Febisire bent a little to avoid the corrugated iron makeshift shade in front of Mama Tochi’s shop. She had gone to collect the “Okrika” her mum just got for her, she is meeting her step siblings the next day and she must look her best. Her “Dad” had contacted her after 12 years of neglect, he needs to introduce her to her siblings he had told her mother. Her mother had never liked the fact that he ignored her, and she wouldn’t have allowed him introduce her to his kids but Iya Ebun’s incessant lectures about the thickness of blood than water changed Febisire mother’s mind. Her Dad knew she was his daughter but he never claimed her neither has he been there for her when she needed him. Graduation – no show, Birthdays – silence, Sick – no show not even when she had been awarded a scholarship did he call or message her to praise her for her achievement, despite it being shown on almost every TV station and announced on every radio station. It had been broadcasted over and over again “Febisire Olarinde awarded full scholarship by the Governor for her performance at the Spelling Bee competition”.

Her big mummy in London had called she was the one who paid her school fees then whenever her “Dad” is out of the country, that happens every time. He never sends what she needs to her when she needs it. Febisire had totally forgotten she had a “Dad” until the day he called.
Her mother had called Mama Tochi to ask when she would open a new bale of Okrika, Friday is the day a big sack of used clothes would be deposited in Mama Tochi’s shop, Febisire went to her shop early to select the best amongst the piles upon piles of the used clothes.

She had complained the first time her mother bought her set of sweaters and sandals from Mama Tochi’s shop,
“they smell like one dangerous chemical Jor, is the smell supposed to be the perfume for the clothes ni” she had asked as she screwed up her nose while her mother sorts through the clothes, her mother hissed loudly when she noticed a button was missing in one of the sweaters, another sweater had an inconspicuous hole which her mother said she could fix but nevertheless she was annoyed she had bought sweaters that has faults with her hard earned money
“it is second hand Mother, you shouldn’t expect more now” Febisire scoffed

Febisire stopped countering her mother when she saw the freshly laundered sweaters, they looked so new and cool, like something Gabriella in High School Musical would wear.

She bought detergent from the woman who sells beverages in front of her house, there is Dettol at home to disinfect the new dress. Febisire wondered whether her step siblings wear Okrika too.

****************
“Come in” a haughty voice said from within, Febisire opened the door to see a chocolate skinned girl lying lazily on a sofa in the big sitting room, the room was painted blinding white, silver curtains adorn the walls and there are wooden works of arts lying carelessly around the room. A carving of a Lion with his mouth open sat beneath the gigantic plasma screen. The table is made of fine glass that made Febisire look prettier than she was when she peered into it after she was left alone.

She shook her legs waiting for the haughty girl who had told her “wait” to come back, she was getting uncomfortable already, what would her other siblings reaction be like? Her mother had refused to come and did not tell her why, her cousins are away in Minna, Anambra and Ghana respectively, she was all by herself. Sweat was trickling from the back of her knee to her ankle and she quickly mopped it with her dress.

The door creaked and she sat up, the haughty girl came out first then she went back in, she could hear muffled laughter and screams of excitement.
” you go first shey you were going before now” a thin voice whined
” are you high? Have I not seen her before?” the haughty voice challenged

They continued in that manner and eventually came to an agreement, Febisire was sweating profusely at this point, her stomach churned and she regretted the tea she drank hurriedly fearing she would be late.

“Hello” the one with the thin voice said smirking, she has a beautiful round face, her chubby cheeks complimented her well shaped jaw, but there is still a silent stupidity to the overbearing perfection of her face. The crop top and leggings she wore screams thousands of Naira and Febisire wondered how much it would have cost compared to her own floral dress.
“her name is Kunmi and I am Kitan, our brothers are not in at the moment, they went to play ball… “the haughty one said, her voice trailing off she was dressed in a black and white playsuit, she tilted her head to a side as she typed on her phone, Febisire nodded and stared at the gold casing on the phone wondering if it was real gold- Dubai gold, Saudi gold, Italian gold, Nigeria gold… Wait, her Aunty Falila doesn’t mention Nigerian Gold when she is talking about Gold.

” what should we offer you, Dad and Mum are not around and won’t be back till evening, hold on, Hello Korede where are you guys? She is here. You guys should be fast Jor. Ehehehehehhe you are not serious, better come and see your sister hahahahahha” she hung up

” I am not hungry”
“fine” Kitan said and surfed through TV stations, Kunmi was quiet and stole glances at Febisire from time to time.
Febisire felt more uncomfortable and tried to sit back in the settee, but she sank into it instead the settee was just too soft not hard with it foams peeping out like the well beaten chair her mother kept saying she would change when she collects her arrears.

Kunmi and Kitan shared gossips and Febisire observed, Kunmi is the quiet one, her quiet nature is largely due to her cluelessness over stuff, she hangs on to Kitan’s every word. Kitan is the smarter not so pretty one, confident and so sure of herself. She is equally chatty and knows who is wearing cheap, expensive or knock off stuff.

The door opened and two lanky boys stumbled in, they were sweaty and dirty, grinning from ear to ear. They cast polite smiles at Febisire and went inside the kitchen.
” that is Kale and Korede our brothers ” one of them came out, the lighter of the two ” Korede is the baby of the house” Korede threw Febisire a pudgy smile and began to spread jam on the slice of bread he was holding, Kale came out of the kitchen and lunged for the bread, he stuffed it into his mouth and ran before Korede could seize him

“stupid boys” Kitan hissed and faced Febisire squarely
” what is your own name, Daddy only told us “our” sister is coming”
” Febisire” the sweat from her armpit was making her uncomfortable.
” what kind of name is that one?” Kitan challenged “why didn’t it start with K like our own” Kunmi was puzzled.

The door was opened before Febisire could answer and a slender tall man strides into the living room, he took one look at them all and asked “hope you guys are bonding” before leaving for his own room. A harsh loud voice reels out curses upon curses, the voice got nearer and the door reveals a fair skinned portly woman decked in French lace blouse and Velvet wrapper. Her Gele was tied in a flamboyant style, it looks large enough to shade at least three people from the angry stare of the sun when the need arises. Febisire thought she looks like Madam Kofo just that she was lighter.

” Rasaki your generation will never know peace, useless bastard eleriburuku omo irankiran” she screamed as she took a sit on the sofa her chest heaving, if the piles of makeup wasn’t on her face, she would have been called beautiful, but the crisscross of huge brows drawn in a lopsided manner which almost touches her forehead gave her a maniac look, dangerous red lipstick, shocking pink blush and alarming green eyeshadow did no justice to her beauty. Febisire saw the striking resemblance between her and Kitan.

Rasaki a haggard looking old man scurried into the living room with a big sack balanced on his back, his legs shook uncontrollably as he drags himself into the kitchen.

“Rasaki God will ruin you for me before you ruin me, olosi” she removes the gele from her head and fans herself. She realized the strange presence in the room
“yes, from where? Kunmi have I not warned you about keeping friends? She demanded with raised eyebrows, Febisire shuddered.

“Mummy that is our sister that Daddy talked about now” Kitan said looking bored and annoyed at the same time. Kunmi stood up and left the room.

“Oh oh, welcome my dear” she stood up and left the sitting room as Febisire genuflects.

Febisire sat for what seemed like an eternity before she announced she was living, Kitan offered to see her off.
“when will you come and visit us again”
“soon” Febisire said. She wanted to say more but Kitan has boredom written all over her face again.
“bye”
“bye”
Febisire wondered why her “Dad” acted the way he did, she was not expecting a grand welcome or niceness from anybody but she didn’t expect the indifference either.
“How did it go”? Her mother asked as she pulled off her shoes
“Fine, my Dad didn’t come out of his room till I left, mummy… ” her mother wasn’t listening, her eyes were glued to the TV screen, a woman was chasing her husband with her knife, the husband a fat man with sagging trousers and the wife a thin woman with extra large dress, it was a funny scene. Her mother wasn’t laughing, she only stared fixed to the screen as her eyes turn glassy.

It is not what it is.

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