Conqueror

"Jen!" Mummy yelled my name from her room, "Didn't you see plates in the kitchen, or are you waiting for me to wash it?"

She asked,  more of screamed.

"Oh, save it I will," I said, sounding disrespectful.

That was mischievous of me and I had behaved like some of those rude Americans I watch on TV, forgetting that I was a Nigerian from Otukpa.

Before I even realized that, I felt a slap on my face that made my cheeks burn.

My mum hardly slapped me, perhaps she was not in a good mood today and I frustrated her.

I quickly ran towards the kitchen, before receiving another slap.

"Oh my God! These plates stink!"

"You said?" I heard my mum say.

When did she get here?

I think she was pissed because of the fuss we caused in washing the dishes.

"Finally, I'm done!" I blurted out as I washed my hands and moisturized them properly.

Christy, my younger sister, went down the park to play with her best friend, Kayla. It was already past four and we had not yet had our siesta.

I looked at the clock wondering how many hours it took me just to wash the dishes.

I quickly dashed out of the house to the park and drove Christy back home because I didn't think she even wanted to leave her 'bestie'.

Well, she actually had no choice.

We finally reached home, I went straight to the kitchen and ate the remaining boiled rice and plantain that mommy cooked not too long ago.

We went to bed and I'm guessing that was our dinner cause it started to rain and I drifted off to sleep.

The next day, our school driver came, picked us up and zoomed into Unity school where Christy, my annoying neighbours, Dave, Phil and I attend. At least, the car was extremely quiet and that was all thanks to our driver that had a long conversation speaking his local dialect on his Nokia torchlight handset, all through the ride.

••••••••••

"Jen!" Liza shouted my name right from the gate, I ran and gave my friend a warm and tight hug. I really didn't know why, or what the hug was for. We meet often and I guess we love each other.

"Today was not bad. At least, there was no much assignment." Violet said, shoving her books into her ash backpack.

Seriously! Well, it's not her fault, some teachers could be annoying and she's not a 'fan of school'.

Violet is actually my best friend, she's been my friend from the time I could pronounce my name.

She's always been my best friend and will forever be.

......

Gling! Gling! Gling! Gling! Gling!

The time keeper just rang the closing bell, and as usual, pupils began to run out of their various classes. I and Liza made our way towards the parking lot.

"Oh my God! Grade four is actually the worst class abeg." Liza began, trying to initiate a conversation as we walked to the parking lot, checking for our various drivers. Unluckily for me, Liza's driver arrived in first, she went off with her little sister, Fiona off to her driver's car.

"Bye!" She yelled, as she slammed the door of the car.

"See you tomorrow." I replied.

My driver arrived sooner, we entered the driver's car and when I say we, I mean my annoying neighbours and my little sister Christy.

Phil got up on his knees, clutched on the car seat and stretched his upper body, picked up his back pack and that of Dave, his younger brother. Phil removed his food flask, opened it and boom! the heat doomed on my face like i was in a place where charcoal was produced.

Why me? Well, not for long, its not even only me.

"Make una close that food flask joor, you no know say your rotten yam dey smell." Our driver shouted in annoyance.

I burst into laughter. Not trying to make fun of the poor man but he's on his own, nothing concerns him for sure. He no send.

For sure those naughty boys didn't hesitate to mimick the poor driver because he's an illiterate.

Christy got fed up about the whole situation, because it almost threw me into trauma.

She shouted "Shut up!" not minding who was there and everyone went quiet. I wonder how she does it but please, who wouldn't be fed up about the whole situation its a consistent misbehavior, I mean.

   Kpa! kpa! kpa! the sounds of our footsteps made, till we reached upstairs, because our house was on the last floor of the storey building.

"Oh, wait for me." Christy screamed

"My legs ache." She continued.

I gave her the 'I am also tired look on the face'.

"Whatever."

Without any hesitation, I hit her on the head.

"Why would you tell me 'whatever'?" I yelled at her.

She pretended like I wasn't talking to her.

"Jenny, I promise to report you."

"Are we age mates, classmates, or please, please, please, mates at all?" I yelled.

She walked past me, angrily and confidently!

"Come here." I dragged her to me.

"So now, no more respect abi?"

"It's because you think mommy will always support you, thats why you've become rude."

"Jenny please, the fact that you're older than me doesn't mean you'll have the authority over me.." she screamed back at me.

I pointed my index finger at her and warned her. "Dont try me ohh, and just report first. This house will not contain us both."

"Christy, what is it? You and jenny have been shouting, I'm trying to sleep." One of our neighbours on the third floor came out speaking to us annoyed.

"Sorry ma." We apologized.

Christy was still mumuring thinking I couldn't hear her but I was freaking hearing her and I ain't playing, I was seriously going to slap her dirty face.

No doubt I loved her but I also loved respect so if she knows what's good for her, she had better not report me to mum or worse, even dad because I'd give her a serious punishment.

To think of it, she's not even sober. I knew she'd tell but I'd have to find a way to make mummy see I'm right because they will certainly believe her more.