"How can we get there and what of dad?" I asked with curiosity. Teresa walked over and took a seat next to me.
"I just want to help, Priscilla has been so down since last week and you too, I can't leave you guys like this" she explained.
"This can cost you your j..
" my job right" she cut in, "that's not a problem, I have been working here for so many years, so I won't have any regrets if I leave except you two" she replied.
"Come on Idara please say yes" Priscilla pleaded.
"Okay! What do we do" I replied in a low funny tone like whispers.
"Your dad is leaving for a business trip for a couple of days while I don't know about your mum's plans" she explained.
Dear dad/mum,
We are sorry about the sudden decision, but while you are reading this letter, we are probably on our way to Akwa ibom state precisely for the christmas holiday. Dad am sorry but i couldn't tell my feelings not at least once to you. When mum died, she died alongside with her family's happiness, priscilla needs this more than ever. You don't have to worry about us, am sure grandma and grandpa will take good care of us during our stay. Take care
Your daughter
Janette Philips(Idara).
Dad will probably be reading the letter right now, i didn't think i was particularly disobedient but with this i drew the line. Arriving at the airport,the crowd there was unpredictable, I grabbed Priscilla arms tightly with the fear of losing her in this thick crowd. Teresa grabbed our belongs and join us while I took the lead. The security guards ran a Garrett scanner from my head to my toes including everyone that made their way into the premises including our belongings. This wasn't my first time traveling by air so this procedures were familiar except this was just a local flight. Aunt Teresa got Our boarding pass, we were ten minutes late of the boarding time, Teresa wasn't going with us, we bid her goodbye and went off to the boarding gate."How old are you?" A flight stewardess asked when we went up for boarding. This seems pretty annoying, I know she was just doing her job but she was crossing her limits
"Fourteen ma'am" I replied "am old enough to take care of my self and my sister" I finished.
"What of your guardian?" She asked again, this questions are getting out of hand, although she had a nice personality with a smile plastered on her cheeks throughout the moment we were talking. Priscilla was quite quiet throughout the processes.
"My grandma will be picking us up at our arrival" I replied, we called grandma under the pretence that dad permitted us to come over. "can you show us to our seat?" I asked politely. She got our boarding pass and took a quick glare at it,
"Over there" she pointed to two empty seat at the sixth row possibly but not really sure.
"Thank you" I greeted and walked off still holding Priscilla's hand all this while. I sat next to the window while Priscilla sat next to me by my side. She was already down and looking stressed, last time we travelled, she was sick and screaming each time the plane make an awkward move.
"Just close your eyes and sleep okay..." I advised.
"Okay" she replied and joined her upper and lower eyelids as the fluttered, I buckled her seatbelt and watch a scene of people negotiating outside. Our flight was announced to be taking off soon, a fair and pretty flight stewardess made the safety demonstration procedure in front, the plane started roaming off, I looked down and said a short prayer while it took off, I was surprise and at the same time greatful Priscilla didn't scream as usual when it took off from the ground.
"She is growing up pretty fast" I thought for a moment. From the window, I had a nice view of the landscape of Lagos, I was in midst of the cloud, I could see it but couldn't reach out to touch it and get a feeling of how it is. Although it seems near, its really far than I can even imagine. I closed my eyes wishing for a sleep so my journey of one hour and thirty minutes will seem more like a two minutes journey. Am not sure if I had slept up to five minutes when I felt a tap on my shoulder, I looked over and saw a lady smiling to my face.
"Your sister left to the toilet, and she hasn't come out yet" she said, I couldn't scream because I don't know what has happened, but I was thinking of the worst already. I quickly pulled up and walked to the toilet, the door was locked within, I knocked the door twice but no responds came through.
"Hello Priscilla is Idara, please can you open up" I pleaded with the dread that something is probably wrong.
"I can't flush the toilet and I can't step out" she squealed. "I thought as much"
"Alright press the button you see on the top of the closet" I ordered her in a polite tone.
"Am scarce I will press the wrong button" she said
"Okay can you open the door, I will do it my self" I said calmly. The lady that woke me up was pacing up and down, her face went pale, her stomach was making funny tumbling sounds. Priscilla slowly opened the door and stood next to the closet. I shifted closer and pressed the button she was hesitating to touch.
"Heeeeei" Priscilla screamed at the sound of the gushing water that flowed through pressure causing every head to turn towards us.
"Come on" I held her back to her seat, the lady rushed into the toilet immediately we walked out.
"Why didn't you wake me up, so I can take you to the restroom?" I asked. "You just created a scene there" I added.
"Don't scold me, am sorry" she said and turn her back at me. Few minutes later, they shared snacks for us. I didn't feel hungry at all so I kept it for later. We are half way to the end of our journey, I was so excited when they made the announcement that we are arriving in few minutes, am not a fan of long journeys. When we finally landed at the airport, I pulled out my bag from the lockers up and held Priscilla closely and walked down. We waited for our suitcases and waved grandma from the transparent glass door waiting eagerly for us. After getting our belongings Priscilla ran off into her hands this is our first visit, but grandma has always been visiting us severally. I went closer and got her warm embrace, her cologne had a nice and pleasant scent, It smells like a fragrance powder that I once had.
"How are you, how's was your journey?" She asked smiling all through, she was looking back at the people that were existing the arrival gate. The look on her face seems like she was expecting someone aside us,
"Your father" she asked
"We came alone, he couldn't come along" I replied. When we arrived at the parking lot, I saw grandpa standing next to a Mercedes Benz that looked more like the taxi most people ride in the streets of Lagos.
"Nto mmi amedi"
"Yes papa" I walked over and greeted him. But Priscilla was shying away from him, she has never seen him except in pictures so she doesn't really have the same bond as that she has with grandma but am sure she will very soon. Driving through the streets of the promise land, tall sculptures, shopping malls, supermarkets and bouquet were all present side by side through the streets.
"This is uyo" grandma muttered.
"This the capital right?" Priscilla asked
"Ehe" grandpa replied.
"What's the meaning of ehe?" Priscilla asked, the expression on grandpa's face was a big grin
"Yes" I replied to stop the uncertainty in her mind. I understood certain words in this language well since mom always wanted me to know her language, but Priscilla doesn't even know a basic word like the one grandpa just said and others like: mbok, dakkada, dimi, kah, kudi ufok,etc. It sounds weird when people who don't understand it hears this but its a wonderful language dad never wanted me to know. He is always against anything that has to do with mum's villa.
After several miles of driving the highway of uyo, we arrived at the rural part of the country side, green fields, farms and mud houses. I never thought people still live in mud houses in this 21st century and still live behind like the 1960's. The vehicle finally pulled to a stop in front of a wide compound, four concrete buildings were situated as i looked over, grandma stepped down and brought out our belongings, the excitement was already going away, I rushed down and helped out. We were directed to a room, it was good enough in this rural environment. Grandma brought our belongings in, she told us to come out for dinner, she laid the table for four, they have no dining table but we ate at the courtyard.
We had different delicacy I can't name, grandma was feeding Priscilla,
"Am not a baby, I can eat alone" she protested.
"When you get home, you can eat alone but here, you are my baby" grandma ordered. I couldn't resist laughing when I saw the look on her face. Grandpa joined us later, the foods grandma prepared just for us was more like she was throwing a feast. I held up my phone as it vibrates,
"Dad" I whispered, I stood up and went to a corner. I don't want grandma to find out the truth on how we got here.
"He.ll..o dad" I shuttered
"Why did you both leave" he had a strain in his voice, "i won't say much but get ready because am coming there to get both of you, so prepare to come back" he shouted with anger. I turned over and took a glare at Priscilla, she looked happy to be spending time with grandma. I held my phone tightly and muttered "okay dad" sadly.
TO BE CONTINUED......
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