Family Circle

It was exactly 5am in the morning when I was woken up with a brain resetting Wipe on my back . It was my mother ,she shouted at me " why are you still sleeping by this time , so no prayers today " she said as she took the lead to the leaving room giving stern warning to me not to relent in coming out quickly for our Usual family (morning )devotion .

Prayers has been a major part of our family because I personally has seen reason why mummy doesn't joke when it comes to giving reference to God .

Growing up as Child in the family of six ,life was very interesting and memorable, my father was well to do, We lack nothing . Every was going on well until the year 2013 ,the unexpected Happen .

Check who's on the door I can hear my mother telling my kid sister from the room . Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!! She Screamed, i immediately ran out of my run to know if it's true because Chinazaekpere was fond of playing such pranks but lo! Dad just from a long trip . Everyone was surprised because he didn't call to inform us of his arrival not even his Darling wife ( Mummy) he just took everyone by surprise.

Everyone was very excited that Dad came back for almost a month a travelled, each time dad was around I personally enjoyed a lot because I was like his favourite though there wasn't any vocals from him about that but from his constant show of affection I was convinced that I was his best (lol).

Gabugabu!!" I can hear the voice of my father calling from the living room. "Gabugabu " is a word he normally use each time he brought home some goodie bags . So every member of our family knows what sound it is . Even Mummy atimes do use it same way as Dad does .

I was ironing Mummy Clothes at the laundry Room , she had given me loads of Clothes and wrappers to Iron, She plan to travel the next day. it was August so she was going for the yearly August meeting. She bought the finest of materials for her blouse and the wrapper was second to None . She called it "Sample" like she said , I'll be the only having this material ". aside the general outfits they agreed to use on the Meeting days . She was fully prepared for the yearly Meeting as Usual .

Mum was very fashionable but not extremely. She keeps everything Natural but classy , I can remember a lot of women do come to her then to ask where she got a particular stuff of the other, all ranging from clothes, shoes , bags and others .

So , I quickly Ran to answer Daddy's call " Gabugabu!!!" without hesitation because I know it must be something delightful. I left everything I was doing immediately but before I could get there Chinazaekpere and Ukamaka my elder sister was there already , but i trust DADDY he doesn't believe in the "FIRST COME ,FIRST SERVE " Thingy . He must find a way to hold on to his surprise until everyone of us his Children comes out. Not too long before I entered the Sitting room Adanne ( Chukwudinma ) ran coming with her bossy attitude. One of my aunty during a December visit at the village said she's "Igbidinmdi" which until now I couldn't explain that language but we shortened it to "ngbiiiii" I was in a very good terms with her as a little boy but each time She refuses me of anything I wanted like biscuits or sweets I would call her that name " Ngbiii" which made her very Angry and seeing her angry I would be fufilled(lol) even at some point she crys . Mummy would warn me sternly not to ever call her that but I wouldn't adhere to her warnings .

Something Happened oneday , Adanne had prepared noodles for herself, she likes eating separately I was outside playing then went in to drink some water on getting inside I saw a well cooked chicken and egg garnished noodles , i lost home training immediately I saw the plate of noodles. without using the spoon I reached out for hot plate of noodles, just then Adanne caught me (lol) she was infuriated with what I did not to talk much I received a mind resetting slap on my soft cheeks ,I couldn't bear the pain I spat out the remaining Noodles I had in my mouth and fall to the ground ,rolling and Crying uncontrollably . I cried until Mummy came back from the market that was when I managed to be calm. Mummy warned her not to slap me again so as to not break my Miliki teeths ( lol). But it never Ended that day , though I was a little but the rage of the slap she gave me made me vowed to revenge sooner or later .

Adanne Entered the Living Room where Ukamaka, Chinazaekpere and I was sitted patiently waiting for others (her and Ekenchukwu our elder brother ) immediately she enter she rush to daddy asking what the surprise was . Ukamaka Asked her to keep quite not minding she was our eldest ,this got Adanne Angry and she gave Ukamaka a hot resounding slap ,which resulted to fight . Little but smart me was just by Daddy praying not for the to stop fighting but as to daddy not to Cancel the surprise he was about to reveal " Gabugabuu" .

Just then Ekenechukwu entered , he was known for his swift reactions. one time he's playing and cracking mad jokes the next minute he's all mean . But with all these I never took him so serious then because I was known as the brave and most smartest in the house . They (He and Adanne )had reported me severely to our parents of my proud and bullish attitude towards them and the rest of my siblings but each time they report , Mummy would tell them " Onye emetukwana Nwam aka " meaning No one should touch my Child I was seen always with my mother even at 12 I love cuddling on her arms (lol) Mum's friend had oneday ask mummy if I still suck with the way I usually cuddle around her, on another occasion an Aunty called me "Arunne " Mother's Body ,I was attached to mummy as a kid even now . I was so loved by both parents as a Child but oneday something Happened.

Mum and Dad had travelled to Enugu for a Mission , they went for prayers so they left very early in the morning before most of us could wake up , but they gave Adanne instructions on how to run the House for the Day . I was fast asleep when Adanne woke me up with a gentle tap , she said Ebuu get up for prayers . I stood up but surprised because she never woke me up before now , I was mummy that usually does that because me getting up was different mission altogether. But that day I didn't hesitate to get up ,I went straight to the rest room and urinated before heading to the living but to my surprise, Mum and Dad wasn't seated there. That was the Beginning of my Sorrow and pain that day ...

After prayers everyone retired back to there room , it was a Saturday Morning, so I didn't take my bath that early because I won't be going to school. around 7 am in the morning I had expected breakfast to be ready but no one asked me what to eat or if I was hungry at then i started missing my MuM, if only she was around I would have forgotten was I took for breakfast that morning. she doesn't play with giving us food on time not only breakfast.

It was Past 8 still no sign of food or sound of plates in the kitchen. At this point I was very hungry and Angry at the same time . After the Indomie Saga I had with Adanne I haven't been in good terms with her that much , each time I see her i would remember the hot slap .which I vowed until I get my justice I wouldn't talk to her . But like they said Hunger is no man's friend, I summoned Courage and walk up to her and ask why haven't my breakfast ready yet with a harsh tone as if i was the only one in the house, she gave me a weird look I wouldn't say I was terrified because I was ready for whatever the outcome will be since my defenders (Mum and dad) was not at Home . I asked her a second time that when she responded. Her response was that our Compounds water Sumo was faulty and that there is no water in the house and Ekenechukwu who will help in getting water for the house left immediately we finished praying in the morning. So I have to go and get the water , I was infuriated because if Mum was around I will never be ask to do such at a very tender age (12).

I blatantly refuse but she insisted and gave me a heavy known it was at this point i had no option that to get my revenge. Yes!!! I did it , I gave Adanne back the slap but something unexpected happened . She fell and fainted .

I am completely Finished !!!