people are acting. Then one season film I have not yet finished.”

  “Check the local stations, whether anyone is doing something interesting.”

                Mabel flipped through the channels. She did not see any program she liked so she just left it at a station that was doing a soap opera.

  “Did you lock the door?” her mother asked her.

  “I forgot. I will do that now.”

  “Don’t worry.”

                Her mother got up, locked the door and went towards the room.

  “Are you going to sleep?” Mabel asked her.

  “No. Let me check on Cynthia.”

  “We have not finished discussing o.”

  “About?”

  “About finding a solution to the issue at hand.”

  “Ok. I am coming out immediately.”

                She checked Cynthia who was still fast asleep, killed mosquito on her body as softly as she could so as not to wake her up, and then went to the kitchen. She dished food and went back to the sitting room with her plate of food.

  “You have not yet eaten?” Mabel asked her.

  “No.”

  “So you are still doing this thing you always do.”

  “What is it?”

  “You don’t eat until we eat.”

  “Yes o. You girls come first o.”

  “When you checked Cynthia, was she having fever?”

  “I think so.”

  “Let me check.”

                Mabel went into the room and touched Cynthia and came back.

  “She is not having fever,” she told her mum. “She can’t have fever after taking the drugs.”

  “But her body was a bit hot.”

  “She is sweating. I just opened the window a bit.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel checked her phone. It had charged enough to be put on. She put it on. As soon as the phone finished booting, she received several messages. Most of them were unsolicited bulk messages.

  “All these messages from these four and five digit numbers sef,” she said. “Who told them I am interested in what they are saying?”

  “My dear I thought it was just me that receive those messages o,” her mother said.

  “It’s not only you.”

  “How did they get our numbers?”

  “I wonder.”

                She deleted them and then read the ones from people she knew. She stood for a while replying the messages.

  “You will not allow the phone to charge,” her mother said.

  “Let me reply the messages now I have the time,” Mabel replied.

  “Then sit down and do it.”

  “I am almost done.”

                When Mabel was through, she sat beside her mother.

  “You have not yet finished your food?”

  “What am I rushing it for? Is there any competition going on?”

                They laughed.

  “So, about what we were discussing,” Her mother said when she was through eating.

  “Hold on let me drop the plate in the kitchen.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just help me get some fruits from the fridge.”

                Mabel went to the fridge and brought out two peeled oranges. She also poured drinking water in a cup for her.

  “Let me get knife for you in the kitchen,” she said.

  “What happened to my teeth?” her mother asked. “Don’t worry. I will use my teeth.”

  “Mummy, you have refused to upgrade o. you are still doing local things.”

                Her mother cut the orange with her teeth and ate the flesh. When she was done, she dropped the waste in the plate and drank the cup of water Mabel had poured for her.

  “Back to what we were discussing,” she told Mabel.

                They suddenly heard noise in the room.

(...to be continued...)

-Chinedu Isaac