Chapter 5: Sister's disagreement

Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly at Anita as Anita makes way for Glory to pass with the tray of soup in her hands. Anita walks into the kitchen without uttering any words to her mother, but her face holds a great sorrow that her mom understands better.

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia slowly calls her name.

"What is it, mom?" Anita asks as she walks beside her mother.

"I want you to know that your father really loves you, like the rest of your siblings, and isn't against your success," Mrs. Tonia replies, holding Anita's hand in hers.

"Hmph," Anita sighs. "I know, mom, but I don't care about that. If Dad likes me, fine; if he doesn't, fine. I will always see him as my father, and that's all."

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia begins.

"Mom, where's the fufu?!" Flora steps into the kitchen and interrupts them. She looks at Anita and walks to the kitchen cabinet to meet their mother.

"Mom, why are you holding her hands and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora asks again, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No, Flora, I am only advising Anita," Mrs. Tonia replies, staring at Flora.

"I don't care, mom. That's by the way. I came here for fufu as Glory only served us soup without fufu. Where's the fufu?" Flora asks again.

"It's over there, Flora. Check on the chair beside you," Mrs. Tonia responds. Flora turns, spots the fufu, carries it, and walks out of the kitchen, leaving them alone.

"As I was advising you, Anita, don't hold a grudge in your heart against your father, okay? You'll never get another replacement for him. He's your father, and I can swear with my life on that," Mrs. Tonia says.

"Mom," Anita frowns. "That's not necessary for you to swear. Let's go and eat first, as I still have some work to do and some calls to place to Temisa to know if she has gotten home too," Anita adds.

"Okay," Mrs. Tonia finally lets go of Anita's hand. Anita walks to the sink to wash her hands in the kitchen basin first, then steps out to join the rest of the family for dinner. Their father finally walks out too, remaining silent as he sits and eats the delicious okra soup that his wife has made.

The dining hall is silent. After their dinner, Glory stands up first, having finished her meal, clears her plates to the kitchen, and walks to the room Anita and Flora share to wait for Anita to finish, as she wants to discuss something with her.

Later, after the rest of the family finishes, Lisa clears all the plates to the kitchen. It's her turn to wash the dirty dishes, which she shares weekly with Glory. Anita walks back to the room she shares with Flora and finds Glory standing inside.

"Glory! What are you doing here?" Anita asks in surprise as she steps in and walks closer to sit on the bed she shares with Flora.

"I came here to discuss something with you," Glory replies. Anita stares at Glory for a few minutes, noticing how much her baby sister has grown.

"So tell me, what do you want to discuss with me?" Anita asks. As Glory is about to reply, Flora steps in coldly.

"What are you doing here, Glory? Go back to your room now!" Flora commands.

"No, Flora, let her be. We have something to discuss. As you can see, I just returned," Anita replies, but Flora flares up.

"I wasn't speaking to you. So stay out of this!"

"Meaning?" Anita stands up from the bed and crosses her arms over her chest, facing Flora. "I've been keeping quiet for you, Flora. What do you mean by you aren't talking to me?" Anita asks, staring at Flora coldly.

"You heard me correctly. I have no business with white witches. Now Glory, leave here because I want to rest," Flora repeats. Anita smirks and sits back on the bed.

"Tell me, Glory, what do you want to ask me about?" Anita asks as she opens her box to remove her laptop and phone. Glory stares from Anita to Flora, confused. Anita is her big sister, and so is Flora. She doesn't like how they're quarreling because of her.

"Glory, leave!" Flora commands again, walking closer to drag Glory out.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Anita warns, placing her laptop on the bed.

"Or what? What will you do?" Flora questions, and Anita stares up at her.

"Step away, or don't touch Glory first!" Anita warns.

"No, big sis, I am leaving; I will ask you later," Glory nervously responds.

"No, Glory!" Anita glances at Glory, who shivers.

"Step away now, Flora! If you're here to rest, then the bed is over there, but move away from my conversation with Glory!" Anita warns. Flora stares at Anita angrily. Anita has a slim figure with a sexy, curvy waist and big breasts, while Flora is chubbier. She feels she can beat Anita up as she's also taller.

"And what if I don't?" Flora quickly walks towards Glory and drags her out, but Anita won't allow such disrespect. She stands up and pounces on Flora, dragging Flora by her hair and slapping her pretty dark face multiple times, not giving Flora a chance to breathe. The two of them engage in a fight.

"What's going on here?!" Mr. Joshua questions as he steps into his eldest daughter's room, making them separate.

"Father, she started it first!" Flora points to Anita. Anita breathes heavily, adjusting her clothes properly. Mr. Joshua has always known Anita as someone who doesn't fight, so what could have prompted their fight?

He stares at Glory, and just then the rest of his daughters and his wife rush into the room too.

"What happened, father?!" They question him as they walk into the big room, staring from Anita to Flora, who is breathing heavily, and to Glory, who has a worried expression.

"What happened, Glory?" Mr. Joshua finally questions Glory, and she stammers.

"Father, I came in here to discuss something with Aunt Anita, and Flora came in and ordered me to leave, but Aunt Anita refused, and Flora insisted, and the fight started," Glory explains.

"Flora, why did you ask Glory to leave when Anita is still talking to her?" Mr. Joshua questions Flora, staring at her coldly. Flora's cheek is already swollen, and Anita also has a visible swollen red cheek, but Anita's is more visible. Flora is crying profusely, wanting her father to support her.

"Father, she slapped me first!" Flora points at Anita.

"I didn't ask you that. I asked, why did you send Glory away?" Mr. Joshua questions Flora once more.

"Dad, I wanted to sleep, and I cannot sleep if they're discussing," Flora replies, crying.

"Hmmm," Mr. Joshua hums, knowing it's all his fault. He warns them, "Let today be the last time I will get any form of disrespect from any of you girls towards your big sister, Anita again. If it repeats, you will all have me to contend with. Now Flora, pack your bags and clothes. You will be relocating to share the room with Lisa, while Glory will start sharing this room with Anita from today onwards. Any more reports or complaints, I will deal with you afterward."

"Father!" Flora exclaims, but Mr. Joshua has already walked out.

"You caused all this, Flora. Why disrespect your big sister?" Mrs. Tonia questions, but Flora frowns.

"Mom, are you also taking Anita's side? Is it because she won two stupid awards?" Flora asks.

"Shut your mouth, Flora. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? You cannot read to become good or learn from your big sister. All you know how to do best is badmouthing," Mrs. Tonia retorts.

"Mom!" Flora breaks into sobs again, while the rest of her sisters in the room frown and cross their arms over their chests angrily.

"Now apologize to Anita first, before you start packing your bags!" Mrs. Tonia instructs.

"I won't do that, mother," Flora refuses.

"And I insist, or you will have me to contend with, now!" Mrs. Tonia warns. Flora is speechless as she stares from their mom to the rest of her siblings and to Anita, who sits on the bed, opening her laptop and waiting for it to boot. Flora swallows and stares back at their mother.

"No, mother!" Flora screams, and Anita finally stares at them.

"It's okay, mom; I don't need her apology," Anita says as she types in her laptop password.

"No, Anita. Flora must apologize; otherwise, she will cease to be my daughter from today onwards."

"Mom!" They all exclaim in shock, and Mrs. Tonia turns to face them all.

"Yes, mark it as my warning from today onwards. Note that I can also disown you and cut ties with you all if you dare disobey me. Now, Flora, apologize!" Mrs. Tonia insists again, and Flora stares at Anita sitting on the bed. She mumbles, "I'm sorry, Anita."

"Repeat it out loudly," Mrs. Tonia says.

"Mom!" Flora stares back at their mother.

"Now!" Mrs. Tonia is serious.

"Fine, I am sorry, Anita; please forgive me," Flora pleads.

"It's okay, Flora, you can leave," Anita replies, not shifting her focus away from her laptop. Flora immediately packs her bag of clothes and drags it out of the room harshly, leaving the rest of them speechless.