Visiting my father's house always brought bittersweet memories. This was my childhood home, I ran down those marble stairs, played hide and seek with my cousins in this large house. Experienced the worst moments of my life here.
The knock at my door startled me. I had been a bit jumpy since I got here, I couldn't be blamed for that considering the day I had.
"Come in." I called.
Matilda, my childhood nanny smiled at me. She was the only familiar figure left here. The cook and help were different each time I visited.
"Your father just got back from work. I thought you might want to greet him."
I do. I don't. It doesn't even matter. "Okay."
The sound of my father's laughter stopped me at the top of the stairs.
"Daddy lift me too." Tito groaned.
The sight that greeted me was even more shocking than the laughter. My father carried Mandy on his shoulders and was lifting Tito into his hands. Kiki held onto his feet. He playfully shook her off and turned with her siblings in his hands. Aunty Oluchi lounged on the royal blue sofa smiling at them.
I felt like an intruder in a family moment. I turned to leave but Aunty Oluchi looked up and saw me.
"Ah. Ah. Kelechi every time I see you, you're getting taller. Very soon you'll be bending to enter our house."
My father paused mid-laughter.
"Come and greet me na." She continued.
Hesistatingly, I walked down the stairs. "Good evening Aunty Oluchi.", then in a shaky voice, "Good evening Daddy."
Looking at my father made me feel like I had entered a time capsule ten years into the future. It was weird and discomforting seeing my face in another person. Especially as the person was never pleased to see me.
"How are you?" He asked stiffly.
"I'm good." I nodded.
"You're too thin. Hope your mother is feeding you."
"She is."
"With all the money she's collecting from me, she better be feeding you well." He snorted.
"Don't mind your father," Aunty Oluchi laughed. "We will fatten you up here, don't worry."
"Why are you looking like you're seeing a stranger?" She turned to my half-siblings. "That's your big sister oh. Go and greet her."
The three of them walked to me unsurely. Tito and Mandy, the twins are six, Kiki, the oldest is eight.
"Good evening." They chorused.
"Hi. How are you guys?" I never knew how to act around my half-siblings.
"My mummy said you play basketball." Kiki smiled.
I nodded. "Yeah. Do you play too?"
"Not much. But I can play the piano and the violin."
"That sounds really cool." I smiled.
"What happened to your hand?"
"You people should let you sister rest." Daddy said. "She's around all weekend, she's not running away."
"Kelechi nno (welcome) . Go and rest, dinner will soon be ready."
With that clear dismissal, I walked out.Aunty Oluchi welcoming me to my father's house would be funny if it wasn't so irritating. Especially as she wasn't wrong, it was her house now.
The first thing she did once she moved in was to redecorate the entire house. It felt like she was trying to erase every presence of mummy from the house. She hadn't even spared my bedroom from her plans. Her style was ostentatious, to say the least. Gold chandeliers, ivory marble tiles, blue furniture. I hated it.
Thursday night, mummy had popped into my room. "I have to travel tomorrow evening. Aunty Goodness is still with her sister so you'll be going to your father's house for the weekend."
Before I could protest, she was gone.
I fumed. Then I opened my eyes and saw the golden opportunity looking right at me.
I was restless all through school on Friday. My whole plan relied on my father's behaviour. As I predicted, he didn't send his driver to get me, as he told mummy. He sent money for a ride instead. Perfect.
School ended by 2:30pm on Fridays. I had basketball practice till 4pm. Daddy wouldn't care or notice what time I arrived as long as I got there before dark.
Firstly, I booked a ride to Southern Mall, a shopping complex close to school none of my classmates would be caught dead in. In their bathroom, I changed from my sportswear to a plain tee, cargo shorts and slides. Completed the outfit with a face cap.
Then I booked another ride to the location Theodora sent me.Normally when I entered rides, I sat back to rest till I got to my destination. Today I was alert, checking every sign post I passed. The Google Maps app was open on my phone.
We got there in about forty five minutes and I called Theodora. "I'm there."
"Cross the road and enter keke. It's 250." I did that and called her once I got down.
"Cross the road again. Stop at the last house on your right."
I crossed the road while kissing my teeth . Lagos sun was scorching and I was in no mood for a wild goose chase.
I stopped when I got to the last house. Annoyed I called her.
"Are you there?"
"What the fuck are you playing at?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm at a restaurant." I snapped.
"Oh yeah. Just walk in and pick Anthonia's order. It's paid for." The call ended.
I called Theodora again when I had picked the food.
"I think I've stressed you enough. Oya just enter bike to Macaulay way. Stop at the uncompleted building on the street."
The road was lonely and saddled with potholes. There was only one open shop on the street. The houses didn't look occupied. I came down and paid the bike man.
My phone rang. "Enter inside."
I glanced around furtively and made the sign of the cross as I approached the building.
The object of all my fears, worries and frustration for the past month smirked at me, leaning against the concrete wall.
"Better close your mouth before flies enter."
" W ... what?"
"Follow me." She turned on her heel. I followed her to the end of the house where she entered a footpath hidden by large palm trees. She stopped at a wall and shoved it.
The wall gave way and I realised it was a small gate, overgrown with moss. It had been oiled recently, given how swiftly it moved.
We entered a large compound, showing signs of abandonment. The once white tiles were green and on the walls grew moss and spirogyra.
She led me to the front door which surprise surprise, opened easily and locked it behind me. We went upstairs to a room.
Her hair was rough, she was in need of a redo. She had lost weight and her eyes had dark circles. She was also breaking out, but she still looked the same.
I tried to summon all my anger but none came. I dropped the bags gently on the ground and tackled my best friend in a bear hug.
"Oh come on. So you missed me like this." She laughed.
"I know you have questions, let's eat first. Those guys make the best amala I've ever eaten."
Twenty minutes later, the plates were empty. We sat on the floor facing each other I glanced around the room. It's pretty bare, and looks hastily cleaned. The only items in the room are the new looking bed foam and an open duffel bag containing clothes. A few pairs of footwear, a pair of red crocs and 2 Nike slides.
I faced my best friend. "What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?"
She pouted. "Don't look so pissed."
"Look it wasn't meant to get this serious. Everything blew out of proportion."
"Whose place is this?"
"A friend of a friend's. That's all you need to know."
"Were you actually kidnapped?" My voice shook as I asked. I was already scared of the answer.
She shook her head slowly from one side to the other. "No."
That's where I lost it.
"For God's sake Theo! Have you lost your mind? What is wrong with you?"
"Will you stop shouting and listen?!"
"What am I supposed to listen to? You faked your kidnapping. Blood of Jesus!"
"Do you have any idea what these past weeks have done to me? Do you know how worried I have been?"
"Oh please! I saw Alex's snap of both of you. You and your mum didn't even think before replacing me."
"And that's why you reached out." I scoffed.
"Maybe. Also I miss you. It's lonely as fuck here."
"Why are you here?"
"Look I just wanted to get away for a bit. Like my mum was really getting on my nerves. I was going to come back that Monday sef."
"Then what happened?"
She opened her mouth and shut it. "I can't tell you."
"Wow! Do you know how worried your mum is Theo? She's a walking skeleton. She literally lost it."
She had the grace to look ashamed.
I sighed. "It doesn't matter. Let's go."
"Eh?"
"Isn't that why you called me? Let's go home Theo."
"No. Not yet."
"When?"
"After they pay the ransom."
"Are you mad Theo? You want to collect ransom from your parents!"
"They're not the ones paying it. Isn't there a GoFundMe?"
I'm too stunned to speak. She continued, "Look, the reason I brought you here is so you'll see I'm good and stop worrying. Do I look like someone in danger? I'll be back home soon. Like next week or upper week."
"You said if I tell anybody you called me, they'll kill you."
"Clearly I lied. But I'll get in trouble shaa."
I looked at the girl in front of me and tried to recognise my friend.
"I don't know who you are anymore."
"Me too my dear, me too." She got up and walked to the duffel bag, after searching through it, brandished a familiar little bag.
"It's even better than Kenzy's shit."
I refused, then I rembered how loose lipped Theodora is when she's high.
"Okay."
"So how's school?" She asked.
We were lying on the bed, gisting. If not for how uncomfortable the foam was, I would have thought we were back in my room. She was right, this is better than what Kenzy sells. Theodora very generously gave me half of her bag to take home.
"School is annoying. Prefect interviews held on Monday."
"Oh well. Doesn't really matter."
"You don't want to be social prefect again.""I never did."
"What about our plan to get scholarships and go abroad?"
"That was a stupid plan. Hopeless dreaming, especially on my part. Give me the gist about school. What's happening there?"
"Jessica is acting up."
"Oh don't worry. I have plans for the mumu girl when I get back."
"When exactly will that be?"
"Soon. Very soon. I don't know why they're delaying."
"Who is delaying?" I asked.
"So Jessica is being a bitch, Tami is running around like a headless cockroach. Leaving you with Alex your new bestie."
"What exactly do you have against Alex?"
"She reported me to Miss Okeke that I took her pencil. I mean I did, but why report me to a teacher? So immature."
"What class was that?"
"JSS 1."
"And Alex is the immature one."
"Enough about school. What's happening at church? The estate?"
"Nothing serious. Everybody misses you actually. You need to come back."
"It's almost four. You need to leave soon."
"Before your 'friend' gets back, abi?"
"Nah! They'll be back very late. Before they start wondering where you are."
"You should come with me Theo."
"I shouldn't. And I won't. Drop it."
"I just think ..."
"DROP IT KELLY! OKAY?"
"DROP it Kelechi!"
I jerked in my seat and dropped the jug on my plate. It sent water, food and glass flying.
Daddy was up in a flash, he gathered Tito and his siblings, comforted them as they screamed. Aunty Oluchi sat, looking at me on horror.Matilda and the help ran into the dining.
"Blood of Jesus!" She shouted.
"Oluchi take the children upstairs." Daddy’s voice was hard. He waited till she had done so before he turned to me.
"Daddy ... I'm ... I'm so sorry. I didn't ... it was an ..."
"Just shut up Kelechi. Shut up! I don't know how your mother is training you. Obviously from your pitiful grades and destructive behaviour she's doing a terrible job."
"When I wanted to take you she went to court to fight me. Started dragging with me. Now look at you."
It would have been better if he slapped me.
"Just get out of my sight."
I didn't leave my room again that weekend, except for mass Sunday morning. It was later realised I cut my hands during the accident. Matilda helped me bandage them but it hurt like hell. It also meant no basketball training till my cuts healed.
To make matters worse, mummy called Sunday afternoon to say she would be delayed. I would be spending the week at my dad's place.
On Monday, I kept to myself at school. Jessica and Tami went to a different table at lunch. Alex came to find out why I missed practice. When I ignored her, she left. I texted Theodora several times and she ignored them. The best bet was to come clean to Mummy when she got back.
Mid-term tests were starting upper week. Which meant no interhouse sports practice this week. Daddy got me a tutor in an effort to salvage my grades
"I know you got your mother's brains." He remarked one evening. "But this is too poor."
Wednesday afternoon, Miss Ibekwe, Sister Mary Anne's secretary called me out of class. "Bring your bags too."
I followed her to Sister's office, amidst questioning eyes of my classmates. I was shocked to see Mummy and Sister were having a conversation. It could have been a trick of light but i saw Sister's eyes glisten.
"What happened?" I looked at Mummy. Her eyes were red.
"Kelechi your mother will take you home now. I'm so sorry for your loss dear."
The drive back home was silent and uncomfortable.
"How was your trip?" I asked.
"It was fine. Successful."
"That's good." I nodded.
Unable to take it anymore, I asked. "Is grandma okay?"
"What? Oh yes, she's fine."
"What about Aunty Ginika?"
"She's fine. All of them are fine."
We're entering the estate now. As we drove towards our house, I saw cars surrounding Theodora's house. I can't hold it anymore.
"Mummy I have something to tell you. About Theodora ... "
She burst into tears, "I'm so sorry love. I'm very sorry."
