2 -Hellcome Back

I stare at my mother in awe and shock. She doesn't mean what she just said. Right? My father is coming to visit. My father! Why...How on earth will she allow that? Is she trying out dark humor here? Or what?

"M... Ma? "My elder sister questions, once she can stop coughing.

"Mommy, are you serious? "I question, and my mother drops her fork, clenched her fists on the table, and shuts her eyes.

"Yes. I'm serious. Your father will be arriving here early tomorrow morning. You better be on your best behavior. "She replies and my jaw drops as I know she isn't joking.

"If you love me, you'd behave well before your father. "She adds and I just stare blankly at her. Not knowing what to say or think.

My father left us four years ago when I was 11, and unlike some kids, I wasn't sad about it, I was happy. We all were. I was just eleven years old, yet I know he was a good for nothing a**hole. Now out of the blue, he is coming to visit and mother is allowing it?

What in pits name is happening? Just last weekend, we left Lagos for Abuja, in a bid to start afresh, and now she wants us to start afresh with a big chunk of our past staring us in the face?

"But mummy..." My elder sister makes to protest, and my mother cuts her.

" Annabelle, this is not something we are discussing. I told you your father is coming over. All you have to do is nod your head, and be on your best behavior. "My mother says, and Annabelle and I share a look.

" Am I clear? "My mother questions and Annabelle stands to her feet in pure rage.

"Mummy, I don't want to see that man here. This building won't house us all if he comes here! "Annabelle warns.

"Annabelle! "My mother yells but my sister ignores her.

"I'm being serious mummy. I don't know why you want to invite trouble back into our lives, after all these years of healing!

I'm not down for it. And if anything happens to me, you'd have yourself to blame! "She adds before turning and running upstairs, to her room.

"Annabelle! "My mother screams again but is replied by my sister slamming her room door shut.

Mother exhales and I plant my gaze on the plate of food before me.

"Just... clear this place up. "Mom says after inhaling deeply. I watch her rise up and head upstairs. most definitely to her room.

I stare at the empty room before me. In less than thirty minutes, dinner was ruined by just the mention of my father's name. What happens when he finally gets here?

I connect my phone to my headphones, stuff my phone in my pocket, put my headphones over my ears, and carry the plates into the kitchen. I dump all the food including mine, back into the pot used to cook it, do the dishes, and head up to my room.

I chat with a few friends, say a quick prayer to God, and then lay my head to sleep.

************ ************

I wake up to my phone's loud alarm. I squint my eyes at the screen and find that it's 5:00 am. I rush out of my bed, undress, and rush into the restroom to clean up while listening to songs from my phone.

I carry a bored expression as I help myself into my school uniform. A white shirt, and a blue and red striped, pleated skirt, which Is a decent length. Right above my knees.

I can't stop thinking about the fact that my father is coming over. It's been four years without that beast, and we've been holding up fine, why will mother allow him back?

Are they getting back together? Does he just need a place to crash before continuing with whatever journey he is on?

I put my red tie on, and hang my royal blue suit on my bag. Then I put on my extra long white socks, super shinny black, leather shoes, and my wristwatch. I look at the time and find it's 6:00 am.

Shot! I'd be late if I don't head out now. I switch off my phone and dump it under my pillow as phones aren't allowed in my school. Then, I rush out of my room. I lock it with its key and dump my key in my bag.

My mom handed me all the spares of my room key, so only I can access my room. She and Annabelle know just how much my privacy means to me.

I rush down the stairs to the fridge in the dining and pull out a bottle of Lacasera. My favorite drink.

I turn around and find my mother walking down the stairs.

"Good morning mummy. "I greet. Going down completely on my knees. Greeting the way I have been taught. That is the way girls ought to greet, where I'm from.

My mother is not a Nigerian. My father is. Yet, she respects and treats our tradition like it's hers. Especially my father's tribe. Yoruba. Which automatically means I'm a Yoruba girl.

Funny as it sounds, my mother never told us where she's from. Whenever we bring it up, she always dismisses it and tells us she's more Nigerian than we are.

"Good morning dear. "She replies in a dry tune.

" Annabelle, hurry up! "She screams at my sister who is yet to step out of her room. I hear the door to Annabelle's room sound, and soon, she shows up on the stairs behind my mother.

"Good morning mom... "She greets but is cut off by the sound of the doorbell. My heart instantly freezes, and Annabelle looks over our mother, at me, and I return her gaze with eyes full of terror.

I look back at my mother and find her face void of expressions. I watch her walk over to the door, and my lungs cling to each other as she opens it.

In comes our. "Hello, family! "He yells, as he steps in with arms wide open.

"This can't be happening! "Annabelle says in pure disgust, and just after that, she stomps her foot as she makes it towards the door. She stops right by our father and eyes him with contempt. Of us all, Annabelle's hatred for our father seems to be the most. Which makes no sense as our mother ought to hate him more for all he's done to her.

I watch in shock as my sister shoves him out of her way, and makes it out of the house.

"Annabelle! "My mother screams, and I watch my sister ignore her. Her slender body, matching furiously away from the house. she's definitely gonna order an Uber to get her to work.

"My baby girl. " My father's voice pulls me back to the room, and I stare at him in pain.

This monster. What does he want? How does he expect me to react? To run to him crying, and to tell him how much I've missed him? Hell no! In the past four years, I've grown to be a strong, young black woman, and I don't need a mistake of a father in my life, to implement that!

"I am not your baby, nor your girl. "I reply him coldly as I step away from him. He was already steps away from me, planning to wrap me in some filthy hug.

"I'm riding with Annabelle. "I inform my mother, before running out of the house and after my elder sister, whilst screaming her name.

My mother just invited hell into our home