Chapter 1: Family
"Maryann, wake up and prepare for school!!" That was my mother's sweet way of waking her only daughter up. I reluctantly got up from bed and moved to my bathroom for my personal hygiene. The main reason why school was going to be very bad that day was because I was skeptical about my position. Scratch that, I was sure I was coming back with the same 20th position out of 24 students, the last four being my girlfriends Harriett, Sarah, Chioma and Lucy. To me, being the 20th was not that bad at all but to my parents it was as bad as being the last as compared to my elder Davidson who comes out on the top of his class. Anyways, I was not perturbed at all, they could yell all they wanted because I was definitely not going to stay up all nights like me elder brother, or be in the church half the days like themselves and at the same time not hang out with my friends just because they wanted me to grow up and become responsible. With that resort, I quickly dried my body very eager to start the day and do some vacation planning with the girls. Going down the stairs of my father's duplex, I walked into the kitchen.
"Mommy good morning ma" I greeted my mom.
"Ehe good morning" she answered.
"Maryann ngwa go and quickly complete your morning chores so you won't be late for school" she reminded me.
That's my mum for you, basically putting in one or two words in my native language. My morning chore was to sweep and arrange the house and to wash the dishes while my brother's was to pump water. Yes, simply to pump water. I have complained severally but apparently when daddy says something, it is final. So I started sweeping my father's five bedroom duplex which wasn't the best morning exercise for a growing girl. After parking the dirt, I entered the kitchen to wash the plates only to see my brother leaning on the wall and eating some banana.
"Good morning" I greeted him.
"Mhmm" he grunted as a response.
So my brother is not a morning person but that's all good by me cos I would rather smooch with a gorilla than talk to him early in the morning. I went upstairs to get my headset which I wore while washing the dishes. Halfway through, I felt a hand tap my shoulder, turning around I was facing my father and I knew I was in trouble. Removing the headset I put on my best smile.
"Daddy, good morning sir"
"Adanne how many times would I have to tell you that that head set could cause severe damages to your ear drums?"
Putting on the best humble look I could come up with I answered.
"Daddy I am sorry, I forgot"
"No you did not, you thought I had left for work that is why you put it on" he argued. I am sure my dad could read minds.
"Am sorry"
"By the way, make sure you don't come back with your usual result" with that he went upstairs.
I rolled my eyes and turned back to wash the dishes without the headset. Typical him to ignore my apologies, maybe because he knew I didn't mean them. From the corner of my eyes I saw my brother leave the kitchen. Don't ask me why he didn't greet my dad or why my dad didn't acknowledge his presence when we discussed earlier because I would answer that they have a way they do their own things. I don't interfere mostly because I like watching when my perfect brother becomes not so perfect like me. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and I knew it was my mum coming to make breakfast and to shoo me up to my room so i hurriedly finished my work.
"Maryann, oya go and wear your uniform then come and take your breakfast" she urged me.
I almost skipped my way up to my room but thanks to heaven I recollected myself. The incidence of what punishment my father gave me some years back when I skipped up and down the stairs was unforgettable. I entered my room and quickly got out my school uniform to wear. My uniform was one of the reasons why I attended that school. It was a light blue shirt with a dark blue high waist pleated skirt. It didn't have a tie like most secondary schools but it went with a dark blue cowboy hat, a dark blue socks and brown Cortina. After dressing up I applied a nude lipstick and mascara, then I carried my fancy dark blue bag. Don't get me wrong, my school was extremely strict and all that, but, I was wearing makeup and carrying a fancy bag because it was the last day of school. I had to show those petty girls at school that I was indeed a rich girl. I silently prayed that my dad wouldn't see me before I entered the car and ruin my day. I walked into the kitchen and of course my brother was already there. He raised an eyebrow when he saw my outfit, but I shrug in response. My mum didn't react to it maybe because she knew it was the last day at school or she just didn't want to talk about it. Breakfast was tea and bread with boiled egg.
"Mummy has daddy gone to work" I asked pretending to be concerned. My brother snickered and I pinched him from under the table.
"Yes, o nwere ihe mere is there any problem"
"No" I released a sigh of relief.
I could leave the house knowing that my dad would not murder me for my dressing. After I finished my breakfast I bid farewell to my mum and brother. My brother just finished writing his NECO exam so he was through with secondary school and was waiting to gain admission into a university. I then walked to the driver that drove me to school.
"Daddy chisom good morning sir" I greeted.
"Good morning nwaoma" he answered.
"Which car are you driving me to school with?"
"Your dad said to use the blue Camry" he replied.
I walked to the car in question and sat down at the owner's seat. Yes, my dad was rich and I never blinked an eye when I showed it off. So don't bite me when I say that I always sat on the owner's seat. The drive to school was neither too short nor too long so exactly when we drove into the school compound, the school bell rang.
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