Chapter 4: Arriving Home

Anita goes back home with her father and mother, who arrived at her school to witness her final graduation ceremony. Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home.

He's proud that Anita didn't allow her beauty to 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, he isn't bothered by that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit all her father's property even if she's married to another man. However, he still wonders if he's Anita's true biological father.

Sighing, he drives towards their home since the university is closer to their house in the city.

Arriving home, he drives into their simple compound and parks. Their home is a simple bungalow with four bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen.

Mr. Joshua Baker is the owner of the house, having acquired it from the original landowners. He steps out of the car while Anita and her mother follow. Anita's sisters, Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory, are all inside, but none of them step out to welcome them home.

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

"Mom!" Esther and Favour rush up to their mother first, while Lisa and Glory step out next.

They all have separate rooms they share. Anita and Flora share a room, Esther and Favour share another, and Lisa and Glory share the last room, which sometimes serves as the guest room.

"Welcome back home, Mom. How did the event go?" Favour, an 18-year-old girl asks.

"Fine. Why don't you ask your big sister about it? She won two awards: best overall graduating student and best in her department," Mrs. Tonia responds with a smile.

"Who cares, Mom?" Favour frowns and replies.

"Shut up, Favour. Silly girl! Anita is your big sister, and you should accord her some respect!" Mrs. Tonia warns, while Esther quickly adds, "We don't care, Mom!"

"Esther!" Mrs. Tonia warns Esther too, while Esther rolls her eyes from where she's standing by the middle door entrance, holding the curtain.

"It's okay, Mom," Anita says, walking up to her mother and tapping her shoulder softly. But Mrs. Tonia responds, "Your father caused all this." Mrs. Tonia almost bursts into sobs, but then Mr. Joshua walks into the living room and asks, "Caused what?"

Mrs. Tonia sniffs and quickly wipes off her tears as she replies, "Nothing. I was just discussing something not important."

Mrs. Tonia quickly walks away into the kitchen while Mr. Joshua's eyes narrow at Anita, who smiles faintly at him. Although she isn't an albino, her beauty is too charming. Staring at her dimples and chubby cheeks makes her look like an angel from heaven.

"Fine, take all these bags inside. Where are your sisters? Flora, Favour!" Mr. Joshua calls them out.

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

Flora walks past Anita, who is dragging her boxes, and gives their father a welcome hug.

"Assist your sister and take those luggage inside," Mr. Joshua instructs Flora after giving her a warm hug. Flora bites her lower lip angrily but finally assists Anita by carrying her second box to the room they both share.

Anita doesn't utter a word to Flora, but as Flora turns to leave, Anita finally says, "Thank you." Flora doesn't respond and walks back to the living room to meet her father, who is sitting on the long couch, taking off his shoes.

"How was your day today, Flora?" Mr. Joshua finally asks, and just then, the rest of his daughters step out.

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

"Yes, I remember, but you still haven't passed your Jamb exams yet. This is the fourth time you're writing the same exam with your younger sister, Favour. Can't you both learn from your elder sister, Anita?" Mr. Joshua questions them.

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

"What has come over you girls? If you fail to pass your Jamb exams this year again, then forget about going to the university and look for a trade or handwork 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! Can't you learn from your elder sister for once? Don't you see her good grades, despite her being more beautiful than you all?"

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

"Shut your mouths and don't 'father' me. I have been a good father to you all, yet you cannot be good daughters in return. Fail your exam this year again and see the other side of me!" Mr. Joshua warns them, standing up from the couch. Just then, his wife steps out of the kitchen and stares at him and her five daughters in the living room.

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

He's also facing challenges at work, as some funds have gone missing under his records. If the error isn't corrected, he's on the verge of losing his job as a banker in 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 to our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia questions him, but Mr. Joshua only glances at his wife without responding, loosening his necktie and taking off his long-sleeve shirt.

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

"Honey, you aren't saying anything in response?" Mrs. Tonia finally asks him, and he replies, "What do you want me to say? Can't you see that I am busy?"

Mr. Joshua walks past his wife and steps into the bathroom to take his bath, while Mrs. Tonia sighs and shakes her head in sadness. She knows something is wrong with him, and he has been behaving unusually. He even acted happier when Anita was announced as the winner of the two prestigious awards. He jumped up happily and screamed "Yes!" Not minding the other parents and relatives around, he stood to witness the awarding of the best graduating student. When he saw Anita approaching, his smiles and happiness faded, as Anita didn't smile at them, thinking he hated her and wasn't proud of her achievement.

Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly, remembering how her husband had reacted to his daughter's wins. Although the school rewards weren't much, as they only awarded Anita some cash and medals, Mrs. Tonia believes her daughter's certificate will get her one of the highest-paying jobs in their country.

Sighing, Mrs. Tonia finally walks out of their room as her husband is already taking his bath. She can hear the sound of water splashing in the bathroom.

She walks into the kitchen, where the okra soup she was preparing has already heated a little. She serves it out on different plates. Just then, Glory walks into the kitchen to assist her and carry the plates to the dining room beside their living room.

Glory is a 14-year-old girl, and her children are spaced two years apart each. Glory is still in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3).

"Mom, I want to become a business administrator like my big sister," Glory says as she carries the tray of soup and looks up at her 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 smiles 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 for her fiancé," Glory asks.

"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 replies to Glory.

"Oh, so Mom, do you depend on my father for money?" Glory inquires, 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 smiles faintly, and Glory turns to face Anita, who is standing by the kitchen door.

Anita overhears their conversation, and she has a faint smile on her face too.

"Why are you standing there and staring at us? Come assist us in serving dinner. I'm sure your father will soon be out," Mrs. Tonia says, but Anita's smile quickly fades away as she hears her father's name. She doesn't like him either.