THE LOCKDOWN

wife: Ivy come take your breakfast its getting cold.

Ivy: I want to eat with my daddy on the dining table.

Dad: Ivy baby, I will soon join you dear, go and start eating okay.

Ivy: Okay Daddy. (Daddy joins Meme no sooner after she got to the table.

Ivy: Daddy my tea is too hot.

Dad: Oh Sorry my baby, let me cool it down a little for you. (wife joins from the kitchen)

Ivy: mum are we going to school tomorrow?

Wife: No baby, you will go to school soon but not now OK. (Schools are all closed because of the Global pandemic)

Ivy: Okay mum. (wife goes to the kitchen to pick something)

Ivy: I love you Dad, you are not like the uncle who comes here when you go to work. He does not eat on the dining table, he eats with mum in your room. (Dad in shock, stops taking the breakfast and sighs)

Wife: Darling, you are not eating your food, are you okay? why the sudden mood swing?

Dad: I' m good dear, I just lost appetite.

Wife: Should I prepare something else for you?

Dad: Not really babe, I think I will eat later. (He leaves the table).

Ivy: Mum, why did daddy stop eating? is he sick?

Wife: Daddy is fine, he needs to do something inside. ( Later that evening, Dad was watching Television in the sitting room, Meme runs to him).

Dad: Ivy baby, have you taken your bath already?

Ivy: Yes Daddy.

Dad: That's my baby girl! So tell me do you know the uncle who comes here anytime I go to work?

Ivy: Yes Daddy, one day he left something on the table so I took it and use it to play, its in my school bag.

Dad: Go and bring it.

(Ivy brings a voter's ID that fell from the said uncle's wallet).

Ivy: Daddy see it.

Dad: That's my good girl, is this the only thing he left here?

Ivy: Yes Daddy.

(mum walks in from the bedroom)

Mum: Daddy and daughter, what are you guys discussing?

Dad: (Quickly he replied) we are watching movie and discussing it.

Mum: Smiles and asked Ivy to come for her medicine.

*Dad woke up from bed but didn't give wife the usual good morning peck on her forehead*

Wife: honey, my good morning kiss😌

Dad: stares at her for a while and walks away in silence.

Wife : Honey are u okay?

Dad: I'm fine!

Wife prepares breakfast but Dad refused to eat.

Tilly: Mum it's like daddy is sick, call the Doctor.

Mum: Smiles, Dad is fine my dear don't worry.

Dad: Tilly baby! Tilly baby!! he called out.

Tilly: Yes daddyyyy.

Dad: how are u

Tilly: I'm fine daddy but I know u are sick. U are not happy, I told mum to call the doctor for u ok😊

Dad: smiles, picks up Tilly and taps her at the back, saying I'm fine my dear. I don't need a doctor OK.

Tilly : OK daddy then smile for me😊

Dad: 😊😊😊.

Wife gets closer and joins the conversation.

Wife: Tilly, how come u and dad are both smiling 😊, what are u talking about.

Dad: We are talking about my health.

Wife: that reminds me, honey we need to talk.

Dad: About what?

Wife: I think we should go inside.

Dad: Alright then. (Tilly, go watch TV in the hall I'll be with u soon OK.)

Tilly: OK daddy

Wife and Dad begins conversation.

Wife: Honey, I've realised you have been behaving weird since yesterday after you abandoned my food on the dining table.

What's the problem?

Have I done anything wrong?

Dad: Hmmmm, I'm sorry Darling, It's just about the lockdown and how I've been idle doing nothing. It's getting me bored!

Wife : Is that enough reason to abandon my food? Honey the lockdown is affecting us all but u shouldn't make me feel I caused it by abandoning my food and acting weird towards me.

U refused me of the usual good morning peck on bed this morning, what about that?

Dad: I'm sorry love. It won't happen again.

Wife: Honey, This is the time u got to spend with your family, I have always been all alone with Ivy whenever you leave this house for work.

I've missed you and this is the time I have you, so make this moment lovely for me.

Dad: I understand babe, sorry for my actions 🙏.

Wife's phone rings.

Wife picks.

Wife: can I call u back pls?

On phone : I miss u dear pls do call me when u are done with whatever you doing okay!.

Wife: OK bye.

Dad: who was that?

Wife: Colleague from work.

Dad : Alright. So as I was saying, I'm sorry for everything OK.

Wife : OK dear. U still owe me that peck😊

Dad: smiles and pecks her on the forehead as he whisper I love u to his wife.

Ivy: Dad, what is the meaning of banging, and I lost my period?

Dad: Shocked, where did u hear those words?

Ivy: Mum was telling someone on her phone so I want to know the meaning.

Dad: They mean nothing my dear, they are words you will understand when you grow up okay??

Ivy: Okay daddy.

Later that day, mum was in the kitchen, her phone was on charge in the hall then a text came in.

It reads *" hello baby, I know he was around that's why you couldn't speak to me, I'm sure he has always been around u that's why we can't talk, but I still think about u all night. Our last meeting was a blast. How I wish this pandemic is over so u ride me again like a polo horse😋😋. Take care baby, and don't let him enjoy it all alone it's mine too bye'*

Dad: takes a shot of it with phone and sits to watch TV.

Ivy goes to the kitchen.

Wife: where is dad

Ivy: He is watching TV in the sitting room.

Wife: Go get me my phone dear, it's on charge in the sitting room.

Ivy brought the phone and mum saw the text.

After meals.

Dad: Honey, have I done anything wrong that you didn't tell me?

Wife: No honey.

Dad: Are u sure? I wanna apologize if I have.

Wife: Come on honey, u have done nothing against me, what I wasn't happy about, we resolved that in the morning. I'm cool now.

Dad: Okay babe. But don't forget I love u.

Wife: I love u too.