Chapter Six

"Trisha. Please pass me that glass plate, " Mrs Macaulay says to her daughter.

"Mum, have it," Trisha says now handing over the glass to her mum.

"I hope you have found a lesson tutor?" Mrs Macaulay a fair-skinned lady in her late forties asks.

   Mrs Macaulay is a fair-skinned woman in her late forties. She is a widow with two daughters, her husband died four years into there marriage. She had been the one catering for her two daughters. Her husband wasn't really successful when he was alive, but at least they were living comfortably. She currently has two malls. With some landed properties. 

"Not yet. Mum, " Trisha responds.

"I'm wondering what you are waiting for, " Mrs Macaulay says in a harsh tone. Making Trisha rolls her eyes. She knew she was dead if her mum caught her. 

"Mummy the mummy, please chill!" Trisha says trying to make her mum smile.

"If you fail again, you are going to hate me, because I would withdraw all your allowances, " Mrs Macaulay

threatens. Trisha knew better than joking with her mum. Because she always carried out her threats.

"Mum, someone who hears you would think that I failed woefully. I will try my best, this time around, " Trisha says in a moody manner. Meanwhile, Mrs Macaulay looks up to her.

"Trish, you don't try your best. Give your best!" Mrs Macaulay says with a serious look on her face.

"Trisha, your friend Ana is in the living room!" Franka says immediately she enters the Kitchen. She was also fair-skinned like there mother. Franka picks a fried meat from the bowl and walks out like she didn't notice anyone.

"Bad manners!" Trisha calls out to her sister.

"Who is Ana?" Mrs Macaulay asks immediately Trisha attempts to step out.

"A friend of mine. I met her the day I went for JAMB registration." Trisha replies her mum while she bites into the apple she was holding. Mrs Macaulay always has the habit of asking about any single person she saw her with.

"I don't like that girls look. There is something about her which I can't place my fingers on!" Mrs Macaulay says, Trisha smiles out.

"Mum, you are always placing your fingers on something!" Trisha laughs.

"She looks dangerous!" Mrs Macaulay blurts out. " And also a bad influence!"

"Mum!" Trisha exclaims quite amused. " Mummy, please don't condemn her, you don't even know her, Ana is a nice girl." Trisha defends.

"Try moving around with your age mates sweety!" Mrs Macaulay says now getting a pot. Meanwhile, Trisha raises her eyebrow. 

“Mum, that's it! ” Trisha says in realization. "You think she is too old for me to hang around with. It's just her body stature, she is just nineteen!" Trisha says meanwhile, Mrs Macaulay turns to her.

"The fact is I don't like her. Not her age or anything. I don't see anything wrong with you been friend with people older than you are. I just don't like her!" Mrs Macaulay concludes.

"Mum you can't just conclude!" Trisha tries to justify. "She is a nice girl!"

"What an elder see's while sitting down. A child even though he or she climbs on an iroko tree, can't see it!" Mrs Macaulay says with a smile.

"Mum, don't use that adage please. You just want me to keep shut. Ana isn't a bad person. She is actually nice!" Trisha says.

"Trisha, you are keeping your guest waiting!" Mrs Macaulay says with a satisfactory look on her face.

        _______________________________🖊

  Dinner is been served in the Wachukwu's household. Everyone seems to be present except Alexandra. They were having boiled yam and egg sauce with fresh orange juice.

"Mum, Isn't Alexandra joining us?" Raphael who had that on his my mind ever since he joined them in the dining room, finally asks.

"She will, Chioma should be in her room!" Mrs Wachukwu says before facing Juliet's direction. "Raphael, start eating, she would join us shortly!" She says.

"We should all eat together!" Raphael suggest.

"Juliet, " Mrs Wachukwu calls out to Juliet who was obviously not ready to do what she wanted. She was fully aware of her aunt, wanted to send her over to Alexandra's room.

"Yes, Aunt!" 

"Go over to your cousin's bedroom. Tell her she should be downstairs in less than five minutes!" Mrs Wachukwu says to Juliet who gets up immediately. They watch her disappear up the stairs. Few minutes later, Juliet is back with a frown on her face.

"Juliet, what's wrong?" Aunty Stella who was the first to notice her facial expression asks.

"Where is she?" Mrs Wachukwu who just noticed her presence asks.

"Alexs asked me to get out of her room, " Juliet says, meanwhile Raphael turns to her direction.

"Chioma is getting on my nerves in this house. I will certainly deal with her. She wasn't the one who gave birth to me, it's the other way round, " Mrs Wachukwu says with a frown, while she attempts to get up. But stops immediately she sights Alexandra walking down the stairs.

  Raphael couldn't help but notice how carelessly she was dressed.

"Alexs!" Mrs Wachukwu calls out. Aunty Stella throws a quick glance on her sister. Who she was sure was pissed. Because she referred to Alexandra by her English name. Which she only did when she was upset.

"Mum, I'm here now or am I not?" Alexandra blurts outs and sits down. Meanwhile, Raphael spares her a glance.

"Aunty, please forgive her. The food Is getting cold!" Aunty Stella pleads on Alexandra's behalf. She watches her elder sister relax on her chair. And starts eating. With the way she ate, you could tell she was still angry.

   Everyone starts eating, except Alexandra who looked busy with her phone. Mrs Wachukwu notices this and drops her fork, she faces Alexandra squarely.

"Chioma, would you drop that phone. Eat your food!" Mrs Wachukwu commands. She watches Alexandra drop the phone immediately and focuses on her food. They are brought back to reality when her phone rings. Everyone diverts there attention towards her. She makes to pick it, but it goes off before she could reach out to it. She quickly smiles immediately she checked the callers ID.

"Chioma, who was that?" Mrs Wachukwu asks obviously not smiling.

"It was no one actually!" Alexandra responds.

"No one!" Mrs Wachukwu asks with a raised eyebrow. "Chioma wasn't ut your phone that rang now. Or ghost now call you?" Mrs Wachukwu asks now ignoring her food.

"Mum, it isn't important. That was why I said no one!" Alexandra responds wondering why her mum was suddenly stressing the issue. She was never like that.

"Now hand that phone one to he, " Mrs Wachukwu says now stretching out to Alexandra, who simply ignored her.

"Alexs, will you hand that phone over to mum!" Raphael who was suddenly pissed says to Alexandra who a questionable look on his face.

"And are you talking to me?" Alexandra faces Raphael. "Because I don't think so!" She shrugs.

"Alexs, will you shut up and hand the phone over!" Mrs Wachukwu asks with a frown.

"Mum, it's my phone!"

"Which I bought with my money!"

"Mum, it was my birthday gift!"

"Given to you by me!"

"Mum, you can't do this!"

"Sure, I can. Hand the phone over!" Mrs Wachukwu says to Alexandra who was clearly not willing to let it go.

"Alexs. Hand the phone over to aunt!" Juliet says to Alexandra. She certainly didn't miss the glare she got.

"Shut up and mind your business!" Alexandra barks, not bargaining for the thunderous slap she received. Wondering if she was dreaming, she watches Raphael drag the phone away from her and hands it over to there mum.

"Mum, he slapped me!" Alexandra says quite shocked. With hot tears streaming down her cheek. Raphael walks out.

"Raphael, son. Come back, you don't have to leave this way." Mrs Wachukwu says chasing after her son and completely ignoring Alexandra.

"Aunt, you saw that right?" Alexandra asks Aunty Stella who gave her a pitiful look. She quickly turns to walk away but bumps into someone.

"Chill girl." The person she almost hit says with a wide grin.

"Fuck off my way!" Alexandra growls and walks away without uttering another word.

"Mum. What was that all about?" Karis asks Aunty Stella who gives her a small smile "When did you get here?" Aunty Stella asks enveloping Karis in her arms.

"Hey!" Karis calls out to Juliet who looked busy eating her dinner.