'Jane Jane Jane' Lucy sang on the phone,her voice was cool,she sure had a good voice.
'Hi Lucy' she said.
'Hey Jane,whats up today?' she asked,she was probably about to propose another outing,Janet guessed,that was the something she was good at.
'Am good o,and you' she asked.
'Bored-is the word,lets go out'
just as Janet had thought,she had to find a way to decline without being rude.
'I just came back fron church'She lied without much thought.'And i have a whole lot of things to do.' she landed.
Lucy made a low dissappointed sound from her end of the phone.
'You're just so boring jare,awwwh!,and i was counting on you o' She said.
'Sorry to dissappoint you,i have to go now'
'Alright,talk to ya later'
'Okay' Lucy had pressed the red button,she heard the call drop,she put down her phone.
She heaved a sigh of relieve,glad that Lucy had not asked to come over to her own house.She returned her attention to 'her delivery' as she termed it.she locked her door,she tore the wrapping carefully to reveal a bunch of flower,her favorite colour,it was pink,with blue patches,it looked so beautiful in its glass vase,and quite expensive too,she loved the scent that emanated as she placed it close to her nostrils,hmmmmm hmmmmm,she did that again,she looked for a vantage position to place it her room,it looked so beautiful against the pink wall in her room.she caught sight of something else in the wrapper,a small box,it was a box of her favorite chocolate,BaWwela.she brought it out,as she opened it,something fell down from the cover,it was a small decorated card,on it was written.
To JAnE
WiTh LoVe fRoM JaY
it was written boldly,she placed the card on her chest,and something felt warm inside of her.To love and be loved in return was really a beautiful thing.
At that moment,Jacob's call came in.
'Hello love' his voice sounded husky,Jane loved that.
'Hi dear' she said happily.
'Did you get my message'
'Yes i did,it was so beautiful,you got my favorite colour too' she smiled,wishing Jacob could see her face now.
'And the BawweLa?' he asked.
'Yes,thnks for the chocs too,have started packing for camp dear' she said giggling.
'Good,that reminds me,i just made some arrangement for you about that,you will be...'
she didn't wait for him to complete the statement.
'I'll be doing what?' Jane asked perplexed.
The woman watched as Adetoun slumped to the ground,she called her younger son Yemi,to get some water.
'Yemi dear' she called softly,she didn't even act like someone was in danger.
Yemi,a young boy of 12 came in,walking blindly as his eyes were glued to his blackberry phone.
'Mum,you called up' he said without looking up.
'Yemi' she shouted,'give me some attention.'
it was then he saw the slumped figure of her sister.
'Mum,what happened to her' he asked nonchallantly.
'Don't mind the ,i slapped her and she slumped to the ground,pretending to have fainted',she eyed the figure on the floor.'just get me some water jare'.
Yemi soon came back with a bowl of water.
'Mum,you won't believe that there are stacks of dirty plates in the kitchen,the whole place stinks,i had to cover my nose'.
His mother got the bowl from him and sprinkled some water on Toun,who stirred on the floor.She pulled her up and landed another heavy slap on her cheek.
'You,,why did you pretend to have fainted just now' she hissed at Toun.
Toun was stung by the pain from the slap coupled with her mothers question,how could she be so heartless.
'I wasn't pretending ma' she tried to explain.
'So,who is lieing between us,by the time i begin to punish you,neighbours will start pouring in,you haven't cleaned the kitchen,the dirty plates are still there,you have not even washed your father's car,what have you been doing all day?' she questioned furiously.'How can i have a grown up girl like you in the house and yet expect me to do the chores alone.'
Toun knew better than to answer any of those questions,the woman who was screaming at her was her own mother,she stood before her with her head bowed.
'Have you gone deaf?' she screamed again.Toun didn't budge.
As her mother made to hit her face again,she stepped back.
The woman almost fell down,a laughter almost escaped from her throat even in her present circumstances,she quickly controlled herself and tried to help her up.
Yemi who sat on the chair,phone in hand,watched the whole drama without interest,it was something the house was used to.
As Adetoun tried to help her,she shouted, 'If you come near me,i'll strangle you' she stood up by herself and looked towards Yemi.
'Yemi,get me my cane.' she faced Toun and smirked her lips.
'Mum,you are disturbing me o' Yemi walked reluctantly to get the cane.He came back with a pankere,he handed it to his mother and resumed to his former position.
Toun stood her ground,she didn't flinch,she only pitied her body and the pain she'll feel later at night.
Her mother flogged her to satisfaction,before ordering her to finish her chores,Adetoun returned to the kitchen,she washed all the plates and cleaned the floor,she headed to the garage to wash the car and later returned to the bathroom,it was quarter to six and she hadn't put a food in her stomach.
She went to the kitchen,to check what was on the list for dinner,thank heavens,it was boiled yam with fish stew,she prepared it fast,she worked like a computer.
By 7:30 pm,food was ready,she placed everything on the dinning table,and resumed to the bathroom.She finished washing and went to her room to cry,she hadn't taken her bath,her body writhed in pain,she could still feel the lashing of the pankere on her rough skin,tears sprang to her eyes,she let them pour like the morning rain,such was life for Adetoun.
Adetoun lived with her parents,Mr&Mrs Adepoju,her father Olakunle Adepoju was a contractor,while her mother Biyisi Adepoju was a Nurse,they were four children in all,she was the first daughter,the second was a boy,Adekunle Adepoju,the third was a girl,Adeola Adepoju and their last child was Olayemi Adepoju.
Adetoun lived and worked like a slave in her parents house,she never did anything right,she was always at the receiving end.she had so many sleepless,her stomach had grown so used to hunger.
As she lay in bed,she thought about her miserable life,the other family members were at the table eating,she prayed that her mother would remain something for her,even if it was a piece of yam without stew.
She lay on the bed staring at the ceiling,her body felt heavy,she had no briuse on her body because she let the bruise remain in her soul,that was where the pain came for,she was still thinking about all this,when her mother called her,No,Biyisi didn't call,she screamed her name.
'Touuuuuuun!!!' Biyisi shouted.
Adetoun almost fell off the body in her hurry to get down hitting her leg on the wall.
What have i done this time?
Did i over salt the yam?
Maybe the stew was not properly cooked.
Maybe,maybe,maybe.
Hannah looked around her,Rukayat and Cynthia sat on their own bed,talking loud,they were probably gossiping,she guessed.
The room was spacious enough for four girls,she was trying to remember something,she wondered why she was wearing her shoes on the bed,then it came to her in a flash...Rotimi Williams..it sank in her head,they had a date for pete's sake,and she was lying on her,she looked at the time 7:25 pm....
'Oh my God!' she exclaimed.
The other ladies turned to look at her,they didn't know she was up.
'Hanny you're awake?' Rukky asked.
'No,am not,its my twin sis that is talking.' she lashed at her,and made a grab for her phone.
Rukayat and Cynthia looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Hannah was not moved by their display of foolishness,she had 13missed calls, 11 from Rotimi and 2 from Jacob,her sister's boyfriend.
'Good gracious! How could i have slept off.' she wondered.
Cynthia tried to be more understanding,
'Babe,what happened' she asked.
'You won't believe,i slept off on Rotimi' she said quietly.
'You guys were supposed to have a date today?'
'Yes,by 5pm,and its already past seven,what do i do? She sounded confused.
'Can i speak?' Rukayat asked.
'Speak,only if you have something sensible to say' she said pulling off her black,baby mouse shoe.
'I think you're taking this thing far' she said
'How?' cynthia asked.
'Because you just missed a date is no reason for you to be angry' Rukky said 'Moreover.....'
Hanny cut her short. 'Moreover what? I told you to keep shut,you cow' she retorted angrily.
'Look,who is talking,you're just swooning over this guy,its not like you're the first lady he asked out,so kini big deal?make i hear word jare.' Rukky was beginning to get angry too.
'You guys should stop this rubbish abegi' Cynthia said trying to make peace.
'Cynthia,pls tell that to this jealous girl o,thank God,he didn't ask you out' Hannah shouted at Rukayat.
'its not even like he asked to marry you,just an ordinary girlfriend o and you're behaving like he proposed to you,dnt tell me you're a desperado' Rukayat hissed like a snake.
Those words hit Hannah like an heavy blow,she stood up and rushed towards Rukayat,if not for Cynthia who had already guessed her move,a wrestling competition would have started and that was the last thing she wanted.
Cynthia stood between them panting, 'Whats this now ah ha,over wetin? A guy for crying out loud,ah una dey fall my hand o' she suceeded in pushing Hannah back to her bed.
Rukayat was still dazed,she wasn't expecting the move,she quickly recovered from her shock.
'Don't think because you are oyinbo and guys are all over you,i'll beat you blue black,Mammywater' she hissed and walked out of the room,before she received the beating of her life.
Cynthia sat by Hannah and begged her to stay calm,it was useless fighting over nothing,and opportunities loomed about for another date.
'Thank you jare,you get brain pass that crayship wey just comot'
'Don't mention,maybe you should just call him and explain,that sounds like something reasonable to do afterall.'
Cynthia left for her bed,Hannah was about to call Rotimi when Shade,their roommate burst in.
Shade must have been coming from the Library,thats her second room,she walked in looking tired with her bag slung on her shoulders.
'Hello anybody who cares to answer' she said,throwing her bag on her bed.
'Welcome sisi Shade' Hannah greeted without lifting her head.
'Welcome bookie' Cynthia said looking for trouble.
'I don't have your time Omo ibo' she said,Shade could be a bookworm but she was a better gossip.'Before i forget o,one fine guy is outside o,he asked to see Hannah,he's outside the hostel beside G3 gardens and he also..... '
Hannah didn't allow her to finish the statement before she jumped from her bed, 'That must be Rotimi o' she said,putting on her shoe,she rushed outside.
Shade burst out laughing,'It looks like someone is in love o' she said,opening topic for gossip.
'Me,i don't know o,maybe you should ask her,but be becareful o,she almost beat Rukayat now o,thank God i was here o,
'En enh,tell me more' shade moved to Cynthia's bed 'Gossip mood activated...gbam..' she laughed.
Cynthia adjusted herself and gave Shade a full version of what transpired some minutes ago.
'Eeyah,i don miss big time oworld war 3 for that matter' she pitied herself.
'How you no go miss,when you wan kill yourself for library,they take book swear for you abi.' she said.
'Na you sabi o,exam go soon come,let me read o,na my number one business for this school o' she replied moving back to her bed.
Suddenly,the light came on.
'Up Nepa' both girls shouted at the same time.
...........To be continued at 3pm.
