Bold And Strong
2044 Words
My gaze fell on the pink wall as I opened my eyes, perturbed I ran my hand on the bed to be sure I was in the right place and have no cause for alarm. I turned sideways towards the other side of the wall then realized I was in my room the moment my eyes fell on the paintings.
Confused as to how I got into my room, I sat up on the bed and rubbed off the sleep still lingering in my eyes.
And though it was almost sunset, the rays from the sun beamed into my room diagonally causing a part of the room to smudge in radiance.
How did I get to my room? I asked rhetorically
The last time I checked I fell asleep in the car but now who took me up the stairs?
Well Dad wouldn't have possibly taken me to my room except for today but never has he done that. Only Mum could have done that if she was still around because she does that whenever I'd have fallen asleep on the couch at night so I'm sure he wasn't the person that tuck me in bed.
"Oh" I exclaimed, as I recalled Aunt Mena.
Yeah for a few second I totally forgot she existed and was living in our house.
No one else but Aunt Mena would have done that.
I guess I must slept for so long for me to have woken up this late, I thought to myself as I sat on the bed.
The rumbling sound emanating from my stomach spoke of nothing but intense hunger.
Definitely, I'd be so hungry for sleeping for sleeping long on an empty stomach.
I must go find something to eat right away or collapse here, I muttered while letting out a wide yawn.
With that, I lazily got up from the bed and headed for the door ambling weakly till I got downstairs.
I got downstairs and met the absence of both Dad and Aunt Mena with the TV screen displaying some music videos and the speakers blasting frantically beside the TV.
They were simply no where to be found.
Puzzled, I walked over to the dinning area in search of them but still didn't find them there instead found a dish lying on the table all covered and set as though someone was planning on eating it.
Probably they maybe in the kitchen, I thought and decided to and check there as well
"Dad, Aunt Mena!" I called softly as I got closer to the kitchen door but got no response as my voice rechoed back to me.
"Why could they have gone?" I asked rhetorically as I walked stealthily into the kitchen.
"Dad!" I called once more but still got no reply.
"Aunt Mena!" I yelled after letting out a sigh in frustration as I walked towards the back of the kitchen counter.
Already exhausted from searching for them, I gave up and headed for the fridge to get some water to rehydrate myself.
So I opened the fridge then took out a bottle of water then walked over to the kitchen cabinet to get a glass cup and aftet pouring some quantity of water in to the class cup I gulped it down my throat then walked out of the kitchen feeling a bit refreshed.
If Dad and Aunt Mena weren't in the kitchen nor the sitting room then I wonder where they may be.
Probably they all went out or something.
Even at that, they wouldn't leave the house without turning off the TV.
I guess they maybe somewhere around the house, I thought to myself as I walked into the sitting room and sat on the couch.
"Let me go check outside as well" I muttered underneath my breath then sprang up on my feet.
On reaching outside, perhaps based on impulse I peered towards the gate and saw Dad and Aunt Mena in the garden; Mum's own garden.
I exhaled deeply in satisfaction then plodded towards their direction.
With their back turned to me, each one of them was busy frantically aligning the flowers and removing some weeds outwitting the flowers.
"I guess you remembered the garden today" I said calmly as I got to Dad's direction.
"Oh yeah… Not my handiwork though but Mena's" Dad said a bit startled as he looked up to see who it was, talking.
"Oh Amanda its you" Dad said; though more of a question in a cold musky voice.
"Yeah" I replied while Aunt Mena also looked up
"Amanda you are finally awake" Aunt Mena chipped in
"Yeah Aunt Mena" I replied with a gentle nod fumbling with my fingers
"Hope you feel better now?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look
"Yeah Dad but I'm just hungry now" I replied, pouting my lips like the 8 year old I was
" Aww I'm sorry darling. Why haven't you eaten?" Dad asked
"I woke up and couldn't find any of you inside so I have been searching all over the house for you guys" I explained softly
"Oh I'm sorry dear. We have been in the garden for the past two hours. Mena insisted she tends the flowers so I had to tag along just as you can see now" Dad said
" Ok I guess she do loves flowers just like Mum" I said
" Yeah you're right dear, I love flowers so very much that I can't stand to see them go to waste and I was so happy to see that there was a garden in the house when I first came here." Aunt Mena chipped in looking towards our direction
"Wow I see" I said
"Yeah. Back home I have a special garden I made from age 12. You know my mum said I'd be a very good floriculturist if I had followed my passion and pursued a career in floriculture." She added solemnly
" I think so…" I cooed
"Yeah and I was so heartbroken to see the garden here outwitted by weeds so I decided to do something about it" she said with a smirk
" That was thoughtful of you. This is mum's garden, she tends and waters the flowers all by herself and it's looking unkept just because she traveled out but thank you I'm sure will be so happy to know that you good care of the garden on her behalf" I said softly
"Yeah thats right and I will inform her about it later on " Dad said with a chuckle.
" Well it's okay. Just go and eat darling. I hope her food is still on the dinning table Mena?" Dad asked turning towards Aunt Mena
" Yes sir" she replied stealthily
"Ok then go get it and eat" Dad said
"Ok sir" I said then began to walk back to the house.
On reaching the door, I halted
"Aunt Mena" I called loudly as I turned towards the direction of the garden
"Yes dear what is it?" Aunt Mena asked looking at me in a quizzical manner
"Nothing really just wanted to ask about what you prepared" I said yelled back looking curiously at Aunt Mena as I waited for her reply
"Well just go inside Amanda when you go in you will find out for yourself" Aunt Mena said in a hurry then continued her work.
"No Aunt Mena please tell me. I want to find out about it from you instead" I said pleadingly
"Why should I tell you?" Aunt Mena asked absentmindedly
" Because you're my Aunt" I said calmly
" Really?" Dad chipped in
" Yes Daddy" I said
" Wow I can see. Well I made a few chops." She said coldly
"Chops?" I asked in bewilderment
" Yes chops dear. Is anything with wrong?" Aunt Mena asked as she noticed the change in my contenance
"Nothing really I just wasn't expecting to have chops" I said
"Oh sorry dear...If you don't mind I can make you something else" Aunt suggested.
" No don't worry I'll just have the chops so I don't stress you much" I said
" Are you sure about that?" She asked still not satisfied with my response
"Yeah I'm sure" I replied with a wide grin
"Well… If you insist I'll just let it be then. But I wouldn't have mind taking a few minutes to fix you anything you want" Aunt Mena said
"No it's fine I'm okay with the chops" I said then walked into the house.
I got inside then headed straight for the dinning table, taking giant strides till I got to the dinning room then pulled out a chair and sat down and began to eat hurriedly away.
The chops tasted quite good...I wasn't a fan of chops but then I knew neither Dad nor Aunt Mena knew about it anyway so I had to manage this. If only Mum was around she would have told them instead and then they would have made something else but unfortunately she isn't and once again I'll have to manage living all by myself in her absence . I wonder for how long I'll be able to put up with this.
When I don e eating, I stood up and headed for the kitchen to get some juice.
After getting the juice, I walked out of the kitchen with it then sat back on the dinning table and taking a sip, I began to think about all the eevents that played on earlier on during the day.
"Amanda are you done eating?" A voice I knew only belonged to Dad wafffled into my ears from the sitting room, bringing me back to reality
"Yes Dad" I replied softly looking towards his direction
"How was it?" Dad asked
"Huh?" I muttered, with a quizzical look on my face not sure if I understood his question
"I mean to ask if you enjoyed the meal at least? " Dad explained
" Oh… well maybe yes" I stuttered
"Why maybe?" Dad asked
" That's because I don't really like chops" I said
"Really?" Dad asked in shock
" Yes Dad" I replied
"But you never told me Amanda" Dad said looking towards my direction
"Well… Yes but mum knows about it" I stuttered
"That's because you told her isn't?" Dad asked softly
" Not really she just found out by herself" I said
" Well so what do you want to eat now?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look
" No don't worry Dad I'm fine" I said
"Well you aren't . Just tell me and I'll have Mena fix just that for you" Dad insisted
" But Dad she is still working outside. Don't worry I don't want to stress her" I said
" She can leave that one to me I can handle that while she prepares your meal" Dad said
" Well I'm ok now look here" I said raising a glass of juice high enough for him to see it
"What can juice do for you now?" Dad asked still not convinced
" Alot Dad and I'm full as we speak" I said with a smirk on my face
"Oh really?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look
" Yeah" I replied
"Then I guess I don't have to worry about you again or I should?" Dad asked solemnly
" Na you should Dad" I said
"Huh" Dad exclaimed perplexed
" What? Dad" I asked with mischievous grin
" Nothing really" Dad said
" Are you sure Dad?" I asked
"Yeah Amanda" Dad said softly
" Are you guys through already?" I asked
"Through? Through with what exactly?" Dad asked acting confused
" The work in the garden of course" I retorted, irked by his previous outburst
"Not really we are almost done though" Dad said
" ok sir" I said
" I see well I'm coming let me go get something upstairs" Dad said then started climbing up the stairs while I sat back and continued sipping my juice.
" I see well I'm coming let me go get something upstairs" Dad said then started climbing up the stairs while I sat back and continued sipping my juice.
- Writer
