Chapter 4: Father's worry

Anita goes back home with parents, who arrived at her school to witness her final graduation ceremony. Her mother is very happy, but her father maintains his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home. He’s proud of Anita for not letting her beauty inflate her ego and deter her from becoming successful in life, but nonetheless, he’s still confused as to why she’s the prettiest of all his daughters. 

Even though his wife didn’t give him a son, Mr. Joshua isn’t bothered by that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit all her father’s property, even if she is already married to another man; yet, he still wonders if he’s Anita’s true biological father. He sighs as he drives toward their home, since the university is closer to their house in the city. 

Arriving home, Mr. Joshua drives into their simple compound and parks, as their home consists of a modest bungalow with four bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and five toilets with bathrooms. 

Mr. Joshua Baker is the owner of the house, having acquired it from the direct landowners, and he sits in his car, while Anita and her mother step out next. Anita’s sisters Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory are all inside, but none of them step out to welcome them as they arrive home.

 Mrs. Tonia walks into the living room first, while Anita follows, dragging her boxes as her father remains in the car, answering a phone call. 

“Mom!” Esther and Favour rush to their mother first, while Lisa and Glory step out next. They all have separate rooms; Anita and Flora share one, while Esther and Favour share another, and Lisa and Glory share the last room, which is sometimes used as a guest room, too. 

“Welcome back home, Mom! How did the event go?” Favour asks their mother first, as she is an 18-year-old girl.

"It was fine, Favour, why don't you ask your big sister about it? She won two awards: best overall graduating student and best in her department as well." Mrs. Tonia responded with a faint smile, while Favour frowned and replied, "Who cares, Mom?"

"Shut your mouth, you silly girl! Anita's your big sister, and you should accord her some respect!" Mrs. Tonia warned Favour, while Esther quickly responded, "We don't care, Mom!"

"Esther!" Mrs. Tonia warned Esther too, while Esther rolled her eyes from where she was standing by the middle door entrance, holding the curtain.

"It's okay, Mom." Anita walked up to their mom and tapped her shoulder softly, but Mrs. Tonia replied, "Your father caused all this." Mrs. Tonia almost burst into tears, but just then Mr. Joshua walked into the living room and asked, "Caused what?"

Mrs. Tonia sniffed and quickly wiped her tears as she replied, "Nothing. I was just discussing something unimportant." 

Mrs. Tonia quickly walked away into the kitchen while Mr. Joshua's eyes narrowed at Anita, who smiled faintly at him. Though Anita isn't an albino, her beauty is strikingly charming. Just staring at her dimples and chubby cheeks made her look like an angel from heaven.

"Fine, take all these bags inside. Where are your sisters? Flora! Favour!" Mr. Joshua called out, and they responded.

"Yes, Papa! Good evening, Dad. Welcome back home." 

Flora walked past Anita, who was dragging her boxes, and approached to give their father a welcoming hug.

"Assist your sister and take those luggage inside," Mr. Joshua instructed Flora after giving her a warm hug. She bit her lower lip angrily and finally assisted Anita in carrying her second box to the room they both shared.

Anita didn't utter a word to Flora, who carried her box to the room, but as Flora turned to leave, Anita finally said, "Thank you." However, Flora didn't respond as she walked back to the living room to meet her father, who was sitting on the long couch and taking off his shoes. 

"How's your day today, Flora?" Mr. Joshua finally asked, and just then, the rest of his daughters stepped out. 

"Father, do you remember your promise to take me to a private university?" Esther asked. 

"Yes, I remember, but you still haven't passed your JAMB exams yet, and this is the fourth time that you're taking the same exam as your younger sister, Favour. Can't you both learn from your elder sister, Anita?" Mr. Joshua questioned. 

"No, Father!" Esther and Favour both responded, surprising their father and making his jaw drop. 

"What has come over you girls? If you fail to pass your JAMB exams again this year, then forget about going to university and look for a trade or skill to learn! I cannot continue to waste my hard-earned money sponsoring you both through a private university when you cannot even qualify for a government university. Now leave my sight, silly children. I am sure you all inherited your dullness from your mother. Can't you learn from your elder sister for once? Don't you see her good grades, despite her being more beautiful than all of you?" 

"Father...!" Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa all exclaimed sadly. 

"Shut your mouths and don't bother me. I have been a good father to you all, yet you all cannot be good daughters in return. Fail your exam again this year and see the other side of me!" Mr. Joshua warned as he stood up from the couch. Just then, his wife stepped out of the kitchen and stared at him and her five daughters in the living room, with Anita being the only one in her room.

"Excuse me!" Mr. Joshua walks past his daughters and enters the room he shares with his wife, knowing it's entirely his fault. He has shown more love to his other daughters than to their eldest sister, Anita, making her feel like an outcast, and now he regrets it all. 

He's facing challenges at his office as some missing funds from transactions have been found missing under his records. If the error isn't corrected, he is on the verge of losing his job as a banker at a government-owned bank. 

His brows furrow as his wife steps into their room to meet him a few minutes later. 

"Aren't you being too harsh with our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia questioned, but Mr. Joshua only glanced at her without responding, staring away. Loosening his necktie, he removes his long-sleeve shirt. 

"I'm preparing dinner; it's already getting late," Mrs. Tonia informed him, but he still doesn't respond as he removes his trouser belt as well. 

"Honey, aren’t you going to say anything?" Mrs. Tonia finally asked him, and he replied, "What do you want me to say? Can't you see that I am busy?" 

Mr. Joshua walked past his wife and stepped into the bathroom to take a shower, while Mrs. Tonia sighed and shook her head in sadness. She knows all isn't well with him; he has been behaving unusually and was even acting happier when Anita was announced as the winner of two prestigious awards. He jumped up happily and shouted, "Yes!" Not caring about the other parents and relatives around, he stood to witness the awarding of the best graduating student. However, when he saw Anita approaching, his smiles and happiness faded, as Anita didn’t smile back—she believed he hated her and was not proud of her achievement.

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, remembering how her husband had reacted to their first daughter's wins. Although the school rewards weren't much, as they only awarded Anita some cash and medal prizes, Mrs. Tonia believed her daughter's certificate would get her into one of the highest-paying jobs in their country. 

Mrs. Tonia finally walked out of the room she shared with her husband, as he was already taking his bath, and she could hear the sound of water splashing in the bathroom. She walked into the kitchen, as the okra soup she was preparing had already heated a little, and she served it into different soup plates. 

Just then, Glory walked into the kitchen to assist her and carry it out to the dining room beside their living room. Glory is a 14-year-old girl, as her siblings are spaced with only a two-year gap each. She is still in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3). 

"Mom, I want to become a business administrator like my big sister, Anita," Glory said as she carried the tray of soup in her arms and gazed up at their mother. 

"There's no problem with that, Glory. You should study hard as well. You've got your big sister here to guide you," Mrs. Tonia smiled at her youngest daughter. 

"Okay, Mom, is big sis going to marry soon? Chika told me that her big sister won't be returning home as she's already pregnant and expecting a child with her fiancé," Glory asked. 

"No, Glory! Although I don't know about that yet, Anita will first get a job before she settles down. You know your big sister is hardworking and wants to become an independent woman instead of depending on a man for money," Mrs. Tonia replied. 

"Oh, so, Mom, do you depend on Dad too for money?" Glory inquired, surprising her mother. 

"No, Glory! Now that's enough of the conversation. Carry the soup out now before it gets cold. Oh, Anita is already here to assist us." Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, and Glory turned to face Anita, who was standing by the kitchen door. 

Anita overheard their conversation, and she wore a faint smile on her face too. 

"Why are you standing there and staring at us? Come assist us in serving dinner now. I'm sure your father will soon be out," Mrs. Tonia said, but Anita's smile quickly faded from her face as she heard her father's name and didn't like him either.