Chapter 4

Anita goes back home with her father, and mother who arrive at her school to witness her final convocation ceremony.

Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face, as they drive back home. He's proud of her that she didn't allow her beauty to sink into her brain, and deter her from becoming successful in life, but nonetheless, he's still confused about how she's the prettiest among all her siblings.

Even though his wife didn't bear him a son, he isn't bothered about that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit her father's property, even though she's already married to another man.

He sighs and drives towards their home.

The university is closer to their home, which is in the city.

Arriving at their home, he drives into their simple compound and parks.

Their home is just a simple house, which is a flat, consisting of 4 bedrooms, a parlor, a kitchen, and 5 toilets with bathrooms.

Mr. Joshua Baker is the owner of the house, and their home isn't rented, as he acquired it from the direct landowners.

He parked his car in the garage, and stepped down, while Anita and her mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, stepped down next with Anita dragging her two boxes.

Her sisters, Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory are all inside, but none of them come out immediately to welcome them.

Mrs. Tonia walks into the living room first, while Anita follows suit, as her father remains in the car, and receiving a phone call.

"Mom!" Esther and Favour exclaimed, and rush up to their mom, while Lisa and Glory step out next into the living room.

They have separate bedrooms which they shared, as Anita and Flora share a room, while Esther and Favour shares another room, with Lisa and Glory sharing the last room that they sometimes use as a guest room.

"Welcome home, mom. How did the event go?" Favour asks their mother first. She's a 18 years old girl.

"Fine, Favour. Why don't you ask your big sis about it? She won two awards as the best overall graduating student, and best in her department as well," Mrs. Tonia says, with a smile, and Favour frowns.

"Who cares, mom!" Favour replies.

"Shut up your mouth, silly girl. She's your big sister, and you should accord her some respect," Mrs. Tonia warns Favour, and Esther quickly responds, "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 curtain.

"It's okay, Mom." Anita walks up toward their mom and tap on her shoulder softly.

"Your father caused all this," Mrs. Tonia says as she almost bursts into a sob.

"Caused what?" Mr. Joshua asks, as he steps into their living room, and Mrs. Tonia quickly dries up her tears and reply, "Nothing, I was just discussing something not important."

Mrs. Tonia quickly walks into the kitchen, and Mr. Joshua's eyes narrow at Anita, who smiles faintly at him.

She isn't an albino, but her beauty is too much and too charming. Staring at her dimple and chubby cheeks alone, which makes her look like an angel.

"Fine, take all these bags inside, and where are your sisters?! Flora, Favour!" Mr. Joshua calls the remaining girls out.

"Yes, Papa! Good evening, Dad, welcome back home," Flora walks past Anita, who's dragging her two boxes, and walks to hug their father.

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

Anita doesn't utter a word to Flora, who drops her bag in the room, and turns to leave.

"Thank you," Anita finally mutters, but Flora doesn't respond as she steps out of the room, and walks back to the living room to meet her father seated on the long couch, taking off his shoe.

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

"Father, you remember you promised to take me to a private university," Esther says.

"Yes, I remember, but you still haven't passed your Jamb exams. This is the fourth time you're taking the exam with your younger sister, Favour. Can't you both learn from your eldest sister, Anita?"

"No, Father!" Esther and Favour both responds, surprising their father as his jaw drops.

"What has come over you girls? If you still fail to pass your Jamb exams this year, then forget about going to the university, and looking for a trade or handwork to learn! I cannot waste my hard-earned money to sponsor you through a private university, when you cannot even qualify for a government institution. Now leave my sight, silly children. I'm sure you all inherited your dullness from your mother. Can't you learn from your big sister for once? Don't you see her good grades, despite she's more beautiful than you all."

"Father!" Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa screamed out.

"Shut your mouths, and don't father me again. 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, and stands up.

Just then Mrs. Tonia steps out from the kitchen.

She stares at her husband, and her five daughters in the parlor, as Anita is the only one in her room.

"Excuse me!" Mr. Joshua walks past his daughters, and walks into the room which he shares with his wife.

He knows it's all his fault, as he has shown more love to the rest of his daughters than their senior sister, Anita, and made her look like an outcast in her family. Now he's regretting it.

He's even facing some challenges at his office, as some missing percentage of some transactions was detected missing under him, and if the error isn't cleared, 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 a few minutes later.

"Aren't you being harsh to our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia questions her husband, and he just glances at her, and stares away.

Loosening his necktie, he takes off his long-sleeve shirt.

"I'm preparing dinner. It's already getting late," Mrs. Tonia informs him again, but he doesn't respond.

He stands up, and loosens his trouser belt again.

"Honey, you aren't saying anything in response?" Mrs. Tonia finally asks him.

"What do you want me to say to you? Can't you at least see that I'm busy?" Mr Joshua walks past his wife, and steps into the bathroom.

Mrs. Tonia sighs and shakes her head. She knows all isn't well with how her husband has been behaving, so unusual of him. As he was even acting happy when Anita was announced as the winner of the award for the best-graduating student.

He jumped up happily, and screamed "that's my daughter!" not minding other parents and relatives standing around to witness the awarding of the best-graduating student.

When he saw his daughter, his smile and happiness faded as Anita didn't smile approaching them.

Anita probably thought he hated her, and wasn't proud of her achievement.

Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly, remembering how her husband had reacted to his daughter's win.

Although the school rewards aren't much as they awarded Anita some cash, and medal rewards, her certificate will get her one of the highest-paying jobs in Nigeria.

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, and walked out from the room she shared with her husband. As he's already taking his bath, and she heard the sound of water splashing in the bathroom.

She steps into the kitchen, as the okra soup has already heated, and warmed a little.

She serves it out, and a few minutes after dishing out the soup, Glory walks into the kitchen to assist her, and carry it out to the dining room, beside the parlor.

Glory is a 14 years old girl, as her children senior themselves with two years gap.

Glory is still in Junior secondary school, and Junior Class 3.

"Mom, I want to be a business admin like big sister, Anita," Glory says, as she carries the tray of soup up and stares at her mom's face.

"There's no problem with that. You just study hard as well. You have your big sister to guide you," Mrs. Tonia smiles at her youngest daughter.

"Mom, is big sis going to marry soon? Chika told me that her big sister wouldn't be returning home, as she's already pregnant and expecting a child for her fiance abroad," Glory says.

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

"Oh, so mom, you depend on father too for money?" Glory asks out, surprising her mother.

"No! Glory. Now enough of the conversation, carry the soup out, before it gets cold. Oh, Anita is already here to assist us," Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly, and Glory turns, and faces Anita standing by the kitchen door.

Anita overheard her mom, and last-born sister's conversation, and she had a faint smile on her face too.

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